131 It would have been better if you were fickle. At least there will be some hope left for benwang Part I
Within the first three days after the first Furen of the Bai family went to stay at Yue Mansion, the servants all understood that the mistress of the house was the first miss. Everyone was as diligent and thorough as ever in their work, and nothing out of the ordinary happened, until one night. Bai Yu received a report that a maid tried to get into her father’s bed in the absence of her mother. However, her father did not respond to the advance, and Bai Yu’s servant accidentally witnessed it.
“You think our first miss won’t dare do anything without the first Furen, huh?! Where did you get that courage from?!” Xiao Xi’s yell resounded through Jiu Yu Residence. In front of her was the kneeling form of a young woman who was trembling in fear.
“I...I do not dare. M...miss, I didn’t do it!”
“Liar!” Xiao Xi shouted again. As expected of a villainess’ maid who was quick to act.
“I...I do not dare...do not dare...”
“You...”
Bai Yu raised her hand, and Xiao Xi immediately stopped. She cast her eyes at the woman on the floor who was only a few years older than her. Her appearance was not exquisite, though she was quite comely and good enough to become a concubine. Moreover, she was small, slender, and had an attractive curve to her body. All in all, it was expected that she would try to use her body as a ladder to become Bai Han’s concubine while Yue Mei was away.
“You said you didn’t do it. Does that mean my father is the one who approached you?”
“I...I...”
.....
“Should I send you to serve my father tonight, then? Mother hasn’t been here lately, and father didn’t spend the night with the other Furens at all...”
“M...Miss...” Her eyes widened in shock at Bai Yu’s words.
“What do you think? Is this fine?” The curve of Bai Yu’s mouth lifted.
“I...I leave everything to miss’ judgment.” See? She showed her true nature.
“Xiao Xi.”
“Yes, miss.”
“Bring her to my father’s parlor room.”
“But...” Xiao Xi was reluctant.
Bai Yu lowered her voice. “Go.”
“Yes, miss.” Then, she approached the maid, who was repeatedly thanking Bai Yu. She seemed to try to conceal her gladness, though it was poorly done.
“Is this alright, miss?” Xiao Chang, who had returned to Bai Mansion, asked after both were gone.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she? Father must be satisfied.” This was also a good opportunity to test whether her father had changed or not. Now that she was the one to send this maid to his bed, would he prove himself to be worthy of her help?
“That maid’s quite pretty. Is there no one who likes her?”
“There are some, miss,” Xiao Chang obediently answered, though perplexed.
“Then you bring those men to the parlor room too...” Bai Yu smiled wickedly. “If she isn’t to my father’s liking, then I’ll let those men fight for her. It is fitting for a beauty, isn’t it?”
“Fight for her...to what point, miss?”
“To the point that only one of them would have her.”
“Understood, miss.”
Xiao Chang excused herself to go and carry out her order. It might be cruel, but that maid deserved it for insulting her miss so. If the master did not like her, then she was lucky that her miss helped her find a husband, though she was unsure if that maid would end up with one husband or more. It would be up to an agreement among those men fighting for her.
“Wait.” Bai Yu stopped Xiao Chang. “That thank you gift I sent. Tell her it’s time to leave.”
“Yes, miss.”
She had paid Taizi Fei back enough. She would not trade a woman’s whole life in exchange for her own satisfaction. It would not be long...before the East Palace would permanently change hands.
Clap Clap Clap
Suddenly, the sound of clapping was heard after Xiao Chang had left and Bai Yu was alone. Apart from Bai Han, no one in this mansion dared to disrespect Bai Yu. The newcomer was truly bold.
“Blessings to the second prince.” Bai Yu turned around. She calmly and elegantly gave a curtsy to the foreign enemy, who was acting nonchalant after sneaking in through the window.
His tall figure was clad in pure black, blending in with the dark of the night. His golden hair was tied in a ponytail. His eyes shone bright gold, glittering with a playfulness that befitted his reputation.
“Heh. No need to be so formal, Lady Meihua.”
“Thank you, Wangye.” Bai Yu smiled sweetly. “I did not realize that Wangye was coming, so I must apologize for not having a grand welcome prepared. I have embarrassed myself.”
“Seeing your face is the only gift benwang needs, Yu-er.”
Chu Zhaoran flirted. His eyes studied the slender body he had been dreaming of in a sleeping gown, however, the dark outer robe greatly irritated him. It was a shame he was not fast enough to see her loose hair when her hairpin fell at the competition that day. Still, Bai Yu was beautiful and bewitching no matter when.
“Coming to a lady’s abode at such a time...Wangye must have an urgent business.”
“Benwang only came to see your face, though that little scene a while ago was quite unexpected.”
“I have embarrassed myself in front of Wangye again.”
“Not at all...” Chu Zhaoran smiled. “There are plenty of beauties in benwang’s palace for you to beat. You’re beautifully wicked. Are you sure you don’t want to be benwang’s first consort?”
“What is benwang’s objective?”
“Benwang already stated that. You.”
“And I have refused many times.”
“Because of Ouyang Mingxian?”
Chu Zhaoran narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. Bai Yu calmly met his gaze. She did not accept or deny him, intentionally leaving everything to his own assumption.
This Da Chu prince surely did not come here just to admire her beauty. The security of the Bai family was top-notch but still could not compare to that of the Yue family. He must have taken the opportunity after she came back here and snuck in. It must have been quite an effort. That was why Bai Yu thought that he had another objective. Moreover, this man was a Wangye, a prince. She could not guess what he wanted, and so the most she could do was to prevent him from gaining anything, be it information or herself.
“Even if it’s not him, I still won’t marry Wangye.”
“If it isn’t Ouyang Mingxian...” Chu Zhaoran chuckled. He seemed entirely confident of his higher standing in this negotiation. “...Is it Ouyang Feilong?”
“Am I that fickle in Wangye’s eyes?” Bai Yu tried to remain calm in both her tone and mannerism, no matter how much enjoyment she could feel from the other person’s gaze.
Chu Zhaoran moved from the window he had used as his entrance. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Bai Yu. With her sharp eyes, she could see his movement. However, his martial arts skills were much higher than hers, and so she could not escape when his arm came around her waist.
“It would’ve been better if you were fickle. At least there will be some hope left for benwang.” His other hand lifted her chin as his face came closer, almost sealing their lips together, but was stopped when Bai Yu turned her face away. “Please be careful of your actions, Your Highness.”
“No woman has ever said this to benwang before.”
“There is a first for everyone.”
“Heh.” His low laughter sounded next to her ear. A hot breath that touched her cheek made Bai Yu suddenly embarrassed. This man was too bold!