Chapter 7: Using Someone's Influence to Bully Others

"What?" The crowd was startled, looking at Yun Tingruo in disbelief.

Since when did this fool have such courage, even being able to lay a hand on the tall and imposing Miaoling?

"Miaoling, you must be joking! With your tall and sturdy build and my fourth sister's tiny frame, how could she possibly move a single finger against you?"

Yun Shiyue clutched her handkerchief, casting a suspicious glance at Miaoling.

Moreover, Yun Tingruo had always been weak and incompetent. In the past, when people bullied her—whether it was making her crawl through dog holes, whipping her, or slapping her—she wouldn't even dare tell Father, and would just foolishly smile through it.

She shot a suspicious look at Yun Tingruo, who was not far away.

The little fellow was currently fidgeting with her fingers.

"Fourth Sister, is what Miaoling said true?"

Yun Shiyue was the most well-regarded young lady of the Yun Estate; she was stunningly beautiful, poised, and graceful, and was even the designated candidate for the Crown Prince's side consort. Because of this, everyone in the manor liked this second young lady very much.

"Second Sister, I—I—I—!"

Yun Tingruo blinked her eyes and shrank back timidly.

This caused Yun Shiyue to raise an eyebrow, feeling even more dislike for this fool.

"Fourth Sister, don't be anxious. If you have something to say, say it slowly."

*As expected of a goddess of showing off!* Yun Tingruo muttered silently in her heart.

"Second Sister, Miaoling... she said I am just a fool." As she spoke, Yun Tingruo lowered her head mournfully, appearing deeply dissatisfied with the term "fool."

The crowd couldn't help but burst into laughter. Oh? This fool is actually offended? Look at that aggrieved expression.

Yun Shiyue suppressed her laughter, though her bright eyes betrayed her current sense of amusement.

*Laugh away, laugh away. Today's laughter will be repaid in the future.*

No one saw the unfathomable smile that played upon the corners of Yun Tingruo's mouth.

Twisting her small hands, her voice carrying three parts tremor and seven parts weeping, she continued: "I am not a fool. She said I am not worthy of admiring flowers and eating pastries with Second Sister, and even said I am not worthy of carrying Second Sister's shoes, the Swan!"

Her tone was timid and trembling, making her words sound somewhat muddled.

Although Yun Tingruo was a fool, it only meant her intelligence was somewhat low. It didn't mean she didn't know how to speak.

*Swan? What swan?*

The smile on Yun Shiyue's lips froze, stuck in a state of neither rising nor falling, causing her expression to darken.

Yun Tingruo's eyelids lifted slightly. Seeing Yun Shiyue's beautiful face, she couldn't resist a mischievous glint. "Miaoling said the Swan Second Sister is the number one beauty in the capital, a swan descended to earth. She even threatened me, saying I must give the position of Prince Qi's Consort to Second Sister, because only the Swan Second Sister is Prince Qi's perfect match! Ruo'er is so heartbroken and sad."

*Oh ho ho~ Swan, she means a celestial being~*

Wasn't Yun Shiyue a celestial being? She deliberately called her a swan.

And by saying it this way, no one would suspect that her soul had been replaced.

There was still a huge gap between a swan and a celestial being. One was a low-class bird raised by humans, and the other was the goddess in the hearts of ten thousand men.

Hearing this, Yun Shiyue's fingers involuntarily tightened. She would not stoop to the level of this vulgar, uncultured fool.

*She really can endure it,* Yun Tingruo thought, wiping away tears that weren't even visible in the air while pouting her lips. "Miaoling also said that Second Sister loves Prince Qi—! And told Ruo'er to get lost."

*Damn it, by the end, even I'm disgusted by my own words.*

But for the sake of the climax of the performance, she would make a small sacrifice. She might as well use Prince Qi to heat up the scene; there was no reason not to.

Yun Shiyue's almond eyes suddenly twitched, and her beautiful face turned as white as paper in an instant.

The disdainful smile she had just worn suddenly froze on her face, and a chill ran through her body as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

She knew exactly what kind of person Miaoling was. If these words came from Miaoling, she actually believed them.

