Chapter Two: Feigning Fragility and Playing the Victim

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Shen Tubai felt a twinge of regret; she had only teased lightly, never expecting Li Tinghan to get so angry. He seemed resolute in ignoring her—once he entered the mansion, he assigned the strictest nanny to teach her discipline and deliberately avoided her. Within two days, there wasn’t a single patch of skin left unbruised beneath her clothing.

The three senior maids who lived with her all knew she was destined to become the prince’s maid. Seeing her unable to get close to the prince, they began to subtly and overtly ostracize her.

Upon returning to her room, Shen Tubai found her bed scattered on the floor. Her delicate face darkened as she coldly demanded, “What do you sisters mean by this?”

The three continued chatting and laughing, completely ignoring her as if she were invisible.

Shen Tubai turned and headed out. “If that’s the case, I’ll have to seek Master Huang’s judgment.”

A scoff came from behind her. “All this today was ordered by Nanny Xin. You can’t even see the prince now. If you make a fuss in front of Master Huang, do you really think he’ll offend Nanny Xin to defend you? Why humiliate yourself?”

Though Su Ye said this, she discreetly signaled to the other two, blocking the door tightly.

Under the roof, one must bow. Realizing she wouldn’t be leaving tonight, Shen Tubai decisively admitted defeat. “Thank you, Sister Su Ye, for your guidance. I’ve learned my lesson. Where shall I sleep tonight?”

“Sleep where?” Su Ye prowled the room as if inspecting territory, finally stopping beneath the window. “Right here will do.”

It was late September; the scorching sun baked the day, but the autumn wind chilled to the bone at night.

Knowing Su Ye was deliberately stirring trouble, Shen Tubai silently went to move the beautiful daybed in the room but was shoved aside by Su Ye. “The furnishings here were arranged according to the imperial astrologer’s calculations when the mansion was established. If you move anything and disrupt the mansion’s feng shui, can you bear the consequences?”

“What do you suggest then?”

Su Ye’s eyes gleamed as she lined up four small stools against the wall. “I think you should sleep here. After all, Sister Tubai is to be the prince’s maid. If you’re rejected later for bad sleeping habits, won’t the whole mansion have a laugh at your expense?”

Silently clutching her quilt, Shen Tubai sat down. The four stools only fit one pair of legs, and with no bedding underneath, it was no surprise she didn’t sleep a wink all night.

The next day, during training, drowsiness crept in.

“Keep your waist straight, legs straight, arms steady. You’re here to be the prince’s personal maid, representing the mansion’s image. All rules must be learned from the start. Don’t hold a grudge against this old servant for being strict.”

As she spoke, Shen Tubai was whipped hard on the leg, nearly falling to her knees.

Biting a chopstick between her teeth and balancing a flowerpot on her head, her body trembled instinctively, but fortunately, the pot didn’t fall.

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Shen Tubai forced a smile. “Nanny, thank you for your painstaking guidance. How could I ever hold a grudge?”

Sensing Nanny Xin’s gaze growing more dangerous, Shen Tubai quickly changed the subject, feigning innocence. “I grew up in the back courtyard of the Cui family. The young ladies always praised my looks. When I complained of tiredness during lessons, they would relent and let me stop. Fortunately, Nanny doesn’t find me too foolish, or I would have brought shame to the young ladies.”

Shen Tubai told lies without a hint of shame.

Nanny Xin snorted coldly, clearly catching the underlying meaning.

Considering Shen Tubai was the future princess, she refrained from further physical punishment but couldn’t resist a sneer.

A cold laugh sounded behind her.

Turning, Shen Tubai saw Li Tinghan. Unable to hold back tears, she didn’t bother feigning them. “I greet the prince.”

Li Tinghan paused at her tears but quickly turned away in annoyance. She was at it again—seducing people!

He was determined to warn the Shen family firmly to prevent them from corrupting the mansion’s people, not out of any sympathy.

This path was deliberately chosen by Shen Tubai; it was the only route to the front courtyard he couldn’t avoid.

Nanny Xin wanted to assert authority by humiliating her, and Shen Tubai wanted Li Tinghan to see it—no lively scene, no point.

Seeing Li Tinghan’s expression, Shen Tubai relaxed slightly; her efforts had not been in vain.

Li Tinghan waved Nanny Xin away. “You may leave.”

“...” Nanny Xin dared not disobey but shot Shen Tubai a warning glare on her way out.

Shen Tubai raised an eyebrow. Was that a warning not to complain?

As if!

“Come with me.”

The sting from the whip made Shen Tubai gasp sharply, but the man ahead showed no sign of stopping.

Silently, she limped after him.

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In the study, Li Tinghan dismissed everyone and his handsome face instantly hardened. “You have quite the audacity.”

Shen Tubai knelt swiftly, her lovely face a mixture of grievance and stubbornness. “I don’t know what I did wrong. If the prince wishes to punish me, punish me. At least let me die with clarity.”

Seeing her defiance, Li Tinghan sneered. “I have long since investigated your background.”

Shen Tubai’s expression remained unchanged. She never tried to hide her origins from the music house and never felt ashamed.

That was the world they lived in. She survived through endless practice of instruments, reading, and writing, striving for a better future. There was no shame in that.

Li Tinghan found the Cui family’s methods a bit excessive but understood they were thinking of Wen Niang’s reputation and dared not truly send someone with a tarnished past into the mansion.

More than her background, Li Tinghan was concerned about another matter.

“Wen Niang was kind enough to remove your lowly status, bringing you into my mansion to serve and covering up your shameful origins. Yet you arrogantly flaunt her name, sullying her reputation everywhere.”

Shen Tubai genuinely did not understand. “Your Highness wrongs me. How have I ever sullied Miss Wen’s good name?”

Li Tinghan avoided her eyes. “Wen Niang acts with propriety. She never calls you sister. Besides, you were born in the music house. Even out of gratitude, you should not involve her.”

Shen Tubai lowered her head, hiding the complexity in her gaze. “I only know I was sent into the mansion by Miss Cui. To walk here represents Miss Cui’s reputation. I must not let others think everyone around Miss Cui is weak and easily bullied.”

Li Tinghan laughed bitterly. “So you use Wen Niang’s name to bully others for her sake? Should I thank you?”

Shen Tubai said nothing.

He continued, “You say you’re grateful to Nanny Xin’s teaching, but deep down you think she bullies you. Then, in front of me, you act weak and pitiful. It’s clear you’re full of schemes...”

Suddenly, Shen Tubai stood and walked beside Li Tinghan, abruptly lifting her skirt.

Li Tinghan quickly turned his head, flustered. “What do you think you’re doing? In broad daylight... this is shameless. Put your clothes back on at once.”