Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

99 Benwang will have her, no matter what Part II

The second prince Chu Zhaoran!

While they were preparing to return to Da Chu, Bai Yu had some time to talk to Ouyang Feilong about what had happened. Even though there was a tradition that women did not belong in the nation’s affairs, Ouyang Feilong willingly explained the situation to her.

The assassination attempt at the white jade temple last night was surely Chu Zhaoran’s own doing. The prince seemed to have already expected infiltrators, so he set up a trap to create the situation that would spark the war between the two nations.

Hearing that, Bai Yu thought back to Bai He’s injury. Obviously, her brother was injured because Empress Wang had ordered an ambush on Ouyang Mingxian. Bai Yu knew that the poison that was used against Ouyang Mingxian was from Da Chu, used by the Empress to confuse the public eyes. However, Bai He was injured by the poison that really came from Da Chu.

Because if it did not come from Da Chu, then how could Chu Zhaoran know that people from Da Yang would come to steal the magic hare. Bai Yu had only two suspicions.

One, there were Chu Zhaoran’s men among those that Empress Wang had sent to kill Ouyang Mingxian. Two, Empress Wang cooperated with the second prince in trying to harm Ouyang Mingxian.

If it was the former, then there were ways to handle it. But if it was the latter, then Da Yang was now in peril.

Bai Yu had told her two assumptions to Ouyang Feilong. He was surprised that she knew Empress Wang was behind Ouyang Mingxian’s assassination attempt. Bai Yu said nothing to him, only suggesting that he should send his men to investigate Wang’s family mansion. In the kitchen, there should be a cellar that stored various things, including the poison that Ouyang Mingxian was hurt by.

Her words led to a suspicious gaze in those golden eyes. But when he saw that she did not utter a word about the source of her information, Ouyang Feilong did not interrogate her about it, only nodded and continued the conversation regarding her two theories.

.....

There was another thing that Bai Yu had asked from him: the group that had attacked them when they were trying to escape. Ouyang Feilong could only say that they were not sent by Chu Zhaoran, and so she kept further questions to herself.

Back to the situation at hand, Bai Yu could not see how the people outside were acting, but the fact that Chu Zhaoran was here and decisively killed the soldier must mean that he knew who was in the carriage. Their escape now became harder than they had thought.

“Blessings to the second prince.” Her heart raced at the voice from outside.

“No need for such formalities.” His voice was as calm as ever, his handsome face had the same smile as usual. Chu Zhaoran’s towering figure in a full army gracefully jumped down from his horse.

This prince had only lived through nineteen winters, yet his skill in the military was comparable to Da Yang’s commander-general. His experience might be at a disadvantage, but he made up for it with his ruthlessness. Because of that, the army under Chu Zhaoran’s command was as aggressive and resolute as Ouyang Feilong’s. They both had clashed several times before.

“Apologies. Benwang’s soldier was rude to your wife.” The surrounding people, including the border soldiers, were surprised to see their Wangye jumping down from his horse to converse so casually with a foreign merchant.

“Your Highness is most gracious,” Ouyang Feilong replied in an aloof tone. He was not respectful nor arrogant, for he had realized that the prince already knew his identity as the commander-general.

“A long travel will affect the health of a heavily pregnant woman. In the times that the situation between two nations is unstable like this, you should not bring your wife to face danger. You should ‘let her stay in Da Chu’ to safely give birth. If a war starts, don’t say that benwang didn’t warn you.”

The implied meaning in his words immediately created tension from those around the carriage. Ouyang Feilong only frowned as he flatly replied. “I am grateful for the warning, but I am sure I can ensure my wife’s safety.”

“Aren’t you afraid that her returning to Da Yang will result in danger?”

Bai Yu had to change the word ‘danger’ to ‘war’ in her head to understand the hidden conversation between Chu Zhaoran and Ouyang Feilong in front of a crowd who did not understand anything.

“She is a Da Yang citizen. Her place is obviously in Da Yang.”

“Good.” There was a burst of laughter in that voice. “If you insist, then benwang won’t stop you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Even though benwang was attacked by Da Yang’s men, benwang is gracious enough to let you lovebirds return to your motherland.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, murmurs were instantly heard from the crowd. The news that Chu Zhaoran was attacked was widely known, that was why the city was heavily patrolled. But no one had known that the attackers were from Da Yang!

