Sun Jingxuan and Liu Yi, along with Xian Lan, all looked up in surprise.
Shen Chun's head snapped to the side, her cheek burning from the impact. "You bitch, you dare slap me?"
"Apologize," Ruyi demanded, her voice steady.
"You've lost your mind!" Shen Chun spat, her eyes blazing with fire. "What thing do you think you are?" Shen Chun asked, her eyes red from the impact.
Without a second thought, Ruyi raised her hands against Shen Chun's face again
"You…!" Shen Chun shrieked, holding her cheek. "Do you even know who I am? I am a princess! How dare you act insolent!"
"Firstly, my name is Ruyi, not 'something.' Secondly, why can't I hit you? You think you're in your palace and can act how you want? This is a school and the rules apply to everyone. As long as you're in this uniform, I'll hit you a hundred times if I have to."
"You'll regret this," Shen Chun threatened.
"You think I'm afraid of you? Let me tell you, cross me again, and I won't hesitate to make you regret it. I, Ruyi, don't go looking for trouble, but if you dare to push me, you'll see exactly what I'm capable of."
With that Ruyi walked out of the room with Xiao Lan by her side.
As soon as Ruyi was out of sight, Shen Chun turned to Sun Jingxuan, clutching her cheek. "Brother Jingxuan, look what she did to me!" But instead of comfort, she was met with cold disappointment.
"Kneel!" Sun Jingxuan commanded.
Slowly, Shen Chun sank to her knees.
"Do you know what you've done wrong?" he demanded.
"I don't know, all I know is I'm not wrong!" Shen Chun retorted defiantly.
"You…!" Sun Jingxuan raised a hand but dropped it mid-way. "You think you can act any way you like just because you have me?"
Shen Chun sprang to her feet. "What did I do wrong? She's acting high and mighty! Am I wrong to call her out? You can hit me, scold me all you want, I'm not wrong!"
"I've spoiled you, and I think it's time you learned." Liu Yi?" Sun Jingxuan called in anger.
"Yes, Your Highness?" Liu Yi replied.
"Take her away. Have her caned ten times," he commanded, his voice unwavering.
"Your Highness, this…" Liu Yi attempted to mediate, but he was stopped by Sun Jingxuan.
"Fifteen times!" Sun Jingxuan said coldly. Liu Yi quickly led the seething Shen Chun away.
Ruyi, once home, paced the room in fury, her chest heaving with each breath. She knew putting Shen Chun in her place would cause problems, and she wasn't about to let anything or anyone derail her plan. She had to show Shen Chun who was boss and stand her ground, or it would be too late.
Miss Ruyi please calm down; getting angry wouldn't do your health any good, Xiao Lan persuaded her.
"I'm okay," Ruyi responded.
"What are we going to do? After the trouble you caused, will you still be able to attend school?" Xiao Lan asked, her face contorted with worry.
"Why not? I didn't start it. If I didn't put her in her place, she'd keep stepping on me; moreover, I was defending Her Grace. Tell me, who do you think will get punished?" Ruyi posed a question.
"You're right; everyone saw her talk about Consort Yao in a bad light. There's nothing to be worried about," Xiao Lan assured herself.
Shen Chun lay on her chest inside her room, whimpering in pain as her personal maid tended to her injury. "It hurts!" she cried at her maid and began tossing things around, ordering all the maids out. "Get out, all of you, get out! You're all useless!"
"Your Highness, you can't move your body, or the medicine won't work," her personal maid cautioned.
"This is all that bitch's fault!" Shen Chun yelled, slamming her hand on the table beside her. "I swear, I'll make her regret it. Ruyi, just you wait." Shen Chun scoffed, her teeth clenched in anger. Ruyi had crossed her, and there was no way she'd let it slide.
The next day, as Ruyi helped Lady Ling prepare the breakfast table, a servant burst into the room. "My Lord, the Imperial messenger has arrived.
"Imperial messenger?" Xu Huai exclaimed, surprised. "Quick, let's greet him!" He led his family outside to meet the messenger.
Xu Huai bowed respectfully as he saw the Imperial messenger. "What brings you to the Xu mansion?" he asked.
"Minister Xu, I have a message for your daughter, Xu Ruyi," the messenger announced.
