Chapter 5 Only the heroine would have these kinds of weaknesses

    “Benwang thought Miss Bai has already stopped blushing every time we meet.”

    “Please don’t tease me so, Your Highness.”

    Bai Yu tried to suppress the smoldering heat in her chest. She turned her face away from his grip and looked down. Though her heart was still beating fast, she had to react with grace so that Ouyang Mingxian would not know that he could affect her as much as before.

    Ouyang Mingxian was surprised to see her reaction. But it was only a fraction of a second before his calmness and indifference returned. So she has learned to reject him now?

    “Let me lead the way, Your Highness.”

    Bai Yu did not wait for a reply before walking ahead, keeping her face down. Whether she changed into a completely different person or still eternally clung to the love she had, the fact that Ouyang Mingxian only loved Bai Hua would never change.

    “Farewell to Wangye.” She curtsied to him, not lifting her eyes from start to finish. Her action was opposite to how her gaze would always follow his carriage until it became out of sight.

    Ouyang Mingxian gave a brief smile. “Take care of your health, Miss Bai.”

    “Thank you, Your Highness.”

    Let’s see how long you can escape from benwang.

    Thump!!

    “Xiao Tao!!”

    “Miss!! Please, don’t!”

    Thump!! Thump!!

    Bai Yu hastened her pace when she heard a commotion near her building. She had not thought of how to handle that male lead who liked to go off-script on her, and now she had to spend her energy on trying to recall which scene in the series was this.

    “First Furen, I beg of you. Please have mercy!”

    She saw Bai Hua, in her light green dress with a familiar-looking lotus embroidery, being restraint by a maid whom Bai Yu had never seen before. Bai Hua was prevented from rushing to her personal maid who was surrounded by male servants. In their hands was a palm-sized slab of wood as they took turns hitting the maid’s back.

    The villainess was unsure if this was the scene where Yue Mei thought up an excuse to punish Bai Hua to get back at her for being a hassle to Bai Yu or not.

    “Mother” Bai Yu curtsied to her mother, who she suspected to be the one who gave the order to flog that maid. “What happened?”

    “Third miss’s maid sneaked in first miss’s building to steal something.” It was Xiao Jun, her mother’s personal maid who answered her.

    “What did she steal?”

    “She hadn’t taken anything yet. My servants happened to pass by in time. They said she was acting suspicious, refusing to answer anything, so I ordered to have her flogged until she speaks.” This time it was her mother who replied in a loud voice, befitting her position as the mistress of the house.

    “Xiao Tao did not steal anything. First Furen please give us justice.” A clear voice interrupted their conversation. It was from Bai Hua who bravely walked up to confront her and her mother. Her peach blossom eyes showed a determination that could even surprise Yue Mei.

    “What do you mean?” A low voice sounded behind them. The arrival of the head of the house, Bai Han, immediately drew everyone’s attention. Bai Hua herself gave a curtsy to him without a trace of fear. As expected from the valiant heroine.

    “Xiao Tao only wishes to find evidence to prove my innocence.”

    “Nonsense!” Yue Mei snapped. “For what crime were you so wrongly judged that you have to ask for justice?”

    “The incident at the palace two days ago. I was not the one who poisoned big sister, so Xiao Tao tried to find evidence.” Those peach blossom eyes met with hers. The gaze was full of meaning. Bai Yu showed a slight smile as her own dark eyes nonchalantly stared back. She raised her brow as she challenged.

    “So third sister tried to prove her innocence by ordering her maid to steal from jiejie?” This time it was you yourself who asked for trouble, Bai Hua.

    “It was this servant. It was only me. Third miss did not order anything,” Xiao Tao cried. The flogging stopped since Bai Han joined the scene.

    “It is all my fault. All my fault, miss.” Xiao Tao was in tears as she tried to protect her mistress from being involved.

