"Wa!" Song Shuyu opened her mouth and burst into loud sobs.
Xiao Yunan quickly pulled his sister's hand out.
Xiao Yunning's hand had already been bitten through and was bleeding.
She cried out in pain.
Seeing this, Princess Consort Ling instantly flew into a rage.
She turned back and fiercely slapped Song Shuyu across the face.
"Are you a dog? She is supposed to be your sister, how could you be so vicious?"
Song Shuyu was terrified by the slap. She shrank into Chunxiao's arms, not daring to lift her head.
Chunxiao shielded Song Shuyu and knelt before Princess Consort Ling.
"Spare her, Your Highness. The Commandery Princess is just ignorant, she knows she was wrong."
While sending someone to fetch a doctor, Princess Consort Ling pointed at Song Shuyu and scolded her harshly.
"Ever since you entered this manor, when have I not accommodated you?"
"You liked Ninger's jewelry, and I gave it to you without a second word, causing Ninger to cry for days and nights."
"You said you didn't want to wake up early, and I didn't force you to come pay your daily respects to me."
"All I ask is for harmony in the manor, so that everyone can live in peace."
"Prince Ling worries about this family every day, and I just wanted a peaceful inner courtyard so he could rest easy."
"But what about you? You are constantly provoking trouble."
"If it isn't complaints about the servants treating you poorly, it's complaints that the food isn't good enough!"
"Tell me yourself, how many servants in your courtyard have been replaced?"
"The standard of the meals in your room even matches my own allotment."
"I have treated you with all my heart, and what is the result? How do you repay me?"
"Forget it, I will go report this to Prince Ling right now. I cannot afford to discipline a daughter like you!"
After saying this, Princess Consort Ling loudly ordered the older maidservants to come in and drag Song Shuyu and Chunxiao out.
Song Shuyu had always been the one yelling at others; this was the first time in her life she had been scolded.
Furthermore, she had been scolded by several people in succession.
She felt as if the sky had fallen.
Song Shuyu wasn't completely stupid. She understood that if she offended Princess Consort Ling, her days would not be easy.
Every time she took something of Xiao Yunning's, the food in her room would become exceptionally poor.
It would either be cold, sour, or wouldn't even have a single slice of meat.
Only after she went crying to Prince Ling would her meals improve a little.
However, after this happened too many times, Prince Ling grew impatient.
Chunxiao had advised her that although the prince was the highest authority in the manor, it was still the princess consort who had the final say in the inner courtyard.
Only then did Song Shuyu slowly restrain herself a bit.
Song Shuyu raised her head and pointed her finger at Xiao Yunning.
"She was the one who scolded me first! I couldn't hold back my anger, so I bit her."
"Originally, I just wanted to scare her, but Xiao Yunan pinched me, so I bit down hard."
As Song Shuyu spoke, she rolled up her sleeve. On her arm, several dark bruises were strikingly visible.
Princess Consort Ling glanced at her indifferent son, then cast a cold look at Song Shuyu.
"He is an older brother. What is wrong with him helping his own sister?"
Song Shuyu pouted. "But he is my older brother too."
Xiao Yunan dismissively flicked his sleeve. "I only have one sister!"
Xiao Yunning buried her face in Princess Consort Ling's embrace, sobbing convulsively.
Princess Consort Ling was about to say more when she saw Prince Ling's personal guard walk in.
"Your Highness, the Prince says that if you cannot even manage the inner courtyard, he will have the side consort come over to help you."
Princess Consort Ling secretly gritted her teeth.
"There is no need. It is just a minor dispute among the children."
"Everything is fine now that we've talked it out."
As she spoke, Princess Consort Ling signaled to the maid beside her to help Song Shuyu up.
The guard left, and Song Shuyu leaned against Chunxiao's chest, sobbing quietly.
"Enough, go back to your room."
Princess Consort Ling didn't want to look at Song Shuyu for another second.
"Take the Yurong Ointment from the dressing table and give it to Commandery Princess Funing."
Princess Consort Ling's personal maid looked astonished.
"Your Highness, that was a gift from the Noble Consort. You usually can't even bear to use it yourself."
"Why are you nagging? Hurry up and get it!" Princess Consort Ling glared coldly at the maid.
The maid trembled all over and quickly walked into the inner room.
Soon, she came out holding a small bottle.
Princess Consort Ling personally placed the bottle into Song Shuyu's hands.
"Earlier, Mother was just anxious, which is why I hit you."
"Just apply a little bit of this Yurong Ointment; it can reduce swelling and also whiten and nourish the skin."
"Consider it Mother's apology to you."
Song Shuyu understood clearly that this item was very precious.
"But Anning scolded me," Song Shuyu said indignantly.
"Anning, apologize to Funing!" Princess Consort Ling shouted.
Xiao Yunning, who had stopped crying, immediately burst into loud sobs again upon hearing her mother's words.
"You are not my mother! I won't apologize to a jinx!"
After saying that, Xiao Yunning ran out while crying.
Xiao Yunan hurriedly chased after her.
Princess Consort Ling felt utterly exhausted.
She forced a smile. "Although Anning scolded you, you also bit her."
"The two of you can consider yourselves even."
"If this matter is brought before Prince Ling, none of us will have a good time."
Song Shuyu pouted, still feeling that she had been wronged.
"I want to eat bird's nest porridge tonight! The blood bird's nest kind."
A flash of disdain crossed Princess Consort Ling's eyes.
"Alright, I will arrange for the kitchen to make it."
Only then was Song Shuyu satisfied, and she left with Chunxiao.
Back in her room, Song Shuyu told Chunxiao to scoop out more of the fragrant ointment and apply it to her face.
Chunxiao hesitated a little.
"Commandery Princess, this is a tribute item. Isn't it too wasteful to use it like this?"
"What's wasteful about it? It's mine now anyway, and I will use it however I want!"
"Hurry up! My face is broken, it hurts so much!"
Thinking of the slaps Princess Consort Ling had given her, a flash of hatred appeared in Song Shuyu's eyes.
Just wait, one day, she would definitely get her revenge!
However, she remembered Prince Ling saying that Duoduo had actually drawn a painting for the Emperor.
Song Shuyu's eyes were filled with confusion.
Duoduo didn't even know a single character, how could she know how to paint?
Could she have just scribbled nonsense?
And she actually had the nerve to give it to the Emperor and embarrass herself!
It was just painting a picture, how hard could it be?
She could do it too!
Madam Song, for her daughter's sake, had at least provided Song Shuyu with some basic education.
Old Madam Song believed that a woman's virtue lay in her lack of talent.
Therefore, Song Shuyu only knew a few words.
As for painting, because women had to learn embroidery, painting could improve their embroidery skills.
Thus, Song Shuyu had more or less learned a bit of it.
However, what she drew were all embroidery patterns.
Chunxiao applied a thick layer of the Yurong Ointment to Song Shuyu's face.
Song Shuyu then told Chunxiao to go find a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; she wanted to paint.
Chunxiao hesitated for a moment and advised her.
"Commandery Princess, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones are only available at the Heir's place and in Prince Ling's study."
"Why don't you rest for today? This way, you can paint tomorrow when the injuries on your face have healed."
Thinking of Prince Ling and Xiao Yunan, Song Shuyu chickened out.
"Mhm, you're right!"
"I need to rest well so that tomorrow I can paint a beautiful picture to defeat that..."
In the end, Song Shuyu didn't say those three words out loud.
Just now, she had suddenly felt what it was like for Duoduo to be called a jinx.
