A glaring crimson stain marked her fingertip.
After a momentary daze, Pei Yanzhou stood up, took the handkerchief prepared by Steward Wang, and vigorously wiped his fingers, his eyes turning cold.
"If you can't endure it, learn from that Concubine Liu—kneel down properly and beg me."
Pei Yanzhou's tone was detached and callous, each word sharpening into a blade that pierced Song Jinyin mercilessly.
Her mother, Liu Shi, had knelt before Pei Yanzhou twice.
The first time was right after the Duchess passed away, when Pei Yanzhou stormed over with a sword, demanding answers in a fierce voice. Liu Shi knelt, pleading for a chance to survive.
The second time was to quell Pei Yanzhou's rage, after selling herself into Shizi Yuan. Liu Shi knelt again, also begging for a way to live.
And after these two kneelings, Pei Yanzhou indeed never again mentioned taking her life.
Song Jinyin shifted her knees slightly.
She had tried to bend her back, but a stubborn pride always held her upright.
She thought of her father, who, though merely the magistrate of Anyangxian, would never wish to see her groveling and pleading for mercy.
"Today's rain is heavy, and the wind is strong. Shizi Ye's official robes are already soaked. Be careful not to catch a chill."
"Heavy rain and strong wind."
Pei Yanzhou's lips twitched as he took the umbrella from Steward Wang. His slender fingers gripped the handle, turning pale with tension.
The raindrops had indeed grown heavier.
Pei Yanzhou looked down at her from his lofty position.
Her frail frame appeared even more delicate beneath the dampened dress. Strands of dark hair clung to her cheeks and neck, occasional droplets gathering and falling, tracing paths across her fair skin before disappearing into the collar of her garment.
Pei Yanzhou's temper flared instantly.
Suppressing his anger, he curled his lips into a faint smile. "So full of backbone, are you? Then kneel here until your shift tomorrow."
The courtyard emptied in an instant, leaving only the relentless patter of rain.
Song Jinyin remained motionless, lifting her gaze to watch the departing figure, her face drenched.
When Xueyu sneaked over, the door ahead remained firmly shut.
She peeked from the corridor, and seeing no one guarding the area, hurried over.
"Jinyin Sister, you look terribly pale. I secretly brought you a piece of flatbread. Have a couple of bites to keep your strength up…"
Song Jinyin's eyes stung with unshed tears.
She could remain indifferent to bullying, face mockery with cold detachment, and even conceal her emotions more effectively when confronting Pei Yanzhou.
But genuine concern left her flustered and fearful.
"You should be on duty inside now. Don't stay with me, or you'll be punished too."
"It's fine, Jinyin Sister. I just overheard someone from Old Madame's side saying they'll send for Shizi Ye. There must be something urgent. Sister, have a bite of the bread and hold on a little longer. Once Shizi Ye leaves…"
"Silly girl, even if Shizi leaves, I'll still have to kneel here."
Song Jinyin forced a faint smile, her lips curving with effort. "Alright, I can't even lift my head to catch rainwater to drink right now, so I can't eat something so dry. You should take this chance to make yourself more visible in front of Steward Wang. Don't worry about me."
"How can I do that!"
Xueyu's eyes widened, reddening as well.
Telling her to appear more often before Steward Wang at a time like this clearly meant Song Jinyin hoped Steward Wang would promote her.
But aside from Jinyin Sister, no other maidservant had ever been allowed to serve closely by Shizi Ye's side.
"Sister, saying this… do you plan to leave this estate?"
Song Jinyin was momentarily taken aback.
Her pale lips parted slightly, the words "Indeed" nearly escaping before being swallowed back down.
"How could one simply leave just because they've made plans? You should focus on working diligently under Steward Wang. Though he may be slightly less senior than the former chief steward, he is, after all, Shizi Ye's man. In this household going forward, task assignments will still be up to him to decide."
In the front hall, Pei Yanzhou, having changed out of his official robes, sat on a dark red wooden chair to the side. As he lifted his head to drink tea, his gaze drifted through the window lattice toward the two somewhat blurred figures outside.
The one standing seemed somewhat anxious, while the kneeling Song Jinyin still had not moved an inch.
Steward Wang, noticing his slightly darkened expression, stole a glance in the direction of his gaze and felt his heart sink.
This master… of all places to sit, he had to choose this perfectly positioned spot.
"That maid was brought out by Jinyin Guniang, so naturally, naturally they are close… This servant will have that maid go receive her punishment at once."
Pei Yanzhou set down the teacup, lowering his eyes to conceal his thoughts, and did not respond to this remark.
"Grandmother will likely send someone to summon me. Go wait outside. If it cannot be declined, have her change her clothes and accompany me over."
Steward Wang was momentarily stunned, taking a while to realize that "her" referred to Song Jinyin.
He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Even in the cool autumn, he felt a sense of dread.
Sure enough, within a quarter of an hour, a senior maid holding an umbrella appeared at the courtyard entrance—it was Lingqiao from Old Madame's side.
The woman's steps paused slightly as she passed by Song Jinyin, then softened, careful not to let water droplets splash onto her.
"Steward Wang, I must trouble you to announce. Old Madame currently has no pressing matters and has been talking about Shizi, wishing to invite Shizi Ye over for a visit."
"This…"
Steward Wang looked up at the sky somewhat helplessly. "The master just went to pay respects to Old Madame earlier and got caught in some rain while seeing Miss Ye off. To be summoned again now seems rather rushed."
"This servant has no choice either, as Steward Wang knows. Old Madame cares deeply for Shizi Ye. In some matters, fearing to harm the harmony between grandmother and grandson, she always wishes to understand his thoughts clearly before making a decision, lest it lead to a pair of resentful spouses. I must trouble Steward Wang to make the effort and help this servant announce."
Seeing that the matter was related to Miss Ye, Steward Wang instinctively glanced again at Song Jinyin kneeling in the courtyard.
Very well.
It seemed Shizi must have anticipated this, which is why he thought of bringing her along.
Summoning Xueyu over and giving her some instructions, Steward Wang then entered the front hall.
……
When helped to her feet by Xueyu, Song Jinyin was still somewhat dazed.
She had thought she might have to kneel until she fainted before the punishment would be waived, but she had never expected Pei Yanzhou would be the first to relent.
"Jinyin sister, can you still hold on? Who knows what Shizi Ye is thinking, wanting you to accompany him even to listen to discussions of a marriage…"
"Marriage?"
"Yes, earlier when Lingqiao from Old Madame's side came, that's what it was about. Probably Old Madame wants to get Shizi Ye's agreement before setting a date to propose, after all, our master here is not one to be easily controlled…"
Xueyu muttered a few words to herself, not noticing the increasingly pale face of the person beside her.
The sound of rain in her ears gradually ceased.
A fleeting look of self-mockery passed through Song Jinyin's eyes.
In her memory, Pei Yanzhou had once been drunk and restrained her with excessive force. Yet when he saw her eyes redden, he surprisingly softened his movements, pulling her into his embrace instead.
At that time, his scorching lips brushed past her ear, as if gently coaxing, softly and slowly calling her name.
She almost thought that Pei Yanzhou, like that time, had softened his heart.