“This fellow, seeing that Master Cai and General Zhao Sheng weren’t around on the way back—those two elders gone—probably thought I was simple-minded and could be manipulated at will. His behavior became increasingly insolent, acting in my name and cutting first, reporting later! Several times, I was so angry I almost killed him directly!” Speaking of this made Bai Jinzhi furious. “Although… none of it was anything major, I could still see that he was constantly testing my bottom line, and he even dared interfere with my travel speed, deliberately testing how tolerant I could be toward him.”
“Later, I thought, isn’t it just acting? Prince Liang was such a good actor, so I should learn too! I stopped managing him and pretended I was also infatuated with him, just kept indulging him, waiting to indulge him to the very end. I wanted to see what he ultimately intended to do!” Bai Jinzhi’s lips curved upward. “Eldest sister, I think this person might be sent by another Kingdom. As long as we can find out which Kingdom he’s from, perhaps… we can still make use of him.”
Having placed Bai Jinzhi alone outside, Bai Jinzhi’s growth was indeed beyond Bai Qingyan’s expectations.
Bai Jinzhi had never forgotten when someone caused trouble at the Bai mansion gates and eldest sister scolded her, saying those four words about being “firm on the outside, flexible on the inside”—not losing the appearance others expected of her spirited, seemingly brainless, purely impulsive style, while inwardly remaining clear-headed.
This was her understanding of the so-called “firm outside, flexible inside.” Third sister had once said… as long as she could achieve this, she would have great potential in the future.
“Now that you’re back, stay in the palace. I’ll have people watch this, Sun Wenyao—you needn’t worry about it anymore!” Bai Qingyan thought of Third Aunt and instructed Bai Jinzhi: “Spend more time with Third Aunt!”
“Oh, right! That Sun Wenyao is still waiting outside Wude Gate, saying something about admiring eldest sister’s bearing, just regretting he never had the chance to fight alongside eldest sister under your command… The meaning was telling me he wanted to see the eldest sister. I understood his hint and said I’d mention it to my eldest sister when I saw you, asking my eldest sister to meet him!” Bai Jinzhi narrowed her eyes. “My intention is for the eldest sister to let him bask in the sun outside the palace gates. I’ll say mother punished me and made him stand there for a day and night until his skin peels from the sun, then sent someone to dismiss him! This will also satisfy my hatred for him treating me like a fool all the way here!”
Since this was a harmless minor matter, Bai Qingyan let Bai Jinzhi have her way. She nodded, her eyes showing indulgence: “Fine, let our little fourth vent her anger.”
“Your Majesty…” Wei Zhong called from outside the hall. “This old servant saw Third Madam approaching from afar.”
Hearing that her mother was coming, Bai Jinzhi shuddered with fright and hurriedly asked her eldest sister: “Eldest sister, have I gotten much darker?!”
“No! Our little fourth… is still very beautiful!” Bai Qingyan wasn’t lying. She instructed Wei Zhong to let Third Aunt enter directly when she arrived.
The current little fourth was already a grown young lady. She had grown considerably taller and was beginning to show a woman’s graceful figure. Having recovered well during her time in Han City, if she sat quietly without speaking, she would be the picture of a beautiful, demure young lady.
“When Third Aunt arrives, you must bow properly and don’t be boisterous. Third Aunt will surely be gratified…” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.
Even Bai Qingyan, having just heard Bai Jinzhi speak those words, felt very gratified in her heart. The once impulsive and easily angered girl had learned to use her former personality for strategic planning.
Bai Jinzhi hurriedly pulled over a cushion and sat down properly beside Bai Qingyan’s pile of memorials.
Third Madam Li held up her skirt and, supported by a nanny’s hand, quickly climbed the high steps. Wei Zhong came forward to meet her, and Lady Li hurriedly said, “You needn’t announce me. I’ll just wait outside until little fourth and A’Bao finish discussing serious matters, then I’ll go in…”
“Your Majesty has given orders that when Third Madam arrives, this old servant should escort Third Madam inside. The serious matters have likely been concluded,” Wei Zhong said.
Lady Li nodded repeatedly: “Good, good, good! As long as I don’t disturb the two children discussing serious business!”
Hearing news of Bai Jinzhi’s return, Lady Li had been restlessly waiting in the palace. Then came news that as soon as Bai Jinzhi returned to the capital, she was wielding her whip to beat people. Lady Li nearly fainted from anger and decided to come directly, thinking to wait outside the hall.
She was angry, but coming here was also because she missed her daughter terribly…
Bai Jinzhi had been away so long—who knew how dark she’d become now?
Now that her daughter was older, Lady Li couldn’t help but worry about her daughter’s marriage prospects.
Lady Li’s maternal family had already entered the capital, bringing Bai Jinzhi’s male cousin, hoping to let Bai Jinzhi meet him. If things went well, they would settle the engagement between the two children.
Who knew this child would start whipping people as soon as she returned to the capital! Even though Lady Li’s mother doted on her granddaughter, she surely loved her grandson more. Learning that Bai Jinzhi still hadn’t changed her temperament and remained so fierce, she would inevitably worry about her grandson suffering.
Lady Li sighed…
Forget it, forget it! If it didn’t work out, then so be it! At worst, they could find a son-in-law to marry into the family—that would be the same! After all, now that Bai Jinzhi’s eldest sister was the Empress, who knew how many people were eagerly waiting for the chance to marry into the Bai family! Lady Li comforted herself with this thought.
As soon as Lady Li entered the hall, supported by Nanny Hu’s hand, she saw her daughter sitting properly beside Bai Qingyan. Seeing her enter the hall, Bai Jinzhi rose and stepped forward two paces, bowing deeply to Lady Li: “Your daughter greets Mother. Your daughter has been unfilial… After returning from Han City, I should have gone to pay respects to Mother first, but urgent official business could not be delayed, so I had to come to the main hall first to discuss official matters with my eldest sister. Making Mother come here troubles me greatly—your daughter feels deeply ashamed.”
With these words, Bai Jinzhi lifted her robe’s hem and properly knelt to kowtow to Lady Li.
Lady Li was stunned. Supporting herself on Nanny Hu’s hand, she stepped back two paces and exchanged glances with Nanny Hu. What medicine was the little fourth taken today? She was even… even calling her “Mother”!
Lady Li looked up toward Bai Qingyan and saw her suppressing laughter as she rose to bow: “Third Aunt…”
Seeing her daughter like this, Lady Li was uncomfortable and hurriedly said, “Get up first!”
“If Mother doesn’t forgive your daughter, your daughter will kneel here forever!” Bai Jinzhi kowtowed again.
“Enough, enough! Get up quickly!” Lady Li said.
Hearing her mother say this, Bai Jinzhi looked up at her mother and grinned: “Does this mean Mother won’t beat me with the discipline rod?”
Nanny Hu was amused by Bai Jinzhi and covered her mouth, laughing: “Madam, our fourth miss hasn’t changed… she’s still the same fourth miss!”
Lady Li glared at Bai Jinzhi: “Get up quickly!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Bai Jinzhi smiled and stood up.
Seeing her daughter had suddenly grown much taller and was now even taller than herself, Lady Li’s eyes immediately reddened.