The Empress Dowager looked at her, her heart pounding with fright. She had only entered the palace a month ago and had gone from a fresh, tender young girl to a hideous creature covered in lumps? This... this was too much... The Empress Dowager calmed herself, hurriedly asked her to rise, and then inquired, "What happened to your face?!"
Shih Wanying bowed her head and said softly, "It was... insect bites!"
The Empress Dowager froze, then asked urgently, "Didn't you hang up a mosquito net?" As she spoke, her gaze turned sharply towards the palace maid beside Shih Wanying.
