Chapter 6 My Woman

  After sitting down on the kang in the inner room without a word of fatigue, Yuandai immediately raised her hand and gently massaged the temples on her forehead. Dealing with Baili Zhao was undoubtedly an extremely troublesome matter. Xiao Chengxin looked at her anxiously by her side, but ultimately endured and did not ask.

  Du Ruo, who had already received the news, quietly brewed a cup of tea and brought it over, standing silently to one side.

  Yan Dai took a sip of tea, smiled slightly at Xiao Chengyan and said: "Sister, don't worry, I've already talked to him!" As she spoke, she waved her hand at Du Ruo and the others, indicating that they should withdraw first.

  Xiao Cheng asked with a hint of surprise: "Have you talked it over? What exactly did my sister discuss with him?" As she spoke, she suddenly raised an eyebrow and said: "Just now, after leaving the main hall, I was thinking about Lin Chang's case, but the more I think about it, the stranger it seems. I suspect that Rui Qin Wang's intentions are not pure!"

  Yuandai smiled and said, "As for the matter I discussed with Prince Rui, I really have some difficulties that I couldn't speak out, I hope sister can understand!"

  Xiao Chengyan was taken aback, but didn't ask any more questions and just said: "As long as you think it's okay, that's all that matters!"

  Yan Dai saw this, and her heart couldn't help but relax. Xiao Chengxin was indeed a trusted friend, and if she were to ask seriously, it would be hard not to tell the truth. However, revealing to Xiao Chengxin at this time that she could cure Rui Qing Wang's legs was really too early, and most importantly, if this matter were to spread into the palace, it would bring her a hundred harms without any benefit.

  A woman who has been through storms and struggles in the imperial court for decades and still holds a high position. There must be no simple reason for this.

  Yuan Dai didn't bother to investigate why Rui Qin Wang's legs were crippled, at least for now, Rui Qin Wang was still Rui Qin Wang, and she was still herself. As for the future, it was too early to say what would happen in the future.

  "Sister just said is not wrong! The prince's move, indeed it's not that simple!" Far from answering the first question asked by Xiao Chengxian, Yan Dai directly pulled the topic to today's purpose of Lin Chang princess and Rui prince coming.

  Xiao Chengxian looked at her with a deep and thoughtful gaze, saying: "Sister indeed has some awareness!" She said, unable to help but smile bitterly, saying: "But I just can't understand why he would take the initiative to spread this matter throughout the world?"

  After a faint smile, Yuan Dai said: "He will always have to marry a wife! Isn't that right?" This sentence was quite obscure, but Yuan Dai knew that with Xiao Chengxian's intelligence, she would certainly not fail to hear the hidden meaning in these words.

  During this period, there must have been many people who deliberately tried to matchmake for Ruiqin Wangye. Even Yan Dai could confirm it. The number of women who entered the Ruiqin Wangye's estate with her was probably not small either. Everyone wanted to use Ruiqin Wangye's influence to achieve their goal of rising to the top, but they didn't know that Ruiqin Wangye also deliberately used them to further solidify his current position. After all, he had already lost the use of both legs and the throne was already beyond his reach. Under these circumstances, using marriage to make one's own position even more transcendent wasn't necessarily a bad idea.

  She thought silently, and suddenly had a moment of daze. He... now knew that his legs still had the possibility of recovery, so what would he do? She didn't know! And she couldn't infer it from everything she currently knew.

  She fell silent for a while. Xiao Chengyan suddenly sighed and said in a low voice, "Originally... my sister and I could have been sisters-in-law!" She had originally made up her mind not to tell Yuandai about this matter, so as not to disturb her mood. However, at this moment, she still couldn't help but say it out loud, feeling only regret and melancholy in her heart.

  Suddenly hearing this, Yuandai was also taken aback for a moment. Xiao Chengyan had indeed intentionally tried to match her with Xiao Chengye in the past, and had even explicitly mentioned it to her before. However, all of that was in the past now. At this moment, she suddenly brought up old matters again, clearly indicating that she had learned something new. After being stunned for a moment, Yuandai smiled again, lightly saying: "Nowadays we can still be sisters-in-law! If elder sister has changed her mind, it's actually not too late!"

  Xiao Chengyan had just spoken, but in her heart she was already regretful. At this moment, seeing Yan Dai's faint words, the matter would be turned back to her and Ling Yuancheng, but she couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief. She smiled and said: "Sister is kind, but I'm afraid I still have to decline!"

  At this point, the two of them couldn't help but exchange a smile, yet each had their own thoughts.

  ……?……

  In the grand hall of Shuying Mountain Villa, Lin Chang's eyes stared unblinkingly at Bai Li Zhao, who had been lost in thought since leaving Xiao's courtyard.

  "Second brother..." She finally couldn't help but call out: "What did that girl say to you? How could she make you like this?"

  Startled by her sudden outburst, Baili Zhao raised his eyes and gazed calmly at Lin Chang: "Lin Chang, you should really change your temper! Listen, after the New Year when we return to the capital, I don't want to hear any rumors or gossip about her!"

  Lin Chang was taken aback, and then curled his lip, saying: "She's just an ugly freak, why do you treat her like this, Second Brother? Besides..."

  She wanted to say more, but Baili Zhao had already interrupted her coldly: "Enough! Lin Chang, remember, soon she will be your second aunt! How my woman is, doesn't need others to gossip!"

  Lin Chang was taken aback by his words, and after a moment of stunned silence, he burst out: "She's just a commoner from the Ling family, how can she be worthy of you, Second Brother? In my opinion, Yuan sister comes from a prestigious family and is elegant and refined..."

