With new and old injuries combined, Mo Nian was severely wounded.
Although Little Cabbage had only allowed him to fall into a natural slumber, it would likely be some time before he could awaken.
Seizing this opportunity, Luo Li carefully investigated the events of the day.
The original host had a domineering personality, and under her oppressive authority, few dared to bully Mo Nian.
However, the steward in charge of the courtyard where he lived was an exception—a greedy man.
In places unknown to the original host, he abused his meager authority to oppress many servants, extorting money from them.
Since the steward had full control over that courtyard, he could meddle in both major and minor matters.
To avoid trouble, everyone had no choice but to obediently hand over some money to him.
But Mo Nian was different. He was the lowest-ranking slave and had no allowance to speak of.
Moreover, he had only arrived recently, so it went without saying that he possessed nothing of value.
Seeing that Mo Nian had nothing to offer, the steward already disliked him. Later, upon learning that Mo Nian had fallen out of favor with the original host and that she had shifted her affections to another target, the steward grew bolder.
Having Mo Nian do various chores for him was just a minor matter.
Whenever the steward was in a foul mood, he would beat Mo Nian. After seeing that Mo Nian didn’t fight back once or twice, he grew even more audacious.
As for the maid Luo Li had seen earlier, she was the steward’s mistress. The two had long been partners in crime.
Having picked up the habit from the steward, the maid would also find excuses to vent her frustrations on Mo Nian whenever she was displeased.
The maid worked in the laundry room. Today, she had been scolded there and was in a bad mood.
While returning the original host’s clothes, she was accidentally bumped into by Mo Nian, causing the clothes to fall to the ground and get dirty, requiring them to be washed again.
This was the pretext Luo Li had witnessed earlier.
Some might wonder why Mo Nian didn’t fight back.
First, his status was lower than that of the steward and the maid. Second, since he was not favored by the original host, he had no one to rely on in the mansion.
The steward had influence, and if Mo Nian fought back, it would only invite more severe retaliation.
“Your Highness, this servant was momentarily confused! I truly didn’t mean it. She lied—it was all her, she taught me to do this.”
The maid blamed the steward, and the steward blamed the maid.
What a spectacle of dogs biting dogs, still trying to argue even with evidence right before them.
“You—!”
The maid, already punished and barely holding on, grew furious upon hearing her lover shifting all the blame onto her.
A surge of anger overwhelmed her, and after gasping heavily, she suddenly fell silent.
The maid beside Luo Li quickly stepped forward to check.
“…She’s not breathing.” She had been directly angered to death.
Hearing this, Luo Li took a deep breath and turned to the steward, who was still pleading for mercy.
“Break both his legs and arms, then hand him over to the authorities for punishment according to the law! As for the other one… bury her.”
The money the steward had extorted was soon recovered and returned to the respective servants.
“Today’s punishment is only a minor warning. If anyone dares to overstep their bounds and touch what belongs to this princess, hmph! Let’s see if your skin is as thick as hers.”
Watching the servants shrink back like quails, Luo Li snorted coldly and left with her maid.
…Meanwhile, inside the hall, Mo Nian had already awakened.News traveled fast within the mansion. By the time he learned everything from the cleaning maid outside the hall, Luo Li had already returned.
Hearing the commotion outside, he thought for a moment and closed his eyes again.
He knew this princess had a fondness for handsome men, and he knew that pleasing her would make his life in the mansion more comfortable.
But… he refused.
The Mo family was known for its pride and integrity; they never willingly stooped to degradation. Being reduced to servitude was already a disgrace to his family, and he absolutely refused to debase himself further.
As night fell, he thought Luo Li would order someone to send him back.
But unexpectedly, she decided to keep him.
Even…
“Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Luo Li fed him the last bit of broth, her eyes filled with confusion as she murmured the question aloud.
“Little Cabbage, didn’t you say he’d wake up within four hours? It’s been seven or eight hours now. Could something be wrong?”
Little Cabbage was equally puzzled. “No fever, normal body temperature, steady breathing—he’s just in a normal sleep state.”
But it couldn’t figure out anything else either.
Hearing Little Cabbage’s words, Luo Li had no choice but to wait.
Feeling sticky and uncomfortable from the day’s events, Luo Li decided to undress and retreat to the side chamber, ordering water to be brought for a bath.
“Ahh…”
Though called a side chamber, it was merely a section of the side hall partitioned off by a few screens.
With the main hall empty, the gentle sound of flowing water was particularly distinct.
Occasional soft sighs of comfort from the woman only added to the warmth in the air.
Hearing these sounds, the young man’s face, ears, and neck flushed crimson. He wished he could vanish into the ground, but he was unable to move even an inch.
He had no choice but to endure it silently, cursing himself for his dishonorable thoughts.
After what felt like an eternity, the faint sounds of water finally ceased, followed by the rustling of clothes being put on.
“You may leave.”
Smoothing her hair, Luo Li waved her hand dismissively, exuding the lazy yet elegant demeanor of the original owner to perfection.
Upon hearing her command, Yu Shuang instinctively glanced toward the young man lying on the couch in the side hall. But recalling her mistress’s usual temperament, she dared not say anything more.
After all, whatever the mistress decided was not for them to question.
“Yes,” she replied, leading the other maids out to wait just outside the hall.
A faint floral fragrance, tinged with moisture, wafted over.
Mo Nian sensed her crouching beside him once more. Sure enough, the next moment, a pair of delicate jade-like hands gently touched his forehead, their touch warm and soft.
They withdrew after a moment, as if she had tested the temperature on herself.
“Why is his face so red?”
“Hmm, at least it’s not feverish.”
Her soft murmurs were gentle and tender, a stark contrast to the bold and sharp demeanor he had witnessed earlier.
As he pondered this, he suddenly felt her fingertips lightly caressing his cheek, tracing it again and again.
The sensation startled him so much that he nearly failed to restrain himself from opening his eyes.
“Little thing, you really are flawless.”
From his brows to his eyes, down to his nose and lips, every feature was a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship, leaving no room for criticism.
Even in sleep, he carried an ethereal, Banished Immortal aura.
Luo Li propped her chin on her hand, staring at him without blinking.
Don’t ask—it was simply captivating!
Mo Nian could clearly sense her gaze, but this time it was different from the possessive, invasive look she had given him before.
Now, she seemed to be genuinely admiring him, with a hint of pride subtly woven into her expression.It was completely different from the previous feeling that had made him feel disgusted and repulsed.
But she had been staring for far too long—so long that he felt he could no longer hold on, feeling the tips of his ears growing hotter and hotter. Finally unable to bear it, Mo Nian opened his eyes.
Long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and Luo Li immediately met his gaze.
“Uh.”
Both of them froze for a moment, and Luo Li even took a few hurried steps back.
Without any makeup, she lacked the usual domineering air she carried.
At this moment, she seemed more like a startled fawn, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes slightly widened.
Her nightgown was slightly disheveled from her crouching position, revealing one side of her collarbone. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, the slightly damp ends soaking through the nightgown, faintly revealing the red color beneath.
Mo Nian only glanced once before hurriedly averting his gaze.