Nanny Pei's arrival was as imposing as ever. Dressed in a plain yet impeccably neat robe, her sharp gaze scanned the room as if she could spot a speck of dust on any of the maidens. Behind her, a line of servants entered the pavilion, each carrying stacks of neatly bound books.

"These," Nanny Pei announced in a stern voice, "contain all the palace etiquette you are expected to learn and master. A future crown princess must embody grace, poise, and discipline. Open them."

The sound of pages being flipped filled the room as the maidens obediently opened their books. The thick volumes were meticulously detailed, with sections covering everything from how to walk with proper decorum to the exact way to hold a tea cup in the presence of royalty.

"For today," Nanny Pei continued, "we will review the foundational principles. Sit straight. Pay attention. There will be no questions until I finish."

The hours that followed were grueling. The maidens sat in silence, their backs straight, their eyes glued to the book as Nanny Pei lectured on the intricacies of palace etiquette. Occasionally, a servant would refill their cups with steaming tea, and two small tea cakes were placed on each maiden's tray.

Yufei stared at her cakes, her stomach quietly protesting the long morning without a proper meal. She wanted to eat them, but the fear of appearing improper kept her from eating too quickly. Instead, she took small bites, her eyes flickering between the text in the book and Nanny Pei's stern figure at the front of the room.

By the time Nanny Pei finally closed her own book with a decisive thud, Yufei's back ached from sitting so still for so long, and her fingers felt stiff from holding the book open.

"That is enough for today," Nanny Pei declared, standing. "You are dismissed. Return to your rooms and review what you have learned. Tomorrow, you will listen to Tan Cheng's lecture."

The maidens bowed their heads respectfully, murmuring their thanks before standing to leave. Yufei followed the flow of girls out of the pavilion, her legs feeling slightly numb after sitting for so long. Yuli in front of her paid no attention to her at all.

Walking back toward her room with Xiao Tong trailing close behind, Yufei glanced at the book in her hands. Its cover, though unassuming, seemed heavier than it should be. She sighed softly, the day's exhaustion catching up to her.

"My Lady," Xiao Tong said, breaking the silence, "should I bring some food to your room? You hardly ate anything during the lesson."

Yufei shook her head. "No, it's fine. Just get me something later. Let's just go back."

Her voice was quiet, almost mechanical. As much as she wanted to focus on the lessons, her thoughts kept drifting back to her sister. Was her silence a sign of something even worse brewing?

Once they reached her room, Yufei sank into her bed. Her fingers brushed over the smooth surface of the cover. Soon, she fell asleep, the book still in her hands.

The room was dim, the soft glow of the lanterns barely illuminating the corners as Yufei rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The faint sound of crickets outside reminded her of how still the world became at night. She glanced at the table where Xiao Tong had left two buns. Her stomach gave a small growl of protest, and she reached for one.

The bun was still warm. Yufei found herself staring at the faint reflection of the lantern light on her desk. The day had passed in a blur, leaving her mind tangled in thoughts she wished she could escape.

With the bun in hand, she decided to step outside. Surely, no one would be wandering the grounds at this hour?

The cool night air wrapped around her like a soothing balm as she wandered toward the pond. The garden path was dimly lit by the moonlight, casting shadows over the trimmed hedges and blossoming flowers. The silence was deafening, save for the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind.

By the time she reached the pond, she felt her legs tire, but the stillness of the water drew her in. The surface shimmered faintly under the moonlight, creating a reflection that seemed otherworldly. Yufei sank onto a nearby stone, her fingers tracing the edge of the bun she still held.

Her eyes were empty, gazing at the water without really seeing it. Thoughts swirled in her mind. Yet, she didn't allow herself to cry. She hadn't cried in years, not since she was a little girl. Tears wouldn't change anything, she always reminded herself. But sitting there, with the weight of the night pressing down on her, she felt an ache in her chest that she couldn't shake.

The faint sound of rippling water caught her attention, and her eyes flickered to the surface of the pond. A fish leapt briefly out of the water before disappearing again, its movement breaking the stillness. She let out a small, almost inaudible sigh.

Perhaps she was like that fish, struggling to breathe in a world that wasn't made for her.

A soft breeze swept through the garden, ruffling her loose strands of hair. She clutched the bun in her hand tighter.

Yufei took a small, tentative bite of the bun. It was cold as a rock. Still, she forced herself to eat half of it, her mind too preoccupied to care about the taste. Sitting by the pond, her thoughts wandered back to the content of the book, trying to think about something else.

The quiet night was a fragile solace, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the distance.

She didn't notice the figure approaching from behind until it was too late.

A sharp, brutal shove sent her body lurching forward. She gasped, her hand instinctively reaching out to catch herself, but the slick stone betrayed her grip. Her last glimpse before plunging into the icy water was Xiaxia, her sister's maid, standing behind her.

Her eyes burned with a crazed fury, her lips curling into a grim smile.

The cold water enveloped Yufei in an instant, dragging her down as her head submerged. The world became muted, distorted by the rippling surface above. Panic surged through her as her limbs thrashed, desperate to find footing or grasp the edge of the pond.

The heavy fabric of her dress clung to her, weighing her down, making it harder to move. Her lungs screamed for air, and the chill of the water seeped into her bones. Yufei kicked desperately, her arms flailing in an effort to pull herself up.

Through the water, she could faintly see Xiaxia standing at the edge of the pond, unmoving, her gaze cold and unyielding. It wasn't just anger—it was hatred.

