Chapter 9

“Benwang thought Miss Bai has already stopped blushing every time we meet.”

“Please don’t tease me so, Your Highness.”

Bai Yu tried to suppress the smoldering heat in her chest. She turned her face away from his grip and looked down. Though her heart was still beating fast, she had to react with grace so that Ouyang Mingxian would not know that he could affect her as much as before.

Ouyang Mingxian was surprised to see her reaction. But it was only a fraction of a second before his calmness and indifference returned. So she has learned to reject him now?

“Let me lead the way, Your Highness.”

Bai Yu did not wait for a reply before walking ahead, keeping her face down. Whether she changed into a completely different person or still eternally clung to the love she had, the fact that Ouyang Mingxian only loved Bai Hua would never change.

“Farewell to Wangye.” She curtsied to him, not lifting her eyes from start to finish. Her action was opposite to how her gaze would always follow his carriage until it became out of sight.

.....

Ouyang Mingxian gave a brief smile. “Take care of your health, Miss Bai.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Let’s see how long you can escape from benwang.

——————-

Thump!!

“Xiao Tao!!”

“Miss!! Please, don’t!”

Thump!! Thump!!

Bai Yu hastened her pace when she heard a commotion near her building. She had not thought of how to handle that male lead who liked to go off-script on her, and now she had to spend her energy on trying to recall which scene in the series was this.

“First Furen, I beg of you. Please have mercy!”

She saw Bai Hua, in her light green dress with a familiar-looking lotus embroidery, being restraint by a maid whom Bai Yu had never seen before. Bai Hua was prevented from rushing to her personal maid who was surrounded by male servants. In their hands was a palm-sized slab of wood as they took turns hitting the maid’s back.

The villainess was unsure if this was the scene where Yue Mei thought up an excuse to punish Bai Hua to get back at her for being a hassle to Bai Yu or not.

“Mother” Bai Yu curtsied to her mother, who she suspected to be the one who gave the order to flog that maid. “What happened?”

“Third miss’s maid sneaked in first miss’s building to steal something.” It was Xiao Jun, her mother’s personal maid who answered her.

“What did she steal?”

“She hadn’t taken anything yet. My servants happened to pass by in time. They said she was acting suspicious, refusing to answer anything, so I ordered to have her flogged until she speaks.” This time it was her mother who replied in a loud voice, befitting her position as the mistress of the house.

“Xiao Tao did not steal anything. First Furen please give us justice.” A clear voice interrupted their conversation. It was from Bai Hua who bravely walked up to confront her and her mother. Her peach blossom eyes showed a determination that could even surprise Yue Mei.

“What do you mean?” A low voice sounded behind them. The arrival of the head of the house, Bai Han, immediately drew everyone’s attention. Bai Hua herself gave a curtsy to him without a trace of fear. As expected from the valiant heroine.

“Xiao Tao only wishes to find evidence to prove my innocence.”

“Nonsense!” Yue Mei snapped. “For what crime were you so wrongly judged that you have to ask for justice?”

“The incident at the palace two days ago. I was not the one who poisoned big sister, so Xiao Tao tried to find evidence.” Those peach blossom eyes met with hers. The gaze was full of meaning. Bai Yu showed a slight smile as her own dark eyes nonchalantly stared back. She raised her brow as she challenged.

“So third sister tried to prove her innocence by ordering her maid to steal from jiejie?” This time it was you yourself who asked for trouble, Bai Hua.

“It was this servant. It was only me. Third miss did not order anything,” Xiao Tao cried. The flogging stopped since Bai Han joined the scene.

“It is all my fault. All my fault, miss.” Xiao Tao was in tears as she tried to protect her mistress from being involved.

Bai Hua gave a discreet glance at her maid, trying to stop her from talking. Her action was subtle, but still could not escape Bai Yu’s eyes.

She huffed, before continuing. Bai Hua had such a predictable weakness that Bai Yu could force it out with just a few words. “Then it’s fair that you’re flogged.” She gave the servants a signal to continue.

Xiao Zi started screaming as her friend was hit again.

“It was me!” Immediately, every action stopped. All eyes were on the valiant female lead.

“It was me who ordered Xiao Tao to sneak into first sister’s residence.”

Righteousness. Camaraderie. Only the heroine would have these kinds of weaknesses.

“What did you order Xiao Tao to steal from your sister?” Bai Han could not believe that his naive daughter would have the audacity for such actions that he had only heard happened in the inner court. She even ordered a servant to search her older sister’s residence.

“I asked her to find the poison, father.”

“What do you mean?”

“I did not poison big sister. It was her. She poisoned herself!”

“Ridiculous!” Yue Mei raised her voice again. She rushed toward Bai Hua in an attempt to slap her, but Bai Han’s halting gesture made Bai Yu stepped in to pull her mother back.

“I believe that the poison is still in the big sister’s house, so I ordered Xiao Tao to take it out.”

“No, master! It was me who suggested the idea. Third miss tried to stop me, but I went against her order and came here.”

“That’s right. I can attest to it, master. Third miss has told us to stop thinking about it but we did not listen.”

“Xiao Tao! Xiao Zi!” Bai Hua suppressed her maids. “I ordered them to do it because I wanted to prove my innocence. Father, please give me justice.”

Hmph! This time it was clearly your people’s fault. Just what kind of justice are you asking for?

In the series, it was true that Bai Hua did forbid her maids from getting involved. But after they were caught, her affection and loyalty for people close to her made her took the fall for them. Even when those people were merely maids, the heroine who believed in equality would still want to protect them.

“About that...” Bai Han touched his beard as he considered her words.

“So you’re implying that you think the Empress Dowager’s judgment was biased against you?” Yue Mei hurried to interrupt before Bai Han could make up his mind.

“No! I was just...”

“Insolent! Don’t you know that you’re disparaging the royals?” Hearing his wife’s claim, the upright senior chancellor Bai who held a deep respect for the royalty swiftly came to the conclusion.

“You kept saying that you’re innocent while your actions say otherwise. You sent your maid to steal from Yu-er. You sneaked out of the mansion, defying the detention order given by me, the first Furen of this house!”

Oh, Bai Hua, you brought this on yourself.

“Third sister, how many times do you want to blame jiejie until you’re satisfied?” Bai Yu asked, faking a saddened tone.

“You!”

“No, miss, please don’t.” Bai Hua who had reached her limit darted at Bai Yu. Fortunately, her maids came to stop her in time, otherwise, she would be further punished for not respecting her eldest sister born from the first wife.

Amidst the shock of everyone else at how the sickly third miss who had always been well-mannered became a different person, Bai Yu silently praised her.

This new Bai Hua really does have some nerve. Yet in this world of rank and hierarchy, you will only look like a fool with that quality. Obviously, I will not pass the opportunity to make things worse for you.

“Ahh!”