MCSCPM -Chapter 26 Complaining

“Just say it! That ugly girl, left unchecked for a few days, is getting completely out of hand! Today I had her clean the offering altar, and she clumsily caused a mess. She really needs to be taught a lesson!” Nanny Zhao fumed, hands on her hips, looking like a broody hen, her expression utterly ridiculous.

“It’s like this, Nanny. After dinner, my maid Xing’er saw that ugly girl and found it strange, so she followed her for a while. It seems… she snuck out of Luochen Courtyard,” Xue Zhenyu said cautiously.

Fearing Nanny Zhao wouldn’t believe her, Xing’er quickly chimed in: “Yes! When I ran into that ugly girl just now, she was acting all sneaky. I found it strange, so I followed her, and discovered she really snuck out of Luochen Courtyard!”

“What? That ugly girl really has a lot of nerve! Does she not want to live?” Nanny Zhao’s eyes widened in anger, her chubby face turning red with fury.

“Zhenyu thought the same. Yin Qingyue is far too daring, so she came to ask Nanny what should be done,” Xue Zhenyu said, feeling a surge of pride.

This time, that ugly girl absolutely would not escape!

Thinking this, her smile grew even brighter.

“Nanny, this time we absolutely cannot let that ugly girl off, or else the young ladies in Luochen Courtyard will be sneaking out all the time. Wouldn’t that create chaos?” Xing’er quickly added.

“Yes! If anyone could just leave, who would want to stay behind to pray for the Emperor? In no time, there’d only be Zhenyu and Nanny left in the courtyard,” Xue Zhenyu added, pouring more fuel on the fire.

“If we let this precedent happen, Luochen Courtyard will never know peace again! Today, I’ll show her her place. Let’s go! You can run, but the temple won’t let you escape. I don’t believe she’ll dare stay away! Let’s go check on her!” Nanny Zhao said angrily.

After speaking, she slammed the table, jolting her hand painfully. She quickly pulled it back, shook it, and blew on it vigorously.

Watching this, Xue Zhenyu secretly laughed. This old woman, like that ugly girl, was no good—serves her right for getting hurt!

Nanny Zhao had no idea of Xue Zhenyu’s thoughts; her mind was fully focused on giving Yin Qingyue a lesson.

Walking outside Luochen Courtyard, Yin Qingyue felt a wave of unease. She shook her head to dispel it—there was nothing to worry about. Even outside the courtyard, no one could touch her!

On the way, Nanny Zhao thought over how to deal with Yin Qingyue. In anger earlier, she had told Xue Zhenyu that she would punish her, but once calm, she realized the difficulty.

She had already withheld Yin Qingyue’s lunch and dinner. Punishing her further would mean taking breakfast too. But a person can’t go without all three meals.

If Yin Qingyue starved to death, the Emperor would surely not forgive her!

As for corporal punishment, Nanny Zhao couldn’t think of an effective method either.

The courtyard was currently being cleaned by Yin Qingyue, the offering altar tidied by her, and she was even copying the sutras…

What else could she punish her with? This ugly girl now ate only one meal a day yet had to do so much work. If she punished her physically, and the girl collapsed or even died, it wouldn’t be her fault at all!

Nanny Zhao’s brows knitted tightly, her mind full of dilemma.

She even wanted to scold Xue Zhenyu for causing such a problem—why open her mouth at all and create such a headache!

Xue Zhenyu, of course, had no idea of Nanny Zhao’s inner struggle. She was only thinking about how to deal with Yin Qingyue.

When the time came, seeing Yin Qingyue, she would make her kneel and lick her shoes, begging for forgiveness. Then she would kick her over, stamping on her ugly face repeatedly…

Thinking this brought Xue Zhenyu immense satisfaction, and she couldn’t help laughing aloud.

Nanny Zhao’s face stiffened. This little brat had given her such a difficult problem—and dared to laugh!

She glared at Xue Zhenyu. “Don’t just laugh! Women must maintain composure, especially those praying for the Emperor! How can you act so careless like that ugly girl?”

Xue Zhenyu’s face tightened. She forced a smile and bowed her head. “Nanny, lesson taken. Zhenyu remembers.”

Lesson my foot! The old woman herself had just been flapping her gums with hands on her hips—she dared to lecture her just for smiling once?

Not to mention, her pearl-and-silver hairpin was still in the old woman’s hands. Did she not feel like it was stabbing her heart while scolding her?

Xing’er watched the two of them, each with their own schemes, outwardly compliant but inwardly plotting, and couldn’t help but smirk. One wielded power, the other schemed deceitfully.

Xue Zhenyu objected to Nanny Zhao’s use of authority, yet she herself wasn’t above the same—she agreed to copy the sutras but then handed them all off to her maid. How was that different from Nanny Zhao?

Besides, Xue Zhenyu often treated her own maid in the same way Nanny Zhao treated them.

Evil people always meet their match—it was rare that someone could take advantage of Xue Zhenyu!

Anyway, neither of these two were good people—who cared if they suffered a little?

