Chapter 58

58 Beauties usually come with sad backstories Part II

“Wangye, did you know? An unmarried woman should never have her hair fully down in front of a man outside of her family. Otherwise, Wangye and I...” After the last hairpin was laid in his large hands, Bai Yu recalled the tradition. And now she was a little afraid that she would have to marry him, according to the custom. Was this considered scandalous?

“Child...” Ouyang Feilong saw Bai Yu’s face and could only say that one word that came to mind. “...Benwang is many years older than you, how could benwang not know?”

“Then why...”

“Your braids. Benwang didn’t touch it.”

Bai Yu touched her two braids in the front, feeling with her fingers that they were still safe, and was immediately relieved.

“Benwang is sorry that you can’t marry into Rui Wang palace.”

“I didn’t mean it that way!”

“Heh.”

Who wanted to marry him out of a tradition?!

.....

“Yu-er!”

Before Bai Yu could scratch that beautiful face out of frustration, Bai He’s voice restrained her urge to do so. Her big brother was not wearing the armor she had seen many times before. The tall figure that was slightly shorter than Ouyang Feilong came in black clothes like her. A total opposite to Wangye’s pure white attire.

Ah...It’s yin-yang.

“What kind of face are you making?” After greeting his commander, Bai He noticed a strange look that his sister gave him and Ouyang Feilong.

Where did his reserved and dignified sister go?

“Big brother, how did you come here?” Bai Yu did not want him to know that she was secretly shipping her brother with Ouyang Feilong, so she went straight to hug his arm and used a sweet voice, entirely ignoring her ‘new friend’.

“I detected your magic aura, so I followed it here.” Bai He gently replied. But when his eyes met with his commander’s, his face turned into a frown. It was as if he could guess something. “Men and women should not be close,”

Ouyang Feilong looked at his lieutenant-general with the same nonchalance. Seeing that the prince did not show a sign of explaining anything, Bai Yu said to her brother with an even more sugary voice. She knew that Bai He was protective of her even toward his own commander.

“I was taking a walk but ended up having an accident because of these heavy accessories. Wangye came to help me, brother.”

There was nothing for Bai He to worry about. She and Ouyang Feilong had nothing going on between them other than the increased friendliness.

“Then I’ll take you home.”

“But I have to go back to grandfather’s mansion.”

“Mother already sent people to inform grandfather that you’ll return to Bai mansion with me. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you to grandfather’s mansion myself.”

“Then that’s good.” Bai Yu beamed to her brother, showing two dimples on her cheeks.

Ouyang Feilong’s heart fluttered at the scene in front of him. Was it even possible for a deceitful woman like her to have a sincere smile like this?

Or did he have to view her in a new light again?

———————

“Was the party fun, miss?”

Apart from her being reckless and losing, then this banquet was worthwhile for Bai Yu who had been lost. “It’s fun. Today your commander general took off his mask too.”

While on the carriage heading back to Bai family mansion, Bai Yu chose to talk about Ouyang Feilong to Xiao Xi. Obviously, her puppy maid became ecstatic.

“What does Wangye look like, miss?”

“Beautiful.”

“Huh?”

“You commander general was so beautiful that I, as the number one beauty, have to surrender.”

“Then the rumors are true.” This time, Xiao Chang joined in.

“What kind of rumors, Chang jiejie?” Xiao Xi tightly hugged the older maid’s arm. Xiao Chang looked at Bai Yu, and she gave her a small nod as permission. Then, Xiao Chang started talking.

“It was from a long time ago, from before the Empress Dowager even gave birth to Rui Wang.” Both her and Xiao Xi intently listened to the rumor from the past.

“Empress Dowager Wei was the only Empress to the former Emperor. Moreover, the former Emperor had an unusually small number of consorts, so there were not many princes and princesses. Seventeen years after giving birth to the current Emperor, Empress Dowager was pregnant again. She expected to have a daughter, and the royal doctors confirmed so as well. Throughout the pregnancy, she had taken various supplements and potions.”

“And was it a daughter, Xiao Chang?”

“It’s a son, miss. Rui Wang was born, to the shock of everyone in the palace. Furthermore, shortly after his birth, a senior from the divine valley came to predict Wangye’s fortune by himself without a prior invitation from the palace at all. People say that Wangye has a unique fortune that even the divine valley had to send its senior to investigate.”

Bai Yu nodded. She had heard of that valley before.

“That fortune was known only to the former Emperor, the current Emperor, and the Empress Dowager. Rumor has it that it was related to Da Chu, since a while before Wangye was born, people from Da Chu had come to offer a hundred-year truce with Da Yang in exchange for sending the princess in Empress Dowager’s womb to marry Da Chu’s prince. And so Wangye being born male caused quite a damage.”

Bai Yu twisted her lips. That was not Ouyang Feilong’s fault at all.

“Some also say that because the baby was nourished so well like a daughter, Wangye was born so beautiful like a woman. But very few people have ever seen him since he has started wearing a mask from a young age.” Xiao Chang lowered her voice to a whisper as if fearing someone eavesdropping. “...The reason was Empress Dowager’s distaste for his appearance.”

Bai Yu could not help but have a mocking thought. Guess Empress Dowager Wei was afraid her son would be prettier than her.

“After that Da Chu began seeking to spark a war. They find various reasons to start conflicts with us repeatedly. And that still continues to today.”

Ah...Beauties usually come with sad backstories.

“Then...”

Thud! Bai Yu’s carriage abruptly stopped. Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang took daggers out from the sleeve pockets. Their experience had taught them to be more prepared in protecting their miss. However, before anyone could voice a question, a gentle, soothing voice from Bai He who was riding in the front sounded.

“There’s a problem with third and fourth sister’s carriage. Let me check it a little.”

“Yes, brother.”

After Bai Yu’s reply, the three women in the carriage looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. They waited for a small while before Bai He came to knock on her carriage. Bai Yu opened the curtain to talk to her brother, who was riding on his black horse.

“Third and fourth sister’s carriage can’t run anymore. I’ll have my men guard them while I accompany you home, then I’ll come back to get them with a new carriage.” Bai He explained his plan to her. Her big brother loved and cherished her so much, as always, he did not even let her come close to the two daughters from concubines.

“It’s already dark, big brother going back and forth like that makes me worried.”

“I’m a soldier. There’s no need for you to worry.” He extended his hand to stroke her hair through the carriage window.

She felt warmth envelop her again. Somehow, Bai Yu suddenly thought of the warm hand from another person whom she was talking about on the way here.

“I think we should have third and fourth sister ride in my carriage and go home together.”

Bai He wanted to immediately agree, but he had to ask again. This was not how his sister was like.

“Are you sure?” Even with surprise, his tone while talking to Bai Yu was still gentle.

“Yes, brother. Let’s go before it gets too late.” Bai Yu smiled brightly at her brother, showing off her two dimples again.

‘If you want to become a new person, you have to let go’

Whether she started doing it today or some other day, she still had to start all the same.

If you were me...you would do the same, right? Ouyang Feilong.