After the greeting, Ning Family did not speak immediately, just stood there.

Ah Chen didn’t speak either, wasn’t Ning Family here to find her? Now standing silently, what does that mean?

Ning Family felt uncomfortable inside, even though Chenchen didn’t know they were mother and daughter, Chenchen had been raised by her for over ten years, and they had been mother and daughter for more than ten years. Now that her identity has changed, is there really no sentiment at all?

First, she was asked to bow, and now she’s made to stand here silently, clearly showing no regard for any sentiment.

Ning Family felt distressed but couldn’t voice her accusations. On the surface, Chenchen was Princess An Ning.

She sighed inwardly, not understanding how her daughter could have grown such an ungrateful nature. Forget it, the truth that Chenchen is her biological daughter can never be revealed; she will just consider her not her daughter in this life.

This time she came to persuade, regardless of whether Chenchen listened or not, she was doing her utmost effort, and whatever happens in the future, she can’t change it.

"Could you dismiss everyone else first?" Ning Family finally spoke.

Ah Chen smiled, gave a glance, and Hong Zhu and Lu Zhu withdrew, leaving only Ah Chen and Ning Family in the room.

"Your Highness, it’s not easy for you to return from there. You are now the most cherished daughter of Your Majesty and Lady Li, enjoying boundless wealth and glory in the future. I came today just to offer a little advice; you can’t be as reckless as before. Even if Your Majesty and Lady Li adore you, if you do something bad, as a princess, you can’t escape the consequences." Ning Family sighed inside. If Chenchen were a true princess, it wouldn’t have mattered.

But Chenchen is not true. Last time, sending Jing’er to Bei Qi had already angered Your Majesty and Lady Li. If she doesn’t settle down, who knows if she can preserve her life?

Especially since coming back, Chenchen bullied Jing’er. Your Majesty and Lady Li were probably already somewhat angry but refrained from confronting her for the time being.

Ah Chen, however, laughed, the laughter bringing Ning Family back to reality, lifting her eyes to see the girl smiling while leaning on the chair, a not-so-friendly smile that left Ning Family speechless.

"Madam, are you teaching me how to conduct myself?"

"Have I done something bad to be lectured by you in such a manner?"

"Madam, are you referring to sending Cui Jing to Bei Qi? Hasn’t that matter passed? Besides, haven’t Madam and Mr. Cui always agreed that Cui Jing could die in my place? Isn’t there a saying, ’When the ruler wants the minister to die, the minister has to die’?" Ah Chen glanced over Ning Family’s face and continued, "But Father Emperor doesn’t seem to agree with my actions, so he compensated Cui Jing, and I hear initially she was given the title of Commandery Princess, and Cui Chen was given a small official position."

"Thanks to Madam’s reminder, I remember now. Father Emperor seems to be a wise ruler, and I really shouldn’t do anything too out of line, or I might indeed be punished by the law."

Hearing this, Ning Family felt a mix of distress and hope, relieved that she understood its importance.

"But Madam, rest assured, I won’t do things as I did last time. Since coming back, I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?" Ah Chen peered into Ning Family’s eyes, questioning, "As for having a not-so-great temper and occasionally being slightly capricious, it should be harmless, right?"

Ning Family wanted to say not to bully Cui Jing, but if she mentioned it, the other party would surely ask why, possibly incessantly, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

"Madam, do you have any other matters? If not, please go back."

Seeing Ning Family looking like she had something to say but couldn’t express it, Ah Chen stood up, walked to her, and asked, "Madam, is there something else you wish to discuss with me?"

Of course, she didn’t expect Ning Family to tell her the truth.

Ning Family is just the most typical woman in this environment, with her husband first, then her son, and lastly her daughter. She is powerless to change anything. The commissioner is indeed the other daughter, watching her biological daughter step into the abyss step by step; she would be grieved, but that’s it. When it comes to making a crucial choice, she would of course choose her husband, her son, and never her daughter.

"No, nothing else." Ning Family didn’t dare to meet Ah Chen’s eyes; those eyes were too bright, making her uneasy, as if gazing for too long would expose her heart.

This obviously wasn’t true.

If Chenchen knew the truth, she wouldn’t be like this in front of her.

She was simply anxious herself, harbouring such a massive secret, feeling a bit guilty facing her biological daughter. Suddenly feeling that standing here talking to her seemed utterly powerless.

Would Chenchen listen?

How could she possibly listen?

Ning Family’s eyes turned red, yet she didn’t lift her head: "As a subject’s wife, I just came to see how Your Highness is doing today. I hope Your Highness will be well in the future. There’s nothing else, and I shall withdraw."

"Hmm." Ah Chen returned to her seat, watching Ning Family turn to leave.

When her figure reached the door, she suddenly spoke: "Madam, it seems you have something to say, do you really not want to say it?"

Ning Family paused, gently turned her head, but lowered her eyes, her whole demeanor meek and humble, she said: "Indeed, I have nothing to say. With my status, I shouldn’t talk about such matters with Your Highness. Earlier, I forgot my position; Your Highness is no longer in the Cui Family, nor is she my daughter."

"Alright, you may go."

Ning Family didn’t dare to look at Ah Chen; having been permitted, she hurriedly left.

Lu Zhu and Hong Zhu entered, observing Ah Chen’s expression, and seeing her not appearing sad, they were slightly relieved.

"Your Majesty, you still have us." Hong Zhu offered a word of consolation, though usually quick-tongued, she wasn’t particularly skilled at comforting others.

Ah Chen laughed and said, "Not only you, but the whole of Canglan Country."

Hong Zhu was immediately amused, realizing that Your Majesty wasn’t bothered by this matter, which was truly comforting.

Lu Zhu also smiled slightly; those people weren’t worthy of Your Majesty’s sorrow. Your Majesty harbored the whole world in her heart and wouldn’t get entangled in such matters, let alone distress herself over it.

Ning Family seemed very sad, but she didn’t state the truth. It was the other party who abandoned Your Majesty first; there really was no need for such pretenses.

If Ah Chen knew what Lu Zhu was thinking, she would surely say, she was wholly focused on the mission, treating it with utmost seriousness. Having taken over, she was determined to accomplish it and remove all obstacles.

No one could obstruct her.

"It seems she didn’t listen." At night, Ning Family recounted the daytime visit to the Princess Mansion to Cui Yu with sorrow, then lamented, "Even though we aren’t officially mother and daughter anymore, I have raised her for many years, yet it seems there’s no affection at all."

Cui Yu said, "I don’t know where she got this ungrateful nature, but since she is like this, you shouldn’t worry about it anymore. Now that she’s a princess, you can’t control any of it either."

"I know," Ning Family’s eyes were red, "but she is still my daughter."

Cui Yu fell silent again, such is fate.

After turning from Cui Chen to Song Chen, taking on the Ninth Princess’s identity, she ceased to be their daughter forever.