On a January night, the cold wind howled. At this moment, rain began to fall again, though the several red lanterns hanging from the eaves’ corners cast a few threads of warm light.

Before long, Luan’er quietly came over, bringing a blanket and a hand warmer.

“The master clearly knows Miss has a weak constitution, yet he still punishes Miss to kneel all night. Isn’t this killing her!” Luan’er cried, tears in her eyes.

“Why are you always crying and sniffling?”

Ji Yunshu held the hand warmer, and her body gradually warmed up.

Luan’er wiped her tears. “Miss, this is exactly your problem—you don’t fight or compete, which is why people bully you to no end.”

“Who told you that?”

“Luan’er isn’t blind. I can naturally see. What about last time when the eldest miss dug up your beloved catalpa tree and moved it to her courtyard? What about when the fourth miss cut all your winter clothes to shreds? And there’s the second young master who knocked over the master’s glazed lamp himself but blamed it on you—what about that? Miss, you’re kind-hearted and don’t pursue these matters, but they don’t appreciate it. You’re just hitting your own foot with a rock—you’re the only one who feels the pain.”

Luan’er clenched her small fists in anger.

“You cheeky girl, always talking too much. The walls have ears—how many times have I told you?”

Ji Yunshu scolded her, but in her heart she knew Luan’er only meant well.

Luan’er lowered her head, feeling somewhat wronged.

Ever since occupying this body, Ji Yunshu’s temperament had more or less taken on some of the original owner’s tranquil elegance—soft and gentle, neither ostentatious nor restless.

And she truly tired of all that scheming and deception. Whatever she could endure, she absolutely wouldn’t quarrel about.

Perhaps precisely because of the contrary nature of human behavior, the more times she complied, the more the young ladies and masters in the residence liked to trouble her—small incidents every three days, major ones every half month.

As regular as a menstrual cycle!

Morning.

After Ji Yunshu finished her punishment, Luan’er helped her stand up. Just as they were preparing to return to the courtyard to rest and entered the western wing, they ran headlong into Ji Muqing.

She wore a snow-satin purple-embroidered brocade shirt, golden phoenix-embroidered shoes, gold ornaments and silver hairpins in her hair, a string of top-quality white pearls around her neck, and bracelets and silver bangles on her wrists that were all priceless. Her jewelry was dazzling, radiating wealth and splendor.

Behind her followed two arrogant maids, Shui’er and Luo’er.

The Ji family’s eldest miss, Ji Muqing, always carried herself with such airs.

“What, did you go touch those unclean things again?” Her tone was sarcastic, with a disdainful smile at the corner of her mouth.

Ji Yunshu narrowed her eyes slightly and didn’t intend to acknowledge her. She stepped forward to leave, but Ji Muqing grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard with hidden force.

“How disrespectful. Are you mute?”

Ji Yunshu replied indifferently, “Your younger sister’s hands touched corpses yesterday and haven’t been washed yet. Does elder sister not mind?”

“What?” Ji Muqing released Ji Yunshu as if she’d been scalded, vigorously wiping her hands with a handkerchief while cursing, “Inauspicious, inauspicious! First thing in the morning and I’ve been tainted with this wretched bad luck.”

Seeing this, Luan’er interjected, “Eldest Miss, Third Miss knelt all night yesterday. Please don’t make things difficult for her…”

Smack…

Ji Muqing raised her hand and slapped Luan’er. “A lowly maid also has the qualifications to speak to this miss?” After speaking, she glared at Ji Yunshu. “Truly, the master raises the dog. Someone come, drag this lowly maid to the woodshed and teach her a good lesson.”

This was clearly taking out her anger on Luan’er!

After all, Ji Yunshu was nominally Ji Muqing’s younger sister—she could be scolded but not beaten. But Luan’er was different. Beaten or killed, she was just a maid.

A few taels of silver apiece—grab a whole handful!

Shui’er and Luo’er behind Ji Muqing received their mistress’s order and came forward to drag Luan’er away.

On ordinary days, Ji Yunshu could endure grievances herself, but taking it out on Luan’er was unacceptable. She deliberately shielded Luan’er behind her and raised her brows to glance at Ji Muqing.

That one glance made Ji Muqing’s whole body shiver.

“Elder sister getting angry so early in the morning might harm your health. Why not let this matter go? Afterward, your younger sister will personally discipline Luan’er.”

“This little servant always likes to interrupt and interfere. If word gets out, people will think all the lowly maids in our Ji family are unclean. Today, I absolutely must teach her a proper lesson.”

The implication naturally categorized Ji Yunshu as well into that “unclean” category.

This woman Ji Muqing was truly a superior primate!