Chapter 79: You Wretched Maid, Stop Right There

“Brother Rui, Yanyan has been looking for you for so long.” Even before Fu Yan had entered, her voice preceded her, and she strode straight into the study after pushing open the door. Yet the scene inside left her utterly astonished.

For there were people in the study—two women, in fact. One was dressed as the daughter of a wealthy household, while the other, Xiao Lian, Fu Yan recognized as a servant of the prince’s residence. With undisguised disdain, Fu Yan directed her question at Zhang Xiaolan: “Who are you? Why are you in Brother Rui’s study?”

Fu Yan’s arrogant stance and rude words irked Zhang Xiaolan greatly. She cared little for the newcomer’s identity; since the other was so haughty and impolite, there was no need for courtesy or explanation.

“Little sister, I’m afraid that is none of your concern.” Zhang Xiaolan could tell at a glance that this richly dressed ‘young lady’ was spoiled beyond measure. Seeing how willful she was at such a young age, Zhang Xiaolan deliberately called her ‘little sister,’ then turned to leave, for sparring with such a person was meaningless.

“Stop right there! Judging by your clothes, you’re clearly not a servant. Could it be… you’re Brother Rui’s favored maid?” Fu Yan, offended by Zhang Xiaolan’s lack of respect—she hadn’t even bothered to greet her—let her own temper show, ordering Zhang Xiaolan to halt with the tone of a young mistress.

She spoke her guess with a sneer, as if suggesting Zhang Xiaolan might be Li Rui’s cherished maid. The thought left her sour. She had never imagined that Li Rui, who always seemed so proper, would finally succumb to loneliness and bring home a favored maid.

Fu Yan had always clung to Li Rui. Was it possible he truly felt nothing for her, that he hadn’t noticed her affections? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became—not from feeling inferior to a mere favored maid, but from Li Rui’s indifference toward her.

“You may be young, but your tongue is sharp. All the same, I have no intention of telling you anything.” Zhang Xiaolan, seeing Fu Yan’s rudeness, decided to irritate her further. She had no reason to answer her.

“How dare you! How dare a lowly maid speak to me like this? Do you even know who I am?” Fu Yan, in a fit of temper, tried to assert her ‘noble’ status, convinced that if she revealed her identity, this wretch would surely be frightened into kneeling and begging for forgiveness. But this time, Fu Yan was mistaken; before she could exult, Zhang Xiaolan’s retort silenced her.

“I have no interest in knowing. If you’re here to see your Brother Rui, just wait here.”

Zhang Xiaolan neither knew nor cared who Fu Yan was. It was obvious she was a young lady from a powerful or wealthy family, but the first impression she gave was abysmal. Zhang Xiaolan could only assume all young ladies from prominent families in this ancient era were equally ill-tempered.

“You—you shameless girl, stop right there!” Fu Yan hadn’t expected Zhang Xiaolan to simply walk away, especially before she’d finished speaking. She was so baffled and enraged that she stammered, yet could only watch helplessly as Zhang Xiaolan strode off.

“Steward Chen, who is that wretch? How dare she be so insolent to me!” Fu Yan, having suffered humiliation before Zhang Xiaolan, managed to restrain herself until she understood the other’s identity, but once she turned to Steward Chen, she vented her anger without reserve.

“Miss Fu, please calm your anger. That young lady is a guest of the prince,” Steward Chen replied meekly, secretly wiping cold sweat for Zhang Xiaolan in his heart. If, by some mischance, Fu Yan was offended, who knew what trouble awaited Zhang Xiaolan in the future?

Steward Chen had no way to deal with Fu Yan. She was not only the eldest granddaughter of Prime Minister Fu Yan, but also the sole daughter of Fu Shijie, one of the Three Ministers of the Treasury. It was no wonder Fu Yan had been so thoroughly spoiled since childhood.