These words were spoken not only to Madam Lou, but to everyone present.
The laws of the Bei State were strict; for a concubine to bully the legitimate daughter was something anyone would find disgraceful. As expected, Madam Lou dared not utter any more baseless words.
“Jun Qingnian, you are the concubine-born, I am the legitimate daughter. Your mother falsely accused me, so you will take her punishment. That is only fair.”
“Yu Zhu, take the concubine-born young miss outside to kneel. She is not to rise until three hours have passed.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“I… no… Second Sister, you can’t do this…” Jun Qingnian fell to her knees with a thud, crying pitifully, like a pear blossom bathed in rain—fragile and pitiable.
Jun Ning remained unmoved.
Seeing herself about to be dragged away, Jun Qingnian suddenly crawled forward a few steps and threw herself before Xiao Yunjie.
“Your Highness Prince Jing, you have always been close with Second Sister. Please, I beg you to plead for me. Qingnian begs you…”
The sight of a delicate beauty weeping humbly at his feet softened Xiao Yunjie’s heart.
She was right—Ah Ning had always been close to him. If he spoke up, surely she would not refuse?
With this thought in mind, Xiao Yunjie said: “Ah Ning, you are sisters, living under the same roof. Such punishment will only harm harmony. Why not…”
The moment he spoke, Jun Ning felt not only hatred toward him, but also a surge of disgust and revulsion. So everything had always shown signs—she had simply been blind in her past life, unwilling to see.
Perhaps Xiao Yunjie had truly liked her once, but only as one might like a valuable plaything.
“Fifth Brother, if we don’t enter the palace soon, Father will grow impatient from waiting and may blame us.” Xiao Moyuan rose with Cang Ying’s support, seemingly unaffected by the turmoil outside. He spoke calmly as Cang Ying helped him toward the door.
“Brother, wait…” Xiao Yunjie hurried to speak, but Jun Ning immediately seized upon Xiao Moyuan’s words, bowed, and said: “I respectfully send off the two princes.”
Xiao Yunjie: “…”
And just like that, before leaving, Xiao Yunjie still tried to persuade Jun Ning.
Once the group departed, Jun Ning waved her hand. “Yu Zhu, take her outside to kneel.”
“Don’t touch me! Jun Ning, do you dare defy Prince Jing’s words?” Jun Qingnian’s face turned deathly pale. Since birth, she and her mother had lived on the estate. Only after the legitimate wife died were they brought into the household. Now, to be punished by Jun Ning and forced to kneel—her heart seethed with hatred.
Why should Jun Ning be the legitimate daughter? Why should she be favored by Prince Jing?
“Jun Ning, even if I wrongly accused you, Nian’er is still your elder sister. How can you be so cruel?” Madam Lou clutched her handkerchief, crying pitifully.
Jun Ning frowned. Madam Lou had won Father’s favor by playing the pitiful, tearful act. Her mother would never have behaved in such a way.
“Madam Lou, save your tears. When Father returns, go cry before him and accuse me. Perhaps then it will be useful.”
Madam Lou was choked into silence, her sobbing turning almost comical.
Jun Ning’s status as the legitimate daughter was undeniable. Madam Lou, still weeping, slunk out of Yunfei Courtyard—whether to complain to Father or to do something else, no one knew.
Meanwhile, Jun Qingnian was dragged outside by Yu Zhu.
“Jun Ning, when Father returns, I’ll make sure you pay for all of this!”
Jun Qingnian knelt on the scorching bluestone ground, the malice in her eyes now unmistakable.
Inside the room—
After dismissing the servants, Jun Ning quickly shut the door and hurried to Qing Tao’s side. She checked her breathing and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness—she was still alive. That sword strike earlier had been shallow, deliberately avoiding any vital spot.
Clenching her teeth, Jun Ning lifted her onto the bed, swiftly stopping the bleeding and bandaging the wound.
By the time she finished, the wound on Jun Ning’s own back had already seeped blood again, but she paid it no mind. Even if she sought revenge, she would never become as heartless and cruel as Xiao Yunjie.
Whether Qing Tao was truly the girl who once saved her or not, Jun Ning could not allow an innocent maid to suffer unjustly.
When Jun Qingnian had finished kneeling for three full hours, mealtime had already passed.
Yu Zhu came in and reported that when Jun Qingnian finally rose, she nearly fell flat on her face, and in the end had to limp away, supported by two maids.
Night fell, and the Pingkang residence lit its lanterns.
As Nanny Wang had said, the medicine delivered by the physician was indeed poisoned. Jun Ning calmly dismissed the physician without revealing the matter to anyone.
The Earl returned from the palace, but instead of scolding Jun Ning, he actually sent her two trays of pastries.
Jun Ning held a piece of pastry in her hand, lost in thought.
Yu Zhu, however, ate happily and said: “Miss, Master must know you were wronged. That’s why he sent these pastries. Master still cares for you.”
Yu Zhu’s thoughts were simple, seeing only surface appearances. But Jun Ning, having lived two lifetimes, knew her father all too well.
A man so concerned with face would never admit fault to his daughter. Something must have happened today—something that not only kept him from reprimanding her, but even made him send pastries.
But what could it have been?
“Not me… truly not me… I…”
Jun Ning snapped back to herself, quickly stepping to the bedside and grasping Qing Tao’s hand. “Qing Tao, you’re finally awake. Don’t be afraid—it’s all right now.”
Qing Tao opened her eyes groggily. When she saw the furnishings around her and Jun Ning’s face, she panicked and tried to rise.
“Second Miss, this servant deserves death, this servant deserves death!”
She was lying on what was clearly the Second Miss’s bed. As a mere servant, how could she possibly be allowed to lie there?
Jun Ning pressed her gently back onto the bed and turned to instruct: “Yu Zhu, bring some food.”
“Second Miss…” Qing Tao was so startled by Jun Ning’s actions that she didn’t know what to say.
Not only had she survived, but now she was lying on the Second Miss’s bed, even receiving such care—something she had never dared to imagine.
Jun Ning turned back, touched Qing Tao’s head, and, finding it no longer feverish, said: “Stay here and recover. If there’s anything important, you can tell me now.”
“Second Miss, why… why didn’t you kill me? If I live, and Madam Lou finds out, you won’t be able to explain it.”
Tears welled in Qing Tao’s eyes. For maids like her, their lives were cheap—masters could beat, kill, or sell them at whim. Even if the Second Miss was not favored, she was still a legitimate daughter. Why would she risk herself to save a lowly servant?
Even now, Qing Tao worried for her. Jun Ning’s heart softened.
“I have my own way of handling things. Since you were wrongly accused, you should not die.”
At that moment, Yu Zhu brought food and said to Qing Tao: “My lady is kind. She’s nothing like the malicious concubine-born young miss. Qing Tao, rest easy here. I’ll help protect you, too.”
Qing Tao looked at Jun Ning through tear-filled eyes. Jun Ning gave her a small nod, silently affirming Yu Zhu’s words.
“Qing Tao thanks Second Miss for her great kindness. For you to treat a servant like me as a person—I am endlessly grateful.”