The father and daughter sat in the study in silence.

After a long pause, Zhao Shijie looked at his daughter and asked,

“Who told you about this?”

“I found out by accident,” Zhao Hanya replied.

She was unaware that her father could also hear her thoughts, so she wanted to keep it a secret.

The fewer people who knew about her ability, the better—even her father wasn’t an exception.

Zhao Shijie glanced at her and let out a cold snort before saying,

“Hmph! When Yuxin came over today, something strange happened. She didn’t move her lips, yet I could hear her speaking. And what she spoke about was the same thing you’re talking about.”

“Father, you…”

Zhao Hanya looked at her father in shock. Could he also hear his daughter’s thoughts?

“If my guess is correct, that voice was Yuxin’s inner thoughts. Now tell me the truth—what exactly is going on?”

Zhao Shijie looked at his daughter seriously.

“Father…”

With no way to hide it, Zhao Hanya explained that she and her three sons could hear her daughter’s thoughts.

She also mentioned some of the things Yuxin could predict in advance.

After hearing everything, even someone like Zhao Shijie, who had lived most of his life, was left stunned for a long time.

“Father?”

Zhao Hanya looked at him, worried that he might be too shocked.

“Hanya, your daughter is no ordinary girl! But for now, let’s keep this between us. Judging by what happened earlier, it seems that only the two of us in the Zhao family can hear Yuxin’s thoughts. That means we must not tell anyone else about this.”

“I understand, Father!”

Since this concerned her daughter’s safety, she wouldn’t take any risks.

“Father, but about this matter…”

Zhao Hanya hesitated, still feeling uneasy.

“Regardless of whether it’s true or not, I will stay vigilant. However, if it really happens, the Zhao family cannot back down. I can only make preparations in advance to ensure that your mother and the rest of the family can live more comfortably afterward.”

Zhao Shijie knew what his daughter was trying to say, but as a general of the nation, he could never abandon his duty in times of crisis.

“Father!”

Zhao Hanya wanted to say more, but Zhao Shijie interrupted her.

“Enough, I have already made up my mind. By the way, since Yuxin seems to have something to say to me, bring her over later.”

His decision was final.

Zhao Hanya looked at her father, her heart filled with sorrow.

She understood his thinking, but she couldn’t accept it.

If her father didn’t return from this battle, their family would fall apart.

But she knew she couldn’t stop him. Holding back her tears, Zhao Hanya left the study.

“Sigh…”

Watching his daughter’s departing figure, Zhao Shijie sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, things were lively on Lin Yuxin’s side.

“Yuxin, look! That’s the back garden. Second Aunt planted a lot of roses there. They’re really pretty—I’ll take you to see them!”

“Forget the flowers! Yuxin, come with me! I have so many fun things to show you!”

Zhao Chenhai and Zhao Chenfeng, two young boys of similar age, both younger than Lin Yuxin, were pulling her along, eager to share their favorite things with her.

“Alright, how about I go one by one?”

Lin Yuxin smiled helplessly.

“Alright, you two little troublemakers, Yuxin is visiting for the first time. Let her get familiar with the place first,”

Their eldest cousin, Zhao Chenxi, was the oldest and the most mature.

He shot the younger boys a glare before turning to Lin Yuxin and saying,

“Yuxin, our family has a lot of kids, so it can get noisy. I hope you don’t mind!”

“Hehe, big cousin, how could I mind? It’s more fun when there are lots of people. I like it!”

Lin Yuxin shook her head, smiling.

Zhao Chenxi then led the group of younger siblings on a tour of the residence, sharing many funny childhood stories that made Lin Yuxin laugh heartily.

However, when they passed by their second uncle’s courtyard, the atmosphere suddenly became somber.

Zhao Chenxi’s expression darkened as he said,

“This is Second Uncle’s courtyard. When my father died in battle, Second Uncle was also injured and left paralyzed. He hasn’t stepped out of this courtyard in all these years.”

Beside him, Zhao Chendong also fell silent.

His father’s current state was a painful burden, one he was powerless to change. It only made him more determined to work harder.

Seeing how the once lively group had gone quiet, Lin Yuxin spoke up,

“Can I go in and see Second Uncle?”

“You can.”

Everyone instinctively turned to Zhao Chendong.

He was momentarily surprised but, seeing that Lin Yuxin was serious, he nodded in agreement.

However, he only brought Lin Yuxin inside.

The others stayed outside, knowing that their second uncle disliked them seeing him in his current state.

Every time they visited, they had to do so in secret.

Zhao Yingfeng had been bedridden for ten years, and his health had deteriorated.

Going from a respected general to a helpless invalid was a bitter fate only he could truly understand.

He refused to let the younger generation see him like this because he didn’t want them to feel burdened or saddened.

As soon as Lin Yuxin stepped inside the room, a strong medicinal scent hit her.

[Why is the smell of medicine so strong? Don’t they open the windows to let in fresh air? How can Second Uncle stand this?]

Looking around, she saw that the windows were indeed closed.

However, since this was her first time here, she didn’t want to interfere.

She simply followed Zhao Chendong further inside.

There, on the bed, sat a strikingly handsome man.

However, due to his long-term confinement, his skin had taken on an unhealthy pallor, and he was unnaturally thin.

If he lost any more weight, he would be nothing but skin and bones!

[Wow! So this is Second Uncle? He’s really handsome! If he weren’t bedridden, he’d definitely be the most attractive man in the capital. Looks like all the good genes in the Zhao family went to him!]

Zhao Yingfeng, who had been reading, suddenly froze.

What was that voice?

He looked up sharply and saw Zhao Chendong bringing a young girl to his bedside.

“Father, I brought Yuxin to see you,” Zhao Chendong said.

Zhao Yingfeng was momentarily stunned before realizing that this girl was likely his younger sister’s daughter.

Then, he turned and scolded his son,

“You brat! Why did you bring Yuxin here? What if she gets scared?”

“Father, it was Yuxin who wanted to come. I had no choice but to agree!”

Zhao Chendong looked aggrieved, speaking in a low voice.

“You…!”

Just as Zhao Yingfeng was about to say more, Lin Yuxin interrupted,

“Second Uncle, please don’t blame my cousin. I wanted to come see you. Since this is my first time visiting Grandfather’s house, I wanted to meet all my family members. Isn’t that right?”

She quickly spoke up, fearing that Zhao Chendong would get scolded.

[Second Uncle must be emotionally unstable after being locked up for so long. But that’s understandable—anyone would go crazy after lying in bed for ten years! And he’s so pitiful. In that battle back then, he actually had a chance to escape unharmed…]

[But when he heard the news of Eldest Uncle’s death, and with a traitorous subordinate betraying him, he was surrounded and severely injured. If Grandfather hadn’t arrived in time, he wouldn’t have made it back alive.]

Zhao Yingfeng’s eyes widened.

That voice again… Was this girl’s inner thoughts?