Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

199 Bai Hua… My dear sister Part I

Bai Yu had intended to bait the truth from Bai He. Though she was excited to see her brother, she did not forget how much she was curious about Bai He and Xu Peipei’s relationship. She had not led her brother away for more than a few steps before Ouyang Feilong announced that he would return to the royal study to focus on his work, as his empress had suggested, and to let the siblings talk privately within the palace rather than outside.

Seeing the sparkle in his wife’s eyes, how could Ouyang Feilong not realize that her attention was no longer on him? He could only sigh and leave with his long line of servants.

Bai Yu waved to her husband, then turned to smile at her brother.

“You’re not afraid that you’ll upset his majesty?”

Bai Yu shook her head. “I have something more important here.”

Bai He raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth curved up slightly. “What is it?”

“It’s about Brother and my future sister-in-law.”

The villainess suddenly had cold feet after seeing her brother’s smile, and so she avoided mentioning Xu Peipei directly. “Since I’ve finally married, when will Brother get a wife to help take care of you and Mother?”

“Having a sister with such a lofty title is already enough to take care of Mother. There’s no need for me to take a wife.” Her cheeks were lightly pinched. The slight force from his hand shook Bai Yu’s face, making the ornaments on her hairpin sway.

.....

“There is!” Her smaller hands held his wrists to stop the movement. Bai Yu stared into her brother’s eyes as she tried to convey her seriousness. “I’m worried that you’ll get lonely.”

“I’m not lonely.” Bai He’s dark eyes glimmered with amusement. “I have you and Mother.”

“But you’re going so far away to Da Chu. Of course, you’ll get lonely.”

He laughed low. “Everyone in the envoy is my friend.”

“But a friend isn’t the same as a lover.”

It was impossible that Bai He would not understand what his sister was worried about, or what she wanted to know. However, he did not want to trouble her with a trivial matter, and so he intentionally avoided talking about another woman.

“I still have to take care of you. I can’t leave you alone for someone else.”

“But I…” Bai Yu cast her eyes downward. Bai He was worried about her, so he decided not to marry Xu Peipei? Was she the obstacle in her brother’s love life?

“Yu-er, you can be at ease…” His hand moved to caress her cheek when he saw a flash of guilt from the eyes that resembled his. “I won’t force myself to do anything. Every decision I made, I have carefully considered.”

“Brother…” Her eyes glanced up at him. “I want Brother to think for yourself more.”

Bai He smiled. “Because I’m thinking for myself, I can’t have a woman beside me.”

What was her brother thinking? “What about in the future? Does Brother have someone in mind for your future?”

Bai He smiled widely until two dimples appeared on his cheeks. “That, I will let fate decide.”

—————–

“Who is having an audience with his majesty right now?”

“It is Wei Wang, Your Majesty.”

Ouyang Wenrou? Was he not on a mission?

““Then bengong shall wait here.”

“Should I inform his majesty?”

Bai Yu shook her head with a smile. Ouyang Feilong’s personal eunuch then bowed and retreated to his post in front of the palace again while she waited for Ouyang Wenrou to leave before going in to meet Ouyang Feilong as she wished to.

She could not speak to Bai He for long before he had to leave. Though she wanted to continue to have her brother spoil her rotten, the sky that was turning dark forced her to let him go, lest they risk breaching the palace’s propriety. Then, she intended to make up with Ouyang Feilong, who was repeatedly abandoned throughout the day. She did not expect Ouyang Wenrou to be here at all. Fortunately, the sun was starting to set, so Bai Yu could comfortably stand and wait, even though her hair accessories were slightly weighty on her head.

Inside, a pair of uncle and nephew were discussing a topic that was as high in priority as other matters to Ouyang Feilong.

“You want to join the envoy to exchange culture in Da Chu?” The uncle asked after reading a petition that suggested his ninth nephew as one of the diplomats.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ouyang Feilong coolly studied his nephew’s smiling face, which resembled his brother. “What are you intending to do?”

“Uncle, I have always wanted to improve my knowledge of medicine by exploring the martial world. Now that there’s an opportunity for cultural exchange with Da Chu, I wish to learn more about their medicine.”

Ouyang Feilong nodded. “Then you must properly prepare yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” His objective accomplished, the corner of Ouyang Wenrou’s mouth lifted slightly as he excused himself.

Originally, supporting Ouyang Mingxian had been something Ouyang Wenrou had done all along, but now that the situation had drastically changed, even though Ouyang Feilong had made no moves to eliminate anyone, separating oneself from the authority in this period was a good thing to do.

“Blessings to Aunt Empress.”

A different word of address was uttered by a man whose appearance greatly resembled her past lover. Bai Yu smiled and nodded, accepting a bow from Ouyang Wenrou, who had come out of the palace.

“Bengong did not expect to meet Wei Wang here.”

“Your Majesty, please, there is no need for such a formality.” They might consider each other friends, but Bai Yu was still a wife to Ouyang Feilong, who was his uncle. Ouyang Wenrou should call her ‘aunt,’ while she should affectionately call him ‘Rou-er.’ But Bai Yu could not bring herself to do it.

“Bengong isn’t quite used to everything yet. Bengong might have to trouble you with this for a while.”

“No, not at all, Your Majesty,” her ‘nephew’ replied with the same gentle voice and warm smile.

“Your Majesty, the emperor wishes for your audience.”

Before she could catch up with her friend, Bai Yu was called by Ouyang Feilong. Although she was surprised that her husband was in a rush to see her instead of playing hard to get, Bai Yu immediately left the secondary male lead and headed to Ouyang Feilong.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see zhen? Why don’t you hurry and come in?” The emperor said calmly. His gaze was fixed on the petition in front of him and not on his empress. It was an action that was the complete opposite of his words. “Are there so many things to discuss between an aunt and a nephew?”

“Pff.” A laugh escaped her. She had to cover her mouth when his dragon eyes stared at her. “My apologies, Your Majesty.” Bai Yu curtsied once, her shoulder trembling from her attempt to suppress laughter.

“Is Empress so busy lately?” The more Bai Yu tried not to laugh, the stricter Ouyang Feilong’s voice became.

It was impossible not to understand the meaning behind his words. She had stood him up at noon, and after that, she abandoned him for her brother. The Great Black Dragon seemed to be seriously sulking right now. Furthermore, he was jealous when she stopped speaking with Ouyang Wenrou since she had told him how much he resembled her past lover.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Then come and help zhen.”

“Yes, dear.”

Ignoring the angry glare she received, Bai Yu intentionally flirted in response. She sat down and earnestly started grinding an inkstick for him to use to write replies to the petitions. However, the villainess had forgotten that after crossing into this world, she always had a servant prepare her ink for her, while she herself had never done it before. In the end, both her clothes and Ouyang Feilong’s desk were stained with black ink.

“You are a fool.”