Chapter 83

83 She’ll be damned if she could not do whatever she pleases! Part II

The next day, Bai Yu’s training was canceled both in the morning and afternoon. Empress Dowager Wei gave a sudden order summoning her to the palace, still, Bai Yu dressed elegantly as always. From now on, she would have to pay even more attention to what she wore, while also started accepting more party invitations to socialize. These would benefit her not only in the competition for Lady Meihua title but also in her dressmaking business as well. Currently, the process of sewing those dresses were being accelerated, hoping to finish them in time for her competition.

Bai Yu wore a white dress, with a long cloak made from dark blue fox fur to protect her from the cold. When she reached Empress Dowager Wei’s palace, she was first thoroughly questioned about the rumor between her and Xu Luanle.

Bai Yu remained calm and mannerly on the outside, though she was amused by Empress Dowager Wei who fully believed the rumor and openly showed her anxiousness. She must be nervous that Bai Yu might change her mind and stop loving Qin Wang when in truth, she had already done that the moment she knew the true purpose behind her transmigrating here.

Throughout their conversation, Bai Yu could only answer Empress Dowager reservedly. She could not openly announce that she no longer loved Ouyang Mingxian because that would turn allies into enemies. She could not bear the risk right now.

Bai Yu stayed at Empress Dowager Wei’s palace until late morning. While she was heading out from the inner court, Empress Wang’s personal maid came to relay her summon. Bai Yu had to swallow her unwillingness and followed the maid silently.

The reason that Empress Wang wanted to see her would be none other than that rumor. At first, she acted like she was only asking Bai Yu about the dress she was having sewn for her, but she eventually revealed her hand. She wanted to know the truth behind her and Xu Luanle’s relationship, no different from Empress Dowager.

Bai Yu left the royal palace at noon and went straight to the Bai family mansion. There was another woman left who she wanted to talk to. On her way back home, she considered the news she heard from Empress Dowager Wei about Ouyang Mingxian’s mission to quell the snow bandits. Bai Yu recalled the story of the series and realized that this was the first event at the start of the fight for the throne.

Taizi Ouyang Yongxian was originally weaker than his younger brother, Ouyang Mingxian. He only managed to stay in power by relying on the support from the current Empress Wang’s family. In his mission this time, he was reckless. He underestimated that the reputation of these bandits started to spread two winters ago, thinking they must not be a match for him, and ended up being defeated on top of being badly injured.

Ouyang Mingxian took over his mission and successfully eliminated the bandits. But when he was heading back, he was ambushed by men ordered by Empress Wang who did not want Qin Wang to come back and be more favored by the Emperor. At that time, Ouyang Mingxian suffered a near-fatal injury and went missing.

.....

The Emperor issued an order to comb the land for him. The capital of Da Yang was in chaos. Bai Hua who heard the news went to search for her lover and finally found him because of the fragrant pouch containing antidote that she had once given for him to use in case of emergency. Then, she healed him until he came back to health and the two escaped together. On the journey back to the capital under disguise, they had the chance to deepen their relationship further. And when they returned, the Emperor rewarded Qin Wang for suppressing the bandits and also gave the royal decree to find the perpetrator at any cost. Because of his fury, the punishment for the one behind harming Qin Wang was severe.

Bai Hua, too, was acknowledged by the Emperor. He appointed her as the female doctor of the first rank, the first and only position in the royal palace. Her ability in saving Ouyang Mingxian’s life and curing the villages of the plague was uncontested.

“No need to come with me, Xiao Chang,” Bai Yu spoke the moment her carriage stopped in front of the Bai family mansion. “You go on and investigate the ‘thank you gift’ for me.”

To capture someone’s heart...now was the optimal time. Bai Yu could only hope that ‘she’ would be able to accomplish it.

“Don’t forget to tell her that if she doesn’t know when to stop, then she would have nothing, not even her own life,” the villainess said before stepping out of the carriage. Everything she had said was left behind as she moved forward to ponder her next step.

Bai Yu took a deep breath.

Being born with the power of two major families was a blessing. It gave her high social standing and comfortable life. The only thing she lacked was freedom.

Because of her beauty and status, people always had expectations for Bai Yu, the daughter of the senior chancellor. It was natural that the original Bai Yu was obedient, listening to every word her mother and Empress Dowager Wei told her. That high status made her self-centered and mean, but it also meant that she was unable to do anything on her own without her mother.

