Chapter 5: Reputation and Commitment

  "It was my fault yesterday!" After finishing speaking, Princess Linchang turned her head and looked at Prince Rui, who sat motionless at the top.

  Baili Zhao's expression was indifferent, but he didn't even raise an eyebrow. Just by looking at his face, everyone present knew that Lin Chang Gongzhu's insincere apology would not satisfy him. Although Lin Chang Gongzhu was furious in her heart, she did not dare to disobey his intention, and immediately turned her head to Xue Chengxian and the others, saying: "I was wrong! I apologize!"

  As soon as she walked over, Yuan Dai and Xiao Chengyan both stood up. Although yesterday's matter was indeed at fault on the part of Princess Linchang, but after all, she is a princess, she can apologize to you, but you still cannot lose your courtesy towards her.

  She saw her like this, and Far Dai couldn't help but glance at Xue Chengxian beside her. Although she wasn't familiar with the princess, Far Dai had long seen that the princess was not a good person. If she didn't give her an opportunity to step down, if things continued to escalate, it would be embarrassing for everyone. However, since this matter was originally started by Xue Chengxian, she couldn't take the initiative now and let Xue Chengxian fall into a passive position.

  Xiao Chengyan sensed her intention and couldn't help but hum a cold tune, saying: "I don't dare! Today, Princess Linchang has specially come to trouble us, it's really exhausting for the two of us!" With Xiao Chengyan's intelligence, she naturally wouldn't miss the obvious resentment and hypocrisy written on Princess Linchang's face. Therefore, this sentence also carried a few hints of undisguised mockery and cold sarcasm.

  Lin Changyuan was originally a noble and elegant person, willing to apologize in public, but in her heart she was already extremely humiliated. At this moment, being ridiculed by Xiao Zhengyan's cold words again, she could no longer hold back, and immediately shouted angrily: "Xiao Zhengyan! You have the nerve to be so presumptuous! Do you think that just because your family produced an empress, you can disregard the hierarchy of superior and inferior and bully me?"

  Xiao Chengxian suddenly heard this, but also got very angry. He coldly smiled and said: "The princess's hat is well-worn! Well-worn! Since the princess has said this, I won't be afraid to confront her in front of the emperor, what does the princess think?"

  Yuan Dai sighed helplessly as she listened from the side. She quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Chengxian's arm: "Sister Xiao..."

  Yesterday, after Yuandai and the two of them left, Lin Chang had actually been ordered by Rui Qīnwáng Bǎi Lǐ Zhāo to reflect on her mistakes. In her heart, she was clear about where she went wrong, but Bǎi Lǐ Zhāo made her apologize in front of everyone, which still made her unhappy.

  But if she were to confront Xiang Xianyu in front of the empress, she wouldn't dare. After all, this marriage was originally the idea of Empress Xiao, and questioning Yuande, even insulting her, would be indirectly questioning and insulting Empress Xiao. Here, Xiang Xianyu had no way out, but Yuande suddenly intervened at this moment, giving her a good opportunity to shift the topic. In anger, she pointed at Yuande with her hand, and Lin Chang furiously said: "You're a calamity, a fox spirit! If it weren't for you, Sister Xian would not have quarreled with me and opposed me everywhere!"

  As soon as this was said, everyone was stunned, and even Baili Zhao, who was sitting at the top and had not spoken a word, also showed a strange expression on his face.

  Yan Dai's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she gave Lin Chang a cold glance, saying: "Please mind your status, Princess. Don't speak carelessly!"

  Lin Chang still didn't realize the mistake in her previous words, and continued to say angrily: "Ling Jiuniang, you have a big nerve, daring to say that I speak without thinking! You...you fox spirit, do you think that just because the Empress is backing you, you can marry my second brother? Let me tell you, someone like you isn't even worthy of being my second brother's concubine..."

  She spoke out of her mouth, but on the other side, Bai Li Zhao had already changed his face, and coldly shouted: "Lin Chang..." This voice was not loud, nor was it severe, but it was majestic, just two words, and Lin Chang's next words were all blocked.

  Lin Chang stomped his foot in anger, turned around and opened his mouth to say something, but when his eyes met Baili Zhao's icy gaze that seemed to freeze him to death, he involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat. He lowered his head, bit his lip, and stood there with a dejected look on his face, not daring to utter another word.

  The room is so quiet that one can hear a pin drop.

  After a long time, Baili Zhao waved his hand lightly and looked at Yuandai in the distance, saying: "You all go down first! Ninth Miss, stay!"

  As soon as the words came out, everyone's expression changed. Subconsciously standing up, Ling Yuancheng took a step forward, opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but the words reached the tip of his tongue and were swallowed again. Xiao Chengyan's face was also extremely strange, but he silently pursed his lips and did not speak.

  After a while, Xiao Chengyi was the first to bid farewell to Baili Zhao and leave the main hall. The others exchanged glances before following suit, leaving the main hall one after another. A moment later, only Yuan Dai and Baili Zhao were left in the hall.

  Two people sat in silence for a long time, but still no one spoke. Yan Dai was not used to this, after taking a deep breath, she calmly raised her eyes and looked at Bai Li Zhao: "What is the intention of your move today, Your Highness?"

