Chapter 4: The Heart of a Slave

Bian Yalan sat on the bed, moving her arms, feeling extremely uncomfortable in her own body.

"Miss!" Nanny Li approached her cautiously, holding a bowl of thick medicinal soup. "It's time to take your medicine."

"Thank you, Mama Li." Bian Yalan smiled as she took the medicinal soup. The bitter taste made it hard to swallow, but for her, it had become a daily routine.

Her days in the Prince Gong's Mansion were filled with bitterness, especially after the miscarriage. Her health deteriorated, and she had to rely on medicinal soups every day. Even after she managed to recover, she still had to drink such concoctions.

"Miss, the old servant has something to say," Nanny Li ventured.

Bian Yalan quickly drank the medicinal soup and refused the plums offered by the nanny, opting for a glass of water instead.

"The second miss is just a concubine-born daughter. No matter how good she is to you, there should be a limit," Nanny Li reminded Bian Yalan, fearing that she might be taken advantage of.

"I understand Mama's words, but when I was ill, my sister put in a lot of effort," Bian Yalan said with a cold smile, tinged with sarcasm.

Nanny Li disagreed, "If the second miss doesn't wholeheartedly serve the miss, who else will take care of her for a lifetime?"

This sounded as if all the kindness shown by Bian Yayun was merely a means of self-preservation.

As she pondered, Nanny Li added, "The miss is kind-hearted, but she should also remember that despite being half-sisters, there will always be a barrier between them."

A barrier between them...

Bian Yalan raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions, the hidden resentment unmistakable.

"I misspoke," Nanny Li was startled and quickly apologized. She had said too much!

Bian Yalan concealed the coldness in her eyes and smiled wryly.

She understood the nanny's words. She had been exceptionally kind to Bian Yayun, without expecting anything in return, even sharing her husband.

But when her sister's words shook her to the core during her struggle on the brink of death, she became even more vigilant, determined not to repeat the same mistakes.

"Miss!" Xiaojin bowed at the door and greeted Nanny Li, then asked, "How should I handle the second miss who has been waiting outside?"

Don't know what to do? Bian Yalan sneered at Xiaojin, looking at her with disdain.

"From what I see, have you forgotten who your mistress is?" Bian Yalan suddenly threw the empty cup at Xiaojin, hitting her head hard, and shouted, "Tell me, what benefits did you receive from the second miss today?"

Xiaojin, holding her bruised forehead, quickly knelt down, her first thought being, who was watching when the second miss gave her money?

"What? Won't admit it?" Bian Yalan retorted, "Do you want me to bring in witnesses and confront them? If something happens, you'll have to fend for yourself."

She would be kicked out of the mansion. Xiaojin burst into tears, crawled to the edge of the bed, and grabbed the bedsheet.

"I... I was wrong," Xiaojin trembled as she begged for forgiveness, "Miss, please forgive me this time."

Bian Yalan clenched her fists, then gradually relaxed, sneering disdainfully. If her attitude changed too suddenly, it would indeed attract attention.

However, this girl couldn't stay by her side.