The moon was dim, the path was hard to find. A warm wind blew into Bai Yao’s room. Seeing the peach was blossoming outside, Bai Yao poured herself a cup of wine.
She stood up and stepped to the window, drinking the cup silently. The scene outside was a fine spring night, with the pavilion lying in moonlight beside a river.
She was thinking what action should be her next step. In her last life, she was framed and given death by Bai Yu. This time, that would not happen again.
In the morning, she was woken up by the birds singing. On the mountain, she seldom slept. First of all, she had been practicing witchcraft every day and didn’t feel tired, and second, it was risky to sleep deep in a dangerous environment. This time she slept well, maybe because she had drunk too much.
The maid was already waiting outside. After washing up, Bai Yao put on a silk dress of purple-gray, which was dignified and elegant. She was like a peony flower with a strong, n.o.ble atmosphere, different from the white immortal of yesterday.
When Bai Yao went to the hall, Bai Yu and the parents were already waiting there beside the dinning table. The parents were shocked by her beauty, but it was something good to them.
The father and mother began to put food from the dishes into her bowl together, then exchanged an understanding look.
“Yao, you won’t leave us again, right?” The mother said, “You are so tired from this trip, you’d better eat more food.”
“You are close to eighteen. At this age, ordinary women are mothers and have already had several children, so your father and I would like to choose a fiancé for you.” The mother put down her chopsticks to look at her, not knowing how she would react to this suggestion.
The parents thought that the girl was already old enough to get married, but their family was an aristocratic one and many young princes had came to ask about her marriage arrangement since the day so many had seen her beauty. Bai Yao herself already knew her fate; in the last life, Bai Yu and Emperor Mo Xi had cruelly murdered her. She wouldn’t let them go so easily this time.
“Mom, I have someone in my heart. This time, I came back for him. If you would like to choose another one, I don’t want to marry.” Bai Yao’s tears dropped down, as if she was really upset as she spoke.
The mother was unwilling to see her feel wronged, so she asked her about the man.
The father tried to say something, but the mother stared at him. Then he followed the wife"s idea to ask Bai Yao who her choice was.
Bai Yu was already outraged when she saw the parents treating her sister in such a spoiled manner.
“Mom, I want to marry Mo Xi.” Bai Yao spoke out the name in a cold but steady voice.
The parents were surprised by her answer. They took a look at each other.
“Yao, so you know Mo Xi already. Your mother and I didn’t guess you have seen him before. But why didn’t you mention him to us? Mo Xi is good, but—” He couldn’t finish before the wife interrupted.
“Yao, do you really love me? And you have decided already?” The mother was staring into her eyes, as if she wanted to see through her soul.
Bai Yao’s heart was already like a quiet lake. Looking back at the serious woman and the nervous father, she answered, “I like him and I want to marry him.” She pretended to be shy about speaking the truth, as a young lady should behave.
The father sighed and said, “In fact, the Emperor has asked me about Mo Kai. Would you like to marry Mo Kai? He is the one the Emperor wants to decree to you.”
Bai Yao turned to be silent for a while. In the last life, Mo Kai was the only one that she felt so sorry to before her death. This time, she would help him to take the throne. However, she wanted Mo Xi to pay for the life he awe her.
So she said, “Dad, Mo Xi is the only one I want to marry. If you don’t agree, I will...” Then she began to sob. What a good actress! She admired herself in heart. But for the purpose of this life, she could bear this.
The mother patted her back to comfort her, persuading her not to cry any more.
Bai Yu who was sitting beside already had her palm cut by the nail. She hated Bai Yao, the more beautiful she looked, the more she envied. She was trying her best to clench her teeth.
But she was so happy to hear that Bai Yao would not be able to marry Mo Kai. Bai Yu told the parents, “Mom, do you forget? When we were children, Brother Mo Xi always played with we two. He treated the sister well.”
Bai Yu pretended to be proud to say this, as if she was still in the naive childhood.
Bai Yao took her expressions in eyes. Before she entered the room, she already got each one’s expression and she knew that Bai Yu was taking pleasure with her misfortune. But she would like to take use of this. She followed the younger sister to pretend naive and said, “Mom, for sure I like Brother Mo Xi since childhood. Please don’t marry me to Mo Kai, I beg you.”
The parents surrendered to Bai Yao. Anyway, her happiness was the most important thing. Then the mom was taking hold of Bai Yao’s hand to agree, “Ok, Mom will follow your own will. We will persuade the Emperor.”
At first, the father still tried to say something, but when he heard his wife say this, he sighed and agreed. In fact, he also didn’t want his lovely daughter to marry someone she didn’t like.
Bai Yu was cheerful to see the results.
But Bai Yao already knew she was not an angel, so she snorted in heart and let her be.
After the breakfast, Bai Yao went back to her room. Bai Yu tried to b.u.mp heavily against Bai Yao before she left, but Bai Yao swiftly avoided her stupid action.