  Baili Zhao suddenly heard this, and without realizing it, he raised his eyes, coldly sweeping over Lin Chang. However, he was so startled by the words that followed that he swallowed them back: "My lord, when did you start speaking on my behalf?"

  Once Lin Chang was blocked, the following words were even more difficult to say.

  Baili Zhao hummed softly and instructed calmly, "After returning to the palace, pass on a message for me to your mother, telling her to behave herself. If she continues to cause trouble like this, don't blame me if I stand by and do nothing when something goes wrong!" Lin Chang felt stifled, but she had always been respectful and fearful of her second brother. When Baili Zhao's expression turned cold, she indeed felt a chill run down her spine. Baili Zhao apparently didn't intend to say more, and after turning his head slightly, he instructed Yue Yao, who had just quietly appeared in the hall, "Send the princess back to the palace!"

  Yue Yao didn't say much more. After hearing this, he immediately turned to Princess Linchang and made a please gesture with his hand: "Please, Your Highness!"

  Lin Chang actually didn't want to return to the palace, but his gaze swept across Baili Zhao's pale face and he ultimately didn't dare say anything disobedient. After a moment of anger, he stomped his foot and rushed out of the hall like flying. Yue Yao followed closely behind with an expressionless face.

  After the two left, Baili Zhao slightly closed his eyes and slowly leaned back in his wheelchair with a white bear skin cushion. For a long time, he didn't move, then suddenly sat up straight and called out loudly: "Come here!" As soon as his voice fell, a slender maid hastily walked into the hall from outside.

  After he bowed deeply, the maid asked in a soft voice: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

  Baili Zhao nodded slightly and ordered in a light tone: "Quickly go get a silver mirror!"

  His request clearly surprised the maid, but she quickly agreed and hurried out.

  After the maid left, Baili Zhou was stunned again, and only then did he slowly raise his hand to gently press it against his own brow, his expression momentarily dazed. It wasn't until there were footsteps outside the hall that he finally put down his hand.

  It was Yue Yao who walked in, holding a round mercury mirror. After giving Baili Zhao a surprised look, Yue Yao stepped forward and handed over the mirror, saying: "How did Your Highness suddenly think of looking into a mirror?"

  Taking the silver mirror, Baili Zhao didn't immediately look into it. He was slightly distracted for a moment before suddenly speaking up: "Yue Yao, take a closer look at me..." Yue Yao's gaze changed to an odd one as he looked at him, and Baili Zhao couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. With an unhappy cold glance at Yue Yao, he said in a low voice: "Take a closer look at the center of my brows, see if there's anything unusual about it?"

  Yue Yao heard this and only then did he carefully observe the center of Baili Zhao's eyebrows. It wasn't until he had looked for a long time that he exclaimed in surprise: "If I hadn't taken a closer look, I really wouldn't have noticed. The center of the king's eyebrows actually has three small dots arranged like the character 'pin'..." He was right to be surprised, since Baili Zhao had been injured and his legs had become disabled, Yue Yao had always been by his side, but if Baili Zhao hadn't reminded him, he really wouldn't have discovered that there was something unusual about the center of Baili Zhao's eyebrows.

  Without giving him another glance, Baili Zhao slowly raised the silver mirror and carefully examined his reflection. There was no mistake, on his brow there were indeed three small dots of a faint golden color, about the size of millet grains, just as Yuan Cai had said. It was an extremely pale gold, so pale that it was almost the same as his skin tone, which is why he hadn't noticed them in the past three years.

  After a long silence, Baili Xu slowly spoke: "Tomorrow, send someone back to the palace and inform Empress Dowager that I have agreed to this marriage between the Ling family. Please ask Empress Dowager to prepare the three letters and six gifts on my behalf, and let's settle this matter before the end of the year!"

  Yue Yao suddenly heard this and was greatly shocked: "Three books and six rituals? Formal betrothal? Is the prince going to welcome a legitimate wife?"

  Baili Cao nodded slightly and paused for a moment before continuing: "The rest of the candidates... have all declined, I suppose!"

  Yue Yao heard this and couldn't help but become even more shocked: "Prince Wang..." He involuntarily called out, his face full of disbelieving expressions.

  He waved his hand to interrupt Yue Yao's words of persuasion and said calmly, "She said... she will try her best to heal my legs..."

  "Without thinking, Yue Yao blurted out: 'Try your best to cure? The number of people who have said this in front of Wang Ye is at least ninety, even if not a hundred! But why did Wang Ye believe her?"

  With a slight raise of his eyebrow, Baili Zhou pointed to his own brow: "Because of this!"

  As soon as these words came out, Yue Yao fell silent for a moment before saying: "If she can really cure the prince's legs, then no matter what the prince pays, it will be worth it! However... She is just a ten-year-old girl..."

  With a faint smile, Baili Hongyi suddenly turned around and asked, "Yue Yao, seven years ago, how old were we?"

  Yue Yao was taken aback, and the words that followed could no longer be spoken.

  Seven years ago, he went to the northern border with Baili Zhao to resist the Northern Di. In the military account, Baili Zhao overruled the crowd and appointed him as a general, deciding to let him lead 5,000 elite soldiers to directly insert into the rear of the Northern Di. At that time, he was just young, and resolutely accepted the order. After three months, he led his army deep into the enemy's rear, all the way with war to nurture war, and also fought side by side with Baili Zhao, forcing the Northern Di to send an envoy to the capital to surrender and seek peace.

  That year, he was just over twenty. And Bai Li Zhao, was only one year older than him. (This station... Your support is my greatest motivation.)