Feng Jin smiled, observing the suppressed anger on Nanny Sun's face. She hoped the old hag would be so enraged that she would die.
She was having too much fun and didn't want it to end so quickly.
"If Madam doesn't find this old servant too foolish, then this old servant is naturally willing to speak a few words with Madam."
Surface courtesies always had to be maintained. Even though Nanny Sun was unwilling in her heart, she still followed Feng Jin's words, forcing a smile and appearing extremely delighted.
Seeing her like this, Feng Jin couldn't help but feel tired for Nanny Sun. After all, why must one pretend so much? It was too exhausting!
"It's getting late. I'm going back. Nanny Sun, you should go back early too. It's getting darker and more dangerous. Be careful not to let the same incident happen again."
The sarcasm in Feng Jin's words was evident, almost to the point of stating it directly.
Nanny Sun's forced smile froze on her face, but she still tried to maintain it. "Thank you for your reminder, Madam. This old servant will naturally be careful when returning."
"Just be careful!"
Feng Jin, too lazy to continue feigning sincerity, found an excuse and left on her own.
"Nanny, her every word is laced with mockery. It's clear she's here with ill intentions!"
The maidservant accompanying Nanny Sun spoke up, reminding her. As soon as she finished speaking, she received a heavy slap from Nanny Sun.
"Do I not know what she means? Do I need you to be so insincere here? You little wretches, what are you plotting? Do you really think I'm blind with old age and can't see? As long as I am alive, I will never let you stir up any trouble!"
Nanny Sun vented all her anger onto the maids, still feeling unappeased. She pinched the maidservant's arm several more times.
"Nanny, spare me! This servant absolutely dares not disrespect Nanny!"
The maidservant, holding back tears, knelt directly at Nanny Sun's feet, expressing her loyalty.
"Get up. I don't think you have the guts!"
Nanny Sun snorted coldly and waved her hand, allowing her to rise.
She absolutely did not expect that Yu Rong, that wretched girl, had the gall to attack her. If she hadn't been prepared, it wouldn't have just been a broken hand; her life would have been in grave danger.
It was a pity that Yu Rong was already dead. Otherwise, she would have personally broken her limbs, gouged out her eyes, flayed her, and thrown her to the dogs.
Nanny Sun's face was filled with ferocity. Her remaining hand was clenched into a tight fist, her anger unquenchable. She turned and left directly.
The maidservant beside her scrambled up from the ground and hurried to catch up with Nanny Sun's pace.
Upon returning to her residence, Nanny Sun's anger was further ignited by Feng Jin's mockery.
"Nanny, have some jasmine tea to calm your anger. It's not worth arguing with her."
The maidservant cautiously poured a cup of tea and offered it to Nanny Sun, trying to appease her.
"Not worth arguing!"
Nanny Sun snorted. "If you lot were more capable and did fewer backstabbing things, I wouldn't be so angry. Look at the foolish things you all do!"
"It is this servant's incompetence that has caused Nanny to worry."
"Did you see Xiao Qi? Did you deliver the message I asked you to send?"
Nanny Sun asked in a deep voice. Xiao Qi, this pawn, was crucial. If used well, she could be of great use.
"This servant... this servant..."
"What is this stammering? Speak clearly!"
Nanny Sun's tone was displeased, her eyes filled with disgust, as if looking at them for another moment would soil her eyes.
She normally looked down on these maids, their timid and useless demeanor, finding them annoying.
"This servant waited for a long time before managing to catch a glimpse of Xiao Qi. Before this servant could relay Nanny's message to Xiao Qi, she hurried away..."
The latter half of the sentence was spoken in an increasingly small voice by the maidservant, who lowered her head in silence, afraid to meet Nanny Sun's gaze.
"Useless! You can't even do this little thing right!"
Nanny Sun shouted angrily, smashing the teacup on the table to the ground. The splashing shards of the teacup grazed the cheek of the maidservant standing by, drawing a line of bright red blood.
"When I left, how did I instruct you? You must deliver my message to Xiao Qi. What did you do? You can't even handle this small matter. What use are you!"
They were all useless wastes, having been taught for so long, yet they couldn't even do this small thing right.
"Nanny, it was Xiao Qi... Xiao Qi deliberately avoided this servant. Even with all the ability in heaven, I couldn't enter General Dong Chu's courtyard. Nanny, in this servant's opinion, Xiao Qi must have developed other intentions, coveting wealth and glory, and is unwilling to serve Nanny anymore!"
Fearing punishment and reprimand, she shifted all the blame onto Xiao Qi. After all, Xiao Qi wasn't present now, and whether it was true or false depended solely on her words.
Indeed, upon hearing this, Nanny Sun's expression turned even uglier. She gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, veins bulging on her arm, her eyes filled with rage.
After a long while, Nanny Sun suddenly stood up and walked straight towards the barracks. The maidservant beside her also quickly got up and followed.
...
"Sitting here blankly, aren't you going to rest?"
Lan Cui saw Zhenzhu still sitting by the window as if in a daze. She walked over, sat beside her, and spoke.
"I'm not sleepy yet. I was just wondering if Cui'er and the others are doing well now."
"If they could leave this godforsaken place, then everything must be good. Death might even be a release."
Lan Cui didn't know the truth that Cui'er and the others were still alive. However, she felt that even if Cui'er and the others were dead, it would be a release, at least they wouldn't have to live such a half-human, half-ghost existence.
"Yes, it's good if they can leave. Even eating coarse grains is happiness."
Zhenzhu's thoughts were complex, constantly guessing how Cui'er was doing now, whether she was also missing the other person as she was.
"Stop being so sentimental. It's late, go to sleep first."
"Let's go!" Zhenzhu sighed. Just as she got up to go to rest, the closed door was violently kicked open from the outside.
The violent sound startled even those who were sound asleep.
Nanny Sun entered with a gloomy expression, her face full of rage. The ruler in her hand struck the table sharply.
It struck terror into everyone's hearts, causing them to tremble.
"You can still sleep soundly. I see you've grown accustomed to these days of comfort and have long forgotten the godforsaken lives you lived before. All of you, get up quickly!"
As Nanny Sun finished speaking, everyone was terrified and scrambled to their feet. Within moments, everyone was dressed and stood in neat formation before Nanny Sun, the atmosphere suddenly becoming tense.