The Princess Residence was vast, filled with pavilions and buildings adorned with colored glass and glazed tiles, rock gardens, flowing water, and serene pathways. It was truly beautiful and felt incredibly comfortable, like a vacation spot—perfect.
Chests of items were being carried into the residence. Even without a master, the place was spotless, with servants standing in neat lines, ready to welcome their new mistress.
When Ning Shu entered her room and surveyed the layout, she felt quite pleased.
Yes, this would be her home from now on. It was far more comfortable than the palace, and, most importantly, she wouldn't have to face Li Wen, whose thoughts felt as deep and mysterious as the sea.
Yuan Dong looked around, frowning slightly as if she were complaining on Ning Shu's behalf. "Princess, this room is really small. It can't compare to the palace at all."
Ning Shu shot her an indifferent glance. "This was a gift from Imperial Older Brother. I like everything he gives me."
Yuan Dong's face paled as she realized her faux pas, and she hastily corrected herself. "Y-yes, His Majesty's grace is vast."
Ning Shu decided it was time to check out the original host's assets.
In the storeroom, she found guards moving chests into the room. Yuan Dong quickly opened one for Ning Shu to inspect, revealing a collection of books.
Ning Shu picked one up and flipped through it casually. She wasn't particularly interested; the traditional characters and vertical layout felt tedious.
"I wonder if there were orphanages in the ancient era," she mused. "It would be better to donate these books rather than let them collect dust." From the original host's memories, she knew that reading wasn't a passion of hers. The most she engaged with were love stories about gifted scholars and beautiful ladies, or legends and myths. Nonfiction rarely caught her attention.
Ning Shu rummaged through the books without much enthusiasm. At the bottom of one chest, she discovered a book that was yellowed and smelled moldy.
Her heart raced. This could be something valuable, especially since it was tucked away at the bottom. Excited, she pulled it out and gave it a shake, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Yuan Dong, standing nearby, coughed. Curious about Ning Shu's expression, she asked, "Princess, what is it?"
Ning Shu glanced down at the title, which read: Unsurpassable Martial Arts.
Ning Shu's mind reeled. What the heck?
No wonder the original host had buried this book; it had been chewed on by bugs and was completely damp.
As she flipped through the pages, she found illustrations of meditation and martial arts movements. The content seemed serious.
"Where did this book come from?" Ning Shu asked, still intrigued.
Yuan Dong walked over, pondering for a moment before recalling, "It was a gift from the administrator who oversees your land in Taiyuan. He heard that you liked to read, so he sent it over."
Ning Shu: …
She shook the book again, unleashing another cloud of dust. Despite the ridiculous title, she was genuinely interested in anything that could enhance her strength.