Xing’er smiled faintly. Now it was Xue Zhenyu and Nanny Zhao dealing with Yin Qingyue; even if Yin Qingyue wanted revenge, she couldn’t touch Xing’er.

Yin Qingyue dared threaten her, so Xing’er could make her suffer!

Meanwhile, Mei’er had already extinguished the lamps as instructed by Yin Qingyue. She felt restless, uneasy in the room, unable to sit or lie down calmly.

“Where is that ugly girl Yin Qingyue? Tell her to come out immediately!” Suddenly, Nanny Zhao’s voice thundered from outside the courtyard, striking fear straight into Mei’er’s heart.

Mei’er trembled, her worst fears realized. Now that Yin Qingyue was absent, Mei’er had lost her anchor. She knelt, hands clasped, silently begging heaven for guidance—what should she do?

Outside, the sound of doors being kicked echoed: “Bang! Bang!”

Mei’er shakily stood, pushing the door open, trying to appear calm. “Who’s there? Miss is already asleep!”

“Asleep? Asleep on some wild man’s bed, I bet! Get her out here!” Nanny Zhao’s harsh, hoarse voice shouted.

Mei’er trembled again. It was over—Nanny Zhao definitely knew!

She took a deep breath. Now, the only thing she could do for her mistress was to delay Nanny Zhao.

Pinching her cheeks, trying to bring some color back to her pale face, she opened the door with a forced calm, glaring at Nanny Zhao.

Nanny Zhao sneered. “Where’s that ugly Yin Qingyue? Why isn’t she coming out?”

Mei’er laughed coldly through clenched teeth. “Nanny, Miss doesn’t have your stamina. She’s tired from the day and already asleep!”

Nanny Zhao, furious that her misdeeds at the altar were exposed, slapped Mei’er across the face. “You little brat! Do you think you can defy me? I’ll teach you a lesson!”

“I never knew that even telling the truth was forbidden here! Luochen Courtyard is a place to pray for the Emperor; with Buddha watching, Mei’er dares not lie!” Mei’er fell to the ground from the slap but refused to submit.

She could not give in—every extra minute she delayed gave her mistress another minute of safety.

Miss, please come back! Mei’er silently prayed.

Xue Zhenyu, hearing all this, secretly smiled. She hadn’t expected that old Nanny Zhao, so imposing all her life, could be challenged by Yin Qingyue’s maid!

Xing’er’s thoughts were more cautious. A maid daring to mock Nanny Zhao? Could it be that Yin Qingyue truly had a powerful backer?

Nanny Zhao’s old face turned red. “I said I was watching to make sure you weren’t slacking off!”

Mei’er snorted. “Say what you will, Nanny. The heavens are watching. At the altar closest to Buddha, you’re not afraid—so why should we be?”

Nanny Zhao, enraged, kicked Mei’er again. “Go! Go get that ugly girl Yin Qingyue!”

“She’s asleep. Mei’er doesn’t want to disturb her!” Mei’er gritted her teeth, refusing to give in.

“Sleeping? Or is she not here at all?” Xue Zhenyu, like a slow tiger, emerged, smirking at Mei’er.

“Of course… she’s sleeping,” Mei’er stammered, her tone softening involuntarily.

“Is that so? I don’t believe you,” Xue Zhenyu sneered.

She turned to order: “Xing’er, stop this little brat. I’ll go see for myself.”

Xing’er nodded and held Mei’er tightly as she struggled.

Xue Zhenyu mocked Mei’er with a glance, then stormed into Yin Qingyue’s room, Nanny Zhao following.

Mei’er, pale as a sheet, collapsed to the floor, drained of energy.

Soon, Nanny Zhao emerged, triumphant, and slapped Mei’er twice. “I thought she was asleep! Did that ugly girl go underground? Where is she? Speak!”

“I… I don’t know!” Mei’er bit her lip.

“Well, still got some backbone, huh? Let’s see how I teach you!” Nanny Zhao spat, then slapped her twice more.

“I advise you to speak! Don’t let her little face get hurt because of that ugly girl!” Xue Zhenyu mockingly said beside her.

“Exactly! Your mistress left you here to suffer, while she enjoys herself. Why be so loyal?” Xing’er’s eyes curved in glee.

“Mei’er is her maid, loyal only to her mistress. I won’t tell you anything, so give up!” Mei’er gritted her teeth, turning her head.

“Hmph, you little brat. Can’t talk to you now. Wait till that ugly girl returns—she’ll get what’s coming!” Nanny Zhao sneered.

She turned to Xing’er and another maid. “Drag this little brat to the woodshed and lock her up. And bring me a chair!”

Nanny Zhao glared at Mei’er, a twisted, triumphant smile on her face. “I’ll wait right here for that ugly girl. I don’t believe she can escape to the ends of the earth!”

Mei’er trembled violently, tears streaming down her face. She silently begged the heavens, unsure what to ask for.

Now she didn’t care about her own fate—she only prayed her mistress would be safe. Mei’er even thought, if her mistress didn’t return… it would be fine. If she died, it didn’t matter, as long as her mistress was well.