Chapter 2

“Back then, you played favorites, plotted to drug me, and sent me away without caring whether I lived or died.

“Now you barge into my courtyard without asking what I want and insist I return to marry in Yun Hanzhang’s place.”

“Twins are unlucky, so everything is the fault of the one born second?

“That father of yours who contributed one little shudder, your cowardly mother, and your precious, useless sister, who couldn’t compete with me in the womb and has done nothing but cry since she left it—none of them has done anything wrong?

“Yun Cimu, you’ve read plenty of books. Tell me: am I your flesh and blood, or the mortal enemy who slaughtered your family?”

My coarse cloth shoes trod the mud. With each step I took toward him, his face grew a shade paler.

Only when I stood steadily before him, looking him in the eye instead of up at him as I once had,

did fear crack through the certainty in his gaze.

Even his voice grew quieter.

“That happened years ago. Why bring it up now?

“Pei Youchuan and his cousin nearly tormented Hanzhang to death at a banquet.

“You pride yourself on your strength. What’s wrong with taking some of your sister’s burden?

“We’re all family. Could you really stand by and watch your sister be mistreated?”

The more he spoke, the more justified he felt. His fists clenched, and conviction returned to his voice.

“Besides, a family as distinguished as the marquis’s—if Hanzhang hadn’t meant to give you this chance, with your character and looks, you couldn’t aspire to such a match in eight lifetimes—”

Smack.

Before he finished,

I slapped him clean off his feet. He traced a lovely arc through the air, crashed into my courtyard tree, and hit the ground with a thud.

He curled up in pain. After trying and failing to hold it in, he spat out a mouthful of blood and two blood-red teeth.

I brushed imaginary dust off my hands and glanced at him with contempt.

“Sorry. I’ve grown stronger these past few years. I didn’t realize you couldn’t take the lightest slap. Look at you, lying there like a dead dog, spitting blood and teeth.”

“With looks and abilities like that, you dare boast about taking me back to the Yun family? Kneel and beg, and I might consider it.”

He couldn’t recognize good advice.

Wiping blood from his mouth, he glared at me and struggled shakily to his feet.

“Yun Zhenshu, I will remember this humiliation. You’re heartless. Beyond saving. We have plenty of time. I’ll wait—”

Thud!

I kicked his knee without warning.

As he dropped to his knees, I rained more than a dozen slaps on him, alternating hands.

His face swelled like a pig’s head. Blood ran from his mouth and nose. He could no longer speak.

The servants he had brought finally recovered their wits and started forward to save him.

The next instant,

I turned, snatched up a cleaver, and chopped it down just in front of their toes.

“I missed this time. Move again, and next time it’s your heads.”

Cold light glinted on the blade.

Their breath caught. Their legs shook. None could move.

Only then did I sweep back my sleeve and settle into my recliner again.

I took a leisurely sip of tea and said, quite unhurriedly:

“Plenty of time? Anyone who won’t take revenge on the spot is a coward.”

My gaze passed over Yun Cimu, kneeling in a miserable, helpless heap. I instructed him, word by word:

“If you’re begging, kneel properly.”

“Otherwise, if I decide to take this seriously, I might crush your kneecaps and leave you kneeling for the rest of your life.”

Yun Cimu’s pupils trembled.

His gaze touched the fist-sized hatchet by my feet and the faint, cold smile on my lips. He stiffened.

“I’m your elder brother!”

Smack!

My slap sent blood streaming from his nose.

“And I’m your grandfather! Kneel!”

He looked up at me, breathing hard.

“You can’t—”

Smack!

Another slap made him see stars.

“Don’t give me orders. I don’t like it.”

He let out a slow breath.

“I’m asking you to come back. The Yun family—”

Smack!

Another slap hurled him to the ground.

“When you beg, you kneel!”

He lay there for a long time, unable to get up.

I continued, enunciating every word:

“When she threw herself to the ground and accused me of pushing her over that hairpin, weren’t you there?”

“What did you do? You lied for her, accused me, and took my only piece of jewelry as an apology to her.”

“You forced me to fight back, then used it as an excuse to drive me out. Now you want me back to clean up after that useless thing who only dares bully her own family. You expect me to submit without so much as kneeling or begging. Do you think I’m worth that little?”

“You brought your life right to my doorstep. You owe me for what happened back then too. That slap was interest.”

My icy gaze fixed on his hands as I sneered:

“If you won’t kneel, prepare to collect your favorite useless sister’s corpse.”

His back crumpled at once.

After a long struggle with himself, he seemed to reach a decision and staggered toward me.

Then,

with a thump,

he knelt before me.

“Kill me. Cut me to pieces. Whatever you want. Just please save Hanzhang!”

He knelt straight-backed, with the resolve of a man calmly facing death.

After all these years, there was still no limit to the love and protection he gave Yun Hanzhang.

I looked back at my tea and scoffed.

“Just because you beg, must I agree?”

His lips trembled. Slowly, he raised his head.

“Grandmother was so upset she coughed up blood. She’s bedridden. I’m afraid she hasn’t much time.

“Switching the marriage was Father and Mother’s idea. But bringing you home is Grandmother’s wish.”

My cup clattered onto the low table.

I rose at once.

“We’re going to the capital!”