Chapter 3: The Male Lead Appears

When Feng Bai Su left the Cold Maple Palace with Cong Bai, the sky was already slightly dark.

After coming out of the great hall, Feng Bai Su’s face, which had been carrying a few traces of a smile, gradually sank.

Thinking about how Feng Bai Jiang’s days of illness had been increasing lately, she couldn’t help but think of her fate in the original book.

Although she told her not to overthink things, in the original book, the Sixth Princess indeed did not make it past twenty years old.

Thinking of this, Feng Bai Su’s heart couldn’t help but feel heavy.

The two of them first met when she was ten years old, after she was able to get out of bed and attend a court banquet for the first time.

At that time, Feng Bai Su was sitting alone in a corner, lost in thought, when suddenly someone sat down beside her. Even though she herself looked frail enough to evoke sympathy, she still tried hard to express care and kindness, asking why she was sitting there alone.

At first, Feng Bai Su thought she was just approaching her, another unfavored person, because of her own unfavored situation. To keep each other warm.

But later, she always thought of her. She always wanted to save the best things for her. Whether it was food or items, as long as she found something interesting, she would always bring it to her first with a gentle face.

Even though her own situation was not as good as hers. After all, no matter how unfavored she was, she still had a noble father to rely on and act spoiled with.

It was from that time on that she suddenly realized that her gentle sixth elder sister actually had nothing at all.

In this cold and treacherous palace, she was always alone, forever solitary!

Cong Bai, seeing her mistress’s somewhat downcast figure, couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Her mistress had always been extremely close with the Sixth Princess, truly regarding the Sixth Princess as her own elder sister. She must be feeling sad again thinking about the Sixth Princess’s health!

Feng Bai Su snapped out of her thoughts. Hearing Cong Bai’s cautious voice, she composed herself and returned to her usual lazy demeanor, her voice languid: “It’s nothing. Just thinking about having to go to the Wenyuan Pavilion again tomorrow. Feeling a bit overwhelmed and unable to accept it for a moment.”

After speaking, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Seeing her sighing appearance, Cong Bai was momentarily unsure what exactly she was feeling down about.

Hearing her say this, she muttered softly, “But didn’t you just look like you had accepted it earlier?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Bai Su stopped in her tracks. She raised her hand and gave her a flick on the forehead: “That was forced acceptance, okay?”

Caught off guard, Cong Bai immediately covered her head in pain. Watching her continue walking forward, her small eyes looked somewhat resentful.

*

Early the next morning, while Feng Bai Su was still sound asleep under her brocade quilt.

Suddenly, a chill came over her body, and Cong Bai’s voice sounded by her ear: “Your Highness, it’s getting late! You should get up and go to the Wenyuan Pavilion!”

Feng Bai Su irritably turned away, not wanting to deal with her.

Seeing this, Cong Bai bit her lip, then suddenly said: “Your Highness, the noble gentleman is here!”

As soon as the words fell, the person who had just been lying on the bed immediately sat up.

Her voice was somewhat nervous: “Where? Where is my father?”

If you asked who Feng Bai Su feared most in all her years of life? It wasn’t the Emperor, nor was it the Phoenix Empress. It was Liu Gui Jun, who was Feng Bai Su’s father in this life!

This wasn’t because he was strict with Feng Bai Su. Rather, it was her father’s personality that gave Feng Bai Su a headache.

Whenever Feng Bai Su didn’t listen, he would sit in front of her crying and wailing.

Can you imagine a grown man sitting there like a weak willow, crying and wailing like a delicate flower?

For Feng Bai Su, who possessed memories of her previous life, it was simply unacceptable!

So, as this situation occurred more and more frequently, Feng Bai Su gradually developed a psychological shadow towards her father.

Seeing her nervous appearance, Cong Bai picked up the copper basin from the ground again.

Looking at her, she calmly explained: “Your Highness, the noble gentleman hasn’t come. But you should get up now, it’s time to go to the Wenyuan Pavilion.”

Feng Bai Su: “…”

She glared fiercely at Cong Bai, “You’re ruthless!”

Only then did she begin to wash up using the clear water in the copper basin.

Cong Bai, seeing her fierce glare, wasn’t intimidated at all.

Seeing her throw the used white cloth into the basin after wiping, she carried the copper basin out again with an unchanged expression.

Seeing this little girl’s fearless demeanor, Feng Bai Su seriously wondered if she had been too indulgent with her.

