Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

202 The new consort Part II

“Your Majesty and Qin Wang being healthy is a good sign for the dynasty.” Seeing his sister being indirectly teased by his brother-in-law, Bai He decided to join in.

“Then it is an honor for daughters of the Bai family to be able to serve the Ouyang dynasty.” Yue Huiling participated, ignoring how said Bai family’s daughters were all sitting still.

Other than Bai Yu and Bai Hua, there was also Bai Xue, who had the honor of serving a man of the Ouyang dynasty. Today, Bai Yu’s second sister came to the party as a consort dowager who had a peaceful life in the inner court after the turn of the reign.

“What about you, Miss Yue? Do you plan to serve zhen’s family as well?”

Yue Huiling, who was enjoying teasing Bai Yu, suddenly paused. Ouyang Feilong laughed low in his throat, satisfied to see his former lieutenant general’s stunned silence. “You are already of eligible age as well.”

“Your Majesty, please do not tease me.” Yue Huiling was frozen in place.

“If you want his majesty to be serious, you can tell bengong any time.” Seeing a chance to strike back, Bai Yu spoke.

“I do not dare.” The female general was eventually defeated.

The casual atmosphere of the conversation between a few people made the party more relaxed. That was what Bai Yu had originally intended. Her inviting only a handful of related families was to make Ouyang Feilong feel a sense of family, even though Empress Dowager Wei, who was his only family left, did not step a foot out of her palace.

.....

“Your Majesty, there is one thing I’m wondering.”

After the first performance had ended, Bai Yu pretended to recall something. Ouyang Feilong arched a brow, looking at his little jade and waiting to see what she wanted to play next. “What is it, empress?”

“Da Yang tradition dictates that a daughter must return to visit her family three days after the marriage. Ming-er has already gone to Bai Mansion once.” Bai Yu smiled at Ouyang Mingxian, who had been silently listening from the start, before casting her eyes at Chu Jiaoxin. “…But Xin-er is from Da Chu. Should Ming-er go to visit Da Chu then?”

“That’s right. Zhen heard that Da Chu had a different tradition than Da Yang. Is that true, Xin-er?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The one called ‘Xin-er’ replied in a sugary tone. Bai Yu perfectly maintained a smile on her face despite the irritation caused by the name Ouyang Feilong used.

“We of Da Chu prefer training magic, no matter the sex. Thus, our marriage tradition of welcoming a new daughter-in-law is quite different from Da Yang’s.”

“How?” This time, the question was from Ouyang Wenrou, who was going to go on a cultural exchange. He was as curious as Bai He, who was carefully listening.

“It is either a magic competition or a sparring match using martial arts.”

“Is that true?” Xu Luanle was another person excited by the tradition.

“Da Chu women might not be sweet or reserved, but they are all skilled magic users and martial artists,” Chu Jiaoxin’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Truly interesting.” Ouyang Feilong nodded. “So we should welcome you with that method, correct?”

Chu Jiaoxin smiled sweetly. “All is up to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Then who would normally spar with the daughter-in-law, Qin Wang Fei?” Xu Peipei was interested in the strange tradition as well. Normally, the two nations lived in doubt of each other, and so it was rare for them to learn of each other’s culture. The result was minimal knowledge regarding Da Chu’s culture and traditions.

“Obviously, the sparring partner would be a woman of authority in the family she married into.” Chu Jiaoxin answered Xu Peipei, yet her eyes were looking at Bai Yu. It was as if misfortune was following Qin Wang Fei’s line of sight and heading straight at her.

“Very well!” Ouyang Feilong thought of an amusing situation. “Then, zhen shall welcome your first consort.”

He turned to speak to his nephew. Ouyang Mingxian had to open his mouth for the first time of the day. “Your Majesty is most gracious.”

His indifferent tone made Bai Yu gaze at the two protagonists sitting side by side, with Chu Jiaoxin on the opposite side… That seat was once hers. How lucky Bai Yu was to be able to escape from that position.

“Empress, would you like to welcome your niece-in-law?”

Ouyang Feilong’s question pulled Bai Yu out of the memory of the past and into the current trouble that she herself had started… Damn it! She should not have mentioned that in the first place.

“Gladly.”

In the end, Bai Yu had to reap what she sowed. She was only bringing up a conversation topic, yet what it led to was a physical fight. Furthermore, it became such an occasion that the guests had to move to the emperor’s training ground while Bai Yu and Chu Jiaoxin went to change their clothes. Ouyang Feilong’s golden eyes saw her off with an amused glint. It seemed those eyes were looking at her and showing a wider range of emotions more often.

Bai Yu discreetly grimaced and glared back at Ouyang Feilong before turning to beam at Bai He, who was casting a worried gaze at her, as expected of the best brother in the world.

Shortly, Bai Yu came back with an outfit that was more appropriate for the sparring match. Her dark blue clothes were the opposite of Chu Jiaoxin’s bright red. If Bai Yu and Bai Hua exchanged their gaze, they would understand how much the current situation resembled a boxing match.

The main weapon for the match was a sword. Bai Yu had told Ouyang Feilong in advance that though she could use magic to fight, she was not adept at it. Thus, the sparring match to welcome a new consort would involve swords. The rule was that the first to let go of the sword would lose. According to Da Chu’s tradition, victory and defeat did not matter in the match, as the objective was only to welcome Chu Jiaoxin and strengthen the alliance between the families.

Bai Yu glanced toward Xu Luanle, who was looking at her as well. Today, Master Xu did not draw his eyes with eyeliner, though he still carried his folding fan, as usual. An exchange of gaze between two friends occurred because they both were thinking of the day Bai Yu fought Chu Jiaoxin for the first time. Naturally, Xu Luanle was cheering for his friend and hoping for her to pay the princess back in full.

“Your Majesty isn’t worried that I might get hurt?” Bai Yu complained to her husband while preparing to start the match. At the same time, Chu Jiaoxin was talking to Ouyang Mingxian and Bai Hua.

“It’ll be a good thing if you get hurt. In that case, you won’t be able to go torment anyone.”

“What does Your Majesty mean, ‘torment’?” She glared at him for the second time of the day.

“Heh.” Ouyang Feilong smiled lovingly. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Do you want zhen to say it?”

“I don’t want to hear.” Bai Yu covered her ears and walked away. He knew that she was intending to bully Chu Jiaoxin with Ouyang Mingxian’s treatment of Bai Hua. Unexpectedly, it had misfired.

She was only annoyed by the princess’ arrogance and wanted to pick on her a little. How did everything end up this way?

“Xin-er awaits guidance from Your Majesty.”

Chu Jiaoxin went forward to curtsy to her in the middle of the training ground before taking a sword from her maid. She seemed more energetic and confident than when she wore the elegant clothes of Qin Wang Fei.

Bai Yu lifted her chin. Her grip tightened around the sword she had received from Ouyang Feilong.

“Bengong too.”