Chapter 23 No matter how strong or dignified, she still needed someone to protect her

    Bai Yu did not realize what she had just said. She only knew that this embrace would protect her from everything. The image of blood pouring out of two eye sockets and an arrow in the middle of the forehead made her tremble.

    Ouyang Wenrou held the smaller body in his arms. Though they had never been intimated before, the current situation was enough for him to feel concerned for Bai Yu.

    A sheltered young lady facing this kind of situation, her being able to stay composed this much was already incredible. Luckily, he came across a butterfly while searching for an herb to use in an important elixir recipe and heard strange noises. If he came here a little later, this person in his arms would have to go through something even worse. It was fortunate that he could reach her in time.

    Ouyang Wenrou whistled. Two men wearing all black with their faces covered up appeared at the shrill sound. It was their first time appearing like this in a few years. The Wei Wang who often sported a smile now had an unusually serious expression. He turned his gaze toward Bai Yu’s two maids, and the shadow guards immediately understood. They each carried the injured woman before heading to the Wei Wang palace that was located not too far from here. Their martial arts skill made their movement almost invisible to naked eyes.

    After seeing that the maids were taken care of, Ouyang Wenrou looked down at the small frame in his embrace with worry. He gently stroked her hair when he noticed that she was still trembling. Gone was the elegance that others usually saw from her.

    As a woman…no matter how strong or dignified, she still needed someone to protect her.

    Ouyang Wenrou adjusted the cloak that was covering her body. She was much smaller and slender than he had thought, as his cloak could wrap her whole body up. Bai Yu had now fainted. Ouyang Wenrou carried her against his chest before using his martial arts to go back to his palace at the same speed as his two guards.

    Even though there was a special guest, Wei Wang palace was still calm as ever as if nothing had happened in the period between late afternoon and nightfall. Because of Ouyang Wenrou and his men’s swiftness, no one knew that Bai Yu and her maids were brought here. The exception was his wet nurse, Madam Ruan, and her maids who were called to help with changing the guest’s clothes.

    “What should we do next? What happened to Miss Bai was not a trivial matter at all,” the middle-aged woman asked after she had finished helping Bai Yu into a new dress. Since she had raised Ouyang Wenrou, she could talk to him about every matter without their statuses being an obstacle.

    “In order to protect her reputation, her being here must be kept secret.”

    “Will you report what happened to the Bai family?”

    “That…” Ouyang Wenrou deliberated.

    “N…No need.”

           A hoarse voice from the woman who was the topic of conversation interrupted them the moment she regained consciousness and overheard what was being discussed.

    Right now, Bai Yu was in a light yellow dress made from good quality fabric. Her appearance was prim, opposite to her tattered dress that she came here in. Madam Ruan was the one that cleaned her up and changed her clothes.

    Ouyang Wenrou moved to help when he saw the frail figure struggling to sit up, but Madam Ruan was faster. The wet nurse gave a strict glare at the gentle Wangye who had forgotten that he was an unmarried prince.

    “Yu-er is grateful for Wangye’s sympathy, but if my maids have already regained consciousness then I would like to excuse myself.”

    Her job as an actor had trained Bai Yu to always be calm and focused while being in a role. A while ago, she could compose herself perfectly in front of those bad men, but when she saw the face that was similar to her past lover, she felt safe and felt that she did not need to act strong anymore. That also made her unconsciously call the prince ‘Li Wenrou’ instead of ‘Ouyang Wenrou’.

    Bai Yu knew full well that that man did not exist in this world, that she should stop thinking about him, and that she should not stay here for too long. She must repay her debt but in order to forget Li Wenrou, she also had to keep her distance from Ouyang Wenrou. Bai Yu did not want that face and that same gentleness to open the old scar she had been trying to suppress since crossing into this world.

    “Benwang has doctors checked up on them already. They’re still unconscious.”

    “Then, could Wangye please have someone carry them to the carriage and send us to the Bai mansion? I am afraid that gossip might spread if I return after dark.”

    “About those men…” Kindness was boundlessly abundant in that soft, warm voice.

    Bai Yu took a deep breath, restraining herself from being swayed by his care. She immediately interrupted. “Yu-er begs of Wangye, please keep it a secret.”

    “I refuse”

    Huh?

    “If benwang was one step slower, further damage must’ve been done. And you want to let it go so easily?”

    She did not want to let it go. She just wanted to keep him away from this problem, so that they would not have to be close. “I want to keep the matter a secret and deal with it quietly.”

    “Can Bai family keep a secret better than Wei Wang palace?” His gentle voice showed a hint of sternness. Why was this woman so stubborn? Aid from the royal did not come so easily, yet this young lady just refused him without hesitation. Was it because she intended to rely on his third brother, so she did not care about his help?

    “Benwang will arrange a carriage for Miss Bai and your maids as soon as they wake up. As for those men, as a royal who has an obligation to help citizens in need, benwang will handle it for Miss Bai.” He had to show her that this Wei Wang could help her as much as the Qin Wang she loved so much.

