Chapter 6, Stealing the Family Tree of the Bai Family
Yin Du was waiting outside the pear garden when he suddenly saw his master walking out of the courtyard with a stern expression, not even glancing at him. With a swift pace, he headed straight towards the study in the main courtyard. While feeling puzzled, Yin Du quickly followed after him
Qiu nodded in satisfaction: "As expected of a daughter from a prestigious family, she truly understands the bigger picture. If Yu can marry Miss Bai, it would indeed be a great fortune for him"
Yan Mo's slightly furrowed sword-like brows revealed a complex and helpless glimmer in his eyes. This was not the first time such a situation had occurred; outsiders claimed that the Emperor favored him, but only he understood that the Emperor did not merely favor him, but rather cherished him. He himself could not comprehend what the Emperor was truly thinking, showering affection upon an outsider like this. Was it to make him a target for everyone, inciting the hatred of the various princes towards him?
Imperial Palace Study
"Your Majesty—" Yan Mo interrupted him with a cupped fist salute, replying in a low voice, "I have sustained some injuries, but they are no longer serious. There is no need to trouble the imperial physician; I have already expressed my gratitude for Your Majesty's kind intentions."
Upon hearing this, Qiu was even more pleased, and her smile widened a bit more as she patted Bai Xinbi's hand and repeatedly said: "Good, good, good, from now on I will call you Xinbi."
The woman, due to her impoverished living conditions, could be described as emaciated; when he held her, he could hardly feel her weight. The result of malnutrition had rendered her short and frail. She stood before him, not even reaching the height of his shoulders
Upon hearing the low command from his master, he widened his eyes in surprise: "Master, you are not joking, are you? You want your subordinate to go to the Bai residence to steal the family genealogy of the Bai family?"
In the imperial study, the imposing Emperor Xia Gao of Shu Xia furrowed his brow in displeasure upon seeing Yan Mo Yu, and it remained creased ever since.
This child is strikingly similar to her temperament from years ago; she appears easy to talk to, yet is quite stubborn in reality
Upon hearing this, Xia Gao suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, quickly walked to him, raised his arm, and asked coldly: "Was it the people from Maoshan Village who hurt you? Why didn't you say anything when you returned? Quickly tell me, what is the extent of your injuries? Where are you hurt?"
Suddenly, Xia Gao's expression changed to one of great displeasure: "How can that be acceptable? You are a hereditary prince; although you are of a different surname, Tuan has never regarded you as an outsider. With your status, how can you marry a village girl from the mountains?"
Having finished speaking, he clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and left the imperial study without looking back
Calculating, he is already twenty-six years old in nominal age, the Crown Prince is twenty-seven, yet the Crown Princess has been married for seven or eight years...
How can there be such similar people in the world
After dawn, Yan Mo returned to the imperial study, where he and the emperor were closed in for nearly an hour discussing state affairs
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he truly would not have dared to believe that there could be two such similar individuals
Such indifference and alienation seemed to be a norm for Qiu, who appeared to turn a blind eye to it. He stood up from his high position, walked to the guest seat, and took the hand of a graceful and stunningly beautiful woman, bringing her before Yan Mo Yu. With a kind smile on his face, he gently said: "Yu'er, this is the young lady of the Bai family, named Xin Bi. Today, she is a guest specially invited by your mother"
Emperor Xia Gao shook his head, furrowing his brow as he sighed lightly: "You have ventured into the tiger's den, which is already a commendable achievement. To return safely is a source of comfort for me. It is only unfortunate that the mastermind behind this is cunning, leaving no clues..." Noticing the fatigue in the young man's expression across from him, he suddenly asked with great concern, "Did you encounter any dangers while deep in Maoshan Village? Otherwise, why do you look so unwell? I will immediately summon the imperial physician to examine you..."
A maid had gone ahead to inform Mrs. Qiu that the prince had arrived. After nearly a month of agitation, Mrs. Qiu's heart finally felt a bit more at ease, and she hurriedly brought the guests she had invited to the front hall.
