Being Cinderella's Evil Stepsister 52 The Punishment I

"Yes?" Drizella answered with a question.

Xiao Lizi sigh and said, "Shouldn't young miss inform Shen Yuan of what is going on?"

Drizella small sadly with downcasted eyes, "No. I don't want that child to be troubled and I don't want more hate."

Xiao Lizi and Xiao Mimi look at each other; not understanding what is going through their young miss's head.

Xiao Mimi quickly jolted as she hurriedly said, "Young miss, Xiao Cici wants to speak with you."

She handed a glowing blue stone with crystals sticking out. There wasn't any appearance instead, only the sound of a young woman can be heard through. Her voice was rough with angry and frustration yet it comes with tenderness.

Drizella laugh out at hearing someone trying to really scold her. Even though she has stayed at the Desert Empire and traveled to this world, no one has really give her a scold like hers (Xiao Cici).

"What are you laughing about! You don't have the time to laugh! Are you even listening to me?" the voice resounded from the crystal rock.

"Sorry. Sorry. Don't scold me so much. You aren't my mom." Drizella said, trying to sound like the original Yun Xuehau while holding her laughter.

"I should've come along instead of one of those two. They can't control or stop your foolish act at all. Really. You are crazy. Even if you are my young miss." Xiao Cici's scolding kept coming along without stop.

From Yun Xuehau's scattered memories, Xiao Cici's role was close to the role of a mother to her. Yun Xuehau doesn't remember who her parents are or what happened to them. She only knows about them from rumors. No one was willing to tell her about her parents and rather or not she has siblings. That means, she doesn't know parental love.

Xiao Cici was the oldest of her four maids and the one to teach or scold her about anything she has done wrong. Yun Xuehau consider Xiao Cici as her absent mother and seek motherly love from her. Yet, as Yun Xuehau started making friends and saw the treatment of her friends maids, she started to follow their examples.

Yun Xuehau really must be trying hard to fit into a circle group. I don't have a reason to be mad at her. Everyone make their own choices rather it's bad or not. In Xuehau's case, she just really wanted friends and those ill-mannered type tried to take advantage of her, forming her to who she is today.

...Does her ill-mannered friends have a connection to why she is always covering her face.

When Drizella try not to cover her face up, the original's body froze up and she started to almost blackout from a severe headache. From the back of her head, she can faintly hear some mocking laughter and her body would tremble, especially her hands. Drizella believe Xuehau must have gone through some type of trauma for her to act like that without a cover. It's just that she doesn't know about the trauma.

"Xiao Cici, sorry but can you tell me why I must always cover my face or powder my face with a lot of makeup, I forgot. Also, I believe that with a face like mine, I can make any men go crazy over me," Drizella proclaimed with confidence.

Xiao Cici's voice didn't came through the crystal stone for a long while. It makes Drizella feel awkward and like she was just speaking to herself.

Xiao Cici's voice finally resounded, "...It's better that you forget what happened."

"Ignorance is bless? I don't believe so. If I don't know what happened... do you want me to cover my face at all times? How would anyone know who I am... Do I always have to remain hidden and not show my true self?" Drizella said.

Those feelings really came from herself. Living as Leon is like hidden her true self and being the eldest daughter of Marquess Tremaine really took a toll on herself. The Desert Empire was no different. She has to be someone completely different and now she has to be Xuehau. She feel like she was a puppet living only to someone's tune.

"So... please tell me," Drizella's voice was choked up and she sounded as if she was begging.

"I can only tell young miss that... losing someone is painful. So please forget about it and live freely," Xiao Cici's voice choked up with resistance. She didn't want to recall what happened.

"What do you mean?" Drizella was more confuse.

Xuehau causes a person's death? She doesn't believe it. Even though Xuehau bully her maids and other people, she knows her limit. Like everyone else, Xuehau is someone who is scared of death and she knows everyone has a fear of death. That's why she never went as far as to kill someone.

"I can only say that," Xiao Cici turned off the recording from her side.

A knock came from the door and Drizella quickly hide the crystal stone in her sleeve as a person enter.

The maid bow then move to the side as another person appear. That person was the head eunuch that was always by the Heavenly Emperor's side. He give a slight nod, as he didn't think much of her and took out a scroll.

Drizella kneel down as her maid follow suit. This was like in the historical dramas she has seen before. Everyone kowtow in response to the Emperor's command on the scroll.

Xuehau never did such a thing before, she's so glad she watch those historical dramas.

The head eunuch didn't think she would respond like that. However, he still did his job, "By the Emperor's degree, Yun Xuehau will receive her disciple, Shen Yuan's punishment. Yun Xuehau will undergo the Thirteen Punishment of h.e.l.l. Shen Yuan who is still young and ignorant of the Heavenly ways will be sent back to the mortal realm to experience his mortal life. That is all. Come, accept the Emperor's degree."

Drizella reach out her hands as she thought of what to say next, "Yun Xuehau accept the Emperor's degree."

"Then please follow me," the head eunuch said.

Xiao Lizi and Xiao Mimi stare at each other then at their young miss.

Drizella can understand them even without them saying anything. However, she got a feeling that she shouldn't question or ask the head eunuch. He didn't seem to like her or really meant to show any courtesy to her at all. Yet, she can't voice anything out as he is the Heavenly Emperor's most trusted retinue.

Drizella can only shake her head slightly at them to not speak out as she handed them the degree and follow the head eunuch.