It was the leaf pendant that Ji Ruchen gave me. It settled in my dantian, and it absorbed all my spiritual power.

No wonder I'm in this bird-like state even though I've already ascended to immortality. It turns out you've consumed my spiritual power. What am I going to do?

Although I've always been an unconventional princess, I wouldn't be so magnanimous as to ignore someone else taking over my dantian.

What should I do? Should I talk to my second brother and see if he can help me?

But this was given to me by Ji Ruchen. What if it's a treasure or something? Wouldn't I be rich? My second brother is such a miser. Once he sets his sights on something, there's no way I can get it back.

Besides, this was given to me by Ji Ruchen. Even if it really wants to eat me, I still have to feed it, right?

This is the only connection between him and me.

If we just take it out and throw it away, wouldn't that mean we'd have nothing to do with Ji Ruchen anymore? No, no, absolutely not. We need to think of another way.

I've got it! Let's see what it's written in the storybooks before deciding whether to tell my second brother.

"Yinzheng, Huazheng, go to the Treasure Pavilion and get all my storybooks for me, read them to me one by one."

I summoned my personal maids and asked them to fetch the storybooks I had collected over the years, to see if there was any good way to retrieve this leaf and hang it around my neck.

After calling for a long time, no one responded.

This is really strange. How come there isn't a single person left? What should we do?

Just as I was wondering whether I should go by myself, a very faint fragrance of osmanthus wafted from outside the door.

This smells like... it's like Mother has returned.

Sure enough, a flash of golden light appeared, and a beautiful woman in purple robes, resembling a Bodhisattva, appeared beside the bed. It was none other than my long-lost mother.

I happily called out, "Mother!"

I haven't seen my mother for a long time, and I really miss her terribly. After all, this is the first time I've been away from my father and mother all by myself.

Before the Empress Dowager could reply, another burst of white light descended. When the light dissipated, a young man in white stood gracefully, his flawless face covered in charcoal ash, and he was holding a medicine bowl in his hand, looking quite disheveled.

It was Mo Han. The medicine was ready. With a wave of his hand, the medicine bowl landed steadily on the table.

When Mo Han saw my mother, he straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes and used a dust-removing spell.

Only then did he respectfully address her as "Aunt," unaware that his face was also covered in charcoal ash.

"Mo Han is back too. He hasn't gone to see your father yet, has he?"

Mo Han answered honestly, "Yes," but I was confused. I didn't know when Mo Han went to the mortal realm.

"How do you feel? How could you be so foolish? It's all my and your father's fault, yet you've suffered because of it. Your mother is sorry."

After accepting Mo Han's greeting, the Empress Dowager turned to ask me.

I immediately comforted him, almost jumping up and down to prove that I was perfectly fine.

When my mother saw that I still had the energy to act recklessly, she was amused by me.

Mo Han brought the medicine to his mother, but she didn't take it. She made an excuse to leave and told Mo Han to take good care of him.

Mo Han readily agreed, habitually guaranteeing that he would absolutely complete the task.

Such scenes have played out countless times in the past three thousand years.

Every time Mo Han came, my family would intentionally or unintentionally arrange for me to be alone with him.

Even if there's no opportunity, I'll create one. I'm not afraid that Mo Han will steal me away.

Over time, I became very attached to Mo Han.