3. Rebirth · Reunion (1)

Be careful. "The autumn cicada suddenly shouted loudly behind her.

You may seek others

The appearance of Xiong Feng has somewhat changed Bai Zhi, at least it has made her determined to become a "capable" person. Bai Zhi is a person of quick temperament, and the next day she invited a female instructor from the martial arts school to teach at the Bai residence.

Liu has been a vegetarian and reciting Buddhist scriptures for many years, and is quite familiar with the abbot of Baima Temple, which is why their conversations tend to be lengthy. After Xiong Feng came and went in a hurry, Bai Zhi sat back down on the stone bench, playing with the white silk handkerchief in her hand

Bai Zhi thought to herself that perhaps she had been deceived. This so-called master was merely a swindler, a con artist who tricked people into providing food and drink.

What a familiar silhouette! Bai Zhi trembled all over, not daring to blink her eyes, and involuntarily retreated. It was as if her body was telling her not to approach him! Bai Zhi accidentally brushed against the bamboo behind her, causing a commotion, and the person in the white shirt turned to look.

You are no longer young. After you noble ladies reach the age of maturity, you can begin to arrange for marriage. Unlike us commoners, who can marry if we are fortunate, or become concubines if we cannot marry

Hehe, no wonder many unmarried young women are planning to take control of their own destinies now

Tomorrow, I will embroider a lotus flower. Bai Zhi thought to herself, her hand inadvertently relaxing, and just then a gust of wind blew, sending the handkerchief flying far away. Bai Zhi was startled and looked in the direction where the handkerchief had flown, seeing a group of elegantly dressed individuals coming around the corner, with the handkerchief landing right at the feet of the leading noblewoman

The princess cast a glance at the peony on her sleeve and smiled knowingly, "A rather clever girl"

"Good disciple, have you seen a ghost?" Xiong Feng said with a beaming smile

Suddenly, a melodious flute sound echoed through the bamboo grove, swirling and spiraling, as a hundred birds took flight, seemingly dancing in harmony with the music

Do not underestimate yourself; a person's fate is in their own hands

"Miss, have I offended you in any way?" Mu Tu Su inquired

Bai Zhi looked up at her savior, and upon seeing a face that was so familiar it could not be more so, she almost struggled to break free from his embrace, silently wanting to leave.

In her previous life, her father took the wrong stance by supporting the Crown Prince, and in the end, he was regarded as a thorn in the side by the Third Prince, who usurped the throne. Soon after, he fell victim to Mu Tusu's scheme, which eradicated him completely. Indeed, one misstep in strategy leads to a series of mistakes, leaving no chance for redemption.

The noblewoman slightly lowered her head to take a glance, her eyes signaling, and the maid beside her bent down to pick it up and handed it to the noblewoman

Indeed, she has sworn not to love Tu Su, yet the memories of her past life remain, for he was the lover she once longed for

Bai Zhi smiled without answering. She deserved the bitter fate of her past life. Her father had arranged a marriage for her, one that was well-matched in social status, and the young man had a good reputation. In order to marry Mu Tu Su, she abandoned her original engagement, willingly degrading herself to become his concubine, and was even looked down upon as someone who was "climbing too high".

Bai Zhi and Qiu Chan sneaked out of the house. Therefore, they had to use the back door. As soon as the two gluttonous cats arrived at the bun shop, they saw a crowd standing in front of the steamer. ... The two exchanged a glance, as if they had made a silent agreement, and rushed into the crowd ...

In her previous life, Bai Zhi's greatest admiration was for the Princess Consort of Prince Gong, as she was the mother of Mu Tu Su. However, at this point, she must keep her distance from her.

Oh? How did you know I am the princess

Indeed, Liu sighed and said: "The fate of marriage may not align with your wishes; numerous obstacles must be endured, and only after weathering a storm can a rainbow emerge."

He is Mu Tu Su

"We will surely meet again another day, good disciple, the master has departed." Xiong Feng whistled with his hand, and suddenly a horse dashed out from the forest. He quickly mounted it, waved at Bai Zhi, and then rode off, raising a cloud of dust.

