cold clothes

Ever since Leng Yi stormed out of the front courtyard, she has become famous in Fengxiang Pavilion. Coupled with the recent events, big and small, Leng Yi has become a domineering and strange figure in the eyes of others. Especially because of her unique eye color, many people believe many outrageous rumors. Some even think that she is a monster who will kill everyone sooner or later.

Rumors and gossip are the most terrible prison in the world, capable of isolating a person forever. Now that she cannot escape Zhuoyu Pavilion or Fengxiang Tower, she cannot confine herself to being alone; she must strive to earn her own space to live.

Now that she is blind, weak, and pitiful, it is the perfect time to reverse her image. Anyone who sees a disabled but determined and lonely child would feel pity, and Leng Yi wants the sympathy of the public.

Yunqiu is right. Blindness has its advantages for her. Not only can she win the favor of the people in Zhuoyu Pavilion during the monthly exam, but after being punished as a third-class maid, she can also blend into the crowd and break people's stereotype of her as a monster. Moreover, Yunqiu has given her a chance, a chance to avenge Yunmei.

A win-win-win situation? Perhaps even more...

The monthly exam ended before noon. Xia Hua's score was outstanding, and the scores of the others were either higher or lower, but all of them passed the passing grade. The only one who failed was Leng Yi.

As Leng Yi had anticipated, the gazes cast upon her carried a degree of sympathy. However, what they didn't expect was that Leng Yi was already scheming and trying hard to suppress her laughter, maintaining an image of calmly accepting adversity.

Qingtan draped a cloak over her shoulders and helped her to her feet. Just then, a clear, melodious voice, like pearls scattering on a jade plate, came from beside her: "Isn't this Qingtan? Yunqiu's maid, why are you serving Ningbi?"

Leng Yi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly and cleverly bowed, "Hello, Sister Liu Xia." Having been in the workplace for many years, Leng Yi knew that her immediate supervisor was the person she should be most pleased with. Regardless of what her supervisor was there for, politeness was paramount.

"Qingtan was sent to serve me by Sister Yunqiu because she felt sorry for me. My maid is currently seriously injured and I don't know when she will wake up," Lengyi said respectfully.

“Ningbi is right,” Yunqiu said gently as she walked over. “After all, I’m the one who blinded her, so I’ll feel guilty if I just leave it alone.”

"Hmph, this is the punishment she deserves!" Qingchun's cold and unruly voice immediately rang out.

"Alright, stop being so stubborn, Lady Courtesan. Getting angry isn't good for your recovery. Many gentlemen outside are already missing you! If you don't show up soon, they might bring their guards into the backyard!" Yunqiu Fox quickly coaxed the ruffled Qingchun Cat away.

Liu Xia watched Yun Qiu and Qing Chun's farce with a meaningful look, then glanced at Nuan Dong who was silent beside her. She immediately turned her attention to Nuan Dong and asked in a clear voice, "What's wrong, Nuan Dong? You've been sullen all morning. This isn't like you at all."

Nuandong didn't want to pay attention to her, so she made up some excuse and left. Liuxia found it boring, smiled at Lengyi, and left as well.

Lengyi didn't have lunch with the others. She returned to her room and was relieved to hear Lingcao calling her.

"Lingcao, you're awake?" Lengyi exclaimed in surprise, gesturing for Qingtan to lead her to the bedside. She then groped her way to sit down and said, "Don't speak so loudly now. And have you eaten anything? You can only have porridge or soup now..."

Suddenly, a pair of hands covered her face. Leng Yi felt the warmth of those hands, and at the same time, a trembling voice rang out: "Your eyes..."

"It's okay, you won't really go blind. You'll be fine in a few days," Leng Yi said casually.

"Really? Miss, you're not lying to me."

"Why would I lie to you? My eyes are probably the most valuable thing I have. They won't be easily damaged."

“Then I’m relieved,” Lingcao said, taking her hand off Lengyi’s face. “It’s not proper for me to sleep in Miss’s bed. I’ll move back to the servants’ quarters tonight.”

"To hell with the rules, no one will say anything if you sleep here!" Leng Yi couldn't help but jump up immediately.

Qingtan quickly calmed Lengyi down, "Miss, don't worry. It'll be easier to take good care of Lingcao if she sleeps in the servants' quarters."

Leng Yi paused for a moment after her sudden outburst of anger. She didn't know why her temper had flared up. After calming down, she realized that it was best not to let Ling Cao know that she had been punished and demoted to a third-class maid. So she nodded and agreed to let Ling Cao move back to the servants' quarters.

According to Qingtan, the punishment for failing the monthly exam was to perform the hard labor of a third-class maid every night, while continuing their daytime studies until they passed the next exam. This arduous labor would only end then. However, the lack of evening training and physical exhaustion would make passing the next monthly exam extremely difficult, and such punishment could very well amount to a life sentence. Before Lengyi, there had only been one person who failed the monthly exam once. She failed once and then failed every time. No one killed her; she eventually went mad and died. After that, no one dared to slack off on the exams.

After hearing this, Leng Yi swallowed hard and shouted to Qing Tan, "You must tell Yun Qiu to save me for the next monthly exam! I should get extra points for helping her, right?"

Yunqiu found it quite amusing after hearing Qingtan's words, and said quietly, "She won't suffer for too long. She's Hu Mama's darling." Of course, that's a story for later.

Lengyi skipped her afternoon class. The longer she stayed in Zhuoyu Pavilion, the more terrifying she felt about life there. No one here had a day off; it was even worse than the 996 work schedule. Major holidays were busier for service industry workers than usual. Lengyi, a modern ghost, found it all outrageous.

With the awareness of a patient, Leng Yi sneaked off to the herbal medicine shop to find some peace and quiet. Although she couldn't see, she still smiled and spoke sweetly.

"Hello, Aunt Fang!" Leng Yi said with a smile.

Strangely, there was no response.

Qingtan couldn't bear to look directly at her and couldn't help but say, "Miss Ningbi, please stop smiling, it's a bit stiff."

Leng Yi immediately pulled down the corners of her mouth.

—Damn it, is it really that ugly to smile with only the upper half of your face still?

"Sit down, let me take a look at your injury." Doctor Xie's tone was filled with deep helplessness.

Hearing this, Leng Yi obediently sat down. The texture beneath her was much softer than before, probably because an extra layer of cotton had been added to the mattress. Suddenly, she realized that this seemed to be someone's bed.

Dr. Xie carefully removed Leng Yi's bandages, layer by layer. When he tore off the last layer, it hurt his eyelid a little. Dr. Xie examined Leng Yi's external injuries, then placed his hand on Leng Yi's head. Leng Yi felt that strange warm current flowing from the top of her head into her brain again.

Leng Yi really wanted to ask Doctor Xie if this was internal energy...

"Does it cause a headache?" Dr. Xie asked.

"meeting."

Where does it hurt?

“These places…” Leng Yi pointed to a spot on her head.

Dr. Xie asked a few more questions, which Leng Yi answered in turn. Dr. Xie said he understood and went out of the room to prepare the medicine for Leng Yi.

Lengyi really wants to ask something...

"Qingtan, is there a fourth person here?"