Ye Wanqiu’s maid struck with brutal force—within just three slaps, that gaunt face was already swollen and red.
The jade pendant rolled forward, coming to a stop just as the maid raised her arm for the fourth time.
Song Jinyin’s body, wrapped in her dress, swayed unsteadily. Every extra moment she remained here drained more of her strength.
Seeing the maid hesitate as she glanced at the pendant on the ground, Song Jinyin simply raised her own hand and struck her own face.
Just thirty slaps. Once it was over, she could leave.
But the crisp sound had barely faded when a figure approached, carrying an overwhelming, oppressive aura.
Pei Yanzhou picked up the jade pendant from the ground, his brows tightly furrowed, his tone icy and terrifying. “Do you want to die here and bring bad luck upon this place?”
Seeing her remain motionless, unresponsive for a long moment, his gaze darkened further. “Still not leaving?”
The autumn wind outside grew colder.
Song Jinyin dragged her heavy steps along the corridor, her vision blurred.
Back when Pei Yanzhou did not hate her, he had once risked his life to save her.
That winter, in the lotus pond of Guogongfu, she had been thrown in. The word “bad luck” had echoed in her ears then too, as those on the shore watched her sink into the icy depths until her body grew stiff and still.
It was Pei Yanzhou, only twelve at the time, who broke through the ice to reach her.
Even then, the young boy’s features held a hint of future handsomeness. As he swam toward her through the thick ice, everything around them seemed to transform into armor, shielding him—and in turn, protecting her life.
From then on, within this terrifying Guogongfu, aside from her mother, there was also Pei Yanzhou, whom she could call “brother.”
Though he always wore a cold expression and never responded, Song Jinyin’s unwelcome status as a cousin somehow gained an unspoken layer of protection.
But all of that came to an abrupt end the following winter.
With the passing of the Guogong’s wife, she never saw the boy’s smile again.
The cold wind intensified.
Perhaps numbed by the chill, Song Jinyin’s abdominal pain eased slightly.
But before she had gone far from the side courtyard, she stumbled upon two intimate figures behind a rockery not far away.
Though she couldn’t see the people ahead clearly, Song Jinyin knew she absolutely could not take another step forward.
As she retreated, she suddenly bumped into a warm embrace.
She sprang back in shock, only to be pulled to the other side of the corridor.
The familiar scent of bamboo, as cold and unfeeling as he was, somehow made Song Jinyin relax completely.
She had no intention of exposing the sordid affairs hidden within Guogongfu.
Enduring for so long, she had only wanted to save enough silver and wait for the day the Shizifei entered the estate. Then, amidst the celebrations, she could beg for permission to leave and have her slave status removed.
To live a free and untroubled life once more, and to search for her father, who had disappeared.
It didn’t matter that her mother had abandoned her—she still had her father. Even if it was just a grave, she ought to go and keep him company.
With these thoughts, her body, now held in his embrace, ceased its struggle.
“Having failed in today’s task, are you now throwing yourself at me?”
His cold, hard tone was laced with mockery. Song Jinyin shook her head, not daring to speak.
Pei Yanzhou could expose the sordid affairs of Guogongfu, but she could not—unless she wished to die.
“What, afraid of those two outside?”
The man pressed her against the wall, his large hand sliding over her waist before slipping inside, bringing with it a wave of scorching heat.
“Don’t…”
“Don’t? Don’t here, or don’t want it?”
Warm breath brushed against her ear, and trembling, she instinctively grabbed his sleeve, her entire body growing weaker.
"No, I don't want to…"
Before she could finish, Pei Yanzhou bit her earlobe, moistening it before sliding down to her neck, biting fiercely into that delicate, fair skin.
Her breathing grew heavier.
The large hand roaming over her body then pressed her forcefully into his embrace.
"You don’t want to? That’s not up to you."
The commotion outside was loud, and behind the wall, the heat was just as intense.
Pei Yanzhou wrapped Song Jinyin entirely in his arms, half-lifting her body, moving with increasing force as if venting his anger.
His broad hand pressed against her back, pinning her to the wall. Song Jinyin clenched her lips tightly, afraid to let out a sound.
It was Pei Yanzhou who covered her lips with his own, swallowing her restraint.
Her vision blurred.
She had once liked Pei Yanzhou, but childhood infatuation didn’t count. As she grew older, that fondness was swallowed by fear.
Pei Yanzhou hated her mother, and he hated her.
If it weren’t for her that year, Pei Yanzhou might have been able to see the Guogongfu Madam one last time.
The tear stains grew cold. When she woke again, Song Jinyin was lying back in her own room.
The swelling on her face had not yet subsided. She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the sheer canopy hanging above her.
It wasn’t until a noise came from outside, the wooden door creaking open, that Song Jinyin rose from the bed.
Perhaps after sleeping, the discomfort in her body had lessened, but as her feet touched the ground, pain shot through her, causing her brows to furrow.
"Jinyin sister, outside… Miss Ye from the Ye family is here."
The one who entered was also a maid from Shizi Yuan, named Xueyu.
Though she didn’t serve in the inner chambers, the Shizi was unpredictable in his moods. If it weren’t for Song Jinyin’s occasional warnings, she would have lost her life long ago.
Over time, Xueyu grew closer and closer to Song Jinyin.
Now, seeing the worry and concern in Xueyu’s eyes, Song Jinyin couldn’t help but smile.
She wasn’t on duty today and hadn’t expected Ye Wanqiu’s visit to have anything to do with her.
"If she’s here, she’s here. Why look so worried?"
"Shizi Ye hasn’t returned from court yet. That Miss Ye from the Ye family came with a fierce attitude, saying she wants to see you. I sent a little maid to the front courtyard to find someone, but Old Madame hasn’t risen yet, and the other branches can’t interfere with the affairs of the main branch. Only Concubine Liu is left, but I don’t know if she’ll come…"
Hearing this, Song Jinyin knew that unless this trouble was resolved, Ye Wanqiu wouldn’t give up.
"Fine, I’ll go out and take a look. Stay away from me so she doesn’t take her anger out on you."
"But, Jinyin sister…"
"One of us still needs to have the strength to work, right? It’s fine."
Seeing Song Jinyin’s pale face, Xueyu was on the verge of tears.
Others said that this fallen cousin, now a servant, was shameless and disregarded propriety, only wanting to climb into the Shizi’s bed to secure a better life in the rear courtyard.
But little did they know, Jinyin sister never wanted to stay in Guogongfu.
Now that the official’s daughter had come knocking in person, and the maids serving in the front had spread rumors of the marriage between the two families, Xueyu felt that going out this time, Jinyin sister might not return unscathed.
"There’s a bit of loose silver under the mattress in my bed, given by Old Madame last time. If I’m badly hurt later, take it and hire a physician for me. Don’t get one from the estate, to avoid displeasing the Shizi and bringing trouble upon yourself."
Xueyu cried even harder.
Song Jinyin merely patted her shoulder lightly before stepping out of the room.
Ye Wanqiu was dressed in a vibrant, luxurious gown, a gold-thread embroidered shawl draped over her shoulders. Her gaze toward Song Jinyin was haughty and disdainful.
Such a shameless maidservant still dared to stay in Guogongfu, still dared to remain by Pei Yanzhou’s side.