Bai Mengshi was momentarily taken aback. She knew what Bai Zhujing was like when she was mad or foolish, which was why she wanted to get her away quickly to avoid offending Ziyang Jun. But how was it that this girl had regained her senses?
Moreover, not only had she regained her senses, but how had her personality changed as well?
After staring at her for a while, Bai Mengshi finally regained some composure and, adopting the demeanor of a matriarch, said, “Even if you’re not foolish anymore, you have no right to speak in front of His Highness. Hurry and step back!”
Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow. “His Highness came to Bai Fu for me; why should I step back?”
Not only would she not step back, but she also clung to Jiang Xuanjin’s arm, refusing to let go!
Bai Mengshi was startled, glancing at Huaiyu’s reckless behavior with some trepidation as she looked at Jiang Xuanjin. The rumors about Ziyang Jun’s temper were not good; he might very well fly into a rage at such an affront.
However, Jiang Xuanjin stood still, his expression calm. Feeling the weight on his arm, he merely turned his head to give her a sidelong glance.
“Stand properly.”
“I won’t!” Huaiyu pouted defiantly. “Look how fierce she is! If I let go, she’ll lock me in the woodshed!”
“With your temperament, you indeed should be locked up for a while.”
“Pfft, if I get locked up, who will feel sorry for me? You?”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened.
Li Huaiyu giggled and tightened her grip on his arm. “You should save your strength; your face is as pale as paper. Let’s go sit in the tea room.” With that, she half-dragged, half-supported him forward.
Jiang Xuanjin’s body was stiff. “Let go.”
“I told you I won’t let go; stop saying useless things.”
“…”
Bai Mengshi stood frozen in place, and the surrounding servants were equally dumbfounded. By the time the two of them entered the tea room, she finally remembered to tell the people behind her, “Quickly inform the master that something big has happened at home and ask him to return quickly!”
“Yes!” The servants hurried off.
In the tea room, Huaiyu pushed Jiang Xuanjin into a grandmaster’s chair, then poured him a cup of tea, smiling as she brought it to his lips. “Your lips are all cracked; drink some to moisten them.”
Jiang Xuanjin was ungrateful. “I have hands.”
“Don’t be difficult; just drink it.” She shot him a reproachful glance, her expression one of feigned shyness. “There are so many people outside watching!”
Jiang Xuanjin looked at her in disbelief. “You’re aware that people are watching?”
Feeding him tea while knowing others were watching—was that appropriate?
Huaiyu sighed, shoving the teacup into his hand, smiling indulgently. “You’re just too easily embarrassed.”
Jiang Xuanjin: “…” If killing were not against the law, he would send her straight to the underworld!
Bai Mengshi followed them into the tea room, hesitating as she spoke. “I’ve neglected His Highness… I don’t know how His Highness ended up with Zhujing.”
Jiang Xuanjin replied, “It was a coincidence; we ran into each other on the street.”
What a lie! Look at how familiar they were with each other; it was as if they had known each other for years.
Bai Mengshi was filled with suspicion but dared not voice it. Instead, she smiled and said, “What a coincidence! We’ve been worried about Zhujing’s disappearance. Your Highness bringing her back is a great favor to our Bai family.”
As she spoke, she knelt and bowed. “Please, Your Highness, stay a while longer. We’ll thank you in person when the master returns.”
“Madam Bai is too kind.” Holding the teacup, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze slightly. “The Fourth Miss is, after all, the future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. It is only right for me to bring her back.”
Upon hearing this, Li Huaiyu jumped in shock. “What?”
The future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family?
Looking at her, Jiang Xuanjin smiled faintly. “Does the Fourth Miss not remember? The Jiang and Bai families arranged a marriage alliance over a decade ago. When you turn eighteen, you are to marry Jiang Yan, the eldest son of the Jiang family.”
Huh? There was such a thing? Huaiyu was momentarily stunned.
She had heard of Jiang Yan, the only son of the Jiang family’s eldest brother and Jiang Xuanjin’s nephew. He was said to be exceptionally talented and quite proud, having been cherished by the old Jiang patriarch. At just seventeen, he already held a position in the court.
Given Bai Zhujing’s identity, this was indeed a remarkable match. But the problem was, after Li Huaiyu had finally gotten a second chance at life, was she expected to walk the path of a dutiful wife and mother?
Her mind raced, and she looked at Jiang Xuanjin with a pitiful expression. “I truly don’t remember.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Xuanjin set down the teacup, his jaw tightening slightly, revealing a hint of anger.
“Hey, don’t be angry.” Huaiyu quickly soothed him. “Didn’t you hear this lady say? I was mentally unwell before, and now that I’ve recovered, I don’t remember anything. My heart and mind are only for you; how could I know about a marriage with someone else?”
Jiang Xuanjin sneered, about to speak when someone barged in.
“Impudent!”
The furious shout was deafening.
Li Huaiyu was so startled that her legs nearly gave way. Turning in confusion, she saw an old man in a crimson official robe with a white beard standing before her, who immediately slapped her across the face.
“Smack—”
The speed of the action and the loudness of the sound left Huaiyu stunned. Before she could react, her head felt like it had exploded, her entire face numb, and a metallic taste filled her mouth.
“Lord Bai.” Jiang Xuanjin’s expression changed, and he stood up.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Bai Dezhong’s face was ashen. Without even looking at Jiang Xuanjin, he bowed and saluted, his eyes still fixed on Huaiyu, filled with rage.
“When did my Bai family produce such a brazen and shameless daughter?”
Huaiyu was dazed for a moment, and when she finally heard the words, she spat out a mouthful of blood and frowned at the man before her. “You hit me without saying a word; is there any reason for that?”
“Reason?” Bai Dezhong’s beard trembled with anger. “You see His Highness and don’t observe the proper etiquette, and you speak such filthy words! My Bai family is a scholarly family; the reputation we’ve built over generations is about to be ruined by you!”
According to the marriage alliance between the two families, Bai Zhujing would eventually call Jiang Xuanjin “little uncle,” but what did she say? Her heart and mind were only for someone else. Remembering her words, Bai Dezhong’s anger flared again, and he raised his hand to slap her once more.
“Master!” Bai Mengshi and the surrounding servants gasped in shock.
Huaiyu glared at Bai Dezhong, her fists clenched, then relaxed them.
Forget it; she was borrowing someone else’s body to live, and she couldn’t just hit the father of the person she was borrowing from. Bai Dezhong was just an old stickler; she would take it as fulfilling her duty to Bai Zhujing.
Closing her eyes, she braced herself for the impending slap.
However, just as the hand was about to reach her face, she suddenly felt a tight grip on her arm. Someone pulled her back two steps, and the slap barely missed her, creating a gust of wind.
“…Your Highness?” Bai Dezhong was taken aback.
Huaiyu opened one eye, frowning as she saw Jiang Xuanjin standing slightly in front of her, his hand quickly releasing her arm and moving behind his back.
“Having come to visit today, I have something to ask.” He stood tall, looking straight ahead, his posture dignified and elegant.
“Before we clarify the matter, I ask Lord Bai to remain calm.”