The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 18

Finally, Xiao Yi approached the last person, scanning them up and down with a look of utter disdain. “Your shifty, rat-like appearance is enough to make anyone sick. A toad lusting after swan meat—don’t you know you’re reaching far beyond your station?”

She then dumped all the bizarre concoctions she had mixed into a single basin and pressed the man’s face into it, pinning him immobile.

No one knew exactly what those ingredients were, but for a long time afterward, the victims remained twisted and deformed, looking less like living beings from this world.

Xiao Yi surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction. “Even pigs wouldn’t want something this ugly, would they? What to do now? This is quite the dilemma.”

The Bandit Leader looked bewildered. “Um, what does Madam mean?”

Xiao Yi feigned shock. “You weren’t planning to let them stay in the rooms, were you? I’m doing you a favor by resorting to this drastic measure—making them share quarters with the pigs!”

The Bandit Leader glanced at the four men’s revolting appearances and finally understood Xiao Yi’s meaning.

“Madam is right!” he agreed. “But… but we can’t just leave them homeless, can we?”

The Bandit Leader looked at Xiao Yi and asked cautiously, “There’s a dungeon over there. Should we put them in there?”

Xiao Yi feigned compassion. “Sigh, I suppose we’ll have to inconvenience you all. Go wait inside.”

“Yes, yes, right away! This humble one will take them down immediately and keep them from offending your ladyship’s eyes,” the Bandit Leader said obsequiously.

Xiao Yi nodded. “The dungeon is dark and damp, so it’s normal to find rats, mosquitoes, and other vermin there, right?”

The Bandit Leader wasn’t stupid. He instantly understood, his scalp tingling with dread. But he dared not disobey. He nodded vigorously. “Normal, normal, very normal, perfectly normal!”

Damn it! This female tyrant! Does she have to be so ruthless?

She was clearly ordering him to release rats and mosquitoes into the cell!

If he couldn’t understand such an obvious hint, he didn’t deserve to be the leader of Clearwind Stronghold!

After Xiao Yi left, the Bandit Leader gazed at the four wretched figures, recoiling in disgust. He backed away, pinched his nose, and said with a sneer,

“What were you fools thinking, provoking her?

Xiao Yi is a madwoman! Did you really think you could outsmart her?

Why were you so reckless?”

“Even Heaven’s wrath can be defied, but self-inflicted doom is inescapable! You fools have brought this upon yourselves. May fortune favor you!”

Turning to his men, the Bandit Leader barked, “Take these four to the darkest dungeon cell. Then, throw in some rats, mosquitoes, and whatever else you can find!”

“How many, Boss?”

The Bandit Leader kicked the man squarely in the chest. “How many? If you don’t want to spend a few days in there with the rats yourself, then make sure you make them suffer!”

The men instantly cowered. They’d rather see these prisoners suffer than endure such torment themselves.

The Bandit Leader stormed off to warn the others: “Stay away from Xiao Yi! Don’t provoke her again, or you’ll all end up in that dungeon!”

He couldn’t endure another round of Xiao Yi’s torment. The last time, he’d nearly seen his great-grandmother coming to fetch him—he’d almost been dragged to the underworld by the King of Hell himself!

That night, the dungeon echoed with screams and howls. The eerie silence of the deep night made the sounds all the more chilling.

The next morning, Xiao Yi lay sprawled beside Gu Zhirou’s bed, clutching her hand and sleeping soundly.

When Gu Zhirou woke up, she saw Xiao Yi sleeping by the bed. Not wanting to disturb her, she turned and quietly gazed at Xiao Yi’s sleeping face.

Eventually, she couldn’t resist reaching out to trace the contours of Xiao Yi’s eyebrows and eyes, instantly startling the sleeping girl awake.

Gu Zhirou herself was startled by the sudden movement.

Seeing it was Gu Zhirou, Xiao Yi asked softly, “Xiao Rou’er, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Any better?”

“Ayi!”

“Call me Elder Sister! You little brat, no respect for seniority!”

“Ayi!”

“Be good now, call me Elder Sister!”

“Ayi!”

“Xiao Rou’er, be good, call me Elder Sister!”

“Elder Sister.”

“Good girl, feeling any better?”

“Much better,” Gu Zhirou replied, trying to sit up. But a sudden wave of dizziness struck her, and she collapsed back onto the bed. Fortunately, Xiao Yi’s quick reflexes allowed her to catch Gu Zhirou before she fell.

“Better? Is this what you call better? Stay put and rest properly,” Xiao Yi said, her tone exasperated.

Gu Zhirou’s face was still pale, but she seemed more alert. Smiling brightly, she said, “Thank you, Elder Sister!”

“Thank me for what? I just helped you up. There’s no need for thanks.”

“No, no, I want to thank Elder Sister for saving Rou’er yesterday. If you hadn’t come to my rescue, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Rou’er would have no face to live in this world!” Gu Zhirou shuddered at the memory, truly grateful for Xiao Yi’s timely intervention.

“Silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting? You must live well. This world is so beautiful, and you haven’t even seen it yet!”

“Still, thank you, Elder Sister!”

Xiao Yi smirked. “Does Xiao Rou’er really want to thank Elder Sister?”

“Yes!”

“If Xiao Rou’er truly wants to show her gratitude, then give Elder Sister a kiss on the cheek.” Xiao Yi pointed to her cheek.

Gu Zhirou’s face flushed crimson. Can you just kiss anyone like that?

“Elder Sister is so mean, teasing Rou’er.”

“I’m not teasing! If Xiao Rou’er doesn’t want to kiss me, then perhaps she doesn’t really want to thank me. In that case, forget it.” Xiao Yi turned her head away, feigning offense.

Gu Zhirou’s cheeks burned, her eyes reddening. Her mother had told her that only her future husband could kiss her, no one else. But…

But if I don’t kiss her, will Ayi abandon me? What should I do?

Gu Zhirou hesitated, twisting her fingers nervously. “But Ayi,” she said, her face troubled, “Mother said I can only kiss my husband.”

Xiao Yi drew out her words teasingly. “Oh~ So in little Rou’er’s heart, your elder sister can’t even compare to that husband you’ve never met, or even seen?”

“So I’m less important to you than your future husband? Sigh, that really hurts my feelings!”

Gu Zhirou… Which is more important, my husband or Ayi?

In her past life, her husband had been Crown Prince Luo Lingchen of Jin. But this time, she was determined to change her fate, so her husband would definitely not be him.

Compared to a stranger, Ayi was obviously more important!

Blushing fiercely, she seized a moment when Xiao Yi wasn’t looking and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Xiao Yi’s face flushed crimson instantly, the blush spreading from her ears down to her neck.

She stood up, wanting to hide her embarrassment from Gu Zhirou.

“Good girl, Rou’er. Elder Sister accepts your thanks. I’ll go get your medicine now. Drink it and rest; you’ll feel better soon. Sleep well, Rou’er.”

“Okay, Elder Sister! Hurry back, or Rou’er will be scared!”

“I will!”

After leaving the room, Xiao Yi touched her cheek where she had been kissed, a silly grin spreading across her face. This little girl is so easy to fool, she thought. But she’s so soft and sweet… not bad at all!

A sudden urge to tease the girl washed over her, and as she indulged the thought, she felt herself spiraling into madness. How could I have such indecent thoughts about an innocent girl?!

Inside the room, Gu Zhirou licked her lips. Ayi’s face was so soft and cool… it felt so good!

She desperately wanted to kiss her again, but the realization of how dangerous that impulse was made her shake her head vigorously.

Though she kept telling herself to stop thinking about it, the memory of kissing Ayi lingered stubbornly in her mind.

Even the memory of Ayi feeding her medicine the night before remained vivid. She remembered every word Ayi had spoken, but she had been unable to respond. As she replayed the scene, her face flushed crimson, and she buried herself under the covers.

After leaving the room, Xiao Yi found the physician, collected the medicine, and personally brewed it herself.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yi returned to the room carrying the steaming bowl.

“Xiao Rou’er, wake up and drink your medicine.”

“Okay!”

Xiao Yi sat on the edge of the bed, helped Gu Zhirou sit up, then scooped up a spoonful of the dark liquid. She blew on it to cool it before holding it to Gu Zhirou’s lips.

Gu Zhirou gazed at Xiao Yi’s smiling face. Ayi is so gentle!

Outside, chaos reigned. Gu Zhirou, a little frightened, nestled closer to Xiao Yi and asked, “Ayi, what’s happening out there?”

“Xiao Rou’er, don’t worry about it. Just drink your medicine first. Even if something’s wrong, your Elder Sister is here for you. Be good now!”

Gu Zhirou nodded in agreement. As long as Ayi was by her side, even if the sky were to fall, she would be safe. She trusted Ayi completely!

After Gu Zhirou finished her medicine, Xiao Yi reached out to wipe her mouth. But Gu Zhirou noticed the blisters on Xiao Yi’s hand.

“Elder Sister, what happened to your hand?”

Xiao Yi quickly hid her hand behind her sleeve. “It’s nothing. I just accidentally burned myself while brewing the medicine.”

“Elder Sister, how could you be so careless? Let me see.” Gu Zhirou grabbed Xiao Yi’s hand and examined the several blisters. She couldn’t hold back her tears.

Ayi was the eldest daughter of General Xiao’s Estate, a woman who had never done manual labor. Yet she had personally brewed medicine for Gu Zhirou and even burned her hand in the process. How could Gu Zhirou ever repay such kindness?

As she thought about it, her tears flowed even more fiercely. Just then, the door was kicked open, and Grand Tutor Gu stormed in, his face livid with anger!