Yunrou’s voice was sharp and piercing, each word forceful, and even her charming face was filled with seriousness.
If someone unaware of the situation saw this, they might think Yunrou had been sent by a master.
Nianyao paused in her steps, but her gaze gradually turned cold.
Her bundle contained only clothes, but clothes were divided into inner and outer garments.
If Yunrou were to rummage through her more private undergarments, her reputation would be ruined.
She knew Yunrou was malicious, but she never expected her to be so aggressive.
Yet Nianyao did not wish to engage with her.
Since the Empress Dowager herself had spoken today, telling her to take refuge in the prayer hall, there must be a reason for it.
She did not want to disappoint the Empress Dowager’s good intentions by making a scene.
She lifted her steps and walked out, as if she hadn’t heard Yunrou’s words.
Seeing her walk forward, Yunrou clearly felt she was being ignored.
Gritting her teeth, she rushed forward and grabbed Nianyao’s bundle.
“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what I said?”
Nianyao stumbled from the tug, nearly falling to the ground.
She didn’t want to make a scene, but that didn’t mean she was willing to be bullied.
Nianyao turned to look at her, her eyes glinting with frost.
“Let go.”
Her voice carried a sharp edge.
During this period, aside from learning etiquette from Mama An, she had also learned something unexpected.
Namely—how to manage subordinates.
Hearing the coldness in Nianyao’s voice, Yunrou shivered involuntarily.
A light snow fell on Nianyao’s long lashes as she glanced at Yunrou.
Yunrou couldn’t help but take a step back.
But when she regained her composure, her eyes held a trace of humiliation.
Behind her stood the young maids who usually supported her. If she were frightened by Nianyao’s mere words today, where would her pride be in the future?
Clenching her teeth, she stepped forward and yanked Nianyao’s bundle down.
“Since you don’t want us to search your bundle,” she sneered, “fine. Winter clothes are thick—who knows if you’ve hidden something on your person.”
Yunrou glanced at the palace maids behind her. “Sisters, let’s strip her clothes off together. I want to see if your hands and feet are clean!”
Yunrou’s words were truly bold. The palace maids behind her exchanged glances but did not immediately act.
Nianyao’s gaze fell on Yunrou, then swept over the palace maids standing on the steps.
“As foolish as pigs.”
Her voice was cold, dripping with sarcasm.
Yunrou knew immediately that she was being insulted.
Her eyes reddened as she pointed at Nianyao. “You… you… you!”
Nianyao’s long lashes flickered. “Whether they incited you to deal with me or it was your own idea, I won’t speculate.”
She paused slightly, raising her eyes, her gaze filled with mockery.
“But look at them—which one is willing to lend you a hand? They just want to push you forward and eliminate both you and me in one go. Killing two birds with one stone—such a good opportunity doesn’t come every day.”
Yunrou stared at Nianyao, listening to her speak slowly and deliberately.
She shivered, as if she no longer recognized the person before her.
Sharp-tongued and articulate, with none of the extreme timidity she had shown before.
But then Nianyao lowered her gaze again, her slender white neck exposed to Yunrou’s view. As her eyes shifted, she returned to her previous demeanor.
Timid and guileless.
Yunrou felt as if she could no longer see the person before her clearly. When she looked at Nianyao, it was like peering through layers of mist, dizzying and bewildering.
As soon as Nianyao spoke, the palace maids standing on the steps exchanged glances.
A petite palace maid stepped forward and immediately linked arms with Yunrou.
“Sister Yunrou, don’t listen to her nonsense! All of us sisters are here. If we were truly afraid, we could have just let you come alone.”
Her eyes rolled slyly. “Besides, it wasn’t our idea to come and mock her—wasn’t it you, Sister Yunrou, who suggested it? Now, out of loyalty, we sisters are here to accompany you. Please don’t let us down.”
The girl who spoke was sharp-tongued. Yunrou, who had been somewhat swayed by Nianyao’s words moments earlier, instantly turned her gaze back to Nianyao.
“That’s right. If they truly didn’t want to help, why would they have come just now?”
Yunrou swept her eyes over Nianyao from head to toe. “But you, still so sharp-tongued now, have no idea that you’ve already been cast aside by our mistress.”
She raised her voice. “A maid discarded by her mistress—what does it matter if we bully her today? Besides, last time we didn’t catch you stealing, but this time, I’m going to check whether you’ve taken anything or not.”
Yunrou moved swiftly. As soon as her words fell, she lunged forward to tear at Nianyao’s clothes.
Before Nianyao could react, she felt a sharp pain at her neck, and her clothes were nearly ripped open.
Her jade-like collarbone was exposed. Nianyao tilted her head, using her dark hair to cover it, adding a touch of fragility to her appearance.
Her skin was as cold and pale as porcelain, mottled by the shifting light. Her figure was slender, half-concealed by the palace attire. Her wrists, hanging at her sides, were delicate and fragile, as if a little more force could break her.
Nianyao raised her eyes to look at Yunrou, the corners of her eyes slightly red, her lips pale, her gaze burning with intense humiliation.
Not far away, a figure stood at the corner of the palace path, watching the scene unfold before him, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
Pei Jinyan held a jade pixiu in his hand, quietly observing that frail, slender figure.
Yet the oppressive aura he unconsciously exuded made the eunuch serving beside him hunch his shoulders.
In the winter cold, the eunuch couldn’t help but wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Your Highness, this servant will go and punish those insolent maids! How dare they bully someone right in front of Shouning Palace!”
After speaking, the eunuch caught a glimpse of a cruel smile flickering at the corner of Pei Jinyan’s lips, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
When he looked again, Pei Jinyan’s expression had returned to its usual calm and aloof demeanor.
Pei Jinyan tucked the jade pixiu hanging at his waist away and swept a casual glance over the scene. “No need.”
He had some impression of this palace maid—her pale, slender fingers, her slim waist that seemed easy to encircle, and those trembling yet stubborn eyes.
A flicker of interest passed through Pei Jinyan’s eyes.
“I want to see how she fights back.”
Hearing Pei Jinyan’s words, the eunuch blinked.
When he turned his gaze to Nianyao, a faint fervor appeared in his eyes.
His master was nearly twenty years old now, yet he didn’t even have a single chamber maid!
This palace maid had actually caught His Highness’s eye.
The eunuch’s eyes shifted thoughtfully.
Since she was someone His Highness had taken an interest in, he knew exactly how to handle the situation.
The eunuch struggled to suppress the smile at the corner of his lips. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Pei Jinyan’s eyes were now fixed solely on that fragile, delicate figure, so much so that he didn’t even notice the little eunuch snickering beside him.
Not long after, they heard a crisp slap.
“You! Nianyao, how dare you hit me again! I’ll fight you to the death!”