I Thought You Returned for a Funeral

"Why bother changing clothes!" Cindy Zhu said. "This outfit is gorgeous! Let's just go!"

"Your grandmother has mentioned you several times already. Let's go!" Grace Wan added.

Grace raised her eyebrows and agreed.

She hadn't expected that, despite returning to the manor at a different time in this life, the mother and daughter would say exactly the same things.

They both urged her not to change, but to go see the Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu right away.

In her previous life, the Dowager Lady had been displeased when she saw her wearing such plain clothes on her birthday. She'd scolded her for dressing like she was in mourning, as if she came just to bring bad luck.

Is she going to relive all of this again in this life?

But Grace didn't insist on changing her clothes.

She knew her grandmother all too well.

Even if she changed into a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, her grandmother probably still wouldn't be satisfied—she'd just find something else to nitpick.

So really, what was the point of changing?

When they arrived at the Hall of Longevity, Grace greeted the Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu with perfect etiquette: "Grace greets Grandmother."

The Dowager Lady glanced at her, her eyes cold, and slowly said the same thing she'd said in the past: "What are you here for?"

"Tomorrow is Grandmother's birthday. I rushed back from Moonwater Abbey just to celebrate," Grace replied, repeating the same words as before.

"Celebrate? I thought you came back for a funeral!" The Dowager Lady slammed her cup down on the table.

Grace looked up, genuinely surprised. "Grandmother, what do you mean by that?"

"You know tomorrow is my birthday! The whole manor is decorated with festive colors, everyone is wearing red and green, but you show up in plain white—what's that supposed to mean?"

Grace's grandmother held an extremely noble status.

She was the Dowager Princess of Blue Moon Kingdom, the emperor's own aunt.

And she was also a sixth-rank Spirit Practitioner.

In short, she was the one with real power in the Zhu Family, making all the important decisions.

The Dowager Lady had never liked Grace's mother, always thinking her status was too low—even as a concubine, she was considered beneath them, let alone as the official wife of the Prime Minister's Residence.

When her father married her mother, her grandmother was so furious she nearly kicked him out of the family.

Later, when her mother gave birth to Grace—the so-called 'good-for-nothing'—she disliked them even more.

To her, Grace and her mother were the biggest stain on the reputation of the most prestigious family in Blue Moon Kingdom.

On top of that, Grace had once caused a scene here over something, completely tearing off the facade. Since then, her grandmother couldn't even be bothered with polite words, always ready to scold her at the slightest provocation.

Just like now.

When the Dowager Lady got angry, the entire Hall of Longevity went dead silent—you could hear a pin drop.

In her previous life, Grace had feared her grandmother more than anyone.

Making her angry was definitely scarier than making her father angry.

Her father always felt that marrying her mother was an act of rebellion and disrespect toward the Dowager Lady.

So every time she upset the Dowager Lady, her father would angrily punish her.

In her previous life, whenever Grace was humiliated by the Dowager Lady, she'd say nothing and leave with her anger bottled up.

But this time, Grace didn't hold it in.

She stayed calm and explained, "Grandmother, I was copying scriptures and praying for my mother at Moonwater Abbey, so of course I wore something plain. Auntie said you were worried about me, so I hurried over to see you without changing. Please don't take it to heart."

The Dowager Lady was a bit surprised and looked her up and down.

After more than three months apart, this girl really seemed a little different.

She seemed a bit more mature.