MCSCPM -Chapter 33 Teaching Her a Lesson

“Hmph, say whatever you like—it won’t change the fact that you’re an ugly woman!” Xue Zhenyu sneered disdainfully at Yin Qingyue.

Hearing this, Yin Qingyue’s smile only grew brighter. “A woman is judged by the Four Virtues: morality, speech, appearance, and skill. I merely lack appearance. But Miss Xue seems to lack three of them. Tell me—who is more pitiable?”

“What did you say?” Xue Zhenyu flew into a rage. “Open your ugly eyes and look clearly! I come from an official family—how could I be missing three of the Four Virtues? You’re not just ugly, you’re also a jealous shrew! You’re clearly jealous of me, that’s why you say such things. You’re disgusting!”

“Cursing at others at their doorstep—no feminine virtue. Spouting crude insults—no proper speech. Making ugly faces and flying into a temper—truly unbearable to look at—no proper appearance. As for feminine skills, who knows whether you even have that one. Saying you lack only three is already being generous,” Yin Qingyue replied with a sweet smile, her words razor-sharp.

Without giving Xue Zhenyu time to react, she continued, “At first, I even felt sorry for Miss Xue. I thought that someone so beautiful never marrying would be tragic. But now it seems His Majesty is truly wise and farsighted. A woman like you, lacking three of the Four Virtues—if you married into a family, that household would never know peace!”

“You’re talking nonsense! Nonsense!” Xue Zhenyu shrieked, nearly losing her mind. “You vile woman—let me tear that mouth of yours apart!” She rushed forward, eyes red with fury.

“Miss Xue, don’t forget—though Nanny Zhao dislikes me, she can’t touch me,” Yin Qingyue said calmly, completely at ease. “If you hit me today, I wonder how Nanny Zhao would deal with you?”

Xue Zhenyu froze. Even when she hadn’t done anything wrong, Nanny Zhao still demanded silver from her every few days. If she handed Nanny Zhao such leverage now, she’d surely be squeezed dry.

She hesitated, her steps faltering. To vent her anger by slapping this ugly woman a few times—at the cost of all her jewelry and wealth—was simply not worth it.

“You ugly woman—you’re not worth me being punished over!” Xue Zhenyu finally spat, clinging to her pride.

“Is that so?” Yin Qingyue smiled faintly. “Then since courtesy demands reciprocity, Miss Xue has come all this way to visit me—how rude it would be if I didn’t even offer tea. You may not understand the Four Virtues, Miss Xue, but I cannot be as discourteous as you. Please enjoy this cup of fragrant tea.”

As she spoke, a strange glimmer flickered in Yin Qingyue’s eyes.

Before Xue Zhenyu and Xing’er could react, Yin Qingyue suddenly flung the tea from her cup toward them. Caught completely off guard, both were drenched, water splashing all over their faces.

“You ugly, vile woman! I won’t let this go!” Xue Zhenyu stared blankly for a moment, then her eyes reddened as she lunged forward again.

“Instead of cursing others, Miss Xue should reflect on herself,” Yin Qingyue sneered coldly. “I didn’t even waste a full cup of tea on you—that was already me being gracious.”

With that, she slipped back inside the doorway and slammed the courtyard gate shut, giving Xue Zhenyu no chance to retaliate.

Having gained nothing, Xue Zhenyu turned around in rage and slapped Xing’er hard. “Are you deaf or mute? I was insulted just now—why didn’t you say a word?!”

Xing’er lowered her head in grievance, anger boiling in her heart. You’re the brainless one—and you want me to take the fall? Even Nanny Zhao can’t afford to offend her. How could we?

Xue Zhenyu wiped the tea from her face with her sleeve and glared viciously at the tightly shut courtyard gate. “Yin Qingyue, just you wait—this isn’t over!”

Inside, Yin Qingyue went straight back to the room after closing the gate. Mei’er, who had been worried the whole time, hurried over.

“Miss, are you all right? Did Miss Xue make things difficult for you?” Mei’er asked anxiously.

“Make things difficult for me?” Yin Qingyue chuckled. “With her little bit of skill? She can’t do anything to me.”

She waved it off casually, then smiled lightly. “This time, she brought it on herself. By tomorrow, she’ll really have something to suffer for.”

Though Mei’er was still uneasy, she chose to trust her miss.

Yin Qingyue looked at the teacup in her hand, smiling slyly. “Mei’er, tomorrow you’ll see just what your miss is capable of.”

Early the next morning, a piercing scream broke the calm of Xue Zhenyu’s courtyard.

“Ahhh!” Xing’er screamed in terror at her reflection, clutching her face.

“What kind of wailing is this? Did your parents die or something?” Xue Zhenyu snapped angrily as she threw back the bed curtains. “You ruined my good dream—I won’t spare you!”

Still scolding, she stepped out from the bedroom. Just as she was about to berate Xing’er, she caught sight of her face and screamed as well. “Ah!”