  Her sharp black eyebrows suddenly rose like a sword, and Bai Lixiao's face remained unchanged as she countered, "Miss, what makes you say that?"

  Seeing him like this, Yuan Dai also had no choice. In her opinion, today's apology was not done very cleverly. Bai Li Zhao knew that Princess Lin Chang was arrogant and overbearing, but he deliberately made her apologize in person, and when the conflict between Lin Chang and Xiao Chengyan first started, he looked at them coldly, which made Yuan Dai suspect that perhaps this situation was what Bai Li Zhao truly wanted in his heart.

  After a moment of silence, Yuandai changed her question and asked: "Now that this marriage has become known to everyone! I wonder what plans does the king have?"

  She and Princess Linchang have now become sworn enemies. Yuandai believes that as soon as Princess Linchang returns to the palace, it will only be a matter of days before this marriage is known to all. Although every dynasty has had rules against palace interference in politics, the palace and the imperial court are always closely related. What's more, the current Great Zhou is at a critical juncture in the struggle for succession among the princes. Although Prince Rui will not be able to ascend to the throne due to his crippled legs, his influence from his previous time in court still exists, and it can even be said that he is the key to this succession.

  At this time, Baili Xiao suddenly made such a move, which made Yuandai doubt in her heart.

  Looking at her deeply, Baili Zhong said calmly: "With the Empress Dowager around, why must you worry!"

  Yuandai was silent for a moment, and she understood the meaning behind Baili Zhao's words. Her marriage to Baili Zhao was originally arranged by Empress Xiao, and it had been kept secret until now. But now that it had been announced, it was a matter of the empress's face, and whether it succeeded or not, it would still be considered a success. Taking a deep breath, Yuandai slowly spoke up: "I'd like to make a deal with Your Highness, I wonder if you're interested?"

  It seemed that he didn't expect her to say this, and Baili Zhao slightly raised an eyebrow: "What's the harm in saying it?" Although he said so, his tone was very casual, and it was clear that Baili Zhao wasn't particularly interested in Yuan Dai's proposed transaction.

  Yan Dai calmly raised her eyes, gazing directly at Baili Zhou, and said word by word: "I want the position of Zheng Fei and a promise..."

  Suddenly hearing this, Baili Zhao was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, he raised an eyebrow with a hint of mockery. Yuandai looked at him quietly, her tone still calm and gentle: "In exchange, I will do my best to heal the prince's legs..."

  Although she said it very calmly, the words were pleasant to hear, but Baili Zhou still couldn't help but frown: "Heal my legs?" He coldly repeated Yuande's words and then said lightly: "The Ninth Miss really has a big tone!!"

  Yan Dai unintentionally argued with him about anything, shook her head and suddenly asked: "Does the king know why I saw the king on Guanyin Mountain for the first time, I can guess the king's identity?"

  Baili Cao didn't respond, only staring at her intently. In fact, when he thought back on this matter, he also had some doubts in his heart.

  Yan Dai calmly explained, "It's just that when I first saw the prince, I already knew he was not good at chess!" When she and Bai Li met for the first time, Bai Li sat upright in front of the chessboard. Anyone who had never seen him before would have been completely unaware that he was actually bad at chess.

  "Does the king look in the mirror every day?" After hearing this, Baili Zhao's face showed a thoughtful expression, and Yuandai asked again.

  Baili Zhou slightly furrowed her brow at Faraday's sudden question, but still nodded. Faraday smiled again: "I think the king doesn't seem to be a person who attaches too much importance to his appearance, so the king should not have carefully examined himself for a long time, right?"

  The feeling of being led by the nose was extremely unfamiliar to Baili Zhou, and it also made him quite displeased. He frowned at Faraday, and after a while, Baili Zhou barely suppressed his temper and replied: "Yes!"

  Yan Dai originally had no intention of selling Guan Zi, so she asked him many questions just to make Ba Li Zhao believe that she could really cure him. At this moment, seeing him like this, she said lightly: "After returning to Puguang Mountain Villa, Wang Ye might as well take a closer look in the mirror, preferably with a mercury mirror. I believe that Wang Ye will find three light golden dots arranged in a pin shape on his own brow bone."

  Baili Zhou suppressed the urge to touch his own brow, and instead looked at Yuandai with an odd glint in his eye: "Tell me what promise you want!" For intelligent people, once things have reached this point, there's no need to say more; all that's left is how to seal the deal.

  Yu Dai's eyes fluttered closed, but it wasn't until after a long while that she slowly said: "The promise I want is - if one day I don't want to stay by your side anymore, please let me leave, and...don't ask where I'm going!"

  This request was undoubtedly strange, but after a moment's hesitation, Baili Zhao still nodded: "I promise you!"

  Seeing her relieved expression, he couldn't help but add another sentence: "You should understand the premise of all this, right?"

  Calmly nodding, she replied softly from a distance: "Your Highness can rest assured! I will do my best!"

  "Try your best?" Ba Li Xiao swept her with a faint glance and said: "What I want... is far from just two words 'try your best'!"

  Yan Dai's expression remained calm, and she didn't flinch at the thick threatening tone in his words: "Your Highness should understand the principle of 'medicine can't cure death, Buddha ferries those with affinity'. As long as you don't get up, I can only say these two words to you: 'do my best'!" (This station... Your support is my greatest motivation.)