Every day, Ning Wanwan did nothing but eat and sleep. She had put on a little weight lately, but it had not diminished her beauty in the slightest; if anything, her complexion had become more rosy, her eyes shimmered with liquid light, and she was even more bewitching.
Perhaps it was Lüqiu who had tipped her off, but Madam Ning had unexpectedly sent word that she wished to see her.
The palace had not been peaceful of late. The concubines were locked in petty jealousies and power struggles, and there was even another who had recently become pregnant.
Madam Ning was around forty, yet she maintained her appearance impeccably. Her skin was fine and fair, her Liumei brows curved delicately, and those beautiful eyes were identical to Ning Wanwan’s. She was dressed in the exquisite, luxurious finery of a noble court lady; her brocade gown was embroidered with gold thread, and peonies bloomed across her skirt. With her slender, graceful figure, she looked exactly like a modern-day actress—the one who played Xiao Meiniang—which made it clear she must have been a great beauty who had stirred the hearts of the Capital City in her youth. Even Ning Wanwan found herself staring, dumbfounded; the women of the Ning Family were truly stunners, every last one of them.
It was said that Ning Luoshi’s mother was also a cold, transcendent beauty. Compared to Madam Ning’s bewitching charm, Ning Luoshi’s mother was like a pristine, aloof spirit, untainted by the dust of the world.
As soon as she saw Ning Wanwan, Madam Ning moved to bow, but Ning Wanwan caught her and held her steady.
After dismissing the servants, Madam Ning looked at Ning Wanwan, her expression earnest.
"I am already aware of your situation in the palace. Since you fell into the water and were rendered incapable of bearing children, you ought to be gripping His Majesty’s heart tightly, not pushing him away."
"There are so many beautiful concubines in the palace. What if His Majesty takes a fancy to someone else tomorrow? What if he leaves you out in the cold? How will you fend for yourself then?"
"If you have no children, you must at least have his favor."
"..."
Madam Ning rambled on at length, but Ning Wanwan was busy wondering what to have for lunch—braised pork trotters or roast duck?
Maybe she should just have both.
As she thought about it, she actually made herself hungry, her stomach letting out a loud rumble.
Madam Ning cast a disappointed glance at her, sighing in frustration, "Are you truly my daughter? How have you become someone who only knows how to eat, eat, and eat!"
She put so much emphasis on the word "eat" that a spray of saliva landed on Ning Wanwan’s face. Realizing what she had done, she felt awkward and raised her handkerchief to cover her lips.
Ning Wanwan wiped the spittle from her face with a blank expression and asked, "Are you going to eat, then?"
"Eat."
After eating her fill, Ning Wanwan let out a satisfied belch without any regard for decorum, earning a sharp, disgusted glare from Madam Ning.
"Pei Jinxiu said he would take me out for horseback riding and archery in a few days," Ning Wanwan said.
"Oh? And what about it?" Madam Ning seemed unconcerned.
"I don’t know how. What if he’s actually planning to take me out there just to throw me off a horse and kill me?"
Madam Ning: "..."
She didn't know why, but whenever Pei Jinxiu was around, she didn't feel like herself. Yet, why was it that when Madam Ning appeared, she was perfectly herself? Then again, Madam Ning was a noble court lady in front of outsiders, but with her, she was quite relaxed—she would even pick up on the trendy slang Ning Wanwan used.
"I truly suspect your brain was scorched. Your brother is a Great General of the Northwest, and you grew up alongside both His Majesty and your brother. You preferred armor over skirts, and now you’re telling me you don't know how to ride or shoot?" Madam Ning looked at her with a hint of suspicion.
"It seems Lüqiu was right. Did you actually swap my real daughter for someone else while you were in that water?"
At this, Ning Wanwan’s eyes widened. "Mother, what are you saying? How am I not your daughter? It’s just that I’ve..."
"Just that what?" Madam Ning pursed her lips, looking at her with disdain.
"Just that I have amnesia and can't remember anything from the past," Ning Wanwan explained.
Madam Ning gave her a dismissive look. "Amnesia, my foot. You’re a total fraud." She picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"Lost your memory, huh? But you haven't lost a single bit of your appetite."
Ning Wanwan: "..."
Judging by this, the original Ning Wanwan must have had a similar personality to her mother. So why were there rumors that she was arrogant, domineering, and extremely sharp-tongued? It made her sound like one of those vicious concubines in a drama.
Looking at Madam Ning’s conversation, it was clear that the original owner not only had a powerful family background but was also a pampered daughter who was loved by everyone at home. She even knew how to ride and shoot. Given that she, Pei Jinxiu, and Ning Yuanzhou were childhood sweethearts, her skills in horseback riding and archery shouldn't have been weak at all.
"You used to love wielding swords and spears. Other people’s daughters were proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but you? You were always causing trouble with a spear in your hand," Madam Ning said, speaking of Ning Wanwan’s childhood with a mix of disdain and doting affection.
"I don’t even want to mention it. Ning Luoshi would be sitting there quietly, not bothering you, but you insisted on dragging her out to play. And it wouldn't have been so bad if you’d just played, but you dragged her into the river to catch fish, and she almost got swept away."
"She came home with a high fever, and your father hung you up and beat you until you were howling. It was hilarious."
"Huh?" Ning Wanwan was shocked. She had a history like that with Ning Luoshi?
No wonder Ning Luoshi always looked at her with such cold disdain.
"And that’s not even the half of it."