Sudden Enlightenment

Grace said, "The rituals at Moonwater Abbey are truly effective. You must make sure my mother recites the scriptures I brought back every day. Don't slack off."

"Alright!" Aunt Crystal replied. "Is there anything else, Miss Grace?"

She looked at Grace, sensing that she probably had more to say than just this reminder.

"Also, while I was at Moonwater Abbey, Aunt Wan came to visit me. Did you know about that?"

Aunt Crystal nodded, "Yes, I knew."

"Do you remember if anyone visited her before she went to Moonwater Abbey to see me? Or did she visit anyone?"

Aunt Crystal thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, the Second Madam's sister-in-law had a birthday. She went back to her family for the celebration, then visited you at Moonwater Abbey afterward."

"Her family..." Grace's brow furrowed slightly.

Could it be that someone from the Wan family saw her coming in and out of the General's Manor?

From now on, she’d have to be even more careful about her movements.

"Miss Grace, why are you asking about this?" Aunt Crystal inquired.

Grace lowered her voice, "I suspect she deliberately tried to ruin my blessing ritual."

Aunt Crystal looked at Grace in astonishment.

Miss Grace would actually say something like this?

Before, she couldn’t stand anyone saying anything bad about Aunt Wan.

In the past, even a subtle hint from her would earn a sharp scolding from Miss Grace, who’d storm off and slam the door.

But now, after just one trip to Moonwater Abbey, it’s like she’s had an awakening!

"I was just one day away from completing the ritual. But she barged in and interrupted me on purpose," Grace said. "Who would believe it wasn’t intentional?"

Aunt Crystal’s gaze flickered, but she didn’t say anything.

"Aunt Crystal," Grace called. "You’ve been with my mother for over ten years. In my heart, you’re just like a real aunt to me."

"I wouldn’t dare!" Aunt Crystal said quickly.

Grace asked, "Could you help me with something?"

"What do you need, Miss Grace? Just say the word."

"My blessing ritual wasn’t finished. For my mother’s sake, I have to return to Moonwater Abbey and complete it, no matter what," Grace insisted.

Aunt Crystal was a bit superstitious.

Seeing her mistress’s health truly improving, she felt Miss Grace’s ritual must really be working.

So when Grace said she needed to go back to Moonwater Abbey, Aunt Crystal didn’t try to stop her—instead, she nodded in wholehearted agreement.

"The blessing ritual only works with close blood relatives," Grace added. "I’m about to enter the palace—this is my only chance!"

Aunt Crystal nodded nervously, "That’s true! Once you’re in the palace, it’ll be hard to perform blessings for Madam again."

"So, Aunt Crystal, if anything happens and I ask for your help, will you be there for me?" Grace asked.

Aunt Crystal nodded, "Miss Grace, if you ever need anything, just come to me. I’ll do everything I can to help you and Madam!"

"Thank you, Aunt Crystal," Grace said.

Aunt Crystal nodded, feeling her eyes inexplicably sting.

Miss Grace had finally grown up—she could tell right from wrong! It was such a pleasant surprise.

The next day, Grace’s mother’s health improved even more. She ate more and could even get out of bed and walk a little.

Grace secretly checked her mother’s pulse. The cold poison was still deep in her bones, only eased a bit by Grace’s medicine.

Her medicine was an eighth-rank spiritual elixir!

Yet it had no effect on her mother’s cold poison.

What kind of poison had her mother been given?

If only she could regain her Spirit Root and use spiritual power to check the pulse—maybe then she could figure it out.

For now, all she could do was keep things steady.