Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

As soon as Longkodo stepped into the main courtyard, he heard Li Si'er crying and rushed into the house.

She was sitting on the ground, crying uncontrollably, with one side of her face red and swollen.

He quickly helped her up and gently blew on her swollen cheek. "My darling, what happened? Who beat you like this!"

Longkodo's voice was full of pity, his hand supporting Li Si'er trembling. When he turned to look at Liu Yunshu, his eyes instantly turned cold. "Did you do this?"

Li Si'er leaned against Longkodo's chest, crying even more aggrievedly. Pointing at Liu Yunshu and Qiushuang, she sobbed, "Fourth Master... I just came to talk to my sister, but she not only had the servants push me, but she also slapped my face herself... Look, my face is all swollen..."

As she spoke, she deliberately brought her swollen half-face close to Longkodo's eyes, looking pitiful.

Longkodo already favored Li Si'er, and seeing her crying with tears streaming down her face, while looking at Liu Yunshu's calm expression, his anger intensified.

"Herseri! You are a lady from a prestigious family, and the principal wife of the household. How could you lay a hand on a concubine? If word gets out, where will the reputation of the Tong family be?!"

Looking at Longkodo's indiscriminate behavior, Liu Yunshu gently rubbed the red marks on the back of her hand with her fingertips, her tone still calm and unwavering: "Since Fourth Master believes her, then it was I who did it."

Seeing her tacit agreement, Longkodo became even more convinced that she was bullying the weak, and his tone grew increasingly stern: "Do you know what you did wrong? Apologize to Si'er right now!"

Li Si'er looked up triumphantly from his arms, gazing at Liu Yunshu, waiting to see her give in.

Liu Yunshu simply lowered her eyes, her fingertips tracing the red marks on the back of her hand, her voice calm yet tinged with aloofness: "I have no guilt in my heart or mind, no fault to admit, and no apology to offer."

"You!" Longkodo was speechless, and in his anger, he raised his hand to hit her.

Seeing this, Qiu Shuang stepped forward to block Liu Yunshu, "Fourth Master, Madam is the principal wife, and this matter has not been verified. It would be unseemly for you to take action."

He snorted coldly, withdrew his hand, and pointed at Liu Yunshu angrily, saying, "Fine! What a fine 'no remorse'! From this day forward, if I ever step into this main courtyard again, I will no longer bear the surname Tong!"

After saying that, he helped the sobbing Li Si'er up and left without looking back.

The room finally fell silent. Qiu Shuang turned to look at Liu Yunshu and, seeing the glaring red mark on the back of her hand, quickly bowed and said, "Madam, your hand..."

Liu Yunshu raised her hand to stop her movement, her fingertips gently tracing the red marks.

The coldness in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a faint smile: "It's nothing, just a little pain."

She looked up at Qiu Shuang and asked with concern, "Were you frightened?"

Qiu Shuang lowered her eyes and shook her head, "This servant is fine, it's just that Madam has been wronged."

Liu Yunshu chuckled and shook her head, withdrawing her hand and looking out the window. Autumn sunlight streamed through the window frame, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Biyu walked in from outside and hurried to Liu Yunshu's side, asking worriedly, "Miss, I just saw Master angrily helping Li Si'er away. Are you alright? Oh! Why are your hands red?"

As he spoke, he reached out to examine the injury on the back of her hand.

Liu Yunshu gently withdrew her hand and smiled reassuringly, "It's just a minor bump and scratch, it'll be fine in a bit, don't make a fuss."

Biyu's eyes reddened, and she stamped her foot, saying, "Was it Li Si'er who hit her!"

He then turned to Qiu Shuang, "Qiu Shuang, tell me, was it that bitch Li Si'er—that woman—who did it!"

Qiu Shuang lowered her eyes and said calmly, "It was Aunt Li who attacked first. Madam was injured on the back of her hand because she was protecting me."

Biyu was furious. Clutching her handkerchief, she was about to rush out: "I'm going to confront her! How dare a concubine lay a hand on her mistress!"

Liu Yunshu reached out and grabbed her, gently pressing her fingertips against the back of her hand: "Don't go."

She gently tapped Biyu's nose and said reproachfully, "In the end, you're the one who will get hurt. In this Tong mansion, if you offend her, I'm afraid even I, your young lady, will have difficulty protecting you."

As Biyu was being pulled along, her eyes reddened even more. "My poor young lady, how could you have such a miserable life!"

Qiu Shuang stood silently to the side, her gaze fixed on Liu Yunshu's calm profile, her fingertips subtly clenching the corner of her sleeve.

The lady has suffered so much injustice. She is clearly in the right, yet she has to endure such torment.

She lowered her eyes to hide the complex emotions within them, having already silently made her decision.

What happened today should be known to that person in the palace.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Qianqing Palace.

As Emperor Kangxi was reviewing memorials at his desk, he noticed Li Dequan tiptoeing up to him.

"What is it?" Kangxi did not raise his head, his gaze still fixed on the memorial, his pen tip lightly circling the four characters "salt tax deficit".

Li Dequan bowed and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, the secret guards have sent a message about the Tong residence."

