Chapter 50

50 Lost, just by the touch on the hand Part II

Bai Yu went around to find paper and brush by herself as she let the maids continue with their work. But before she could start writing, the black magic eagle appeared in front of her again. Bai Yu accepted another small letter and opened it.

‘I forgot to ask. What did you say to Wangye? Normally, not even the Emperor can stop the black dragon when he’s decided to return to the border. But this time, a letter from the Emperor came just a few days after we left the capital. It said that the Emperor wanted his brother to be at the banquet. It was unusual. Even more unusual, Wangye accepted the Emperor’s invitation, even though he had been dead set on going back to the border. Is it because of something you said to him before the departure? Does it change his mind, or does it anger him so he wants to go back to punish you? It’ll be three days before I reach the capital. You too, prepare yourself.

Hope to see you soon,

Big brother’

Seeing the content in the letter, Bai Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry. She was beyond happy that she could be with her brother again, but she was also unsure whether she could escape the wrath of that brute Wangye or not.

That phrase should not make him too angry with her...But now that she thought about Ouyang Feilong, Bai Yu could not help but wonder.

In the days that she felt weak, she had her mother to console her. But with his broken heart which she could see from his eyes that day, how did he manage it? How could he endure this pain? Was there someone beside him then?

She could not find an answer no matter how hard she thought. Bai Yu who felt concerned for a fellow human then asked about Ouyang Feilong in her reply letter to her brother.

She did not expect that the next morning, she would see that silver butterfly again. This time, it came with Ouyang Feilong’s letter. There was no sign of her brother’s black eagle. The letter was put in a beautiful black sleeve made of cloth. On it was a delicate flow of Ouyang Feilong’s handwriting that Bai Yu had seen once before.

.....

That time, she read Ouyang Feilong’s letter and carelessly replied out of anger.

This time, the content of the letter was brusque. It said:

‘What’d a foolish woman ask about benwang for? Will it make you stronger?

What...the....!!!!!

Bai Yu crumpled up that letter and threw it away without hesitation. The villainess cursed in her former world’s language again and again! Who would want to reply to this kind of letter? She already did him a favor by not running out to wring his neck after she finished reading it!

“Miss, the carriage’s ready.”

Bai Yu smoothed her expression back to calmness before turning to Xiao Xi. “What about father and mother?”

“They’re heading to the front gate.”

“Then let’s go.”

Today Bai Yu stepped out of the mansion under the guise that she was going to visit her grandparents at the Yue mansion and stay there for several days to take care of them like a close relative would. Her training in martial arts was kept a secret.

Even Bai Hua who was also a transmigrator did not know what Bai Yu’s objective was. She only knew that Bai Yu wanted nothing to do with her, so it was not unusual that Bai Yu would not want to be under the same roof as her.

“Yu-er, you have to take good care of yourself. You know how your grandfather’s like.” Her mother gave her a farewell hug before saying so. Bai Yu nodded, then turned to hug her father and curtsy to both of them.

Bai Yu got on the carriage with her two personal maids. Her belongings were loaded in another carriage. This was considered too few for a high-rank noble lady who was staying at a temporary residence, but it was more than enough for Bai Yu. She had already chosen many chests to leave behind.

She was going to train martial arts, not attend a tea party. Those clothes and jewelry were not necessary. Though it was several days away from the royal banquet, Bai Yu did not bother to dress herself up excessively since she had already planned her clothes, hairstyle, and accessories for the occasion.

As the carriage was heading toward general Yue’s mansion, Bai Yu wracked her brain to recall a memory from the original about what kind of person her grandfather, ‘Yue Chen’, was like. Obviously...she did not know.

There was no memory about her grandfather in this body!

It was possibly because Bai Yu and Yue Chen were not very close. Even in the series, Bai Yu had never acted in the same scene as the grandfather in the story. This time she might truly have to take a risk. She could not afford to retreat because apart from the Yue family, she was not sure if there was anyone else who could help her become stronger.

Bai Yu knew how strong her mother was. It was only because of her marriage into the Bai family and what happened after that which made her mother unable to see the value of her own strength. Up until now, she never wanted Bai Yu to become more adept at magic or martial arts than how she was right now. When limited by the woman’s role as a mother, such things would only make a person more bitter.

Yue Mei did not want her daughter to become like her, so she had set up a path ahead for her. Bai Yu’s only path was to become Qin Wang Fei but because of her tears that night, she backed down and let her daughter deviate from what she expected. She could only hope that Bai Yu would not end up like herself.

“Greetings to Miss Bai.” In front of the Yue mansion, an elderly maid was standing before other maids. When Bai Yu got out of the carriage, they all curtsied to her. She nodded and smiled politely, slightly bowing her head to an elder.

