Chapter 5: The Emperor Granted A Marriage

“Dad. Help me, please! My elder sister humiliated me before the maidservants by saying I was the turtledove, taking over the nest of a magpie, and she maimed my maidservant. Hoooo…” Bai Suxue kneeled down before Bai Qiwei, crying pitifully. Bai Qiwei frowned after hearing it. He knew that Bai Suxue must have bothered Bai Aoxue again. He knew Bai Aoxue was often bullied by Bai Suxue and Su Qianqian for many years, but he seldom inquired about it. He didn’t like Bai Aoxue as she was coward and shiftless, not resembling him at all. He preferred Bai Suxue because she was cruel and merciless. In his mind, only an unscrupulous, cold-blooded person could prevail over others, and what he badly needed was a daughter like Bai Suxue, who had much use value for him. Therefore, Bai Aoxue was doomed to be abandoned by her father. “Suxue, stand up! Aoxue is your elder sister, and you have more of my love since childhood. She will be married in a few days and leave the family. Try to forgive her.” Bai Qiwei said to his daughter with vexation upon seeing her crying face. Bai Suxue stopped crying immediately upon hearing what Bai Qiwei said. She immediately raised the head in surprise and said while looking at her father: “Is it real, father? She will get married? But who will she marry?” “The Emperor initially wanted to grant a marriage to you, but considering you are still young, I let your sister take your place. I don’t want to push you into the fire. Just think who the most well-known person in the Chengxi Dynasty is?” Bai Qiwei put on the face of a loving father while looking at Bai Suxue. Bai Suxue was taken aback by Bai Qiwei’s words. She said: “Dad, is he the good-for-nothing, the Fifth Prince? The Fifth Prince who is ugly as the demon Ranshak?” Bai Qiwei frowned slightly after hearing her words. He said: “Don’t speak ill of the Fifth Prince anymore in the future. No matter how ugly he is, you and I have no right to make an evaluation of him. If somebody heard it, we would be beheaded.” From the tacit approval by Bai Qiwei, Bai Suxue confirmed who was the man Bai Aoxue would marry. She didn’t hide her gloating at her face but said with a feignedly sad expression: “Dad. My sister suffers because of me. I feel sorry for her. How about summoning her here and tell her the news so that she will be psychologically prepared.” As an experienced politician wielding power in the imperial court, Bai Qiwei knew what Bai Suxue was thinking about. But when he thought of the sudden change in Bai Aoxue, Bai Qiwei began to be curious about it. He agreed with Bai Suxue then and immediately issued an order: “Messenger! Summon my eldest daughter to come to me.” Seeing the attendant coming into the courtyard, Bai Aoxue, who was sipping tea beside the stone table, raised her eyebrows without surprise. Mumian looked at Bai Aoxue anxiously after she saw the prime minister’s personal attendant. Unlike other servants in the prime minister’s mansion who threw their weight about, the personal attendant said in a polite and deferential tone: “First Miss, the prime minister invites you to the great hall.” Knowing that Bai Suxue must have gone to the prime minister and complained about her, Bai Aoxue stood up and tidied up her clothes insouciant. She said: “Lead the way, please! Since it’s the prime minister’s invitation, it would be a breach of etiquette if I refused to come to him.” The personal attendant was surprised by the sharp contrast between the domineering Bai Aoxue and the former cowardly Bai Aoxue. She was no longer her old self. Accompanied by the reverent personal attendant, Bai Aoxue headed for the great hall. “Miss…” Mumian looked at Bai Aoxue nervously. Bai Aoxue pinched at Mumian’s hand, attempting to comfort her. She said: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Following the personal attendant in the mazelike mansion of the prime minister, Bai Aoxue looked around. It was the same as that in her memory. Every place was just like Bai Qiwei, smacking of a combination of restraint, flamboyancy, simplicity and extravagance. From the layout of the mansion, she realized that Bai Qiwei was so ambitious a man, though he hid himself deeply. She wasn’t the former Bai Aoxue anymore. Bai Qiwei’s eyes lit up when he saw the beautiful figure walking behind his personal attendant. His face still took on a surprised expression while the slender figure was moving toward him. Bai Aoxue didn’t show any sign of timidity before her vacant father, but said with an indifferent expression: “Why you call me here, dad?” She didn’t even cast a glance at Bai Suxue who was on the side. Bai Qiwei recovered himself in her voice, but he still looked at Bai Aoxue in surprise. He didn’t expect he would have a surprised expression when seeing the charming and radiant girl before him. “You are Aoxue?” Bai Qiwei asked with doubt while looking at Bai Aoxue.