Xiao Rongyan’s gaze fixed on Bai Qingyan, no longer containing the previous restraint and propriety… carrying exploration, carrying uncompromising determination.
His overly intense gaze seemed to show he was determined to have Bai Qingyan, regardless of whether she reciprocated his feelings.
Since that layer of pretense had already been pierced, Bai Qingyan decided to speak plainly while the opportunity was there.
“Master Xiao, on the boat that day, I heard your words.” She placed Xiao Rongyan’s jade cicada on the stone table and said calmly, “But you and I are not suitable people to discuss romance.”
“I have a mother, aunts, and sisters who need protection. You have the declining Great Yan that needs restoration. I must protect the Bai family’s honor, you must restore Great Yan’s former glory… even aspire to rule the world.”
The smile in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes gradually restrained as he gazed at the woman whose delicate features appeared cold and indifferent under the bright moonlight.
“If Jin is struggling through difficulties, how is it any different for Great Yan among the nations walking on thin ice?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was very soft. “The road ahead is treacherous, we’re all walking on thin ice – how dare we be distracted? How can we afford the burden of personal affections?”
Xiao Rongyan’s gaze fell on the jade cicada. He moved forward two steps, his distinct knuckled hand picking up the jade cicada, looking up at Bai Qingyan, who was only one step away: “So, you dare not let your heart be moved?”
Bai Qingyan looked into Xiao Rongyan’s extremely profound eyes beneath his high-bridged brows, her hands at her sides slightly tightening as she said honestly: “The Bai family’s future is uncertain, precarious as stacked eggs – I dare not let my heart be moved.”
Xiao Rongyan gripped the jade cicada, taking another step almost to her front. When Bai Qingyan tried to retreat, he grasped her wrist.
He pulled her toward him, gazing intently at Bai Qingyan while lowering his voice to ask: “Bai Qingyan, as long as you don’t dislike me, I’m willing to wait. I said… we have a long future ahead!”
Bai Qingyan’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as Xiao Rongyan pressed the jade cicada back into her palm.
She wanted to decline, but Xiao Rongyan firmly held her hand: “Just consider it a peace charm, keep it by your side for protection. My mother’s life… very few people could truly understand, you’re the first I’ve met.”
With that, Xiao Rongyan gave Bai Qingyan a very gentle smile: “Rest well. If you need anything from me, just ask.”
Watching Xiao Rongyan leave this elegantly simple courtyard, Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to look at the jade cicada in her hand, which gleamed with cold light under the moonlight.
How could Xiao Rongyan understand that her heart had long lost any maiden’s tender feelings?
In her heart were the tragic circumstances of the Bai family from her previous life, the blood relatives who died unjustly in that past life, and even closing her eyes, she could see the blood-soaked children of the Bai family.
Her greatest wish in this reborn life was nothing more than protecting the Bai family’s safety and inheriting her grandfather’s legacy – she had never left even half a moment for romantic matters.
Steward Liu, who had been waiting at the courtyard gate, immediately entered when he saw Xiao Rongyan leave: “Young miss…”
Bai Qingyan put the jade cicada in her pouch and said to Steward Liu, “Tomorrow morning, I’ll take Fourth Miss into the city. Please arrange for Uncle Liu to find a way to involve the clan’s most troublesome people in the Tianxiang Tower affair!”
She turned to look at Steward Liu: “Also, arrange for news of my arrival in Shouyang without staying at the Bai ancestral home to be… leaked to local officials before tomorrow morning.”
Since everyone already knew that Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan was the Crown Prince’s favored person, she would borrow the Crown Prince’s authority. When those local officials learned that this Crown Prince’s trusted confidant had suddenly arrived in Shouyang, wouldn’t they rush to curry favor?
She wasn’t like her grandfather – no matter how angry she was with the Bai clan members, she wouldn’t let outsiders see their family’s embarrassment in public.
The next morning.
Before dawn broke, two sedan chairs had already stopped at the Premium Inn’s entrance. A prefect in plain clothes had just descended from a soft sedan when he spotted the county magistrate sitting at a breakfast stall across from the Premium Inn, eating breakfast with his subordinate officials.
Seeing the prefect, the county magistrate quickly set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth with his hand, and trotted to the prefect, bowing deeply: “Sir!”
The prefect looked at the county magistrate with a half-smile: “I didn’t expect County Magistrate’s information network to be so well-informed that you even knew the Princess had arrived…”
“I only received this news early this morning. Since I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, I rushed over here. I thought the Princess probably hadn’t risen yet, so I grabbed something to eat first. Would you like to join me, sir?” The county magistrate acted as if he hadn’t heard the prefect’s sarcasm.
The county magistrate thought to himself: we’re all here hoping to curry favor with the Princess to please the Crown Prince – what airs are you putting on?
The prefect waved his hand dismissively with that same half-smile: “No need! Let County Magistrate eat by himself!”
With that, the prefect turned to signal his attendant to enter the inn to present calling cards requesting an audience with Bai Qingyan.
But before the prefect’s man could enter, Bai Qingyan had already emerged from the inn’s main entrance with Bai Jinzhi, followed by a team of guards.
The prefect immediately recognized Steward Liu, who stood beside Bai Qingyan. Half a month ago, at the Bai family patriarch’s birthday celebration, the prefect had seen Steward Liu. He’d heard from the patriarch’s son that this was Steward Liu, but since this Steward Liu had come and gone in haste, the prefect had only seen him once and never spoken with him.
The prefect stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Bai Jinzhi, who wore a bright red whip at her waist, immediately understanding both women’s identities. He bowed toward Bai Qingyan: “This official pays respects to Princess, County Princess.”
The county magistrate also hurried forward, his smile obsequious and smooth as he performed a full kowtow: “This official pays respects to Princess, County Princess.”
Bai Qingyan showed no airs at all: “Both officials are too courteous.”
Bai Jinzhi stood beside Bai Qingyan, raising her eyebrows without speaking, displaying the arrogant demeanor of a young noble.
“How did Princess and County Princess arrive in Shouyang so early? This official received word it would be the first of May!” the prefect asked with a beaming smile.
“Yes, why didn’t Princess and County Princess send word of your arrival? During the Bai patriarch’s birthday celebration, this official discussed with the patriarch… when Princess arrived in Shouyang, we would arrange a welcoming banquet for Princess!” The county magistrate, not to be outdone, quickly emphasized his closer relationship with the Bai clan.
Bai Jinzhi snorted coldly: “Expecting that old scoundrel to hold a welcoming banquet for my elder sister… wouldn’t that anger my elder sister to death!”
“Fourth Miss!” Bai Qingyan scolded Bai Jinzhi in a low voice, then looked at the county magistrate with a sigh and an expression of being at a loss for words: “My sister and I came to handle some family matters. If all goes smoothly, we’ll leave at noon, so we didn’t want to trouble both officials.”
Old scoundrel? The county magistrate’s eye twitched, his heart skipping a beat.
Hearing the County Princess’s tone about the patriarch, then hearing Princess Zhenguo mention handling family matters…
The county magistrate felt something didn’t sound quite right.
“Is there anything this official can assist with?” The prefect was more composed, asking Bai Qingyan unhurriedly.
“These are minor matters not worth making a big fuss over, so we won’t trouble both officials…” Bai Qingyan smiled reluctantly. “If things escalate to the point of needing to trouble both officials, Bai Qingyan will naturally inform you both.”