On the wooden lattice window, a small figure sat, her short legs swaying back and forth, her face tilted upward with half-closed eyes. Sunlight streamed across, casting delicate shadows from her long lashes upon her cheeks. Watching her relaxed, contented expression, one could hardly help but smile. One couldn’t help wondering what thoughts lay hidden within those half-lidded eyes. From afar, the nanny watched the lady climb up onto the window frame again, sunlight gilding her form. She seemed like a delicate fairy stepped straight out of a painting—so radiant that one felt unworthy to disturb her. "Nanny," Cold Wanyan waved her small hand toward the distant figure. "Oh, my lady, be careful!" The nanny watched the lady swaying and waving her arms, her hands trembling with fear—good heavens, the window was at least three or four lady-heights above the ground. Her heart pounded as she called out and hurried toward Cold Wanyan. Watching the nanny’s anxious expression, Cold Wanyan gave a slight upward curve to her lips. After all, what was three or four lady-heights? Just a little hand-waving of her silver bell. The bell chimed clear and pleasant. Seeing the nursemaid rush toward the window, she lightly leapt down. She jumped with ease, yet nearly startled the nursemaid into illness. The nursemaid quickly extended both arms to catch the slender, delicate form, the force of the leap sending her several steps back. Then, lowering her head to gaze at the child in her arms, she noticed the child innocently blinking. The nursemaid sighed—she was growing more and more puzzled by the lady. Previously, the lady had been frail and timid, weeping whenever she was treated unfairly. But since the lady had woken up several months ago, she had changed completely. She had devised a fitness regimen that had greatly strengthened her once-frail frame, and her temperament had become increasingly unpredictable. When playful, she was often endearing and amusing; at other times, she was cold and unyielding, even making the nursemaid feel uneasy. "What are you thinking about?" Cold-Bend reached out her soft little hands, pulling gently at the nursemaid's sleeve, her dark, bright eyes fixed upon her, as if able to read her thoughts. "Nothing, really." The nanny was startled by the lady's clear, liquid gaze—as if the girl could see straight through her very soul. "Is that so?" Cold Wanyuan lowered her eyes, then smiled gently, her rosy cheeks revealing a faint dimple. "Nanny, I'm hungry." What she was thinking, Cold Wanyuan couldn't have missed. Well, let her think as she pleased. After all, she wasn't the timid, hesitant girl she used to be. Eventually, she would come to accept herself as she was now. "Very well, Nanny, I'll go find something to eat in the kitchen." Cold Wanyuan's warm smile naturally warmed the nanny's own lips. Clearly, she had overthought it—how could such a young lady possibly read people's thoughts so well? Shaking her head, she thought. "Madam, it's right here." Just as the nanny finished speaking, before she could even turn toward the kitchen, a commotion and a flurry of footsteps reached them. "Madam?" Cold Wanyuan, nestled in the nanny's arms, gave a subtle curve to her lips, smiling faintly, as if amused. Hehe, it's finally the delicate peacock come by. Just perfect—she's been bored all along, and now someone has come to cheer her up. "Oh dear, it's the lady of the house!" The nursemaid immediately grew tense upon hearing this. Though she didn't know exactly why the lady had come here, everyone in the lady's proud household knew her high spirits and temper—this visit was surely not a pleasant one. Holding the young lady back and forth, she hesitated whether to hide the young lady away. "No time to spare," the young lady seemed to sense the nursemaid's thoughts, and with a cool, slightly curved smile, she added. Her small hand gently swaying the silver bells, producing a soft, tinkling sound. "It's really you." Cold Yue entered the room, accompanied by her servants and attendants. Today, she had twin braids on either side of her head, a few strands of hair loose and cascading down her temples, each braid adorned with a white jade flower. A vibrant bead chain hung across her forehead. She wore a pale yellow floral dress with a delicate skirt, and her small feet were tucked into elegant white embroidered shoes. Her small, composed face carried an air Cold Bending glanced at her with clear, sharp eyes, her gaze critical—she found the way the young lady was surrounded by attendants quite obtrusive, almost like a nouveau riche daughter. To be truly dignified, one needed substance; before her journey, Cold Bending had already been able to command the attention of her adversaries simply by being alone. What need was there for such a display of fanfare? Where did the third lady come from?" Cold Yue'er furrowed her delicate brows. Their mother had only three children—her elder brother, herself, and her younger brother. All of her father's other concubines had remained childless. "Miss Wanyan," the nursemaid replied softly, though in her heart she felt sorrow for Cold Wanyan. Though both were daughters of the general, the eldest daughter enjoyed all the luxuries and was deeply favored, while Miss Wanyan was treated unfairly, even to the point that the household staff didn't recognize her as a lady. "She? What kind of lady is she?" Cold Yue'er scoffed. She had heard from their mother that Miss Wanyan was born to a low-ranking maid. It wasn't until that maid seized the opportunity when their father was drunk that the name 'Wanyan' had been established at all. "Madam, Miss Wanyan is your younger sister," the nursemaid said bravely, despite her own fears. "Impertinent!" stepped forward Qing Tang, Cold Yue'er's personal attendant. At seventeen, she had long been accustomed to her superior status due to her lady's indulgence, often treating other, more gentle maids with con "Pah! Can that lowly girl even stand on equal footing with the Lady?" "No matter how graceful she may be, she's still the mistress. As for you, Miss Qiutang, you're merely a servant." The nursemaid, who had served in the general's household for over a decade, had never been treated this way by a young girl. To be called a 'lowly girl' by the very one she had been trying to impress—how could that be? Her indignation surged instantly. Without even pausing to consider Lady Ling, she spoke firmly and coldly in rebuttal. "Miss Senior—!" Qiutang had always considered herself superior to them, and had never before been spoken to this way. Her youthful face flushed with anger, yet she dared not challenge the nursemaid directly. She only looked to Lady Ling, hoping she would intervene on her behalf. The servants and maids behind Lady Ling watched as Qiutang grew increasingly red-faced, silently chuckling to themselves. How could it be otherwise? Didn't she think she was special? Didn't she just rely on being the lady's personal attendant? Didn't she often act superior in front of them? "You've quite the nerve!" Lady Ling straight Even though Qiutang was a servant, she was her personal attendant. This old woman, merely a nursemaid to a low-born child, dared to scold Qiutang right in front of her. It was clear she didn’t regard herself at all—so who had granted her this authority? The fire of anger burned fiercely in Yunmou’s eyes. She would not rest until she gave the woman a good lesson, showing her who truly held the position of mistress. "Attendants, give her a sound spanking!" Cold Wanwan, having been placed down by the nursemaid, had stood silently by. Cold Yue’s condescending attitude toward the nursemaid had bent her delicate brows into the shape of worms, furrowed tightly. She didn’t mind whether Cold Yue acknowledged her status as the third lady—after all, for her, any title meant the same. But she would not tolerate anyone showing insolence before her, especially not someone who dared to harm her nursemaid. Far from being the compliant Cold Wanwan who had once been molded and shaped at will, she now would not allow anyone to look down on her or treat her with contempt. Anyone who dared to disrespect her or injure her—would find themselves in serious trouble! With A clear, crisp sound resonated, silencing everyone.