Meanwhile in a courtyard on the other side of Hong manor, named Peony Courtyard.

Snap—

Off falls the flowerbud, right into the puddle of water. The silver snippers drenched in rain moved on to the next.

Snap—

Another fell, and so did another, and another, and another. The ground was becoming littered with flowerbuds. The rain was drenching each and every one of them along with their attacker.

“Willow willow tree, the gentle moon and the soft warm breeze.” A young female voice sang lightly through the pouring rain.

Snap—

“Brings me home to where I want to be.” 

The girl dressed in blue reached out and gripped the snippers. Her sleeves wet with rain slid down her wrist with this action, revealing a slender pale arm dangled by beaded bracelets.

Snap—

Hong Xiayu tilted her head, cascading her long ebony hair off her shoulder. The hairpin that had kept her hair bound had fallen. It clanged twice on the ground when it fell. 

“Home to the old willow—”

“Elder Miss.” Someone interrupted.

Hong Xiayu pursed her lips. That hand holding the snippers ready to cut off another flowerbud lowered.

She glanced over her shoulder, her brown eyes narrowed. Not a word was spoken. The silence caused the servant girl to break out in a cold sweat. She’d already regretted speaking, but hadn’t the choice.

It was them servants that would be reprimanded if harm were to befell the children of the masters. Even if that child were the ones to blame, it would still be the attending servants which would take the brunt.

All she could do was wait, hoping the elder miss would break the heart wrenching silence. The one that chilled her more than the rain turning her and the surrounding servants into drowned rats.

Luckily for her, she didn't need to wait long.

“Speak.” Hong Xiayu finally responded.

Releasing the breath she was holding, the servant girl who was relieved from her internal struggle, briefly raised her head.

“Elder miss, it’s raining. And the rain is heartlessly cold and heavy. It knows no right or wrong when pouring down. Knowing this, your servant hopes you treat your body with respect and follow us inside away from the heartless rain. The madam and master would worry if their precious daughter were to catch a chill.” The servant bowed low, showing her respect while hiding her trepidation she was sure could be seen in her eyes.

“Oh—” That extended syllable caused each servant to lower their heads even further. Each one trembled in apprehension.

Hong Xiayu placed her snippers down. She reached out and tilted her head back, looking towards the sky. “It’s raining? I hadn’t noticed.”

Her tone of voice, though soothing, held a sarcastic chuckle that caused the receiving servant to feel embarrassed.

“I supposed I’d been too absorbed, haa——–” Hong Xiayu heaved a breath. 

Her sight full of reproach landed on the servant who spoke. “If I hadn’t been disturbed, then I could have finished beheading the entire garden. What a shame. Now the lone flower must suffer the biting chill of being the last remaining because of ‘you’.”

“Really.” The reproachful gaze then ran over her attending servants who were acting like earth ostriches. 

“If you can’t handle a little bit of water, no one would stop you from going inside. Even though I'd already given out the order, none of you would be blamed for giving me space regardless if my health were affected or not. Haa- It appears my servants are not only stupid but have lost the ability to hear as well.”

Now all the servants were feeling embarrassed. Their heads dug deeper into the hole they tried to hide in.

Pat-pat-pat.

“Xia! You lunatic, why on earth are you standing in the rain? Luoluo would whoop your butt if she found out.”

Banishing the awkward air away, a number of pattering footsteps were racing down the cobblestone walkway.

A young girl who looked remarkably similar to Hong Xiayu rushed down the pathway in noble strides. Her gallant ebony hair crowned in silver swayed while bound in a tail. Her long loose red pants flaked in silver flowers skimmed across the ground as she moved. One arm carelessly hung by her side while the other held a fan. The closed fan resting on her chin turned her slight frown and lifted brow into a devilish combination. 

Close behind the girl was a short haired servant girl holding an umbrella. The servant rushed after her mistress with a permanent scowl.

“Gosh.” Hong Naoyu looks left and right at the garden of protruding stems. “I’d wondered what disaster struck those poor flowers. It appears I found it.” 

“Xia,” Hong Naoyu stopped and knocked on her sister’s forehead. “What did these flowers ever do to you? You can’t slaughter them all out of jealousy.”

Xiayu ignored Naoyu. 

She picked off the stray leaves from her fingers and spoke lightly. “With the flowers gone from the boudoir I no longer need to leave. Your real world can do without me in it.”

Naoyu’s eye twitches. She coughed to hide her laughter and patted her sister on the shoulder. “Ah yes… you’ve done well. That’s my sister for you.”

Xiayu nodded. She was pleased that she was no longer required to leave. 

Just like her elder cousin, she didn’t like the thought of doing unnecessary things if she didn’t have to. It was troublesome.

Naoyu, well aware of her sister's thoughts, wanted to laugh even more. Luckily Xiayu had turned around, missing her holding back her laughter. If caught, Xiayu would have hit her.

‘My sister is so gullible. I’m going to die from internal injury caused by laughter!’

[If you followed my example and left the boudoir of flowers and entered the real world, then perhaps you too can crush people while looking as light as a feather.]

Oh heavens, all she did was say a few words in regards to how often she stays locked up at home, That was all! Yet she took her meaning seriously, destroying the ‘boudoir of flowers’ merely because that was what she had called it!

‘Why is my sister such an idiot? Did I absorb her brain cells in the womb?! Don’t worry sister, your sacrifice was not in vain!’ Naoyu internally gave her sister a thumbs up. Her sister’s brain cells will be put to good use.

Xiayu bent down to grab her fallen hair pen. With a tap of her finger to the jewel, a box materialized into her palm. It was a long wooden box carved with flower vines and a single spiderlily in the center.

