278 MEETING GRANDMOTHER

"Someone's coming, your Highness!" Azra announced as Raigon continued to persuade Madame Lin. 

Raigon has no more time to discuss his intentions with her. By the looks and the words of the men whom they have spied on, they wouldn't have mercy enough to let them go if they see them there.

He wasn't worried about their safety but Zoe's grandmother. And he wanted to stay low so they could destroy their plan to the core.

"I know I cannot assure you of anything. But you must choose now. Either you come with us to see your granddaughter and not be an accessory to a crime against the King, which I am sure that it is also what she would want. Or you see her with that group who were trying to destroy the throne and Terra."

Raigon offered the choices to her as he ready himself for take off. Madame Lin's neck bent downward as she contemplated. 

Even though she was angry at the royal family for everything that they've done to them, she doesn't agree on Terra being exposed to other countries. She may not be there during the actual event of the Great Bloodbath. But she heard stories from her former neighbors of how Terra is devastated then. 

"Your Highness, he is only a meter away!" Azra informed them. 

"I agree with you. Let's go." Madama Lin concluded, which made Raigon's lips slightly curved up in relief. 

At the speed of light, he tried to open the backdoor of the old cabin and gently drove Lady Ashin outside. Then he called on Azra, who quickly dashed to the backdoor like the wind. 

A second before the man threw the door open, Raigon gently closed the door. 

They quickly dashed back to another route, led by Azra, which took them immediately back to the Capital without anyone noticing.

Zoe, Erin and Lord Hou were eating at the restaurant when they came to them. It was Erin who first noticed them as Zoe's back was on the door. 

"They're back!" Erin waved her hand at them to call their attention and show them where they are. 

Zoe swiveled around her chair and stood up with a cheerful smile on her face. 

She was getting anxious as they took longer than she expected. And the last scene that she witnessed was not a very pleasant one. 

However, as she turned around she was surprised that it was not only Raigon and Azra. There was also an old lady who was with them. But her face was covered in a shawl.

She may be on the wanted list so Raigon and Azra encouraged her to cover herself until the coast is clear.

"Forgive us if it took us a while. Let's go back to Hengcheng Mountains now." Raigon bowed to them, in which everyone agreed with. 

Lord Hou, Zoe and Erin went in one carriage while Raigon, Azra and Madame Lin rode using another one. 

"I wonder who that strange lady is. I wonder why they didn't introduce her to us at the restaurant." Zoe whispered to Erin as they drove back to the Hous Residence.

"We will surely know once we arrive at the residence, don't we my Lord?" Erin beamed at Lord Hou.

"Absolutely." Lord Hou answered them as he rubbed his beard and faced the window. 

He already has an idea on who she is. But he was not certain also. However, he is sure that the Crowned Prince will not bring an enemy to their territory.

It didn't take them long before they reached their abode. 

As they settle down in Lord Hou's guest room, Madame Lin finally removes her shawl to Zoe's bewilderment.

She cupped her mouth, which dropped open as she realized who she was.

"Mrs. Gong?! What are you doing in Terra? I thought something bad already happened to you!" 

Zoe grabbed her hands and pressed them with hers. The last time that she remembered was she just jumped off the boat after leaving the words 'This is where you belong'. 

She recalled almost being in death's claws just so she could find her. But it was in vain.

Lord Hou, Erin and Azra exchanged weird glances as they have not encountered her before. Except for Raigon who was now having an idea of what happened.

Meanwhile, Madame Lin's eyes blurred with tears as she dropped to her knees and uttered.

"It's been a while, your Highness."

Zoe's eyebrows knitted together as she recalled her saying those words again to her, which she also did at the Reeftastic Tour.

"Err, what is going on?" Erin asked on behalf of everyone whose faces scrunched up in astonishment at Madame Lin's weird gesture. 

Since it was him who had an inkling somehow of what was taking place, Raigon broke the ice as he introduced her. 

"This is Madame Lin, Lady Asha's grandmother."

Zoe's eyes bulged out as she stared at the old lady kneeling down to her. 

"Y-you are my grandmother?" She blurted out as thousands of different emotions rushed through her at once. 

Her lips went pallid white as Madame Lin slowly lifted her face and beamed at her. "I'm glad to see you again, granddaughter."

Hearing those words pulled out all the tears from Zoe's eyes as they started cascading down her cheeks. 

She recalled her saving her from the upturned boat on her first day in Lord Howe Island. And then in the Reeftastic Tour. 

Raigon also has his own reminiscing as he concluded that it was Mrs. Gong, Madame Lin and Zoe's grandmother that he brought to Gao Zemin then to bring her back to life. His trembling hands covered his mouth stricken in surprise at the revelation.

Zoe knelt down and put her arms tightly around Madame Lin and cried with all her heart. Her tears drenched the shawl that was draping her shoulders.

"It is you! It is you! I'm sorry, grandmother. I was always late in rescuing you."

Madame Lin was also crying as she patted Zoe's back and embraced her with her loving arms.

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Grandmothers and roses are much the same. Each is a God's masterpiece with different names.