“Crown Princess?” Su Ying asked worriedly. The Crown Princess’s face was so grim that it made her uneasy.
Bai Shixi looked up at Su Ying. “No wonder. I was careless.”
“Crown Princess, you must stay calm. Please don’t act rashly,” Su Ying urged. She knew of the long-standing animosity between Bai Shixi and the young lady, but they were in the Eastern Palace—caution was paramount.
“I won’t act rashly.” Bai Shixi let out a cold laugh. “I just didn’t expect them to be so brazen. And Gao Zhan—what an idiot! He actually did this himself. Does he think the green hat* on his head isn’t bright enough? Did he really have to paint it even greener with his own hands?”
“If only we had proof. If we could catch Duke Gao shizi’s wife in an affair with the Crown Prince, she would be utterly ruined,” Su Ying gritted her teeth.
“You forget—she and I are sisters. If her reputation is tarnished, what good does that do me?”
“Precisely because Your Majesty is hesitant, she grows bolder, knowing that you won’t touch her,” Su Ying frowned. “What do we do? Are we just going to let her flaunt her arrogance?”
Bai Shixi sneered. “Now that this matter has blown up, the one who should be most worried isn’t me—it’s the Empress.”
Su Ying paused before realization dawned on her face, her expression brightening. “The Crown Princess is right.” Then, her face tensed again. “But we have no solid evidence…”
“How is there no evidence? Didn’t that estate go to Bai Zhiwei?”
“But it was given by Gao shizi, not officially transferred from the Crown Prince’s holdings.”
The Empress wouldn’t acknowledge it outright.
“She won’t admit it verbally, but do you think she doesn’t understand in her heart? She and the Crown Prince know the truth better than anyone.”
Without the Empress’s indulgence, how could the Crown Prince have dared to be so reckless?
It was just that the Empress had deemed Bai Zhiwei more valuable to Duke Zhen’s household than Bai Shixi. If Bai Zhiwei hadn’t been engaged to Gao Zhan first, Bai Shixi knew that marriage wouldn’t have fallen to her.
Did the Empress favor Bai Zhiwei?
Of course not. What she valued was the power of Duke Zhen’s family.
But Bai Shixi wouldn’t act rashly and bring harm to herself.
Her parents didn’t love her, her husband’s heart was divided, and her mother-in-law was scheming—but none of that mattered. She only needed the status they provided, and the rest she could slowly maneuver.
Had the eldest daughter of the Duan family had an easy time when she returned to the capital? No. But she had survived and risen to where she was today.
If the Duan’s eldest daughter could do it, so could she.
Su Ying was still uneasy, but since the Crown Princess had made up her mind, she simply said, “Then I will find a way to deliver this news to Kunde Palace.”
Bai Shixi reminded her, “Be careful. Don’t risk yourself over Bai Zhiwei—it’s not worth it.”
Su Ying smiled lightly. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I understand.”
Su Ying had been with Bai Shixi for many years and was the person she trusted most. Bai Shixi wouldn’t let her get caught up in trouble because of Bai Zhiwei.
The very next day, the Empress summoned Bai Shixi.
So, the message had been delivered.
Bai Shixi dressed and prepared herself. Just as she was about to leave, she unexpectedly ran into the Crown Prince at the door.
She smiled and greeted him, “Your Majesty, what brings you back? Weren’t you busy today?”
The Crown Prince’s gaze lingered on her before he said slowly, “Where are you going?”
Bai Shixi’s smile deepened, her tone gentle. “Royal Mother has summoned me to Kunde Palace. I was just about to head over.”
The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment, then his expression softened slightly. “I’ve finished my work. I’ll go with you.”
Bai Shixi’s face lit up with surprise. “Really? Then Royal Mother will be very happy.”
“And you aren’t happy?”
Bai Shixi blushed at the right moment, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, “Of course I am happy. I just don’t want to cause trouble for Your Majesty.”
The Crown Prince chuckled and took a step forward, reaching for Bai Shixi’s hand.
Instinctively, she wanted to withdraw, but she reacted quickly, instead tightening her grip around his fingers.
The Crown Prince noticed the subtle hesitation in her touch and turned to glance at her. Bai Shixi kept her head lowered, avoiding his gaze, and her steps slowed ever so slightly.
Bai Shixi had a gentle temperament and knew when to advance or retreat. She never put him in a difficult position, which, for now, made her a satisfactory Crown Princess.
Lately, the Empress had been plagued with troubles. Consort Shu had grown close to Consort Gui, and together, they had caused her quite a bit of trouble. Just as she was busy dealing with them, an unexpected mess arose outside the palace.
She had originally summoned Bai Shixi to give her a stern warning—reminding her to manage her family affairs properly and keep them from interfering with the Crown Prince. However, when she saw Bai Shixi arriving with the Crown Prince, her expression darkened further.
“Greetings, Royal Mother.”
“Daughter-in-law greets Royal Mother.”
The Empress said indifferently, “Rise.” Without sparing Bai Shixi a glance, she turned to the Crown Prince. “Why are you here as well?”
Before he could answer, she directed her scolding at Bai Shixi instead.
“The Crown Prince has many responsibilities. As the Crown Princess, you should be helping him relieve his burdens. I only summoned you to Kunde Palace for a short conversation—did you really need the Crown Prince to accompany you? If you can’t even handle such a small matter, how can I trust you to manage the Eastern Palace? You must remember, as Crown Princess, you must be strict with yourself so that you may lead by example.”
Bai Shixi stood beside the Crown Prince with her head slightly bowed. Hearing the reprimand, she bent at the waist in deference.
“I will remember Royal Mother’s teachings.”
She didn’t mention that it was not she who had asked the Crown Prince to accompany her—it had been his own decision.
She did not protest or explain. She simply bore the Empress’s scolding alone.
Sure enough, the Crown Prince frowned slightly and spoke up.
“Royal Mother, the Crown Princess did not ask me to accompany her. I happened to be coming to pay my respects to you, so we came together.”
“What a good son I’ve raised—so considerate of his wife.”
Crown Prince: …
Everything he had said was true. Why did his Royal mother insist on twisting it?
He was about to speak again when he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Bai Shixi still not meeting his gaze, but she had lifted her head to look at the Empress.
“Royal Mother, His Highness was only worried that I might be ignorant and say something improper in front of you. That’s why he accompanied me—to guide me. I am truly fortunate to have His Highness as my husband and to receive your patient guidance. I will certainly take Royal Mother’s words to heart, strive for self-discipline, and lead with virtue.”
The Empress’s gaze shifted between her son and Bai Shixi. Seeing Bai Shixi’s modest and respectful attitude, she felt quite satisfied.
“It’s good that you understand.”
“Royal Mother’s kindness and wisdom—I am deeply grateful.” Bai Shixi smiled appreciatively before subtly steering the conversation. “May I ask why Royal Mother summoned me? Whatever it is, I will do my utmost to assist you.”
With the Crown Prince present, let’s see how the Empress would bring up Bai Zhiwei’s matter now.
