The other maidservants dared not object and all gathered around.
Pangya instantly felt utterly humiliated, but in a mere moment, her head began to sway uncontrollably.
Just as the wooden bowl was about to be shaken off, "Splash!" The water in the bowl drenched Pangya.
"Waa~" Pangya finally knew fear and began to cry aloud.
"Hands out!"
Nanny Li took out the ruler and struck Pangya's palm three times without mercy.
Pangya cried from the pain while desperately blowing on her stinging palms.
"Again!"
Nanny Li showed no pity at all. She had someone pour another bowl of water and place it on Pangya's head.
In less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the wooden bowl fell again, drenching Pangya's face.
"Waa~ Nanny, this servant knows her wrong!"
On Pangya's face, tears and water mingled, streaming down uncontrollably.
"You know your wrong? Good. Then tell me, what exactly is your mistake?"
"This servant was wrong... wrong... wrong for competing with her!"
Pangya hadn't actually figured out what her real mistake was.
"Hmph! Your words don't match your thoughts! Hand out!" Nanny Li coldly rebuked.
Pangya's hands desperately shrank back; the pain from the previous beating made her afraid to extend them.
"Do you wish to protest? Or perhaps, to be expelled from the prince's mansion?"
Nanny Li's words forced Pangya to reluctantly offer her hand.
"Smack! Smack! Smack!"
This time, Nanny Li showed no leniency whatsoever. Pangya cried out in agony from the blows.
Only then did she understand just how painful being struck with a ruler could be!
"Nanny, please spare this servant! This servant truly dares not again! Please spare me!"
Pangya was thoroughly deflated now!
Both her hands were already swollen and red, like a pair of pig's trotters.
If the beating continued, her hands would be ruined.
Nanny Li gave a cold snort.
"Attendants!"
Two older serving women entered from outside the courtyard. "Nanny."
"Lock her in the woodshed. Today, she gets nothing but water."
"Yes!"
The two women walked over, directly hoisted Pangya up by her arms, and dragged her out.
"Nanny, this servant knows her wrong! Nanny! Please spare this servant!"
Pangya's pitiful wails sent a shiver down the spines of all present.
Duoduo was also frightened and moved closer to Lüdou, who tightly grasped Duoduo's hand to give her courage.
With Pangya's example fresh in their minds, the subsequent training proceeded much more quietly.
Everyone strove to remember Nanny's requirements and do their utmost to meet them. No one dared raise any further objections.
Nanny Li was quite satisfied with the maidservants' performance and, unprecedentedly, ended the training early.
The maidservants curtsied to the nanny, then left the Bamboo Pavilion quietly and in an orderly manner.
Duoduo, holding Lüdou's hand, also prepared to leave. "Duoduo, you stay."
Duoduo's heart tightened. She looked to Lüdou for help, but Lüdou gave her a slight, almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Watching Lüdou walk out, Duoduo then inched her way back to Nanny Li's side.
"Do you think Pangya deserved her punishment today?" Nanny Li fixed her gaze on Duoduo.
Duoduo lowered her head, her fingers twisting together.
Nanny Li raised the ruler, about to admonish Duoduo.
Duoduo seemed to suddenly realize her fidgeting was improper. She released her hands and clasped them properly before her abdomen.
"This servant believes she deserved punishment!" Duoduo raised her head to answer.
Nanny Li was somewhat surprised. "Oh? Then tell me, why 'deserved'? Don't you think Nanny punished her too severely?"
Duoduo tilted her head, thinking for a moment.
"She defied Nanny, showing disrespect to her superior. That deserves punishment!"
A flicker of surprise passed through Nanny Li's eyes, though her expression remained unchanged.
"Those aren't your own thoughts. Who taught you that?"
Duoduo blinked. "Sister Lüdou said it."
Nanny Li understood inwardly; she had guessed as much.
"And what do you yourself think?" she pressed further.
Duoduo tilted her head again, thinking seriously.
"This servant thinks Sister Lüdou is right. Pangya indeed was disobedient; she didn't do as Nanny taught."
"Nanny punished her for her own good. She will come to understand. Nanny need not be saddened."
Nanny Li was taken aback. Was Duoduo... comforting her?
"I was clearly punishing her. Why do you say it was for her good? Are you just trying to flatter Nanny by saying that?"
Nanny Li's tone carried disappointment.
Duoduo hurriedly defended herself. "Nanny, that's not it!"
"Hongdou was beaten to death, right in front of me, for defying Grandmother!"
As she finished speaking, Duoduo shuddered.
It was enough to see how deeply that scene had scarred her.
Nanny Li was again surprised by Duoduo's answer.
"Who is Hongdou? Another maidservant of yours?"
Duoduo shook her head. "No. She was a lowly maid in Mother's courtyard."
"She secretly gave me pastries, and Grandmother happened to see. Grandmother wanted to punish me."
"Then, she pleaded with Grandmother on my behalf. Grandmother said she was defying her master and had her beaten to death!"
As Duoduo spoke, tears began to fall.
Back then, she didn't yet know that the golden words she saw could heal.
If she had known earlier, could she have saved Hongdou?
"What are you crying for? Only the weak cry!"
Nanny Li's tone was severe.
Duoduo raised her hand to wipe her tears. A handkerchief was tossed into her grasp.
"Use the handkerchief!"
Duoduo looked at the spotless white handkerchief in her hand—soft, smooth, like satin.
In one corner, a beautiful flower was embroidered.
"Nanny, this servant will soil it!"
Duoduo looked at Nanny Li with tear-filled eyes and offered the handkerchief back.
"I don't want it anymore. Now wipe your face clean. It's unpleasant to look at!"
Not daring to say more, Duoduo quickly took the handkerchief and dried her tears in a few swift motions, afraid of angering the nanny.
"If you wish to protect those you care about, you must become strong yourself, not spend your days shedding tears."
"Tears can be a weapon, but they are not an excuse for failure!"
Duoduo didn't fully understand Nanny Li's words, but she committed them firmly to memory, planning to ask Lüdou about them later.
"Nanny, how can one become strong?" Duoduo looked at Nanny Li with hopeful eyes.
"Who do you wish to protect? Lüdou? Or someone else?"
Duoduo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"This servant wishes to protect all who are kind to me. Like Lüdou, like Nanny, and also... also the Prince and Princess!"
Nanny Li stared at Duoduo, gauging the sincerity of her words.
"Save your flattery for the Prince and Princess. Don't waste it on me." Nanny Li felt somewhat angry.
She was sure Lüdou must have taught Duoduo to say this.
Lüdou was several years older and certainly understood the need to curry favor with her masters—a common enough practice for a servant.
But Duoduo's inability to discern whether what the maid taught her was good or bad was deeply disappointing.
Duoduo, sensitive, keenly felt Nanny Li's displeasure. She didn't understand why the nanny was angry.
Could it be because when she listed names earlier, she hadn't placed Nanny first?
