Lin Yiyi looked at the stepmother in front of her and the Lin Qinglian who was cowering nearby like a quail.
“Time to settle accounts between us,” she said.
“You… what do you mean?”
Slap!
A loud slap rang out.
“Ah! Lin Yiyi, you little bitch! How dare you hit me!”
Madam Zhou and Xiao Tao, who had not yet left the courtyard, turned back—and saw their young miss looking extremely imposing. Both of them silently cheered in their hearts: Miss, go for it!
Everyone was stunned. They couldn’t believe their eyes—the eldest legitimate daughter of the Lin family had actually slapped the stepmother!
“Lin Yiyi, have you gone mad?! How dare you hit Mother!” Lin Qinglian finally stopped acting like a frightened quail and questioned her.
The maid Granny Gui quickly stepped forward to support her mistress.
“My mother?” Lin Yiyi sneered. “My mother is Fan Shuhua. Not this shameless woman who climbed into someone’s bed!”
“Lin Yiyi, don’t spout nonsense! This is slander!”
Madam Zhang Meixin’s face now bore a clear red slap mark. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with venom as she stared at Lin Yiyi, wishing she could kill her.
“Granny Gui!”
“This old servant is here.”
“Teach this insolent brat a lesson!”
Granny Gui immediately stepped forward and swung a slap at Lin Yiyi.
Xiao Tao panicked and rushed forward, trying to shield her miss—but before she even reached her, she froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Their young miss ducked slightly, the slap passing over her head. Then she kicked out.
Bang!
Granny Gui was sent flying far away, collapsing motionless on the ground—only her faint breathing showed she was still alive.
Xiao Tao almost wanted to clap and cheer: Miss is amazing!
Madam Zhang slammed the table.
“Lin Yiyi!”
She grabbed a whip and struck out.
Heh. Seeking death.
Lin Yiyi caught the whip with one hand, yanked it hard, and took control of it.
Then she lashed it back at Madam Zhang, Lin Qinglian, and even the fallen Granny Gui.
Instantly, the courtyard was thrown into chaos with screams everywhere.
The servants hurriedly scattered. Since Madam Zhang often abused them, none of them dared to step forward to help.
Lin Yiyi wielded the whip with great force.
After a while, she stopped.
She looked coldly at the trembling mother and daughter.
“Today’s beating is repayment for what you did to Madam Zhou.”
She threw down the whip, turned around, supported the injured Madam Zhou, and pulled the stunned Xiao Tao away without looking back.
“Get lost! Whoever dares speak about today’s matter will be skinned alive!”
At Madam Zhang’s order, everyone fled the courtyard as fast as possible.
“Mother—sob—she hurt me so much! I’m going to kill Lin Yiyi!”
Lin Qinglian cried.
“Don’t worry, my daughter. I won’t let that little brat go. Once your father returns, he will uphold justice for us.”
Granny Gui slowly got up and staggered away to seek medical treatment as instructed.
Madam Zhou, supported as she left the courtyard, looked at Lin Yiyi.
“Young Miss… you stood up for this old servant, but Madam Zhang…”
“Madam Zhou, focus on treating your injuries first.”
The group returned to the young miss’s courtyard—Xiyue Pavilion.
“Xiao Tao, go fetch clean warm water.”
Xiao Tao immediately ran off.
Madam Zhou sighed helplessly. “That girl runs like the wind.”
Then she suddenly knelt.
“Madam Zhou, what are you doing? Get up!”
“Young Miss… I cannot accept being called elder. I am only a servant. I don’t deserve this. After what happened today, Madam Zhang and Second Miss will only target you more.”
She spoke with tears all over her face.
“Madam Zhou, you are the one who carried my mother’s trust. Xiao Tao is also someone you brought in. In this household, you are the only two I trust.”
Madam Zhou burst into tears.
In her heart, she silently vowed: Young Miss, I will protect you with my life.
Soon, Xiao Tao returned with hot water and carefully set it down.
“Close the door,” Lin Yiyi ordered.
Xiao Tao ran off again.
Madam Zhou smiled helplessly.
Xiao Tao finally returned and closed the door properly.
“Xiao Tao, help remove Madam Zhou’s clothes—gently.”
Lin Yiyi walked inside, pretending to search for something, and took out hydrogen peroxide, hemostatic powder, and a cup of spring water from her space.
She returned and poured a little spring water into the basin.
Xiao Tao carefully helped remove Madam Zhou’s clothes.
Her back was a shocking mess of torn flesh.
Xiao Tao immediately burst into tears again.
Lin Yiyi sighed. Women really were made of tears.
“Stop crying. Bring me a towel.”
Madam Zhou bit down on the towel to endure the pain.
It took about the time of one incense stick to clean the wounds.
Then came disinfection.
Lin Yiyi carefully used hydrogen peroxide while Madam Zhou broke out in cold sweat but didn’t make a sound.
After disinfecting, she applied medicine and wrapped the wounds with clean white gauze, then gave her a cup of diluted spring water to drink.
“This wound must not touch water for seven days. Stay in the side room. I’ll change your dressing daily.”
Madam Zhou tried to refuse, but Lin Yiyi ignored her and instructed Xiao Tao to arrange everything.
After everything was done, Lin Yiyi returned to her room, exhausted, and fell onto the bed.
With a thought, she entered her space, removed her clothes, and soaked in the hot spring.
The warm water wrapped around her body.
“So comfortable…”
And as she relaxed in the water…
Lin Yiyi actually fell asleep.