"Phew—" Ajiao finished weaving the last section of the straw mat and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Ajiao, come over and rest. Have something to eat and drink," Guantao called out from the doorway.
"Coming, coming!" Ajiao wiped away a bead of non-existent sweat from her forehead, rolled up the mat, and left it by the door before hurrying inside with excitement.
This was Ajiao’s third year of recovery in Yidu. By now, the cracks upon her soul were nearly invisible.
She immediately began to act spoiled. Having stayed in the underworld for so long, formal titles like "Grand Empress Dowager" or "Empress Dowager" had become inconvenient to use. Consequently, everyone had simply switched to the forms of address used in ordinary families.
"Ajiao is truly skilled with her hands. Come, Great-Grandmother shall reward you with a plate of fish jelly cake."
"Thank you, Great-Grandmother! I love your cooking the most." Although Ajiao had been of a significant age before she died, she looked young now. Over the past three years, doted upon by her mother and grandmother, she felt no psychological pressure at all when acting like a pampered child.
Dou Yifang emerged from the kitchen carrying tea soup. She glanced around and asked, "Where is Piao'er?"
Ajiao’s eyes crinkled into crescents. "Mother went out. She went to deliver snacks to Grandfather and my uncles."
"Oh, that child. She should have taken some tea soup as well," Dou Yifang said, shaking her head.
Over these three years, Ajiao felt that her mother had become increasingly happy. Most importantly, she seemed to be growing closer to Lord Shen Zhi. The snacks she had just taken to her uncles undoubtedly included a portion destined for the Reincarnation Platform. *Sigh...* Ajiao wondered when there would finally be a result between them.
"Silly child, what are you smiling at?" Dou Yifang walked over and patted Ajiao’s head. The girl was smiling foolishly at thin air.
"It’s nothing." Ajiao took a bite of the fish jelly cake, her gaze darting between Dou Yifang and Lady Bo. After a moment, she couldn't help but say, "My mother..."
"Hmm? What about Piao'er?" Lady Bo took a sip of the tea soup.
"Uh... I think Mother is becoming more and more beautiful."
"Oh, isn't she just?" Lady Bo agreed. "A few days ago, Piao'er wore that pink floral outfit. I made one for Asi, but Asi refused to wear it. It clearly looked wonderful on Piao'er, and they’re about the same age—Piao'er is even a few years older."
Mortal ghosts in the underworld could manifest as they appeared at any age during their lifetime. In recent years, and especially over this past year, Ajiao felt her mother’s appearance was growing younger and younger. Now, she looked exactly like a girl of sixteen or seventeen.
Ajiao herself currently looked to be in her twenties. It was becoming increasingly difficult to call her "Mother." Ajiao touched her own face and sighed inwardly.
After the three finished their tea and snacks, they went outside to sit under the newly built grape trellis to enjoy the breeze.
Ever since Ajiao arrived in Yidu, the number of times Wang Zhi visited Emperor Wen’s residence had dwindled.
Ajiao usually didn't bother giving her a pleasant expression anyway. In her past life, she had endured enough of that woman's temper as a daughter-in-law for nothing; she would have to be a fool to keep catering to her now.
***
As Guantao reached the gate, she noticed someone crouching beside the entrance.
"Dong Yan? Why are you here?" About two months after she had brought Ajiao back, Shen Zhi told her that Dong Yan’s confinement had been lifted, and she had even made a special trip to visit him. Later, she became fully occupied with caring for Ajiao and rarely left Yidu, so she hadn't run into him much. However, Dong Yan had sent people to deliver things to her several times—exquisite trinkets and toys. Seeing that Ajiao enjoyed playing with them, she had kept them all.
"I... Yan... I have not seen Your Highness for a long time, so I came to pay my respects. I didn't expect..." Dong Yan was at a loss, his hands fidgeting.
"Then come in and sit for a while." Guantao opened the door and gestured for him to enter.
Dong Yan froze.
"You've come all this way; you might as well step inside!"
Dong Yan followed her in, feeling his heart beat faster and faster.
"Ah, Mother, you're back." Seeing Guantao, Ajiao hurried over to take the basket from her hands. Suddenly, she spotted the person behind her. "Mother, who is this?" Ajiao didn't quite remember what Dong Yan looked like.
Guantao smiled, patted Ajiao’s hand, and stepped forward to introduce him to Lady Bo and Dou Yifang. "Grandmother, Mother, this is Dong Yan."
*Dong Yan?!!!*
Why did Mother bring him back?
"I saw him at the gate just now. He happened to be checking on how Ajiao’s recovery was going, so I invited him in. Dong Yan, please, have a seat."
Ajiao brought a mat for Dong Yan.
Dong Yan hurriedly declined. Perhaps it was because he was in the presence of two Grand Empress Dowagers, but he felt as though he couldn't utter a single word.
And yet, when he had first met the Emperor years ago, he hadn't been afraid at all. Why was this happening now?
Dou Yifang looked Dong Yan up and down. She had heard about this man from Piao'er—she even knew that Piao'er had insisted on being buried with him before she died. But seeing him today, she felt he was far from what she had imagined. He seemed dull and wooden, though he was certainly much handsomer than Chen Wu. How had Piao'er been so infatuated with him?
Guantao brought a cup of water to Dong Yan. He stood up abruptly to receive it. "Princess, please, you sit!"
Ajiao kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, not daring to speak.
Lady Bo, however, did not know who Dong Yan was and engaged him in casual conversation.
Even after Dong Yan left the house, he still felt as if he were in a dream.
Why hadn't he been afraid back then? Why was he like this today?
Dong Yan walked away, feeling lost and dejected.
Perhaps it was because, back then, he knew that no matter what he said, the Princess would always support him.
***
Dou Yifang pulled Guantao into a room, looking quite displeased. "So that is the Dong Yan you spoke of? How could you have been so infatuated with him back then, bringing so much infamy upon yourself?"
The Guantao before her looked like a young girl. For a moment, Dou Yifang felt she was seeing the Guantao of old: she couldn't get along with Chen Wu, had endless conflicts with Chen Wu’s mother, and would return to the palace to stay every few days, only to have a row with her Imperial Father each time.
"He was indeed considerate and understanding back then; he made me very happy. As for today, he was likely just nervous seeing you and Grandmother," Guantao said with a nonchalant smile.
"Then you won't be seeing him anymore, will you?" Whenever Dou Yifang thought about how much criticism Piao'er had to endure in the mortal world because of this Dong Yan, she couldn't bring herself to like him. Moreover, her first impression of him today was far from satisfactory.
"We probably won't see each other in our daily lives. Alright, Mother, I have serious business today. Shen Zhi said he has finished his duties and will be coming over to check on Ajiao. If there are no problems with her body, she will participate in the second batch of trials for the Reincarnation Platform in ten days."
Ajiao pushed the door open and ran in, startled.
"Huh? So soon?"