Upon hearing this, Xia Gao finally let out a sigh of relief, as if realizing that his reaction had been somewhat excessive. He turned around and sat back on the dragon throne, his expression becoming solemn. The tension he had just displayed vanished without a trace, replaced only by the dignity that belonged solely to an emperor.
Seeing this, Yan Mo could not help but sigh inwardly, nodding and replying in a low voice: "Yes, it is no longer a serious matter"
You must not take a liking to that Miss Bai
Xia Gao felt somewhat uncomfortable, staring blankly at the direction in which that figure disappeared. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh
Only he knows that the woman in front of him, named Bai Xinbi, is not her
In his Shu Xia territory, there are actually individuals smuggling weapons, a matter that concerns the safety of the nation; how could he treat it carelessly
Every time he arrived at the pear orchard and saw the numerous pear trees, he felt extremely uncomfortable, even he could not understand why he hated these pear trees so much
Yin Du promptly complied
Returning from the palace to the Cheng Wangfu, Yan Mo was essentially coaxed by Granny Yin Du to the courtyard of the Qiu family—Li Courtyard.
Relying on his own intuition and observation, he discovered that things were not at all as he had guessed... The Emperor was truly good to him, and his words and actions always gave him a sense of illusion...
The cold and harsh voice momentarily stunned the woman, but she soon lifted her head, her enchanting watery eyes meeting the man's scrutinizing gaze
Mother, the son remembers that there are still matters left unresolved, so I will not disturb you while you speak with Miss Bai. I will take my leave first!" Interrupted by Qiu, Yan Mo Yu finally came back to his senses. Realizing his own lapse in demeanor, he composed himself, expressionless, and performed a respectful bow to Qiu. Then, without caring about the reactions of the two women, one old and one young, he turned and left the Li Courtyard.
Especially those eyes, carrying a hint of arrogance, a touch of stubbornness, a dash of nonchalance, and a trace of cunning... deeply etched in his heart, how could he ever forget them, just like books...
Opposite him, a young and handsome man clasped his hands and said: "I serve at the Emperor's command, having sent secret agents to Maoshan Village. Although we have confirmed the location of the weapon smelting, we have allowed the mastermind to escape, failing to meet the Emperor's expectations. I humbly ask for the Emperor's forgiveness"
"Yu'er, what do you mean by this?" Qiu realized that his son was clearly acting strangely and quickly spoke up to smooth things over, gently scolding, "Look at your reaction! Miss Bai is, after all, a young lady from a respectable family; how can you stare at her like that? Miss Bai is exceptionally beautiful, and even if you like her, you should at least restrain yourself a bit.
Upon hearing this, Xia Gao's eyes brightened: "Who is it?"
The serene gaze flickered slightly, and Yan Mo Yu did not conceal it, directly nodding in response: "In reply to Your Majesty, I indeed have a favored woman."
There is such a woman, for whom one should be immensely grateful. Are you certain that your injuries are no longer serious?" Regarding the woman that Yan Mo Yu had intentionally mentioned, Xia Gao briefly glossed over it, and then immediately redirected the conversation back to Yan Mo Yu's injuries, as if he needed a clear answer to feel at ease. That gaze, filled with authority, was accompanied by an unmistakable hint of concern as it continuously scrutinized Yan Mo Yu, clearly searching for signs of his injuries.
It was that woman from Maoshan Village who saved me.
Bai Xinbi, feeling shy and embarrassed, lowered her head: "Old Madam, you are being too modest. Only those who can marry a prince are truly blessed... From now on, you may simply call my daughter by her name; referring to her as 'Miss' seems a bit distant."
"The old lady..." Bai Xinbi wore a face of confusion and disappointment. Why did he leave?
The ink faded, and the light in his eyes dimmed subtly. Lowering his gaze, he spoke in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I appreciate your concern. My mother has always been this way; there is no need for Your Majesty to take her words to heart."
Although she knew this was merely a polite remark made on behalf of Prince Cheng, Bai Xinbi could only respond gently: "The prince is favored by the emperor and personally attends to all matters, so it is understandable that he is busy. I can only admire the prince's talents and would never dare to take offense. You are overthinking it, old madam."
