The large engraved doors were pushed open and the creak interrupted Ning Shu’s line of thought. A maid with simple graceful looks walked in. She was probably only about seventeen and she looked to have a calm personality since her steps were light and steady as she walked into the room.

  When Zhu Er saw Ning Shu sitting in front of the copper mirror, she walked over with a smile. “Madame, you’re awake?”


  Ning Shu nodded, then said, “Help me with my hair.”


  Zhu Er combed Ning Shu’s hair, then skillfully started pulling it into a hairstyle as she said, “Madame, your afternoon nap was quite long this time. It’s already time for the evening meal. Old Madame sent this servant over to call you.”


  Ning Shu nodded, then stood up. Zhu Er quickly pulled the fallen hair off the ivory comb and hid it in her palm to keep Ning Shu from seeing it.

  “Zhu Er, I’ve aged again, haven’t I?” Strictly speaking, Wei Lingxian already counted as a middle-aged woman since her son was already seventeen.

  Zhu Er said with a smile, “Madame is forever the most beautiful in Zhu Er’s heart.”


  Ning Shu shook her head. A figure that was lithe like a butterfly suddenly drifted in.

  “Mother.” An Lingyun reached out to pull Ning Shu’s arm. “Grandmother had this daughter come see how Mother was doing today. Did you fall sick? Are you alright?”


  Ning Shu looked at An Lingyun. She was an adorable and pampered girl. The moment Princess Mingzhu came to the general’s residence, the two had become good friends.

  When her mother was in pain, An Lingyun had kept running to Princess Mingzhu’s courtyard. Even if she didn’t bother to comfort her mother, she still shouldn’t head to the courtyard that caused her mother so much pain.

  They all say that daughters were sweet little angels, but in the end, everyone was touched by Princess Mingzhu’s sincerity and all accused the original host of being envious and malicious.

  When An Lingyun saw that Ning Shu was staring at her with a scrutinizing and indifferent look in her eyes, she uneasily swung Ning Shu’s arm a little. “Mother, what’s wrong?”


  Ning Shu smiled graciously and said, “Mother was thinking that Lingyun’s already a big lady now. It’s about time for you to have your own family. Mother is thinking about what kind of in-laws to find for you.”


  This An Lingyun was a naive young lady as well. She had grown up in a harmonious and perfect family, so she had no idea how much Princess Mingzhu becoming her father’s mistress would hurt her mother. This wasn’t just an issue of an additional pair of chopsticks.

  That was why naivety born of ignorance was the most hurtful. An Lingyun was like such and Princess Mingzhu was also like such.

  When An Lingyun heard that Ning Shu wanted to find her an in-laws family, she was a little embarrassed, but she still outright said, “Lingyun wants to find a man like Father that’s majestic and tall and treats Lingyun like Father treats Mother, with complete devotion.”


  When Ning Shu heard what she said, before she could even reply, she felt an intense wave of sorrow and numbness fill her body along with fear; fear of the destruction that Princess Mingzhu’s arrival would soon bring.

  Even Ning Shu was affected by the sorrow, helplessness, hatred, and pain that radiated from her body.

  Ever since her soul had gotten stronger, she was rarely affected by the original host’s emotions anymore, but these feelings were surging forth like colossal waves and caused her heart to clench in sharp pain. It was so bad that Ning Shu doubled over in pain and had to clutch at her chest. It felt like countless thin needles were stabbing at her heart.

  It was so painful. Veins bulged on her forehead and there didn’t seem to be a single trace of warmth in her body.

  It was so cold!

  Ning Shu staggered and An Lingyun hastily moved to support her. When she saw that her mother’s face was deathly pale and that her forehead was covered with cold sweat, she asked worriedly, “Mother, are you alright?”


  Zhu Er also came over to support Ning Shu. Ning Shu said weakly, “Help me to the bed so I can sit for a while.”


  An Lingyun and Zhu Er helped Ning Shu to the bed. Ning Shu pressed on her heart as she took deep breaths to calm her emotions.

  A cool feeling flowed into her heart and calmed the pain and helpless fury that filled her heart. Ning Shu knew that this was the effect of the calmness halo that she had spent a hundred fifty million points on.

  The original host had lived her days with these emotions pent up in her heart? How painful must it have been?