12 Reluctant to gouge out my eyes

Jiyu let out a sigh of relief, only to hear Lin Yuejiao say, “But I don’t think you have the face to look me in the eye either, do you? Iris, go to the kitchen and bring some burning hot charcoal. Press Jiyu’s face onto the red-hot coals and ruin her skin.”

Jiyu’s face turned deathly pale with fear. Iris, on the other hand, looked satisfied and quickly went to the small kitchen to fetch a pan of glowing coals.

At this moment, all the maids in the Youran Courtyard stood to one side, their expressions varied as they watched the blazing coals and Jiyu kneeling on the ground.

“Miss, please spare me, I beg you!” Jiyu immediately kowtowed to Lin Yuejiao, trembling all over, yet in her eyes hid a deep hatred, an intense loathing for Lin Yuejiao.

Lin Yuejiao ignored her, scanning the maids around her and said, “You have all been serving here in Youran Courtyard for some time now. The steward should have warned you about the fate of those disloyal servants in front of Youran Courtyard. There are many masters in the Lin Mansion, but Youran Courtyard has only one mistress—me. Since you have come here, you belong to me. If you work honestly, there will be rewards. But if anyone betrays me or seeks personal gain by selling me out, like Jiyu now, this is the consequence.”

With that, Lin Yuejiao turned to Iris and said, “Press her face down!”

“No, please spare me! Don’t come near…” Jiyu, terrified, tried to flee, but Iris was quick and strong, holding her in place.

“Sizzle, sizzle…”

The sound of burning flesh filled the air. Jiyu screamed in agony, unable to escape, only able to emit piercing cries.

Lin Yuejiao observed the expressions of everyone present—some felt satisfaction, others horror, but no one showed guilt.

“Enough. Spare her life, but demote her from second-class maid to a penal slave, assigned to sweep the outer courtyard,” Lin Yuejiao declared. “She is forbidden from entering the inner courtyard from now on.”

Only then did Iris and Tumi release her. Jiyu’s face was now a grotesque mask of blood and flesh, utterly disfigured and terrifying.

Everyone was understandably shocked by Jiyu’s horrific appearance, but Lin Yuejiao remained calm and indifferent.

In her past life, it was Jiyu who had caused her disfigurement; now, this was merely collecting interest.

Knowing Lin Yuejiao’s nature, if it weren’t for waiting for Jiyu to set a fire, she would have killed her long ago. Lin Yuejiao was not one to spare enemies out of mercy.

Just now, Lin Qingliu suddenly spoke up in defense of Jiyu, making Lin Yuejiao feel Qingliu was about to make use of this pawn soon.

“Tumi, bring the silver ingots, as a reward,” Lin Yuejiao said.

Tumi nodded and went inside, returning with silver coins to hand out to each person. Their faces brightened, both respectful and fearful of Lin Yuejiao.

A slap followed by a treat—reward and punishment combined—the art of controlling subordinates.

After punishing Jiyu, Lin Yuejiao took the brush the old lady had given her and began practicing calligraphy on paper.

She did not know how long had passed when the night grew deeper. Suddenly, she heard noisy cries and shouting. Setting down her brush, she said, “Iris, Tumi, come with me to see.”

The sounds came from the Xuyu Courtyard. It seemed the golden phoenix hairpin with dangling pearls had finally been discovered.

*

The hairpin incident only added fuel to the fire between the first and second branches of the family, already at odds.

But Lin Yuejiao paid it no mind, letting the dogs bite each other.

Early the next morning, she went to Yunsheng Pavilion to pay respects to the Loyal and Righteous Heir.

Yunsheng Pavilion sat by the Misty Lake in Xinzhou, the most exquisite and unique garden in the region, renowned throughout Jiangnan.

The vast courtyard offered a view every five steps, a painting every ten, embodying the beauty of Jiangnan gardens.

Lin Yuejiao first greeted Sai Huatuo, bringing him delicate handmade pastries. Sai Huatuo was delighted to see her and led her to the southern garden of Yunsheng Pavilion.

“Fourth Miss, the Heir is playing the qin in the bamboo grove this morning. I’ll leave you here; the place is just ahead,” he said with a smile.

Lin Yuejiao thanked him and wandered into the bamboo grove.

