Pain in Every Fiber

Moreover, she clearly showed signs of deficiency; her whole body radiated a fragile, almost ethereal weakness.

Yet even so, she still looked like a fairy descended to earth.

That very frailty only made her seem all the more delicate and heartbreakingly lovely.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu hadn't seen her for a long time.

Ever since Lena was bedridden, except for the time she nearly died at the beginning, when Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu glanced at her twice, she hadn't visited again.

Now, seeing her again... she still looked just like she did more than ten years ago, like a girl of eighteen. Maya Summers was truly ageless.

It was as if, while she slept, time itself had bypassed her, leaving not a single mark.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu couldn't help but compare Lena with Grace Wan in her heart.

Grace Wan was already a few years older than Lena, and had passed forty.

Though she took good care of herself, she was clearly a middle-aged woman now. The First Lady of the Blue Moon Kingdom must always maintain her dignity, but even so, time had left its mark.

Her looks... simply couldn't compare!

No wonder she couldn’t hold onto Minister Zhuo’s heart…

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu let out a sigh without realizing it.

"Mother!" Lena knelt down and gave a deep bow. "I have been unfilial, all these years I haven’t come to pay my respects to you."

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu looked at her with complicated emotions. "It seems your health really has improved."

"Yes!" Lena replied. "Thanks to the Old Madam’s blessings and protection!"

"Sit down," the Old Madam said coolly.

Lena nodded, then turned to Grace Wan and gave her a respectful bow. "First Lady of the Blue Moon Kingdom, I haven’t congratulated you yet!"

"Oh, First Lady, you’re too kind!" Grace Wan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Seeing you well again truly makes me happy!"

Lena smiled at her.

And it was obvious she took those words to heart, her smile pure and genuine.

Grace Wan just couldn't stand that eternally kind and innocent face—it made her insides squirm and her organs ache.

How could she possibly be well?

How could she really have recovered?

That was Winterbane—the most notorious cold poison on the continent!

"Mother," Maya Summers suddenly said. "Big Brother’s birthday is coming up. In the past, Sister-in-law was too ill to handle the arrangements, but now that she’s recovered, shouldn’t she take charge this year?"

Grace Wan shot Maya Summers a look.

Another ungrateful wolf!

No matter how she tried to win her over, no matter what favors she gave, Maya Summers’ heart was always with that wretched Lena!

The Old Madam pondered for a moment, then said, "She hasn’t seen anyone for over ten years—she wouldn’t recognize anyone, and she’s never handled it before. The First Lady of the Blue Moon Kingdom should do it instead!"

"Well..." Grace Wan put on a troubled face as she looked at Lena, but her eyes flashed with challenge and pride.

"Mother is right!" Lena said. "First Lady of the Blue Moon Kingdom, it’s best if you handle these affairs."

"In that case, you should just focus on getting better," Grace Wan said.

No matter what happened, she would never relinquish control of the Zhuo Estate’s household management. That power was hers alone.

...

They sat for a while, then the Old Madam sent them all away.

Azure Phoenix and Aunt Crystal supported Lena on either side, leading her toward Jade Hall.

Aunt Crystal whispered, "The Old Madam is much kinder than before. I thought she would make things difficult for you."

Lena smiled faintly and nodded. "Didn’t I tell you she wouldn’t?"

"In the past, the Old Madam really wasn’t friendly to you!" Aunt Crystal said, frowning.

When Lena first entered the household, she truly had a hard time with the Old Madam.