Li Feitian was already looking down, so he gave a gentle smile and secretly sighed in relief. Proving it with a kiss would be easy. Before long, his warm, moist lips pressed against her soft red ones.
He slowly savored the beauty before him, overflowing with affection.
At that moment, a sharp cry rang out. “Brother Feitian!”
The man who had been called hurriedly pulled away from the woman before him. He opened his eyes and followed the sound, only to see... Bai Liting!
Bai Ming Yue secretly tugged the corners of her lips into a satisfied smile.
The instant Li Feitian saw Bai Liting, he froze, his entire body going rigid.
The warm arms that had been gently embracing Bai Ming Yue suddenly stiffened. A moment later, he hurriedly released her in alarm.
Of course, Bai Ming Yue felt his reaction. It was worse than being pierced through by ten thousand knives, leaving her drenched in blood. The pain was more than she could bear. She had to knock his arms away before turning and fleeing like a helpless person with nowhere left to turn.
Bai Ming Yue locked herself in her room, weeping alone until she eventually fainted.
When Jin Xin saw this, she could no longer stand by.
Although the young miss had forbidden her from discussing anything happening in the residence with anyone, staying silent was not a good solution.
There was one undeniable truth. Although the Bai family was merely a seventh-rank official household, one of the emperor’s consorts had been very close to Bai Ming Yue’s mother because they had once owed each other a favor.
Jin Xin therefore did everything she could to gain an audience with that consort.
It was difficult and took a long time, but the little maid never gave up. At last, the day she had been waiting for arrived. A eunuch granted Jin Xin permission to enter Consort Wei’s palace and attend her.
The complaint poured from Jin Xin’s mouth, every detail exactly as it had happened, without concealing a thing. She spoke through pitiful sobs, crying as though her heart might break.
She was truly a deeply loyal maid.
Consort Wei felt great admiration as she listened to the sordid tale of the Bai residence. Once she had heard it all, she came up with the idea of pulling Bai Ming Yue out of her bitter misery—and decided to arrange a marriage for her.
At the moment, Consort Wei was in the emperor’s favor. She only needed to spend a few hours lying in bed and chatting with him about trivial matters.
Sometimes, His Majesty would even carelessly complain a little about the affairs of state.
“General Yang is immensely influential and exceptionally skilled. His power is beginning to grow too quickly. Eliminating him is not the best solution. In any case, his great abilities can still benefit the realm under heaven for many years to come.”
“Then wouldn’t a marriage bestowed by the imperial court, to diminish his excellence, be the proper course, Your Majesty?” Consort Wei smiled sweetly as she spoke in a pleasant voice, as though she were making an offhand remark.
“A general as hard as stone and an ordinary young woman with neither rank nor powerful connections—wouldn’t they make a suitable match?”
Emperor Yan raised an eyebrow. In truth, he knew exactly what each of his consorts was like and whom they secretly met each day. However, he happened to be searching for a woman suitable to serve as this chess piece, so he did not object to Consort Wei’s suggestion. Besides, whenever he sounded out another consort, each one recommended a niece from her own family, hoping to strengthen her own power.
When he sounded out the officials, they only stammered and hesitated, not daring to voice an opinion.
But the Wei and Bai families were distantly connected, without any tangled web of influence between them. They had no ties to any power faction whatsoever.
Naturally, it was not difficult for the emperor to send spies to investigate the truth behind Consort Wei’s intentions.
Consort Wei had no way of knowing the emperor’s thoughts so thoroughly. She had merely recommended Bai Ming Yue as she intended, because the girl’s mother had once helped her.
Sigh... Consider it repayment to the spirit of the departed. This is all I can do to help your daughter! Consort Wei only wanted to free Bai Ming Yue from the family that neglected her and the selfish man who had hurt her. Thus, she spoke simply, without the slightest scheme in mind:
“She is the eldest young lady of the Bai family, from the household of a seventh-rank official. Her mother is dead, and her father pays her no attention. Her name is Bai Ming Yue. This unfortunate girl has no presence in the residence and lost all influence when her mother died. Although she is already eighteen, she has never had a proper fiancé or marriage arrangement. Most importantly, neither she nor her family possesses excessive power. As for her temperament, she is weak and pitiful, the sort who inspires heartache. She would be an excellent choice for restraining the influence of a powerful official, Your Majesty.”
When he heard her out, the dragon’s eyes suddenly gleamed with deep intensity. The beautiful Consort Wei was consequently granted the privilege of attending him until dawn...
Not long afterward, the three-year mourning period for Bai Ming Yue’s mother ended. At the same time, an invitation to join the victory celebrations and an imperial edict bestowing a marriage as a reward for meritorious service were issued.