Senior, I Refuse to Give You This Face
How should it be handled? Naturally, by the law.
Serena did not rush to speak, but first saluted Linden Ling: "Little martial-uncle, even the Son of Heaven faces the same punishment as commoners when breaking the law. Your maid made the first mistake, and I cannot cover for her."
After speaking, without waiting for Linden's reaction, she declared to the constables with righteous conviction: "I wouldn't dare make things difficult for you, sirs. Just follow the law."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only Linden, but even the constables were stunned. She calls him 'little martial-uncle,' yet refuses to let even his maid off the hook.
The constables dared not say more; Linden's mouth twitched slightly as he spoke: "Serena..."
He had just begun to speak when Serena interrupted: "Little martial-uncle, you'd better call me Miss Feng. You know very well that Serena and Sean Xuan are like siblings, yet you let your maid insult me. I really can't accept you calling me by my given name."
Serena smiled sweetly, so much so that those unaware wouldn't know she was angry. Linden sensed trouble and, embarrassed, said, "Serena, this was my fault. Ruby Redsleeve is just too spirited—I'll have her apologize to you right away."
Linden was not afraid of Serena, nor of Eastlyn's officials. But he did have business to handle in Eastlyn, and if he angered Serena too much, things might not go as planned.
"Little martial-uncle, I actually admire Ruby Redsleeve's personality. But I'm someone who always separates gratitude and grudges. I hope you understand." Serena made it clear she would not back down.
"So you're not giving little martial-uncle any face?" The words were heavy, and combined with Linden's darkening expression, truly intimidating.
Serena, however, did not back down. She simply said, "Of course I'll give little martial-uncle face. I'll have my staff escort you to the guest villa to rest."
If it weren't for Sean Xuan's sake, she would never have offered her own villa. She had already given them enough face.
If Linden didn't know her identity and simply let his maid insult her, she might let it go. But Linden knew exactly who she was and still disregarded her. Since he didn't respect her, why should she respect him?
"Serena, do you really have to do this? Skyvault Fortress isn't so easily trifled with." Linden's face was ugly, as if he couldn't believe Serena would embarrass him this way.
"Little martial-uncle, since you've investigated me, you must know I'm stubborn. I may not have much pride, but when I decide on something, I won't let it go even if it hurts. I respect Skyvault Fortress, but that doesn't mean your maid can insult me." Serena retorted sharply, "Don't forget, I'm a noblewoman of Eastlyn. The daughter of the Duke of Grace to the Realm, insulted by a maid in public—maybe I could let it go, but Eastlyn won't."
If people saw that Serena Feng could be insulted by a mere maid, would anyone still respect her?
"My maids aren't like others." Linden said arrogantly, "My maid is every bit as good as any noble lady."
Serena sneered, "So what? No matter how noble your maid is, she's still a servant. A servant has a servant's duties. Dress her in princess clothes, and she's still not a princess."
"You..." Linden was truly angry now, but Serena was even calmer: "Little martial-uncle, are you really going to quarrel with me over a maid?"
He wants her to give him face and let Ruby Redsleeve go, but has Linden ever given her face? Making things difficult for her over a maid is already an insult to her dignity.
Face is a two-way street. Today, she's not in the mood—so she won't give him any.
"So you're really determined to punish Ruby Redsleeve?" Linden was so angry he laughed. He had never lost face like this before.
Serena only smiled in silence. Linden pressed, "And what if I refuse?"
"Young Fortress Lord Linden, you can try. Your maid has you as her backer. I have..." Serena deliberately called out his title, her last three words soft but full of meaning.
When Serena gets stubborn, even Ninth Royal Uncle has to coax her. So who is Linden compared to that?
Even before, if a Skyvault Fortress maid had insulted her, she wouldn't have let it slide. Serena Feng may be an easy target, but not just anyone can push her around.
No matter how Linden threatened or pleaded, Serena refused to yield, insisting the officers take Ruby Redsleeve away and lock her in the Capital Prefecture Prison.
Ruby, dressed in red, her cheek swollen from a slap, still looked strikingly beautiful. Her face was full of anger, her eyes toward Serena brimming with malice. Though just a maid, she acted more arrogant than a princess—even as the constables led her away, she looked utterly defiant, even spitting at Serena and threatening her.
Originally, Serena only wanted Ruby to suffer a little, to teach her what it meant to behave and watch her mouth. But since Ruby was still so arrogant, Serena wouldn't go easy on her.
"Take good care of Miss Ruby Redsleeve," Serena said coldly to the constables of the Capital Prefecture Court. The officers were all savvy—they immediately understood Serena disliked this maid and nodded repeatedly.
Linden had been thoroughly humiliated by Serena and turned his face away, refusing to look at her. Naturally, he wouldn't plead for Ruby. The green-clad maid beside him, Greenshine, spoke up hesitantly: "Miss Feng, Ruby Redsleeve is just too blunt—please, Miss Feng, forgive her this once."
Greenshine was about to kneel, but Serena stopped her before she could. Serena hadn't spoken yet when Ruby, her face swollen like a pig's head, angrily shouted: "Greenshine, don't beg for me! I don't believe these people dare touch me. Serena Feng, if you dare... if you dare let them bully me, I'll tell Brother Sean—he won't let you off, he'll definitely stand up for me!"
So, it was all because of Sean Xuan. Serena couldn't help but laugh at the injustice.
Ruby kept struggling, but couldn't break free from the constables' grip. Seeing she was really being taken away, and Linden staying silent, Ruby panicked and threatened: "Serena Feng, I'm telling you—if you offend Skyvault Fortress, you're dead. You'd better let me go. For Brother Sean's sake, I can ask my master to spare your miserable life."
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"Gag her." Serena ordered the constables, who immediately produced a rag and stuffed Ruby's mouth.
"Mmmph!" Ruby kept struggling, but the constables showed no mercy, half-dragging, half-carrying her away. Greenshine looked on anxiously, but could do nothing.
The world was finally quiet, and Serena felt her irritation dissipate. "Miss Greenshine, your fortress's manners have truly opened my eyes today. As you saw, it's not that I won't let her go—she brought this on herself."
Greenshine had nothing to say, softly calling, "Young master." They couldn't just watch Ruby get locked up; it wasn't just about Ruby suffering—what about Skyvault Fortress's reputation?
Linden had lost face several times today and was in no mood to speak. He said angrily, "I'm tired."
Serena acted as if nothing had happened, smiling: "I'll have someone escort little martial-uncle to the guest villa. If you need anything in Eastlyn, just ask me—I won't refuse."
"Is that so? Then send me to the villa." Linden was stunned by Serena's shamelessness—she'd just ignored his dignity to arrest his maid, yet could still call him little martial-uncle. He'd never met a woman so brazen.
Serena ignored Linden's cold expression and firmly refused: "Little martial-uncle, I'm very sorry, but I have other matters to attend to and can't personally escort you. I'll come to apologize another day."
If it hadn't been for the Young Fortress Lord blocking her, she would have gone to Ninth Prince Manor long ago instead of wasting time here.
Truth be told, Young Fortress Lord Linden's luck was truly bad. If he hadn't run into her just after she'd left the palace in a foul mood, she wouldn't have been so harsh.
If anyone was to blame, it was the Young Fortress Lord himself—his approach and timing were all wrong.