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“Your Majesty is most gracious.”

After chatting for a while, the purpose of the party was mentioned by the Empress who was the host. Bai Hua bowed her head and replied humbly. Though on her face was a smile, in her heart she knew that Empress Wang had a hidden motive.

“Bengong would like to give this hairpin to you, as thanks for saving Ming-er’s life.” A golden hairpin was taken out from the Empress’s complicated hairdo. All women in the party stared at her, shocked by the action.

A decoration in the shape of a phoenix signified the status of the mother of the nation. The Empress gifting it to someone was not out of the ordinary. However, the hard decision would then weigh on the person who was gifted. If they accepted it, they would appear overly ambitious. If they did not, they would appear rude to the Empress. This was a simple trick that could effectively gauge Bai Hua’s character. Bai Yu sat silently and waited for Bai Hua’s answer, same as other young misses who did not hide their satisfied grins. The royal consorts, too, smiled at the amusing scene in front of them.

“What’s the matter? Come, take it.” The phoenix pin was extended forward, along with the gifter’s smile.

Bai Yu calmly observed the faces of the crowd. Though Bai Hua was invited to be the star of the show, she was not truly accepted by anyone here. That was why there was only glee projected at her dilemma. Bai Hua was quiet, despite feeling every eye fixing at her.

Originally, Bai Yu intended to take an observer seat and did nothing. However, some gazed at Bai Hua then turned to her, and delight turned into pity. Bai Yu and Bai Hua being seated next to each other like this meant that they both had the same or similar social standing and status. Those eyes looked down on Bai Hua while showing sympathy for Bai Yu. Her once lowly half-sister, through skills and achievements, had equaled her, but still could not be truly accepted into the high society. To them, she and Bai Hua were no different from each other. They were equally pathetic.

“Hmph!” Bai Yu coldly huffed. She lifted her teacup to drink as her eyes glanced at the woman next to her. Bai Hua’s gaze turned to her at the same time. Bai Yu cast her eyes downward, and her half-sister immediately understood.

.....

“My apologies, Your Majesty, but I do not dare to accept it,” Bai Hua replied modestly. She bowed her head slightly to emphasize her words that she truly did not dare.

Her answer was as Empress Wang had expected. How could anyone have the courage to immediately accept the phoenix hairpin from her? Most of them would say the same thing as Bai Hua did, deliberated, then eventually took it. However, Bai Hua’s tone was calm. She did not seem interested in the hairpin, not even one bit.

Bai Hua’s silence gave her an advantage. Bai Yu intended to wait and see whether the Empress only wanted to play this simple trick on Bai Hua, or she had another plan on her mind. If she was satisfied with putting Bai Hua on the spot, then she would continue to force Bai Hua to accept or not accept the hairpin. And then she would use polite but biting words how Taizi Fei or other misses did.

But if the Empress had another method...

“Come here, let bengong take a closer look at you.”

Bai Hua immediately turned to Bai Yu. “Go,” she said to her sister with a smile. No matter what Empress Wang had on her mind, the possibility of it being a simple trick was gone. Bai Yu and Bai Hua would have to play along to know the ending of this little scene.

The figure in a light pink dress walked toward the mistress of the palace. Bai Hua curtsied, her manner was much better than before. The Empress waved to call her forward, and so Bai Hua obediently went to kneel in front of her.

The fingers that wore nail guards tilted Bai Hua’s face up. Empress Wang studied her. “You have beautiful eyes.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Her peach blossom eyes cast down, not daring to look directly at the face of the Empress.

Bai Yu frowned. Don’t tell me that...

“Come, bengong will pin this for you.” The phoenix hairpin that was just taken out was placed in Bai Hua’s simple hairstyle. She did not even have the chance to object, and when the situation had developed to this point, it was already too late for her to say anything.

The Empress’s true intention was slowly revealing.

“How old are you right now?”

“I am sixteen, Your Majesty.”

Empress Wang smiled. “Such a young and beautiful lady should be wed to a suitable man.”

Bai Yu lifted her teacup again, this time to hide her mouth that twisted downward. It was now clear that Empress Wang wanted a miss from the Bai family to marry her son. In this situation, now that they could not have Bai Yu, the target became Bai Hua, who recently leaped up in popularity. The Empress would not let the chance slip away, not even when the Emperor was secretly supporting the Bai family through Bai De Fei. If Wang family had a Bai woman as their daughter-in-law, then the Bai family could not easily choose their side.

“Your Majesty, since my older sister has yet to marry, it is not my time to do so.”

“Sly.” Xu Peipei whispered in her ear. Bai Yu internally nodded while suppressing a burst of laughter at Xu Peipei’s word. Xu Luanle’s mannerism must have rubbed off on her as well.

Bai Hua was smart. She might have mentioned Bai Yu, but the tradition was true as she said. In the end, Empress Wang could only smile and let Bai Hua return to her seat.

Empress Wang had indirectly announced that she wanted Bai Hua to marry into the east palace. Even though Bai Hua was only a concubine’s child, her feats and ability would be enough for her to become second consort. Taizi Fei, who had witnessed everything from start to finish, squeezed her teacup until her knuckles turned white.

She was already at her wit’s end with the new concubine. Now her mother-in-law was planning to marry another lowly woman to trample on her pride?!

Bai Yu could only feel sorry for the Taizi Fei. On top of herself and the woman she had sent, Bai Hua became another danger to Taizi Fei’s position. However, if she had to be honest, she felt that Taizi Fei should resent Empress Wang who could not give up on trying the knot with the Bai family.

She herself never wanted it.

——————–

Bai Yu and Xu Peipei walked back to Xu family carriage together, Xu Peipei was going to send her off at the Yue mansion. Bai Hua went a separate direction from them since she had to return to the Bai mansion. However, before they could step onto the car, a eunuch standing next to the horse caught their eyes. It seemed he had been waiting for them.

When they asked, they were informed that in the morning, the Emperor heard that Bai Yu was coming to the palace, so he had sent the eunuch to summon her after she left the party. Bai Yu said farewell to Xu Peipei, before following the eunuch to the royal study.

She had had an audience with the Emperor many times now, but Bai Yu was still nervous. His appearance was largely similar to Li Wenrou, so she could not stop her heart from pounding. But when she thought of the enchanting beauty of the Emperor’s younger brother, her heart suddenly returned to its normal rhythm.

It seemed that she would have to be alone with the Emperor today. Her heart began to race again, this time because of anxiety and not the face that resembled an old lover. Her heartbeat became worse after she had curtsied to him and was faced with a question.

“How old are you right now?” It was the same question as Empress Wang.

“I am seventeen, Your Majesty,” Bai Yu answered calmly. Internally, she started suspecting that the Emperor might want the same thing the Empress did.

“You should already marry at this age. Has Bai Han betrothed you to any man?” His tone was casual as if he was asking about the weather and not something that would decide Bai Yu’s fate for the rest of her life. Still, Ouyang Hongxian asked her about a fiance despite already knowing that Bai Yu had been chasing after Ouyang Mingxian. Could she interpret this as him giving her a chance?

“There is no one, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

There were only her and the Emperor in the room, even his personal eunuch was dismissed. That gave Bai Yu the courage to lift her head and look at the Emperor, only to find out that his golden eyes were staring at her as well. His familiar, warm smile made Bai Yu’s heart pound. She started to seriously envy Bai Xue!

“With your beauty and status, zhen must arrange a fitting marriage for you.”