As the morning sun rose in the sky, Senior Edina got up from her bed. She reached for the cane, a blush spreading across her face. Although she had stopped reading romance novels in her previous life due to the myriad of responsibilities, she vividly remembered the significance of this cane. It was a beautifully crafted piece, carved from dark mahogany with intricate silver inlays depicting scenes from Genma, her favorite romance novel by Xi Kong. The handle was shaped like a phoenix, symbolizing rebirth and resilience, a fitting emblem for her current situation.

Lian Hua entered the room and assisted Senior Edina with her bath, then helped her get dressed. Today, Edina was scheduled to meet with the young master of the Shining Blade Sect. His coming-of-age ceremony was approaching, making his acquaintance was something she had to do before the ceremony.

As Lian Hua helped her into a stunning hanfu of deep green silk embroidered with golden thread, symbolizing prosperity and strength, Edina’s mind wandered. The hanfu’s wide sleeves and flowing design made her look both graceful and authoritative. Lian Hua meticulously braided Edina's hair, securing it with jade pins that complemented the golden embroidery.

Senior Edina took a deep breath, steadying herself. The future might be uncertain, but she was determined to use her knowledge to navigate it successfully. She glanced at the cane one last time before picking it up, feeling a mix of nostalgia and resolve.

With Lian Hua’s support, she walked toward the meeting hall where the young master awaited. Each step she took echoed with determination, as she prepared to face the new challenges and opportunities this altered future presented.

Junior Edina had already assured Senior Edina that she was on board with her plans as long as she could live peacefully. This allowed Senior Edina to focus on navigating the present challenges without worrying about Junior Edina’s cooperation.

As Senior Edina entered the grand hall, she took in the scene before her. The room was filled with people, but one figure stood out: a girl with dark eyes and hair, possessing a graceful appearance, seated beside a martial artist of the seventh grade. Senior Edina deduced that this must be Princess Huangshu. Although she had met the princess in her past life, that was 19 years ago, making it difficult to recall her clearly.

Approaching with measured steps, Senior Edina sat beside Princess Huangshu. The princess smiled warmly and said, "You are looking quite beautiful and a bit more confident today, Edina."

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Senior Edina gulped, feeling a bit out of her depth. Unlike her previous interactions, where she could rely on Junior Edina’s experiences, this relationship with Princess Huangshu was new territory. She had never met Huangshu in her previous life and had no knowledge of how Junior Edina had behaved with her over the past week. To avoid raising suspicion, she simply nodded, maintaining a demeanor that was confident yet reserved, striking a balance that would not seem out of character.

Wei and Lin entered shortly after and took seats at the far end of the room. Lin’s gaze was fixed on Edina, her eyes filled with jealousy. Senior Edina noted this but chose to ignore it for now, focusing instead on the task at hand.

Senior Edina smiled at Lin just once. Suddenly, something entirely unexpected happened: Aunt Li Mei and Uncle Han entered the hall and sat next to their children. This was a significant change from the past. In her previous life, Li Mei only visited the Shining Blade Sect on the day of the ceremony, but now she was here a whole month early.

In the past, Aunt Li Mei stayed behind to form relations with the Mount Hua guests Aunt Qin was hosting. A disagreement eventually sparked a small-scale conflict between the Mu Family of the Blazing Dawn Sect and Mount Hua’s Feng Ling Family. This conflict delayed Aunt Li Mei from staging a heist for Edina’s inheritance. But now, with Li Mei’s early arrival, everything had changed.

Senior Edina’s head spun as she tried to consider the new possibilities. With Aunt Li Mei here, the disagreement with the Feng Ling Family likely wouldn’t happen, meaning Li Mei’s fake heist might actually succeed. In her past life, the conflict lasted three months, during which Grandfather Liang Feng convinced the elders that keeping the inheritance with Mu family was too risky given their unstable political situation with other sects. As a result, they took the inheritance back to safeguard it in the Blazing Sun Mansion.

Now, without that conflict, Edina had no idea how events might unfold. She struggled to devise a plan to secure her inheritance this time.

Despite her inner turmoil, Senior Edina knew she needed to stay calm and collected. She couldn’t afford to show any signs of distress or uncertainty.

"Good morning, Aunt Li Mei, Uncle Han," she greeted them politely, masking her unease with a warm smile.

Li Mei nodded, her sharp eyes assessing Edina. "Good morning, my dear niece. You seem well-rested."

"Yes, thank you," Edina replied, trying to project confidence.

She sat through the morning meal, engaging in light conversation with Princess Huangshu and the others, all the while her mind worked furiously to adapt to these new developments.

The sliding door opened, and Xu Lian, the sect leader of the Shining Blade Sect, walked in beside her husband, Zhang Lian, a tall man with a stern expression and broad shoulders. Their son, Tian Lian, followed. Tian was a handsome young man with striking features and a confident demeanor.

A sudden chill went through Senior Edina's spine as she noticed another young man walking alongside Tian. He had dark, piercing eyes and a calm, composed expression. His hair was tied neatly back, and his presence exuded an air of quiet authority. Senior Edina's heart raced as if it would burst out any moment, feeling a phantom pain where the non-existent whip marks used to be on her back. She recognized him immediately, even though he was much younger now. This young man was her husband from her past life, Gu Tianlong.

The sight of him brought a flood of memories—pain, betrayal, and suffering. She felt her breath quicken and her vision blur as the trauma of her past life surged to the forefront of her mind. She struggled to maintain her composure, forcing herself to take deep, steady breaths.

Princess Huangshu noticed the change in Edina's demeanor and gently touched her arm. "Edina, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.