When Yuan Dong walked in and saw that Ning Shu's forehead was drenched in sweat, she quickly grabbed some water and gently wiped it away. Ning Shu looked at her; the girl was quite pretty, but it was a shame that she harbored ulterior motives while having to stay by her side.
Ning Shu addressed Miao Qing, who was straightening out her blanket, saying, "I… this princess wishes to have a meal now."
Miao Qing gasped in surprise and rushed out to prepare food for her. Ning Shu watched her leave the palace, resembling a lively butterfly, and couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. In the end, Miao Qing had successfully become Li Wen's consort.
Ning Shu's gaze shifted back to Yuan Dong. This girl had accompanied her when she was married off and became a plaything for the Huns. However, that didn't mean she was particularly loyal to the original host; in fact, she had feelings for Duan Xinghui.
Unfortunately for Yuan Dong, Duan Xinghui fell for a village girl, shattering her dreams of becoming his bedchamber maid. Even though their union was morganatic, all women prepared bedchamber maids for their men. Those maids were especially useful during menstruation or pregnancy.
Jiahui and Yuan Dong shared the same goal and teamed up to deal with the village girl, who was named Er Ya—a very rustic name that would later be changed to something more elegant.
After a while, Miao Qing returned with the food. It was rather bland, but Ning Shu wasn't about to compromise her health like the original host. Nothing was more important than a strong body.
Miao Qing began feeding her, and Ning Shu didn't bother with pleasantries; she knew that the sooner she recovered, the better.
Once she finished a bowl of mixed congee, Miao Qing wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. Ning Shu noted how attentive the two servants were to the original host, even if they ultimately betrayed her for love.
After eating, Ning Shu closed her eyes to rest. Sleep was a natural way to restore health, and right now, she needed a strong body to complete her task. She couldn't stand people who neglected their health; they simply didn't appreciate their bodies.
Later that night, Li Wen came to visit again. He stood silently by her bed, startling Ning Shu so much that she couldn't speak for a moment.
"Imperial Older Brother."
"Do you feel a little better?" Li Wen asked, scanning her face. Noticing that her complexion had improved since the morning, he nodded. "Your color looks better."
"Thank you for your concern, Imperial Older Brother," Ning Shu said, feigning gratitude.
Li Wen didn't respond, and the atmosphere grew tense. Ning Shu wasn't sure what to say; the more she spoke, the more likely she was to slip up. The man before her radiated danger—just one glance into his dark eyes felt like facing a poised tiger.
Ning Shu felt increasingly uneasy. Why was he just standing there like a statue? Of course, she only dared to voice such thoughts in her mind; provoking a feudal monarch was out of the question.
Silence lingered between them. Ning Shu tilted her head to glance at Li Wen, who narrowed his eyes, causing his presence to feel even more intimidating.
Frustration bubbled inside her. What did he want? This silent standoff was driving her mad.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she took the initiative to speak. "Imperial Older Brother, you should go and take care of government affairs. Jiahui is fine now."