Yufei's head finally broke the surface, and she gasped for air, coughing violently as her arms struggled to hold onto the slippery stones lining the pond. Her vision blurred, and her fingers clawed at the edge, trying to hoist herself out.

Before she could fully recover, Xiaxia's voice cut through the night like a blade.

"Always meddling, always being in the way!"

Yufei's chest tightened as she tried to steady her breathing. The maid took a threatening step closer, but before she could act further, a loud rustling sound came from the nearby trees.

Xiaxia froze, her head snapping toward the noise. For the first time, a flicker of fear crossed her face. Without another word, she turned and bolted into the shadows, leaving Yufei in the freezing pond.

Yufei's fingers scraped against the rough stones as she dragged herself out of the freezing pond, her body trembling under the weight of her drenched clothes. Every movement sent chills down her spine, her hands raw and scratched from the effort. Finally, she collapsed onto the cold ground, gasping for air as water dripped around her in uneven streams.

Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. The world around her felt silent for a moment, save for the sound of her shallow breathing and the distant rustling of leaves. She couldn't even tell if the shivering was from the cold or the shock of what had just happened.

But then, the silence broke. Footsteps—swift, approached in front of her. Panic surged through her, her hair plastered against her face.

Her vision blurred, but through the darkness, she could make out a tall figure moving toward her. A man.

"Are you alright?" The voice was deep, steady, and calm.

Before she could answer—or even register what was happening—he was beside her, extending his hand. His dark eyes locked onto hers for the briefest moment, and in them, she saw no malice, only an odd calmness.

Yufei hesitated, her trembling hand hovering just above his. She didn't know who he was or why he was here, but slowly, she placed her hand in his, and he gripped it firmly, helping her to her feet.

Her body wavered, the weight of her soaked clothes making her unsteady. He steadied her without a word, then shrugged off his cloak and draped it over her trembling shoulders. The warmth of the heavy fabric was immediate, and Yufei instinctively clutched it tightly around her.

"You shouldn't be wandering alone at night, where is your maid?" he asked, his tone reprimanding.

Yufei's lips parted to respond, "I fell into the pond. I was not looking carefully."

Her breath hitched, and her gaze fell to the ground. The man's brow furrowed as he studied her silence. Then, as if deciding for her, he glanced toward the pond and the scratches on her hands, his expression hardening.

"You better apply ointment on your hands." he said after a moment. "Let me escort you back."

Yufei hesitated. Finally, she nodded faintly, letting him guide her. As they walked through the moonlit paths, Yufei couldn't help but steal a glance at him from under the heavy cloak.

The man's servant then led Yufei back to the maiden's pavilion in silence, a respectful distance maintained between them. The mqn said nothing, only stopping at the entrance to ensure she had made it inside. Yufei turned around to thank him, but before the words could leave her lips, she noticed they were already gone—disappeared into the shadows without a word.

She stood there for a moment, the weight of his cloak still draped over her, the faint lingering warmth a stark contrast to the chill of her drenched clothes. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt something she hadn't experienced before.

Shame.

Back at home, when her sister lashed out at her, it was always behind closed doors. No one ever witnessed her humiliation or the aftermath. But tonight... someone had seen her. Someone had seen her weak, soaked, and broken, crawling out of a pond as if she were nothing more than a discarded thing.

Swallowing hard, she hurried back to her room. Once inside, she shut the door behind her, leaning against it as though it could shield her from the outside world.

Peeling off the heavy cloak, she set it aside and began to remove her wet clothes, the fabric clinging stubbornly to her skin.

She called out, her voice trembling, "Xiao Tong..."

The faint rustling of blankets came from the small adjacent room, and soon Xiao Tong appeared, rubbing her eyes, her hair slightly disheveled. Seeing her mistress standing there, her soaked hair and shivering frame, Xiao Tong's drowsiness vanished instantly.

"My Lady..." she said, rushing to her side.

"I just fell. Help me... I need a bath," Yufei whispered, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Xiao Tong nodded quickly, saying nothing else, though her worried gaze lingered on Yufei's scratched hands and pale face. It was clear to her that something had happened—something more than just an accidental fall into the pond. But she knew her mistress well enough not to press for answers.

With hurried hands, Xiao Tong fetched warm water, setting up the bath as Yufei sat in silence, staring blankly at her reflection in the polished bronze mirror. Her lips were pale, her hair stuck to her face in damp strands, and her eyes were distant, as if she were somewhere far away.

Once the bath was ready, Xiao Tong helped Yufei into the warm water, carefully washing away the mud and debris that clung to her skin. The silence between them was heavy but unspoken. Xiao Tong's careful hands worked to clean the scratches on her mistress's hands and arms, her heart aching at the sight.

"It wasn't an accident, was it?" Xiao Tong finally murmured, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft.

Yufei's lips parted, but she said nothing.

Instead, Xiao Tong quietly continued, "My Lady, I hope they're punished someday. I hope she wins so you can go home and be finally alone."

Yufei gave a faint, bitter smile. Punished? The idea seemed like a far-off dream. Her sister always managed to escape situations where she was disadvantaged.

Dressed again, she went to her bed. Laying there, Yufei was staring at the ceiling. She couldn't shake the image of the stranger who had reached out his hand to help her.

Tonight had been different, she thought, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. Tonight, someone had seen her suffering. Would she get in more trouble than this?

And that thought frightened her more than anything else.

__________

Xià xiá, 夏霞, Qin Yuli's personal maid