Chapter 6: 6.第6章 佳人回兮

Yun Tingruo’s slender brows twitched slightly as she prepared to open her mouth to refuse.

Suddenly, Di Liushang’s body shifted, leaving behind only a room full of lingering fragrance: "Someone is coming."

Watching his ghostly figure vanish before her eyes, Yun Tingruo’s pupils constricted. What incredible skill.

The kind of person she could praise had already died in the twenty-first century.

And another had been killed by her.

Just as she tucked the jade pendant away, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded from outside.

Yun Tingruo raised an eyebrow. At this hour, it was exactly the time the Second Miss would come looking for trouble.

In the morning, it was the Third Miss’s provocations; in the afternoon, it was the torment of the Second Miss, Yun Shiyue.

The life of this Fourth Miss was truly one of fire and water.

Just as she finished her thought, a figure appeared outside.

It was Miaoling—the most capable personal maid by the side of the Second Miss, Yun Shiyue.

As she spoke, she had already walked in. She wore orange attire interlaced with peach-pink clouds, her hair styled in twin buns tied with blue ribbons. An oval-shaped gold chrysanthemum purse hung from her waist, displaying the status of the Prime Minister's Estate.

This maid was also a frequent bully of the original owner of this body. In an attempt to better please the Second Miss, Miaoling had thought up countless ways to torment Yun Tingruo.

The various scars, large and small, on Yun Tingruo's body were all thanks to her; old wounds had yet to heal before new ones appeared.

"Fourth Miss, my lady invites you to go admire the flowers and eat some pastries."

How triumphant her gaze was, how high her little mouth was curled, and how disdainful her eyes were as they swept over Yun Tingruo.

"I'm not going!"

Always using the guise of elegance to carry out shady business—that was the style of the Second Miss, Yun Shiyue.

Yun Tingruo mimicked Miaoling's way of speaking, tilting her gaze and curling the corners of her mouth.

Her act of feigned simplicity made Miaoling let out a "pfft" of laughter.

"Fourth Miss, if you don't go, you're the one who will suffer. You know the Second Miss's temper; she cannot stand being contradicted. In this sweltering heat, I don't think the Fourth Miss wants her skin to feel uncomfortable!"

Miaoling lowered her tone, but she remained brimming with arrogance, her red lips rattling off a torrent of words.

Look at this—this was the Fourth Miss of the Prime Minister's Estate.

A dignified legitimate daughter!

Yet even a maid could ride over her head to defecate and urinate.

Damn, it really was tragic.

Yun Tingruo couldn't help but lament first; with these "loving" sisters, life in ancient times would surely be quite entertaining.

"Fourth Miss, look at yourself. You're just a fool. The Second Miss treats you like her own sister and is good to you, and you know it yourself. Why are you still putting on airs? Look at you—who in this entire estate actually takes a fool like you seriously?"

Miaoling's tone grew increasingly contemptuous. A fool—if it weren't for that dazzling title of "Consort of Prince Qi" hanging over her head, would she have survived until now?

Otherwise, with this foolish body, she would have long been driven away to some remote town by the Yun family.

Prince Qi, Di Minglie, the ninth son of the current Emperor, was the son of Noble Consort Xian.

With his noble identity and extraordinary background, he was destined to be the "springtime" in the eyes of every young lady in the capital.

He was also ranked third on the list of beautiful men and martial arts experts, known as the "Blazing Prince."

It would have been one thing if this prize sought by the young ladies already had an owner.

But he just happened to be engaged to the famous foolish Fourth Miss, who was also the number one beauty-less woman.

To be able to discern beauty and ugliness at the age of seven—Yun Tingruo was truly speechless.

How could the capital's number one beauties and number one talents ever be willing?

And Yun Shiyue was that very number one talent of the capital.

This marriage was a childhood betrothal arranged years ago, but Di Minglie had never once appeared before Yun Tingruo in the past sixteen years.

At first, the Yun family made sure she ate and drank well, but later, seeing that Prince Qi never showed his face and that this daughter was a useless waste, they grew increasingly resentful of her.