    Bai Hua gave a discreet glance at her maid, trying to stop her from talking. Her action was subtle, but still could not escape Bai Yu’s eyes

    She huffed, before continuing. Bai Hua had such a predictable weakness that Bai Yu could force it out with just a few words. “Then it’s fair that you’re flogged.” She gave the servants a signal to continue.

    Xiao Zi started screaming as her friend was hit again.

    “It was me!” Immediately, every action stopped. All eyes were on the valiant female lead.

    “It was me who ordered Xiao Tao to sneak into first sister’s residence.”

    Righteousness. Camaraderie. Only the heroine would have these kinds of weaknesses.

    “What did you order Xiao Tao to steal from your sister?” Bai Han could not believe that his naive daughter would have the audacity for such actions that he had only heard happened in the inner court. She even ordered a servant to search her older sister’s residence.

    “I asked her to find the poison, father.”

    “What do you mean?”

    “I did not poison big sister. It was her. She poisoned herself!”

    “Ridiculous!” Yue Mei raised her voice again. She rushed toward Bai Hua in an attempt to slap her, but Bai Han’s halting gesture made Bai Yu stepped in to pull her mother back.

    “I believe that the poison is still in the big sister’s house, so I ordered Xiao Tao to take it out.”

    “No, master! It was me who suggested the idea. Third miss tried to stop me, but I went against her order and came here.”

    “That’s right. I can attest to it, master. Third miss has told us to stop thinking about it but we did not listen.”

    “Xiao Tao! Xiao Zi!” Bai Hua suppressed her maids. “I ordered them to do it because I wanted to prove my innocence. Father, please give me justice.”

    Hmph! This time it was clearly your people’s fault. Just what kind of justice are you asking for?

    In the series, it was true that Bai Hua did forbid her maids from getting involved. But after they were caught, her affection and loyalty for people close to her made her took the fall for them. Even when those people were merely maids, the heroine who believed in equality would still want to protect them.

    “About that…” Bai Han touched his beard as he considered her words.

    “So you’re implying that you think the Empress Dowager’s judgment was biased against you?” Yue Mei hurried to interrupt before Bai Han could make up his mind.

    “No! I was just…”

    “Insolent! Don’t you know that you’re disparaging the royals?” Hearing his wife’s claim, the upright senior chancellor Bai who held a deep respect for the royalty swiftly came to the conclusion.

    “You kept saying that you’re innocent while your actions say otherwise. You sent your maid to steal from Yu-er. You sneaked out of the mansion, defying the detention order given by me, the first Furen of this house!”

    Oh, Bai Hua, you brought this on yourself.

    “Third sister, how many times do you want to blame jiejie until you’re satisfied?” Bai Yu asked, faking a saddened tone.

    “You!”

    “No, miss, please don’t.” Bai Hua who had reached her limit darted at Bai Yu. Fortunately, her maids came to stop her in time, otherwise, she would be further punished for not respecting her eldest sister born from the first wife.

    Amidst the shock of everyone else at how the sickly third miss who had always been well-mannered became a different person, Bai Yu silently praised her.

    This new Bai Hua really does have some nerve. Yet in this world of rank and hierarchy, you will only look like a fool with that quality. Obviously, I will not pass the opportunity to make things worse for you.

    “Ahh!” Right before Bai Hua could reach her, Bai Yu faked a panicked reaction as she stepped backward, right into Xiao Xi who was standing behind her and fell down. Her loud yelp attracted attention from all around, while Xiao Xi also acted surprised and followed suit, ending up on the ground beside her.

    “Yu-er!” Both her parents called out her name in shock. Bai Yu communicated to her mother through her gaze before taking her father’s hand, extended to support her up.

    “Are you alright?”

    “It hurts,” she whispered. “My wound…” She looked at her fingertips that were starting to bleed, further evoking pity from her father.

    The long sleeves of her attire became a useful tool for her acting yet again. She could make the wounds that had yet to completely dry bleed by just gripping her hands hard.

