Chapter 2: Kneel and Kowtow

A chill radiated from Ji Ruoling's body. Her small face was expressionless, her features practically spelling out the words, "Everyone, please leave."

The woman in blue stared at her with wide eyes, her gaze filled with fifty percent fury and fifty percent confusion. "You actually dare to speak to me like that! You..."

"Enough, Fifth Sister. Ruoling is a legitimate daughter after all; speaking to her like that is indeed going too far." A scolding voice interrupted the Fifth Concubine's words, followed by a gentle, concerned tone directed at Ji Ruoling: "Ruoling, I'm glad you're alright. Does your body hurt? Should I have someone fetch a physician?"

Hearing this, Ji Ruoling looked toward the source of the voice and saw a woman dressed in yellow, wearing light makeup.

The latter gave Ji Ruoling a gentle smile, her eyes brimming with care.

Yet, an inexplicable sense of dread rose in Ji Ruoling's heart, and she instinctively pressed herself deeper into the bed.

Watching Ji Ruoling's movement, a cold glint flashed in the woman's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled into a sneer before she instantly reverted to a gentle expression.

That expression was fleeting, invisible to everyone except Ji Ruoling.

Having captured that cold glint, the fear in Ji Ruoling's heart deepened, and her body even began to tremble.

This was an instinctive reaction of this body; the woman in yellow must have done something in the past that terrified the original owner.

Looking at the maternal smile on the woman's face, Ji Ruoling sneered inwardly. She suspected this woman only treated the original owner this way in front of others, while abusing her in private.

"It's just a minor injury, there's no need to alarm so many people. You've even ruined my lunch. This maid of yours is being far too dramatic; making such a fuss over such a small matter that even the Head of the House had to be summoned. What is all this noise about?" Upon hearing Ji Ruoling's words, the woman in blue immediately seized the opportunity to press further, mocking her for failing to train her maid properly and making a scene over nothing.

"I am sorry. It is my fault for not training my maid well, and I apologize for disturbing everyone. I will certainly teach this maid better in the future. Please, everyone, you may leave." Ji Ruoling turned her gaze toward Dong'er, who was lying on the floor with her eyes rolling back, a cold light flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Admitting fault at a time like this was no big deal. If she lowered her head, she couldn't exactly push her luck in front of so many people.

As it turned out, the Fifth Concubine's thick skin exceeded Ji Ruoling's imagination.

Hearing Ji Ruoling's apology, the Fifth Concubine's arrogance flared even more. She thought the girl was frightened just like before and didn't dare provoke her.

Although she wasn't as timid as before and her tone seemed firmer, it was merely an act—she thought having the Head of the House present gave her backing.

Thinking this, the Fifth Concubine became even more relentless with her words: "Is an apology useful? Your maid has disrupted everyone's precious lunchtime. Can you afford to compensate us?"

"Then what do you want?" Ji Ruoling's brow furrowed tightly, thinking to herself that this Fifth Concubine was truly relentless.

The latter sneered inwardly. *What are you pretending for? In the end, you'll still have to kowtow and admit your faults obediently.*

"Kneel down, and then kowtow three times to me... to everyone, and then we will forgive you." The Fifth Concubine lifted her chin, smiling as she waited for Ji Ruoling to kneel and kowtow.

Ji Ruoling's eyes narrowed, a dangerous light flashing within them.

What she hated most was someone making her kneel and kowtow!

"Fifth Sister! You are too..." *excessive!*

The woman in yellow, the Fourth Concubine, let out a performative scolding upon hearing the Fifth Concubine's demand.

In reality, she was sneering inwardly, laughing at the Fifth Concubine's lack of tact. Making a legitimate daughter kowtow in front of the Head of the House was essentially disrespecting him.

She also mocked Ji Ruoling, believing that given her temperament, she would surely kneel in a moment, and then she would see if the Head of the House would still allow her to stay in the Ji family.

But before she could finish, she was interrupted by a man's voice laced with indignation: "Enough! When is it not a time to eat?! She is injured; what kind of decorum is it to demand she kneel?!"

The Fourth Concubine froze momentarily, then her inner laughter grew even more jubilant.

But... did his words seem to be defending Ji Ruoling, defending this useless girl he hadn't seen in ten years?

At that thought, the Fourth Concubine felt a flicker of displeasure.

The Fifth Concubine acted aggrieved, lowering her heavily made-up face, her voice carrying a hint of a sob. "I... I only saw that she was wasting everyone's time, so..."

"Enough. Let today's matter be as if it never happened, and there is no need to pursue who is at fault. Ruoling, let's find a physician to examine you." After scolding the Fifth Concubine, his gaze skipped over her and landed on Ji Ruoling on the bed.

Ji Yi admitted that seeing Ji Ruoling covered in injuries just now had made him very angry. Hearing the Fifth Concubine's escalating demands had made him even more furious.

Looking at her now, he felt a pang of heartache.

"Thank you." Ji Ruoling looked toward the man speaking in the crowd, thinking: *So he is the Head of the House, and he should also be—Father.*

Seeing that unmistakable trace of heartache in his eyes, her heart stirred.

Perhaps this father hadn't intentionally abandoned his daughter; perhaps there were unspoken difficulties, and he did love "her" after all.

Just now, many memories had flooded in, filling her mind.

This body was also named Ji Ruoling, the legitimate daughter of the Ji family, but because her mother had died during childbirth, she was not well-received.

From birth, she had never seen her father, knowing only that he was the Head of the Ji family.

"Ruoling, get some good rest. I will have someone fetch a physician in a moment, and then we shall leave." Ji Yi suppressed his emotions, turned around, and left.

The concubines also understood what Ji Yi meant by "we" and left with tact.

"Hmph." Unquestionably, the Fifth Concubine was the last to leave. Before departing, she shot a fierce glare at Ji Ruoling, as if saying: *Don't get cocky, sooner or later I'll make you kneel and kowtow!*

Once everyone had retreated from the room and the clamor had vanished, silence fell.

Ji Ruoling finally regained her composure; she had been digesting the extra information in her mind.

It happened quickly because there wasn't much information—mostly memories of being bullied, insulted, and forced to work.

The monotonous daily routine, consisting of nothing but beatings and verbal abuse, was heartbreaking to witness.

Ji Ruoling looked at the neglected Dong'er lying on the floor, her hand propped on the bed, her index finger tapping rhythmically.

In her memories, there were many scenes where Dong'er would order Ji Ruoling around, making her wash clothes and sweep the floors.

There were also times when other young masters and ladies bullied Ji Ruoling, and Dong'er would just stand by and watch without saying a word, her eyes even showing a hint of schadenfreude.

Moreover, she still remembered the dialogue from when she had just transmigrated: *What use is there in keeping such a disloyal maid?*