"Oh? Do you truly believe your station is superior to mine?" Bai Xifeng questioned, her voice dropping to a dangerous, icy whisper as she stared down at the maid.
The weight of Xifeng's gaze finally crushed the servant's pride. Realizing she had overstepped a boundary that no longer existed, the maid's face went pale. She dropped to her knees instantly, her forehead hitting the stone floor in a frantic kowtow.
"Third Young Miss, please! Forgive this lowly one's insolence!" She cried out. She struck her head against the ground twice before pausing, waiting for the inevitable "soft-hearted" forgiveness she was used to receiving.
"Eh? Why have you stopped?" Bai Xifeng giggled, the sound light but entirely devoid of warmth. "Keep going. I haven't told you to stop yet. Kowtow more."
The maid froze in an awkward, hunched position. Normally, whenever a servant used this display of fake humility, the old Bai Xifeng would become flustered and soft-hearted, immediately agreeing to whatever they asked just to make them stop. But today, the script had been flipped. Not only was the Third Miss refusing to budge, but she was actively enjoying the humiliation.
"What? Are you finished already?" Bai Xifeng's smile vanished, replaced by a look of sheer boredom. "In that case, get lost. Go back and tell your mistress that if she's so desperate for a chat, she can drag her own ass over here."
"Young Miss!" Xiao Li gasped, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. She lunged forward and clamped her hand over Xifeng's mouth. "You shouldn't use such vulgar language! It isn't ladylike!"
Xifeng gently but firmly pulled Xiao Li's hand away, a playful glint in her eyes. "Alright, alright. I'll try to be a bit more careful with my 'delicate' vocabulary." She then turned her fiery gaze back to the trembling maid. "What are you still standing there for? I said get lost!"
Terrified by the sheer intensity radiating from the "new" Third Young Miss, the maid scrambled to her feet and bolted out of the courtyard as if the hounds of hell were snapping at her heels.
"Young Miss... do you truly intend to snub the Second Madam like this?" Xiao Li asked, her voice filled with trepidation.
"Absolutely. I have zero interest in her petty drama," Bai Xifeng replied, stretching her arms above her head. "However, don't worry. We aren't staying here. Let's pay a visit to the Old Madam. I have some long-overdue debts to settle." She let out a predatory grin that made Xiao Li shiver.
Xiao Li let out a long, weary sigh. Her Young Miss was becoming stranger and more unpredictable by the hour, but her loyalty remained unshaken. If Xifeng wanted to walk into the lion's den, Xiao Li would follow.
The two of them left their secluded courtyard and made their way toward Old Madam Bai's lavish residence. As they approached the grand entrance, two armed maids guarding the gate crossed their spears, barring Xifeng's path.
"Third Young Miss, state your business. What are you doing here?" One of the guards asked, her tone clipped and unwelcoming.
"I'm here to see the Old Madam. We have matters of finance to discuss," Bai Xifeng informed them, her voice smooth and unimpressed by their show of force.
The two guards exchanged a skeptical look. Everyone in the household knew that the Old Madam couldn't stand the sight of the Third Miss. They felt certain that letting her in would only result in them being punished for bothering the matriarch.
"What's the matter? Is your hearing failing you as well?" Bai Xifeng's eyes narrowed into a sharp glare that seemed to pierce right through the guards. "Are you going to inform her of my arrival, or do I have to make a scene?"
One of the maids flinched, her bravado crumbling under the weight of Bai Xifeng's stare. "Wait here for a moment, Third Young Miss. I... I will go and announce your presence to the Old Madam."
Bai Xifeng's icy expression instantly melted into a satisfied smile. She stood in the courtyard, tapping her foot with the patience of a predator, while she waited for the servant to return. After several minutes, the doors creaked open once more.
*** This novel is a work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If it is not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, then it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. For those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, can you consider reading it on the original website? As your support to me. Thank you, for your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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