By the time Xiayu turned around, Naoyu had collected herself. Nothing seemed out of place besides her sister’s servant rolling her eyes.

“Here. I’ve finished concocting the herbal incense.” Xiayu handed over the box. “You never answered me on why you wanted so much. This is the fifth time I’ve restocked for you.”

“Don’t worry. There’s no need to concern yourself with my affairs.” Naoyu taped her finger on the box. A light aura, barely visible, went inside and inspected the contents.

“Who said I was worried?” A red blush crept up Xiayu’s ears. Her eyes dodged her sister while she slightly pouted. “Luoluo would be troubled if you were to put yourself in harm's way. I’m merely doing this for her sake.”

“Yes, our big sister is quite the worry wart.“ Naoyu chuckled. With a pat from her hand the box turned into a stream of light and stored itself into her bracelet. 

“Speaking of Luoluo, I’ve heard the rain will last for three weeks if not more. Why don’t we go sneak her some food from Arcane Delights and sleep over in a few days? I’m sure she’ll welcome the company. ——–But you can’t catch a cold, else who knows when her nagging will stop.”

Xiayu’s eyes lit up, she nodded repeatedly and rushed back inside to take a bath. She didn't even bother to bid her sister goodbye.

The attending servants looked towards the second elder miss with rising appreciation. They thanked her repeatedly in their hearts and elegantly rushed off after their master.

Naoyu watching this burst into laughter. 

“Ah! My sister’s such an idiot, so easily fooled into doing what you want her to do.” Naoyu slapped her leg like a scoundrel. 

She nonchalantly walked back down the pathway. There was a devilish smirk on her face while her eyes curved seductively. Thanks to the road of flowers and her disposition, she looked like a roguish degenerate that had stolen one two many hearts and was on her way to steal another.

‘You’re also an idiot.’ Emi mentally sighed and hurried after her mistress. Her mistress who had no sense of direction was such a handful. Leave her alone and who knows where she’ll end up.

• • • •

When the two reached the courtyard entrance they came across two suspicious servants. They were peaking around the corner and looked like they were up to no good.

Hong Naoyu narrowed her eyes and walked over. She jumped the wall and fell right behind them. She stuck her head between them both and shouted, “boo!”

The two servants jumped back in fright. They both held their hearts and looked like startled cats with their eyes wide in shock.

“State your purpose for lurking outside my sister’s courtyard.” Hong Naoyu ordered. 

Those playful apricot eyes of hers had turned cold. They narrowed with wild arrogance and placed an invisible pressure on both servants.

The nameless one who was much taller than the other panicked and swiftly lowered her head to hide her emotions.

On the other hand, the smaller nameless one was too slow and her panicked eyes full of grievance were fully seen by Hong Naoyu.

The taller one trembled. She stealthily got closer to her pig team mate and pinched her hip. Thanks to the pain, the smaller one reluctantly corrected herself and lowered her head. 

The two kept silent.

“Did you not hear your mistress speak? Such impertinence. Which section dare let such ill mannered servants dawn the clothes of assistant maids?” Emi had caught up and stood next to Hong Naoyu.

Her harsh eyes and words caused both servants to lower their heads even further, but they both still refused to speak.

Hong Naoyu slapped her fan twice in her palm. She looked them both up and down and contemplated for a moment. A glint flashed through her eyes and she had Emi send them away.

Both servants looked up in a daze. One as if given a lease on life, the other reluctant, they bowed then turned away.

Once out of sight of their master, the both of them rushed off. Their faces were also pale and their hearts were cold, one in fear, the other grief. Each one had different thoughts running through their heads. One appeared genuinely afraid for her life, whilst the other, also afraid, but more so full of angered calculations that no normal servant should have.

“Already warned you but you didn’t listen...” The fearful one mumbled. Her shoulders shrunk looking almost like a drowning rat that had accepted it was going to sink.

“Shut up!” The angered one spat out. She grabbed her cowardly partner’s arm and forced her to quicken her pace. It was quite obvious by the power dynamic who was in charge and who did not want to be there. 

Emi watched the two with contempt. She then looked towards her mistress in confusion.

Her mistress was overprotective to those she cared for and wouldn’t bat an eye at striking down any who threatened those closest to her. The fact she let them go puzzled Emi.

Hong Naoyu flicked her fan open then closed it back into her palm. An imperceivable energy sparked and a shadow guard appeared before her in a kneel.

Hong Naoyu shot the guard a cold glance and ordered, “Luo Siyu. I want a detailed intelligence report on those two in my hands by the end of today.”

“Yes!” Luo Siyu vanished after his acknowledgement.

Emi nodded. That was more like her mistress. Ruthless and decisive. Those two better pray to the heavens that their rears are clean, else the beasts of the forest will have plenty to eat.

“Emi, remind me. Where are my three idiots?” Hong Naoyu looked off into the sky with a calculating gaze. 

Before Emi could respond, Hong Naoyu had already twisted the gem on her ring and erected a sound proof barrier. Thanks to its high quality, the barrier was intangible and couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. A strange stone that combined the properties of water, wind, and spirituality injected by its holder.  

“Luo Yiyu is searching the Tainic Mountains. Luo Eryu is neck deep in paperwork at the detention center. Luo Sanyu is following the third master.” Emi covered her mouth with her sleeve and answered concisely. 

Hong Naoyu shot her cold gaze to the side. She looked at the edge of the courtyard walls where not a soul was.

She flicked her fan open and coldly smirked.

When Hong Naoyu and Emi walked around the corner and left Peony Courtyard, a shadow appeared in the spot Naoyu had looked at. After making some type of confirmation, it left.