บท 2: The Poor Gao Lan Mei

"Hmmm…" she let out a soft groan. Just completing that small action felt very uncomfortable. She felt sore all over her body.

"Hur…hurt…" She murmured, trying to test her hoarse voice. The slow movement of her mouth caused her pain as well. She tried to touch her throat that felt like dry sand, but she couldn't even lift her hands to do so. The best thing she could do now was wet her dry lips with her also somewhat dry tongue. It was the first time that she had felt so much pain, that she could barely open her eyes.

Trying to recall what had happened, flashes of images quickly appeared in her mind causing more pain. Hers, and Gao Lan Mei's memories.

At the time of the "accident", she had been forced to stay at the outer region of Mount Hua. The original Gao Lan Mei was a fool to accept the challenge of the despicable prince in order to prove her love to him.

The poor Gao Lan Mei initially believed that the prince would realize her worth after completing the challenge.

Gao Lan Mei was impulsive and proud. She thought that if she didn't go into the deeper parts of Mount Hua, nothing could possibly go wrong.

However, even though she wasn't entirely wrong, spiritual beasts still lurked on that part of the mountain and it was dangerous for anyone who couldn't cultivate.

Another fact was that she was naive enough to not consider the people around the prince. With that, the original owner of the body died when she was attacked by the spiritual beast owned by the second prince's concubine Li Huan.

Gao Lan Mei did not even think of the possibility that she would be treated as their entertainment. And that she might be left to die, being eaten by the spiritual beasts did not even cross her mind. She never even expected that regardless of what the second prince might have though, his concubine would make sure that Gao Lan Mei would not leave the mountain alive. Concubine Li Huan had undoubtedly ordered her demon wolf beast to maul her to death.

It was too late when Gao Lan Mei realized that she was going to die. She did try to save herself. Despite running with all her might, it was still impossible for her to ask for help.

She was attacked and toyed with by the demon wolf until she died. Who would have thought that someone would save her before she was dismembered by the beast?

Her efforts in running and asking for help were futile as the original Gao Lan Mei had died and had been replaced by a wandering spirit.

'Gao Lan Mei, that will be my name from now on.' She thought to herself.

In her previous life, she was only called "Miss". Her father in that life had not been able to give her a name before leaving to take revenge. She didn't even know why she had been confined. Was she being punished? She had no idea.

"Mei'er, are you awake? Are you thirsty?" Li Mao noticed her daughter frowning and attempting to move her hands.

She reached for a clean cloth to dip in drinking water. "Try to open your mouth if you are thirsty…Try it slowly…" she gently and carefully instructed her daughter. There were claw marks on her daughter's face as well. A part of the wounds even reached her lips. After her daughter slowly opened her mouth, Li Mao squeezed the wet cloth to the small opening to help her drink.

Seeing Gao Lan Mei's condition, Li Mao's eyes watered. These past few days, she had not been able to sleep. Even though she was already told by the doctor that her daughter would survive, she just could not rest while Gao Lan Mei was still unconscious.

Aside from that, she was afraid of having nightmares of her daughter still covered in blood.

Gao Lan Mei slowly tried to open her eyes, 'I can still see. Good,' she thought. She also checked her other senses. "All seems to be working aside from gathering spiritual energy." Then she looked at the teary-eyed Li Mao, "Mo... Mo... Mother…" She tried to speak again although it was hard to even open her mouth.

So this is how a mother is. The care and love could clearly be seen and felt just by looking at the Madam's eyes.

Since she was now using this body, she would live under the original owner's identity. From now on, it would be her responsibility to never make her mother cry again.