Chapter 27: Cursed by Someone

Sheng Yueying kept screaming, only to be met with Sheng Yunqing’s uproarious laughter.

Sheng Yueying opened her eyes and realized she was sitting in the pool, the water barely reaching her knees. How strange; she remembered the water being quite deep.

Seeing Sheng Yunqing clutching her stomach in laughter, Sheng Yueying’s face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. She stumbled to her feet and waded to the bank, her skirt stained with mud. She bit her lip and let out a huff. "You! Just you wait!"

Sheng Yunqing stopped laughing and raised an eyebrow at her. "Hmm?"

Sheng Yueying’s defiance vanished in an instant. She grabbed her earlobes, hung her head, and sobbed, "Don't kill me! Please, don't kill me, boo-hoo-hoo..."

Sheng Yunqing sighed helplessly. This young girl had clearly been spoiled rotten by Lady Bai, though her true nature wasn't entirely malicious. She walked over, looked down at her, and pointed a finger at her nose. "If you try to harm me again, it won't just be a dirty skirt you have to worry about."

With that, Sheng Yunqing flicked her sleeves and departed. Sheng Yueying glared resentfully at her retreating back, but suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain shot through her head, causing her to faint.

When she awoke again, Sheng Yueying frowned and opened her eyes to find herself sitting under a tree, with Sheng Yunqing crouching nearby, watching her.

"Awake?"

Sheng Yueying touched her head and asked weakly, "What wicked trick did you play on me this time?"

Sheng Yunqing offered a cold, faint smile. "What? Is every ailment in your body to be blamed on me?"

Sheng Yueying let out a weak breath, lacking her former spirit. She didn't know why, but she had been suffering from these periodic headaches for two years now, and they always culminated in her passing out. She knew full well this had nothing to do with Sheng Yunqing; her accusation just now was merely a moment of frustration.

Sheng Yunqing pressed two fingers against her forehead. Sheng Yueying frowned. "What are you doing?"

Sheng Yunqing gazed at her head, which was shrouded in an invisible, malevolent energy. "Your forehead is darkened—you have been cursed, which is the cause of these headaches."

"Cursed?" Sheng Yueying was suddenly overcome with fear. "You're not lying to me?"

Sheng Yunqing nodded solemnly. "Do you want it lifted?"

Sheng Yueying swallowed hard, hurriedly grasped her hand, and said, "Yes! I want it lifted!"

Sheng Yunqing closed her eyes and chanted a spell to break the curse. Instantly, Sheng Yueying’s head felt incredibly light. She opened her eyes, stared blankly at Sheng Yunqing, and exclaimed, "It’s true, it really doesn't hurt anymore!"

A beautiful curve touched the corners of Sheng Yunqing’s lips. "Do you still intend to cross me?"

Sheng Yueying shook her head like a rattle. "No, I won't hurt you. I won't hurt you ever again." She bit her lip, then frowned. "Who?! Who would dare cast a curse on me? I’ll skin them alive!"

Sheng Yunqing sneered. "Who in this household hates you the most?"

"Bai Jinxiu! It must be her!" Sheng Yueying clenched her fist and slammed it hard against the ground.

Sheng Yunqing’s eyes darted. Her master had taught her not to do evil, but using a person's own methods against them—surely that didn't count as doing something bad?

In the woodshed, Bai Jinxiu was stabbing a voodoo doll viciously with silver needles, a sinister smile on her face.

"Hiss—" As the needle pierced the doll, a sharp, agonizing pain flared in her own head, and she collapsed in a faint.

When she regained consciousness, it was because she had been splashed awake by freezing cold water. She opened her eyes in panic, instinctively reaching for the doll she had been holding, but her hands were empty.

"Smack!" A slap landed on Bai Jinxiu’s face.

She looked up to see Lady Bai, her face flushed with rage, teeth gritted. Lady Bai glared at her viciously. "Bai Jinxiu, I have treated you well! How dare you do such a thing to my Ying'er!"

Bai Jinxiu shrank back instinctively. "Aunt, I won't do it again. I really won't."

Lady Bai’s eyes turned red with fury, tears welling up. She struck Bai Jinxiu again, hissing through her teeth, "If not for the deal I have with you, I would skin you alive!"

Bai Jinxiu’s lips curled imperceptibly. Lady Bai’s secret was her greatest bargaining chip; she would not be left alone and helpless. She wept, saying, "Aunt, I know I was wrong. Once I am married into the Prince Ye’s estate, I will surely repay you and compensate for the harm done to Third Sister."

Lady Bai clenched her fists, threw the doll into the brazier, and stormed out in a fit of rage. Bai Jinxiu’s eyes flickered, and she placed a hand over her heart, letting out a long, slow breath.

Thankfully, only Lady Bai came to the woodshed to see her; if it had been Sheng Yukun, her life would surely have been forfeit.

Three days later, the weather was clear and the breeze gentle. The Empress Dowager was returning to the palace, and the scene was grand. An imperial eunuch arrived at the Marquis's estate. "By the Empress Dowager’s decree, the young ladies of the Sheng family are summoned to the palace."

Lady Bai had ordered people to dress Bai Jinxiu early that morning. Since the scabs on Bai Jinxiu’s face could not be hidden, she simply covered them with a thin, light veil. The wounds on her legs were wrapped in extra layers of cloth to mask the heavy scent of blood and medicine, and her clothing had been soaked in flower petals to emit a delicate fragrance. After all the effort, she looked like a proper young lady, provided she didn't have to stand.

The three young ladies gathered in the main hall. Lady Bai led Bai Jinxiu, who was seated in a wheelchair, out to meet them.

Sheng Yunqing’s lips curled into a sneer. "The ladies of the Sheng family are going to the palace, but what is this Miss Bai doing dressed up so lavishly?"

Sheng Yueying looked at the green embroidered dress made of fine silk that Bai Jinxiu was wearing, her teeth itching with rage. She marched up to her, grabbed the sleeve to examine it closely, then shoved her away and slapped her hard. "This fabric was a gift from my mother for my clothes! How dare you take it without asking? Do you even deserve to wear it!"

Bai Jinxiu was slapped so hard her veil fell off, revealing the shocking, scabbing wounds on her cheeks. She hurriedly reached out to catch the floating veil, lowering her head to cover her face, her eyes darting away in fear.

Lady Bai grabbed Sheng Yueying’s hand as she prepared to strike again. "I am the one who had it made for her."

"Mother?" Sheng Yueying stared at Lady Bai in disbelief, her eyes reddening. She pointed a trembling finger at Bai Jinxiu. "Father always favored this wretch, but now that she is no longer of the Sheng bloodline, you still insist on favoring this outsider!"

Lady Bai wanted to say more but hesitated. She gripped her sleeve tightly, turned her head away with a sigh, and said, "Ying'er, don't be unreasonable."

"Hmph!" Sheng Yueying turned and stormed off in a huff.

This was Sheng Yunqing’s first time entering the palace. As the carriage stopped at the palace gate, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the magnificent architecture.

Bai Jinxiu was wheeled up beside her by a maid and whispered, "Yunqing."

Sheng Yunqing raised an eyebrow, her voice cold. "We aren't that close. Call me Miss."

Bai Jinxiu bit her lip. "After all, this is your first time in the palace. If you see the Empress Dowager and are unsure of the etiquette, just watch me. I won't be stingy about teaching you."