Chapter 9: Bearing Another's Punishment

Yet it was Ziyuan who, swift and vigilant, promptly shielded Suyuxin behind her. Suyu Xiang's resounding slap landed solidly on Ziyuan's face, leaving Cui Liu relieved; it was just an attendant who was struck. Ziyuan staggered from the blow, a clear imprint of five fingers appeared on her fair cheek, swelling immediately and narrowing her eyes into slits.

"You dared to behave so fiercely within the General's residence," Suyuxin's eyebrows furrowed, fury blazing in her dark gaze.

"She's nothing more than a servant!" Suyu Xiang sneered.

In truth, she regretted the slap the moment she delivered it. After all, Suyuxin was the wife of the General. Ziyuan had intervened, shielding her from the slap. Though Suyu Xiang was still irate, she couldn't help but feel relieved. Striking a servant and striking the General's wife were entirely different concepts, and she was well aware of it.

"She is my personal maid," Suyuxin squinted, staring coldly at Suyu Xiang. "By striking her, you strike me. Striking me is equivalent to striking the General. How dare you behave so recklessly in the honorable General's residence!"

"Guards!" Suyuxin's face darkened, her voice tinged with a hint of hostility.

Immediately, two maids entered, deferentially inquiring, "Madam, how may we assist you?"

Displeased with Suyuxin's conduct over the past six months, they couldn't hide their disdain. However, as the General esteemed this lady, they dared not be disrespectful. Moreover, compared to Suyuxin, they had an even lesser fondness for this second young miss. Though she appeared gentle and courteous on the surface, her eyes betrayed fickleness and mischief, engaging in despicable deeds behind the scenes. Formerly, they were unable to act due to the previous lady's protection. Now, the quarrel between the two was best resolved to avoid the second young miss's frequent visits. Clearly a guest of the General's residence, yet she insisted on displaying the airs of a mistress—truly exasperating.

"What, what are you planning?" Suyuxin nervously swallowed, her voice trembling slightly.

Suddenly, Suyu Xiang seemed a stranger to her, unfamiliar enough to evoke a sense of fear, similar to that of the General.

"Of course, I must educate you on manners and make you remember," Suyuxin scoffed, then commanded, "Take her away and give her twenty lashes."

"Suyuxin, how dare you!" Suyu Xiang shrieked like an enraged hen.

"Of course, I dare," Suyuxin sneered. "This is the General's residence, and I, as the General's wife, hold authority."

"I am the second young miss of the Ministry of Rites. If you dare to strike me, my father won't spare you," Suyu Xiang threatened, her tone intimidating.

"Do you think your father would feud with the General's residence over you?" Suyuxin looked down at Suyu Xiang disdainfully. "You overestimate your importance."

"You..." Suyu Xiang choked with rage and fear, standing there, trembling with a hunched back, devoid of the airs of a highborn lady.

Suyuxin observed Suyu Xiang's current disheveled state, reminiscent of their previous life's confrontation in the woodshed. At that time, she felt similarly—angry, fearful, yet powerless. It seemed the tables had turned, a tit for tat.

"What are you still waiting for? Hurry and take her away. Twenty lashes, not one less," Suyuxin commanded the two maids.

"Yes," the maids acknowledged, moving forward.

"Hold on!" Cui Liu immediately shielded Suyu Xiang, saying, "Madam, our miss is just a guest; it's not her place to learn the rules of the General's residence."

Suyuxin lifted her gaze and walked slowly toward Cui Liu. Her steps were light, but Suyu Xiang and her attendant felt as though she was treading on their hearts. They even dared not breathe heavily.

Approaching Cui Liu, Suyuxin didn't hesitate to deliver a slap, causing her to bleed from the corner of her mouth.

"What are you doing, Suyuxin?" Suyu Xiang demanded angrily.

"Do you have vision problems? Can't you see I'm disciplining this wretched maid?" Suyuxin retorted. "Servants shouldn't interject when their mistress speaks."

"You..." Suyu Xiang clenched her fingers, trying to contain her anger, and said, "Cui Liu, let's go!"

However, the two maids blocked their path.

"Suyuxin, I struck your maid, and you struck mine. We're even now. Tell them to move aside," Suyu Xiang glared fiercely at Suyuxin.

"I, the General's residence, am not at your beck and call," Suyuxin retorted calmly.

"What do you intend to do?" Suyu Xiang pressed her lips, asking angrily.

"Moreover, your maid tripped accidentally, while mine was struck by you. How can that be considered even?" Suyuxin maintained her composed demeanor, speaking gently.

"You're lying! You clearly struck her," Suyu Xiang's face turned pale with anger.

"Who saw it?" Suyuxin raised an eyebrow, scanning the people in the room one by one. "Did you see it? Or you?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Suyuxin, you're being unreasonable, distorting the truth," Suyu Xiang fumed, pointing at Suyuxin.

"And so what?" Suyuxin smiled leisurely. "Isn't everything I do a result of the teachings from your good mother? By speaking ill of me, aren't you insulting your own mother? That's disrespectful."

Suyu Xiang was so enraged by this statement that she almost exploded. Thankfully, Cui Liu intervened in time, asking, "Madam, what exactly do you want? Please speak plainly."

"The master made a mistake, all because of this maid's incompetence in advising timely. Why not let her bear the punishment on behalf of her mistress?" Suyuxin asked nonchalantly.