Chapter 32: Words of Threat

A crisp slap echoed through the room. Covering her cheek, Yun Xueyan looked at Yun Xiyin with indignation.

If she wanted to make things difficult for her, why involve Ziyu?

“What a useless servant, letting your mistress take the punishment for you! Do you think I don’t matter at all?” Yun Xiyin shouted, her venomous eyes staring fixedly at the two kneeling figures on the floor.

“It was my own decision! It has nothing to do with Ziyu.” Yun Xueyan lowered her hand from her face, straightening her back. She glared at Yun Xiyin, neither humble nor overbearing.

As she studied the stubborn face before her, Yun Xiyin finally noticed the delicate lotus painted on Yun Xueyan’s cheek. Displeasure darkened her features. “What’s going on with your face?”

Was the woman before her no longer the ugly one she remembered?

“It was the royal residence’s painter who did it,” Yun Xueyan replied honestly.

Little did she expect that this offhand remark would become Yun Xiyin’s excuse to punish her.

“The painter?” Yun Xiyin frowned, slamming the table hard. “Sister, have you no shame? Have you forgotten you belong to Prince Xiao’s household—you are his concubine, yet you go and seduce the painter? If word gets out, what face will the prince’s household have left!”

Her accusations pressed down on Yun Xueyan like a thousand-pound stone, suffocating her.

There was nothing between her and Feng Xilou—how could she endure such slander from Yun Xiyin?

“Your Ladyship, please do not jump to conclusions. There was nothing improper at all. It is only when you put it that way that it becomes an issue. Are you not the one disregarding the prince’s honor?” Yun Xueyan retorted coldly, ignoring the anger on Yun Xiyin’s face.

She could not let Feng Xilou’s good name be ruined because of her.

“You—!” Choked by Yun Xueyan’s words, Yun Xiyin was forced to suppress her rage and instead smiled sweetly. “Sister, you really are something. Even with your health so poor, you insist on heavy chores. My mother felt sorry when she heard, and asked me to bring you some gifts. We really can’t neglect you, since you came as my dowry maid.”

Her voice was so soft it was barely audible if one didn’t listen closely, but to Yun Xueyan, each word stabbed like a needle, tearing at her heart.

Her back, which had only just straightened, collapsed again, leaving her half-prostrate on the floor.

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Ladyship.” Her voice was pale and weak, all her suppressed misery forced down.

Her mother… What was happening to her in the Grand Preceptor’s residence? She shook her head lightly—she could not listen to Yun Xiyin. Yun Qixiao had returned to the Grand Preceptor’s residence; nothing would happen to her mother.

Nothing would happen…

But she could not be certain, nor too confident, for Yun Qixiao could not always remain by her mother’s side.

“No need,” Yun Xiyin’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the lotus on Yun Xueyan’s cheek, recalling something Yun Qixiao had said that day. A surge of anger rose in her chest. “But as for the maid by your side, I cannot let her off so lightly! Someone so derelict is of no use to anyone!”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Ziyu.

“Yicui, take her out and give her a good lesson!”

Panic rose in Yun Xueyan’s heart. She hurriedly moved to shield Ziyu. “Your Ladyship, Ziyu is no longer a servant of Xuanyue Pavilion. She isn’t!”

Nodding in satisfaction, Yun Xiyin sat upright again. “Then it’s not a matter of disrespect to your mistress. Since she’s no longer a maid of Xuanyue Pavilion, she should not wander about freely in the future!”

Ziyu wanted to protest, but Yun Xueyan tugged her sleeve to stop her. She could only kowtow in thanks, her heart heavy with unwillingness to part from Yun Xueyan.