The warm summer breeze seemed suddenly crisp, making the swaying rose bushes tremble. "Y-you hit me?!" Qiu Tang clutched her face, staring in disbelief at the cold, slender figure who had effortlessly leapt to the ground. She—she had been hit by this short, squat girl! Her face, once delicate, now looked fierce with embarrassment and anger. "What's so special about hitting you?" Cold Wan-Wan's lips curled coldly. She dared to act so bold right before her. Whether you were the Emperor himself or the King of Heaven, she would hit you without hesitation. "M-miss,!" The nursemaid was stunned by the sudden scene. How could the mistress be so cold and stern? Even more astonishing was the small frame's surprising agility and strength—how could such a petite figure generate such powerful bursts of energy, especially in knocking the mistress's cheek red and swollen? Oh, the mistress had certainly gotten into trouble. Only now did she realize it, and she quickly stepped forward to shield Cold Wan-Wan behind her. "Miss?" Cold Yue stared wide-eyed, pointing at Cold Wan-Wan in astonishment. "Is this little short girl really Cold Wan-Wan?" Impossible! Wasn't she always told that Lingwan was a timid little thing, easily bullied and always at the mercy of others? Though slender and petite, this little winter melon was far from timid or weak. Her clear, piercing eyes gleamed like those of a fierce lion, determined to tear apart any intruder who dared to encroach upon her space. So cold and resolute, she even felt a shiver of her own in her heart. "Little dwarf?" Lingwan scoffed. "A true peacock with beauty but lacking brains. Didn't she think I was only three years old, while she was already ten?" The term "little dwarf" from Cold Yue also drew the nursemaid's displeasure. Didn't she realize that it wasn't for the lack of support from the outer courtyard staff that Lingwan had grown so thin? With a steady gaze like spring's clear light fixed upon Cold Yue, she emphasized the words, "Your sister," with quiet insistence. "Ridiculous! I have no such sister!" "Like a cat startled by its tail being stepped on, Lingli raised her sharp claws," She's merely a common maid's daughter, how could she possibly be my sister?" Her mother is a noble countess, and as her daughter, she naturally carries noble blood. How could this common-born girl possibly be her sister? She glared at Lingwan, her posture regal, as if a proud peacock unshakable in its grace. "Miss, you are being most unreasonable," the nursemaid protested. What's wrong with the maid? Maidesses have parents too. Unless forced to, who would willingly serve as a maid and have their dignity trampled upon? "Miss Lingwan's mother, Xiaolian, is also a concubine of the general's household. You should address her as the Fourth Lady." Such lofty airs and lack of manners could only be cultivated by a general's wife who herself is equally stubborn and unrefined—indeed, the upper beam is crooked, and the lower beam follows suit. Well—Lingwan's eyes sparkled, glowing with a fierce, almost predatory light. A faint curve formed at the corner of her lips, half-smiling, half-serious. Indeed, was she treating me like a sickly cat while the tiger remained dormant? How dare she scold me as a lowly, insignificant one again? If she didn't see me prove myself, wouldn't that be a betrayal of her very words about me being a mere lowly one? With a soft, gentle hand, she lightly patted the nursemaid, calming her down from such agitation. "I don't have an elder sister either," she stepped forward from behind the nursemaid, realizing that the person who had once been expected to be her sister had not yet been born. "My mother only had me as her precious child—how could she have produced a peacock out of nowhere?" "Ah—ha!" The nursemaid, who had been so excited, could no longer hold back and burst into laughter. Even the servants and maids behind Cold Moon couldn't help but cover their mouths and smile secretly. Though they didn't fully understand how the once timid Miss Bending had grown so strong and confident, seeing Cold Lady Moon herself caught off guard was a real relief for them. For so long, the general had been away, and the general's wife and the lady had been proud and domineering at home, often making the servants Pointing at Ling Wanwan, her voice trembling with anger. "What a reversal! What a reversal!" Qiu Tang covered her face, fan-fanning furiously, "Miss, these servants must have the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's spirit—yet they dare not even look you in the eye!" She glared at the people behind her, knowing full well that they were secretly enjoying her being struck. "Forgive us, Miss, we would never dare!" Upon hearing this, the servants and maids instantly paled, dropping to their knees in a rush, begging for mercy. In their hearts, they resented Qiu Tang, believing she only treated them poorly so that they might suffer in the future. "Hmph—" The servants' display of weakness restored a few moments of her own sense of superiority. Ling Yue stared brightly at