Bai Zhi paused with the bamboo branch in her hand, momentarily taken aback. Following the rhythm of the music, she approached the source of the flute sound. It was not until she reached the depths of the secluded bamboo grove that she saw a figure in a white garment sitting atop a large stone, with long, jet-black hair cascading down, and slender fingers dancing gracefully over the flute, lively and exuberant.

The common woman is foolish, it has been five years. She is deliberately lying. If she were to say it has only been two years, the princess would certainly regard her with new eyes. This is not what she intended.

Now, although she cannot guarantee that she can prevent her father from taking the wrong stance, she can hinder his official career. As long as he does not encounter the Grand Tutor, her father will not become an official in the capital, and thus there will be no stance to take.

Liu was taken aback for a moment and hurriedly bowed to the princess, "This humble woman pays her respects to the princess"

As if separated by a lifetime, the unparalleled beauty bore a gaze that reflected his unchanging indifference over a thousand years. This face, in her past life, she longed to see. Yet now, she was filled with terror. She nearly fled in panic, running desperately, as if only in this way could she have a glimmer of hope for survival

Zhi'er, you are undoubtedly destined to be a wife, being the legitimate daughter and the cherished jewel of the governor.

"Then have you seen it?" Bai Zhi teased

Angelica dahurica is not understood

Bai Zhi could only brace herself and say: "I have heard that the Princess of the Prince Gong delights in red attire, and that Prince Gong dotes on his wife. Therefore, I have crafted eighty-one styles of red attire, all adorned with golden silk edges. Each sleeve unexpectedly features a peony outlined in gold thread as a signature, unparalleled and unique in the world"

This rhetorical question indeed left Bai Zhi herself in a state of astonishment. Upon further reflection, she truly wished to slap herself. In a moment of confusion, she applied the experiences from her past life to this current one

"If it were me, I would rather be a humble wife than a concubine of great wealth and status," Bai Zhi said awkwardly. She understood better than anyone the bitterness of being a concubine. If the husband loves her, it is acceptable; if not, she is worth even less than the flowers and plants in the residence, which can be discarded at will.

The autumn cicadas are present here, akin to a message relay.

What a refined young lady, go to hell. In this life, she will live for herself

The female master of the martial arts school is named Qiu Chan, three years older than Bai Zhi. She is lively and active, illiterate, yet very kind-hearted. In just a few days, they became good friends. Due to the strict family upbringing in the Bai household, unmarried women lead a secluded life, completely unaware of the sights and sounds of the outside world.

After leaving Baima Temple, they took a carriage back to the Bai residence, and it was only then that Liu spoke with Bai Zhi. She said: "Zhi'er, just now your mother drew a fortune for you and your father; you are destined for marriage, while your father is destined for an official career. Alas!"

By chance, Liu and the abbot came out together. Upon seeing Bai Zhi, Liu said, "Zhi'er, I have kept you waiting for a long time." On the other side, the abbot saw the princess, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed slightly to her, saying, "Your Highness."

Get up, I am merely praying to Buddha for the safety of my children. You have nothing to do, feel free to do as you please. The princess then no longer looked at them and began to converse with the abbot

Oh, no wonder," the princess smiled faintly

A man can be without, but gourmet food cannot be absent

Bai Zhi kept running, not knowing how long she had been running, until she recklessly collided with a wall of people. Due to the force of the impact, she was thrown back and landed on the ground.

Have you ever heard of Prince Gong's only son, Mu Tusu

Sufficient; one should not be overly greedy in life

Bai Zhi's lips twitched; what was she greedy for? For several days, her only memories were of carrying a bamboo basket to deliver various pastries to him and the accommodation fees for the inn. As for martial arts, she had only learned a few self-defense moves.

It is truly a torment to endure

Bai Zhi gently patted Liu's hand with the back of her own hand and comforted her, saying: "Mother, you are overthinking. Some matters can be reversed by human effort."