In the series, the villainess was lost to the transmigrated Bai Hua who had the freedom of thought.

Her becoming the beautiful and refined Bai Yu limited her actions from going against the wish of her mother and Empress Dowager Wei who had taught and instilled her of her position ever since she was little.

But she came here to change her fate. She’ll be damned if she could not do whatever she pleases!

“Greetings from Yu-er to mother.” Bai Yu curtsied to her mother who sat still, acting the same way she had when Bai Yu had left home. Even though she was constantly sending herbs to her at Yue mansion, she still had yet to forgive her.

Bai Yu knew her mother did not bear too deep a grudge against her. She only acted so to correct her spoiled behavior that was caused by her upbringing. Today, Bai Yu came to have lunch together with her mother and talked about the rumor that surely was troubling Yue Mei.

She told her everything, including the business deal between her and the anonymous master, which she had kept a secret from both Empress Dowager Wei and Empress Wang. Though her mother acted aloof, she asked Bai Yu about her living condition at the Yue mansion with the same love and care.

Bai Yu knew better than anyone how resolute Yue Mei was. Her unchanging coldness toward Bai Han was evident enough by itself. This was the biggest obstacle in Bai Yu’s attempt at changing her destiny unless she chose to become estranged from her mother. Still, there was one thing Bai Yu had learned from training with the Yue family, the one thing that she hoped she could use to her advantage...

All members of the Yue family always keep their words.

“If I win this season’s competition, can I ask one thing from mother?”

“What is it?”

“You have to promise that you’ll give it to me first.” She intentionally refrained from saying what she wanted right now. Bai Yu had to resort to using tricks to secure the path for her brighter future.

“Alright, alright. I promise.”

“I love mother the most.” She hugged her mother without caring whether she was forgiven or not. In fact, Bai Yu missed her mother greatly. Ever since she transmigrated here, the only person who always protected her was Yue Mei. Fortunately, she stayed at the Meihua residence that used to be Yue Mei’s. The small connection between her and her mother could keep the feeling of yearning at bay.

To make up for the lost time, Bai Yu remained at the Bai family mansion until dark. However, she had only met her father, mother, and other Furens. There was no sign of Bai He.

While walking back to the front gate to leave, Bai Yu told Xiao Xi to follow her to another path. The little maid was puzzled by her young lady’s order, but she still kept her silence and acted accordingly. Until they reached Jiuhua residence.

“Greetings to first sister.”

“Greetings to first miss.”

Bai Hua and her maid hurried out to greet the first miss. It was beyond their expectation to see her coming here. Bai Hua’s two maids looked uneasy, they were possibly thinking that Bai Yu came to create trouble, while their mistress was composed.

“I have something to talk to you, alone.” As soon as she said that, all servants left the area.

“Is something the matter, first sister?” Bai Hua lifted her face slightly. Her peach blossom eyes looked straight at Bai Yu.

Bai Yu approached the other person. She maintained her calm fa?ade and she tried to suppress her hatred for the face that resembled Song Lianhua. Bai Yu leaned forward and whispered against the ear of the future female doctor, the one and the only in Da Yang history.

The peach blossom eyes widened after she heard something from her half-sister. Bai Hua never thought that Bai Yu would reveal this to her. Surprise turned into guilt. Then, worry reflected in her honest gaze. Her thin lips trembled as she hoarsely spoke.

“I don’t-” The heroine wanted to deny what Bai Yu had just whispered to her.

“I don’t care what you have between the two of you.”

“That’s...”

“If you love him so much...then just take him if you can.”

Bai Yu generously stepped aside for them...I hope you’ll be as good at capturing a man’s heart as you were in your last life.

Bai Hua fell silent. Her face revealed nothing, unlike the first time they had met. Still, Bai Yu could clearly see in her eyes the hesitation and guilt that was soon replaced by resolve.

“Thank you for telling me this,” this time, Bai Hua expressed gratitude as a fellow person who had transmigrated here.

“I don’t want to hear that word from you.” In the past, she would always get angry at Song Lianhua’s words. That was why she consciously ignored everything that woman said.

But today, Bai Yu had changed...

Maybe ‘a certain word’ from Bai Hua could help free Bai Yu from this fate.

“I...I’m sorry.”