After sitting on the bed for a while longer, she finally got up to dress.

Feng Bai Su wasn’t used to being waited on closely, so apart from Cong Bai, she had found reasons to assign all other servants to work in other parts of the Clear Wind Palace.

Today, she didn’t wear a bright red brocade robe, but instead chose a peach pink one.

Such a soft color was extremely disliked by women in a female-dominated country! Only young men secluded in the inner chambers would like it.

Feng Bai Su, however, didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it. The soft pink clothes accentuated her exquisitely beautiful face, making it even more alluring. The loose collar revealed the fair, jade-like neck inside, and her soul-stirring peach blossom eyes were lazily half-closed, her whole being exuding a sense of unbridled charm and mischief.

When Cong Bai walked in again, she saw her mistress in this alluring state.

Even as a woman, she couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

No matter what her mistress’s personality was like, her looks were definitely among the best of the princesses!

Cong Bai now could understand why her mistress had gained a reputation for being flirtatious and unrestrained.

She sighed inwardly: Being too good-looking is also a sin!

*

On their way out of Clear Wind Court towards the Wenyuan Pavilion, as expected, they once again received admiring and shy glances from a crowd of young palace servants.

Cong Bai followed behind Feng Bai Su with an expressionless face, her heart already numb!

When they arrived at the Wenyuan Pavilion, before Feng Bai Su had even stepped in, she heard voices coming from inside, and it sounded like a male voice.

She couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, surprised that the seemingly proper and upright old Grand Tutor would have such a hobby? Indeed, one can’t judge a book by its cover!

The old Grand Tutor was advanced in years, almost reaching seventy. The old lady had led a legendary life, with countless students under her name, truly achieving the saying of “having students all over the world”.

The Emperor also greatly respected her. Considering the old lady’s age, she was assigned to organize ancient odes and poetry collections in the Wenyuan Pavilion. This wasn’t considered a formal position, and the time arrangement was entirely up to the old Grand Tutor’s preference.

Feng Bai Su’s job was to act as a scribe for the old Grand Tutor, usually copying and organizing some documents.

The Emperor’s intention at the time was that the old lady was aging, with blurred vision and shaky hands, and to avoid tiring her, an assistant was assigned.

Considering the old Grand Tutor’s high prestige, she thought about choosing one from her own daughters. But upon deeper consideration, she feared her daughters might use this opportunity to curry favor with the old Grand Tutor, so after much deliberation, she finally chose Feng Bai Su.

This daughter of hers had been unruly since childhood! Perhaps spending some time by the old Grand Tutor’s side could restrain her a bit.

Feng Bai Su stood at the entrance of the great hall and cleared her throat several times, giving the people inside a chance to hide.

After all, it was the highly respected old Grand Tutor, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for her if she just barged in?

After coughing a few times, she then stepped in.

As soon as she entered the great hall, she saw the old Grand Tutor sitting properly behind a desk, looking at the book in her hand.

Feng Bai Su looked around, seeing no other figures, thinking they must have hidden after hearing her voice.

Pretending to know nothing, she walked towards the old Grand Tutor, smiling and cupping her hands in greeting: “Grand Tutor!”

The old Grand Tutor heard her but didn’t respond.

Seeing this, Feng Bai Su didn’t feel embarrassed at all, and very thick-skinned, took a cushion and sat down opposite her.

“Is the Grand Tutor angry?”

“Alas,” she suddenly sighed: “This princess had no choice! I had a headache attack a few days ago, that’s why I couldn’t come to work.”

As her words fell, the old Grand Tutor finally raised her head, looked at Feng Bai Su with a stern face and snorted coldly, “How come this old minister remembers that the Seventh Princess said the same thing last time? The Seventh Princess’s headache seems quite persistent!”

Feng Bai Su saw her glaring, her face looking unpleasant.

She immediately covered her forehead with her hand, her voice seemingly distressed: “This princess is very troubled too!”

Seeing her acting so convincingly, the old Grand Tutor couldn’t be bothered to continue arguing with her.

As she lowered her eyes, she caught sight of her soft pink clothes and became somewhat disapproving again: “What’s with these clothes of yours?”

Feng Bai Su saw that she was no longer dwelling on the previous matter, and the corners of her mouth curved up.

Seeing her question about the clothes, she looked down seriously, blinked her eyes innocently and said: “These clothes are quite nice, aren’t they? So soft and pink, how lovely!”

