She walked up the bamboo tower and pushed open the snow ridden window, seeing the peach blossoms outside. She saw the clear stream and crooked rivers outside, accompanied by the long slender bamboos nearby and the distant white clouds on the azure sky. It was indeed a picturesque place to visit. The scenery itself was enough to make one lose their mind.
“Mother has such a good taste in decorating this place! It’s so beautiful!” Standing in front of the window, Mo Xuetong blinked, relaxed and joyful in her demeanor.
Nanny Qin had already arranged for tea to be served as she explained, “This place is not decorated by Her Highness. She only liked plum blossoms and thus there are many plum trees here, making there no room for other flowers. The Crown Prince himself found this precious peach tree and transferred it here. He decorated the entire place and would rest here from time to time when visiting Her Highness.”
She did not expect the garden to be decorated by Bai Yihao but it made sense since the decoration of the place was entirely different from that of the manor. Perhaps only such a beautiful garden was worthy of a handsome man like him.
Nanny Qin only spoke a few words to her before leaving to tend to Princess Royal.
Mo Ye and Mo Lan moved the soft couch to the window side before resting on it to enjoy the scenery. Mo Xuetong found a few books on medicine at the room beside her, books that she had never been exposed to. She was delighted to find that one of the books specialized in common and unusual poisons.
She had died from poison in her previous life, which was impossible for her to escape.
Having been reborn, she was not willing to die from the assassination of others again!
Resting on the sedan that Mo Lan arranged for her, she took the medical book and rested. Instantly, she felt a wave of fatigue attacking her after merely flipping the cover of the book. Immediately, she turned to Mo Ye and ordered, “Mo Ye, do not accompany me here. Go look for my mother, come and inform me personally when she wakes up.”
In the entire Princess manor, perhaps Princess Royal only trusted Nanny Qin. Mo Xuetong could feel Princess Royal’s loneliness and sadness for she was the only one still staying in this huge manor. Perhaps the reason for her unhappiness today would be that her fame and glory outside were not reflected inside her manor!
Would that also be the reason for the spoilt behavior of Princess Royal in her previous life!
“Yes!” Mo Ye nodded as she retired.
Mo Lan lit up the golden incense burner before retreating quietly. The swaying peach blossoms outside accompanied the fragrance inside the room.
The room was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind blowing past the light golden muslin bed curtains that had clouds sewed on them. It was very quiet except for the sound of Mo Xuetong flipping her book.
Bai Yihao walked slowly into the room to see an extreme beauty leaning on the imperial sedan couch by the window, reading naturally. She wore a jade sleek blouse with a light green dress, of which its bottom was laced with pink pearls that resembled the color of dawn. Her dress made her seem even more adorable.
Her long eyelashes fluttered and her tiny mouth opened as if she had read something unexpected. She seemed unknowingly seductive with her small delicate face, her upright nose, and her delicious red lips that shone. Strands of her hair fell like seaweed but seemed as pure as lotuses.
He smiled but stood quietly at the doorsteps, choosing not to disturb the tranquility of the room.
However, Mo Xuetong raised her head as she seemed to have noticed the man. Her watery pupils shone as if her eyes had been covered by a layer of mist, giving off an aura of innocence. As if everything had happened too fast, she stared at him, stunned for a while before her eyes turned sober again.
The man in front of her was dressed in all white, his black silky long hair casually arranged with a purple silk tie. He stood upright as if he were a god. Light shimmered on his jade white skin as he was all smiles, with eyes shining like the stars. He was like a man who just stepped out of a painting, elegant, beautiful, shining with grace and majesty.
His natural favor of gracefulness and composure made him seem like a fairy from the paradise, especially since a few pink peach petals fell on his white clothes.
The two stared directly into each other’s eyes for a while before Mo Xuetong responded. Placing down the medical book on her hand, she stood up hurriedly, “When have you arrived, Sir Bai? You should at least send someone to inform me?” She showed displeasure in her tone as it was common courtesy to announce the guest of his arrival, even though he designed the place.
Bai Yihao slowly walked in, a pair of handsome eyes smiling gently. As if he had not seen the embarrassment of Mo Xuetong, he sat down on a chair and explained casually, “I am merely here to see my aunt. The servants say she was still sleeping and thus I came here to stay, not wanting to disturb her. Little did I expect Your Highness to be here yourself!”
“Did you not see Mo Lan?” Mo Xuetong frowned as she remembered that Mo Lan was guarding outside.
“That servant? I asked her to bring me tea.” Bai Yihao’s eyes were full of delight and pleasure, bringing the distance of the two closer. However, his words made Mo Xuetong speechless.
Mo Xuetong’s eyes turned cold as fury started rising in her heart. She no longer bothered about Mo Lan’s problem as she knew that the man could have tricked her to come down if he wanted to, much less for a servant.
“Your intention of coming here was not just to see Mother, right?” She asked coldly. Even though Bai Yihao’s response was impeccable, she believed that he had other wishes.
