Doted By The Regent King

Chapter 1734 - 1672: Take Care of Yourself

As the New Year approached, Zhou Xueli had just arrived in Changan City and couldn’t leave immediately, so he temporarily settled down, waiting to return to Wozi Village with the niece and nephew after the New Year.

Zhou Xiuer was permitted by Wufu to be released from the woodshed and moved into the guest courtyard.

Zhou Xueli saw her thinning figure, her little face pointed, eyes big yet void of spirit, filled instead with timidity and fear.

"You..." The words of reproach reached Zhou Xueli’s lips but were swallowed back; seeing her like this, what was there left to blame her for? Her own conscience wouldn’t let her be.

"Second Uncle, when are we going home?" Zhou Xiuer asked timidly.

Zhou Xueli replied, "After the New Year, we’ll leave."

Zhou Xiuer said nothing more.

"Once we’re back in Wozi Village and you’ve finished mourning, I’ll have your aunt look for a marriage for you. Xiuxiu, the great mistake has already been made; from now on, you need to be alert and take care of yourself," Zhou Xueli sighed.

Zhou Xiuer hung her head, tears dropping down bit by bit. After a good while, she said, "Second Uncle, I didn’t mean it, I really didn’t, I regret it..."

Since she caused her mother’s death, she had nightmares every night, dreaming of Madam Lu pointing at her, cursing her, even demanding her life. She was scared, she regretted, and could not dare sleep at night.

"Whether it was intentional or not, the great mistake is done; now we tell people your mother followed your father in grief after he passed away. Wufu..." Zhou Xueli noticed she trembled at the name and sighed, "She hasn’t said anything outside nor pursued it further."

Zhou Xiuer listened, unsure whether to feel relieved or something else, and exhaled a bit of relief.

Seeing this, Zhou Xueli said, "Wufu isn’t pursuing the matter out of respect for her mother, so Xiuxiu, you need to take care of yourself. If you remain stubborn and make more mistakes, your outcome won’t be any better than your parents’!"

"Second Uncle..."

"I’m not trying to scare you." Zhou Xueli, uncharacteristically stern, said, "You know what kind of person Wufu is, you’ve seen her methods. Riches are good, but whether you can enjoy them depends on your fate and abilities. We always say that one should wear a hat that fits their size; wealth is the same, our fate determines how much we can enjoy. If exceeded and greed-driven, it only leads to death. Look at your parents and you’ll understand."

"Your parents, if not for inherent greed, how could they have lost their lives? The gold and silver your aunt gave before were enough for you to be worry-free in Wozi Village or even in the towns and counties, living as a wealthy man content with enough food and drink. You might have already arranged a good marriage, ready to marry. Unlike now, bearing the crime of matricide, living this life, you say, this burden on your conscience, how can you ever unload it?"

"If not for greed, if not for insatiability, how could it have come to this? Greed without bounds leads to disaster, being greedy leads only to having nothing at all, and to regret deeply."

Zhou Xiuer shivered all over, slowly bowed her head, and said, "Second Uncle, I understand."

She spoke sincerely; Zhou Xueli couldn’t tell whether she’d truly repented or not, real or fake, it was her own choice. As her uncle, he had said all he could. If she insisted on her delusions, the consequences in the future would be hers to bear alone, after all, everyone’s path is their own to walk.