“You . . .” Mo Xi still wanted to say something, but the carriage suddenly turned unstable. Bai Yao
held onto the window to steady her body.
Only after some time, did the carriage become smooth again. The driver called from outside, “Prince, Lady, are you both fine?”
Mo Xi was frightened by this sudden change, and besides, he was still angry at Bai Yao’s att.i.tude just now, so he stared at the driver with cruel eyes when lifting up the curtain.
The driver hurried to bow down before him. “Excuse me, Prince.”
“Go take 100 lashes when you get back,” he said ruthlessly.
“Yes, Prince,” the driver answered.
Bai Yao frowned at this punishment. For only a b.u.mpy ride he punished him with a flogging of a hundred lashings?
Mo Xi didn’t notice her difference. He looked around to find that they had already arrived at the theater. “Why did that happened?”
“Prince, a horse was panicked by something and bowed down on one knee. I am sorry for this.”
Bai Yao fell into her thoughts. How can a horse got a panic without reason? Was this horse a flawed animal? No, the Prince would not arrange for any bad horse. And horses seldom got sick. The only possible reason was that someone made this intentionally.
Mo Xi narrowed his eyes to look at the driver with a meaningful smile. After a long time, he asked the driver to stand up.
All of a sudden, a voice came into her mind. “Bai Yao, kill me!”
Bai Yao was shocked by this demand. Who was that? And why?
Bai Yao took a look at the environment. “So, here is it, right? Shall we get down?”
Seeing the Prince nod, she stepped down first.
The carriage stopped by the side of a street with some variety shows. Bai Yao was so interested in those new and strange things. She hung around to view the plays on the street, and Mo Xi just followed.
Time pa.s.sed quietly. Bai Yao finally got tired and went into a restaurant to rest. Her face looked so joyful, thus the Prince gave her a smile, though n.o.body knew if this was really from his heart.
“They will hang some festive lanterns tonight. Would you like to take a look?”He laughed as he suggested this.
What if I say no? Bai Yao was considering this, with her smile still on the face. “How can I refuse you, the Prince?” Though I really dislike it.
“Lady, Lady?” Her maid suddenly appeared in front of her. Bai Yao lowered her eyelashes. Only the Prince and she knew they were in the restaurant, so how did the maid learn of it?
The maid hurried to run to the second floor, then looked at her with nervousness. “What’s wrong?” Bai Yao asked, and gave her a cup of tea.
“Lady, the lord asks for you to go home. Our Second Lady seems to talk to him about something, and then he went out to look for you. . .”
Bai Yao’s eyebrows rose. Bai Yu never disappointed her. Only such a short time, and she had found some excuse. She laughed and turned back to the Prince. “Prince, I am sorry that I have some private business to be done. How about we go see the festive lanterns next time?”
The maid realized that there was someone else here. Hearing his t.i.tle, she bowed down immediately with fear.
Mo Xi asked her to stand up. He knew clearly that Bai Yao was not willing to go with him. But he didn’t care about this, as he had enough time to deal with her. “Sure, next time. Please don’t let me feel disappointed again!”
“Yes, Prince.” Bai Yao half-bowed to him and then let the maid leave.
She was taken to the hall right upon arriving. The prime minster was sitting in the honorable seat. She simply ignored Bai Yu, who was standing at the door, and saluted her father.
Bai Yu asked with worry, “Sister, where did you go? I couldn"t find you for a whole day. I am so worried.”
“Really? Only half of a day, right? Why overstate the issue? Besides, I told you yesterday that I will be going with the Prince to see the shows. You have a short memory.”
Bai Yu clenched her teeth. Is she hinting that I am stupid?
Bai Yao half-bowed to explain to the parents. “Sorry, Dad and Mom, I didn’t tell you and made you worried. Please punish me.”
The father nodded. “I know you well. But this time, you did wrong. You should let us know next time if you have any outing arrangements.”
“Yes, Dad,” Bai Yao replied cleverly.
“No problem. Take your rest.”
Bai Yao bowed and left. Bai Yu couldn’t believe her eyes. So the father let her go so easily? “Dad . . . Bai Yao . . .”
Their father glared at her with discontent.
Bai Yu realized her fault and changed her tone. “I mean, sister Yao, she . . .”
The prime minister picked up his tea to drink, as if he didn’t hear Bai Yu.
Bai Yu knew that her time was done. She also bowed to leave.
After several days, the emperor called for a banquet to invite the close officers for a social occasion. Bai Yao, as a witch, received the responsibility of holding the sacrificing ceremony.
Bai Yu was also invited to the banquet in the palace. Though all the guests had a smile on their faces, their inner thoughts were hard to read.
Just as Bai Yao and Bai Yu found their seats, Mo Xi entered. The Prince laughed and made some small talk with Bai Yao. Again, he overlooked Bai Yu’s existence, and he told some jokes, which made Bai Yao laugh all the time.
How could they be so intimate? Bai Yu suffered. No, she wouldn’t let this continue. Bai Yu laughed and asked Bai Yao some questions to draw her attention to her. Mo Xi was resentful and he didn’t say anything.
Only when the emperor came did Bai Yu stop chaffing.
“Long live, my emperor!” They all bowed down in salute.
The emperor let them stand up and spoke. “It is my honor to have all of you join in the party with me. Enjoy your time!”
“Anyone have any play to show us?”
Some idiot prince from an officer’s family called out, “The weather is so good today, how about we offer our performances by family?”