Trial Of Love Chapter 279 - Laterns

The next day...

Everyone headed to the village near the Xian's Ancestral home. It was a few minutes' walks to the village and since it was already Autumn, it's cool and partly warm. The roads ahead were covered in beautiful trees dressed in the shade of yellow, orange, yellow-green leaves. 

"Auntie Lizzy, let's buy some lantern." 

"No, Auntie Lizzy going me with." 

Whilst the children fought against each other whom Elizabeth should go with. Everyone else headed in their own ways as they visit the different attractions the village has prepared. 

The village was like a historical and ancient movie set. Most of the houses were still made of tiles and woods. Since it was the Autumn Festival, they decorated the entire street and building with beautiful lanterns and red ribbons. Coincidentally, during the festival, the moon is always bright and round. The festival is to celebrate a fruitful harvest... This means family and friends gather and visit distant relatives as well especially those in the country to celebrate it together. 

It was almost sunset when the family reunited together. Elizabeth walked around the village with her parents as she spent some time with them. Whilst they were out for a walk, she couldn't help but be curious as to why her family has a sudden change of heart with Shen. 

"Did by chance you found out something about Shen that you're not telling?" 

Both Lady Zhao and Lord Knightley looked at each other and were taken aback by their daughter's sudden curiosity. 

Lady Zhao forced a smile on her face and answered, "Darling, if Shen does have any secret I won't know but your father might... But that won't be a reason as to why we would suddenly have a change of heart. He is a great guy but..."

Elizabeth looked curiously at her mother and notice she was having a hard time to express her thoughts about Shen. Seeing her mother's att.i.tude could only mean that something did happen which proves they have a change of heart towards Shen. 

"Baby, there are so many fish in the sea and I know you'll find the right one for you. You've already rejected him and I don't see why you must stay with him. Isn't it awkward and hard to be around him?" Lady Zhao curiously asked why her daughter continues to be around Shen even though she already rejected both proposals of the man for marriage and being his girlfriend. 

"I don't know... But one thing I do know is that I do want to be with him. But I don't know if he'll be able to accept me after all the lies." Elizabeth sighs heavily and answered with such bitterness inside, guilty for all the lies she told Shen. 

"Baby, if he does accepts you, will you be with him?" Lady Zhao inquired worried about how her daughter will answer but was dumbfounded when she notices the reaction on her face... 

Elizabeth had this soft and gentle smile on her face, it was pretty obvious she really wished to be with him."Who knows..."

"What I'm against him?" 

Both Lady Zhao and Elizabeth were bewildered when the man suddenly spoke with such demands. Elizabeth thought for a moment about it, her father never asked anything from her. So what is her father does ask her not to be with Shen will she follow?

"Father, are you really that against him?" 

Lord Knightley sighs as he gathers his thought together to answer his daughter's concerns. The fact his daughter addresses him as "father" concerns him. "It's not that I'm against him, I don't see him fit enough to protect you. He can't even protect his own daughter." 

Elizabeth didn't know what her father meant by that... The only situation that Shen could not protect Little Yan was during the party at the Yun's home. She realizes her father's words as it dug its way into her heart. 

"Then, father... I can't answer you know. I don't know if I'll be able to follow your wish when the time comes." 

Lord Knightley expected his daughter to answer him in such a manner. His daughter was just like him, believing in one own decision and is willing to take all the risks. 

"Then, we'll see..."

As they continue along their way to where everyone has gathered. They saw loads of people holding on to lanterns already. 

"Lizzy, here..." Liu Yifie handed her one of the lanterns ready to be released in the air. 

"Thank you." 

Elizabeth carried the lantern to where her parents were standing. She looked at them with grat.i.tude written all over her face. "Mommy, Daddy, thank you for everything." 

In front of her parents, Elizabeth releases the lantern in the air as she made a wish. Along with her wish, she faintly whispered something in the air which surprised both of them. 

"Sorry."

Both parents realize what she meant by 'sorry'. She was declaring to her parents she won't be able to follow their wish of her staying away from Yun Shen if every the time does come for her to pick. Both parents watched as their daughter drifted away slowly from them as she watched the lanterns flying in the sky carrying everyone's hopes and dreams. 

"Rob.." Lady Zhao gazed at her husband who was in a daze for a moment to what just happen. She worried about how her husband will react to their daughter's declaration. 

Lord Knightley sighs heavily as he felt his neck slightly tense from the shock he just received. "Seems like she'll be sorrowing earlier than expected." 

"Rob, I'm sorry... " Lady Zhao apologize guilty that she is the reason as to why their daughter is so free-spirited and brave to challenge her parent's authority. 

"Don't be, she is our daughter, I am partly to blame. What happened back then was my fault, not yours." Lord Knightley explained, guilty as to why their daughter died ten years ago. 

Suddenly, everyone was confused when they saw Elizabeth on her phone looking troubled for some reason. 

Elder Lady Knightley approached her and inquire as to why she looked so distressed, "Darling, what's wrong?"

"Bro w.a.n.g just called me that the pictorial for the international magazine has been moved and I need to go now," Elizabeth explained annoyed that her holiday with her family was suddenly cut off. 

"What?" 

"Lizzy, your leaving..." 

"Can you not explain to them that you're currently spending your holiday with us?"

Everyone voice out their disapproval of her suddenly leaving. They all suggested ways in which she could excuse herself to delay the shoot for another day or so, but the result would mean revealing who she is.

"I'm sorry everyone, but it seems I need to go." 

Lord Knightley was curious as to why his daughter's schedule was suddenly changed. He looked at Winston prompting him to check on things at once. "Do you want us to come with you?" 

"No, everyone, please... Enjoy the rest of the holiday. We'll see each other during the winter holidays, anyway." Elizabeth said as she then bid everyone farewell and headed home. 

Back in Xian's Ancestral home. 

Elizabeth was busy putting her things away. Whilst she was packing her things, she was curious as to why her schedule was changed as well. She feared that the event that happened back then might occur again. 

'Why do I feel that something back is to happen again? d.a.m.n it, who is the director of the magazine again?'

She ponders as she lists down the people involved with her upcoming pictural. She wonders which one of them could be the reason as to why her schedule has been changed.