Chapter 6: Memories

Unfortunately, in this world, Zhao Erdong was a complete failure—a hopeless failure—with zero innate spiritual power.

Everyone is born with some degree of innate spiritual power, and the amount they possess directly predicts their future achievements.

It is said that geniuses are rare, appearing once in a hundred years, but someone as utterly useless as Zhao Erdong, a failure to the extreme, is hardly seen even once in a thousand years.

Having zero innate spiritual power was unprecedented in the Great Moon Kingdom, and even across the entire Eastern Continent.

For a time, Zhao Erdong’s birth became a joke, a thorn in the Prime Minister’s side, and a stain upon the entire Prime Minister’s residence.

The Prime Minister had five daughters and three sons, and except for Zhao Erdong, each one was exceptionally gifted, inheriting all the glory of the Prime Minister’s youth.

If Zhao Erdong had been born to a concubine, it might have been easier to find some excuse to send her away—whether out of the household or into a monastery—so she wouldn’t have to live as a constant irritant in their eyes.

But Zhao Erdong was born to the legitimate wife, whose family was immensely powerful, being the eldest daughter of the Duke of the Great Moon Kingdom. With such formidable backing, even the proud Prime Minister had to live with this thorn in his side.

No matter how useless or hopeless Zhao Erdong was, she was still her mother’s heart and soul. Yuan Bairong, her mother, used every possible method to try to transform her daughter’s body and spirit. Even if Zhao Erdong could not become a genius, she hoped her daughter would at least develop enough strength to protect herself.

Yet, no matter how hard Yuan Bairong tried, she could not change Zhao Erdong’s hopeless constitution.

Despite everything, Yuan Bairong doted on her disabled daughter, and as long as she was alive, Zhao Erdong never suffered any serious grievances. But all of this only lasted while Yuan Bairong was healthy.

Three years ago, Yuan Bairong suddenly fell ill and became bedridden for years, drifting in and out of consciousness, her life sustained only by medicine. Without her mother’s protection, Zhao Erdong’s status in the household plummeted. Not only did the concubines and half-sisters treat her cruelly, but even the maids and servants spoke coldly and disrespectfully to her.

Zhao Erdong’s constitution was abysmal; she was sickly and weak almost constantly. No matter how many tonics she drank or rare medicines she took, her health showed no improvement.

Since Yuan Bairong’s illness, Zhao Erdong’s days became more and more miserable. She no longer received nourishing supplements, and often couldn’t even have a proper meal.

That was not the worst of it. Zhao Erqin, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, relentlessly bullied and abused Zhao Erdong—beating her, scolding her, and often withholding food to starve her. Yet strangely, the seemingly fragile Zhao Erdong endured it all unscathed, which baffled everyone.

Baihe carried Zhao Erdong into the Tingyu Pavilion. Aside from the courtyards where the Prime Minister, his wife, and the matriarch lived, the Tingyu Pavilion was the largest in the residence, its luxury rivaling even the main courtyard of the Prime Minister and his wife. This was all arranged by the wife herself years ago, showing how much she loved her daughter.

But now, the lavish furnishings had been taken by the concubines and half-sisters. Besides a few tables and chairs, there was nothing else left in Tingyu Pavilion.

Baihe gently laid Zhao Erdong on the bed. Only then did Zhao Erdong, who had been closing her eyes, slowly open them. The large eyes, once dull, now shimmered with radiance, her black pupils gleaming like onyx gems.

Baihe thought she must be seeing things and rubbed her eyes, but the young lady was already sitting up, her dark eyes as clear and sharp as ever.