Ying Yue looked up to see a girl standing at the entrance of her room with her hands on her hips, looking very haughty. She had long, silky black hair similar to Ying Yue's, but her eyes were slanted, like a hawk spotting it's prey. Ying Yue had a few similarities in looks to this girl, and she recognized that this girl was her half-sister and stem of her problems, Yao Xiuying.
"How could such a worthless little maid think she has the right to even mention the crown prince in a sentence, let alone talk of slapping him."
Hearing Yao Xiuying say this, Zhu Xinya shrunk back in fear, but upon realizing that Yao Xiuying was eyeing Ying Yue, she quickly straightened up and blocked Ying Yue from her line of sight.
"It doesn't matter what I say or think," Zhu Xinya retorted, putting on a false front of bravery, "Since the crown prince has already done such a horrible thing to Ying Yue, anyone with eyes would agree with me!"
Upon seeing the little girl attempt to draw her sister's attention away and shield her, a sense of warmth filled Ying Yue's heart. This little maid had been with her since she was only a couple years old, probably being the closest thing to family this body's original owner had. Thinking on how loyal this little girl was to the original owner, Ying Yue decided that she must do whatever was within her power to protect this little girl.
"How dare a lowly maid talk back to her masters," Yao Xiuying said, looking at Zhu Xinya with contemptand arrogance, "Clearly your master hasn't taught you any manners, so I, as her loving sister, will have to teach you in her place!" As Yao Xiuying said this, she raised her hand, preparing to strike Zhu Xinya across the face.
As Yao Xiuying's hand was just about to make contact with Zhu Xinya's face, Ying Yue made her move. She flung the blanket off her body, standing up abruptly, and grabbed onto Yao Xiuying's wrist. At the same time, she pushed Zhu Xinya back behind her, knocking onto the bed.
Yao Xiuying looked at Ying Yue in l, "What right do you have to touch me? Let go of me at once and let me teach this stupid servant a lesson in respecting one's superiors!"
"A lesson in respecting one's superiors?" Ying Yue said, raising her eyebrow in a questioning manner, ridicule written across her face, "I believe it is you who needs a lesson, or have you forgotten that I am your elder sister, and therefor your superior? What right do you have to yell at a superior? In what world do you live in which those below can teach lessons to those above? Know your station."
"Are you saying that I'm lower than your maid?!" Yao Xiuying screached, glaring with hate at Ying Yue
"Your words, not mine," Ying Yue calmly replied
"You bitch!" Yao Xiuying screamed, as she started to gather spiritual energy into her hand. A large red ball of fire could be seen in her hand, emitting an uncomfortable amount of heat. At that moment, however, a crisp snapping sound could be heard, completely stopping Yao Xiuying from gathering any more energy into her hand.
Yao Xiuying stared in shock at her own wrist, which had now been snapped almost in half. It was a while before her brain finally registered the pain, at which point she starting screaming like a banshee.
"Ying Yue! What the hell did you do to me! Ahh! My wrist! How could you do this to my wrist! I'm telling father!" she cried, wiggling her way out of Ying Yue's tight grip and running to the door, leaving with her tail between her legs.
Throughout the whole altercation, Zhu Xinya was laying upon the bed in a daze, staring at her master in admiration and shock.
"Third eldest miss, is that really you, third eldest miss?" Zhu Xinya asked, looking at Ying Yue in disbelief, "When did you get so formidable?"
Ying Yue looked at Zhu Xinya and smiled, "I've always been like this Zhu-Zhu, I just finally got tired of being a push-over."
Upon hearing the familiar form of endearment coming from Ying Yue's mouth, Zhu Xinya breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like this really was her master. After processing the events that just happened, however, that relief turned into fear.
"Third eldest miss, what are we going to do? You heard what fourth eldest miss said. She's going to tell master, and then you'll be punished. We should pack some things and leave here quickly before they arrive. Maybe we can hide somewhere for a few days."
Ying Yue look at the young girl panicking for her well-being and smiled. It was nice to have someone care for her like this.
"There is no need to worry," Ying Yue said, "Father won't do anything. We can just stay here and go about our days like we normally would."
"But why?" Zhu Xinya asked
"Think about it," Ying Yue replied, "The pride of my father's eyes and genius known throughout the kingdom was defeated by her sister, an absolute good-for-nothing without an ounce of spiritual power in her body. How do you think the public would react if they heard of this? Therefor, my father will do nothing, as he doesn't want word of this incident to get out. If anything, he might even punish my sister for losing to me."
Zhu Xinya listened to Ying Yue and a smile broke out across her face. "Wow, you're really smart third eldest miss. I never would have been able to think that far ahead. But what about fourth eldest miss? She certainly won't let this go. Won't she come back to make trouble?"
"Then, we'll simply wait for her. After all, I'm excited to see what she can come up with."