Chapter 11: I’ll Teach You the Rules

Ji Hua frowned, rose immediately, and walked briskly toward the door.

A commotion was erupting in the small courtyard outside. Liu Yiyi sat slumped on the ground, her eyes rimmed with red, clutching one side of her face, which was swollen high. Another tall maid stood akimbo, acting with a haughty, overbearing air.

Ying Ti sneered with cold disdain, "Since you were brought back from outside the estate by the Eldest Miss, I shall teach you the rules today."

Several other maids and servant women stood by, watching the spectacle.

Ji Hua’s brow furrowed even deeper. She stepped forward to shield Liu Yiyi, rebuking, "Who dares to lay a hand on her?"

Ying Ti’s eyes darted around. She was naturally beautiful and striking in appearance, and had always thought quite highly of herself. Furthermore—she was an agent sent by Liu Qingmei! Naturally, she held no regard for Ji Hua. Seeing her step out to protect this maid, Ying Ti snorted inwardly, though she maintained a deceptively amicable smile on her face, her arrogance boundless.

"The Eldest Miss may not know, but this little wench messed up the task of watering the Frost-Snow plants. She watered them incorrectly and nearly drowned this pot of white magnolias." Ying Ti lifted her chin, saying coldly, "If everyone were like her, this estate would be in total chaos!"

Ji Hua’s gaze turned icy. "So, you are doing this to help me?"

"That goes without saying." Ying Ti stood her ground, offering a malicious smile as she swept a look of contempt over Ji Hua. "Eldest Miss, do not wrong a good person here. I know you favor this wench, but am I not upholding justice?"

"If this matter were to reach the Madam’s ears—neglecting duties and being careless—who knows what kind of trouble might follow!"

If her previous words were merely mocking, this sentence was a blunt, direct threat.

Ji Hua laughed. She arched her brows lightly, a cold glint flashing through her beautiful eyes.

"Usurping my authority and showing no respect for your superiors. Is this so-called 'rule' just your word alone? Since that is the case, I should also teach you a thing or two about the rules—"

She suddenly raised her hand.

"Slap!"

A crisp, sharp slap landed squarely on Ying Ti’s face!

"Ah!" A scream pierced the air. Even the hidden guards, who had been resting with their eyes closed, instinctively glanced over.

Ji Hua helped Liu Yiyi up, smiling gently. "With me here, no one can bully you."

Liu Yiyi’s eyes were bloodshot, and she froze in sudden shock as tears slid from the corners of her eyes. She had never wanted to cause conflict for Ji Hua. She was the daughter of a disgraced official, and her status as a lowly person was already a stain; what if others used this to find leverage against the Eldest Miss? Her heart fluttered in panic, and her fingers tightened involuntarily.

Ying Ti was shaking with rage, her eyes scarlet as she clutched her face and looked at Ji Hua. "Eldest Miss! You..."

"What? Am I not allowed to strike you?" Ji Hua’s red lips curled slightly, her cold, indifferent gaze fixed upon Ying Ti.

It was just as well. She would take this opportunity today to pull out this thorn. Otherwise, Liu Qingmei would continue to think that her Canglan Residence was a place anyone could step on.

"Go."

Ji Hua took Liu Yiyi’s hand and signaled for her to step forward. Her expression deepened, carrying an indescribable air of sharpness and authority. "How did she hit you just now? Hit her back."

Liu Yiyi’s eyes flickered.

Ying Ti immediately pointed at her, clutching her own face. "You dare? You are nothing but a maid—"

"Slap."

Liu Yiyi did not like conflict, but she struck nonetheless. Clutching her stinging palm, she stared at Ying Ti with a resolute gaze.

"I am the Eldest Miss’s person. By hitting me, you are injuring the Eldest Miss’s reputation. I will never forgive you!" Liu Yiyi’s clear voice was firm and resonant, her red-rimmed eyes filled with the steadfastness of a rock.

A flash of appreciation appeared in Ji Hua’s eyes. This was the true nature of the Liu Yiyi she knew. There would be many times in the future when she could not protect her, but she needed Liu Yiyi to know that with her backing, she should act boldly. If the heavens collapsed, she would be the one to hold them up for the rest of her life.

Ying Ti’s eyes suddenly turned red, tears of grievance streaming down. "Eldest Miss, I have been loyal to you, yet you are so unable to distinguish right from wrong!"

"Using me as a shield? It seems you haven't been beaten enough." Ji Hua smiled, her face serene, yet the words she spoke were cold and murderous! She swept her gaze toward the maids and servants nearby. "Why are you just standing there? Publicly slandering the mistress and showing no regard for the law—tie her up and give her twenty lashes!"

"...Yes."

