Shen Li paid no heed to the smug looks on the two girls' faces or the angry pallor on Jiao Yue's face. She closed her eyes and rested.
She was still a bit exhausted from her recent rebirth.
"Jiao Yue," before the two girls could revel in their smugness for long, Shen Li said, "go and gather all the dirty clothes in our yard and hand them over to Chun Ju and Ling Hua. Since they're so eager to work, let's not keep them idle. After they've washed the clothes, have them clean the kitchen."
After a pause, she continued, "Today, all the servants in the West Courtyard can take a rest. Let these two handle the chores."
At these words, not only Chun Ju and Ling Hua but even Jiao Yue looked utterly incredulous.
They had thought their young mistress was going to let these two insolent girls off the hook again. But they never expected that although Shen Li seemed calm, she had dealt them a powerful blow!
"Young Mistress," seeing Ling Hua standing there in a daze, Chun Ju, who had been silent for a while, stepped forward. "The tasks we mentioned are from the Second Young Mistress. If we don't finish them today, we're afraid the Second Young Mistress will..."
Everyone in the capital knew that Shen Li adored Shen Miao the most and had been her shadow since childhood.
But at this moment, having just experienced betrayal and near - death, it was clearly inappropriate to mention Shen Miao in front of her.
"In that case, from now on, you two can serve in the East Courtyard. My West Courtyard... can't accommodate you."
Shen Li suppressed all her grief and anger. Her words were as cold as ice, and her gaze unconsciously sent a shiver down one's spine.
The three people in the room exchanged glances, their expressions strange but each with their own thoughts.
"I just woke up and have a headache. There are only two options for you now. Either go back to the East Courtyard and do what the Second Young Mistress has assigned you. Or stay in the West Courtyard and do what I've arranged for you."
Shen Li rubbed her temples, exuding an air of dominance and authority in every gesture. No one knew when the once - vulgar and timid Shen Li had acquired such a demeanor.
Her tone was casual, but no one dared to refute her.
The two girls stood there for a long time, not knowing what to do.
How could they be punished by this good - for - nothing?
But if they didn't do as she said... they dared not forget why they had been sent to the West Courtyard in the first place!
Looking at their hesitant and unwilling expressions, Shen Li didn't feel particularly satisfied.
After all, compared to the treatment she had received in the Shen family in the past, this was just the tip of the iceberg.
She had been too young before to realize that in this large Shen family, there wasn't a single person who truly cared about her!
On the contrary, Jiao Yue, seeing Shen Li being so assertive today, immediately straightened her back.
"What are you two still doing here? Didn't you hear what the young mistress said? She wants to rest. Hurry up and get out! It's up to you whether to stay or go. Didn't you two already despise the West Courtyard? Why not take this opportunity to go back to the East Courtyard?"
Hearing Jiao Yue's words, Shen Li thought this girl had potential.
She had known Jiao Yue was loyal in her past life, and now this one sentence had hit the nail on the head of Chun Ju and Ling Hua's most tangled thoughts.
It was like hitting someone in the face.
Chun Ju hung her head, biting her lips, and remained silent for a long time.
But Ling Hua, after holding back for a while, finally couldn't help but flush red and stepped forward. "We call you Young Mistress, but do you really think you're something special?"
Hearing this, Shen Li slightly raised her eyebrows, finding it rather boring.
Were they showing their true colors so soon?
"Then tell me, if I'm not the Young Mistress, what am I?"
Shen Li leaned against the headboard, looking calm and waiting for Ling Hua's next words.
"Heh, you probably don't know. In the Second Master's mansion, everyone says that you..."
"Bold! Shut your mouth!"
The voice entered the room before the person. Shen Li raised her eyebrows again.
The main character had arrived!
Before the person entered, a fresh floral scent could be smelled.
Shen Miao loved such elegant incense, but the spices she had sent to Shen Li's room in the past were all strong - scented.
Shen Li had never thought there was anything wrong with them before and had been quite happy about it.
So when Shen Li had just woken up, she had almost been choked by the stuffy smell in the room.
"Sister, what's wrong with you today? You seem to be in a bad mood. Why are you taking it out on the two maids?"
With a sweet and melodious voice, Shen Miao stepped into the room. Her knee - length jacket and skirt were made of water - blue satin, with a few small flowers casually dotted on them, making her look adorable.
Shen Miao was just sixteen or seventeen years old. She was naturally gentle, and under the guidance of her second aunt, she was well - behaved and graceful. So she had always been regarded as a well - behaved and charming girl in the eyes of outsiders.
After going through life and death, this face overlapped with the hideous one on the city tower, almost making Shen Li lose her temper. It took great effort for her to suppress her emotions.
Hearing Shen Miao coming, Chun Ju and Ling Hua quickly stepped aside, their backs shivering.
Shen Miao had heard the conversation in the room before she even entered.
Although she hadn't heard it all, she still found it strange.
Moreover, since she entered the room, Shen Li had just leaned against the edge of the bed, looking at her indifferently without any intention of greeting her. This made her even more surprised.
What was going on?
Shen Li had always been uncomplaining about the things and servants Shen Miao had sent her, regardless of their quality. But today, she actually wanted to drive away her people?
"Sister is here. Why are you standing at the door? Why don't you come in?"
Staring at Shen Miao for a long time, Shen Li's emotions churned inside her.
Although she now had the strength to wring Shen Miao's neck with one hand, she had to endure.
How could she let Shen Miao die so easily?
And just one Shen Miao wasn't enough!
There was still a long way to go!
Shen Miao frowned slightly. This good - for - nothing still had the same features and voice as before, but she always felt that something was different.
The coldness and aura emanating from her were like those of a different person.
Strange.
Collecting her thoughts, Shen Miao stepped into the room with a smile. "I saw that Sister seemed to be in a really bad mood today. I thought Sister didn't welcome me."
These words seemed like a joke, but the veiled threat in them was not lost on Shen Li. Her eyes turned cold as she replied, "Oh, since Sister knows I don't welcome you, why did you come in?"
Hearing her words, Shen Miao, who was walking in with a smile, stopped in her tracks, and the expression on her face froze.
Jiao Yue's eyes almost popped out. Who would have believed that those words had come from Shen Li's mouth?
The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze instantly. Shen Li sat on the bed, unmoving, looking at Shen Miao with a half - smile.
There weren't many people in the room. Besides Chun Ju, Ling Hua, and Jiao Yue, there was only Chun Ya, Shen Miao's personal maid, who had come with her.
Seeing her mistress being embarrassed by this good - for - nothing, Chun Ya couldn't hold back her anger.
"How can you talk like that? My mistress came to see you out of kindness, and you actually dare to say you don't welcome her!"