“Greetings from Yu-er to the elder.” She curtsied to her mother’s wet nurse. The woman showed a troubled expression just like every time before. Bai Yu smiled and continued. “...You’re my mother’s wet nurse. Naturally, I’d consider you my wet nurse too.” Both her words and action cause a wave of surprise throughout those from the mansion and other people who were around. It was such a rare sight for a young lady to give curtsy to a maid.

“Miss, please do not do this. I am just a maid.”

Bai Yu did not say anything else, only maintained a smile as she walked through the front gate. She did not want to put on an act that she was a respectful person, so she chose silence. What she did was only her habit of being polite and mannerly in a strange environment, but at the same time not appearing too weak to become a target.

But she had nothing to worry about this Madam Ping. She had raised Yue Mei since infancy, so it was expected that her affection would extend to Bai Yu as well. The reason that Madam Ping could not follow Yue Mei to the Bai family was her health complications.

“The general and elder Furen are waiting at the main building.”

“Thank you.”

Inside the general royal-protector’s mansion was spacious, with a clear division of each area. From the front gate to the main building, there were only a few soldiers who were acting as guards. They all kept their eyes to themselves when Bai Yu walked past. It can be said that this mansion could utilize its space and train the soldiers very well.

When they reached the main building, Bai Yu saw that the masters in the mansion were all gathered there, waiting for her since her mother had sent words yesterday that Bai Yu was coming. The more Yue Mei, as the eldest daughter, was adored and cherished by the Yue family, the better the welcome that Bai Yu received.

Currently, the Yue family was led by ‘Yue Chang’, Bai Yu’s uncle and Yue Mei’s younger brother from the same mother. He held the title of the lieutenant-general royal-protector and was second only to his father. His first Furen was from a wealthy merchant family and their eldest son ‘Yue Nan’ was practicing magic at ‘Divine valley’, a sacred area located in Da Chu that every magic user respected, while the younger daughter ‘Yue Huiling’ was the lieutenant-general of Da Yang’s grand army.

Everyone in this family was pursuing ranks in the army. It was not unusual, since the Yue family had been trusted for their military prowess for many dynasties.

Bai Yu kneeled to give the highest degree of respect to both of her grandparents. The elder Furen was an elderly woman who always had a smile on her face, opposite to her grandfather who had a large frame and was always quiet. Even with his old age, his solemn expression still could intimidate anyone.

She started to understand why the original Bai Yu was not close to her grandfather. That must be because Yue Chen was the kind of person who was stern even without saying a word. Infants would start crying at the first glimpse of his face. Bai Yu could not help but think that Ouyang Feilong’s personality was largely passed over from her grandfather.

Bai Yu tried not to tense under the royal-protector Yue Chen’s silvery gaze. She turned to bow to her uncle and aunt-in-law. Yue Chang was smiling like her grandmother, while her aunt-in-law lifted her chin arrogantly. Lastly, even with a slight frustration, she bowed to the woman who was the same age as her. She suspected that this must be Yue Huiling, a cousin who was older than her by a few months.

“Greetings from Yu-er to biaojie*.”

“No need for such formality, biaomei*. Our Yue family is a family of soldiers. We don’t concern ourselves with too many manners like the noble.”

Apart from her strict grandfather who was hard to please, it seemed that this biaojie was not too pleased with her coming here. She would have to wait and see what the reason for that was.

“You’re too much, Ling-er. Your aunt taught Yu-er as a noble lady, and she was called the number one beauty. There’s nothing wrong with her paying respect to you. Who’d be such a rascal like you.” The elder Furen spoke to her granddaughter who had always wanted to be strong like her aunt who had married away. Yue Huiling never cared about learning chess, qin, or poetry. She only wanted to train with her sword since she was a child up until she became the lieutenant-general, never thinking of herself as a woman.

“A rascal and so what, grandmother? I’m both beautiful and strong, and also the lieutenant-general of the grand army. I’m not a noble lady who spends days dressing up and visiting the palace. Getting me used to those manners would be too difficult.”

To say simply, biaojie was calling her beautiful but stupid.

“Ling-er dear, don’t be too harsh on her. She comes here to relax. You’re ruining the mood.” It was her aunt-in-law who warned her own daughter, though the words she chose were far from amiable.

“I just want to be close to biaomei. Didn’t know that Miss Bai Yu would take offense.” Yue Huiling said as she smiled to Bai Yu. It was a smile that was fake in whatever angle she tried to view it from, and what was even worse was the distant way of calling her name... It was saying that Is this the daughter of aunt Yue Mei she looks up to? Hmph! What a weak shrimp!

“Don’t mind your biaojie, Yu-er. She was a little too straightforward, but actually she’s glad that you come here. I hope you’ll have fun.”

It was clear that her aunt-in-law was accusing her of coming here just to play. What did this mother and daughter pair have against her? Did she escape from Bai Hua just to be confronted by this kind of woman?

Fine! The villainess will show you!!

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*Biaojie: A word for addressing an older female cousin

*Biaomei: A word for addressing a younger female cousin