Just as Bai Xifeng had anticipated, a rowdy group of people soon descended upon her courtyard like a gathering storm. She felt a brief moment of inward relief that she had already finished her lunch. Otherwise, the fine meal she had purchased earlier would surely have been ruined by their unpleasant presence.
Han Yunru marched into the courtyard with an air of supreme authority, trailed by several of her personal maids and her son, Bai Shaoqing. The boy looked incredibly smug as he stood beside his mother, his chest puffed out as if he had already won a great victory.
Bai Xifeng looked them over with a bored expression. She actually felt a twinge of disappointment that the "Old Hag", her grandmother, had not accompanied them. Dealing with all of them at once would have been much more efficient.
"Bai Xifeng! How dare you use such foul and disrespectful language toward my son?" Han Yunru screamed, her eyes blazing as she glared at her niece.
"Now, Second Madam Bai, you really cannot place the blame on me so blindly." Bai Xifeng replied lazily, propping her head up with one hand as she lounged. "Your son was the one who abandoned all sense of propriety. Tell me, how is it appropriate for a young male to barge into a lady's private courtyard with the intent to harass both her and her maid?"
"What did you say?" Han Yunru hissed, her voice trembling with indignation.
"I was not aware that Second Madam Bai suffered from a hearing impairment. Do I really need to repeat myself, or should I speak slower for you?" Bai Xifeng stated, her tone dripping with mock concern.
Han Yunru's face turned a violent shade of crimson. This little bitch actually dared to humiliate her so publicly in front of the servants! She felt her blood boil. This girl desperately needed to be taught a lesson in humility.
"You two! Go and slap her mouth until she learns some respect!" Han Yunru commanded, pointing toward two of her sturdiest maids.
Bai Shaoqing's smug grin widened. 'You dared to threaten me earlier, but now my mother will make you pay,' he thought gleefully.
The two maids approached Bai Xifeng with malicious intent. One reached out to pin her hands behind her back while the other raised a palm to deliver a stinging blow to her face. However, before they could even lay a finger on her, Bai Xifeng's legs moved in a blur. Two swift, powerful kicks landed squarely on the maids' chests.
The women were sent flying backwards, landing in a heap right at Han Yunru's feet. Han Yunru gritted her teeth so hard it was a wonder they did not shatter.
"You!!! You absolute monster!" Han Yunru shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at Bai Xifeng.
Bai Xifeng's gaze dropped to the pointing finger. A cold light entered her eyes. She had always loathed people pointing at her as if she were an animal.
"I am going to report every bit of this to your grandmother!" Han Yunru declared, her voice reaching a shrill peak.
"Sure... go ahead. By all means, go and report me to that Old Hag. I could not care less." Bai Xifeng said, waving her hand dismissively as if she were shooing away a bothersome fly.
She then shifted her gaze toward Bai Shaoqing. That single, icy look made the boy shiver to his very core. He instinctively scrambled behind his mother's silk robes to hide.
"Listen well, Bai Shaoqing." Bai Xifeng began, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If you ever dare to bring your dogs here again to harass me or Xiao Li, I will personally ensure that you lose your tiny dick along with the rest of your servants. Mark my words, I don't make empty threats."
Bai Shaoqing trembled violently at the vivid threat. The Bai Xifeng he knew, the one who was timid and desperate for a scrap of affection, would never have dreamed of saying something so graphic and terrifying. This person standing before him was a stranger.
His servants also turned pale, instinctively clutching at themselves. They certainly didn't want to lose their "manhood" over a family squabble.
"You dare to threaten my son like that?!" Han Yunru shouted.
"Well, whether I 'dare' or not depends entirely on Bai Shaoqing's future behaviour." Bai Xifeng replied with a sharp, predatory smile.
Suddenly, the tense standoff was interrupted as another maid rushed breathlessly into the courtyard.
"Second Madam Bai! There is urgent news from the front gate! A head eunuch from the palace has arrived to deliver a royal decree. The Old Madam has requested that you come to the main hall immediately!" The maid informed her, gasping for air.
"What? A royal decree?" Han Yunru's anger was instantly replaced by shock and a touch of anxiety.
Bai Xifeng remained perfectly stoic. In her mind, whatever the palace wanted likely had nothing to do with her. She leaned back, relaxing her posture.
"The Old Madam also specifically requested that the Third Young Miss accompany you to the main hall as well." The maid added, looking nervously at Bai Xifeng.
"Hm?" Bai Xifeng lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow. 'Me too? Now that's interesting.'
"Why on earth would she need to be there?" Han Yunru snapped, clearly annoyed that Bai Xifeng was being included.
"I have no idea, Second Madam. I am merely relaying the Old Madam's direct orders." The maid replied.
Bai Xifeng felt a flicker of genuine curiosity. She stood up, brushing off her robes.
"Well, since the Old Hag is calling for me, it would be quite rude to keep a palace official waiting. It might reflect poorly on her if I don't show up." Bai Xifeng said with a smirk. "Lead the way."
The messenger maid was stunned for a moment by Bai Xifeng's casual disrespect, but she quickly snapped out of it. They all began the trek toward the main hall, with Han Yunru leading the way and a shivering Bai Shaoqing trailing behind.
Upon entering the grand hall, Bai Xifeng saw that the room was already crowded. Old Madam Bai sat in the centre, flanked by Bai Chunhua and Bai Huiling. Xiao Shuchun, the wife of Bai Zihao, was also present along with her sons, Bai Yongnian and Bai Huizhong.
As Bai Xifeng stepped into the room followed by Han Yunru, the visiting eunuch looked up from his scrolls and addressed the Old Madam.
"Is the entire family present? I am looking for Bai Xifeng. Why has she not appeared?" The visiting eunuch asked.
"To answer Eunuch Ming, that girl there is Bai Xifeng." The Old Madam said, pointing toward her granddaughter with a frown.
Eunuch Ming's eyes widened in surprise as he took in Bai Xifeng's appearance. He had heard rumours about the "trash" daughter of the Bai family, but he had never expected her to be such a breathtaking beauty. He coughed awkwardly to regain his composure. Despite the pity he felt for the girl's situation, he had a job to do.
He stood up, unfurling a golden scroll. "The Royal Decree has arrived!"
Immediately, everyone in the hall dropped to their knees in a show of profound respect, everyone except for Bai Xifeng. She stood tall, her arms folded, having absolutely no intention of kneeling for anyone, let alone for a piece of paper.
Old Madam Bai's face contorted with rage when she realised Bai Xifeng was still standing.
"Bai Xifeng! Kneel this instant! Have you no shame?" Old Madam Bai ordered Bai Xifeng.
Eunuch Ming also frowned, his eyes narrowing. This girl was showing a blatant lack of respect for the Emperor's authority.
"Old Madam, are you perhaps forgetting something very important?" Bai Xifeng asked calmly, her voice echoing in the silent hall.
"Whatever it is, you can tell me later! Right now, you must show proper decorum and kneel!" Old Madam Bai ordered.
"I think not." Bai Xifeng replied coolly. "I received a decree a long time ago, one that specifically granted me the right to never kneel before the Emperor or any member of the royal family. Therefore, I certainly don't need to kneel for a scroll."
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***