    “But I…”

    “Miss Bai please accept Wangye’s proposition. So that this matter can be kept an utmost secret.” The middle-aged woman who helped her sit up indirectly pressured her with the same gentle voice as the Wangye.

    “Then…” How could she alone stand against the two of them? Eventually, Bai Yu caved and had to accept their help. “Yu-er will have to bother Wangye.”

    “Does Miss Bai have any suspicion regarding the person behind this?”

    “I still cannot think of anyone.”

    Bai Yu lied to keep Ouyang Wenrou out of her problem. In truth, she not only knew but also was sure who sent those men to harm her. Other than Xu Peipei, there were very few people who dared to view her as an enemy, without fearing the Bai family’s influence.

    “Benwang would like to examine your condition again.” Hearing that answer from the exhausted woman in front of him, he did not press her further. Ouyang Wenrou was feeling glad that she accepted his help. He walked up to her with a smile as he reached out to check her pulse.

    The little heart beat faster as an automatic response. Bai Yu pulled her arm back, stunning the other person whose gentleness had comforted her.

    “I am fine, Your Highness.”

    “Why are you so stubborn?” Even while scolding her, his tone was still kind.

    “Your Highness can check my magic current instead, to be sure that it is not in a frenzy like a sick person’s magic.”

    Ouyang Wenrou stared at the beautiful face that was lowered, hiding her gaze every time she talked to him. His light brown irises showed surprise as he first witnessed the weak but stubborn side of the ever-graceful Miss Bai Yu.

    “Alright. Benwang’ll not force you.” He smiled again. The man concentrated and inspected Bai Yu’s magic current for a brief moment before nodding to Madam Ruan as confirmation that she was well. She only fainted because of shock, as he had first assumed.

    “Thank you again to Wangye.” She expressed her gratitude without even looking at his face. Her confidence truly became much lower than before.

    “Lately Miss Bai is injured often. It’d be good to have followers who know martial arts.” He still had not given up on worrying about her.

    Bai Yu sighed again. Could this man stop acting like her type?

    “Thank you, Wangye, for the concern. I will be more careful.” Bai Yu vaguely answered.

    Still stubborn to the very end. So Miss Bai did not only have the sweet and amiable side. Ouyang Wenrou thought to himself, amused. He noticed the cloak that he used to wrap her on the way here, and his thoughts wandered: She must also be this stubborn when she refused to eat, otherwise she would not be this fragile.

    “Wangye, the two maids have woken up. They requested your audience.”

           “Let them in,” he promptly gave permission when he saw the frail frame that was trembling before now sat up straight the moment she heard about her maids. She must be quite worried about them, yet she could keep calm so well. As expected of Miss Bai Yu.

           When the door opened, Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang first went to greet the owner of the palace who they were indebted to before turning toward their young miss. They were full of worry, but when they met the eyes that reflected strange emotions, they kept quiet and did not ask anything more even though they were still concerned.

           In order to avoid being conspicuous, the three got on a plain carriage that did not have an emblem of Wei Wang palace or the Bai family. Even though it was already late, Ouyang Wenrou was still generous. He sent men to guard her carriage since her mansion and his palace were in the opposite direction.

    From saying farewell to the prince to getting inside the carriage, Bai Yu did not dare to lift her face once. She still kept her head low, thanking the noblewomen tradition that greatly benefited her in hiding her eyes. She knew what made her heart pound.

           It was not because Ouyang Wenrou looked similar to Li Wenrou. But because in her head, she kept obsessing over the same question. Was this Wei Wang kind toward every woman?

           Every time she thought of his face, his smile, or his warm hands, she would continue to imagine that everything she had seen was also shared with Bai Hua. In her heart, there was a feeling that was not quite jealousy, but also not entirely hurt, or maybe it was a pity. She could not answer herself.

           Now Bai Yu was certain that the two Wenrou were the same person, only in different lives. If this gentleness was carried over throughout every life, then Bai Yu could not help but think that the warmth he had given her during the nine years together was also shared with Song Lianhua as well.

            At that thought, a painful pang washed over her heart. Bai Yu had to lower her face to hide her expression again. Not intending to show it even to her personal maid.

           The carriage continued until it reached the Bai mansion. It seemed people from Wei Wang palace had already come to inform them with some kind of reason that she was going to be late. She did not know what excuse he used, but at least it made everything calm. There was no huge fuss about waiting for her return.

           Bai Yu strode toward her residence while her maid went to inform her mother that she had come back. She did not want to go herself as she had changed her clothes at Wei Wang palace. The new dress may raise suspicion even though she was wearing a large cloak on top of it. Bai Yu thought that not being seen at all was a much better alternative.

    “First miss, there is…”

           “Get out!” Bai Yu ignored the maids in her building that were trying to report something to her the moment she stepped into Jiu Yu residence.