“Tong’er is indeed a smart girl! I came specially to see you!” Bai Yihao explained with a serious yet casual smile. He looked at Mo Xuetong with his handsome eyes romantically. Even though it was not the first time that Mo Xuetong had experienced this, she still turned shy with his stare.
Suddenly, a peach blossom petal flew and landed on her silky hair, decorating her to make her even more beautiful.
“There are no outsiders here today. There is no need for Sir Bai to say such polite words.” Mo Xuetong’s thick lashes flashed as she smiled mockingly. Stretching out her hand, she retrieved the petal with her fingers before turning back to smile at Bai Yihao, stunning him!
Involuntarily, Bai Yihao smiled as he retrieved a similar petal from his shoulder. He pinched it as well before blowing on it. His handsome face looked forlorn and pure like a distant cloud. “I won’t say the same thing about you if others are present.”
He spoke those words as if there were something scandalous between them. Mo Xuetong’s eyelashes fluttered as her watery eyes spoke of displeasure. Calmly, she explained, “Sir Bai, you must be joking. Your words even made me misunderstand you! That will make Fifth Princess angry!”
Her back was facing the light and thus she could only look at Bai Yihao with her eyes squinted. She acted naturally, gracefully, and extremely casually, as if she was merely chatting with an ordinary man. She was completely unlike normal girls whose face reddened and heart beat faster upon seeing the man!
“Tong’er, there is no need to worry about Fifth Princess. Do you not know that I liked you for a long time!” Bai Yihao smiled again as he took the cold tea on Mo Xuetong’s table casually. Lifting the tea up to his lips, he glanced on Mo Xuetong before sipping on it. Before the girl could show her rage, he laughed and said, “Tong’er, how about I propose our marriage right now?”
Such a frivolous move and such flirty words seemed elegant and graceful in his mouth as if he were supposed to be like this. Mo Xuetong bit her teeth twice to stop her anger and remained calm and cold.
She tucked away the strands of hair by her forehead as she attempted to suppress the last bit of her anger. Mo Xuetong smiled and looked at him. “Sir, why do you think I will agree to the proposal? Why do you think my father will agree to the proposal? It is already a fact that the First Prince is looking for an aristocrat from the Qin Kingdom. What makes you think that Qin Kingdom will agree to your proposal to marry another aristocrat? Perhaps Sir Bai was not confident of his ability and was now seeking alliances?”
If Qin Kingdom married the Fifth Princess over to Bai Yichen, they would not marry any other royal aristocrat to Yan Kingdom, not even if Bai Yihao was the Crown Prince of Yan Kingdom. The two kingdoms would surely maintain their peace through marriage alliances but the country could only choose one political rival over the other, and not bet their choices on both.
Emotions should not play a role in the game of politics. Mo Xuetong believed that Bai Yihao understood all that and she merely used those words to mock him for his tactics for succeeding to the throne.
Her mockery appeared to have no effect on Bai Yihao as he continued explaining casually, smiling. “Tong’er, do you really not want to marry me? I will gift you my entire kingdom, and bring to see the rivers and mountains of Yan Kingdom.”
His words showed extreme arrogance as it implied that he had everything under control. Suddenly, a domineering aura rose from his pretty and pure face. His delicately carved facial features, his thin lips and his deep pupils all seemed to be hiding a particular sharpness!
That’s the true character of this man!
However, this had nothing to do with her!
In her previous life, the rumors of a cruel, heartless and domineering Bai Yihao was frightful. In this life, Mo Xuetong was harmed because of Bai Yihao’s calculations, plans, and meticulousness. She did not want to be involved with the man.
Mo Xuetong’s face turned gloomy as she looked at him calmly. After a while, she replied, “Your Excellency, I do not want to marry you!”
Regardless of the truth in Bai Yihao’s words, she did not want to be involved with him. The fear of betrayal by close relatives was ingrained deep in her bones, and she naturally wanted to avoid the cruel and heartless Emperor of Yan Kingdom. From the situation of the two brothers today, Mo Xuetong was convinced that he would be the last one standing.
The one to become the almighty emperor!
But, that had nothing to do with her!
She was helpless and begged him for help when she first met Bai Yihao, trading her Qin arrangement in the process. He was full of murderous intent then, and she understood that she would be dead if she did not play her cards right. Afterward, he helped her and saved her. She did believe in him for a while.
However, the calculations by him that followed trapped her. She then understood that the concern and heartlessness of this man all come from his plan. Perhaps she was already placed as a pawn when she was trading with him, used by him to manipulate the game of chess as he took the final victory.
“Tong’er, I shall promise to never lie to you in the future. I am willing to treat you, and only you, with sincerity.” He smiled even brighter. At this moment, she could see his emotions, and it was truly tenderness and concern coming out of those handsome eyes.
He stood up slowly as he walked gracefully yet hastily to Mo Xuetong’s side. His handsome face was like a dream as he stared at the girl with joy and love, “Tong’er, you are my fiancée!”
“Fiancé! Him? Why him?”
Mo Xuetong was gravely shocked, unable to hide the astonishment from her eyes. She could not help but gasp as she almost fell, her body weak!