The old Grand Tutor saw her sincere and innocent look and was left speechless.

Wei Jing Mo, sitting behind the screen, had been listening to the commotion outside, and saw that his grandmother, the old lady, was rarely left without words.

A trace of curiosity flashed through his cold eyes.

The outside world had always spread rumors that the Seventh Princess was flirtatious and unruly.

Having heard so much, he naturally formed an impression of lustful and greasy in his mind, and unconsciously developed a sense of disgust towards this Seventh Princess.

But now hearing her voice, the words she spoke were indeed somewhat unruly and thick-skinned.

Her voice, however, was lazy and casual. Low and magnetic, with a hint of huskiness, it made one’s heartstrings itch.

His clear and jade-like face was slightly stunned. As he raised his hand, his wide sleeve accidentally knocked over a tea cup nearby, which rolled to the ground with a “bang”.

Instantly, the voices outside stopped.

Wei Jing Mo, realizing what had happened, was slightly flustered in his heart and wanted to bend down to pick up the fallen tea cup.

The old Grand Tutor’s thick voice came from outside: “Mo’er, come out quickly and pay respects to the Seventh Princess!”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo pressed his lips together, then stood up and walked out from behind the screen.

Feng Bai Su heard the commotion from behind the screen, and her whole demeanor changed.

The old Grand Tutor was about to lose her reputation in her old age, and she had become the unfortunate witness!

She glanced up at the old Grand Tutor. Seeing her face start to change after the sound came from inside, Feng Bai Su’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

Then, she heard her call out “Mo’er” towards the inside.

Before Feng Bai Su could react to who this was, a snow-white figure slowly walked out from behind the screen.

The young man was dressed in snow-white brocade robes, embroidered with golden patterns, wrapping his slender body. His eyebrows were cold, his jade-like face bearing a faint expression, like an immortal descending to the mortal world.

And surprisingly, unlike other men of this era, he hadn’t painted his eyebrows or eyes, his whole person looking clean and fresh. Yet his skin was even more delicate and fair than those men who had applied rouge.

He slowly walked up to Feng Bai Su and bowed: “Seventh Princess.”

His voice was even more like the collision of jade stones, clear and pleasant to the ear.

Feng Bai Su was slightly stunned, then quickly reacted and immediately stood up to return the greeting: “Young Master need not be so formal.”

Seeing this, the old Grand Tutor’s face was still somewhat sour. Looking at Wei Jing Mo, she quickly said: “Mo’er, weren’t you going to see the Second Prince? Go quickly!”

As if he stayed a few seconds longer, Feng Bai Su might defile him.

Feng Bai Su had now returned to her usual lazy and casual demeanor. Seeing the old Grand Tutor’s anxious appearance, she couldn’t help but find it amusing in her heart: “Why is the Grand Tutor in such a hurry? Could this be your grandson, the number one young master of Phoenix Ling City?”

She lazily sat back down on the cushion, looking at Wei Jing Mo with a somewhat ambiguous smile.

Wei Jing Mo raised his eyes to look, instantly meeting her rippling, amorous peach blossom eyes, then immediately lowered his gaze again.

The old Grand Tutor’s face, however, became increasingly dark, her voice slightly heavy: “Mo’er! Go quickly!”

Hearing this, Wei Jing Mo bowed to her. Then he bowed to Feng Bai Su again before walking towards the door.

He had indeed come to see the Second Prince this time. He happened to meet the old Grand Tutor halfway and came here temporarily. He didn’t expect to encounter Feng Bai Su.

After Wei Jing Mo left, Feng Bai Su saw the old Grand Tutor still staring at her vigilantly, and couldn’t help but lower her eyes and roll them.

“Alright, Grand Tutor! This princess isn’t even interested in your precious grandson, you can rest assured one hundred and twenty percent!”

Who knew that after she said this, not only did the old Grand Tutor not become happy, she became dissatisfied. Looking at Feng Bai Su with glaring eyes, she said: “My Mo’er is such a good child, the families seeking to marry him number no less than fifty or a hundred!” How dare you not be interested?

Seeing the old lady getting angry again, Feng Bai Su couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

She casually placated: “Alright, alright! I’m the one who’s not good enough, okay?”

Hearing this, the old Grand Tutor snorted and said: “The Seventh Princess is being too modest!”

At this point, Feng Bai Su was completely helpless!