Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

198 I will make up for it tonight, alright? Part II

“And what you want to say is?”

“I fear that this might become a problem for Your Majesty in the future.”

News of Empress Dowager Wei summoning Mu Qilin while refusing Bai Yu’s audience was heard throughout the inner court. An indirect slight such as this indicated how she had chosen aside. Naturally, Bai Yu was displeased, but she did not wish to make a move yet, not even when they might interpret her silence as weakness. Bai Yu intended to lay low and wait for Empress Dowager Wei and Mu Qilin to go ‘too far’ before striking. However, it seemed someone’s seat was hot in her place.

“I beg pardon for my transgression, but I’m afraid that Your Majesty might not be aware of Mu De Fei’s tricks and end up misunderstanding the empress dowager.”

Bai Yu nodded. On the surface, it sounded like Zhao Ninghua was truly worried about her. But after a moment of consideration, it could also mean that she thought Bai Yu would be too stupid to catch on to the other women’s plan. Bai Yu studied the neat and beautiful face of the person who was superior to her in both age and experience. As she took in Zhao Ninghua’s words, she came to a conclusion: Whatever she said could be interpreted as anything the hearer thought.

“Bengong must thank you for your concern.” Bai Yu gave her a sincere smile.

“I do not dare.” Zhao Ninghua politely lowered her head.

“Is there anything else you wish to advise bengong on?” Bai Yu asked with genuine interest. There might be something else that she had overlooked too.

As soon as those words left her mouth, the sound of Gui Fei’s knees hitting the floor resounded throughout the palace. Zhao Ninghua kneeled, then bowed to kowtow so swiftly that Bai Yu could not stop her in time. “I have overstepped. I deserve death, Your Majesty.”

.....

Bai Yu kneaded her temple. She sighed at the overly deep analysis that Zhao Ninghua had for her words. She must have thought Bai Yu was chastising her for meddling in her problem with Mu De Fei. But before the misunderstanding could be resolved, the low voice of a man was heard.

“What’s happening?”

Bai Yu lifted her face to look at the newcomer, then immediately curtsied. She internally blamed her maid for not informing her that the emperor was coming. What a coincidence that Ouyang Feilong came in while his first consort was kowtowing to Bai Yu, her body shaking like a leaf. Was this a soap opera or fate?!

“Rise.” This, Ouyang Feilong said to her. Bai Yu uttered a word of thanks before glancing at Zhao Ninghua, who still remained in the same position. Her husband easily understood her meaning.

“You as well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Zhao Ninghua’s voice was calmer than Bai Yu expected. She had thought that she would hear a trembling voice calling for sympathy like what other wily women would do. Her trust in Zhao Gui Fei had significantly increased.

“With such a sudden arrival, I’m afraid I cannot provide an adequate welcome. I must beg for Your Majesty’s forgiveness.” If it was other times, Empress Bai would never concern herself with nonsense such as having to welcome him. But they were in front of Zhao Ninghua, so she had to pretend to be a graceful empress before the great emperor.

“It’s nothing. What happened with you two? Why is there a need to kowtow like that?” Ouyang Feilong did not direct the question to anyone in particular. Either Bai Yu or Zhao Ninghua could answer. And Bai Yu chose to remain silent to see what the other woman would do.

“Your Majesty…” Zhao Ninghua was an extraordinarily clever woman. Bai Yu’s silence must mean that she had to answer. “…I have offended Empress, so I am kneeling to beg for her majesty’s forgiveness.”

Bai Yu nodded, satisfied with Zhao Ninghua’s truthful answer. However, Ouyang Feilong ignored his Gui Fei’s words; his eyes were only fixed on the ‘offended’ party. Bai Yu looked back at him and started to feel frustrated. This man intentionally came in while knowing full well of the situation. What trick was he trying to play on her again?

“Meimei can rest assured. Everything is merely a misunderstanding.” It was a mystery as to what made Bai Yu decide to put on an act in front of Ouyang Feilong. They both knew that he could see completely through all her pretense.

