CH 68

Chapter 68 – Bai Xi = Little White Face? (part 1)

The twilight descended gradually, and the last rays of sun remained in the air for a long time, as if they were reluctant to leave. Bai Xi, who had just returned to the Bai mansion, looked up at the light of the setting sun.

“Xi’r?” Bai Jin Hang had just returned to the mansion after handling his official duties. He was surprised to see Bai Xi only just returning.

“Dad just came back?” Bai Xi looked away from the sunset and focussed her attention on Bai Jin Hang.

“Mm.” Bai Jin Hang walked with his daughter and talked to her.

“Does dad come back this late every day?” She had never taken the initiative to pay attention to such things. In fact, she never spent much time with her dad.

“Not always. Did Xi’r just return from the imperial palace?”

“Mm.”

“Is the third princess better?”

“The third princess wasn’t at the imperial palace.” Although Ye Zi Yu wasn’t in the palace, she didn’t make a trip for nothing. She actually made a profit today.

Bai Jin Hang paused.

“Dad, the previous emperor had quite a few concubines. Why aren’t there many heirs?” She looked into it carefully and found that the previous emperor only had Ye Mu Li as a prince. It was not because the other princes died due to infighting, but because he was the only prince. It seemed unlikely to only have one prince and two princesses since it was the imperial family and only having two princesses seemed pitiful. At least the Bai family had three daughters.

“Why is Xi’r asking about this?”

“Just curious.”

“This involves the fight in the harem and it isn’t convenient for dad to say anything. Xi’r, no matter who you like, dad won’t interfere. But, the only thing you can’t do is enter the palace, okay?” Bai Jin Hang said cautiously. Harem battles were sometimes worse than court ones. The previous emperor was the best example when he was alive, so he wouldn’t let his daughter enter the palace.

“Don’t worry, dad. Your daughter won’t like the emperor.” Entering the palace was like entering the deep ocean. She understood these words. Besides, she didn’t like Ye Mu Li at all.

“Mm.” Bai Jin Hang nodded. “Xi’r, let’s have dinner together.” He couldn’t remember the last time he had dinner with Xi’r.

“Okay,” Bai Xi agreed readily. In fact, the reason why she so readily agreed was not only because she did not want to return to Xi Yuan so soon, it was because she wanted to tell her dad something. She could tell him on the way.

“Xi’r, you’ll be sixteen in five months. Do you have a man you like now?” As far as he knew, Xi’r and the Feng family’s master were often together these days. Although his father wanted to match them up, Xi’r still didn’t marry the Feng family’s master. He was worried that Xi’r would be bullied.

“Dad, liking a man has nothing to do with age.” Strange, why did her dad ask about this today? Was it possible that her dad was like that damn old man and wanted to marry her off?

“Xi’r, dad won’t abandon you, but I can’t keep you by my side forever.” Perhaps his father’s decision was right. The Feng family’s master was the best choice. The Feng family’s master was the most beautiful man in the word, but would he like his Xi’r?

“Why can’t I stay with dad forever?” Hehe, this sentence would make her dad happy. And besides, sixteen was too young to marry.

“Silly girl.” Bai Jin Hang smiled slightly and his eyes were full of affection and reluctance.

“Dad, I plan to…” When Bai Xi was about to talk business, Bai Yu Jie’s gentle voice came from behind.

“Dad. Xi’r is also here.” Bai Yu Jie’s eyes moved to Bai Xi, who was standing next to Bai Jin Hang.

“Older brother. Eh, this should be my sister-in-law.” Bai Xi finally noticed the woman next to Bai Yu Jie who should be her older brother’s new wife. She and her older brother were a perfect match.

Yao Xin Ya smiled slightly. “Second younger sister.”

“Let’s go inside.” Bai Jin Hang led them all to the dining room. Bai Xi and the others followed closely. Soon after, the servants put the meals on the table one by one. The table seated five people.

The table seated Bai Jin Hang, Zhang Shu Yi, Bai Yu Jie, and Yao Xin Ya who had just entered the house, and Bai Xi, who rarely ate with them. The entire dining room was silent. Only the sound of cutlery could be heard.

After the meal, the five people barely made a sound. This was one of the reasons why Bai Xi didn’t like eating with her family. If she didn’t have something to say, she wouldn’t have eaten together with them.

It wasn’t until after the meal did Bai Xi stop Bai Jin Hang from leaving by calling out, “Dad.”

“Hm?”

“Your daughter has something to tell dad.”

Bai Jin Hang was shocked. This was the first time he heard Xi’r say such a thing. “Okay.”

