Chapter Three: Acting Coy

Shen Tubai’s voice was choked with sobs, yet her words were crystal clear: "I only wish to ask Your Highness to see for yourself whether this is truly just 'discipline'..."

Li Tinghan raised his eyes. Shen Tubai’s smooth, fair calves were covered in purplish-red whip marks, the swelling accented by broken skin—a truly ghastly sight.

He had been taught the rules from childhood, but his own tutors had never gone further than stern reprimands, and any misdeeds were handled by his attendants receiving the punishment in his stead. He understood that the nannies were stricter with those below them; it was not uncommon for maids to leave the Prince’s estate because they could not endure the hardship. However, as such methods had never been employed in his presence, he had merely assumed those people were too fragile to bear the work, never suspecting it might be the fault of the nannies themselves.

Seeing the wounds on Shen Tubai’s body, Li Tinghan thought they were no different from the torments of the imperial prison. The thought that he, who was always gentle with his servants, had nannies who would beat and berate the young maids behind his back made his blood boil; there was no telling how much the reputation of the Prince of Yan’s estate had been tarnished by their actions.

Seeing Li Tinghan trembling with rage, Shen Tubai stoked the fire further: "Every word I say is true. If Your Highness does not believe me, you may look at my body. I have only been in the estate for two days, and I am already covered in scars..."

As she spoke, she reached for the ribbons of her dress.

"Don't." Li Tinghan was almost amused by her audacity. Even while lodging a complaint, she did not forget to seek his favor—it was simply... shameless!

Shen Tubai stopped, looking crestfallen. Li Tinghan’s gaze drifted uncontrollably over her half-concealed clothing, where the wounds were indeed horrifying. The thought that Nanny Xin had been treating the maids this way for years made him wonder if those who had left the estate had truly returned home, or if they had been beaten to death and covered up in the name of the Prince of Yan’s household.

Such incidents had occurred before. With the current, critical struggle for the throne in the imperial court, his position was sensitive. If his mother, the Empress, were to find out—or even if the civil officials in court were to learn of this—it would be more than enough to cause his ruin.

Li Tinghan could no longer sit still. "Someone, bring Nanny Xin here for questioning."

"Wait." Shen Tubai met Li Tinghan’s sharp gaze, looking like a startled little rabbit kneeling on the floor. "Is Your Highness going to stand up for me?"

Li Tinghan frowned, feeling more and more that this woman sent by Wen Niang was not very bright.

Ignoring the mockery in his expression, Shen Tubai continued, "I know Your Highness cares, but the Nanny has been in the estate for many years. If she had always punished the maids this way, why has no one ever complained to you? It must be that I have done something to displease her."

Hearing this, Li Tinghan gradually calmed down. Nanny Xin was from the palace, and all new maids were trained by her. If she had been abusing maids for years, it was impossible that word had not reached him; there must be someone backing her. But if she only targeted Shen, then someone was trying to strike at Wen Niang.

Li Tinghan’s eyes grew colder. Regardless of the truth, since he had decided to purge the household, he would make sure it was done thoroughly.

"Hiss—" Shen Tubai, oblivious to the far-reaching thoughts passing through Li Tinghan’s mind, made a sound to draw his attention back. This time, he took the initiative to help her up.

"You say so much, but in the end, you are merely afraid that if I punish Nanny Xin, she will take revenge on you. If that is the case, why did you come to me with a complaint?" Li Tinghan’s eyes were full of scrutiny.

"My thoughts truly cannot be hidden from Your Highness." Shen Tubai tentatively placed her hand on Li Tinghan’s, her eyes filled with expectation. "I want Your Highness to protect me."

Li Tinghan instinctively pulled his hand away, but upon meeting her gaze, he stopped his movement and cursed under his breath, "Who gave you permission to be so presumptuous?"

Shen Tubai withdrew her hand, looking at him blankly. "What have I done wrong? I grew up in the pleasure districts and know my behavior is frivolous. When I first entered the estate, I truly intended to learn the rules from the Nanny, but she does not like me, and neither do the others in the courtyard."

She lodged her complaint as if it were only natural. "They refuse to sleep with me, and they won't let me sleep on the sleeping platforms. They only allow me to sleep on a stool. The stool is so small I can't even lie down, and the night wind blows into the room; I am nearly frozen to death."

Through these past few days, Shen Tubai had discovered that Li Tinghan was actually a soft-hearted man who treated his servants with gentle consideration. Aside from the first day when he vented his anger on her because of Cui Xiwen, her treatment within the estate had been perfectly adequate; he had even specially instructed the senior maids to look after her, though they had simply ignored him.

Because of this, Shen Tubai was certain Li Tinghan would not punish her for this. Sure enough, a look of pity appeared on his face.

Shen Tubai struck while the iron was hot. "From now on, would Your Highness be willing to teach me the rules yourself? If I do something wrong, I will surely change. Please don't be angry with me, alright?"

There was a trace of coquetry in her tone. Li Tinghan coughed uncomfortably and waved for her to leave. Shen Tubai felt a pang of disappointment; in her mind, he should have agreed immediately.

Just as she reached the door, she heard his voice, neither loud nor soft: "Come to the study to serve tomorrow."

"Yes," Shen Tubai replied joyfully.

Li Tinghan watched her lively figure, skipping happily outside the window only to wince in pain, and could not help but shake his head with a smile.

Judging by Li Tinghan’s attitude, Shen Tubai knew it wouldn't be long before Nanny Xin met her downfall. Naturally, she would not throw herself into Nanny Xin’s clutches again for nothing.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she felt an odd, heavy silence. She stood at the threshold, an instinct telling her not to go further, but it was already too late. The door opened from the inside, with Nanny Xin sitting in the center, and the two head maids, Suye and Zhuruo, standing on either side.

"Pin her down," Nanny Xin ordered. Four hands immediately dragged her inside.

Two young maids forced Shen Tubai to kneel at Nanny Xin’s feet, and Suye, having received the command, slapped her across the face without mercy.

"Speak! What did you say to His Highness today?" Nanny Xin demanded sharply.

Shen Tubai raised her eyes and glared fiercely at the woman before her.

"Oh? So you have a hard spine, do you?" Nanny Xin smashed the teacup in her hand and grabbed Shen Tubai by the hair, making a move to press her face into the shards of porcelain. "You are someone who has been noticed by His Highness; if you were to suddenly disappear, I would have no explanation for him. How about I ruin this flower-like face of yours instead?"

Shen Tubai’s eyes widened in shock, and she struggled desperately against Nanny Xin. "I'll speak, I'll speak..."

Nanny Xin relaxed her grip slightly but still refused to let her lift her head. "Speak!"

"His Highness mentioned the things you did in the past. I don't think you want others to know about that. Lean closer, and I will tell you quietly."

Nanny Xin was suspicious, but she leaned her ear in nonetheless.

"His Highness said..."

"Ah—!"

Shen Tubai seized the chance and bit down hard on her ear, refusing to let go even as the others rained punches and kicks upon her.