Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

145 Da Chu’s ‘Empress’ could only be ‘a Bai woman’ Part III

“Ahem.”

“Oh...” The man acted surprised at the other two women in the room. “...What a surprise. The beautiful lieutenant-general and the divine doctor are here too.” Then he gave a dashing smile to both Bai Hua and Yue Huiling. Unfortunately, they did not act abashed like normal women.

First, it was because Yue Huiling had seen Chu Zhaoran on the battlefield countless times already. Second, it was because Bai Hua had grown up seeing Korean Oppa, who had stolen various women’s hearts in that era, and the media had made it easy to see handsome people through both television and social networks.

Come to think of it, Ouyang Mingxian was wickedly handsome as well. It would not be strange that Bai Hua would not feel anything for Chu Zhaoran, who was the total opposite of the male lead.

“You’ve sent this jade to benwang. Does this mean you agree to become benwang’s consort?” Chu Zhaoran ignored two women with different styles of beauty. His attention was pinned on the one he had yearned for over many years.

“If I’m interested...” Bai Yu chose to ignore her two relatives as well.

“Benwang will retreat, and war will become a royal wedding on a scale that befits our combined grace.” Chu Zhaoran insisted on his original desire. His golden eyes stared at Bai Yu, and his gaze revealed the seriousness that belied his nonchalant exterior.

“I’m afraid Wangye no longer has that authority...”

Chu Zhaoran raised an eyebrow.

.....

“...Because it seems Wangye is no longer the one who leads the army.”

Chu Zhaoran fell silent. “What do you know?” His eyes narrowed. Solemnity had taken over the atmosphere around him.

“I know nothing, Your Highness.” Bai Yu shook her head with a smile.

“So Miss Bai did not invite benwang here to view the moon over tea together with your lovely friends?” Chu Zhaoran cast his glance toward the other two, who were politely remaining quiet during his conversation with Bai Yu. However, the coldness in his golden gaze started to make the low-tolerant Bai Hua want to escape.

“Actually, I would like to view the moon over tea with Wangye alone.”

“No.”

It was not Chu Zhaoran but Yue Huiling who objected. Bai Hua also sent her a look with the same meaning.

They did not know the relationship between her and the foreign prince, who held the title of a general. Naturally, Yue Huiling would be wary of Chu Zhaoran. Bai Yu herself, too, should not trust the prince of the nation that was at war with her own. Still, Chu Zhaoran had already shown her that he would not force her, even if he could.

That was why she chose to have a private conversation with him, to give him respect. No matter how much Yue Huiling tried to argue, Bai Yu’s stubbornness won in the end.

“Can this beautiful young lady tell benwang what she knows now?” Despite the teasing tone, his gaze reflected none of its lightness.

In truth, she knew nothing other than what she heard from Yue Huiling that he was not the commander of the latest battle. What she had said to test him must have affected him quite a bit.

“How can I know anything? It’s Wangye who knows more than me,” she answered truthfully.

“So this jade is truly sent as an acceptance to become benwang’s Wang Fei, then?” A sly smile appeared on his handsome face once more.

Bai Yu stared at him, admiring the sudden shift in his mood. This man might seem easy to read, but none of his outward actions aligned with his true thoughts. When she looked deep into his eyes, she was even more unsure of the sincerity of the emotions in his gaze. “I cannot marry Wangye.”

“Other than benwang, there is no one left for you to marry, Miss Bai.”

Bai Yu narrowed her eyes. “As you said that there is no one left, does that mean Wangye has already eliminated them?”

Chu Zhaoran sighed. “No matter how much benwang wants to, benwang doesn’t use dirty tricks.”

Ouyang Feilong’s disappearance was not Chu Zhaoran’s doing?

“Bai Yu.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The gravity in his tone pulled Bai Yu out of her reverie. Chu Zhaoran watched, frustrated, as the woman he loved frowned while thinking about another man in front of him. He already knew the reason she wanted to meet him would be none other than Ouyang Feilong. Even though he was overjoyed to see his jade returned to him, he had to stop himself and wait before coming to meet her.

