Everyone in the valley was awakened, only to seem as though they hadn't been, continuing with their own tasks as if nothing had happened.
In the room, Mo Chou rubbed her eyes. She saw her young lady, her hair disheveled, her face contorted in a terrifying grimace as she choked the infant's neck.
Mo Chou leaped up and, in an instant, snatched the infant from her lady's hands. The baby was barely clinging to life, her breathing shallow.
Mo Chou patted the infant's back with a heavy heart. It took a long time to stabilize her breathing before she burst into a wail.
"My lady, have you lost your mind? This is your child!"
"My child? If not for her, would I be here? Qiao Nan, you lingering ghost, how dare you still follow me!" Yao Qing was completely beside herself, roaring in anger.
The tiny infant, who had been crying plaintively, suddenly stopped. She blinked her large eyes, a large tear still clinging to the corner of her eye, but obediently closed her mouth.
She was Su Chen's good friend. Even if she didn't know her temperament, she knew she was teetering on the brink of madness. If she dared to provoke her again, she would certainly be destroyed. Therefore, it was better to be obedient.
However, she hadn't expected Su Chen's temper to be so fierce, carrying over from her previous life into this one.
All she had wanted was to see if she was living well, forgetting that she would hold a grudge.
If she had known, she would have pretended not to know her. But it was impossible to pretend now. This girl might just drown her. It seemed better to stick close to the elder sister before her.
Qiao Nan pouted, looking at Mo Chou. Her small face became even more pitiful. While Mo Chou felt distressed, an unusual feeling welled up in her chest. She always felt as though this girl was using her.
"My lady, what are you saying? I don't understand."
Mo Chou looked at her lady intently, examining her from head to toe to ascertain if she had truly gone mad. Otherwise, why would she be like this after waking up?
Mu Qingyao's complexion turned cold. She breathed heavily, only calming down somewhat after a long while.
However, her heart remained restless. She did like this child and had eagerly awaited her arrival.
But she had never dreamed that instead of a doting little one, she would have an arch-nemesis. Now she resented it, wishing she had been more forceful back then, perhaps getting rid of her and saving herself the torment.
Moreover, Mo Chou did not understand her anger, and she couldn't explain it to her. If she truly explained, it might terrify her to death. With this thought, she waved her hand and spoke wearily.
"In short, I don't want to see her. Take her far away. Out of sight, out of mind."
The newborn infant was thus abandoned by Qing Yao.
Although Mo Chou felt sorry for her, she couldn't persuade her lady. Her lady seemed to have a vendetta against the infant. If she said any more, her lady might pounce on her again.
"Poor child," Mo Chou sighed theatrically, hoping to ignite her lady's maternal instincts.
Unfortunately, her lady seemed not to hear. She fell back onto the bed and continued sleeping. A woman who had just given birth was very weak, and coupled with her recent outburst, she fell into a deep slumber.
The newborn infant would temporarily stay with Mo Chou.
Though small, she was quiet, sleeping most of the time, which was characteristic of a newborn.
But when she was awake, she would lie in her arms with her big eyes open, remaining quiet.
At these times, Mo Chou always felt she wasn't quite like a normal infant, being excessively quiet. Her gaze was as bright as a gemstone, emitting a strange luminescence.
However, besides these oddities, there was nothing else.
Mo Chou's initial shock eventually gave way to acceptance.
Two or three days later, her lady began to experience engorged breasts and complained of discomfort. Mo Chou suggested feeding the baby, but her lady's expression immediately changed, scaring her into silence.
She truly didn't know what deep-seated hatred her lady had for the infant. It was a piece of her own flesh.
Since she couldn't breastfeed, she had to prepare some rice paste or the like to feed the infant. However, the baby didn't fuss, eating whatever she was given, then sleeping, and after sleeping, eating again, all the while quietly listening to the adults talk.
Within ten days or so, she transformed completely. She was no longer wrinkled like a newborn, nor was she as small. Her skin was a beautiful pink, her eyebrows long and slender, and her eyes were exquisite phoenix eyes. Strangely, she didn't resemble her lady at all, but looked exactly like the Emperor.
Mo Chou and Mo You sighed, lamenting why she didn't resemble her lady, but instead the Emperor. It was truly frustrating.
Ten days later, Mu Qingyao suddenly spoke with a smile.
"Mo Chou, bring the baby here."
Her demeanor, her actions, were clearly those of a wolf in grandmother's clothing with ill intentions.
But the child was hers. As a maid, she naturally dared not say anything more. Trembling with fear, she handed the pink and adorable little treasure to her mistress.
Mu Qingyao looked at her child after ten days, feeling a tremor in her heart. In the end, some pity surfaced. Although the soul within was Qiao Nan, she was indeed her own flesh and blood.
Seeing her so tender and cute, even the most ruthless mother couldn't bring herself to harm her. Even tigers do not eat their cubs.
But thinking that the reason she was here today was all due to that Qiao Nan, she felt unwilling. Therefore, even if she didn't harm her, she wouldn't let her have an easy time.
Mu Qingyao made up her mind, a smile gracing her features, her lips curling into a sinister glint. She turned to Mo Chou on the side.
"What has she been eating recently?"
"Replying to my lady, mostly rice paste. Little miss has been accustomed to it. My lady need not worry."
"Hmm, but is it nutritious? I've thought about it. Since I can't breastfeed, I must find something nutritious for the child to eat." Mu Qingyao raised her beautiful face as she spoke, thinking seriously. Finally, she said.
"How about this, from now on, feed her goat's milk three times a day."
"Goat's milk?" Mo Chou was stunned. Goat's milk was rather pungent. Would a baby drink it?
Another person was even more stunned, and that was the quiet Qiao Nan.
Her scalp tingled, and she felt like crying but had no tears. Wuwu, it seemed she was toying with her. She didn't drink goat's milk! She used to drink a mouthful and spit it out. She knew this very well.
And now, she was being made to drink goat's milk. She wouldn't drink it.
Qiao Nan was muttering to herself when a sinister voice drifted from above her head.
"If she refuses to drink it, throw her out of Heartless Valley immediately."
"My lady?" Mo Chou saw that her lady's decision was made and dared not say any more. Goat's milk it was.
And Qiao Nan, who was already nauseous just thinking about it, turned deathly pale.
Unfortunately, someone's heart filled with glee. She reached out and pinched her cheek, saying triumphantly, "I will definitely raise my darling to be plump and strong."
Her voice was terribly malicious. Qiao Nan shivered all over, her heart turning icy cold.