The maids and servants, witnessing Ji Hua’s display of formidable, chilling aura, were terrified and dared not offend her! The Eldest Miss had always been known for her kindness; how had she suddenly become so fierce? They responded timidly, pushing the responsibility onto one another, until they heard Ji Hua’s angry roar: "Are you not moving fast enough?!"

The icy tone made everyone’s heart skip a beat. Daring not to delay any further, they hurried forward to restrain Ying Ti.

Ying Ti struggled desperately, hurling foul abuse. "Eldest Miss, if you protect her like this, do you mean to say that we, who have served you for six years, are worth less than an outsider—"

"Strike!"

"Ah!"

Ying Ti’s unfinished words turned into screams of agony. Ji Hua had someone count the blows aloud, keeping her eyes fixed on the servant performing the punishment, allowing no room for laziness.

Ying Ti was in such pain that her fury boiled over, and in her desperation, she began to curse wildly. "I am acting under the Madam’s orders to manage these maids! This is an act of rebellion, defying the Madam’s command! I will tell the Madam..."

Ji Hua smiled faintly. "Add another twenty lashes."

"Ah!"

The entire courtyard echoed with Ying Ti’s shrill screams. Before long, blood had begun to seep beneath her waist, and she was breathing more than she was speaking. She was now as wretched as she had once been arrogant and smug.

Only today did all the servants understand what kind of person Ji Hua truly was! She stood tall and upright, her presence as biting as a winter chill; even Liu Qingmei, who had managed the estate for years, never possessed such formidable spirit. That pair of beautiful, cold eyes swept over them, and everyone fell silent in fear.

The Eldest Miss... she was playing for real this time!

"In the past, I could not be bothered to haggle over trifles, but that does not mean you can betray me. If you stay in my Canglan Courtyard, you had best decide whose side you are on."

Everyone was shaken to their core!

Ji Hua’s gaze was piercing. "Liu’er is someone I brought back, so she is naturally my person. Her allotment will be that of a first-rank maid. If any of you dare to look down on her or show any neglect in the future, do not blame me for forgetting our old ties!"

What a joke. Did Liu Qingmei really think she could reach her hand over her head? It was just as well that Ying Ti had shown her true colors today; it saved her the trouble of finding a way to dismiss her.

By the time the twenty lashes—plus the additional twenty—were finished, the unconscious Ying Ti was dragged away. All the maids and servants in the courtyard remained deathly silent. Even if they had held any small ulterior motives before, they dared not harbor them now. The Eldest Miss’s dignity, aura, and methods were such that to offend her would surely lead to a fate even worse than Ying Ti’s! As for Ying Ti, having received forty lashes, even if she managed to cling to life, the rest of her days were surely ruined.

Many did not even dare to lift their heads, fearing to draw a full breath.

The hidden guard in the trees narrowed his eyes. No wonder the Master had chosen her.

Ignoring the crowd, who were each lost in their own thoughts, Ji Hua took Liu Yiyi back to her room. To avoid drawing attention, Liu Yiyi was called "Liu’er" after arriving at the Prime Minister’s estate.

Ji Hua led Liu Yiyi to the daybed and personally retrieved the medicine chest. "I will apply the medicine for you. Sit still."

As Ji Hua slowly smoothed on the cooling ointment, she saw Liu Yiyi’s red, tear-filled eyes. She sighed inwardly. "Liu’er, it is a grievance to follow me. It was my lack of foresight; I was distracted by too many things. I promise that from now on, I will never let anyone bully you like this again."

The faint scent of medicine permeated the room, and Liu Yiyi felt the swollen parts of her cheeks turn cool and comfortable. She couldn't help but curl her lashes, tears still in her eyes, as she smiled brightly.

"It is nothing. In the brothel, I was often beaten; this is very light. Such small injuries will heal in no time." She looked at Ji Hua with heartfelt reverence. "It really doesn't matter, Eldest Miss. You need not have stepped out for me."

"What are you saying? I gave my word that I would not let you be bullied." Ji Hua tapped her forehead playfully. "If this happens again, hit them back. I will bear the consequences for you, understand?"

Liu Yiyi pursed her lips and smiled, two adorable little dimples appearing on her beautiful face.

Ji Hua added, "Today, I should be the one thanking you. You helped me establish my authority."

Liu Yiyi’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help but laugh. "If there are any more times you need bait, I can do it. As long as it helps you, Miss." Her eyes were bright and sparkling, like stars in the night sky.

Ji Hua chuckled, but shook her head firmly. "I do not need to use my own people as bait. You, just stay by my side and keep me company."

Liu Yiyi was amused by this, but her eyes could not stop stinging with unshed tears. In the brothel, everyone had treated her as a toy, an instrument to be beaten and scolded at will. Only the Miss treated her like a human being. Her throat felt tight, and she hurriedly wiped away her tears.

However!

Neither Ji Hua nor Liu Yiyi knew what kind of storm they would face following the events of today.