With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

at night,

Mrs. Shen combed Shen Nannan's hair.

"Her hair has grown quite a bit. Before she left, it only reached her waist."

"Hmm." Shen Nannan lowered her head, her voice muffled. "It's been two years."

Madam Shen paused for a moment, then continued combing her hair.

For two years, more than 700 days and nights, all she thought about was her daughter.

The border region was bitterly cold, and when she couldn't sleep at night, she would sit up and look at the moon, wondering—what did my daughter eat today? Did she wear enough clothes? Was she bullied?

"daughter."

"Um."

"You and Dad...are you really not going to the border anymore?"

Madam Shen was taken aback for a moment, then reached out and gently patted her back.

"What's wrong? Didn't you used to complain that we were too controlling? You wished we could go far away from you."

"I didn't understand before... but I do now."

As Madam Shen looked at her, a strange feeling welled up inside her.

This child has really changed a lot. The spoiled, willful little girl who used to throw tantrums at the drop of a hat seems to have grown up overnight.

"I'm not going. Your father is also thinking of resigning from his official post this time."

"Resign?"

"Yes, your father holds a large army and has made great contributions this time. There is no more reward to be given... The emperor is... very suspicious... Your father is getting old and just wants to stay with you and Run'er and live a peaceful life."

Shen Nannan was startled. She had been wondering how to tell her father, but it turned out he already knew.

The saying goes, "When the rabbit dies, the hound is cooked." This imperial power, this excessive merit, is a burden in itself.

"Look at me, why am I telling this to a young woman like you who's not even married yet? By the way... tell your mother honestly, Wan'er... what exactly happened?"

Shen Nannan's body stiffened slightly as she lifted her head from her mother's arms.

My mother was always kind to this orphan from my brother's family; she was also a gentle and kind person...

"Mother, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Madam Shen's heart sank: "The truth."

Shen Nannan took a deep breath and recounted Lin Wan'er's actions one by one—poisoning her, instigating Shen Yin to harm her, and colluding with Qian Mingyuan in an attempt to destroy the Shen family.

As Madam Shen listened, her face gradually paled.

"She...she really did those things?"

"Um."

Madam Shen's hands were trembling. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were red.

"It's all my fault. I spoiled her too much. I always felt sorry for her, that she had lost her parents, and wanted to give her more love..."

"Mother," Shen Nannan grasped her mother's hand, "it's not your fault. It's her own choice. You've been so good to her, and instead of being grateful, she's trying to harm our family. This isn't your fault."

Mrs. Shen looked at her daughter, and tears fell from her eyes.

"Nannan, do you hate her?"

Shen Nannan was silent for a moment.

Do I hate it? Yes, I hate it.

In her past life, Lin Wan'er caused her family to be destroyed, her father to die unjustly, and her brother's body to be lost forever.

She wished she could kill her with her own hands.

But she couldn't say that. If she did, her mother would be even more upset.

"Mother. I don't hate her. But I can't let her live."

Madam Shen was taken aback.

"She's in the Censorate, so she won't die anytime soon. Once the case is cleared up, she'll be sentenced accordingly. I won't let her die easily, nor will I give her another chance to harm anyone."

Looking at her daughter, Madam Shen suddenly felt a surge of indescribable bitterness in her heart.

This child is stronger and more ruthless than she imagined.

But this ruthlessness was forced upon him.

"Mother understands." Madam Shen wiped away her tears. "I won't interfere in her affairs anymore. You can handle it as you see fit."

"Nannan," her voice was hoarse, "you've grown up."

"Yes. You've grown up. You can help your mother with her worries now."

Mrs. Shen then talked to her for a long time, from eating to sleeping, from sleeping to dressing, from dressing to not going out on rainy days, rambling on and on, but every word she said warmed her heart.

"Oh, right," Madam Shen suddenly remembered something, "what do you think about your brother and the Qiu family girl?"

Shen Nannan smiled: "That's great. Sister Qiu Tong is a good person, she can keep my brother in check. My brother doesn't go to the gambling den anymore when he's with her."

Madam Shen smiled as well: "That's true. I like Qiu Tong from the first time I saw her. She's straightforward and kind-hearted; it's a pity she's paired with your brother."

