Just as the duo were chatting, they suddenly heard sounds of footstep approaching and Xiliu immediately rushed to the window to have a glance.
" It's Lady Zeitan". She informed as she returned to her seat beside Peizhi who suddenly went quiet. " I wonder what she's here for this time again, I just hope it's something good cause it's always something bad whenever she's around". She sulked.
"The wall have ears, you'd better not let anyone hear that or you'll be in trouble". Peizhi chided her as as she finished her words, the door swung open.
In the doorway stood Zeitan, her head held high, a practiced smile curling at her lips like a blade ready to draw blood.
However this time around, she was surprisingly flanked by a small entourage of finely dressed maids, each carrying lacquered boxes and porcelain trays as though they were parading a royal dowry.
Peizhi raised a brow at the scene, her eyes dark with disdain.
She then leaned back lazily, one arm draped over her knee and smirked. She lacked quite the energy of someone who was being grounded.
"Well, look who we have here". She drawled, the words rolling off her tongue like honey tinged with venom. "Coming by to pay homage to your elder sister, Zeitan ?" .
The maids whispered among themselves, their eyes darting nervously toward Peizhi, but their murmurs barely reached her ears, they dared not.
Their sneers were unmistakable: Arrogant as always. She hasn't changed despite even being here.
Peizhi's lips twitched, and she turned her head, deliberately ignoring their hushed criticisms.
Fools.
Zeitan, her smile never faltering, raised a hand up , signalling for them to leave.
"Enough." She said and the maids immediately fell silent, their heads bowing low. "Leave us. I would speak with my sister alone."
The maids exchanged hesitant glances before curtsying. One by one, they exited the room, the door closing behind them with a hollow thud.
After the left, silence hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to break.
Zeitan's gaze swept over the chamber, bare walls, a solitary table with a chipped corner, and a faint mustiness that clung to the curtains and she couldn't help but wrinkle her nose in distaste but said nothing of it.
Instead, she walked with measured grace to a low-backed chair across from Peizhi and sat down, smoothing her robes over her knees with practiced elegance.
Peizhi who was watching her every movement, chuckled softly. "Your maids are quite something, you know". She remarked, her tone casual but sharp as a blade. "So . . . obedient. No wonder you look… different now."
Zeitan ignored the jab, folding her hands in her lap. "I just came from Father's chamber," she began, her voice soft and sweet, almost dripping with concern. "I was pleading on your behalf."
Peizhi however arched a brow but said nothing.
And Zeitan continued, her eyes earnest. "He's very angry this time, Sister. But I believe that if you would only behave, he will come around. He'll forgive you. I'm sure of it."
Peizhi's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it.
"Forgive me? Behave?" She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Do you think I don't know what you're doing?"
Zeitan blinked, feigning confusion. "Sister, I—"
"You don't fool me, I stop falling for that a long while ago".
Peizhi cut her off, her voice low and deadly. "I know exactly what kind of person you are."
For a moment, the air grew heavy, and Zeitan's mask of innocence wavered.
But she quickly recovered, her smile returning, softer now. She gestured to the basket one of her maids had left behind.
"I heard you hadn't been given any food today, so I had the kitchen prepare your favorite osmanthus cakes."
She lifted the lid and held the fragrant pastries out to Peizhi . "Please, have some." She said moving closer.
Peizhi's eyes flicked to the basket, then back to Zeitan and her lips curled into a sneer.
"Stop right there, not even an inch closer". She snapped. "What do you think you're doing?"
Zeitan hesitated but set the basket down on the table with a gentle thud at her order.
She then pulled out a smaller silk bag and opened it, revealing a delicate rouge case and an intricate jade hairpin.
" Master Lijun crafted these himself specially and left it for me to give it to you when he passed by today ". She said, holding them up for Peizhi to see. "Don't worry. He still likes you. He might even change his mind."
At her words, Peizhi couldn't help it and laughed, the sound cold and cutting.
"Is that why you're here? To show off?" She shook her head, her laughter trailing off into a smirk. "If you're here to show off then I'll tell you straightaway that you've failed,Zeitan . An entourage of maids and a few baubles won't wash away your foul bloodline."
Zeitan's grip tightened on the hairpin. Her knuckles turned white, but her smile remained placid. "Sister…" she murmured.
Peizhi's eyes gleamed with a dark, mocking light. "What? You dare covet my title now? First my fiancé, and now my place?" Her voice rose, sharp as a dagger. "It seems I need to set things right, let me remind you who you truly are."
At this, Zeitan stiffened, her smile finally cracking. This was the only weakness she was yet to conquer. "You've misunderstood me—"
"Misunderstood that you dare to steal my position or what?" Peizhi's laughter rang out again, bitter and biting. "You're nothing but a low-born wretch. Your mother was a homeless refugee my mother took pity on and took in. And how did she repay that kindness?" .
Peizhi's eyes burned with fury. "By seducing my father while my mother carried me in her womb. Your very existence is a stain on our family, a living reminder of betrayal."
Zeitan's breath caught in her throat. "I have no such intentions, sister. Father just allow me to have the maids ". She whispered, her voice trembling.
"And i only wanted to bring you something to cheer you. Look—" She lifted the rouge case higher. "Father brought this from the capital. It's the finest quality."
Peizhi's snatched it from her hand, opened it, and let out a scornful laugh.
"Out of trend. This was fashionable last year. You here still treat it like a treasure?" She tossed it onto the table with a clatter. "Pathetic."
Xiliu, who had been silent until now, chuckled and Peizhi turned to Xiliu, saying
"Look at her, even the finest silk can't cleanse a pauper ". She said, her eyes dancing with malice. "She doesn't even know how to dress properly still ."
Seeing Zeitan's reaction, Peizhi grinned, leaning back in her seat as she continued . "And those teeth, look at those". She added, pointing at Zeitan. "Yellow as old parchment. Do you even know how to brush them properly, how can you manage a house if you can't even do these things well?"
Xiliu laughed harder, covering her mouth with her sleeve at this.
Zeitan's hand flew to her mouth, her face burning with humiliation. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She rose abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor.
"Excuse me". She whispered, her voice shaking.
She fled the room, her footsteps echoing in the narrow corridor.
Once outside, she stopped, her chest heaving with sobs. She pulled a silk kerchief from her sleeve and pressed it to her eyes, wiping away the tears that had finally escaped.
When she lowered the kerchief, her face was calm, her eyes cold as ice. She looked back at the door, a cruel smile curving her lips.
"Peizhi ,you just wait and see ". She whispered, her voice low and filled with quiet fury, "just wait. Everything you have will be mine soon enough."