Chapter 36: Trembling All Over

"It obviously belongs to Mistress Lin. Our mistress has just been injured and needs some chicken soup to nourish herself," Biyu declared, looking entirely justified.

In her eyes, Mistress Lin was the true love of the Heir Apparent; the Heir's consort was nothing but an unloved, resentful woman. Did she really think she could compete with Mistress Lin for a bowl of chicken soup?

Xique tried to reason with her, "Nanny Li, didn't I speak to you first? First come, first served. Let Mistress Lin wait for the next batch."

"Wait for the next batch? Do you even know who our Mistress Lin is? She is the Heir's true love! The entire princely estate will belong to him one day, let alone a mere bowl of chicken soup. Be smart and hand it over, and I might put in a good word for you with Mistress Lin."

Xique rolled her eyes at her. Where did this clown come from, acting so brazenly in front of her?

The estate might belong to the Heir one day, but that was a matter for the future; right now, it was the Heir's consort who managed the household. Furthermore, what did the estate's ownership have to do with Mistress Lin? She wasn't the one in charge. Put in a good word?

Give an inch and she takes a mile.

"Mistress Lin is, at the end of the day, just a concubine. How could she possibly compare to our Heir's consort? Our consort is the Heir's formally wedded wife, recognized by the Prince and Princess as their daughter-in-law, and the mistress of this household. Do you truly think she ranks below a mere concubine? Her drinking a bowl of your soup is a favor to you. Isn't that right, Nanny Li?"

"Yes, you are absolutely right, Miss Xique. It is an honor for this old servant that the consort is willing to drink this soup."

When the gods clash, mortals suffer. To avoid trouble, Nanny Li quickly chose her side. After all, what did Mistress Lin's favor matter? The Prince and Princess were still alive; it wasn't the Heir's turn to run the estate yet. How could Mistress Lin compare to a consort who held both the favor of the Prince and Princess and the authority of household management? Any fool knew which side to pick.

"You—are you not afraid that Mistress Lin will complain to the Heir and have you punished for disrespect?" Biyu’s entire body trembled with rage as she saw Nanny Li side with Xique. Since she had become Lin Qingyu’s maid, this was the first time she had ever been defied.

Did they really think their Mistress Lin was just an ordinary concubine? Even if she was a concubine, she was the one held in the Heir's heart.

"Go ahead and complain to the Heir if you wish. Our consort has nothing to fear. Not only is the logic on our side—since our consort requested the soup first—but there is no need for me to explain who is noble and who is base between Mistress Lin and our consort. If we are talking about disrespect, it is your Mistress Lin who is being disrespectful to our consort and offending the mistress of the house! What kind of crime is that!" Xique said, hands on her hips, full of righteous indignation.

"You... you..." Biyu was left speechless, completely blocked.

Xique took the chicken soup from Nanny Li and turned to leave.

At Tingyu Pavilion, Biyu, having failed to secure the soup, was terrified of Lin Qingyu's reprimand. She immediately complained, "Mistress, those people at Xuezhu Residence are truly bullying us too much! I asked Nanny Li in the kitchen for a bowl of chicken soup, but just as I was about to bring it back for you, it was snatched away by the consort's maid. I spoke to her nicely, explaining that you were injured and needed it to nourish your health, and asked her to wait for the next one, but that Xique refused to listen. She relied on the consort's status to claim that you are only a concubine while her mistress is the legal wife, saying you are base and she is noble—her words were full of contempt! I was so furious, but Nanny Li favored her and gave her the soup, so I had to return empty-handed."