"Then Mother, hurry up and propose marriage. Don't let Sister Qiu Tong get away."

Madam Shen patted her hand with a smile: "What's the rush? Your brother hasn't figured it out yet. I'll go when he does."

"He's long since figured it out. He's just too stubborn to say it."

Madam Shen glanced at her: "How did you know?"

"I see it every day." Shen Nannan's lips curled into a smile. "In front of Sister Qiu Tong, he's like an obedient big dog. He wouldn't dare go west if told to go east, and he wouldn't dare sit if told to stand."

Madam Shen laughed out loud: "If you talk about your brother like that, he might beat you up."

"He wouldn't dare."

The mother and daughter laughed for a while, then Mrs. Shen stopped laughing and looked at her daughter.

"My little girl."

"Um."

"What are your plans regarding your marriage to the Pei family?"

Shen Nannan's smile faded.

"Mother, I want to annul the engagement."

Madam Shen was not surprised, as if she had already guessed it.

Why?

"The Pei family sided with the Crown Prince. And when the Shen family was in trouble, the Pei family stayed far away. I don't want to marry into a family like that. Besides, I don't like him."

Madam Shen remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"You're right. I don't think that Pei family kid is any good either. I used to think he was gentle and polite, but now that I think about it, he's slippery."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Fine, let's cancel. I'll talk to your father."

"Thank you, Mother."

"What are you thanking me for?" Madam Shen pinched her cheek. "You're my daughter, of course I'm on your side."

Shen Nannan smiled and leaned back on her mother's shoulder.

The room was quiet for a while, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire.

"Nannan," Madam Shen suddenly spoke, her voice soft.

"Um."

"Tell your mother, do you have someone you like?"

Shen Nannan's body stiffened for a moment.

"No," she said, her voice muffled.

"No?" Madam Shen looked down at her. "Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not famous."

"It's red. Its ears are all red."

"It's...it's hot."

Madam Shen stared at her and smiled.

"My dear, I've been through this before." Her voice was gentle. "You can't hide it from me."

Shen Nannan bit her lip and remained silent.

"Whose son is he?" Madam Shen asked. "Anyone who can capture our daughter's heart must be quite remarkable."

Shen Nannan's face turned even redder, and she buried her face in her mother's arms.

"Mother... please don't ask anymore."

"What? You're still too embarrassed to say it?"

"No...it's...it's just not the right time yet."

Madam Shen raised an eyebrow: "Not yet? Does that mean you're really pregnant?"

Shen Nannan remained silent.

Madam Shen smiled and gently patted her back.

"Alright, alright, Mother won't ask. Tell Mother when you're ready."

Shen Nannan lifted her head from her mother's arms and looked at her with red eyes.

"daughter."

"Um."

"He...he's a very good person. He's very good to me. Especially good. In this life, I will only marry him."

"Alright." Madam Shen reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Mother will wait. Waiting for you to bring him to see Mother."

Shen Nannan nodded vigorously, tears falling again.

"Why are you crying?" Madam Shen smiled. "This is a good thing."

"I'm just... happy."

Madam Shen pulled her into her arms, hugged her, and gently patted her back.

"As long as you're happy. My dear, your happiness is my happiness."

Shen Nannan buried her face in her mother's arms, smelling her scent—a faint scent of soapberry and the warmth of the sun.

This is the taste of my mother, a taste she has never forgotten in her two lifetimes.

"Mother." Her voice was muffled.

"Um."

"Please don't leave me."

"I won't leave."

"I will never leave."

"Okay. I'll never leave."

Late at night.

Shen Nannan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The joy of reuniting with my parents during the day was still lingering in my heart, but I felt empty inside, as if something was missing.

She got up, put on a coat, and went out into the yard.

The moonlight, as clear as water, spilled into the courtyard, bathing everything in a silvery glow. The peach blossoms were in full bloom; a gust of wind sent the petals fluttering down like a pink rain.

She walked to the peach tree, reached out and caught a falling petal, silently reciting that name in her heart.

Achao.

What are you doing right now?

Have you missed me?

"think."

A deep, hoarse voice suddenly came from behind.