Bi Xi was young and didn't understand many things, so she was unaware that Yu Jian disliked her Wang Fei. Since she couldn't touch Ye Qingcheng, she resorted to targeting those around Ye Qingcheng.
No matter how well Bi Xi did her tasks, even if she did them correctly, Yu Jian would find fault.
Gradually, even Bi Xi started to believe she was incapable. She dared not complain to Ye Qingcheng about the minor mistakes and punishments she received daily.
However, yesterday, the news of Xiao Wangye spending the night at Ye Qingcheng's chambers had spread like wildfire. Yu Jian, unwilling to accept it, found a pretext to vent her anger on Bi Xi.
Yu Jian commanded several maids, "Hold her down for me and give her twenty heavy planks."
A maid standing nearby felt pity. "This... Supervisor, isn't this inappropriate? Just because the clothes weren't washed properly..." Before she could finish, a glare from Yu Jian silenced her.
Yu Jian looked at the maid, her eyes filled with a murderous intent. "Who is in charge of this Wangfu?"
The pleading maid was terrified and quickly knelt, trembling, daring not to speak.
Yu Jian roared impatiently, "Speak!"
The maid quickly kowtowed, "It is you!"
Yu Jian surveyed the surroundings. A group of maids were too scared to make a sound, intimidated by her authority. "Very good. Anyone who forgets this point will be expelled from the estate and never re-employed. Do you understand?"
Everyone responded in unison, "We understand."
But Yu Jian found their voices too faint. "Louder, I can't hear you."
"This servant understands."
Yu Jian was finally satisfied. "Very well, drag this maid away and beat her."
Bi Xi's mouth was covered, and she was dragged away. It was the hour of the rat, and such foul noises should not disturb the Wangye's rest.
Ye Qingcheng woke up naturally. Last night had been too taxing. Xiao Wangye was relatively humane, informing the nanny who was to wake her to let her sleep soundly.
This led the nanny to believe a little prince was on the way, and she smiled exceptionally warmly.
So, without Ye Qingcheng's knowledge, a group of people waited outside for her to wake so they could attend to her grooming and dressing.
When Ye Qingcheng awoke, she instinctively called out for Bi Xi, "Bi Xi? Bi Xi? Are you there? I'm thirsty, bring me a glass of water quickly."
A maid hurried to push open the door and poured Ye Qingcheng a glass of water.
Ye Qingcheng squinted and saw an unfamiliar maid. She took the water handed to her and took a sip, then asked, "Are you new? Where is Bi Xi?"
The maid quickly knelt. "Reporting to Wang Fei, this servant's name is Jing Xiu, and I have been newly assigned to serve you."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. "Where is Bi Xi?"
Jing Xiu looked up at her, then lowered her head again, some unspeakable difficulty evident. "Bi Xi, Bi Xi, she..."
Ye Qingcheng's brows furrowed. Realizing something had happened, she said cautiously, "What happened to her?"
Jing Xiu explained, "This morning, Aunt Yu Jian said Bi Xi did not complete her assigned duties and was... was given twenty heavy planks by Aunt Yu Jian. Now... alas~ Wang Fei, Wang Fei, where are you going? You haven't even dressed or washed yet!"
But Ye Qingcheng paid her no mind and walked straight out the door.
The Wang Fei, with her hair disheveled and wearing only her undergarments, walked through the inner courtyard. She was quite the spectacle for the residents of the back courtyard!
Judging by the Wang Fei's direction, she was heading towards the maids' quarters.
Ye Qingcheng arrived at Bi Xi's bedside and saw the young girl lying on the bed, unconscious. The bloodstains on her buttocks had merged with her clothes, untouched, which made Ye Qingcheng furious.
"Why was no physician called?"
Jing Xiu replied, "Because Aunt Yu Jian said that we are all lowly servants, and calling a physician would incur further expenses, so she forbade us from calling one."
Ye Qingcheng clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
"Where is Yu Jian?"
A small servant who had been following the Wang Fei rushed to answer, "She was summoned to the study by the Wangye two hours ago."
Ye Qingcheng, filled with hostility, headed towards Xiao Wangye's study.
At that moment, Yu Jian was kneeling in Xiao Wangye's study, awaiting his judgment.
Xiao Wangye was flipping through books without speaking. Yu Jian had been kneeling for nearly an hour, her legs weak. She shifted uncomfortably, but Xiao Wangye's voice boomed from above, "Did I tell you to move?"
Yu Jian froze instantly. She looked up at the Wangye, swallowed nervously, and asked with a dry throat, "May I ask what offense this servant has committed?"
Xiao Wangye remained silent but waved his hand. Lin Xiao, understanding, said, "I heard you punished a maid with twenty heavy planks for not washing clothes properly? And you didn't call for a physician to treat her injuries?"
A sense of dread washed over Yu Jian, and she kowtowed with a thud. "That maid always makes mistakes. I... I merely wanted her to learn some discipline and remember it, so she wouldn't make mistakes in the future."
Xiao Wangye did not look at her, merely picked up his brush and filled in words in a book.
Lin Xiao, however, smiled sharply. "Then how come I also heard that this entire Wangfu is to obey you?"
Yu Jian explained, "This servant... this servant is the managing nanny, so... so I thought to establish some authority to better manage the Wangfu."
Her response was met with silent silence. However, Yu Jian dared not move, fearing that any mistake would result in her expulsion from the estate.
She maintained this posture for another hour. Seeing that enough time had passed, Xiao Wangye waved his hand. Lin Xiao understood. "You may rise. This matter is your fault. Hurry and send for a physician to examine her. The cost will be deducted from your monthly wages."
Yu Jian slowly rose. Her legs had gone numb from kneeling for so long, feeling as if countless ants were biting them. It was extremely uncomfortable, yet she dared not defy the Wangye's command, so she could only agree. "Yes."
Lin Xiao said, "You may withdraw."
Yu Jian bowed and was about to withdraw when a commotion arose nearby. She heard the steward's voice desperately trying to hold someone back, "Wang Fei, Wang Fei, the study is the Wangye's private domain, you cannot trespass! Wang Fei."
As Yu Jian reached the doorway, she saw Ye Qingcheng about to enter. She was disheveled, wearing only her white inner shirt.
As soon as Yu Jian saw her, a flicker of disdain flashed in her eyes. Just as she was about to bow, a slap landed on her face, stunning her. Coupled with her weakened legs from kneeling for so long, she lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Yu Jian clutched her face, looking at Ye Qingcheng incredulously. "Wang Fei, why have you struck this servant without reason?"
Ye Qingcheng's face was contorted with rage, her voice sounding as if it crawled from hell. She squeezed the words from her throat, looking down at Yu Jian, "Do I need a reason to hit you? Who taught you your manners that you dare to retort to me? Jing Xiu, you were selected from among them. Tell her, what is the crime for contradicting the Wang Fei?"
Jing Xiu stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Yes. According to the rules of the Wangfu, contradicting the master means immediate expulsion from the estate, never to be re-employed."
Ye Qingcheng let out a sound from her nose, her face etched with disdain. "Hmph! You don't even understand the rules of the Wangfu. Yu Jian, I think your position as managing nanny is no longer necessary. Guards, bind her for me."