Chapter 4 — The General's Path

She personally instructed me in the nuances of etiquette, the complexities of managing a great household, the subtle art of distinguishing fine tea, and the appreciation of rare aromatics. In less than a month, the skin that had once been roughened and weathered by harsh winds and relentless sun transformed, becoming clear, supple, and fair. Her gaze, as she looked upon me, was the look of a gardener admiring a flower she had nurtured with her own hands, watching with immense pride as every petal regained its vitality.

A month later, the Princess of Zhennan mentioned returning me to the Prince’s estate. It was only then that the realization struck: the day of the wedding between Li Thai and Shen Danxue had arrived. I had no desire to attend, but the Princess took my hand and spoke firmly.

"You are the foster daughter I have personally chosen, and one day soon, your name shall be inscribed in the royal jade archives. You will not only stand before the high nobility of the capital, but you will also bring honor to our house. Today, consider this merely an exercise in building your courage."

Thinking of the cold disdain Li Thai had shown for my face in my past life, I consoled myself with the thought that, without my presence as an obstacle, he had finally attained his wish to marry Shen Danxue. I felt a small measure of relief, reasoning that I could simply avoid him during the ceremony. When we arrived at the Prince’s estate, the halls were decked in vibrant, joyous colors. Li Thai and Shen Danxue stood side by side in the main hall, surrounded by the family and kin of the Marquessate. It was a picture of domestic harmony and prosperity. Only Shen Zhihan stood among them, smiling, yet his expression carried a subtle, unspoken melancholy. Suddenly, as if triggered by some invisible cue, the conversation shifted to me.

"I hear the Princess has recently taken in a foster daughter?"

Recalling the Princess of Zhennan’s long-standing indifference toward her own kin, Shen Danxue frowned, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Who knows if she is truly a foster sister, or someone prepared solely for the sake of the young heir..."

The Marchioness, remembering the country girl who had arrived at the gates a month ago claiming to be kin, twisted her handkerchief nervously. "It is not my place to speak, but the Princess has been far too reckless in this matter. A girl of such unknown origins—if she is merely a seeker of wealth, she is easily dismissed. I only fear we have harbored a spy with malicious intent. When the heir sees the Princess later, he must advise her to reconsider."

The Princess of Zhennan heard the malicious speculation from the Marquessate, and her expression darkened instantly. She patted the back of my hand reassuringly before speaking. Her voice was not loud, yet it carried the heavy, undeniable authority of the royal bloodline.

"The Marquessate of Thua An need not trouble itself; my eyes have not yet grown dim. The child I have adopted is a good soul, modest, well-mannered, and possessing a pure heart. She is infinitely better than those who are submissive on the lips but harbor nothing but deceit within."

With that, she took my hand and led me into the center of the room. "Ngoc Nung, come here and let them see you."

I had not expected our next encounter to occur under such circumstances. Guided by the Princess’s expectant and encouraging gaze, I stepped forward, approaching those who were both familiar and alien from my previous life. The Marchioness turned her head and our eyes locked. Twenty years of time stood between our faces, yet they were strikingly similar. Standing there, unveiled, before the crowd, the silence in the hall became absolute. It was clear they did not recognize me as the wretched village woman who had once been cast out as a fraud. Shen Zhihan’s tongue moved faster than his thoughts. "Mother, why does she look so..."

The old Marquess coughed loudly, cutting him off before attempting to smooth the tension. "Is this the foster daughter the Princess has taken in? Indeed... her beauty is unparalleled."

The Princess did not hasten to reply. She leisurely smoothed a stray lock of hair behind my ear, her eyes flashing a provocative, challenging glance toward the Marchioness. In both this life and the last, this was the first time anyone had openly stood as my shield before the world. I leaned into the Princess, obediently whispering, "Thank you, Mother."

The Princess laughed triumphantly. "Of course. Our Ngoc Nung is not only beautiful but exceptionally intelligent and sensible. Not only I, but the entire Zhennan estate shall treasure her as the apple of our eye. Should anyone dare whisper a word against her, do not blame the estate for showing no mercy."

The Marchioness’s face turned from ash to green. Amidst the bewildered, ghostly stares of the siblings Shen Danxue and Shen Zhihan, the Princess turned and beckoned to Li Thai. "Zhi Nu, come and greet your sister, Ngoc Nung..."

For a long moment, Li Thai remained motionless. I sighed inwardly; it was just as in my past life—he was treating me like thin air. I lowered my eyes in embarrassment, assuming he held no regard for a foster sister of obscure origins. Yet, as I raised my head, I found myself ensnared in a gaze that held me fast. Li Thai’s peach-blossom eyes, which usually appeared indifferent, were now fixed intently upon my face. His gaze traveled slowly, inch by inch—from my brows to the bridge of my nose, then to my lips—as if he were desperately trying to confirm a truth he dared not believe.