Chapter 21: The Crippled Young Lady (21)

Chapter 21: The Crippled Lady (Twenty-one)

Time ticked away, drop by drop. Su Kui, having finished her lunch and returned to her daybed, narrowed her cat-like eyes, looking entirely serene and at ease.

"Bang!"

A thunderous noise erupted at the doorway, followed by a chorus of panicked exclamations and attempts at persuasion.

A figure seething with intense rage stormed in.

"I simply must see who has such airs! Everyone else has been tormented by that old hag at the Training Bureau for half the day, and some have even been punished because of her. Yet she, meanwhile, is perfectly comfortable, hiding away in her room to sleep!"

Then came the flat, emotionless voice of Luyao: "Young Mistress, my master is resting. She gave explicit instructions before she slept that no one is to be disturbed."

The atmosphere outside seemed to freeze for a heartbeat, and then a sharp, resounding slap echoed clearly into Su Kui's ears.

The shrill, acerbic voice continued, "You lowly slave! Who do you think you are, daring to block my path? Step aside at once!"

Luyao did not seem to yield, for Su Kui heard another slap, even louder than the first.

Su Kui turned her head languidly, a flash of cold severity appearing in her bright eyes. She arched an eyebrow and said softly, "Luyao, let her in."

As soon as she spoke, the furious young woman rushed before her like a gale.

She glared at Su Kui with narrowed, vicious eyes for a long time. Seeing that Su Kui remained unfazed, the young woman felt a lump in her throat, and an inexplicable fire surged from her heart directly to her brain.

With a mocking sneer, Yu Yingying scoffed, "I wondered who it was. So, it is none other than the infamous Cripple Feng of the capital!"

"You!" Unable to bear it, Luyao took a step forward, but Su Kui raised a hand to stop her.

"Yes, it is I," Su Kui said calmly, still appearing as though she held Yu Yingying in no regard. "Young Mistress Yu, you have barged into my room with such aggressive momentum and even struck my maid. May I ask what business you have?"

That she dared to retort with such righteous indignation! It was simply infuriating!

Yu Yingying ground her teeth until they nearly shattered. Driven to laughter by her own rage, she sneered, "Ha! You dare ask me why? Then let me ask you: why did you not attend the palace training, causing the rest of us to be scolded by the Mistress?"

Su Kui lifted her eyes lazily. "I was absent due to illness. Do you have an objection?"

This response carried a different meaning to Yu Yingying's ears. She eyed Su Kui up and down with a mocking gaze, finally letting her vision rest on the legs hidden beneath Su Kui’s skirt.

She said viciously, "It is no wonder. A cripple, even if she luckily passed the preliminary screening to enter the palace, can never become a phoenix soaring to the branches. A sparrow is a sparrow after all; it can never ascend to the halls of elegance!"

Su Kui’s expression darkened slightly, but instead of anger, she smiled. Raising one elegant eyebrow, she spoke slowly, "Young Mistress Yu, forgive my candor, but this is the Imperial Palace, not your family’s backyard. You have broken into my room today without permission, struck my maid, and attempted to commit violence against me. How do you propose we bring this matter to a close?"

Yu Yingying’s eyes widened. The other maidens gathered to watch the spectacle, seeing Su Kui’s formidable demeanor, began to retreat, fearful of provoking the woman rumored to be a female demon.

"Attempted violence?! Feng Yanran, do not spout baseless accusations!" When had she attempted to commit violence against her? Yu Yingying’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, and she longed to tear that sharp mouth of hers to shreds.

Su Kui ignored her outburst and continued on her own, "Oh? You did not attempt violence? Then what was this?" Her slender finger pointed at Luyao. "The evidence is still clearly visible on my maid's face!"

"Who told that lowly slave to dare block me? I am a woman of noble birth; is a mere servant like that fit to stand in my way?" Yu Yingying replied with disdain.