Early the next morning, Yunyi got up and was preparing to go to work when someone unexpectedly blocked her path. The one blocking her was none other than Chunxiu, with Jirong and another woman standing beside her.

Chunxiu glanced at Yunyi and said, “I heard that Meixue injured her ankle, and you helped her by massaging to relieve the pain, is that right?”

“Yes.” Yunyi lowered her head and responded. Chunxiu walked around her in a circle and said coolly, “I didn’t expect you to have such skills. I remember your name is Shen Yunyi, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” As soon as Yunyi finished speaking, Chunxiu’s previously rather pleasant expression suddenly darkened, and she said coldly, “Let me ask you, what exactly is your relationship with Meixue?”

“Miss Feng asks a very strange question. What relationship could I have with Miss Wu? We’re merely acquainted.” After saying this, Yunyi added, “If Miss Feng has nothing else, I need to go to work.”

Chunxiu glanced at the woman beside her, who understood and blocked Yunyi’s attempt to leave, “We haven’t finished questioning you yet, and you dare to walk away? What audacity.”

Yunyi suppressed her displeasure and lowered her head, “I don’t know what other matters there are?”

Chunxiu slightly curved her lips, “I don’t know if it’s from practicing dance too much, but my feet are somewhat uncomfortable. Come over and massage them for me.”

Yunyi knew she was deliberately causing trouble because she was displeased with her helping Miss Wu, so she said, “I see Miss Feng was walking steadily just now and didn’t seem to have any problems.”

Chunxiu’s eyes turned cold, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m lying?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Before Yunyi could finish speaking, she heard Chunxiu say, “Since you wouldn’t dare, then properly massage my feet. If you do it well and I’m pleased, I might even reward you with something.” Seeing that Yunyi still stood motionless, she scolded with displeasure, “Are you deaf or stupid? Didn’t you hear what I said? Hurry up.”

If Yunyi were just an ordinary maid, faced with Chunxiu’s scolding, she might have thought it better to avoid trouble and agreed to her demands. Unfortunately, Yunyi was not ordinary. She met Chunxiu’s gaze without changing expression and said, “Miss Feng seems to have forgotten something – you are not a master of this mansion and have no right to order me to do anything. If your current behavior were seen by Second Madam or other masters, does Miss Feng think you could continue staying in this Governor’s mansion?”

Chunxiu hadn’t expected Yunyi to say such things. She stared hard at Yunyi and said in a cold voice, “Are you threatening me?”

“How would I dare? I’m merely giving Miss Feng a well-intentioned reminder. Moreover…” Yunyi looked Chunxiu up and down, “Miss Feng’s legs are perfectly healthy, without illness or pain. After massaging, it would likely be counterproductive. If this ruins Miss Feng’s dance performance, I couldn’t bear the responsibility!”

Chunxiu was so angry she wanted to scold her, but Jirong slightly raised her hand and walked to Yunyi, saying gently, “What a sharp-tongued person. What you say is correct – we are not masters of this mansion, but such barbed words don’t seem quite appropriate either. After all, we can be considered acquainted, so why must we be so confrontational?”

Yunyi looked at her and said, “I don’t wish to be confrontational with anyone. It’s just that some people think too highly of themselves and act tyrannically here.”

Hearing this, Chunxiu immediately became furious and scolded, “Who are you saying acts tyrannically? Do you really think I can’t do anything to you?!” As she spoke, she pointed at Yunyi, “Today, whether you’re willing or not, you must massage my feet.”

“Chunxiu, forget it.” Jirong’s attempt to dissuade her didn’t make Chunxiu give up. After waiting long without seeing Yunyi make any movement, anger rose in her heart, and she raised her hand to slap her. Unfortunately, she struck empty air as Yunyi stepped back to avoid it.

Yunyi said with an ugly expression, “Please conduct yourself with dignity, Miss Feng!”

“Dignity?” Chunxiu was already holding back anger, and being spoken to like this made her even more furious. She said ominously, “A mere maid dares to lecture me – how remarkable! Today… let me properly teach you what rules mean!”

After speaking, she raised her hand again to strike at Yunyi. Yunyi quickly raised her hand to her earlobe, taking a rice pearl from beneath her earring into her hand, secretly preparing to flick it at Chunxiu.

Though she didn’t want to expose her identity, she wasn’t someone just anyone could bully, especially when this Chunxiu was deliberately causing trouble. Teaching her a quiet lesson would be good – it would stop her from constantly thinking about harming people and could be considered venting anger for Meixue.

Just then, a stern shout suddenly came from outside, “What are all of you doing?”

The speaker was Steward Lin, whom they had met when first entering the mansion. Beside him stood a young, handsome man wearing purple brocade robes.

Chunxiu didn’t know she had just escaped disaster. Being suddenly stopped made her unhappy. Her eyes rolled, and she withdrew her hand to complain, “Steward Lin, Shen Yunyi was fortunate to enter the Governor’s mansion as a servant, yet she completely disregards rules. At the slightest disagreement, she speaks harshly to us. It’s really too much.”

The man raised his eyebrows, “So you wanted to slap her?”

Hearing this, Chunxiu said awkwardly, “I… just wanted to teach her the rules.” As she spoke, she looked the man up and down, “And who are you?”

Hearing this, Steward Lin immediately scolded, “How dare you! This is Second Young Master.”

Li Yuan had five sons in total: eldest son Li Jiancheng, second son Li Shimin, third son Li Xuanba, fourth son Li Yuanji, and fifth son Li Zhiyun. Except for Li Zhiyun who was born to Wan Shi, the other four were all born to his first wife, Dou Shi.

Hearing this, Chunxiu and the others quickly lowered their heads and bowed. Li Shimin glanced at her indifferently and walked to Yunyi, saying gently, “How are you? Are you injured?”

Yunyi hadn’t expected him to ask about her and was momentarily at a loss. However, she quickly came to her senses, secretly gripping the pearl in her hand tighter, and lowered her head, “Thank you for Second Young Master’s concern. This servant is fine.”

Li Shimin smiled warmly, “Good that you’re fine. Go back now.”

When Yunyi raised her head, she happened to see that smile that hadn’t yet faded, and for a moment she was dazed. She had never seen a man who could smile so beautifully – like a spring breeze passing by, with clear, bright eyes. In those pupils, she even saw her own reflection, making one involuntarily want to be drawn in.

Yunyi quickly collected herself and curtsied before leaving. However, the three words “Li Shimin” were firmly etched in her heart, though that was all.

After she left, Li Shimin glanced at Chunxiu and the others, then also departed with his servants. After Li Shimin had gone far, Chunxiu snorted coldly, “A Second Young Master appeared out of nowhere and let that lowly maid escape. How annoying.”

Jirong patted her hand, “Alright, don’t be angry. She’s in the Dance Workshop – are you afraid there won’t be opportunities?”

Hearing this, Chunxiu’s expression cleared slightly, and she said through gritted teeth, “She helps Wu Meixue to humiliate me like this. One day, I’ll make her unable to live or die.” Speaking of this, she looked longingly in the direction Li Shimin had gone. This Second Young Master was handsome and distinguished – if she could catch his eye, it would truly be an excellent thing. Too bad it was ruined by Shen Yunyi.