"My Lady!"
A slightly worried whisper echoed in Zou Yun'er's ears. She didn't turn her head, nor did she want to respond.
She then heard a sigh, followed by her hand being held tightly.
The hand that enveloped hers was warm and strong. For some reason, Zou Yun'er felt her heart, which seemed to have a gaping hole being ravaged by the rolling cold wind, was protected by a warm and solid fortress.
Zou Yun'er turned her head to look at her.
Cai Wei was not her dowry maid, nor an elder by her side. She was a palace maid recently promoted to be her personal lady-in-waiting. Initially, she was chosen for her nimble hands, intelligence, and sweet talk. But Zou Yun'er hadn't expected her to be so considerate.
Seeing the tears in her lady's eyes, Cai Wei's own eyes turned red with heartache. She took out a handkerchief and wiped away Zou Yun'er's tears, her voice choked with emotion, "I lost my mother when I was little. My father remarried later, so I also lost my father. I thought that by entering the palace, I would be free from suffering, but I didn't expect to endure bullying. I originally thought my life would just be like this, but I didn't expect to meet you. My Lady, you are the light in my life. If I could, I would willingly bear all your pain… I am not good with words, and I don't know what to say to make you feel better, but I will always be with you."
As Cai Wei spoke, tears streamed down her face.
Zou Yun'er stood up, holding Cai Wei's hand, and used the handkerchief in Cai Wei's hand to wipe away her tears.
"You little servant." She had intended to chide her, but as the words left her mouth, her voice became choked with emotion. When she was young, she loved to cling to her father. Others feared him, but she didn't. When she was little, her grandmother gave her a cloth doll with button eyes. For some reason, she felt her father was very much like that doll, always clinging to his leg. Her mother often teased her for being a little koala clinging to her father.
Her father rarely smiled, but when he saw her, his eyes always curved.
She loved to see him smile because when he smiled, he resembled a flounder.
He would hold her or carry her on his shoulders.
Zou Yun'er felt that she was the happiest person in the world at that time.
Memories surged, always unreasonable and sudden, catching her off guard and leaving her lost. Zou Yun'er thought the pain of separation and death was still far away. She thought everything before was just an absurd and unreal dream. But the real pain and the icy touch of tears on her cheeks forced her to face reality.
Her father was dead.
Uncontrollable grief pushed Zou Yun'er into the abyss of despair like a tide, yet a warm palm, like a rope, pulled her, preventing her from being engulfed by the massive waves.
Zou Yun'er's tear-blurred eyes reflected Cai Wei's figure.
In her ears echoed Cai Wei's anxious and worried calls: "My Lady, my Lady, my Lady…"
…
Nan Shiying did not expect to see Zou Yun'er again in such a state.
Zou Yun'er's beautiful eyes were now swollen like apricots, making it difficult to open them. Yet, even so, Nan Shiying could still see the surging killing intent in her eyes.
"This commoner pays respects to the Noble Consort."
Nan Shiying did not get up. Given her hatred, whether she stood or not made no difference.
Zou Yun'er didn't say a word. She pulled out a dagger and lunged forward.
Nan Shiying thought this woman was still as thoughtless as ever. She dodged and grabbed Zou Yun'er's wrist, pressing down with force, easily subduing her.
"It's the dead of winter, why is your Ladyship's temper still so fiery?" Nan Shiying teased.
The moment her wrist was grabbed, Zou Yun'er used the opportunity of close proximity to violently choke Nan Shiying with her other hand, her strength causing the veins on the back of her hand and her neck to bulge.
If Nan Shiying had resisted, Zou Yun'er would have had no chance to choke her. But Nan Shiying allowed it.
Feeling the constriction and suffocation from her grip, Nan Shiying showed no fear in her eyes. Looking at Zou Yun'er at such close range, she even displayed a hint of pity.
The pity in her eyes deeply pierced Zou Yun'er's fragile heart.
"I want you to pay with your life for my father!" Zou Yun'er's face contorted with ferocity. Her fingernails dug deeply into Nan Shiying's flesh.
The stinging pain on her neck made Nan Shiying frown.
"Your father was not killed by me!" Nan Shiying said calmly.
"Die!" Zou Yun'er ignored whatever Nan Shiying said, nor did she bother to discern the truth of her words.
Nan Shiying raised her other hand, grabbed Zou Yun'er's other wrist, and with a slight exertion of force, easily pulled her hand away. Her fingernails left long scratches on Nan Shiying's neck.
Nan Shiying paid no mind to the injuries on her neck. Her gaze was fixed on Zou Yun'er. She harbored no particular feelings towards Zou Yun'er, good or bad. She simply couldn't stand foolish people, and out of consideration for Zou Chengyi, she asked a few more questions: "Noble Consort, anger and hatred make one lose basic judgment. Setting aside whether your father was killed by me, I only ask, who told you I was imprisoned in the heavenly prison of the palace, and who instigated you to come here?"
With both her hands restrained by Nan Shiying, Zou Yun'er glared at her resentfully. Hearing her question, she subconsciously turned her head to glance back.
Cai Wei, who had been following Zou Yun'er, seemed to have just recovered from her fright. She rushed between the two, picked up the dagger that had fallen to the ground, and lunged at Nan Shiying, "You villain, let go of my lady."
Nan Shiying did not release Zou Yun'er. Instead, she pulled Zou Yun'er aside and kicked the dagger out of the palace maid's hand. Then, she retracted her leg and kicked again.
Cai Wei stumbled, narrowly dodging Nan Shiying's attack, and fell to the ground with a sway.
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly, a beautiful arc forming on her lips.
She flipped up, lifted Zou Yun'er, and whispered into Zou Yun'er's ear with her thin, cold lips, "Be wary of this maid by your side."
Then, she moved away from Zou Yun'er and said, "Noble Consort, bringing only such a small maid to kill this commoner – are you blinded by grief, or do you think I am one of those frail scholars who cannot even lift a chicken? Your Ladyship is of noble birth. If I were to harm you, wouldn't the loss outweigh the gain?"
"Moreover, I am a direct disciple of Medicine King Valley, skilled in both medicine and poison. Isn't your Ladyship afraid of dying an unexplained death?"
"You…"
Zou Yun'er's pupils constricted, and her eyes showed a look of fear.
Nan Shiying couldn't help but laugh. "Does your Ladyship only start to fear now? It's good that you're afraid; perhaps your mind will be clearer. I'll say it one last time: your father was not killed by me."
"Believe it or not, after today, do not come to the heavenly prison again."
"That is all I have to say. I hope your Ladyship will take care of yourself!"