This can be discussed for the time being

Bai Zhi had a heart inclined towards martial arts. By chance, she encountered Xiong Feng at the White Horse Temple, and indeed, every day at dawn, she would go alone to the bamboo grove of the White Horse Temple to study. Xiong Feng also arrived punctually every day, generously imparting knowledge. One day, Bai Zhi arrived early and, not seeing Xiong Feng, sat down on a large stone, broke off a section of bamboo, and began to write in the mud.

Bai Zhi did not understand, "Your martial arts have yet to be fully imparted."

In the capital, Mu Tusu is hailed as the most handsome man, unmatched by anyone. It is said that he came to our Su City’s White Horse Temple to pay respects with the Princess of Prince Gong. The young women of Su City have all rushed to the White Horse Temple to offer incense, and the temple's popularity is unprecedented.

Bai Zhi merely uttered an "oh" and fell silent thereafter

Bai Zhi quickly stood up and shook her head in a rattling manner

Bai Zhi and Liu Shi silently bowed to bid farewell

Zhi'er, let me tell you, the girl from the bun shop on Beida Street has become the concubine of Master Chen. Now she wears gold and silver, and you can't imagine how glorious she looks. Qiuchan gazed up with a face full of longing

Bai Zhi finally raised her head, astonished to find herself beneath the horse, on the verge of being trampled to death. Before she could even cry out in alarm, a white figure darted out from the carriage, firmly grasping her waist. She felt her body lighten, and as she regained her senses, she realized she was already a step away from the carriage. The carriage had also come to a stop.

If one move in chess is wrong, every subsequent move will be wrong, and there will be no chance of recovery

When the two of them came out, each was holding a steaming bun in their hands. As soon as she had the bun in her hand, Bai Zhi couldn't wait to take a bite, just like usual, resolving to finish it on the way back to the Bai residence.

Liu closed his eyes and ceased to speak

"Never." Bai Zhi said with a calm expression

"There is no better day than today, shall we go take a look now?" The autumn cicada sparkled with her bright eyes, her face full of excitement

I do not wish to think about these matters yet, as I am still young

Bai Zhi observed the expressions and demeanor of Liu Shi and noticed that something was amiss with her mood

Zhi'er, that young gentleman is truly handsome

It is really boring, how about we go eat buns at the North Street Bun Shop

Good disciple, I have come today to bid you farewell

The buns from the North Street Bun Shop are a renowned delicacy in Su City, featuring soft skin and fresh meat juice, and are in high demand every day. Bai Zhi had never eaten anything outside before; it was Qiuchan who brought these buns into the residence for her to try, and as a result, she became utterly captivated. Every few days, she would ask Qiuchan to bring over a few buns.

Your embroidery skills are quite good, how long have you been practicing

Bai Zhi slightly stamped her foot, took a deep breath, and said, "No." Without waiting for him to ask further, she pulled the dazed Qiu Chan and hurriedly left.

Very well, consider it a way to pass the time in a mundane life

She was at a loss for words

The embroidery on this handkerchief is her first piece of needlework that she is quite satisfied with, featuring a bright red peony. In her previous life, she adored the vibrant color red, but now it seems she has lost that enthusiasm and instead finds it rather gaudy

Later, she simply went to North Street to sell with the autumn cicada, disregarding the gazes of others, and ate steamed buns in the street just like her. Even though Qinghe beside her kept murmuring, she remained indifferent.

Mu Tusu looked at the woman desperately fleeing from him with a slightly astonished gaze in his calm eyes. Was his appearance really that frightening? However, he saw not only fear in her eyes, but also a faint hint of hatred.

How do you know

He is very perplexed

What about father’s career path

Look at you, with such a disinterested expression, as if you have never seen the beauty of Mu Tusu

Bai Zhi secretly thought it was not good and planned to adopt the strategy of retreating as the best option. Just as she intended to slip away, the noblewoman called out from behind: "Miss, please wait, your handkerchief."

Bai Zhi had no choice but to accept her fate, glancing back with a smile, she lowered her brows and casually walked over, slightly bowing to her, "Thank you, Princess Wang"