Ailuo Wen was radiant. The moment she entered, she caught the eyes of many nobles.
“Who is that? I’ve never seen her before.”
“She looks just like an elf I saw in the forest. I wonder which family’s daughter she is.”
“I remember now!”
It took a long while for a maid who often brought things to Ailuo Wen to connect her face with the sun-like beauty before her.
Once they knew this mysterious young lady was Ailuo Wen, many people’s expressions turned sour.
Some regretted their earlier frivolous words—after all, she was a princess consort, one of Xinxiwusi’s Inner Palace.
Others were the fellow princess consorts.
Every princess consort would purchase high-end ceremonial gowns like Moon Shadow, and the tailor would arrange different details for each of them.
Yet these subtle differences and details were utterly eclipsed by Ailuo Wen’s appearance.
When comparing people, one dies; when comparing goods, one discards.
But beauty, after all, couldn’t be eaten. Moreover, no woman likes a woman more beautiful than herself.
All the princess consorts knew Ailuo Wen’s position in the palace; anyone who proactively showed her kindness would be asking for trouble.
One woman broke this situation.
A woman wearing the same style of ceremonial gown as Ailuo Wen walked over with dignified steps.
“Princess Consort Ailuo Wen, I haven’t seen you in this dress before. It suits you surprisingly well.”
Every expression on her face was perfectly measured, clearly bearing the mark of etiquette academy training.
She was the eldest daughter of the Moon Serpent Royal Family, a Half-step Sword Saint, and one of the three most powerful princess consorts in the Inner Palace—Meiluxina.
On ordinary days, before Ailuo Wen was brought into the Inner Palace by the King, seeing Meiluxina before her would have only made her kowtow.
Just as Ailuo Wen was about to speak, another princess consort beside Meiluxina spoke up.
“Ailuo Wen, even though you’re pregnant, you can’t be so rude, can you? You haven’t shown any courtesy when meeting Princess Consort Meiluxina.”
Ailuo Wen’s simple mind completely failed to realize that this was a provocation. She even started blushing.
“What courtesy…”
The person she dealt with most often was an anvil. She had absolutely no experience with formal occasions like this.
Meiluxina’s lips curled upward. Her goal was to make this fake princess consort, who came from a blacksmith’s background, a laughingstock. She couldn’t accept being outshone by her.
Lai En silently memorized this woman’s name and face, but there was nothing he could do now.
Fortunately, Nina beside her spoke up.
“Dear princess consort, allow me to remind you: Princess Consort Meiluxina and my mistress are no different in essence. Both are consorts of King Xinxiwusi.”
Inside the womb, Lai En understood that this was cleverly phrased, avoiding the fact that the King had never once visited Ailuo Wen.
At the tea party, no one would pierce that thin window paper.
Sure enough, the other woman could only shut her mouth resentfully.
Meiluxina, on the other hand, seemed very happy. She chatted with Ailuo Wen about this and that, and finally left as if reluctant to part.
‘Women like this are the most terrifying…’
Lai En observed the situation at the tea party. Other princess consorts could hardly hide their hostility toward Ailuo Wen, but this woman disguised it well.
She was the type to stop at nothing, using everyone.
As long as Ailuo Wen could become a piece in her rise to power, she was worth winning over.
After this tea party, Lai En gained a rough understanding of the Inner Palace’s situation.
But in any case, Lai En finally saw his mother Ailuo Wen’s smiling face at this tea party.
Even if this peaceful, happy time couldn’t last long, it still made Ailuo Wen much happier.
No longer like before, where she was as self-conscious as a mouse at the tea party, having no presence.
Lai En felt satisfied. Bringing out that gold bar wasn’t a wasted effort.
……
[After the tea party, your mother Ailuo Wen returned to normal life]
[Unlike before, many servants surrounded her, but aside from Nina, they were all people seeking profit]
[The once desolate courtyard now had life]
[You also spent a period of boring but happy time]
[Ailuo Wen would sometimes stroke her belly and talk to you. In this world, you were the person closest to her]
[She wasn’t well-educated, nor did she have many skills to pass on to you. She would just tell you some jokes and anecdotes that could make you smile knowingly]
[Sometimes she would feel sad—probably thinking about Xinxiwusi, who had never come even once]
[Compared to her previous life, she was much happier, but she was unwilling to mention that man who was honored as King]
[Thus, days passed one after another, until one morning]
[Nina, unlike usual, didn’t bring Ailuo Wen’s favorite Cream Clam Chowder early in the morning]
[“Nina? Nina!?”]
[Ailuo Wen called for her most loyal maid]
[Instead, a woman she didn’t recognize entered the room carrying a bowl of medicinal soup]
[“Who are you? Where’s Nina?”]
[You noticed that this maid was the same one who had brought the poisoned soup before]
[You wanted to warn Ailuo Wen, but it was impossible. You were just a powerless embryo]
[“This is… a medicinal soup good for the body. Please drink it.”]
Such a flimsy reason… Lai En couldn’t think of anyone besides a foolish woman like Ailuo Wen who would believe such an excuse.
[“Where is Nina? Who are you really?”]
Lai En didn’t know that thanks to a friend, his mother could actually become smart.
But unfortunately, the woman had already rushed over, holding Ailuo Wen’s head down and forcing the soup down her throat.
[Soon, the situation from the previous reality simulation repeated itself]
[The maid stood in place, waiting for Ailuo Wen to die in agony]
[Ailuo Wen clutched her belly. Her pupils first shrank to the size of a pinprick, then slowly dilated, losing their light]
[Host, you are not dead yet]
Lai En heard the System’s prompt and suddenly realized.
That’s right, I’ve awakened the High Endurance Physique. It seems this poison can’t kill me immediately.
“She’s confirmed dead…”
The maid’s face was expressionless. She turned to leave.
But the next moment, a burst of killing intent erupted behind her.
“Huh?”
She turned around, immediately furrowing her brows as goosebumps spread across her skin.
Princess Consort Ailuo Wen had actually stood up.
And on her originally well-proportioned face, black insect shells and fangs had appeared.
No, not just her face—her entire body was covered.
This hellish sight froze her in place.
“My god…”
Before she could finish her words, a blade made of insect shells and fangs pierced through her chest, with the bloodstained half protruding from her back.
Under normal circumstances, Lai En couldn’t have done this inside the living Ailuo Wen. But since Ailuo Wen was dead, he could act.
After killing the poisoner maid, Lai En struggled out the door and found Nina lying in the courtyard, covered in blood.
She alone had guarded Ailuo Wen’s door to the death. The other servants were long gone.
[You gently closed Nina’s eyes]
[Without the protection of the mother body, your life force had already drained away]
[You are dead. Simulation ended.]
……