She thought this glare would scare Yun Shu into whimpering and fleeing.
She didn't dare to follow through with the slap.
Who knew...
Geng Yu Yue couldn't help but wail again.
"Ah! Yun Shu, you actually! You actually struck so hard!"
Yun Shu delivered four consecutive slaps.
She didn't give Geng Yu Yue a chance to escape.
The four swift slaps left Geng Yu Yue dazed and disoriented.
She collapsed onto the ground, moaning in pain.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!" In Geng Yu Yue's mind, only these words echoed repeatedly.
Even when she was punished with a beating for doing something wrong, she had never felt such agonizing pain!
It felt like the flesh beneath her skin was being torn.
It felt as though her face no longer belonged to her.
She gasped for air!
Yun Shu said nothing.
But those nearby couldn't hold back.
It wasn't to defend Yun Shu, but because they couldn't stand Geng Yu Yue's theatrics.
"Miss Geng Er, your face isn't even red."
"Yes, Miss Geng Er, this... it's too obvious!"
Geng Yu Yue was stunned, staring blankly at everyone.
"Yu Yue, that's enough! You must be tired now. Someone, escort Miss Geng Er out of the palace!" Geng Yu Fei could no longer bear to look at Geng Yu Yue.
She wasn't favored or trusted by the Emperor in the palace, nor was she ridiculed by others. But recently, Geng Yu Yue had completely disgraced her!
Geng Yu Yue was bewildered.
Why didn't anyone believe her?
Did she look like someone who would lie?
If she hadn't been unable to bear it, she wouldn't have cried out in pain!
She glared fiercely at Yun Shu, "Yun Shu, tell everyone, did you just hit me with all your might? Am I not wrongly accusing you?"
"Oh, if you say so, then it is," Yun Shu shrugged, unconcerned.
Geng Yu Yue suddenly felt a surge of blood in her throat.
A metallic taste filled her mouth.
She was so enraged that she didn't know what to say. She raised her hand to slap back.
But reason told her she couldn't. If she did, she would truly lose face!
In the end, under a variety of gazes, she was shamefully escorted out of the palace.
As Yun Shu turned to sit down, she looked at Zhan Xiao Li.
She smiled slowly.
Zhan Xiao Li felt an urge to rush forward and embrace her. Her embrace was truly, truly warm! It was so much like his mother's.
But he resisted.
Zhan Tian Ye's cold eyes sharpened as he watched her look at Zhan Xiao Li.
Was she trying to use Zhan Xiao Li?
The slaps she'd just delivered to Geng Yu Yue had all been infused with internal energy.
Indeed, she was the daughter of General Yun, possessing some martial arts!
In that case...
From this day forward, she absolutely could not be allowed to see Zhan Xiao Li again, nor could she be given any opportunity to use Zhan Xiao Li!
He averted his gaze with disdain.
Yun Shu had just returned to her seat when Yun Chang Feng raised his thumb towards her. "As expected of my good daughter! This is how one should face provocation! Your zither skills are almost on par with your mother's, no, they far surpass your mother's."
He thought to himself, my dear wife, do you see? Our Shu'er has grown up!
Although she didn't have your guidance, her zither skills are exceptionally high.
None of the young ladies present are as skilled as Shu'er!
Those who used to bully Shu'er, she has now fought back against them today!
You can rest assured.
I will protect our Shu'er well from now on.
Yun Shu chuckled softly, "Father, my zither skills are certainly not as good as Mother's."
In Yun Chang Feng's heart, the original owner's mother was the most beautiful woman in the world. No matter what she did, he felt no one could compare.
Suddenly.
A maid approached, holding a teapot.
For some reason, she stumbled.
She almost lost her balance.
The tea from the pot spilled directly onto Yun Shu!
Fortunately, the tea was not hot. It only managed to wet Yun Shu's clothes.
"Ah! This servant deserves to die, this servant cannot escape blame! Please punish me, Second Miss Yun!" The palace maid, seeing this, knelt down in fear, begging for mercy.
The commotion disturbed others.
Geng Yu Fei looked over.
Upon seeing it was Yun Shu, a dark light flickered in her eyes.
"Second Miss Yun, has something happened again?" Geng Yu Fei asked, her expressionless face laced with a cold tone.
"It is this servant's fault. While pouring tea, I accidentally spilled it on Second Miss Yun!" the palace maid replied quickly.
Geng Yu Fei frowned. "How could you be so careless?"
This banquet was her responsibility, and yet so many incidents had occurred, causing her such embarrassment.
"Please punish this servant, Your Majesty the Empress! This servant knows her mistake!" The palace maid pressed her forehead against the cold bluestone floor, trembling as she begged for forgiveness.
Yun Shu looked at the tea-soaked area on her body.
A meaningful glint flashed in her eyes, as bright as glazed glass.
"Please allow this servant to escort Second Miss Yun to change, and I will accept my punishment later!" the palace maid continued.
This plea for forgiveness, coupled with a proposed solution, impressed many with the palace maid's composure.
Truly worthy of being from the palace.
Geng Yu Fei's expression softened slightly. "Mm, take Second Miss Yun to change."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress!"
The palace maid immediately rose, approached Yun Shu, and gestured with a bow, "Please follow this servant, Second Miss Yun. I will lead the way."
Yun Shu smiled beautifully, stood up, and followed.
The moment Yun Shu stood up and left with the palace maid, Yun Ying and Madam Yang, not far away, exchanged glances.
This was perfect!
They would soon see Yun Shu's miserable state!
All the glory she had just gained would be lost!
"Aunt, there won't be any accidents, right?" Yun Ying asked uncertainly.
Her heart pounded.
For some reason, she had a feeling that things today wouldn't go smoothly.
Madam Yang glared at Yun Ying. "Why do you keep asking foolish questions today? Ying'er, you must remember, now that we have left the General's manor, we are living in the Yun residence. You must rely on Yue Yin from now on. Anything arranged by Yue Yin will never go wrong."
Yun Ying broke out in a cold sweat, realizing she had asked an inappropriate question.
Before today, in the General's manor, her aunt would never have scolded her like this!
It seemed her aunt considered her and her mother a burden!
Her face turned pale, and she lowered her head.
...
Yun Shu followed the palace maid to a palace.
There were few people inside.
"Second Miss Yun, this is where ladies and madames temporarily rest and change when they visit the palace. Please go in and change," the palace maid opened the door to a room and gestured for Yun Shu to enter.
Yun Shu's lips curved slightly, and her gaze fell lightly on the room. "Have the lamps been lit?"
"Many madames and ladies are visiting the palace today, so most of the palace halls have been lit," the palace maid replied immediately.
Seeing Yun Shu standing motionless at the entrance, she added, "Clothes have been prepared in the rooms for all the madames and ladies to change into. Please rest assured, Second Miss Yun, the clothes prepared by the palace are made of excellent fabric."
"Very thoughtful," Yun Shu lowered her eyes, a half-smile playing on her lips.
She walked directly inside.