Bai Yihao looked into the dark eyes of the girl in front of him. Her eyes clear as a mountain stream and she looked at him with calm determination. Nobody had ever looked at him like that.
He had never thought that such a delicate young girl could even look at him so calmly. Her eyes were alert, nervous, but not hostile. He could see some helplessness and bitterness in those beautiful eyes. They were deep, bright, and sharp, completely different from her frail appearance.
Yet something about those wise eyes only made her more pitiable. She was too young to carry so much weight, too calm for a child. What could have happened to make her like this?
There was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes too, barely visible, but he could see it clearly. He came to a new decision in a split second. Bai Yihao smiled gently.
"Why do you think I will help you? A daughter of an eminent family making such a

Mother Xu steeled herself as she spread the news to Mo Xueqiong's courtyard. It was no secret in the manor that Fourth Miss had always been interested in the duke's son. Now she seemed to be trying to drag her sister into trouble. Mother Xu would not forget how Fourth Miss and First Miss had joined hands to make her mistress unhappy.
Mo Xuetong smiled at Mother Xu.
"Mother Xu, come find me after a while." 
Mother Xu smiled. Even with Fourth Miss around, her mistress would come out clean. The gracious First Miss was about to get herself in trouble.
Mo Xuetong brought her servants to Mo Huawen's study. The study wasn't far, only two doors. The servant outside saw her approaching and had already informed Mo Huawen. When she reached the doors, she was immediately welcomed into the study.
Mo Huawen put down the documents in his hands and smiled.
"Tong'er, you don't need to be so polite. Come 

