Bailian, still in place, shouted and struggled free from the young servant’s embrace. In anger, she yelled, “You—you shameless thing!” Then she slapped him.
That crisp sound was so clear that Wu Sheyue and Ning’er could hear it even after running quite far.
The slapped young servant no longer cared about Wu Sheyue. He covered his face with one hand and pointed at Bailian with the other, shouting, “You actually hit me? You’re the shameless one! You clearly threw yourself at me!”
“Stop talking nonsense! Do you know who I am?” Bailian was, after all, a conservative woman of ancient times. Being held by a man in broad daylight made her so angry her face turned red.
But that young servant worked in the storeroom. Others tried to curry favor with him—yet this maid dared hit him. He stormed closer angrily. “I don’t care who you are. You’re the one with no sense of propriety!”
Bailian was furious and roared back without retreating. “Go ask around. I, Bailian, am someone from the First Madam’s side. Do you believe the First Madam will rip out your tongue?”
At such a critical moment, Bailian actually called herself one of the First Madam’s people. It wasn’t only anger making her blurt it out—it was also because from the beginning, she had looked down on Wu Sheyue’s status.
Enraged, Bailian raised her hand to hit again, but this time the young servant was prepared. He didn’t hold back. He swept Bailian’s hand aside and shoved her hard. “And I wondered who could be so shameless. So it’s Miss Bailian!”
Bailian fell to the ground, somewhat surprised. What he had just said meant he knew her? He knew her and still dared act? But if he knew her, it would be easier. Bailian lifted her chin and sneered. “Hmph. You know who I am and still dare lay a hand on me?”
However, the servant’s face took on an exaggerated expression. “Aiyo, who in the whole residence doesn’t know Miss Bailian’s famous name? I heard every guard saw you lying there stark naked. Yet you still have the nerve to call yourself Bailian. Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Shut up!” Bailian’s eyes widened as she shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you saying? Stop slandering me!”
Far ahead, Ning’er had been pulled along by Wu Sheyue for a long distance, but she kept looking back at the commotion and clicking her tongue. “He actually hits women… Miss, you did that on purpose again, didn’t you?”
Wu Sheyue neither confirmed nor denied it. “You understand me now?”
Ning’er smiled. Of course. Miss’s new personality was becoming more and more likable.
The slap had infuriated the servant. He began vividly describing what had happened that night, as though he had seen it with his own eyes.
Bailian had never been scolded so directly before. She sat on the ground and began crying.
The noise drew many other young servants and laborers over. They gathered around, chattering and asking, “Hey? What’s going on?” “Which courtyard is she from?” “Xile, I just saw you hit someone.” “Exactly. She’s so pretty, and she came close to you, yet you’re not happy? Why hit her?”
The servant called Xile said contemptuously, “What do you know? She’s Bailian!”
“Aiyo!”
“Really? She’s the one who lay outside naked that night?”
Bailian saw so many men crowding around and teasing her. She was so ashamed she wanted to disappear into the ground. And the things those men said made her panic. She screamed, “What are you saying? It wasn’t me! I didn’t—”
But those young servants and laborers continued pointing and laughing. “Tsk, tsk. After being seen completely naked, she still comes over here.” “How does she have the nerve?”
The voices beside her ears seemed like demonic sounds. Bailian covered her ears. In her heart, she told herself these people were talking nonsense or had mistaken her for someone else. But no matter what, she still heard them clearly.
“If I were her, I wouldn’t even leave the room.” “Why didn’t she change her name?” “Tsk, tsk. There really are all kinds of people.”
Bailian bit her lip hard. No one had told her the details from that night. Ning’er hadn’t told her, and she herself hadn’t asked… Crying, she staggered to her feet, shoved the young servants before her aside, and ran in Wu Sheyue’s direction.
Bailian trembled all over. Wu Sheyue had actually ignored her and left directly with Ning’er. Hatred suddenly rose in her heart. Since Wu Sheyue treated her this way, she would get it all back one day.
Seeing Bailian run off, Xile suddenly remembered the serious matter. “Ah! Right! Those people just forced their way in—”
Someone nearby comforted him. “It should be fine. Who would dare steal from the storeroom?”
Xile muttered, “It’s because you’re not on duty today. If they find out, I’ll definitely get scolded.”
Bailian knew the direction of the storeroom too. She chased that way for a while and, sure enough, saw Wu Sheyue and Ning’er’s backs.
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, but her voice was weak as she called, “Miss, Miss, wait for me.”
Wu Sheyue only looked back at her once, then continued walking quickly ahead with Ning’er. Bailian suppressed a ball of anger and deliberately limped after them.
Wu Sheyue didn’t buy it and refused to look back at her again. Bailian cursed inwardly and jogged to catch up. When she was close, she began limping again. Very weakly, she said, “Miss, Bailian thought I had lost you. Aiya…”
Bailian seemed unable to bear the pain in her foot. Ning’er couldn’t help glancing at her.
After turning two corners like this, Ning’er pointed to the storeroom ahead. “Miss, look. This is it.”
The storeroom door was wide open. From far away, they saw a tall old woman standing in front of the storeroom, holding a roll of account books with a very imposing manner. Five or six young male servants carried boxes out from the storeroom to be checked. Another three maids wiped dust and organized items already inspected.
As Wu Sheyue led her people closer, the young servants slowed their movements and looked over. They had never seen this young lady before and didn’t know which family’s guest she was. What guest would come visit and then inspect the storeroom?
The old woman noticed and turned back to look at Wu Sheyue in confusion. She was about to ask a question when Wu Sheyue had already turned to Ning’er and asked, “She is the one?”
Ning’er understood and pointed at the old woman. “This is Nanny Wang of the storeroom.”
This old woman was capable of managing the storeroom, so her mind was naturally quick. Ning’er’s action instantly told her who had come. Earlier, she had heard the rumors that “Third Miss washed off the birthmark and became clear-minded.” So this was Third Miss?
Although Third Miss’s appearance had changed from ugly monster to beauty, throughout all the years Wu Sheyue had been foolish, every time she saw Nanny Wang, she had to bow to her.
So now, at most, Nanny Wang felt it was unbelievable that her illness had recovered. But after all, Wu Sheyue had always been unloved by father and mother. Nanny Wang didn’t think Wu Sheyue could from now on stand above her.
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