It was her first visit to Yunsheng Pavilion. As she wandered through the bamboo, she found no maids or anyone to ask for directions.

She heard no music, but passed a qin platform, empty.

The bamboo grove was vast, growing denser as she ventured deeper, until she came upon a clear pond.

The water was warm, steaming gently, and next to the pool stood a jade platform holding an ancient qin. She thought the heir must be nearby.

Just then, Lin Yuejiao suddenly felt something grab her foot, pulling her hard, and she tumbled with a splash into the warm pool.

*

The water was clear and warm, and Lin Yuejiao distinctly felt she was being dragged down by a person.

Water splashed everywhere, and she was soaked. Only then did she see the figure before her.

His features were exquisite, flawless, his long silver hair fanned across the water, mesmerizingly beautiful.

His narrow eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. Upon seeing Lin Yuejiao’s face, he raised an eyebrow. “You?”

“Cough, cough…” Lin Yuejiao choked on water, her face flushed red.

She was pressed against the poolside, with Rong Yu supporting himself with one hand on the pool wall, the other gripping her throat.

“Heir, what are you doing?”

Rong Yu loosened his grip but didn’t let go, stepping closer, his body close to hers, a teasing smile on his thin lips.

“Fourth Miss, you’re spying on me while I bathe. What do you think I’m going to do?”

“I wasn’t spying on you! Master Sai said the Heir would be playing the qin in the bamboo grove, so I came to visit. I didn’t expect you to be bathing in broad daylight!” Lin Yuejiao blushed and protested.

Rong Yu understood immediately.

He was indeed playing the qin in the bamboo grove, but the grove had two scenic spots.

The north housed the qin platform, where he played.

The south had the warm pool, strictly off-limits.

These two spots were far apart in the bamboo grove. If Lin Yuejiao hadn’t been here for the first time, unaware of the rules, she wouldn’t have stumbled into the pool area by mistake.

Even Master Sai hadn’t warned her to stay away from the warm pool.

Rong Yu had just heard footsteps approaching and thought some bold Xinzhou woman was trying to spy on him bathing. So he submerged, waiting to seize the intruder, only to find it was Lin Yuejiao.

“But you did see me,” Rong Yu’s narrow eyes gleamed sharply, lips curling into a half-smile.

Lin Yuejiao wanted to argue, but paused.

Rong Yu was bare-chested, standing so close she could clearly see his alluring collarbones, strong, muscular arms, and water droplets glistening on his chest.

Though she had lived two lifetimes, it was her first time seeing a nearly naked stranger’s body. She hastily covered her eyes with both hands.

“It wasn’t on purpose. Please forgive me, Heir!” she said, cheeks burning.

Rong Yu looked at the girl before him—her white dress soaked through, outlining her slender figure, her wet hair cascading over her shoulders—a picture of beauty emerging from water.

Her delicate, jade-like hands covered her eyes; her flushed face was utterly adorable.

Rong Yu placed both hands on the pool wall behind her, leaned close to her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

“Fourth Miss, do you know the punishment for those who spy on me bathing?”

“No, I don’t,” Lin Yuejiao replied.

Rong Yu deliberately deepened his voice, “Blinding—gouging out the eyes.”

“Ah?” Lin Yuejiao quickly dropped her hands, eyes wide and watery with surprise. “Heir, ignorance is no crime. I truly didn’t know you bathed here.”

“Since you spied on me, punishment is due,” Rong Yu said.

“You’re too overbearing!” Lin Yuejiao was startled but argued back. “If you think you’ve lost out by being seen, then I can make you look back.”

Rong Yu was stunned, his gaze roaming over her from head to toe. “What did you say?”

“Where are you looking, you scoundrel!” Lin Yuejiao guarded her chest with both hands, her face so red it seemed it could drip water. She said meekly, “I’ll let you see my brother instead. That evens the score, right?”

Lin Yuejiao decisively sold out her own brother.

Rong Yu laughed. “He and I are both men; what would I want to see him for?”

“Do you really want to see me?” Lin Yuejiao was baffled, then declared firmly, “You lecher! Don’t even think about it. I’d rather die than submit!”

Rong Yu rubbed his forehead, then covered her mouth with one hand. “Noisy. You volunteered for this. I have no interest in your body. Be quiet, or I really will gouge out your eyes.”