Luo Mingzhu smiled gratefully and let go of Mo Xuetong's hand. She knew that Mo Xuetong's words had convinced their grandmother to let her meet Bai Yihao.
"Old Madam, although the medicine in this prescription is not very strong, you still need to avoid certain food with conflicting properties. I wrote down some to avoid. Please take this, Old Madam." 
His voice was like a melody flowing like spring water. Bai Yihao turned around, smiling and setting the paper in his hand to dry to the side.
"Thank you, Sir Bai. We've troubled you. I don't know if you can treat my granddaughter. She has been weak since childhood, and no medicine has made her better." 
Old Madam Xu looked at Mo Xuetong with worried eyes. 
Bai Yihao turned to look at the girl. Her plain clothes did not lessen her charm. Instead, they allowed her natural beauty to shine. Her crystal clear eyes were curious, but not shy.
Her delicate body was weak as a flower in the wind, but there was a spark of determination in her pale face. She looked at him with genuine appreciation, still slightly aloof. He wasn't used to being looked at so sincerely. Indeed as she said, no matter men or women, he was admired by everyone!
"Please reach our your arm." Bai Yihao's voice was clear, and he offered Mo Xuetong a gentle smile.
Mo Xuetong curtsied and took two steps. She sat at the seat Old Madam Xu had just vacated and stretched her slender hand out on the table. Bai Yihao lowered his head, carefully taking her pulse, frowning slightly. He was, indeed, a very handsome young man. Mo Xuetong tried to see some trace of the brutal emperor he would someday become, of the red that would stain those white robes.
Bai Yihao's voice finally broke the silence.
"Do you sometimes feel tired, but cannot sleep at night? Do you occasionally have headaches, and feel so ill that you can't even eat properly?" 
She looked up and was startled to see those beautiful eyes looking at her kindly. Her cheeks flushed. It felt as if he'd seen through her completely, and she turned away from his gentle gaze. She lowered her head, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Yes." 
She felt he could see right through her, see the secret buried in her heart. Now she was on alert. Knowing what Bai Yihao had done, how could she trust that gentle smile?
Being reborn was her greatest secret and her greatest advantage. She never thought anyone could see through her disguise. She dared not look at those handsome eyes, no matter how kind they seemed.
Her arm was carefully place back on the table, and Bai Yihao turned back to his paper and started to write. With a wave of his hand, she also had a prescription and a list of things to take note of, just like the old madam.
"Thank you, Sir Bai!" Mo Xuetong said, curtsying.
She ordered Mo Yu to come forward and take the prescription. Her eyes were clear as spring water, and she looked up at him, shy and wide eyed. Looking up at him, she regained control of her emotions. No matter how great he was, she couldn't believe Bai Yihao could see through her.
Bai Yihao left with Luo Wenyou, and Luo Mingzhu finally emerged from her daze.
"Younger sister Tong, he's so handsome! I really met him!" She grabbed Mo Xuetong's hands, practically jumping up and down with excitement. She had never thought that she would be able to sit so close to someone like that. She'd been close enough to see his long lashes and clear, handsome eyes.
Mo Xuetong smiled and nudged her back towards Old Madam Xu.
"Yes Second Cousin, you saw him. Now please sit down. Grandmother is going to make fun of you. You are the darling daughter of Fugong." 
"Are you not excited?" Luo Mingzhu regained her wits with the nudge. She looked up at Mo Xuetong incredulously, as if she was seeing her for the first time.
"Why should I be excited?" Mo Xuetong's eyes glowed with curiosity.
"That's Sir Bai! He's second to none. There's only one person who can even compete in all of Qin. Other than the eighth prince, who only recently appeared, he's the most handsome person on earth! How can Sister Tong have no reaction?" Luo Mingzhu  held up her handkerchief against her mouth and asked in astonishment, as if Mo Xuetong was going against the law by not being excited.
"You brat!" Old Madam Xu scolded affectionately, "Since he's practically a diety, your cousin looked at him in appreciation, but did not allow him to steal her heart. You should learn from her. How can an older sister set such a bad example?
Luo Mingzhu grew up with Old Madam Xu and was the only granddaughter, so she was doted on and didn't bother to be careful how she spoke.
"Grandmother, now that you have my smart younger cousin, you don't want stupid old me anymore!" she said tearfully, covering her face.
Mo Xuetong smiled and reached out to touch her cousin's forehead. She rather liked this cousin of hers. She was gentle and innocent, and spoke her mind. The old madam watched the two of them fondly.
After lunch, Mo Xuetong asked the old madam asked about getting a tutor. The old madam agreed at once. She told Mo Xuetong to stay over for a few days so that she could receive lessons and learn about the noble families of the capital. Since she had entered the capital, she should be careful with how she acted and what she said so she did not embarrass herself.
The old madam grew tired and went to take an afternoon nap. Luo Mingzhu was called upon by her mother. Mo Xuetong left Mo Yu to take care of the old madam and brought Mo He to the garden. The Luo family garden was familiar to Mo Xuetong. She'd walked through it many times in her past life.
She followed the winding path towards the lotus pond. There was a pavilion beside it. It was late autumn and the lotus leaves had already withered, leaving behind empty branches in the clear water. 
"Miss, you're not wearing enough clothes. I'll go and get the cape the old madam gave you earlier. Don't catch a cold," Mo He said when she saw Mo Xuetong shivering slightly.
Mo Xuetong nodded. Her gaze landed on a tree not far away, and her expression darkened.
"Miss, wait for me over there and don't go away. I won't be long."
Mo Xuetong walked down the soft wooden path and listened to the whistling wind. The wind lifted up her white skirt and somehow made her feel more miserable. With her head down, she listened to the sound of her footsteps and leaves rustling in the wind. Her emotions were pulled from another time. There was a wry smile on her lips. She truly was a reborn spirit, and she'd brought her sadness with her.
Every time she fell into dreams, she would start awake, haunted by her horrific death.
In this life, she would build a blissful life for the people she cared about. She would clear a bloody path to her vengeance.
She could hear faint music on the wind. It felt otherworldly. The music drifted like a winding stream, or a cloud slowly floating across the sky.
Mo Xuetong followed the music past the veranda. She turned to look into the pavilion. A beautiful boy sat in front of an antique stringed instrument. He moved his fingers naturally, plucking and picking. Music flowed from his fingertips. He didn't stop when he saw her. There was a strand of long hair that fell across his cheek and swayed with the wind.
Mo Xuetong's eyes fell from his face on to his fast-moving hands. They moved deftly over the strings, and music flowed out like water. It was mesmerizing.
She could remember the red light of a wedding tent on fire, her own manic laughter as the fire took over the sky. Sima Lingyun and Mo Xuemin's were laughing, mocking her, and her heart burned with hatred. She couldn't move, and her eyes were fixed on the fingers dancing across the instrument. She could see nothing else.
The music cut and the musician laughed. 
"What are you thinking about, and why do you hate it so much?"
Mo Xuetong was standing in front of him, staring dazedly at his hands resting on the instrument. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look back up at his face, smiling faintly.
"Is there anyone completely unburdened by hatred? Sir, do you really think so?"
That was not a question but a statement. How could a decisive emperor really be carefree? And how could he be as free and uninhibited like the clouds in the sky?
"Hey, what did you see?" Bai Yihao's laughter grew even clearer, the emotion in his eyes was indecipherable.
"Clouds and flowing water are calm, but they are soulless. Sir, you are indeed talented, for you see things differently! I'm the smallest fallen leaf in the world, and am only looking for a safe corner to drift to! Please help me." Mo Xuetong took a deep breath and looked up determinedly. Her hands were balled up in her sleeves, trying to hide the cold sweat on her skin.
She hadn't just spoken to Bai Yihao to talk about music. She didn't have much time. She couldn't afford to hold back.

Bai Yihao looked into the dark eyes of the girl in front of him. Her eyes clear as a mountain stream and she looked at him with calm determination. Nobody had ever looked at him like that.
He had never thought that such a delicate young girl could even look at him so calmly. Her eyes were alert, nervous, but not hostile. He could see some helplessness and bitterness in those beautiful eyes. They were deep, bright, and sharp, completely different from her frail appearance.
Yet something about those wise eyes only made her more pitiable. She was too young to carry so much weight, too calm for a child. What could have happened to make her like this?
There was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes too, barely visible, but he could see it clearly. He came to a new decision in a split second. Bai Yihao smiled gently.
"Why do you think I will help you? A daughter of an eminent family making such an appointment with an unknown man would be bad for your reputation." 
"I would not trouble you 

Chapter 20 Sparing and Transaction