Chapter 36: Psychological Resilience

Tang Chaochao narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Them again."

In this world, how could there be so many coincidences?

"I understand. Since my elder sister gave you your deed of indenture, I won't take it back. If you wish to leave the estate, you are free to go. Staying here is hardly a blessing for you."

Jianxue shook her head hurriedly.

"Young Miss, if I had wanted to leave, I would have done so long ago. I intended to stay in the estate and live day by day, holding onto my memories. But now that I know the Eldest Miss's death was foul play, I will absolutely not leave until I see the true culprit brought to justice."

She pulled a document from her bodice.

"Young Miss, if you do not trust me, here is my deed of indenture."

Tang Chaochao felt a spark of affection for this loyal maid. In this world, let alone between master and servant, even relatives often plotted against one another.

"Forget it. Keep the deed yourself. If I want someone dead, I have no need for a useless scrap of paper."

Jianxue broke into a tearful smile. She insisted on staying not only to see how her mistress would avenge the Eldest Miss, but also because in this vast estate, there were few servants who served her mistress with a sincere heart. If she were to leave now, she feared her mistress would be forced to take every meal in the Madam's courtyard.

After dismissing Jianxue, Tang Chaochao sat by the window, lost in thought. The snowflakes fell lightly, drifting aimlessly through the air. *Elder Sister, what truly happened to you at that palace banquet? And Xie Tingyao, Li Xueying, what roles did the two of you play?*

At the Prime Minister's residence, Xie Tingyao sat before a bronze mirror, gazing at her face, which had yet to fully recover from its swelling. In a fit of rage, she smashed the mirror against the floor.

"Tang Chaochao! You are truly something! Truly something!"

As the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, she had always been the object of envy wherever she went. Yet, because of some wild girl who had appeared out of nowhere, she had been humiliated time and again. Thinking of how she had been gawked at by the commoners on the street while wearing such a face, Xie Tingyao wished she could grind Tang Chaochao into dust.

She cast a cold glance at the maid beside her. "Has the message I asked you to send to my aunt been delivered?"

The maid knelt on the ground and replied hastily, "Consort Jing has already agreed and will host a snow-viewing banquet in a few days. Invitations will be sent to all the prominent noble ladies and young gentlemen in the capital. Young Miss, you should focus on healing the injuries on your face first. Consort Jing has already petitioned the Emperor to lift your house arrest."

At the mention of her face, Xie Tingyao was consumed by a murderous rage. "What is there to fear? Didn't the physician say that at most, my face would be fully recovered in three days? Tang Chaochao, just you wait. On the day of the snow-viewing banquet, I will make you the laughingstock of the entire capital!"

Tang Chaochao was unaware that she had yet to seek out Xie Tingyao, for Xie Tingyao was already impatient to strike at her. The very next day, she received an invitation—it was from Consort Jing herself, inviting the noble ladies and gentlemen of the capital to the palace to admire the snow.

Tang Chaochao originally had no interest, but since the banquet was hosted by Consort Jing, and Xie Tingyao was the consort's niece, Xie Tingyao would certainly be there. With this in mind, Tang Chaochao accepted the invitation for the banquet five days hence.

Upon hearing that Tang Chaochao would also be attending, Tang Yuntao’s face fell. She wondered if the Crown Prince would attend, and if he did, what would happen if he saw Tang Chaochao's face. Tang Yuntao failed to realize that among the noble ladies of the capital, there were many who were more beautiful than her, and the only reason the Crown Prince had taken an interest in her was due to other factors entirely.

Tang Yuntao did not want Tang Chaochao to attend the banquet, but she could think of no way to stop her. She spent the next five days in agony. Because the banquet did not invite the madams of the various estates to accompany them, Tang Yuntao was devastated when she found herself sharing a carriage with Tang Chaochao. However, her mother had insisted that if the daughters of the same family did not ride together, it would only invite gossip.

Seeing that Tang Chaochao, even in a simple green Daoist robe and without a trace of makeup, remained so beautiful that one could not look away, Tang Yuntao nearly shredded the handkerchief in her hands. Helpless, she could only let the carriage roll slowly toward the palace.

Tang Chaochao leaned back in the carriage, her eyes closed. Her butterfly-wing lashes cast shadows beneath her eyes. She held a small hand warmer, her fair fingers not particularly long but plump and soft, making one want to pinch or even take a bite out of them.

Tang Yuntao felt a pang of regret for dressing so ostentatiously that day, for compared to Tang Chaochao, she felt like a peacock displaying its feathers.

The carriage soon arrived at the palace gate. As Tang Chaochao jumped down, she happened to run into Xu Luowan, who was also alighting from her carriage. Xu Luowan was momentarily stunned at the sight of Tang Chaochao.

At that moment, Tang Yuntao stepped down as well. Without a word, she brushed past Tang Chaochao and grabbed Tang Yaozu—who had also received an invitation—to hurry toward the palace gate. Tang Chaochao had little contact with Tang Yaozu, but he had inherited his father Tang Wen’s air of superiority, looking at others with a turned-up nose and a gaze of utter disdain. Tang Chaochao felt his look was unpleasant, but at least he didn't come to cause trouble, which she found a relief.

Tang Yuntao had forgotten her grandmother's instructions. After all, Tang Chaochao’s attendance represented the Tang family. If she made a fool of herself, it would only bring shame upon the family. Even though Old Madam Tang disliked Tang Chaochao, she would not make things difficult for her in this regard, so she had specifically instructed Tang Yuntao to keep an eye on Tang Chaochao and ensure she didn't act recklessly.

Tang Chaochao grinned at Xu Luowan, who looked as if she had seen a ghost and turned to run. But as she turned, she collided with Xu Jiaye. Because of the incident in Hua City, Xu Jiaye held a deep dislike for his cousin. Seeing her so flustered, he instinctively said, "If you are this reckless, you might as well go home early. It would be better than offending a noble once inside the palace."

Xu Luowan started to argue, but Xu Jiaye looked up and caught sight of Tang Chaochao’s mocking gaze. He nearly shrieked in terror, silently cursing his bad luck for encountering this person. The memory of Tang Chaochao’s physical prowess had left a shadow on his mind; seeing her now, he wished he could jump back into his carriage.

Tang Chaochao curled her lips and walked toward the palace gate without looking back. As for Xu Luowan, she wanted to lift her skirts and run, but she ultimately refrained, as there were many noble ladies and gentlemen at the gate. If she did that, she didn't know what kind of nasty rumors would spread tomorrow. Moreover, because of the Hua City incident, her uncle had reported the matter to her father; she had been scolded severely and forced to kneel in the ancestral hall for several days.

Just then, a green figure appeared before her. Xu Luowan looked up and met Tang Chaochao’s eyes. She instinctively wanted to retreat, but she heard Tang Chaochao ask, "Is Miss Xu so afraid of me?"

Xu Luowan suffered in silence—how could she not be afraid? The day Tang Chaochao had tortured her had become her recurring nightmare. She had dreamt of it many times: Tang Chaochao holding those fine needles and torturing her endlessly, laughing louder the more she screamed.

If Tang Chaochao knew what she was thinking, she would surely say that this girl’s psychological resilience was simply too poor.