Volume One, Chapter Six: My Hand Hurts So Much!

For the first time in fifteen years, the father and daughter stood in direct confrontation.

Xu Huai'an looked Xu Zhiyi up and down with disbelief. It was midday, and the sun was scorching. Her slightly worn skirt was soaked with sweat, and several strands of hair were plastered to her forehead. Yet, despite such a bedraggled appearance, her eyes remained startlingly bright.

"Enough! Stop twisting words. For the sake of your upcoming betrothal, I shall spare you this time!"

As he spoke, he bent down to support Concubine Lin. She had long since been sobbing uncontrollably and leaned into Xu Huai'an’s arms. "Master, oh, you must seek justice for me. She first bullied Wan'er, and then refused to be disciplined, Master..." She cried like a willow in the rain, and took the opportunity to hold out her scraped palm. "Look at my hand, oh, it hurts so much."

Xu Huai'an could never withstand her tearful tactics, but Xu Zhiyi was still there. He had to darken his face and push Concubine Lin away impatiently. "If your hand is injured, send for the house physician! What kind of behavior is this, sobbing and wailing? Once the eldest daughter’s marriage is settled, we must begin preparing for Wan'er’s. Do you have nothing better to do than cause trouble?"

Perhaps because Xu Huai'an was so severe, Concubine Lin stopped crying instantly, turning her wails into low whimpers. Xu Zhiyi sneered inwardly. As if anyone were fooled by this performance! Xu Yunwan, rarely seeing her father so stern and harsh, shrank back and remained silent.

Seeing that Xu Huai'an intended to let the matter slide so lightly, Xu Zhiyi stepped forward, blocking his path. "Father! I only ask you one thing: are there still ranks of superior and inferior in this household? If a servant offends their master, how should it be handled?"

Xu Huai'an frowned in displeasure. He felt that Xu Zhiyi was different today. "Naturally, it should be severely punished..."

"I thank you, Father!"

As the words left her lips, Xu Zhiyi walked slowly toward Mama Wang and, using all the strength she possessed, struck her across the face with both hands.

*Slap! Slap!*

After ten full slaps, Mama Wang was dizzy and disoriented, blood seeping from the corners of her mouth.

"What are you doing?" Xu Huai'an roared.

Xu Zhiyi did not speak. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing a small portion of her jade-like arms. The porcelain-white skin was covered in blue and purple bruises. "A mere servant dared to lay hands on her master; does she not deserve to be beaten? She kept claiming she was acting on the Mistress's orders. If this spreads, outsiders will only say that the Xu household lacks propriety and fails to distinguish between superior and inferior!"

Mama Wang hung her head in guilt. Xu Huai'an’s expression grew even gloomier. "The Mistress? Which Mistress?"

Concubine Lin gripped her fists inside her sleeves, nearly grinding her teeth in frustration, but she knelt before Xu Huai'an with feigned reluctance. "Master, it is hot; perhaps the Eldest Miss misheard! I only asked Mama Wang to bring the Eldest Miss over to talk. How could I bear to strike her?"

Xu Huai'an flung away the hand Concubine Lin had on his sleeve. "Someone! This insolent slave has shown disrespect to her master and stirred up trouble—bring out the family discipline!"

Seeing that Concubine Lin had easily cleared herself of any involvement, Mama Wang turned deathly pale with terror. She crawled trembling to Xu Huai'an’s feet, tears streaming down her face. "Master, please be discerning. This old servant truly acted under the orders of the... the Concubine. As for the injuries on the Eldest Miss... yes, she was careless while walking and fell!"

Xiao Yu, standing nearby, was burning with indignation. "Then fall right here in front of the Master! Let’s see if you can fall and sustain the same injuries as the Eldest Miss!"

Xu Huai'an might have been playing deaf and dumb, but he was not truly blind. The marks on Xu Zhiyi’s forearm were clearly caused by someone pinching her. If he did not deal with this insolent slave today, she might drag others down with her.

