Night gradually descended over the estate.
After finishing a bowl of bird’s nest soup, washing up, and changing clothes, Yun Zi’rao went to bed early.
Chenyu was absent because Yun Zi’rao had insisted that she couldn’t sleep with anyone else in the room. Left with no choice, Chenyu went to rest elsewhere.
Since Yun Zi’rao was afraid of the dark, Madam Yun had ordered a lamp to be left burning for her.
Before leaving, she repeatedly reminded her:
“If anything happens, call out loudly.”
“I’m sleeping next door. The moment I hear anything, I’ll come immediately.”
Yun Zi’rao obediently agreed.
Only then did Madam Yun leave with peace of mind.
The room fell into a long silence.
Lying on the bed, Yun Zi’rao pulled back her sleeve.
By the dim lamplight, she examined the crisscrossing scars covering her arm.
A cold ruthlessness flickered in her eyes.
Slowly, she sat up.
After putting on an outer robe, she walked to the rear window and pushed it open.
Then she leapt outside.
Meanwhile, Tingyu Pavilion remained brightly lit.
Yun Zijun’s tearful voice could be heard clearly from inside.
“Where’s my bird’s nest soup?”
“Chaolu, where’s my bird’s nest soup?”
“The bird’s nest soup I always drink before bed?”
Chaolu’s uneasy voice answered.
“Second Miss…”
“I went to the kitchen just now.”
“They said… they said the household’s supply of bird’s nest is limited.”
“Eldest Miss’s health isn’t very good recently.”
“Madam ordered all the bird’s nest and medicinal supplements to be given to Eldest Miss instead…”
The moment those words fell, the room plunged into deathly silence.
“I understand.”
Yun Zijun’s face was pale.
Her voice was calm, but chillingly so.
“You may leave now.”
“Go farther away.”
“I want some time alone.”
“Yes, Second Miss.”
Chaolu bowed and withdrew.
Hidden behind a large tree, Yun Zi’rao watched expressionlessly as Chaolu left the courtyard.
Chaolu and Chaoyang were Yun Zijun’s personal maids.
Normally they alternated night duty.
But whenever Yun Zijun was in a bad mood, she always sent them away.
The farther away, the better.
Because she needed someone to vent her anger on.
Yet she couldn’t risk damaging her image as the fragile, innocent young lady everyone adored.
As a result, opportunities for her to be alone were surprisingly frequent.
Only after Chaolu’s lantern disappeared into the distance did Yun Zi’rao quietly cross the courtyard.
She approached the door and listened.
Crash!
A teacup shattered inside.
Yun Zijun had swept it from the table.
Her face twisted with fury.
“That damned bitch!”
“I am the true daughter of the Prime Minister’s household!”
“What right does she have to take what’s mine?”
“Bitch!”
“Why won’t you die?”
“Why won’t you just die?!”
Yun Zi’rao raised a hand and pushed the door open.
Yun Zijun whirled around angrily.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave—”
Her words stopped abruptly.
The moment she saw who had entered, the fury on her face froze.
Disbelief filled her eyes.
Her pupils contracted sharply.
“What are you doing here?!”
Yun Zi’rao casually closed the door behind her.
She observed Yun Zijun’s twisted expression with amusement.
A faint mocking smile appeared on her lips.
“Can’t keep up the act anymore?”
“Yun Zi’rao.”
Yun Zijun stared at her coldly.
“So you’ve been pretending all along.”
“You think acting weak and pitiful in front of Mother will make her love you again?”
“You think that’ll secure your place in this family?”
“Keep dreaming.”
Yun Zi’rao’s voice was indifferent.
“Do you really think everyone covets the title of the Prime Minister’s daughter?”
Yun Zijun narrowed her eyes.
“What did you say?”
Yun Zi’rao smiled.
Then she slowly walked forward.
“I only came tonight to tell you one thing.”
“The days ahead are long.”
“If you can barely maintain your act now…”
She stopped in front of her.
“Then you’re going to lose very badly later.”
“Yun Zi’rao.”
Yun Zijun’s voice dripped with poison.
“I am the Yun family’s real daughter.”
“You fake will eventually be thrown out.”
“Just wait.”
“I’ll make sure you die miserably.”
Suddenly—
Yun Zi’rao moved.
Like lightning, she grabbed Yun Zijun’s shoulder.
Smack!
A vicious slap landed across her face.
Yun Zijun froze.
A moment later, searing pain exploded across her cheek.
She screamed.
“Yun Zi’rao!”
“What are you doing?!”
“How dare—”
Yun Zi’rao’s eyes turned icy.
She seized Yun Zijun by the hair.
Dragging her toward the bed, she hurled her onto it.
Then she stepped onto the mattress herself.
One hand clamped around Yun Zijun’s throat.
The other began striking.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
The blows came one after another.
Yun Zijun’s head snapped from side to side.
Aside from muffled cries of pain, she couldn’t utter a coherent sentence.
Before long, her face had swollen beyond recognition.
Like a pig’s head.
Finally, Yun Zi’rao paused.
She lifted her scarred arm and held it before Yun Zijun’s eyes.
“The weak and useless Yun Zi’rao is already dead.”
“She died because of your vicious schemes.”
“The Yun Zi’rao who walked out of the Laundry Bureau…”
A cold smile curved her lips.
“…is a disaster you can no longer afford to provoke.”
Her eyes glittered mercilessly.
“Yun Zijun.”
“Your nightmare has arrived.”
“Prepare yourself.”
Smack!
One final slap.
The force split Yun Zijun’s lip.
Blood immediately flowed from the corner of her mouth.
Only after her face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition did Yun Zi’rao finally release her.
Then she turned and left.
Clutching her throat, Yun Zijun broke into violent coughing.
“Cough—cough—cough—”
“Someone!”
“Someone!”
She staggered from the bed and stumbled toward the door.
Throwing it open, she screamed into the night.
“Help!”
“Someone come here!”
Chaolu had gone far away.
Chaoyang had only recently fallen asleep.
The lower-ranking maids and servant girls were washing up and preparing for bed.
Yun Zijun screamed herself hoarse before anyone arrived.
At last, Chaolu came rushing back.
Chaoyang hurriedly dressed and ran over from the side room.
“Second Miss!”
“Second Miss!”
Chaolu rushed inside.
The moment she saw Yun Zijun’s swollen face and split lip, she gasped.
“Second Miss!”
“What happened to you?”
“Who did this?”
“Who hit you?”
Yun Zijun grabbed Chaolu’s clothes desperately.
As if clutching a lifeline.
“Quick…”
“Quickly tell Mother.”
“Tell her Yun Zi’rao came and attacked me.”
“Hurry!”
Chaolu’s eyes widened.
“Eldest Miss?”
“Yes!”
“It was her!”
Yun Zijun gripped her wrist tightly.
Then, as if remembering something, her eyes flashed.
“She probably hasn’t made it back to Jing’an Courtyard yet.”
“Go after her!”
“Stop her!”
“Catch her and bring her before Mother!”
“I’ll expose her true nature!”
Chaolu and Chaoyang exchanged uncertain glances.
The Eldest Miss had come here and beaten the Second Miss?
Could that really be true?
“What are you standing there for?!”
Yun Zijun roared furiously.
Her face turned bluish with rage.
“Go tell Mother!”
“Hurry!”
“Cough—cough—cough—”
Chaolu quickly tried to calm her.
“Please don’t get agitated, Second Miss.”
“This servant will go immediately.”