"Is your mistress defying the Empress's command?" Granny Yang asked, her tone neither friendly nor hostile.
"How can you say that, Granny? You've only presented a token from someone in the palace, not an imperial decree or a personal token from the Empress," Chunfeng replied with a smile.
"Are you implying I'm fabricating orders?"
"This servant did not say that," Chunfeng denied.
Granny Yang narrowed her eyes and stared coldly at Chunfeng, "Regardless of your attitude, you have no say in this."
Granny Yang struck out fiercely. Chunfeng, untrained in martial arts, was knocked unconscious.
"Oh, what are you doing?"
Granny Yang was startled by the sudden voice. She hadn't noticed anyone else in the room.
"Who are you?" Granny Yang asked warily.
"I haven't asked who you are yet?" Bai Su had been to the back mountain and was not in the temple, so she didn't know Granny Yang's identity.
"I am from the palace," Granny Yang said.
Bai Su looked at her suspiciously, "What kind of person from the palace?"
"Someone close to the Empress."
"Someone close to the Empress can just hit people? Then can I hit people too?" Bai Su said as she stepped forward to help Chunfeng up. She pressed a few points on Chunfeng, who slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Bai Su, she anxiously asked, "Where is Madam?"
"Don't worry, Zhenzhen is still lying there," Bai Su pointed to the bed.
Chunfeng breathed a sigh of relief. "She intended to forcibly take Madam away."
"Don't worry, with me here, I won't let anyone bully you," Bai Su said with a smile, helping Chunfeng to her feet.
Granny Yang eyed Bai Su with caution. She couldn't find any information about this person in her memory, meaning she wasn't someone close to Qi Zhenzhen. Granny Yang had no idea about her background and dared not be careless.
"Tell me, what is your purpose?" Bai Su asked leisurely.
"You are not someone close to the 世子夫人 (Shizi Furen - wife of the heir), I advise you not to meddle," Granny Yang said coldly.
"Who told you I'm not close to her?" Bai Su rolled her eyes.
Granny Yang had orders to bring Qi Zhenzhen back at all costs. Lingering any longer might alert more people, making escape difficult. Thus, Granny Yang stopped wasting words with Bai Su and flicked her wrist, scattering a white powder.
The unfortunate Chunfeng, who had just managed to stand, fell to the ground with a thud.
"With just this skill, you want to take someone away?" Bai Su said with a calm expression. "Tsk, you think this little bit of powder can take me down? Who do you think you are looking down on?"
Granny Yang was shocked. This powder was potent. Even a martial artist caught off guard would feel their body weaken, if not fall immediately. Yet, the girl before her seemed completely unaffected. It was truly bizarre.
The powder failing, Granny Yang closed the distance and attacked, her moves sharp and aimed at Bai Su's life.
Bai Su dodged calmly. She had practiced martial arts since childhood and was naturally gifted. Although she lacked extensive combat experience, her moves alone could parry Granny Yang's attacks, and she could even spare a thought to tease her.
"Did you figure out this martial art yourself? Just flashy moves, can you really hurt someone with this?"
"Look, you're fighting, why are you scattering powder again? Didn't I tell you, your powder is ineffective against me."
"Since you like scattering it so much, it wouldn't be polite if I didn't reciprocate. Here, have some too."
Thump—
Granny Yang fell to the ground, unconscious.
Bai Su kicked her a couple of times. "Do you have to be so cooperative?"