When Madame Duan regained consciousness, she drank two bowls of cold lotus seed gruel to suppress her anger. Immediately afterward, she commanded, "Head to the Princess Residence! To the Princess Residence!"
Ning Shu, unaware of the events at Duan Residence, was busy practicing with a whip. Since mastering the Unsurpassable Martial Arts, she had been searching for a compatible weapon; without one, all her strength felt pointless.
Ultimately, she chose the whip for its agility and ability to inflict significant damage. Currently, she wielded a black whip that glimmered ominously. With each swing, it hissed sharply as it cut through the air, striking a rock in the garden and leaving a deep gash.
Satisfied with the result, Ning Shu retrieved the whip. It was a gift from Li Wen, made from cold iron and lined with barbs—definitely a weapon designed to maim. Truly, it was impressive craftsmanship from the imperial family.
"Princess, Madame Duan has come to visit you," announced Yuan Dong, curtsying respectfully.
Ning Shu raised her eyebrows, then smiled as she tied the whip to her waist. "How long has she been here?"
"Replying to Princess, she has been waiting for almost two hours."
Madame Duan's long wait suggested something important was on her mind. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Ning Shu decided to see her visitor.
Entering the lounge, Ning Shu found Madame Duan seated elegantly. Clad in a brocade garment adorned with embroidered peacocks and red clouds, her hair sparkled with pearls and jade ornaments. Madame Duan radiated the luxurious grace of an upper-class woman, her skin well cared for.
However, impatience and blame marred Madame Duan's expression. Upon seeing Ning Shu, she hastily stood and curtsied. "This subject pays her respects to Princess."
Instead of inviting her to rise immediately, Ning Shu walked around her and took a seat. After sipping her tea, she said, "You may rise. Speak—why have you come to seek this princess?"
Madame Duan was momentarily stifled by Ning Shu's demeanor, emotions swirling within her but unable to find voice. She scrutinized Ning Shu, noting her casual attire, hair tied in a high ponytail, and the coldly gleaming whip at her waist. The princess's exquisite features, combined with her aloof expression and clear, star-like eyes, gave her an air of icy composure. If Princess Jiahui had once been a magnificent phoenix soaring through the Ninth Heaven, now she resembled the Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven—incomparably cold and poised.
Frustration welled within Madame Duan again. Why had her son chosen a village girl over a woman of such high status and innate talent? She simply couldn't understand her son's choice.
"This subject has come specially to visit Princess. Here are walnut pastries that I made myself," Madame Duan said, gesturing to the maid behind her, who promptly brought forward a food box.
Yuan Dong glanced at Ning Shu, and when she saw no reaction, she stepped up to take the box.
Ning Shu couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. In the original storyline, Madame Duan had never made pastries for Princess Jiahui, despite Jiahui treating her with the utmost respect, as if she were her own grandmother. Yet now, Madame Duan seemed to be using this gesture to undermine Er Ya.