His hands were long and delicate, still moist with the mist rising from the warm pool, covering her lips.

*

Lin Yuejiao’s face blazed hot; she fell silent, her mood calming, her thoughts clearing.

When facing him, the rhythm was always thrown off by him.

She steadied herself, eyes regaining their usual composure.

“I don’t think the Heir would really gouge out my eyes.”

“Oh?” Rong Yu pursed his lips, releasing her mouth, looking at her with some interest. “Why not?”

Lin Yuejiao’s voice was calm, composed. “The Heir hired a divine doctor to treat my brother, gathering five rare treasures as medicine ingredients at great cost. If you gouge out Yuejiao’s eyes, turning me into a useless cripple, you won’t recoup your expenses. That wouldn’t be a profitable deal.”

She knew well the letter from the man in black merely gave Lin Yi a chance to see the divine doctor.

The treatment required rare and costly medicine. Rong Yu had spared no expense in gathering them, but nothing in this world is free—there must be a motive.

“Do you think you can help me get back this money?” Rong Yu raised an eyebrow, inwardly more pleased with her.

Lin Yuejiao smiled. “I believe I won’t let the Heir lose out. And since you’re willing to spend so much, it means you trust I won’t disappoint you. The Heir saved my brother—such a great kindness—I’m not ungrateful. Just, I won’t do anything that harms my family. That’s a promise. For anything else you require, just say so.”

“Only after you enter the Chaohuang Academy as the top lady in Jiangnan,” Rong Yu said lazily, not denying his ulterior motives. “If you make it in, help me with something. If you don’t, or fail to reach the top rank, consider the medicines a gift. Even if you do enter later, whether you do the task is up to you.”

Lin Yuejiao was stunned.

She had expected demanding conditions, but this was almost no condition at all.

If she failed to enter Chaohuang Academy as Jiangnan’s top lady, she need not do anything, and Lin Yi’s treatment would continue regardless.

“This favor is recorded,” Lin Yuejiao nodded, thinking to herself that whatever he asked later, as long as it wasn’t too difficult, she would comply.

At that moment, both realized they were still in the warm pool together, and Lin Yuejiao felt suddenly embarrassed.

“I don’t have women’s clothes here,” Rong Yu glanced at her drenched dress.

Lin Yuejiao was about to suggest borrowing a maid’s clothes, but Rong Yu seemed to remember something, suddenly leaping out of the pool and landing at its edge.

He ordered her, “Stay where you are. Don’t move.”

Caught off guard, Lin Yuejiao found herself seeing him clearly for the first time—except for the underwear covering him, his entire body was fully exposed.

Her face instantly flushed so deeply it seemed it would bleed.

Rong Yu casually picked up a loose outer robe by the jade platform and draped it over himself.

Using some mysterious footwork or martial art, he vanished within moments.

Within only fifteen minutes, two maids arrived, carrying a set of clothes.

The dress was made of white jade-like lingsha fabric, intricately embroidered, flowing gracefully. Jade tassels hung from the skirt, tinkling softly like celestial music—obviously no ordinary garment.

“The Heir said there were no women’s clothes here?” Lin Yuejiao asked.

This certainly wasn’t maid’s attire.

The maid assisting Lin Yuejiao with her change smiled gently. “It’s true that Yunsheng Pavilion has no women’s clothes. This dress is a tribute from Shu, reportedly modeled after the attire of the Nine Heavens Goddess descending to earth, as described in ancient texts. Only one exists in the world. The Emperor gifted it to the Heir as a reward. It’s called the Divine Goddess Rainbow Dress.”

“So precious!” Lin Yuejiao’s eyes sparkled, suddenly feeling her current dress weighed heavy with value.

She wasn’t just wearing a dress—she was wrapped in silver.

After changing, Lin Yuejiao went to find Rong Yu, who had also changed. He was lounging on a soft couch, lazily flipping through a scroll.

Li Moqian, always by his side, appeared as well, sitting opposite Rong Yu, arranging a board of chess.

“Thank you, Heir. The Rainbow Dress is precious. I will return it after I leave,” Lin Yuejiao said.

Rong Yu waved carelessly. “No need. I can’t wear it anyway. It’s yours.”