Song Jinyin curtsied slightly to the person before her.
Her legs still ached terribly, and the color had not yet returned to her face. Standing in the drafty entrance, the wind blew against her thin padded jacket, revealing her slender waist beneath.
Ye Wanqiu grew even more furious at the sight.
Even with the layers of autumn clothing, they still couldn’t conceal this enchantress’s seductive allure. Despite her frail appearance, she somehow managed to accentuate the fullness above, swaying temptingly.
“Yuanchun, go and finish the slaps from yesterday. I want to see just how tough this lowly servant’s life really is!”
“Yes, Miss.”
The maid called Yuanchun accepted the order and approached Song Jinyin with small steps.
Seeing her brows furrowed tightly, as if she intended to retreat, Yuanchun couldn’t help but sneer, “We’re all servants here. You’d better take this obediently. If Shizi Ye returns and finds out our Miss is displeased, the punishment will only be harsher.”
Song Jinyin naturally had no intention of enduring these slaps without reason.
Although she had prepared herself for Ye Wanqiu’s relentless hostility, that didn’t mean she would submit meekly to abuse.
With this thought, Song Jinyin took a step back, her gaze sweeping past the maid taunting her and settling on the haughty yet contorted face of Ye Wanqiu.
“This servant is a maid in Shizi Yuan. Last night, Shizi ordered me to endure, so I endured. Today, Shizi has not spoken. By what authority does Miss Ye dare to lay hands on me?”
Ye Wanqiu’s expression darkened.
The words “Shizifei” rushed to the tip of her tongue but lingered there, unable to escape her lips.
After all, her stay last night and Pei Yanzhou’s visit to her courtyard had effectively confirmed the marriage discussions between their families. Yet, despite this being common knowledge, she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
For a woman to speak of it first would inevitably diminish her standing.
What Ye Wanqiu hadn’t expected was that Song Jinyin, who had endured the slaps in silence the night before, would now dare to question her openly, causing her to lose face in Pei Yanzhou’s courtyard.
“As a distinguished lady of Ye Jia, must I declare my status to discipline a lowly servant? What do you think you are? Nothing more than a dog beneath your master, meant to be beaten and scolded!”
“Then may I ask, Miss Ye, are you currently my master? Do you hold my Maishen Qi or pay me a monthly allowance?”
Steward Wang, though silent and not intervening, nodded inwardly in agreement.
In Dayan, servants registered within a household were to be disciplined by their own masters. It was unheard of for outsiders to enter a residence and administer punishments.
Unless they had the master’s permission or it involved personal grievances outside the household.
Such blatant actions were, after all, a breach of propriety.
The steward was currently uncertain of Shizi’s thoughts. Seeing that this Miss Ye indeed had the potential to become Shizifei, he hadn’t barred her from entering the courtyard.
But if Miss Ye attempted to venture further into Shizi’s bedchamber or study, he would certainly dissuade her.
As soon as Song Jinyin finished speaking, Ye Wanqiu’s face completely fell.
Her eyes seemed to ignite with flickering flames as she moved closer to Song Jinyin, her long nails poised as if to seize her neck.
Song Jinyin dodged, and just then, commotion finally arose outside the courtyard.
It wasn’t Pei Yanzhou, but Duke’s Ce Furen, Liu Shi.
The newcomer wore a deep purple skirt, her hair styled in a high chignon adorned with a pearl hairpin. Surrounded by maids, she exuded an air of nobility as she approached gracefully.
Though merely Duke’s Ce Furen, she carried herself with the full authority and presence of a principal wife.
Song Jinyin saw the newcomer and her face grew even paler. She gave a self-mocking smile, lowered her head, and stepped aside.
"Old Madame just woke up and immediately sent someone to ask after Miss Ye. Who would have thought the young lady had already come to Shizi's place early in the morning? I couldn't placate Old Madame, so I hurried over to bring the young lady there… What is happening here now?"
Liu Shi covered the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, revealing a faint smile, then swept a surprised glance around the surroundings.
Ye Wanqiu saw the newcomer and her disdain deepened. However, knowing full well that she was favored by the Duke and held influence in Guogongfu, she restrained herself somewhat on the surface.
But her words still carried provocation: "Concubine Liu has come at just the right time. The maid in this courtyard has been taught a lesson for being blind, though it was only a few slaps. Now she is questioning me—what does Concubine Liu think?"
"Oh, young lady, how you speak."
Liu Shi waved her handkerchief, her lips curving into a broader smile. "You are a distinguished guest. A few slaps are nothing—if it helps you vent your anger, then so be it. If you're still unsatisfied, I can have this maid tied up."
Steward Wang, standing nearby, heard this and glanced at Song Jinyin.
The young girl's face was pale, her sickly pallor not yet faded. Only her back was straight, like a flower clinging to a cliff, unyielding to the wind—solitary yet incredibly resilient.
He unconsciously recalled the scene from eight years ago and sighed inwardly.
Song Jinyin's father was not a high-ranking official, but he had once served as the magistrate of Anyangxian. During his three-year tenure, he was diligent in governance, loved the people, encouraged farming and sericulture, built schools, and dug canals, earning praise from the common folk.
However, just before his term ended, a flood swept away Magistrate Song, who had led a team to provide disaster relief, and he was never seen again.
The one who took over afterward was the Duke, who arrived with troops.
And the magistrate's wife, who should have received silver and supplies from the court after the disaster relief, was instead carried into Guogongfu with her daughter, stripped of her status, and left with nothing but the title of a newly widowed woman.
The widow was initially quite spirited when she first arrived, but as time passed, she grew quiet, carving out her own identity from the nameless existence in the rear courtyard.
That widow was now Concubine Liu.
Liu Shi's expression was indifferent.
Her tone, which disregarded Song Jinyin's well-being, made Song Jinyin stiffen, the corners of her eyes instantly reddening.
She missed home.
That home far away in Anyangxian, not wealthy but warm.
Back then, her father was still alive, her mother had not abandoned her, and she didn't have to listen to idle gossip. All she had to do was pester her father to read to her and watch her mother embroider.
But now, it seemed she could never go back.
…
Ye Wanqiu left with a cold snort. Compared to venting her anger on Song Jinyin, accompanying Old Madame Pei was more important.
Concubine Liu followed a few steps behind.
Before leaving, she stared at Song Jinyin, who had been keeping her head down in silence. Her tone was cold, a stark contrast to the gentle, smiling concubine from earlier.
She said, "Since you are already a maid, you should learn to be smarter. Enduring a few slaps can buy you peace—why are you being so stubborn?"
There was no response for a long time.
Liu Shi grew impatient and was about to leave.
"Mother…"
The faint voice seemed to tremble slightly, carrying a hint of caution that could not be hidden—there was hope, but more than that, fear.
As the words drifted out, Liu Shi froze in place.
But in an instant, the noblewoman adjusted her shawl and left without looking back.
…
When Ye Wanqiu reappeared in the courtyard, it was already an hour later.
Unlike before, this time she was accompanied by Pei Yanzhou, who had just returned from court.
The man’s expression was stern, still clad in his court robes. Beneath his unyielding demeanor lay a sharp, profound intensity, and when he lifted his gaze, he appeared utterly cold-blooded and indifferent.
Song Jinyin was not on duty, yet she had been summoned and made to kneel in the hall.