Infiltrating Da Yang’s army was not easy, but also not above his ability. He wanted his own answer to affirm himself before he could see her.

What would he do if she refused again? A man who had never received a rejection was turned down, again and again, by the beauty he had been in love with for years. Even when he tried to pressure her with the threat of war, she still would not budge. Above all, she already had a man she loved. And that man was the one he could never surpass!

Ouyang Feilong, the Black Dragon who was always a step in front of him.

Chu Zhaoran did not quite understand the Black Dragon’s disappearance in this war. There was also an internal conflict he had to handle. The combined burden made him unable to predict Ouyang Feilong’s movement.

This time, Bai Yu not only refused him but also called him out to ask about that Dragon. No matter how irritated he felt, he could not abuse her trust and respect. It was simple to abduct her while Ouyang Feilong was away, especially in a war where missing people were common.

 Bai Yu never realized how much he loved her.

“Ouyang Feilong is in the capital.”

“Yes?” Bai Yu looked at him, surprised. He was going to tell her this easily?

“The Black Dragon is in Da Chu’s capital. My men always have their eyes on him. He’s still alive. Are you relieved now?” That smile from those red lips annoyed him to no end!

“Then why doesn’t Wangye...”

“Ouyang Feilong is a man of pride.” They had been fighting for so long, Chu Zhaoran could not have missed how wonderful Ouyang Feilong was. His hatred for dirty schemes was no different from Ouyang Feilong’s. Otherwise, they would not have remained in a deadlock for so many years.

However, Chu Zhaoran was not as na?ve as to let Ouyang Feilong act freely in his capital. He did not lay hands on Ouyang Feilong because the Emperor’s decree had suddenly ordered him to return to the border. And he followed the decree, even though the court, in his eyes right now, was in such a strange state.

The three-eyed seer who could help them was nowhere to be found. Chu Zhaoran then chose to return to his seat as the army commander after several attempts to oppose the decree, which all went unresponded. Even the Emperor’s face he could not have a glimpse of. The only thing he could do right now was to protect his power over the military before it was further interfered with.

That was right! The last battle with the intention of capturing Ouyang Feilong was the royal decree that had interfered with his authority. With full intent to object, he returned to the capital to find the answer. His father refused to have a conversation with him through letters and other middlemen. While he was running around in the capital, he did not notice that another royal decree had come and appointed a general to lead the army in his stead. By the time he knew it, it was too late for him to intervene!

The more he thought, the more of a headache everything became.

This is too much, father!

And this woman too… you’re being too happy!

“Thank you, Your Highness.” She hid a smile from her beautiful face, but could not erase its trace in her eyes.

Chu Zhaoran felt frustrated once again.

“Wangye’s favor this time, Bai Yu will be sure to return it.”

“Do you know how unhappy benwang feels right now? Even though benwang has already helped you.” He could not believe that he, the prince of the Chu royal family, would help the woman he loved reunite with the person she loved.

“There are many more women who deserve Wangye.” Sincerity was sent through both her eyes and words.

Chu Zhaoran studied the beauty that had entranced him for many years before revealing a cunning smile. His face, framed by golden hair, came close to hers. His tone was serious, though the amused glint could not be hidden behind his gaze. “The woman worthy of being Da Chu’s ‘Empress’ can only be ‘a Bai woman.’”

Bai Yu frowned.

“If you want to repay the favor this time, then benwang will ‘wait’ for that woman.”

Wait?

Wait for what?

Wait for her to break up with Ouyang Feilong? Impossible!

Even if, in the future, she and Ouyang Feilong broke up or divorced, or if one day, death took him away from her, no one would allow Chu Zhaoran to take a widowed woman as the Empress!

“Keep this.” Golden jade was handed to her for the second time.

“This should be in the possession of the future Wang Fei, no, the future Empress of benwang… and benwang will wait until the time comes for you to repay the favor.”