Seeing Ming Liu arrive with four rough maids, Yun Jinnian stood up with composure.
As two of the rough maids moved to grab Yun Jinnian, her face immediately turned cold, and she said in a stern voice, "I can walk myself. Whoever dares to touch me, I will ensure they have no peaceful resting place after death!"
She was the legitimate daughter of the Yun Family, and even in her downfall, she maintained her dignity.
The two maids were so frightened that they stepped back a few paces.
Ming Liu was also taken aback.
Yet, Yun Jinnian walked step by step toward Cixin Academy, with her maid Ru Yue following. Ru Yue still kept her eyes low, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Ming Liu immediately followed.
When Yun Jinnian arrived at Cixin Academy with Ru Yue, Ru Yue was stopped and not allowed to enter. "Miss!" Ru Yue called out softly.
Yun Jinnian paused and looked at Ru Yue.
Having only served for a few days, there was hardly any emotional bond, and Ru Yue had not attended her closely, so they did not understand each other well.
"Ru Yue, if I don’t come back, go to the villa and find my nurse to see my mother," Yun Jinnian said and then determinedly stepped into Cixin Academy.
Ru Yue thought carefully and immediately understood. She quickly ran toward the outer courtyard.
She hoped to find the butler and ask him to invite Second Master home!
Before she could enter the room, a teacup was thrown her way. Yun Jinnian could have dodged it, but she endured it, letting the teacup hit her forehead. The scalding tea trickled down along the corner of her eyes. As the teacup shattered on the floor, blood began to stream out. Yun Jinnian’s heart grew cold, but she still walked into the parlour with an upright posture.
The old lady sat in the main seat, with Xu Xinmo crying beside her, while Yun Musi and Yun Mulan looked on with schadenfreude.
"Kneel!" the old lady bellowed.
Yun Jinnian looked up and stared straight at the old lady. "I don’t know what Jinnian has done wrong for Grandmother to punish me without a word!"
"How dare you talk back!" the old lady shouted angrily and picked up another teacup to throw at Yun Jinnian.
This time it did not hit Yun Jinnian’s forehead, but her shoulder.
Yun Jinnian grunted softly but continued to stand upright.
"Someone!" the old lady called out in a low voice.
Ming Yang and Ming Liu immediately entered the parlour.
"Drag her out to the courtyard to kneel until nightfall!" the old lady said, then immediately regretted it.
If Yun Chen found out about this, it would probably cause another conflict between mother and son.
Ming Yang and Ming Liu hesitated.
But Yun Jinnian spoke calmly, "Grandmother, we are all your descendants, with your blood flowing in our veins. Why do you favor some so blatantly? Why do you judge my guilt without letting Jinnian defend herself?"
From then on, the term "grandmother" in her heart was nothing more than a mere word.
The old lady opened her mouth but could not utter a word.
Fearing the old lady might soften, Xu Xinmo immediately burst into loud sobs, "So, I deserve to be bullied by my cousin, do I?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Jinnian looked at Xu Xinmo with eyes full of mockery. "Hah, hah!"
She turned and left the parlour to kneel in the courtyard.
The old lady wanted to say something but was already too late.
Ming Liu and Ming Yang chased out of the parlour only to see Yun Jinnian kneeling in the courtyard, her body straight as a rod, her small face deathly pale, and her pitch-black eyes filled with sorrow and grievance, striking a chord of pity in anyone who saw her.
Ming Yang covered his mouth, turning his head away with reddened eyes.
The legitimate daughter of the Yun Family, living a life worse than the head maid by the old lady’s side, who would believe it?
Yet, it was indeed the truth.
"Ming Liu, please beg the old lady," said Ming Yang. "It’s so cold, and if Fourth Miss continues to kneel , she might hurt herself!"