Coincidentally, Yunyi was also assigned to work at the Dance Workshop, allowing her and Meixue to look after each other. Perhaps due to their similar appearances, she felt a different kind of closeness to Meixue than to others.

On this day, they were dancing “Spring Oriole’s Song.” Meixue was dancing gracefully with the others, wearing long-sleeved dance robes. She was like a kingfisher, like a swimming dragon, her sleeves flying, ornaments swaying, mesmerizing to behold.

Such dancing made Nanny Yang very satisfied. Undeniably, Meixue truly had exceptional talent for dance. No matter how difficult the dance technique, after being taught a few times, she could perform it perfectly. Given time, her dancing skills would surely surpass her teacher’s. Although Chunxiu also danced quite well, compared to Meixue, she was still somewhat lacking. Though there were still seven days until the performance, Nanny Yang was already considering having Meixue as the lead dancer.

Just then, a cry of alarm rang out, followed by Meixue suddenly falling to the ground, clutching her ankle. The rest of the women all stopped dancing and looked at her in surprise.

Nanny Yang came over and asked, “Why did you suddenly fall?”

Meixue said quietly, “I don’t know either. It seemed like someone tripped me, and I couldn’t steady myself so I fell.”

Before Nanny Yang could speak, a coquettish voice rang out, “I was the closest to you just now. You’re not trying to say I tripped you, are you?” The speaker was none other than Chunxiu, and Yunyi had seen clearly that it was indeed Chunxiu who had deliberately tripped Meixue.

Meixue glanced at her and said quietly, “No, that’s not what I meant.”

Chunxiu smiled coldly and said icily, “Good that it’s not. I certainly didn’t trip you.”

Nanny Yang looked at her, then turned and said, “Meixue, can you still dance?”

Meixue tried to move her ankle and immediately felt piercing pain. She said helplessly, “My foot hurts very much. I’m afraid I can’t dance for the time being.”

Nanny Yang nodded slightly, “In that case, I’ll have someone help you back to your room to rest and see if it’s better tomorrow.”

Before Nanny Yang could give orders, Yunyi had already stepped forward, “Nanny, let this servant help Miss Wu back.”

After getting Nanny Yang’s permission, she came forward to support the limping Meixue as they left.

The place where the Wu girls lived was somewhat better than where Yunyi and the others stayed – four to a room, with all furnishings complete. After helping Meixue sit down, Yunyi said gently, “Meixue, how do you feel?”

Meixue frowned her beautiful brows, “My foot still hurts very much. I think I’ve injured the tendons and bones. I don’t know if it will be better tomorrow. If not, I don’t know what to do about the performance.”

Yunyi hesitated for a moment, then said, “Before entering the mansion, I learned some massage and manipulation techniques from a traveling physician. Why don’t you let me try? It might help.”

Meixue’s eyes lit up, “That would be wonderful. Thank you for the trouble.”

Yunyi removed her shoes and socks, and from light to heavy, slowly massaged the painful areas. After massaging for a while, Meixue tried moving her ankle and said with pleasant surprise, “It really doesn’t hurt as much! You’re truly capable.”

Yunyi smiled, “It’s just some minor tricks. But you really can’t be so polite to Chunxiu anymore. She’s jealous that Nanny Yang favors you – this isn’t the first time she’s made things difficult for you.”

Meixue smiled, “Forget it, that’s just her nature. As long as we do our own jobs well, that’s enough.”

Yunyi shook her head as she listened, “You’re just too good-natured. If it were me, I wouldn’t let her bully me like this.”

“Father often taught me that suffering losses is a blessing. Sometimes in dealing with people and matters, don’t be too calculating. Sometimes when you feel it’s hard to stand your ground, take a step back, and naturally there will be another vast expanse.”

Yunyi was silent for a moment, then said, “You are indeed kind-hearted, but not everyone thinks this way. The more you retreat, the more they’ll advance, until they push you to a point where you can’t retreat anymore.”

Meixue smiled, “Yunyi, you think too badly of human nature. They say human nature is inherently good. As long as you treat others with kindness, they will naturally treat you kindly in return. Just like now – aren’t we getting along very well?”

Yunyi sighed and said no more. With Meixue’s personality, she would suffer greatly in the mansion sooner or later. But everyone had their own way of thinking, and it wasn’t convenient for her to say too much. After all, she and Meixue were just chance acquaintances.

When night fell, Yunyi came to Meixue’s residence again to massage her injured ankle and reduce her pain. By Yunyi’s estimation, she should recover in time before the performance.

After a while, Jiang Caiping, who shared a room with Meixue, returned. When she learned that Yunyi knew massage and could help Meixue, she was very happy and said gratefully, “We really have you to thank this time. Otherwise, Sister Meixue would be in trouble.”

Jiang Caiping was a pretty young woman, a year younger than Meixue. After being arranged to share a room, she became quite close to Meixue, and they soon called each other sisters.

“Miss Jiang, you’re too kind.” After saying this, Yunyi bowed and left. Jiang Caiping said somewhat puzzledly, “This person is quite strange. It seems like she doesn’t want to talk to me – she said only one sentence and hurried away.”

Meixue laughed, “Nothing like that. I think she’s very nice. On the first day when we came to register at the Governor’s mansion, she even helped me. The reason she hurried away was probably because she still had work to finish.”

Jiang Caiping nodded, then said worriedly, “By the way, Sister, are you really alright? In seven days we have to perform at Songtao Residence.”

Meixue patted her cheek gently, “With Yunyi massaging for me, I believe I’ll be fine tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Caiping wrinkled her small nose, “That’s good. We absolutely can’t let that Chunxiu steal the spotlight. When Sister becomes the lead dancer, she’ll be so angry her mouth will twist.” Speaking this way, she mysteriously leaned close to Meixue’s ear, “I heard from others that on the Governor’s birthday, all the young masters will be there. If Sister dances excellently, perhaps she’ll catch the eye of one of the young masters.”

Meixue’s face flushed red at her words, and she spat lightly, “What nonsense are you talking about, you girl? If people heard this, they’d laugh at us. Stop talking quickly.”

Just then, the other two roommates walked in. Jiang Caiping lowered her voice, “What’s wrong with that? Although the others don’t say it aloud, which one of them doesn’t think this way in their hearts? Being a dancer is good, but we’re still just servants. Today we don’t know what tomorrow brings. Only by becoming one of the young masters’ people can we truly have someone to depend on.”

Meixue’s face grew even redder, and she scolded, “I told you to stop talking, but you keep going on and on. With that energy, you’d be better off practicing dance properly and competing for that lead dancer position.”

Jiang Caiping made a face, “I can’t compete with Sister, so there’s no point in practicing.”