Song Jinyin naturally knew what the maid was about to say next.
Her expression unchanged, she walked steadily around the corner and clearly saw the two who were speaking with such enthusiasm.
"The upper beam is crooked, so the lower beams are askew… I wonder which one you are referring to as the 'upper beam'?"
"Jinyin Guniang!"
The two lowered their heads in panic, shrinking back, and dared not look up again for a long time.
After all, Song Jinyin was still someone belonging to the Shizi. Even if the Shizi had grown tired of her, she still had that person behind her.
No matter how ruthless his heart was, he wouldn’t truly stand by and watch her die.
With this thought, the two maids hurriedly tried to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but unexpectedly, Song Jinyin reached out and stopped them.
"I am also a servant, unworthy of your kneeling, but…"
Song Jinyin’s smile turned somewhat cold as she glanced at the young maid beside her and continued, "When it comes to matters related to the Shizi Yuan, Concubine Liu may be unwilling to intervene, but once outside the courtyard, shouldn’t it fall under her jurisdiction?"
"This servant will take them to Furongyuan right away, but as for the Shizi…"
"I will go myself. Just take them there and, in front of Concubine Liu, make it clear which 'upper beam' they were referring to."
After seeing them leave, Song Jinyin took a light breath.
Today’s Bizi Tang seemed even more potent than usual. Right after drinking it, the chill deepened, intensifying the pain in her abdomen.
Her thin lips pressed tightly together, Song Jinyin gathered her strength and continued walking forward.
Although it was related to marriage discussions, Miss Ye’s temporary stay at Guogongfu was under the pretext of visiting Old Madame.
Thus, her residence was arranged according to Old Madame’s preferences—remote and tranquil.
By the time Song Jinyin arrived, the commotion inside had already quieted down. Only in the guest room were two figures standing rather close together.
Through the half-open window, she saw the man who had just been sweating moments earlier, now sitting on a soft chair, toying with a jade pendant of rather poor quality.
That jade pendant was hers.
It was the only thing her mother had generously left her when she sold her to Pei Yanzhou.
It wasn’t particularly valuable, and it even carried a hint of irony.
Standing before him was Miss Ye, whom the maids had described as unwell. At this moment, she extended her delicate, jade-like fingers and gently tugged at the dark sleeve of Pei Yanzhou’s robe.
"Yanzhou-gege, will you stay with Wanqiu tonight? Wanqiu is a little scared…"
The scent of medicine lingered in the room. Song Jinyin’s steps halted outside.
It was unclear when Pei Yanzhou had noticed her, but without lifting his head, he coldly said, "Aren’t you coming in?"
Quickly, Song Jinyin reined in her overflowing emotions and stepped into the room.
The hand on his sleeve remained, as if afraid it wouldn’t be noticed clearly. It even gave a gentle tug before its owner turned her gaze to Song Jinyin.
Miss Ye’s slightly raised chin carried a hint of disdain, and the glance she swept over was filled with contempt and mockery.
She shed the softness from her earlier words and, without avoiding the person beside her, adopted a confrontational stance.
"Song Jinyin, I thought you were just shameless, but I didn’t expect your wretched life to be so tough. You actually didn’t die back then when Xu Youyi beat you."
Song Jinyin stiffened, not expecting to hear the name of this old acquaintance again.
The young lady from the Ye family glanced at her pale face. "Brother Yanzhou, since you've called her here to serve me, may I decide her fate tonight? Surely you wouldn't begrudge such a crude and vulgar maid?"
Song Jinyin lowered her head, no longer looking at the two before her, stubbornly biting her lip until fresh blood seeped from it once more.
Pei Yanzhou watched for a while.
Perhaps finding it dull, he casually brushed off the hands still clutching his sleeve, his brow slightly furrowed as he picked up the teacup. "She's just a servant, naturally crude."
"So, Brother Yanzhou, may I decide her fate?"
She asked again.
Ye Wanqiu seemed determined to get an answer, her released hands once again grasping his wide sleeve.
It was somewhat glaring.
Even with her head bowed, Song Jinyin caught glimpses in her peripheral vision of those pale fingertips, made even more striking against the dark fabric.
Pei Yanzhou did not avoid her grasp, despite his usual aversion to being touched by outsiders.
Song Jinyin's gaze grew increasingly indifferent in the quiet room.
She anticipated what would follow, her expression showing no ripple of emotion aside from the suffocating tightness in her chest.
The night was cool as water.
Pei Yanzhou pondered for a moment, just as Song Jinyin's abdominal pain intensified, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile. "Mm, as long as it pleases you."
Having received his consent, Ye Wanqiu immediately released his sleeve and sat down on the wooden chair beside Pei Yanzhou.
"I recall you are quite skilled at the qin. I happen to be in the mood today, so play a piece for me. However, your posture…"
Ye Wanqiu glanced at her straight back and sneered lightly. "Putting on such airs of nobility. Kneel and play. You may leave when I grow tired. Brother Yanzhou, you won't object, will you?"
Pei Yanzhou still held the jade pendant in his hand, tossing it idly, his tone icy to the extreme. "I said, as long as it pleases you."
Song Jinyin's heart sank bit by bit.
After each intimate encounter, she would suffer abdominal pain from the Bizi Tang.
At first, she would summon a physician to examine her, but as it happened more frequently, the physician grew reluctant to come, leaving only the remark that bearing children would be difficult.
How could Song Jinyin dare hope for offspring? She merely did not wish to die in pain within these high-walled mansions.
Yet, to Pei Yanzhou's ears, this became evidence of her cunning schemes, and in the end, he even stopped giving her the medicine.
As it happened more often, the pain gradually became more bearable.
But today, she was already pale with agony, her lips trembling with the effort to speak.
After a moment to steady herself, Song Jinyin bit the tip of her tongue to focus her mind and spoke word by word, "This servant is afraid she cannot comply with Miss Ye's request today."
"You are merely a maid, Song Jinyin. Even if it costs you your life, you are not worthy of refusing me."
Hearing this, Song Jinyin knew there would be no peaceful resolution today.
She slowly knelt, using what little clarity remained to bow respectfully to her. "This servant is truly unwell today and cannot serve the young lady."
"Fine."
Ye Wanqiu agreed readily this time, then turned to look at Pei Yanzhou beside her. "Brother Yanzhou, in our Ye Jia, those who offend their masters receive at least thirty strokes of the cane. Since she is your maid, I shall change the caning to slapping. Is that acceptable?"
Pei Yanzhou's gaze remained fixed on the frail young girl before him.
From the moment she entered the room, her straight spine had been glaringly piercing his eyes.
No matter how much sarcasm Ye Wanqiu expressed, she remained tight-lipped, unwilling to lift her head for even a glance or show the slightest hint of seeking his help.
A surge of cruelty rose in Pei Yanzhou's heart.
He recalled the first time he had dragged her onto the bed in a fit of anger—even in extreme pain, she had only let out faint, broken sobs, refusing to beg for mercy.
So she had backbone, did she?
Unwilling to bow her head to him, was she?
But as his servant, that was the last thing she needed.
At this thought, Pei Yanzhou's eyes grew even darker, his tone turning colder. "A maid who offends her master indeed deserves some punishment."
With his nod of approval, Ye Wanqiu's maid stepped forward and raised her hand.
Under the candlelight, a pale face held stubbornness, the tightly bitten lips revealing the only trace of color on her face.
Along with the crisp sound of the slap, a teardrop fell from the corner of her eye, instantly spreading on the ground before vanishing without a trace.
With a "clink," the slap did not sound again, but a jade pendant fell to the floor.