“What fine timing. Gui Fei is a great help in managing matters within the inner court. She should be rewarded for her word.” Ouyang Feilong’s presence combined with an unexpected favor, despite her transgression against the empress moments ago, stunned Zhao Ninghua for the first time.

Ouyang Feilong raised a brow at the little fool who was intending to get back at him.

“What does Your Majesty think?”

If he gave her a valuable prize, then he might anger Bai Yu. But if he delegated the decision to the little fool, then he would be admitting his defeat to her, even though he had come in with the intention of picking on her in the first place.

“Zhen shall let Empress decide.”

In the end, Ouyang Feilong chose the latter. He was afraid that he would displease his lover by rewarding the other woman. Bai Yu’s face lit up at the person who ‘respected’ her despite being in front of his other wife. The villainess was in such a good mood that she had given many valuable treasures to Zhao Ninghua. Shortly after, the rewarded person excused herself and left one man and one woman alone on the phoenix throne.

 “You stood zhen up.” The tall man was suddenly in possession of a small, narrow heart after having to have lunch alone.

“That’s because I have an important mission, Your Majesty.”

“Little fool, there’s something more important than zhen?”

“Something that involves my brother.”

“You’re putting another man above your own husband.”

“But that other man is my older brother.”

“Your husband is the emperor. Who could be more important than him?”

“Of course, it’s my brother.”

“Xiao Yu!”

“Yes, honey?” Another round of victory for her.

When faced with strange language, Ouyang Feilong turned quiet and finally admitted defeat. He tiredly shook his head in response to a wide smile from the woman in front of him. The words she uttered must be from her mother tongue. Although he did not know the meaning, her honeyed tone made the Black Dragon’s heart soft.

“I’ll make up for it tonight, alright?” The villainess from the future only now realized that she should not be embarrassed by this kind of thing after Ouyang Feilong had ‘requested’ it so intensely from her. Bai Yu admitted that because the man who shared her life with her was Ouyang Feilong, she was this weak to embarrassment and shyness. But with her pride as a woman from the future, she would not let it continue any longer.

“Ahem.” A cough came from someone who had been listening to Bai Yu and Ouyang Feilong’s conversation since before Zhao Gui Fei left. Because of the emperor’s order, he had to conceal his magic aura and hide his presence. However, the words from his sister, who was revered as the mother of the nation, made it too unbearable for Bai He. He did not know whether to scold her or be embarrassed.

“Brother!”

As soon as the new commander-general stepped out of the hiding place, Bai Yu left the man she had been flirting with behind and ran toward her older brother.

She wrapped her arms around him, completely disregarding the inappropriateness due to her current status. At the same time, the older brother had no thoughts of stopping his sister when she threw herself into his chest.

“I miss you!”

What noble manner? What elegant empress? Bai Yu had forgotten everything.

“What do you mean? We’ve been apart for only a few days.” Bai He smiled at his sister. His hand stroked her hair, decorated with a phoenix hair pin, out of habit. A sigh escaped him as his dark eyes gazed at how her hair was put up high in the opposite style to what he had seen several days ago. His younger sister no longer needed him to protect her.

“Ahem.”

This time, the cough came from the man left abandoned on the phoenix throne. Bai He moved away when he realized that he was acting out of line toward the empress. To make it worse, he had done it while in front of the emperor. Even though they were siblings bound by blood, his sister’s high status made it impossible for their closeness to remain unchanged. But Bai Yu did not have the same thoughts.

“Your Majesty has many matters to attend to. Brother and I will no longer remain here to be a nuisance. Please excuse us.” She took her brother’s hand and pulled him away. She had forgotten that this was her palace, not her husband’s.

Did she want Ouyang Feilong to govern Da Yang from here? Moments ago, she was flirting with him, but as soon as her brother appeared, she not only left him behind but also told him to go back to work.

You sure have some nerves, Xiao Yu!