"That damned wench! I am about to become the Crown Prince's side consort. By saying such things, are you trying to make me pay with my life?"

Yun Shiyue, who had just been acting as if she were seeking justice for Miaoling, was now cursing her as a "damned wench."

Pay with her life? Hmph, that would be too light a punishment.

Although the designation as the Crown Prince's side consort had not yet been announced to the world, it was already an unstated fact within the Imperial Family. For Miaoling to covet Prince Qi was to place a heavy burden of infidelity upon the Crown Prince before she had even entered the palace. If this spread, where would the Imperial Family save face?

"She's lying! This servant didn't say that! Second Young Lady, you must believe me!"

Stunned, Miaoling's heart raced from Yun Shiyue's icy words as she cried out her innocence. She never expected that Yun Tingruo, abandoning her usual weakness, could twist the truth so thoroughly that no fault could be found.

"To think the Second Young Lady doesn't want to be the Crown Princess, but wants to be Prince Qi's Consort instead? An elder sister trying to steal her younger sister's husband—how shameless!"

"No wonder Prince Qi ignores the Fourth Young Lady's life or death; it turns out he's already been in league with the Second Young Lady in secret!"

"So what? The Fourth Young Lady is the one Prince Qi has chosen as his Princess. If the Second Young Lady marries him, at best she'll be a side consort—she's still just a concubine."

The surrounding maids began to gossip incessantly, and every word reached Yun Shiyue's ears.

Though her expression remained calm, maintaining a poised and graceful posture, her clenched fists were hidden beneath her sleeves, her nails digging into her delicate palms.

She hadn't expected Miaoling to be so stupid; she was truly more of a hindrance than a help.

At this moment, if she did not punish Miaoling, everyone would think it was she, the mistress, who was instigating things from behind the scenes. Those words would spread, and by then, she would be worthless in her father's eyes and her reputation would plummet in the eyes of the world.

To protect her reputation, she could only sacrifice a pawn to save the king.

With a wave of her hand, two older female servants immediately stepped forward.

"Second Young Lady, don't believe this fool! I really didn't! I am being framed!"

Miaoling struggled desperately. At this moment, she naturally knew what the Second Young Lady intended to do.

Yun Tingruo, on the other hand, blinked her eyes, watching the scene with great interest.

Yun Shiyue's long eyelashes curled slightly like butterfly wings, casting two faint shadows on her eyelids as she inadvertently glanced toward Yun Tingruo.

Seeing her standing foolishly to the side, her coarse hem fluttering gently in the wind, she possessed a unique charm at a glance.

Seeing Yun Shiyue look over, a fleeting smile rose on her lips, as if she were watching a good play.

This caused a flicker of doubt to flash through Yun Shiyue's mind.

The face was the one she was familiar with, but her aura and temperament were completely different from before.

But upon a second look, she saw Yun Tingruo blinking her eyes, her dull expression lacking any of the grace from a moment ago.

"Miaoling has been insubordinate. Give her twenty lashes and dock her wages for half a year. Fourth Sister, what do you think of this?"

Miaoling had followed her for five years and had always been Yun Shiyue's confidante. But with so many people watching, if this matter wasn't suppressed, it would damage her reputation. She had to play the part to the fullest.

Yun Shiyue was certain that with Yun Tingruo's weak personality, she would surely say in terror, "No, no, no, no."

As long as Yun Tingruo said those words, she would take the opportunity to retract her previous statement, and the matter would be dismissed as a farce.

However, how could the shrewd Second Young Lady know?

The Fourth Sister of this moment was not the Fourth Sister of the past.

Yun Tingruo blinked innocently and raised her head timidly, looking as pure as a little deer, but the words she spoke made Yun Shiyue nearly spit blood from frustration: "Whatever Second Sister says is fine."

That innocent tone.

It was truly Yun Tingruo's most effective protective shield at the moment.

Fury surged in Yun Shiyue's eyes, and her almond eyes widened slightly. She had only spoken casually, knowing that this fool's Fourth Sister would never dare to agree.

She never expected that she would agree instantly.