Chapter 6: The Thoughts of Two Foxes

Upon hearing what Bai Qiwei said, Bai Aoxue smiled with taunt and said: “What? Dad. Do you even forget Aoxue? Even dad doesn’t recognize me, so there is no wonder that some people in the mansion dare to adorn themselves with borrowed plumes.” Bai Qiwei frowned with her words. He said: “Are you blaming me, my daughter? I truly neglect you these years and I’m sorry for that.” Bai Suxue was taken aback by what her father said. She looked at Bai Aoxue immediately. Bai Aoxue still assumed an indifferent expression, which made Bai Suxue clench her teeth with hatred. “No. I do not dare to blame you, father. But I heard from Fenhe, your concubine’s maidservant, that you are not the one at the helm in the prime minister mansion, and then they even beat my maidservant. I’m not an outstanding girl, but I’m still the daughter given birth by your official wife. How could they even bully me? I’m not afraid of pain, but I don’t want you to get disgraced, dad.” Bai Aoxue said. Hearing what Bai Aoxue said, Bai Qiwei got very angry. He said: “Oh. I even cannot take control of my own mansion, eh? Refractory servants are everywhere in the prime minister’s mansion, eh? I’m going to see whether I’m at the helm! Listen, Aoxue. If any servant commits a breach of class in the future, you just hand them to the Butler Bai. He will handle them.” Bai Aoxue nodded in obedience. She said: “Dad, why you summon me here today?” Hearing this, Bai Suxue, who had almost no sense of presence initially, blurted out with excitement: “Congratulations sister! You will be the princess in several days.” Bai Aoxue was surprised but said with a calm expression: “It’s a breach of rule, sister! I’m asking our dad.” Bai Suxue regretted at once after saying it. She just wanted to make Bai Aoxue petrified and anguished, but she forgot Bai Qiwei was on the side. Bai Qiwei was somewhat discontented with Bai Suxue’s imprudence. Upon hearing what Bai Aoxue said, he cast a glare at Bai Suxue and said: “Suxue. Do you forget the basic etiquette?” “I remember it, father.” Bai Suxue said reverently while lowering the head. Bai Qiwei didn’t say anything to Bai Suxue but snorted coldly. He said to Bai Aoxue: “Aoxue, I summoned you here just to tell you that His Majesty granted a marriage to you in the morning today.” Bai Aoxue was greatly surprised in her heart, but she responded with calm breath: “Dad, please forgive my imprudence. I would like to know who I will marry.” Bai Qiwei shook his head in agony. He said: “He is the Fifth Prince of the Chengxi Dynasty. I’m very sorry, my daughter!” There was a thump in her heart when hearing it. Bai Aoxue started to recall the Fifth Prince of Chengxi. How could Bai Qiwei make such a fortunate thing happen to her? Upon hearing the Fifth Prince, Mumian lost her composure and agitatedly kneeled down before Bai Qiwei. She said: “Master, I beg you. Please don’t marry Miss to the Fifth Prince. Her life would be ruined by the marriage. Please!” After seeing Mumian kneel down on the ground, Bai Aoxue immediately helped her up to her feet. The memory about the Fifth Prince called Jun Yeyan flashed back in Bai Aoxue’s mind. Bai Aoxue sneered in her heart. Bai Qiwei was willing to push her into fire. The Fifth Prince was a good-for-nothing guy he was ugly like the demon Ranshak. Her life would be ruined if marrying him. Helping Mumian up and looking at her father, Bai Aoxue said: “Dad. The man I’ll marry is a recognized good-for-nothing of Chengxi Dynasty. But I know I cannot disobey His Majesty’s decree. Since you decide to marry me to him, I would like to beg dad to give me a grand ceremony. I want it to be the last compensation of the prime minister mansion since my mom died.” Upon hearing what Bai Aoxue said, Bai Qiwei raised his eyebrows. He said: “I know I owe you much these years, and so do I this time. Just tell me what kind of ceremony can be called grand.” “Ten-li red dowry. I believe it is not too excessive in terms of the means of prime minister mansion. I am the daughter of the official wife. Although the man I’m to marry is the Fifth Prince, I don’t want to be looked down upon. Even if ignoring my reputation, you should also take your prestige into consideration.” Bai Aoxue said lightly while looking at Bai Qiwei. While Bai Qiwei was considering her proposal, Bai Suxue got anxious and blurted out: “Sister, it’s really an excessive demand. You are just going to marry a good-for-nothing. How can you want ten-li red dowry? Hump.” Gazing at Bai Suxue, Bai Aoxue retorted in irony: “Sister, you are wrong. Even if the Fifth Prince is a good-for-nothing, you, the daughter of a concubine, have no right to make an evaluation of him. It’s fortunate that only we heard this. If others heard what you said, you would be beheaded, moreover, it would have a devastating impact on dad’s official career!” Bai Suxue blanched then. Scarcely before she opened her mouth to speak, Bai Aoxue continued: “Anyway, I’m the daughter of the official wife. Don’t I deserve the ten-li red dowry? Or you think you deserve it more? If you like it, you can marry the Fifth Prince then.” “You are right, sister. I’m edified. I won’t speak like this anymore. And I won’t contend for the marriage with you, my sister.” Bai Suxue said calmly without panic. Bai Qiwei was petrified by the argument between the two sisters. Bai Qiwei was familiar with the personality of Bai Suxue, but he was so surprised by Bai Aoxue at this time. He had never seen her act like this before. He had thought that Bai Aoxue was a cowardly girl, and it seemed that he just looked down upon her.