Thus, regarding her rumored future husband—whether he was round or flat, short or tall, or whether he was as handsome as the legends said—Yun Tingruo knew absolutely nothing.

It was this very marriage that had made Yun Tingruo's reputation as a "waste" famous, making her a legend in the capital.

She was also a thorn in the hearts of all the women.

It was as if she were cow dung and Di Minglie were a fresh flower, being trampled to death by her.

"Little fool, speak! Why are you just standing there dazed? Honestly, a fool is just a fool. No matter what, you'll never fly up to the branch and turn into a phoenix."

Miaoling grew increasingly impatient. She had said so much, yet this fool hadn't made a sound.

Did she think she was performing a play for her!

Yun Tingruo narrowed her eyes. The fragmented sunlight fell upon her, casting a layer of shadow around her eyes, making them look like the claws of the night.

Hearing Miaoling call her "fool" again and again, Yun Tingruo stretched her hands. This inexplicable movement caused Miaoling to freeze.

She watched as the Fourth Miss tilted her head and brought her two hands together, making a "crack, crack" sound.

In the next second, Yun Tingruo raised her hands, which were stretching their muscles.

*Slap! Slap!* Two slaps struck Miaoling's face.

Though she possessed no internal energy, her physical strength was considerable. With just two slaps, Miaoling was left dazed.

Before she could even recover, two more *slaps* came, and the other half of her face instantly swelled and turned red.

The blows made stars dance before her eyes, and two lines of bright red nosebleed flowed out.

Miaoling touched her face in disbelief, but the moment she felt the warm liquid was her own blood, she immediately screamed: "You! You dare hit me!"

Yun Tingruo put on the appearance of an innocent little white rabbit.

"Aaaaaah! I'll kill you! I'll beat you to death!"

Having been accustomed to arrogance, Miaoling lunged at Yun Tingruo, flailing her limbs.

Yun Tingruo had long been prepared for this move. Before the maid's hands could swing, she twisted her body, and Miaoling lunged into empty air.

Her plump body tumbled instantly to the ground.

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah! Murder! Someone's killing me! The Fourth Miss is a murderer!"

Miaoling let out a piercing, shrill cry, wailing and screaming. Before long, she had attracted many maids and elderly servants.

Even Yun Shiyue, who was in the Fragrance Pavilion, heard the news and rushed over in a hurry.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Yun Tingruo scanned her with an X-ray gaze.

This Yun Shiyue truly lived up to her name, "Shiyue" (Moonlight/Time-Moon), which carried the connotation of a beauty capable of toppling cities.

She was indeed a peerless beauty.

Her eyes were like clear autumn waters, her brows like willow leaves, and her figure was graceful and slender. She wore a pale pink gauze robe, lightly cinched at the waist with a soft white silk sash. Her jet-black hair cascaded down to her slender waist, exuding a faint, elegant fragrance.

No wonder many scholars in the capital had written the poem *The Beauty Returns* for her!

*With but a single glance of her lovely eyes, ten thousand flowers bloom in riotous color.* *With but a slight parting of her vermilion lips, the oriole sings its melodious song.* *With but a gentle sway of her slender waist, the emerald willow flutters in the spring breeze.*

She truly was a first-rate beauty.

Yun Tingruo looked at this Second Sister without restraint, but the other woman swept her with an arrogant and haughty gaze. In that single look, there was nothing but disdain and innate pride!

Yun Shiyue stepped forward on her small lotus feet to reach Miaoling, flicking her handkerchief and frowning: "I told you to invite the Fourth Miss; why are you throwing a tantrum here?"

"Second Miss! Second Miss! You must get justice for this servant~!"

That miserable wail and exaggerated facial expression made everyone break into a cold sweat.

Yun Shiyue's face flushed between green and red, but her expression remained poised and elegant, her voice as gentle as flowing water: "Miaoling, what happened? Tell me everything, step by step."

"Waaaah, Second Miss, you must get justice for me! I was merely following your words to invite the Fourth Miss, but after only a few words, the Fourth Miss beat me like this! Second Miss, you must get justice for me!"

Miaoling's mouth worked rapidly. As long as the Second Miss was present, she feared nothing—especially since this was a fool, someone everyone could bully.