"The old servant must report to His Highness, you wait, you wait to be beaten to death—"
Several old, cunning servants trembled, not daring to come forward, only able to speak fiercely.
"This is truly outrageous, utterly beyond the pale—"
"Even a slave dares to climb over me, are you rebelling—"
Ye Luan sneered, dropped the knife, and said indifferently, "You are welcome to lodge a complaint and see if His Highness will bother with your petty affairs."
Let alone His Highness, the steward of the manor wouldn't even care.
"Truthfully, I have no intention of opposing you. As long as you don't get in my way, we can all coexist peacefully."
"Nonsense, you just wait for me—"
Li Pozi, with slop still on her lips, found it utterly disgusting. A surge of emotion made her lunge to hit Ye Luan, only to faint.
Everyone was greatly alarmed.
"Mama Li—Mama Li—"
In an instant, the entire courtyard descended into chaos.
"Go find the manor physician, quickly—"
Someone had been specifically watching Ye Luan. The next morning, upon hearing of the matter, the steward went to the study.
At the door, Long Yi saw the steward and asked indifferently, "What is it?"
"It's about Miss Ye."
"You may enter."
Ye Luan had been too imposing yesterday, having dealt with the habitually overbearing Li Pozi. Many people no longer dared to trouble her, and she didn't have to do laundry. She secretly tried to slip out.
But as soon as she left the laundry room, she saw a young servant looking for her.
"His Highness summoned you to the study for questioning, hurry."
Ye Luan was not surprised. Any trivial matter that happened in the manor would be reported to him by his spies.
Summoning her was likely to punish her using this as an excuse.
Why bother? With a word from him, she could be beaten to death, what need was there for an excuse?
The study was very large. As soon as she entered, she saw the man sitting at the desk, his expression cold and inscrutable. Hearing the movement, he didn't look up, continuing to stamp his official documents.
She cursed him silently a few times and waited behind the bead curtain.
A cool breeze blew in through the open window. Ye Luan, bored, began to stare at Xiao Chi Zhan.
He sat as straight as a pine, his white robe with swirling cloud trim rippling slightly in the breeze, lifting a corner of the hem. The embroidered patterns seemed to come alive.
But his features were very clear and cold. When he wasn't displaying that bloodthirsty expression, he looked incomparably noble and graceful.
"If I gouge out your eyes, will you stop staring?"
The indifferent voice brought Ye Luan back to her senses. Her expression remained unchanged as she said faintly, "What business does Your Highness have with me? There is still a lot of work to be done in the laundry room."
"I am not very happy."
The implication was that if he was unhappy at any time within the next three months, her life would be forfeit.
Ye Luan had no reason to refute, and could only explain, "I was merely returning the favor."
Xiao Chi Zhan put down his documents and raised his alluring eyes, looking at her indifferently.
"The work in the laundry room is not suitable for you. You will remain by my side to serve."
Ye Luan couldn't have wished for more, ideally finding an opportunity to kill this scoundrel.
"Thank you for Your Highness's grace."
"Go fetch a cup of tea."
Ye Luan handed him a cup of scalding hot tea.
As Xiao Chi Zhan drank, his hand trembled, and the teacup fell to the ground. The boiling water splashed at Ye Luan's feet. She gasped in pain and blurted out.
"Are you sick?"
Xiao Chi Zhan was reprimanded but did not get angry. He lazily spun his brush, an unconcealed malicious smile in his eyes.
"It's so hot, wouldn't I get blisters if I drank it?"
He did it intentionally.
This bastard definitely did it on purpose.
"Grind the ink."
Ye Luan stood resentfully before the desk, ink splashing everywhere.
"You can't even grind ink, what use are you? Better to just kill you quickly."
The blade of the knife suddenly pressed against her neck. Ye Luan stiffened, her voice softening, "It was not intentional, I will do it again."
Xiao Chi Zhan sneered and withdrew the knife.
In the silent study, the warm autumn breeze blew in coolly, carrying a few flower petals that landed on the windowsill. The agarwood burning in the green tripod censer added a touch of warmth to the room.
Ye Luan had not rested well all night. Smelling the fragrance, she felt a bit sleepy.
The official documents were placed on the desk with a thud, startling Ye Luan awake. Looking at the ink on the desk, she quickly wiped it clean with a coarse cloth.
"It seems Miss Ye does nothing at home."
What was this Yin-yang-speaking dog barking about?
"If Your Highness thinks I'm not doing a good job, then find someone else."
Fickle and eccentric.
She was too lazy to serve him.
Xiao Chi Zhan's face turned cold, and an unfathomable aura emanated from him, making Ye Luan's back involuntarily chill.
"In my opinion, you still haven't learned your lesson."
Suddenly, he stood up and pulled her outside.
She was injured, and he pulled her outside forcefully, causing her immense pain.
"Where are we going?"
Xiao Chi Zhan turned back with a cold smile, giving her a meaningful look, "The slave training grounds."
The slave training grounds were built on an open space to the northwest, occupying a vast area. As soon as they arrived, she saw the Blood Fiends guarding the archway of the enclosure.
"The Blood Fiends are probably hungry. Go feed it."
This Blood Wolf clearly wanted to bite her, and Ye Luan wasn't crazy enough to go feed it.
"I don't know how."
She felt intense pain in her wrist as he almost dragged her onto the high platform.
In the distance was an empty enclosure surrounded by iron bars, vast and boundless. All around, fully armed soldiers held long spears, their presence imposing and chilling.
Ye Luan stood on the high platform, watching the scenes unfolding in the enclosure, sweat breaking out on her back.
Xiao Chi Zhan, seeing her astonished gaze, gave a cold laugh and sat down at the tea table, calmly sipping his tea.
"Long San, bring the Blood Fiend here."
"Yes."
Ye Luan completely ignored his words, her eyes fixed on the scene at the slave training grounds.
In more than a dozen huge cages were many people dressed in slave prison uniforms. They trembled as their cage doors were opened, but they were still ruthlessly driven out.
Not far away, at the entrance of the enclosure, several yellowish tigers were released. With a few roars, the slaves ran around in panic.
Blood, severed limbs, and broken arms sprayed out, mixing with terrified screams that echoed across the land.
"Ye Luan, do you see? This is the true fate of slaves."
The cold, heartless words echoed in Ye Luan's ears. The blood in her body seemed to freeze. This was not her law-abiding society, but a brutal ancient dynasty with slaves.
Here, the hierarchy was strict, and imperial power was supreme.
Xiao Chi Zhan! He was Heaven!
Could she really kill him?
A wishful fantasy!
"I thought Miss Ye was fearless."
He seemed to have lost interest, his eyes devoid of emotion.
A chill spread through Ye Luan from the soles of her feet upwards. She couldn't show weakness, absolutely not.
If he lost interest, given Xiao Chi Zhan's nature, he would dismiss her, and her fate would be the same as the slaves in the training grounds.
She swallowed and calmly said, "I've long heard that Bei Di has an excess of slaves. Captives from wars and raids are offered as tribute for the entertainment of nobles in the capital. I didn't expect Your Highness to be fond of such things as well."