Qiu Shu stood condescendingly before Zhu Yao, her face written all over with arrogance. She wrung out her handkerchief and placed it by her mouth, laughing as she suddenly raised her hand and said, “I’m truly sorry! My hand just slipped. Sister Zhu Yao, you really are quite delicate and fragile! But since you’ve already said you’re fine, that means it doesn’t hurt anymore, right? If it doesn’t hurt… then you can get up by yourself. Otherwise, those who don’t know might think we bullied you. Also, this lowly maid of yours pushed you, so naturally she should be punished. Otherwise, you’d be too pathetic as a mistress, wouldn’t you say?”

The many young ladies began covering their mouths and laughing again. Zhu Yao’s face burned with embarrassment. Bullying her was one thing, but Cai’er had followed her for so long—she couldn’t watch the people around her suffer. So she boldly raised her head and said, “Qiu Shu, I am after all the daughter of the Minister. If you humiliate me like this and the Empress finds out, she definitely won’t let you off.”

“You dare bring up the Empress?”

“I’m only speaking the truth. The way you’re—”

Before she could finish speaking, Qiu Shu’s palm came down with a slap.

It struck Zhu Yao directly on the face!

“So what if you’re the Minister’s daughter? The Empress is my own older sister. What are you to me? How dare you speak to me like this!” As Qiu Shu spoke, she raised her hand to strike again…

Before it could fall, someone grabbed her wrist.

Time seemed to pause at that moment, and the air froze along with it. Then, pairs of eyes all looked toward that suddenly extended hand, their gazes moving upward bit by bit until they saw a veiled woman who had appeared there at some unknown time. Though she wore a veil, her lively eyes were so beautiful they couldn’t help but move people’s hearts. Especially those brows and eyes—they were like spring willows, possessing a natural beauty reminiscent of the legendary beauty Xi Shi. Looking at her, many of the women’s eyes held some jealousy.

Qiu Shu looked at her captured hand and glared fiercely at Ji Yunshu, demanding, “What are you doing?”

Ji Yunshu glanced at Zhu Yao on the ground and said, “This young lady has already taken a fall and is somewhat embarrassed. Why must you make such a big scene of it?”

“Me? Making a scene?”

“The matter is small—why not let it dissolve into nothing?”

“How insolent!” Qiu Shu forcefully yanked her arm away, her face showing anger as she asked, “Where did you come from? How dare you speak to me like this!”

“I merely came to the manor to offer birthday wishes.”

“So you’re just some little girl. Do you know who I am? I’m the Empress’s own younger sister.”

Ji Yunshu listened calmly and offered a reminder: “Though I’m not from any prominent family, I am from an official’s household. But Miss, if you use the Empress as your reason to make things difficult for people like this, if word reaches the Empress’s ears, or the ears of someone with ulterior motives, I fear… it will become a source of trouble later!”

The anger in Qiu Shu’s heart grew stronger and stronger!

She understood the meaning behind those words!

She said, “A mere slip of a girl dares to speak such nonsense! I think you don’t know whether you’re alive or dead!” Qiu Shu raised her hand to strike again, and Ji Yunshu once more caught her hand, warning, “Miss, this is Ning’an Manor. If you make a big commotion here, it won’t benefit anyone. Since you claim to be the Empress’s younger sister, you should display appropriate grace. But if you continue to be obstinate and word reaches the manor master’s ears, what do you think will happen then? Moreover…” She glanced at Zhu Yao prostrate on the ground and said, “This young lady is the daughter of the Minister. The Minister serves in the court, working for the Emperor. Think about it—if something were to happen to this young lady, would the Emperor consider the Empress? Or the Minister?”

Ah!

These words left Qiu Shu speechless!

It had to be said that this girl who appeared out of nowhere was absolutely right. If she really continued making trouble, the consequences would surely be unbearable.

So—

She forcefully yanked her hand free, pulling it back, and said, “Don’t think I’m afraid just because you spout such nonsense! You listen to me—today I’ll temporarily let her go, but you… hehe!”

Her eyes carried malicious intent!

Then she left with her people.

After she left, Ji Yunshu crouched down and inquired, “Miss, are you alright?”

Zhu Yao looked at her with deep gratitude: “I’m fine. Thank you, Miss.”

“Get up first.” Ji Yunshu helped her to her feet. Seeing several fine wounds scraped into her palms, she said, “I have medicine in my room. Come with me and I’ll apply some medicine for you.”

“Then I’ll trouble you, Miss.”

“No need to be polite.”

Ji Yunshu led her and Cai’er into her room and took out some medicine she’d brought for treating scrapes, applying it to Zhu Yao’s wounds.

Zhu Yao looked at her and asked, “Miss, I seem to have… never seen you before? May I ask which household you’re from?”

She said, “I’m merely a girl from a humble family. Today I came here with someone to offer birthday wishes to Minister Li.”

“Then… why does Miss cover your face with a veil?”

“To be honest, I’ve recently developed a red rash on my face, so I must cover it.”

“Is it serious?”

“These are just old recurring problems. Once the weather improves, it will get better.” Ji Yunshu said.

Zhu Yao nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said, “My name is Zhu Yao. As you learned earlier, I’m the daughter of the Minister of Rites. May I know Miss’s surname…”

“My surname is Ji. You can call me Miss Ji.”

“Mm. These next few days while we’re both staying in this courtyard, may I come find you to talk?”

“Of course you may.” Ji Yunshu smiled.

Zhu Yao looked at the medicine now applied to the wounds on her palms. After hesitating for a long while, she said, “The one who hit me earlier… is called Qiu Shu. She’s the Empress’s younger sister. Normally no one dares provoke her. It’s just that I don’t like crowds, so I don’t often gather with those young ladies. I also naturally dislike flattering people, which is why I attracted such treatment. Earlier I nearly dragged you into trouble as well, Miss. Though Qiu Shu has given up for now, I fear that because you helped me, these next few days… you’ll suffer for it too.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, but Ji Yunshu remained very calm. After putting away the medicine, she said, “You needn’t worry about me. If that Qiu Shu is a clever person, she won’t cause trouble. If she really does stir things up, it won’t benefit her.”

“Still, you should be careful.”

“I know.”

“I’m used to it, but you…”

Ji Yunshu interrupted her: “Alright, the medicine has been applied. Just be careful yourself.”

Zhu Yao looked at her medicine-treated palms and said, “Thank you.”

Cai’er beside her also expressed gratitude: “Thank you, Miss, for helping my young lady today.”

Tears filled her eyes!

Ji Yunshu looked at the master and servant’s faces and said, “You should still have someone prepare a hot egg to properly compress your faces—it can reduce the swelling.”

“Alright.” Cai’er responded.

Zhu Yao thanked her once more, then didn’t stay longer. Ji Yunshu saw them to the door, then rested in her room.