"What are you standing there for! Beat her to death!"

Before long, pig-like screams echoed through the Pearl Courtyard. One after another, the sounds were incredibly shrill. Thirty strikes left the skin broken and flesh mangled. Let alone a woman of Mama Wang’s age, even a young, strong manservant in the house could not have endured it.

A servant stepped forward to check Mama Wang’s breath. "Master, she is gone."

Xu Huai'an stood under a tree, his expression dark and unreadable, and waved his hand impatiently. "Dispose of her! What a stroke of bad luck!"

The bluestone floor was stained with a deep red. Concubine Lin’s face was as pale as paper, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"And you! Be smarter in the future. Don't let these treacherous, insolent slaves corrupt you!" Xu Huai'an flicked his sleeves and strode away.

Concubine Lin collapsed to the ground, her eyes cold and venomous. *Little bitch! It is all because of you. If the Master grows to despise us mother and daughter because of this, I will make sure you know what it is to wish you were dead!*

Ignoring her own disheveled state, Concubine Lin’s eyes flashed with malice as she lunged at Xu Zhiyi again. Xu Zhiyi curled her lips and calmly moved a few steps toward the pond.

*Splash!*

Water sprayed everywhere. "Oh no! Concubine Lin and the Eldest Miss have fallen into the water! Someone help!"

Xu Zhiyi thrashed about in the water, her hands gripping Concubine Lin’s hair tightly, refusing to let go. "Gurgle... you... gurgle... little bitch... gurgle... let go!"

Concubine Lin was a woman from Jiangnan and knew how to swim. But at that moment, Xu Zhiyi was pulling her hair and forcing her head under the water with all her might.

Xiao Yu waited until the timing was right before raising her voice to call for help. Soon, servants who knew how to swim jumped into the pond and pulled the two of them out. Xu Zhiyi, wearing a look of lingering fear, huddled in Xiao Yu’s arms, sobbing softly. "Cough, cough, I was so scared, wuwuwu."

Xiao Yu tried hard to suppress the corners of her mouth from turning upward. "Eldest Miss, don't be afraid. This servant is here; it’s all right. When we get back to Wutong Courtyard, I will brew you a bowl of strong ginger soup."

"Xiao Yu, wuwuwu, Concubine Lin wanted to kill me... I’m so scared, take me back to Wutong Courtyard, please?"

Concubine Lin, however, felt a chill run down her spine. Just now, Xu Zhiyi had clearly intended to kill her! Although she couldn't see clearly under the water, the murderous intent that had erupted in the girl's eyes was bone-chilling.

The servants nearby whispered to one another. "The Eldest Miss is the legitimate daughter of the house; how could Concubine Lin dare to do this?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Do you not want your life?"

"It’s not as if Concubine Lin hasn't been mistreating the Eldest Miss for days; you lot should say less."

Their words were entirely biased toward the weak and bullied Xu Zhiyi. Xu Zhiyi had already spoken first, crying as if her breath were failing, leaving Concubine Lin unable to find a way to defend herself.

"Eldest Miss, stop spouting nonsense! When did I push you? It was clearly you who..."

Xu Huai'an’s figure appeared once again in the Pearl Courtyard. His face was as cold as frost, and the ferocity in his eyes seemed ready to burst forth. "All of you, get back to your own courtyards! Have you all taken the wrong medicine today? Making the household a foul mess! Is it not enough of a disgrace?"

Concubine Lin’s defense died in her throat, and she could only let the maidservants support her as she left. Xiao Yu held the limp Xu Zhiyi in her arms. "Father, please calm your anger; this daughter will take her leave."

Even from a distance, Xu Zhiyi’s weeping could still be heard. The incident of Concubine Lin pushing Xu Zhiyi into the pond quickly spread throughout the household. Opinions were divided, and everyone said something different. Xu Huai'an was restless and had no heart to concern himself with Concubine Lin.

"From today on, without permission, no one is allowed to step a single foot outside their own courtyard!"