"Me?" Ruyi said, her curiosity piqued.
The messenger gestured to two servants who in turn brought in a guqin. Its surface smooth and refined, it gleamed under the bright morning light. Ruyi reached out and touched the strings.
"Wow, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, her fingers tracing the delicate strings.
The messenger smiled. "This is a gift from His Majesty. He heard you play at the palace and he was deeply moved. So he wishes you to perform at his upcoming birthday ceremony." He beckoned on a servant, who presented a platter of jewelry and a pouch of gold. "His Majesty also extends this to you, as a token of his appreciation.
Ruyi was stunned, her mind racing. "What's happening? I played for Her Grace, yet His Majesty bestows me with gifts? Every one will be present at his birthday ceremony, I absolutely cannot play, what should I do? Should I reject the gifts? But that would be defying His Majesty.
"Ruyi?" Lady Ling's voice gently drew her from her thoughts. "Accept them and thank His Majesty," she urged softly.
Ruyi knelt down with her arms open and accepted the gift, then bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The messenger nodded. "Miss Ruyi, do remember, His Majesty looks forward to your performance. That is all. I shall take my leave." With that he and his group departed.
Xu Huai cleared his throat. "When did you learn how to play? How come we weren't aware?
"Yes Ruyi, I still remember how you pricked your finger the first time, crying and vowing never to try again. How could you play well enough to satisfy His Majesty?" Lady Ling asked.
"I…Xiao Lan taught me. She's remarkable." Ruyi replied confidently.
"Really?" Lady Ling asked, impressed.
"Yes," Ruyi quickly responded.
"I've never seen her play though," Lady Ling said in observation.
"That's because… because she never owned a guqin," Ruyi lied smoothly.
"Remind me to get her one later today, then. Since Xiao Lan plays too, she should have one as well. And why didn't you tell me you learned this? I'm your mother!" Lady Ling protested.
Ruyi took her mother's arm, swaying it, "Don't be upset, I was wrong, forgive me, Mother," she pleaded playfully.
"I'll forgive you if you promise to tell me everything that happens." Lady Ling demanded.
"Alright, I promise you." Ruyi looked up at her mother with a smile on her face.
Lady Ling broke into a smile. "You've brought so much honor to our family, especially with His Majesty sending you gifts. That's a blessing in itself."
"Indeed," Xu Huai agreed, stroking his neat, long beards. "It looks like our Xu family is finally going to greater heights." He laughed as he walked away.
Xiao Lan appeared from the inner room and walked up to Ruyi. "Miss Ruyi, this is wonderful news! His Majesty has invited you to play at his birthday celebration. Everyone will be there; it's an opportunity to make a name for yourself!" Xiao Lan said in excitement.
But Ruyi didn't share the same enthusiasm. Instead she looked troubled. "I can't play," she revealed.
Xiao Lan's smile faltered. "What?" she asked, her smile disappearing. "Why?"
"Because…I…" Ruyi hesitated. "I'm not Ruyi."
"What are you saying?" Xiao Lan asked, perplexed.
"You know Ruyi best. Haven't I changed? Did you forget what you said to me at the palace the other day?" Ruyi paused. "I don't know how it happened, but I have both my memories and Ruyi's."
"How's that possible? Are you saying Miss Ruyi's dead?" Xiao Lan asked.
"Yes, I'm not Ruyi, I am Li Mei. I'm sure you've heard of me."
"Impossible! You mean…Noble Lady Mei?" Xiao Lan asked, awestruck.
"Yes," Ruyi affirmed.
"I don't believe it! My Lady can't be dead. I saw it with my eyes when she woke up! You're lying to me, aren't you?" Xiao Lan broke down.
"I'm not lying. I have no understanding of how everything happened. I died, and when I woke up, I realized I was in another body, you know in your heart if I'm lying."
Xiao Lan stumbled back, her mind reeling. "No wonder… Her behavior changed so quickly." Her thought flashed back to the day Ruyi woke up. How strange she had seemed in front of the mirror. Xiao Lan had been marveled at the miracle of her awakening after years of being bedridden. But what truly shocked her was the fact that she became a different person entirely, from her personality to her knowledge and skills. "I was suspicious, but why can't I accept that she's not truly My Lady?"