Now that the prince of the nation had revealed their identity right here, with citizens and soldiers as witnesses, obviously the news would reach both capitals in Da Chu and Da Yang!

Bai Yu gritted her teeth. Chu Zhaoran had eaten her tofu just to fulfill his underhanded scheme!

Bai Yu now knew that he had neither love nor desire for her at all. Her painting in his bedchamber muse has been a part of his plan as well. And his appearing in front of them today was also not to prevent them from leaving, but to force Ouyang Feilong to choose between leaving her behind or starting a war!

What did Chu Zhaoran really want?! If he truly wanted war from the start, then why would he come today and present a choice?

Bai Yu could not guess his thoughts at all. All she could do was sit still in the carriage that was heading toward Da Yang. In her head was a whisper from Chu Zhaoran that intended for Ouyang Feilong and her to hear.

“We’ll meet again on the battlefield...Benwang will have her, no matter what!”

Bai Yu discreetly held up her middle finger as the carriage moved past the golden-haired man.

Utterly stupid!

—————–

Ouyang Feilong was clearly in a bad mood.

The atmosphere around the figure riding behind her was taut and heavy the whole way back. After the carriage suspiciously safely entered Da Yang, Bai Yu moved to ride on the same horse as Ouyang Feilong. They rushed their travel on horseback. Golden magic that was quickly conjured to increase their speed emanated strange coldness. Bai Yu understood his irritation since she felt the same way as well.

The news that Da Yang people attacking the second prince at the white jade palace would surely be heard by the Emperor, sooner or later. They might not be the culprit, but it was irrefutable that they were there when the attack happened. The Emperor would surely believe their explanation, but the news had already spread. It was simple for either side to use that as the excuse to start the war.

Still, her being involved irritated Bai Yu. She knew that she was wealthy and beautiful. But Chu Zhaoran forcefully pulled her into the conflict as the cause for war was too stupid!

Throughout their journey back, no one said a word. Although Ouyang Feilong was injured, he forced himself to go back faster than when he left, and so she arrived at the Yue family mansion in the middle of the night of that same day.

What happened in the afternoon stressed her out, but the moment she saw the plaque in front of the mansion, Bai Yu was immediately overwhelmed by her worry for her brother. She got down from the horse with Ouyang Feilong’s help, then she gave him a curtsy before running toward the Meihua building.

Inside was illuminated by the candlelight. There was no longer the commotion she saw when she had arrived last time, only silence. There were several people in the building, but they did not make a noise for fear of disturbing the injured person.

Bai Yu’s eyes locked on her brother on the bed as soon as she stepped into the bedroom. She rushed toward him, anxiousness made her pay no attention to others in the room.

Bai He’s tall frame was lying on her bed with his eyes closed. His breath was regular. It was as if he was only asleep.

Bai Yu heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of her older brother, still alive.

Her white hand caressed his pale white face. Her eyes were full of tears as she sensed the calmness of his magic. It was too calm, the calm that signified life, but not consciousness.

“I was too late,” the silver-haired man said. Yue Nan was the one who was standing closest to her, and so he could see how her eyes were brimming with tears. “The antidote made from the magic hare’s heart has saved Bai He from the brink of death. But his body has absorbed too much poison and is cured too late, so he doesn’t regain his consciousness.”

“Brother...” Bai Yu suppressed a sob. “How long will brother be like this?”

“Bai He will continue to sleep like this...” Her dark eyes turned to look at him in surprise. In Yue Nan’s blue gaze did not contain a lie. “...Forever.”

Bai Yu’s hands jerked. She had to muffle her sobs with the palm of her hand. Tears that she had been trying to hold back flowed freely. She shook her head.

No! This can’t be true!

There was nothing like this in the series! Her brother should not have faced something like this!

“Is there no way to heal him?” It was a voice from Ouyang Feilong who had just arrived in time to hear Yue Nan’s words. He waved his hand once to stop those in the room from greeting him.

Bai Yu waited for Yue Nan’s reply, still hopeful. Silence overtook them all. Bai Yu glanced around the room and noticed that it was full of people from the Yue family. There were also her father and mother.

Bai Yu looked at their grim faces, looked at her mother’s red eye, before turning back to her older cousin who could see the future.

Blue eyes peered into hers. Yue Nan finally spoke, his words were like a flash of lightning that struck her heart and broke it into pieces.

“Everything is decided by fate.”