While the Ji Family was bustling with preparations for an unexpected banquet, faint, painful whimpers of fear could be heard coming from a secluded room.
Shen Qingtang was startled by the sound, but remembering that the person inside was the auntie who had always taken care of her, she mustered her courage and walked in.
The curtains in the room were all drawn, but the dull blue fabric was of poor quality, unable to block much light. The faint glow that seeped through was enough to reveal the figure lying on the bed.
Not daring to look too closely at the sunken sheet, Shen Qingtang placed the flowers she had brought into a vase.
"Auntie... are you still in pain?"
"Qingtang learned a new song. Would you like to hear it?"
Compared to her spirited demeanor when she first moved in, the nanny now seemed as if her vitality had been severed along with her leg. Her eyes were vacant and lifeless, and she would occasionally burst into sobs, her face twisted with an inexplicable fear.
Hearing Shen Qingtang's voice, the figure on the bed stirred slightly.
Seeing that the woman had finally noticed her, Shen Qingtang stepped forward, wanting to hold her hand.
She had asked many people, and they all told her that modern technology had advanced to the point where prosthetics could replace lost limbs, allowing people to walk again.
Shen Qingtang wanted to tell her that she would find a way to buy one and help her stand again.
But before she could say anything, the nanny's face contorted into a horrifying expression, and she screamed at Shen Qingtang to get out!
Her shouts weren’t enough—she even grabbed the vase by the bedside and hurled it at Shen Qingtang.
The crisp sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the room, and the flowers, still damp with dew, fell limply to the ground, instantly transformed from objects of beauty into discarded remnants.
"Restrain this woman."
A maid dressed in the Ji Family's uniform walked in and ordered the other servants to hold down the nanny on the bed.
"Miss Shen, come here. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Since the nanny had lost her ability to move, Ji Tingzhou had assigned a new maid to take care of Shen Qingtang.
It was only when the maid hugged her that Shen Qingtang realized she was trembling all over. Once outside, she began to retch uncontrollably.
She hated the sight of blood...
The maid dutifully took care of her but kept her distance, neither offering comforting touches nor scolding her for going to the room in the first place.
She was like an emotionless child-care machine, which left Shen Qingtang feeling a sense of dissonance. At the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder, does this maid dislike me? What can I do to make her like me?
The news of the nanny losing a leg had also reached Ji Nian.
Her injuries had mostly healed, and the bandage on her forehead had been removed, leaving only a faint scar. The doctor said that if she kept using the scar cream, it would disappear completely as she grew older.
[Something feels off about this development...]
Ji Nian wasn’t a fool. Without any preconceived notions, she could clearly see the differences in how Ji Tingzhou treated her compared to Shen Qingtang.
Apart from Shen Qingtang initiating conversations, Ji Tingzhou never actively engaged with her, though he never deprived her of anything either—she was provided with the best material comforts.
[This isn’t the kind of over-the-top pampering you’d expect, like gifting eighty-eight atomic bombs or something.]
In fact, it wasn’t even as much as what he gave her.
Yes, although the princess seemed to have a bit of a temper and could be quite unpredictable at times, Ji Nian was surprised to find that Ji Tingzhou actually doted on her quite a bit.
For example, right now—
"Zhiliao... are these stones?"
Ji Nian stared blankly at the "stones" laid out on a velvet cloth.
Zhiliao nodded. "The master said you wanted to skip stones, so he asked us to find some pretty ones."
Pretty stones, like these.
A collection of dazzling gemstones and lustrous jade pieces, their brilliance under the light left Ji Nian feeling dizzy.
All she wanted was a regular stone to skip across the water!!
The culprit, completely unaware of any issue, even complained that the stones Zhiliao had brought were ugly.
Ji Nian: "......"
Ji Nian decisively gave up on skipping stones and rode off on Da Dan instead.
Da Dan stuck out his tongue proudly, carrying Ji Nian around as he ran.
Then, they were caught by Ji Tingzhou, who wore a dangerous smile, and each received a flick on the forehead.
"She dares to ride, and you dare to run? You’re dumber than a pig. No food for you this week—you’re stuck with dog food."
"And you, feeling smug now that your injuries are healed? Forgot how you hit your head? You’re already dumb enough; if you fall again, you’ll be as dumb as a pig. Both of you can go live in the pigsty."
Ji Nian and Da Dan stood side by side, heads bowed in unison, obediently listening to the scolding.
Once Ji Tingzhou was called away, they exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that they’d do it again next time!
Zhiliao brought a towel soaked in warm water to wipe Ji Nian’s hands, a faint smile on her face that she wasn’t even aware of.
"We’ll be trying on dresses later. Are you hungry? The new pastry chef just made some black tea chestnut cream cakes."
At the mention of food, Ji Nian’s attention immediately shifted.
"Yes, yes! Let’s eat, Zhiliao. You have some with me."
Da Dan barked beside her, and Ji Nian didn’t forget to pat his head. "Da Dan gets dog treats too."
Da Dan happily nuzzled her with his head.
When the designer arrived, Ji Nian was still asking, "Do I really have to attend this banquet?"
Zhiliao patiently explained, "This is the first banquet the master is hosting, and the focus is on introducing you. You’re the main event—you have to attend."
Banquets were important social events in high society, serving as a formal acknowledgment of Ji Nian’s place and introducing her to everyone.
Even if Ji Tingzhou himself didn’t care much for these traditions, Ji Nian would eventually be living and studying in this city.
Of course, Zhiliao suspected that the main reason was Ji Tingzhou wanting to show off his daughter, who looked exactly like him.
Do you understand now?
Ji Nian didn’t understand any of this. All she knew was that the system had mentioned this scene in the original book.
‘Ji Tingzhou, who had never appeared in public before, opened the doors of the Ji Family for the first time to introduce his beloved daughter.’
But now, Ji Nian had taken on that role.
[But Ji Tingzhou’s attitude toward Shen Qingtang seems to have changed, doesn’t it...]
Ji Nian said dryly.
The system snorted coldly.
If even the system couldn’t do anything, Ji Nian certainly wouldn’t try to change things.
She hadn’t stolen or robbed anyone. If Ji Tingzhou wanted to favor someone else, that was his business.
The only thing that worried her was the idea of leaving the Ji Family and living independently once she grew up.
"What’s wrong? Don’t you like this color?"
Seeing the child’s tense expression, Zhiliao came over to ask.
Ji Nian snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Zhiliao, who was standing close by.
If I’m going to leave eventually, maybe I shouldn’t get too attached to everyone...
She realized this belatedly.
"Nothing, it’s beautiful."
Ji Nian leaned in and kissed Zhiliao’s cheek, then gave her an embarrassed smile.
The soft, fleeting touch on her cheek left Zhiliao momentarily stunned, and she forgot to press further.
Looking into Zhiliao’s starry eyes, Ji Nian remembered the system’s brief mention of Zhiliao’s fate—that she would die for Shen Qingtang.
She pretended to focus on the designer’s work, hiding the complex expression that didn’t belong on a five-year-old’s face.
Ji Nian’s fate had been changed. Perhaps Zhiliao’s could be too.