    “Third daughter Bai Hua defied orders. She snuck out despite being grounded, ten beatings according to the household punishment. Her heart is so full of envy, she even dared to accuse her own elder sister. Furthermore, she did not respect the first miss born from the first wife and caused her harm. These warrants fifty beatings according to the household punishment.”

    Yue Mei’s high voice was heard throughout the resident. Bai Hua who was shocked by Bai Yu’s trick stood dumbfounded. She could not say anything as she was dragged away by the male servants to receive her punishment. All the while her two maids were bawling, begging for mercy while trying to stop them.

    The sounds of wood hitting the slender back resumed amidst the cry of two maids who were protected by their own mistress. Their young miss was so frail and delicate; she could not possibly endure the punishment; she would die if she received sixty beatings.

    Bai Yu watched the scene in front of her, void of any emotion. In this world, the hierarchy system was something a newcomer had to accept. Here, controlling those below you was your duty. If the servants were not reined it, then it was the master’s responsibility to atone for it…Think of this as my lesson for you, Bai Hua.

    “Father, please stop them.”

    Under the sympathizing gaze for the third miss, everyone turned their heads to the first miss who kneeled down with bloodied hands caused by her own sister.

     “Yu-er, what’re you doing?” Yue Mei tried to pull her daughter up and stopped her from begging for Bai Hua’s forgiveness.

    “Please order them to stop beating third sister.”

    After hearing his daughter’s repeated plea, Bai Han finally signaled the servants to stop. Bai Yu did not wait for her father to ask before she started crying.

    “I was just startled, so I fell. That had nothing to do with third sister at all. Father, please have pity for her.”

    “Yu-er!” Yue Mei was displeased with her daughter’s words. That useless woman had it coming to her!

    “Originally, I asked for permission from Empress Dowager to punish her myself, so mother decided to ground her. Although she did sneak off, it was just to go to the marketplace. Third sister’s still young. It’s natural that she’d misbehave a little. Please, father, let me handle this.”

    “What’re you going to do?” Her father asked. Underneath his calm voice was a noticeable relief for Bai Yu’s begging.

    He loved Bai Yu, but he also cared about Bai Hua quite a lot.

    “Third sister is fragile. If she received sixty beatings, she would be seriously hurt, or may even lose her life.” She said while sending a caring gaze to her younger sister. Bai Hua’s face was pale. Her back was slightly stained by blood and her hair was disheveled, yet her beauty had not diminished.

    Bai Yu had thought about how she got away from the incident at the palace. What she did cause the subsequent situations to differ from within the series. If she let it go on, then the future within this world would turn into something she could not predict anymore, and she would not be able to escape from bad situations when they happened. That was why she decided to play along with the script in order to force the story back on its original track.

    If everything stayed the same, then at least she would still know the future and be able to handle Bai Hua’s plans.

    “Father please send third sister to stay at our ancestral temple for one month. By the time she returns, she’d have repented for her wrongdoings.”

    Though religion was used as the reason, having to uphold the religious precepts and pray was actually considered a punishment. In the series, there was a scene where the heroine was sent to the Bai family’s ancestral temple. Her staying there led to the meeting between the male and female lead, and soon after they would fall in love.

    “Good. Very good!” Bai Han nodded in agreement. He looked at Yue Mei who ruled over family matters, and when she did not voice an objection, he loudly announced. “Do as the first miss said. You two prepared yourselves to accompany your master to the ancestral temple. You will leave tomorrow at dawn.”

    The two maids beside Bai Hua went pale. Though they were relieved that their young miss escaped the flogging punishment, having to stay at the ancestral temple was not a much better alternative. Still, both of them bowed their heads in thank before taking Bai Hua back to her faraway ‘Jiu Hua’ building.

    “Yu-er, I’m proud to see that you have such a kind heart that knows how to forgive your siblings.” Her father helped her up from her kneeling position, then took her arms to support her back to the Jiu Yu building where calmness was returned.

