“Oh, aren’t you Duke Cao’s second son, Cao Peizhi.” Hearing Lin Ning’s mother walk her way towards the three of them, she could see that her husband did not look too pleased since this was the first that his daughter came home with a man.

“En, the crown prince sent me to take your daughter home.” Cao Peizhi said, not even realizing that Lin Ning’s father was in between protective of his daughter and fearing for his life. He had heard before that Cao Peizhi would kill people who annoyed him with just a single word which made him silent while standing there.

“Brother Pei, you don’t need to say that. You could have just let me get home by myself. Besides, my home isn’t too far away from the palace.” Lin Ning knew that he did not want to admit taking her home by his choice. She knew that he could have refused if she wanted to, but he chose to take her home in the end.

“We won’t be living near the palace soon.” Hearing her father finally speak up, Lin Ning did not know about another matter that had sprung up for her father.

“Father? What’s going on?” Lin Ning did not know what was going on for her father to say that at this time.

“Ning'er, your mother and I decided to move and live a bit further from the palace. Besides, the new house will be more spacious and will allow you and your new sibling to run and play.” Hearing her father say that, she still did not understand the reason for them to move so soon. Lin Ning felt as though something just wasn’t right nor was it fitting in place. She needed to find out the reason from her father. It was hard to know since Viscount Lin’s story was never really told in the novel and mainly only revolved around the main female lead and the main male lead.

“Brother Pei, you can leave first if you are busy.” Lin Ning did not want to involve him if it was going to be something troublesome that would occur.

“En, please be sure to let your hands heal first before you start playing your zither again.” Cao Peizhi left soon after.

Lin Ning had gone to her father’s studies, being sure to let her mother rest in bed and not stress over anything. “Father, why are we moving? We’ve lived here almost our entire lives. I know that you will not move unless there is a reason for doing so.” Lin Ning knew her father well and there was no reason for him to hide anything from her. She was now a full-grown adult that would understand his reasons.

“I really can’t hide anything from you.” Hearing her father say, he knew that his daughter would catch on quickly. “Since your mother is pregnant then I am afraid that there will be many who are displeased about this. Not only that, but I do not wish for you to be involved with such matters of the palace that have started to stir up. The palace is a cold and cruel place that one can never leave. The emperor had asked me about you, and I am afraid that he will step out of line when I am summoned there.”

‘That emperor is really asking for death!’ Lin Ning did not like the emperor to begin with. It was told in the novel that the emperor had an eye for beautiful and talented women in his harem which was why he had only two sons and one daughter since the empress herself was a jealous woman and did not want her son to have any more competition beside him. Women in his harem scheme against one another that resulted in where it was now. ‘Women in his harem, how do they fall for a man like that? Perhaps it's not the man, but the power that they seek.’ Pondering a bit, she did not understand, but it was perhaps safer for her and her mother in the end. “Father, do not ever think that you need to hide anything from me. I am your daughter, so I know when you both are struggling.” Lin Ning held onto her father’s hands, she needed to be able to tell Cao Peizhi (Wei) about the need of her moving. They would probably not see each other as often as they used to.

“Alright, go and rest for the night. We will be moving very soon so be sure to get ready.” Her father told her to make sure that she would have the energy when they needed it.

Walking back to her room alone, she heard footsteps which she figured were walking behind her. “Brother Wei, did you come to see me again?”

“I really can’t hide from you and your strong hearing.” Cao Peizhi (Wei) decided to see her while he was still there, it had been awhile since they had last met. ‘I thought that I was being pretty quiet.’ Walking to be in front of Lin Ning, he could sense that she was a little quieter than usual. “Is there something bothering your mind?” Lin Ning started to walk to her garden, catching the scent of the trees that were just about blooming with their flowers. Cao Peizhi followed after her, seeing how she was really bothered by her family moving. Not only that, but she felt as though there was going to be a lot that would happen to her family if they moved so soon.

“I feel like ever since I entered the palace, things have become a little hard for me.” Lin Ning held her head with her bandaged hands, she felt afraid that she may have been the one who caused all the trouble. “I feel like I’ve been becoming more and more of a nuisance for my parents.” Facing down, she felt as though life was twisting far more than she had expected for her role in the novel. “I should not have been born if I was going to stir up trouble.” Lin Ning felt like she should not have been there to begin with, feeling as though everything about the novel had been false or rather there were hidden things in the novel that she must have missed. ‘Is this what the last owner must have felt? I feel like there are just so many missing pieces to this owner’s body and memories.’

“Do not think that you are a nuisance!” Cao Peizhi told her, not being able to hold any longer as he hugged her to the right side of body. Being sure that she did not come into contact with his other missing forearm. ‘I thought that I was more miserable, but you suffer more than me. Every time we cross paths, you make me just want to protect you more and more.’ Lin Ning hugged into him, feeling her body shiver with her hiccups continuing. After some time, she had finally calmed down knowing that she had just soaked her blindfold.

“I’m sorry. I must look like a mess right now.” Lin Ning had taken a step back, removing her blindfold while keeping her eyes shut.

“Do not worry about such things. I will always be there for you. Do not think that holding back your tears means that you have to be strong. We will still be able to see each other, so do not worry about moving. I think it would be safer for you as well.” Cao Peizhi wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping that she did not keep crying.