the nursemaid and Ling Wanwan, as if saying, "See? If you beg, I might just let you off this time." "Indeed a peacock," Ling Wanwan said with a half-smile, "except for showing off its feathers, it only makes noisy, scattered sounds." "You—!" Cold Yue'er stomped her feet. "You, this lowly scion, dare to insult me? You're asking for death! Help me! Help me!" She shouted, her anger blazing in her eyes, as if it were crackling with sound. "Madam," Qi Tang quickly lowered her hand from over her face, her expression eager and utterly subservient. "What shall I do?" "Give her a slap," Cold Yue'er commanded, pointing at Qi Tang with a fierce tone. She had to show her the kind of strength this scion deserved—otherwise, she'd surely turn the whole situation upside down. "Yes," Qi Tang beamed, clasping her hands and stepping forward with a determined, malicious air. What a perfect opportunity for revenge! "Madam—" The nanny watched Qi Tang's fierce demeanor, growing increasingly worried. Clearly, she wanted to settle this score. "Hmm—" Cold Wanwan gently patted the nanny with her soft hands, signaling her not to worry. A faint smile curled at her lips—half-smile, half-look of amusement. Her bright, lively eyes sparkled with an odd, mysterious intensity. In fact, she managed to send the once-ferocious Qi Tang staggering "Little, Miss." Stepping closer to Ling Yue, her confidence clearly wavered. "Stupid, idiot!" Chen Tang's hesitation made Ling Yue feel deeply embarrassed. She narrowed her eyes fiercely, then turned to the two servants kneeling on the ground, pointing at them. "You two—go up there and teach them a lesson!" "Me?" "Me?" The two named servants stared at each other, bewildered. Yet, under Ling Yue's stern gaze, they hesitated and trembled, gazing at the slender but composed Ling Wanwan. They too felt a shiver run through them. Reaching out, they could not bring themselves to make contact. "Useless!" Ling Yue's growing frustration with their performance only intensified. She couldn't believe she couldn't manage this petite, insignificant girl. With mounting anger, she stepped forward and gave a sharp slap. "Ah—" Ling Yue's hand missed Ling Wanwan entirely. Instead, the nanny, who had been closely observing the scene, swiftly stepped in to shield Ling Wanwan behind her. So swift that even Ling Wanwan failed to react, could only watch as Ling Yue's palm struck the nursemaid. Fortunately, Ling Yue was still young and her force was gentle. The nursemaid didn't feel any pain, but rather, Ling Yue herself cried out in surprise. Ling Wanwan half-closed her eyes, radiating danger. The nursemaid's protective stance warmed her heart, yet she saw her being injured. A fierce anger surged within her, rising in waves; with a light flick of her wrist, the silver bells rang out clearly. The breeze stirred, and the crisp sound of the bells seemed all the more like a death knell. Everyone felt as if the air had been frozen, the atmosphere charged with imminent peril. "What—what do you intend to do?" Ling Yue gazed at Ling Wanwan's intense expression, stepping back in disbelief. She couldn't believe she felt afraid in the presence of this young, seemingly insignificant girl. "What do I intend to do?" Ling Wanwan smiled, a grace and elegance that belied her youthful years—cool, and profoundly eerie. "Just watch," she said, as the silver bells continued to sway and chime under the wind. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed, and flames erupted from the ground all around Ling Yue'er and her companions. The flames formed a perfect circle, tightly enclosing them. Ling Yue'er and the others were stunned, only coming to their senses after a long moment. "Ah!" they cried out, witnessing the flames grow fiercer. The fiery glow danced like graceful spirits, twisting and turning, opening wide mouths that sprayed blood-red jets toward them. The intense heat caused their eyes to flutter and half-close in panic, and they shouted with growing fear. "Monsters! Monsters!" "Madam—!" The nurse had also been caught off guard, only regaining her composure upon hearing their cries. She quickly grabbed Cold Wanwan, urging, "Please release them, we'll lose lives if we don't!" Her instinct told her that the flames were the madam's doing. Regardless of the reason, lives had to be saved—after all, the madam would bear the brunt of any misfortune. Seeing that Ling Yue'er herself seemed deeply frightened, Cold Wanwan shook her silver bell again. The crisp, rhythmic chimes rang out, and the dancing flames responded as though summoned. It gradually faded until it was completely gone. Cold Yue'er and the others had been so frightened they had collapsed to the ground, their once proud and unshakeable demeanor now reduced to pure fear. The wind blew silently, and the breaths of the gathered people were distinctly audible. After a long while, Cold Yue'er finally raised her head. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly disheveled. With a look of fear, she gazed at Cold Wanwan and said, "You're not her. You're just a young fairy."