The man who was once hailed as the most powerful person in the kingdom no longer possessed the bearing or demeanor of a ruler. The dignity, majesty, and strength he used to exude, which made him respected and beloved by his people, was gone.
Hou Jingshu sat beside the bed and held her father’s hand. His hands used to be large and strong, sturdy and reliable, but now they were weak and frail--so skinny she could see the bones. It hurt to see him like this. The ache in her chest was only second to the hole that had appeared when she learned of the Wu Clan’s destruction.
Ever since she had returned to the Imperial Capital, Hou Jingshu had spent her time either cultivating, taking care of her father, or sending letters to Wu Jian. That last activity had stopped a few months ago. The Wu Clan
