Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

152 She who came after could never compare to the bond forged through the blood of the battle between two men Part II

The next three days passed by as Ouyang Feilong was negotiating something complicated with Chu Zhaoran through the magic letter. They seemed to have yet to come to an agreement. Then, words came from the spy within the imperial palace and distracted them all.

“De Fei was crying, begging to be allowed to see the Emperor. The Empress refused, but she still stayed in front of the palace and wept for two days until she fell sick. The news reached her father, the chancellor, today.”

Ouyang Feilong waved his hand once, and the informant melted into the shadow of the room. The darkness of the night made it easier for them to move about. Bai Yu watched his actions with great interest. She wanted to be able to do it too.

“How long are you going to stare at benwang’s subordinate?”

“Yes?” Bai Yu turned back to him, confused.

Ouyang Feilong sighed. “You can leave.”

His words did not seem to be directed at her. Bai Yu looked at the corner of the room again and saw that the informant stepped out of the dark. Whoa! He hasn’t left? And she thought he would be able to disappear into the night like in the movies.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.” Then, the man walked to the door, opened it, and walked out, passing Bai He, who was also coming in.

Whoa! That easy?

.....

“Yu-er, what’s the matter with you?” Bai He looked at his sister’s beautiful face, which now appeared with a grimace.

“That’s not cool at all,” Bai Yu mumbled, not realizing that the other two could not understand her meaning. She had no intention of explaining; instead, she chose to ask, “Don’t Wangye’s spies normally disappear into the darkness?”

Ouyang Feilong was stunned for a blink, then he coughed once before starting to explain. “He can, but he has to do it when it is appropriate. Only benwang’s shadow guards are allowed to camouflage themselves.”

“Ah-Zhen?” Bai Yu’s eyes widened with excitement. She could remember the man because they had met once. She also remembered that she still owed him money.

Ouyang Feilong’s brows were pulled almost into a knot at the sight of Bai Yu’s face lightening up at the name of another man. “Normally, shadow guards do not show themselves easily. Hiding in the shadows is the most crucial part of their duty, yet you remember Ah-Zhen, knowing him by name, even. Benwang might have to assign him to another position.”

Bai Yu blinked. She remembered Ah-Zhen because she was indebted to him from the time she was at the festival with Ouyang Feilong. Moreover, Ouyang Feilong himself was the one who said Ah-Zhen’s name out loud. Was he being too strict or not? Wait! Was his vinegar jar broken again? She had to tease him now.

 “If Wangye doesn’t want him anymore, then why doesn’t Wangye let him become my personal guard?” Bai Yu smiled until her eyes squinted. Her hands grabbed Ouyang Feilong’s muscular arm out of habit when she wanted to beg someone for something.

“Benwang has already done that.”

“Ahem. Ahem, ahem, ahem.”

Ouyang Feilong’s mutter was covered up by the sound of successive coughs from Bai He, who was staring at Bai Yu’s hands, eyes full of disapproval. Bai Yu turned from the other man to give her brother a smile as her hands moved back to her lap in a reserved manner.

Bai He poked his sister’s forehead with his finger once before smoothing his expression back to calmness when he turned to speak to Ouyang Feilong.

“The secret force has arrived, Your Highness.”

“And those that are already here?”

“All of them have already infiltrated the imperial palace.”

“The news from the palace?” Ouyang Feilong asked about the news that he would receive regularly from his men.

“News from Da Yang reported that Taizi fell seriously ill after overexerting himself to lead his soldiers to collect provisions for the army. Apart from that, there was nothing out of the ordinary.”

“What about the Empress?” Ouyang Feilong continued since it seemed Bai He had not disclosed the full truth of the situation.

“Her majesty went to stay at the East Palace to take care of Taizi herself.”

“And general Yue?”

“The matter of weapons found in the Wang family mansion is being handled quietly. The Emperor wishes to keep this a tight secret. We cannot chase them into the corner yet, so his majesty wants to wait until the war is over,” Bai He spoke with a serious expression, though Bai Yu could see a small smile at the corner of his mouth that he tried to suppress.

Her eyes followed Bai He’s gaze to Ouyang Feilong, whose face had no trace of emotion or amusement. Still, her brother did not stop smiling. Bai Yu intently watched the two men and their conversation.

“What about other officials?”

“All calm, Your Highness.”

“Royal consorts?”

“Empress Dowager could impeccably manage them in place of Empress.”

“Rui Wang Palace?” Ouyang Feilong still continued.

Bai Yu listened to the question that was most unlikely to come out of Ouyang Feilong’s mouth. She finally understood.

“Everything is in order, Your Highness.” Even after being asked again and again, Bai He showed no sign of being annoyed. Instead, his smile gradually deepened as he continued to answer.

“And...” Ouyang Feilong was going to ask another question.

“And how is the Emperor?” Bai Yu interrupted the man who kept avoiding mentioning his own brother. He skirted around that one person, again and again, in a manner unbecoming of a great warrior. It must be because anything related to Ouyang Hongxian could sway Ouyang Feilong and make him act out of character.

Bai He seemed to notice that as well, and so he intentionally did not report everything all at once.

“The Emperor is happy and healthy, Yu-er.” Pleased with his sister’s question, Bai He gave her a wink before turning back to his commander, face full of smiles. “His majesty also asked me to pass a question on to Wangye.”

“What did he say?” Ouyang Feilong was instantly curious.

“His majesty asked...”

Bai Yu sat, quiet, waiting to hear the question from afar without realizing that it would make her face redden instead of Ouyang Feilong, the one whom the question was intended for.

“Is the gift to Wangye’s liking?”

“Heh.” Ouyang Feilong laughed.

“Heh.” Bai He was no different.

Bai Yu hated this yin-yang energy so much!

——————-

The next morning, the same informant came to report to Ouyang Feilong as soon as they finished their breakfast. It had not been long since the event that led him here.

“The chancellor, De Fei’s father, requested an audience with the Emperor in the middle of the meeting but was rejected by Empress Dowager. Then, other officials in the same group as the chancellor appealed her decision. The argument broke out and continued until the topic became an inappropriate mess of Empress Dowager acting as regent.”

So it had started.

“All officials came together to protest Empress Dowager’s regency and petition for an audience with the Emperor. Empress Dowager stopped them by promising that she would step down from being regent, though she insisted that she could not let them meet the Emperor.”

On the surface, this was a common conflict. However, beneath that was the cooperation from all sides under a truce. The Emperor was bedridden, and the Empress Dowager could not be regent. Obviously, a solution to this crisis was the objective of this little play the courtiers had organized, which was...

“Ultimately, they asked for an heir to be appointed.”

Indeed, this looked as if it was a scene taken out of a drama.