    “It’s me who should thank you, father, for being merciful to third sister.”

    “Don’t worry. With an older sister like you, your every sister would be safe.” Bai Yu smiled at her righteous father despite the guilt she felt.

    Bai Han was not a fool. She rushed through many acts, and without her mother and Xiao Xi as supports, her father would have seen through the deceit if given enough time to think.

    Shortly after the doctor who was called to take care of her wound left, Bai Han left to go back to his work. Bai Yu guessed that he went to check on Bai Hua, like how any loving father would do.

    As soon as both the doctor and her father left Jiu Yu building, her mother spoke. Her annoyed tone was opposite to the smiling face she had in front of Bai Han.

    “Why don’t you let her be beaten to death?”

    “The competition for Meihua Lady title will happen soon. I don’t want something to happen within our mansion, mother.”

    “I understand your reason, but such a good opportunity like this doesn’t come so easily, Yu-er.”

    “I understand.”

    “You’re too kind.” Her mother sighed.

    “You’re mistaken, mother…” She gave her mother a small smile. “…Bai Hua received over twenty beatings today. Going on a long trip must be hard on her body.”

    Yue Mei’s eyes met her daughter’s, before letting out a laugh, satisfied with how she had raised a daughter who hid her fangs beneath the surface of a kind-hearted lady.

    “Mother will send someone to the temple to take special care of her.” The only thing ‘special’ from Yue Mei could only be a ‘specially’ harsh condition that Bai Hua would face.

    According to the original story of the series, after Bai Yu was grounded, Yue Mei fell ill and was taken care of by the royal doctor Mu that Qin Wang brought. At the same time, Bai Hua, as a transmigrate person, was excited to be in a different world and snuck out of the mansion to go see the marketplace. When she returned she was punished by Yue Mei who was furious with her, both for exposing Bai Yu at the banquet and for defying her detention order. Furthermore, Yue Mei accused her of having a secret meetup with a man, and so Bai Hua was sent to reflect on her actions at the ancestral temple.

    What just happened differed quite a bit from the series, but at least in the end it led to the same conclusion that Bai Yu knew from her past life.

    Bai family’s ancestral temple was very far away from the capital. When Bai Furen or Bai Yu visited, they would be comfortably received by the Bais who lived there. However, Bai Hua would not have the same treatment at all during her one month there.

    During that time, Bai Yu who played the villainess was not in the same scene as the heroine, so she did not know the details of what happened there. She only knew that Bai Hua who was originally magic-less combined the medical practice she learned at the temple with the one from her former world and created an elixir that could bring out her magic power that was sealed when she was in the womb.

    Everyone knew that the reason Bai Hua could not use magic was from the poison Yue Mei made Li Rong drank while she was pregnant. The poison rendered those who ingested it magic-less, and so Bai Hua was affected by it. Still, she only indirectly received the poison, so her condition could be cured by the elixir.

    Bai Hua spent her time at the temple studying medicinal herbs and practicing her magic until she could utilize it without the need for a medium. One day, while she was in the forest looking for herbs, she stumbled upon Ouyang Mingxian who had been ambushed and used her power to heal him.

    That was the beginning of their relationship, as they got to know each other and nurtured affection. Ouyang Mingxian was intrigued by how Bai Hua, who was from another world, had a different ideology and acted differently from other women. Moreover, the heroine was both beautiful and skilled. After being in close proximity for a while, they fell in love.

    And at the same time…that was also the end of the villainess’s decade-long, one-sided love, The villainess, who did not have a clue of what was happening.

    She was not sure whether this Bai Hua came from the same world as her, or from the same era or not. She decided to continue to observe her actions and personality. At least Bai Yu had to thank Bai Hua’s loyalty to her friends and her father’s righteousness for today’s success. Her behavior today confirmed that this Bai Hua had the same character as Bai Hua in the story…

    Just like her, who was becoming more and more of an evil villain.