“Ah!” Xing’er turned around, shrieking too.

“What happened to your face? You nearly scared me to death!” Xue Zhenyu panted, clutching her chest.

“I—I don’t know, Miss! Why does your face look just like mine?” Xing’er asked, terrified.

Xue Zhenyu froze, then rushed back inside and sat before the bronze mirror, staring hard at her reflection.

Her features were still delicate and beautiful—but her once fair, smooth skin was now covered in large red pimples. She looked grotesque and horrifying.

“No… this isn’t real… this isn’t my face!” Xue Zhenyu shook her head frantically, hands covering her cheeks. “Why has my face become like this?!”

Xing’er, her own face equally covered in red bumps, stood at the doorway sobbing. “Miss, it must be that ugly woman—she must have done something!”

“Yes! It must be that tea she splashed on us!” Xue Zhenyu staggered to her feet, teeth clenched. “There must have been something wrong with it! I’m going to find her and settle this!”

Xing’er hurried after her, cursing bitterly as they ran. “Yin Qingyue, you ugly woman! You’re ugly yourself and want everyone else to be ugly too—I won’t forgive you!”

Xue Zhenyu rushed to Yin Qingyue’s courtyard, only to find the gate already open. Yin Qingyue sat calmly in the center of the courtyard, waiting leisurely.

“You vile woman! Ugly freak!” Xue Zhenyu screamed, charging forward. “What did you put in that tea?!”

“What proof do you have that I tampered with it?” Yin Qingyue asked, grabbing Xue Zhenyu’s wrist and smiling brightly.

Though her movement looked casual, no matter how hard Xue Zhenyu struggled, she couldn’t pull her hand free. Being restrained, her momentum faltered.

“Yesterday, we came here, and when we went back, our faces turned like this! If it wasn’t you, who else could it be?” Xing’er hurriedly chimed in.

“Oh? So Miss Xue is here to accuse me based purely on speculation?” Yin Qingyue mocked.

“It was obviously you!” Xue Zhenyu shouted, eyes red.

“Where’s the evidence?” Yin Qingyue replied lightly. “Without proof, Miss Xue should save your energy. You do understand what kind of treatment an ugly woman gets in Luochen Courtyard, don’t you? Now you’re about as ugly as I am—so tell me, who do you think others will side with this time?”

She raised her hand lazily. Mei’er immediately stepped forward and offered her a teacup. Yin Qingyue took a small sip and held it casually. “Such fine tea—pity Miss Xue doesn’t have the fortune to enjoy it.”

At the sight of the teacup, Xue Zhenyu grew even more agitated. “It was the tea! The tea you splashed yesterday ruined my face! You vile, ugly woman—you’ll die a horrible death!”

“Miss Xue, mind your words!” Yin Qingyue suddenly stood and stepped toward her, looking down at her coldly.

Being slightly taller, Yin Qingyue’s commanding stance immediately suppressed Xue Zhenyu’s arrogance.

She reached out and pinched Xue Zhenyu’s chin. At the same time, Mei’er blocked Xing’er, who tried to rush forward. The atmosphere in the courtyard turned tense.

“In Luochen Courtyard, even if we die, it must be in sacrifice for His Majesty,” Yin Qingyue said sternly, her eyes icy. “When you say ‘die a horrible death,’ are you implying that sacrificing oneself for the Emperor is a horrible death? Can you bear the charge of such disrespect?”

“I—I…” Xue Zhenyu trembled, fear creeping in under Yin Qingyue’s chilling presence.

“If I were you, I’d actually be happy about becoming ugly,” Yin Qingyue said mockingly. “It means you might live a couple of days longer.”

“Whether I’m happy or not is none of your business!” Xue Zhenyu snapped, clenching her fists. “You dared to use something like this in Luochen Courtyard—Nanny Zhao won’t let you off!”

“As you wish,” Yin Qingyue replied lazily, lifting her eyes in disdain.

“But Miss Xue should think carefully. I was born ugly, while you suddenly became ugly. Don’t forget—Luochen Courtyard is a sacred place. We’re all here to pray to the Buddha for His Majesty. If you can’t produce evidence that I framed you, then your sudden ugliness might very well be the Buddha’s will. Don’t end up losing more than you gain.”

As she spoke, Yin Qingyue smiled, her eyes curving pleasantly.

Xue Zhenyu shuddered. “Stop spouting nonsense! How could the Buddha make me ugly?”

“Then you should ask yourself what you’ve done to anger the Buddha,” Yin Qingyue replied with a gentle smile. “For example—framing others, harboring malicious intentions…”

After that, Yin Qingyue stretched lazily, yawned, rubbed the tears from her sleepy eyes, and looked utterly tired.

Mei’er immediately stepped in front of her, smiling politely at Xue Zhenyu. “Miss Xue, my lady is tired now. Please return and treat your face properly, and don’t disturb my miss’s rest any longer.”