Bai Xi left with Bai Jin Hang. Bai Yu Jie watched them walk away, motionless. He wondered what Xi’r was going to tell dad. He didn’t even listen to what Zhang Shu Yi said to him.

At the other end, Bai Xi followed Bai Jin Hang to the study. Bai Jin Hang then turned around to ask softly, “Xi’r, what did you want to say?”

“Dad, I want to go to Qing City.” This is what she had decided to do on the way back from the palace.

“No.” Bai Jin Hang objected immediately. No wonder Xi’r didn’t want to mention it in the dining room.

“Dad, I have already decided.” This was a decision, not a discussion. She just wanted to tell him, not ask for consent.

“I already said no.”

“Dad, I just want to find cousin Chen.” She was going to find Mu Rong Qing Chen, but she wasn’t going to play. She just wanted to verify something.

“That won’t work either.” Bai Jin Hang didn’t give Bai Xi a chance to discuss it.

“Dad, even if you don’t agree, I will go. I just wanted to tell dad instead of asking you to agree.” Did she have to speak so bluntly? “Dad, your daughter is not trying to annoy dad, but just go to Qing city. Your daughter will go anyway.” Bai Xi then turned and left.

“Xi’r… come back…” Unfortunately, Bai Xi had already returned to Xi Yuan with her martial arts and didn’t hear him at all.

Bai Jin Hang paced back and forth in the study as he thought about something. After a while, he headed over to Mo Xuan Yuan.

After Bai Xi returned to Xi Yuan, she didn’t linger, but instead rushed to Mo Xuan Yuan with the pot of pansies. Mu Qiu looked at the young miss, who had suddenly appeared then promptly disappeared, and wondered what was wrong with her young miss.

As soon as Bai Xi arrived in Mo Xuan Yuan, Bai Jin Hang had left. They didn’t meet each other.

“Old man, are you waiting for me?” As soon as Bai Xi stepped through the door, she saw Bai Chong Yuan sitting in the main hall.

“This girl only comes to me when something happens.”

“I’m not afraid of what you think. If I am an eyesore, it’s on purpose.” Bai Xi sat down and handed the pot of flowers to uncle Bai Shi.

“Speak, why do you want to go to Qing city?” Bai Chong Yuan asked.

“Dad told you?” That was fast. Then again, her dad’s yard was close to here. At least she didn’t have to say it again.

“Girl, are you going alone?” When he first heard the news, he had also reacted like Bai Jin Hang. But, after thinking about it carefully, he figured that this girl wanted to go to Qing city for a purpose. What was it?

“Old man, you already know that the internal force in my body that had been sealed has now been unlocked. So, you don’t have to worry about my safety.” She knew the reason why her dad didn’t let her leave, but for her to know the answer, she had to go. Moreover, she…

“Actually, I am here for other reasons.”

“You want to know why the internal force in your body was sealed?”

“No.” That wasn’t the main reason for her coming here.

“You want to know the reason why I burned those four books last time?”

“No.”

“…”

“Old man, I accidentally heard a conversation between dad and older brother.” Bai Xi stared at Bai Chong Yuan without blinking, wanting to see his reaction. Sure enough, when the latter heard her words, his expression changed.

“Actually, there is one thing that I don’t quite understand.” In fact, she wants to know about the things that the old man brought up just now, but what she wanted to know the most was this other thing. As long as it is an open secret, others would know.

But she wants to know the reason, and there is only one way, and that is…

“What did your father and older brother say?” Bai Chong Yuan asked cautiously.

“Old man, my older brother said that I am not dad’s biological daughter, let alone his sister,” Bai Xi also said cautiously and tentatively.

“Nonsense!” Bai Chong Yuan shouted anxiously. “Girl, you are my granddaughter, a descendant of my Bai family with the blood of my Bai family flowing through your veins.”

Bai Xi wasn’t surprised by Bai Chong Yuan’s reaction. She didn’t believe him. If she had no evidence, then she wouldn’t have taken the initiative to uncover the secret.

“Old man, why do I have to wear a face mask?” Bai Xi then tore off the thin mask on her face, revealing a devastatingly beautiful face. “Old man, you said you don’t know, but you should be familiar with this face.”

Bai Chong Yuan was stunned. His pupils widened with surprise. “You…”

At the same time, there was the sudden sound of footsteps outside the house. Bai Shi’s voice could be heard from outside. “Eldest Young Master Feng.”

Young Master Feng? Feng Ming? Bai Xi stiffened. Why was he here? And why did he come now?