When Li Wen heard Ning Shu's subtle request for him to leave, he narrowed his dark eyes and replied mildly, "I'll take my leave then. You should focus on your health. Even if Duan Xinghui is gone, there are still other men."
He had said something similar in the storyline, but Princess Jiahui had responded that there was only one Duan Xinghui in the world, which had angered him. Ning Shu had no intention of making the same mistake; if she irritated Li Wen, he might decide to marry her off to get rid of her, leaving her with no place to cry.
Ning Shu allowed a hint of sorrow to show on her face as she respectfully responded, "Imperial Older Brother, right now Jiahui feels very chaotic in her mind. She doesn't want to think about anything."
Upon hearing this, Li Wen's eyes narrowed slightly. For some reason, every time Ning Shu saw him narrow his eyes, she felt her heart skip in panic. She was trying her best to mimic the original host's expressions and habits. Could it be that her acting skills were that lacking?
Li Wen nodded and said, "If you need anything, I'll have your Imperial Sister-in-law send it over." He then turned to the two maids and instructed, "Serve the princess well."
"Understood," they replied in unison. However, Miao Qing kept her gaze fixed on Li Wen until he left Orchid Garden Palace. Ning Shu watched this and then shook her head.
The original host had really paid no attention to her personal maids at all. She had no idea that one liked her older brother and the other liked her future husband. How sad.
In the days that followed, Ning Shu calmly passed the time focusing on her recovery. During this time, she truly experienced how pampered the original host had been. Consorts came to visit every day, and the number of get-well gifts she received filled baskets—rare and precious jewels, handkerchiefs embroidered by the consorts themselves, and even beautiful shoes. There was an overwhelming variety of items.
Of course, Ning Shu didn't meet with any of these visitors. Her body hadn't fully recovered yet, and there was no way she was going to push herself just to entertain them. After all, there were simply too many women in the inner palace; she didn't know any of the birds or butterflies in His Majesty the Emperor's harem.
Ning Shu noticed that Miao Qing and Yuan Dong didn't seem surprised by this abundance at all. They even regarded the consorts with a hint of contempt. From this, Ning Shu inferred that the original host had likely looked down on these women as well.
"Princess, why not let this servant take these things to the storeroom?" Miao Qing asked, glancing at Ning Shu to gauge her reaction. After a brief pause, she added, "These people just want to use you to get closer to His Majesty and gain his affection through you."
Both the original host and Ning Shu were aware of this; did they really need a maid to remind them? Yet, the original host had thought Miao Qing was a genuinely good person. Ning Shu could sense this from the original host's feelings.
Miao Qing liked Li Wen. Because of the original host, Miao Qing had many more opportunities to see the Emperor than most of the consorts and concubines in the Inner Palace.
Ning Shu simply glanced at her, indifferent to the suggestion, rather than echoing agreement like the original host usually would. In the past, whenever the original host heard Miao Qing say something like this, she would become furious at the thought of these women trying to use her.
When Miao Qing saw that the princess didn't pay her any mind, her heart sank. Silently, she went to put the gifts into the storeroom.