"The Tong family?" Kangxi paused in his grip on the pen, a small red stain spreading across the paper with cinnabar, but he was oblivious. He looked up at Li Dequan and said, "Speak."

"Your Majesty, there was a disturbance in the main courtyard of the Tong residence today." Li Dequan carefully chose his words and reported the news sent back by Qiu Shuang.

Emperor Kangxi slammed the vermilion brush down on the table, splashing ink onto the bright yellow tablecloth and leaving a dark mark.

The atmosphere around him instantly turned tense, and anger surged in his eyes.

He couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance, yet Longkodo allowed his concubine to harm her!

The red marks on the back of his hand are so jarring to look at.

"Longkodo..." Kangxi gritted his teeth as he uttered the name, his knuckles turning white from the force. "He does know how to protect people."

Seeing that he was angry, Li Dequan quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The guards also said that the lady did not argue or send any servants to make a scene. She just silently endured it."

"You silently endured it?" Kangxi frowned even more, his anger mixed with a touch of heartache.

She was always insightful and must have known that Longkodo was biased, and that arguing would be useless, which is why she didn't want to waste her breath.

But the more sensible she was, the more stifled he felt.

She was originally the eldest daughter of the Hesheli clan, and should have been cherished, not subjected to such torment in the Tong family.

He got up and walked to the window, gazing at the falling sycamore leaves outside, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the windowsill.

The gentle sound of her softly calling "Sanlang" in his dream still lingered in his heart, but today he heard that she was injured, and this contrast made his chest feel heavy.

My longing to see her grew ever stronger, as if blown by the autumn wind.

He pressed his fingertip heavily on the windowsill and turned to look at Li Dequan.

"By imperial decree, I will be making an incognito visit to the Tong residence tomorrow. Tell Tong Guowei not to make a fuss."

Li Dequan quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will make the arrangements immediately and will ensure that no one else knows about it."

After Li Dequan left, Kangxi sat back down at his desk, his gaze falling on the blurred cinnabar mark, but he no longer had the mind to review the memorials.

The descriptions sent back by the secret guards kept replaying in her mind: Li Si'er took action, Longkodo's bias, the red marks on the back of her hand, and the words "silently endured it".

Each time he thought about it, the anger in his heart grew stronger, along with his dissatisfaction with Longkodo.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day, after finishing his official business, Kangxi changed into a dark blue casual robe and, accompanied only by Li Dequan and two bodyguards, traveled lightly to the Tong residence.

Tong Guowei was already waiting at the gate. When he saw Kangxi's carriage arrive, he quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your subject Tong Guowei respectfully welcomes Your Majesty."

Kangxi lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, raising his hand in a gesture of support: "Uncle, there's no need for such formality. I'm just here to visit; there's no need for such formality."

Tong Guowei readily agreed and led Kangxi toward the main hall, chatting casually as he spoke.

"It is an honor for the Tong family that His Majesty has come. I have already had some of His Majesty's favorite candied fruit and freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea prepared. Please have a taste."

Kangxi nodded in agreement, but slowed his pace slightly, and said to Tong Guowei, "Uncle, the scenery in the mansion is quite nice. Why don't you show me around first, and then we can rest in the hall?"

Tong Guowei had no reason to refuse, so he quickly smiled and changed his words: "Your Majesty is right, I will accompany you on a stroll."

The two strolled slowly in the courtyard of the Tong residence, but could not see the person, and did not want to ask directly.

He subtly winked at Li Dequan, who immediately understood and made an excuse to send Tong Guowei away.

Li Dequan approached Tong Guowei and said with a smile, "Lord Tong, I just noticed that the old osmanthus tree in the manor is in full bloom. I was thinking of picking a few branches to put in a vase, but I don't know where the tree is. Would you mind showing me the way?"

Kangxi pointed at Li Dequan and laughed, scolding, "You, Li Dequan, are even ordering around my uncle!"

Li Dequan smiled ingratiatingly at Kangxi, "This servant just thought the osmanthus flowers smelled nice and wanted Your Majesty to be able to smell them when you return to the palace!"

As Li Dequan spoke, he bowed to Tong Guowei again, "Please forgive me, Lord Tong."

Tong Guowei dared not utter a single word of "no," and hurriedly agreed with a smile: "Of course, of course, I'll take Chief Eunuch Li there right away. Your Majesty, please stroll around the garden for a while, I'll be right back."

After saying that, he led Li Dequan towards the direction of the osmanthus tree.

After the two had walked away, Kangxi slowed his pace and looked around the garden.

As we gradually walked to a secluded covered walkway, we suddenly heard the soft sound of turning pages coming from the end of the walkway.

Kangxi paused, looked in the direction of the sound, and saw Liu Yunshu sitting on a stone bench under the corridor, holding the book "Euclid's Elements" in her hands.

Today she wore a pinkish-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a moon-white gauze shirt over it. Her black hair was loosely tied into a cloud-like bun, adorned only with a silver chrysanthemum hairpin, with a few stray hairs falling beside her cheeks.

Sunlight shone on her, making her moon-white gauze dress glow with a soft light, and she exuded a cool and aloof aura.

Like a bright autumn moon on the horizon, its gentle light is captivating.