Chapter Fourteen: A Taste of Defeat

These servants, though tall and burly with a menacing appearance, were nothing but paper tigers, lacking any real skill. Chu Bing dispatched them one by one with ease, and soon they were all sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

The air was filled with wails, and Yun Xin stood there, dumbfounded, unable to believe how formidable Chu Bing had become.

Clenching her fists, Chu Bing strode toward her with a sinister grin. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to scar my face?”

Yun Xin shook her head frantically, retreating step by step. In her eyes, Chu Bing now seemed as terrifying as a demon.

“Madam Yun, you’re quite something now, aren’t you? The county magistrate’s official wife? Life must be comfortable for you.” Chu Bing grabbed Yun Xin by the collar, yanking her close, her voice icy.

Although she stood here alive and well, the original owner of this body was already dead.

Yun Xin was so frightened her face turned ashen. “Chu Bing, you’ve got it all wrong, I—I was just joking with you…”

“Is that the sort of nonsense you expect even yourself to believe?” Chu Bing sneered.

With a flick of her wrist, she flung Yun Xin to the ground, right in front of the cowering father and daughter in the corner.

The pair looked up at Chu Bing anxiously, wishing they could shrink even further into the shadows, pretending none of this was happening.

Yun Xin struggled to get up, but Chu Bing pressed her foot on her back, her voice frosty. “Apologize!”

“What?” The pain twisted Yun Xin’s face, her makeup smeared with dust, making her look utterly wretched.

“Apologize to them!” Chu Bing repeated.

The father and daughter waved their hands in panic—the woman before them was the county magistrate’s wife; how could they dare let her apologize? That would be pure folly!

Chu Bing glanced at them coolly. “If you want others to stop bullying you, you must stand up for yourselves.”

The old man opened his mouth to protest, but his daughter abruptly pushed him aside, stood up, and glared angrily at Yun Xin lying on the ground. “Apologize!”

Yun Xin was stunned, her eyes sparking with fury. “You little liar, how dare you speak to me like that—I am—”

Before she could finish, Chu Bing pressed down harder with her foot. “I don’t care who you are! If you’ve done wrong, you must apologize! Even the emperor has to reason with others!”

Yun Xin screamed, trying to wriggle free, but no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape from beneath Chu Bing’s foot.

Tears streamed down her face as she stammered, “I’m sorry, I was wrong, I won’t dare again!”

Chu Bing turned to the girl. “Are you satisfied?”

If not, she could press further.

The girl’s eyes sparkled. She bent at the waist toward Chu Bing. “Thank you.”

Chu Bing waved her off, already turning to help the old man away. They hurried off, unlikely to ever return to this place.

Only after watching them leave did Chu Bing remove her foot, allowing Yun Xin to stand. She wobbled to her feet, glimpsed the servants not far off, and a flicker of hope leapt in her heart—she dashed away.

As long as she could escape Chu Bing, she’d be safe!

But she barely made it a few steps before a figure blocked her path.

Looking up, she saw Chu Bing’s face, smiling coldly.

A shiver ran through Yun Xin and her knees buckled; she knelt down on her own accord.

“Why are you running?” Chu Bing’s voice was gentle, but the tone was icy.

Yun Xin kept her head down, kowtowing repeatedly, not daring to look up.

“Aunt Eight, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have tried to harm you. Please, be magnanimous and forgive me!”

“Aunt Eight, for all the years I took care of you, can’t you let me off just this once…”

Yun Xin wept, her face a mess of tears and snot, trembling all over.

But Chu Bing’s expression suddenly changed.

“What did you call me?”

“A-Aunt Eight?” Yun Xin looked up, stammering.

With a sudden motion, Chu Bing slapped her hard across the face.

That was the title she hated most—for it reminded her, every moment, that the original Chu Bing had once been a concubine kept by another, trampled on by all.

The crisp sound of the slap echoed in everyone’s ears.

The dignified wife of the county magistrate, slapped in public!

Yun Xin clutched her cheek, eyes red with humiliation and rage, but dared not protest.

“Remember, next time you see me, you will address me as ‘Mistress!’” Chu Bing hooked Yun Xin’s chin with a finger, enunciating each word.

Yun Xin had once been her maid; calling her ‘Mistress’ was only proper.

Seeing the cold light in Chu Bing’s eyes, Yun Xin shrank back. Though her heart seethed with unwillingness, she acquiesced.

“Yes… Mistress,” Yun Xin bit out the words through clenched teeth.

She had worked so hard to climb her way up, to shed her status as a servant, yet now Chu Bing had exposed her origins in front of everyone. She could feel the scornful gazes all around her, and her face burned with shame.

Yun Xin dared not look up at the others, bowing her head to hide the resentment and hatred in her eyes.

Someday, she swore, she would repay all the humiliation she suffered today, and with interest!

Chu Bing, seeing how frightened she was, suddenly lost interest.

With a snort, she bent close to Yun Xin’s ear. “I know you’re not resigned. That’s fine. I’ll be waiting for you to come for revenge.”

When the time came, she’d crush Yun Xin underfoot once more.

She was looking forward to watching the hope in Yun Xin’s eyes shatter again and again—undoubtedly, it would be most entertaining.

After Chu Bing left, a long while passed before Yun Xin, with the help of the servants, slowly managed to stand.

She glared in the direction Chu Bing had gone, her pretty face twisted with malice, and ground out between clenched teeth, “Just you wait. One day, I’ll make you pay for every bit of humiliation I suffered today!”

*

Chu Bing had no inkling of Yun Xin’s thoughts.

Walking along the bustling street, she felt refreshed—indeed, tormenting one’s enemies was the best way to relieve stress.

She looked around with curiosity, taking in everything, always on the lookout for anything new that might become the next business opportunity.

Though the Chu family restaurant was thriving, its foundation was still fragile. Should someone influential lift a finger against her, the whole venture could collapse overnight.

That’s why Chu Bing was ready to start a second business, to build a vast commercial network. Then, if anyone tried to move against her, the city’s entire economy would feel the tremor.

Who would dare provoke her then?

Lost in dreams of the future, Chu Bing kept a keen eye on her surroundings.

Just then, the long-dormant system surprised her with an unexpected gift—a large red envelope appeared, floating before her eyes.