The son paid his respects to his mother. Standing before the Qiu family, Yan Mo Yu performed a bow with an expressionless face.
Yan Mo's handsome face darkened, his expression appearing more serious and cold than usual. He clasped his hands and said: "In that case, I shall not trouble Your Majesty any further. I will do my utmost to persuade my mother; after all, there are already several concubines in my household, so there is no rush for the position of the primary consort. I will certainly choose wisely and carefully. " Before Xia Gao could respond, he paused for a moment and then continued, "If Your Majesty has no further orders, I shall take my leave. Please allow me to withdraw!"
The man before the prince was handsome and elegant, exuding an air of nobility, with a figure that resembled that of an immortal. He was one of the few beautiful men in the Kingdom of Shuxia, and his reputation in the court even overshadowed that of several princes. He was the one she had longed for day and night. In the past, she could only gaze at him from a distance during court banquets, but now, seeing him up close, he was even more strikingly charming, causing her exquisite face to faintly flush with two shades of crimson.
Only he himself knows how shocked he is at this moment, so shocked that it almost drives him to ecstasy
However, the woman before me was at least half a head taller than that other woman, possessing an unparalleled beauty and a voluptuous figure. Whether in her attire or her demeanor, she exuded the grace of a refined lady, in stark contrast to the disheveled and unkempt appearance of the other woman.
Your mother visited the palace yesterday to see the Empress, hoping to have her make a decision regarding your marriage. I wonder what your thoughts are on this matter
"Are you a woman of the Bai residence?" Staring intently at the woman's face, Yan Mo Yu's hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, was tightly clenched into a fist. Her usually tranquil and serene deep eyes were now filled with an unusual gleam.
"My lord, you wouldn't have agreed to the old lady's arrangement, would you?" As soon as he entered the study, Yin Du asked anxiously. He had heard about the young lady from the Bai family visiting today, and it was evident that this was a deliberate arrangement by the old lady
With a frown, Yan Mo could not help but understand his mother's actions. When he saw the woman taking the initiative, he appeared quite displeased, half-closing his eyes as he was about to bid farewell to his mother. Suddenly, he coldly fixed his gaze on the shy woman before him, his half-closed pupils widening abruptly, and his tall, sturdy frame suddenly stiffened. He stared at the woman without blinking and unexpectedly commanded, "Lift your head!"
Close the door! Yan Mo Yu furrowed his brows, and his expression, cold and composed, seemed to be shrouded in heavy dark clouds as he issued the command in a chilling tone
Xia raised her eyebrows and tentatively asked, "Do you have a woman you fancy?"
Although their faces looked identical, Yan Mo Yu inexplicably felt a sense of disgust. One was dressed in exquisite beauty, while the other was dressed in a manner that was unremarkable, even to the point of being inferior to a beggar on the street. Yet for some reason, the image that lingered in his mind was always that of the tattered figure.
I should not have opposed so strongly just now. Look at that child's attitude; it seems he will not marry anyone but that village girl. If that is truly the case, what should be done
Your Majesty, during my period of injury, I was fortunate to encounter a woman who saved me, allowing me not only to escape the danger of death but also to have the opportunity to investigate the location of weapon smelting.
"Grandfather, what is the matter?" Yin Du approached with a face full of confusion and uncertainty
The young lady Bai Xinbi respectfully greeted Prince Cheng. With her head lowered, she appeared shy and timid, and she performed a deep bow to Yan Mo Yu with great decorum.
Close the door properly. Before he could speak again, a cold and hard voice came through: "Come here, I have something for you to do!"
Seeing the reluctance reflected in her eyes, Qiu kindly held her hand and comfortingly said: "Miss Bai, do not be upset. My Yu'er has a somewhat reserved personality and is not good at pleasing others, so I hope you can be more understanding."
Yet he had no choice but to come here. After all, no matter how much he disliked it, this was also the place where his mother lived