    Right now Bai Yu wanted peaceful and quiet time to think…About the thieves that were ordered to harm her, about her weakness that she could not accept, about the prince’s worry and care that made her heart waver. The current Bai Yu was not ready to see or do anything.

    “But in the building there’s miss…”

           “I said get out!” Bai Yu yelled.

    “I just want to talk with first sister for a bit, and then I’ll hurry off.”

           A clear voice sounded from inside the parlor room. The heroine walked out, appearing in Bai Yu’s sight. It was Bai Hua who had been waiting in the room, but the maid did not have the chance to tell her miss about it.

    Bai Yu glared at the woman who looked almost identical to Song Lianhua, frustration formed in her chest. Could she show her face some other time? She did not want to see that wanton woman right now.

    “That multiplication table that the Emperor talked about…what does it mean?”

           “And what do you want it to mean?” Bai Yu took a deep breath to suppress her emotions running wild inside. Still, at the same time, she intentionally provoked Bai Hua.

           “I just want to know, is the multiplication table…”

           “Two times one is two. Two times two is four!”

           Bai Hua’s eyes widened. Bai Yu drew in another breath. Did Li Wenrou like a woman who made a face like this?

    What a stupid face!

           “Can you recite it? If you can, then it’s as you thought!”

    “How did you know?” When Bai Yu did not show friendliness to her, Bai Hua also saw no need to remain polite.

           “And how did you know?!”

           Bai Yu did not realize herself that the frustration she had been holding in was taking over her and making her show the aggressiveness from her old habit. Deep inside, she had always wanted to act like this toward Song Lianhua who dared to act like a media couple with her old lover. But because she considered that woman her older sister, she had to hold in it all along.

           After those things happened, she did not have an opportunity to get close to that shameless woman again, even though her palm was so ready to hit that pretty face more than a dozen times.

           Li Wenrou kept protecting and cherishing Song Lianhua and their child. He kept repeating that this homewrecker was a good person, that he could not leave her, that could she please forgive them. He said that Song Lianhua had always been guilty as he kept asking her to have sympathy. He said he could not abandon this good person and their child.

           Bai Yu had listened to a thousand words, and she only wanted to ask back a few. While making love with her lover, Li Wenrou, did the good Song Lianhua feel remorse at all?!

    “I’m tired. If there are no more questions, then leave.” Before this woman’s face would make Bai Yu even crazier than this. She pointed toward the door.

    But Bai Hua still stood, unmoving. “You…where were you from, really?”

           “What about you?” She raised a brow as she took an intimidating step toward her half-sister. Bai Hua had no choice but to step back. There was no one here except her and Bai Yu. Xiao Xi did a good job of shooing them out since the beginning.

           Bai Yu stared at the peach blossom eyes that she so resented. She peered into those eyes, using her best skill to find the truth within. The normally sweet voice was lowered into the voice of a villainess that she often used while acting the role.

    “Bai Hua, my sister, do you know the dear Song Lianhua? Have you ever seen the angelic Li Wenrou? Did you know how foolish Yoknapha was?” Names poured out of her in a flow of self-pity.

    “What about you? Did you come from the same world as these people?”

    Bai Hua stood in the same place, not answering the question and not retreating anymore. Bai Yu stopped her advance and gazed at the valiant heroine who used that hateful face to stare back at her, yet offering no answers. The look in Bai Hua’s eyes was filled with confusion and uncertainty. Seeing that, Bai Yu no longer cared about waiting for an answer.

           Many times she tried to act according to her role, but the fate showed no interest. Many times she went out of the laid path, but the fate did not respond. The truth that was revealed today was novel. It was not dictated by the fate. And with that, she had chosen what she would do next.

           Bai Yu stared into the eyes of someone who came from another life, just like her. Bai Hua’s confusion did not deter her determination. Bai Yu was tired of thinking, of enduring and not retaliating to create karma with anyone, of being careful whether her life will become like in the series or not.

    Every day, every moment, she had to think about what would happen tomorrow and what to do to escape that fate. Knowing the future did not make her life better at all. This time, Bai Yu would do everything she wanted and no longer care what kind of life Bai Yu would have. She would not see Bai Yu as more or less fortunate than her.

    “No matter where you and I came from, no matter what life you came from…now that we’re here, we’re on the opposite side.”

           She would not be the only one who had to avoid that stupid karma and other nonsense. She had been patient, she had endured, and she had tried to stay quiet, yet trouble still found her like today. That meant the fate never helped her avoid anything at all. Instead, it led her back to fight with Bai Hua and those men, again and again.

    Even though the secret came out today, it forced her and Bai Hua to take their own, separate path. Now she no longer had to be the only one avoiding the other person. It was worth it.

    “Go back, and don’t involve me in anything anymore.”

           Bai Yu was not born to be friendly with everyone in this world. Even those in her old life that she had thought were her true friends mercilessly betrayed her. Then why would she trust someone who was partially responsible for ruining her life?

    If this was what the fate wanted, so be it…If they could not be allies, she would rather be enemies!