Eight were locked out of the door

  Following the imperial court

  Qiu Shi learned that Yan Mo had personally petitioned the Emperor to grant a marriage, and the other party was indeed the eldest daughter of the Bai family. He was finally satisfied in his heart. He hastily summoned the various officials in the mansion to prepare the betrothal gifts.

  In the White Mansion, Bai Han returned and told everyone that the Emperor wanted to betroth his daughter, Bai Xinbi, to him. The entire White Mansion was overjoyed. No one was happier than Bai Xinbi herself.

  Born in a university scholar's mansion, she was spoiled from childhood and naturally developed an arrogant personality. Most government officials' children couldn't enter her eyes, either because they were dissatisfied with their family's power or because they disliked the other person's appearance, picking and choosing, until at the age of twenty, she was still a maiden in the boudoir.

  She had her eyes on several adult princes, and then there was Cheng Wang. Unfortunately, the princes all had wives already, and she didn't want to be a concubine, so she put all her hopes on Cheng Wang. Everyone knew that in Cheng Wang's household, there were only a few minor concubines but no official wife, and not only did Cheng Wang have influence in court, he was also favored by the emperor more than any of the princes.

  What woman wouldn't be charmed by such a handsome and impressive man?

  After inquiring, it was learned that the backyard of Cheng Wang's house was almost all controlled by his mother, Qiu Shi. So Bai Xinbi let Zhang Shi, the stepmother of the White House, go to persuade Qiu Shi. Unexpectedly, Qiu Shi took a liking to her at first sight and also agreed to the marriage between the two families.

  After seeing Cheng Wang up close that day, Bai Xingbi was a bit bewildered. That day, Cheng Wang's attitude made her at a loss and extremely uneasy, and she didn't expect that in just a few days, Father would bring back such news.

  Moreover, it was His Majesty himself who personally officiated at the wedding and acted as matchmaker. Such an honor is not something that everyone can have!

  From now on, I don't know how many girls will envy and admire her!

  Thinking of this, Bai Xinbi couldn't help but feel happy in her heart and asked her father Bai Hanqing for the third time: "Father, when will the Emperor issue the edict?"

  "Wait a little longer. The king has important matters at hand and according to the emperor's tone, he will only issue an edict after the king has handled his current affairs." He paused, looking at his daughter with a mix of annoyance and amusement, "You're a big girl now, why are you still so fixated on this? The emperor has already given his word, can't you just let it go? Why don't you just go back to your room and wait for the wedding?"

  Bai Xin's face turned red with anger, but she still argued back: "Dad, I think you just can't stand me and wish I would get married as soon as possible, right?"

  Bai Han gave her a light glance.

  It was Zhang Shi, who sat in the lower seat, smiled and spoke up.

  "Master, this is a great joy for our White Mansion, just let Bi'er be happy."

  Zhang's words didn't make Bai Xinbi feel grateful, but instead she gave her a cold and quiet glare.

  Bai Han lightly rebuked Zhang Shi, saying: "You're still speaking up for her? Look at her smug and arrogant attitude, it's not like a virtuous woman should be. It's all because you've been spoiling her."

  Zhang's lips pursed into a faint smile, but she said nothing.

  Bai Xin's gaze swept across the two faces, and she hummed a cold tune to herself. She then turned to Bai Han and said in a lukewarm tone, "Father, I'm going back to my room."

  Having said that, he didn't even bid farewell to Zhang and turned around to leave.

  "Alas..." Bai Han shook his head slightly, suddenly reached out and grasped Zhang's hand, apologetically saying, "That child has always been this way, it's really been hard on you all these years."

  Mrs. Zhang shook her head bitterly. As a stepmother, it was either she oppressed her stepdaughter or her stepdaughter oppressed her. She would have liked to be the former, but unfortunately, there was still an elder in the back house who maintained this only legitimate daughter everywhere, making her helpless.

  Who made her the one who continued the family line by entering the manor!

  "Alright, Bi'er can finally get married. From now on, no one will be against you anymore. The White Manor has relied on you to manage everything over the years. Now, you can just enjoy your life and relax. Your husband will surely love you and Hao'er even more." Bai Hanlin comforted her in a gentle voice, knowing her hardships.

  Zhang's expression finally eased. Fortunately, she had a son for the White family, which allowed her to maintain her current status. Considering her son Bai Jianhao, her mother-in-law didn't make things difficult for her except for protecting her granddaughter.

  。。。。。。

  Mao Shan Village

  A shocking piece of news broke the tranquility of Maoshan Village for many years, and more than a dozen villagers gathered at the village chief's house, only to hear a burst of mournful cries coming from inside.

  Bai Xinzhi was dragged by an old woman to the village chief's home.

  It wasn't until they arrived at the village chief's home that they learned the village chief had poisoned himself to death last night!

  As usual, she just stared blankly at the coffin in the yard, watching the village head's wife wailing on the ground with a broken heart, and gradually, her eyes also became moist.

  Listening to the villagers discussing the cause of the village chief's death, all sorts of guesses were heard, but Bai Xincheng didn't dare say anything.

  She had long been aware that outsiders had arrived in Maoshan Village, but they were hiding very deeply.

  She thought back to that night when she overheard a conversation under the village head's window, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

  The village chief must have known that his deeds had been exposed, so he poisoned himself...

  She still doesn't know what the village chief did that was so shameful, but relying on her intuition, she knows that this matter is not trivial and can make the imperial court send people to secretly investigate, which may be something that the imperial court cannot tolerate.

  Not necessarily morally reprehensible, but it will absolutely cause some harm and threat to the imperial court...

  She wiped away a tear and quietly left the crowd, still letting those villagers continue to speculate about the village chief's death.

  Dam edge

  Bai Xin raised her head and gazed at the sky. For a long time, she hadn't communicated with anyone, and she didn't even know how to describe her own emotions anymore.

  Sad, yes.

  Also entangled.

  But what else can she do? Say that the village head did something wrong and got what he deserved, or say that the village head died innocently?

  Not to mention that she can't speak, even if she speaks, there's no way for her to comfort the deceased's family. Should the village head's wife lead her whole family to oppose the imperial court?

  This is not a society ruled by law, this is an autocratic feudal imperial society...

  She is now curious about what the village chief did that led him to be so desperate and end up poisoning himself.

  Sitting by the dam for an afternoon, it was almost dark when Bai Xintie quietly walked back home.

  As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw three or four large black lacquer trunks placed in the uneven yard and almost cried out in surprise.

  The door of the hall was open, and it was clear that someone had come home. This made her subconsciously close her mouth tightly, not daring to ask who the visitor was.

  She hastily walked into the inner room, passing by a large wooden box. Looking at the man who seemed to have descended from heaven, she frowned and said in a lukewarm tone: "Didn't you leave? What are you back for? This is my home, can you please respect me as the host?"

  Come and go as you like, when did this become an inn?

  Sitting on the hard wooden bed, Yan Mo looked at the puffed-up woman, especially at her tattered clothes with countless patches, and suddenly, he curled up his lips and smiled.

  "Come here!" He suddenly spoke, ignoring her impolite attitude.

  Bai Xin's eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at him unwaveringly, her gaze both sizing him up and guarding against him.

  She knew the man's appearance was still passable, but she didn't expect that after changing into a new outfit, his temperament would be even more extraordinary. The moon-colored brocade robe set off his tall and sturdy physique, making him look like an immortal being. The jade crown on his head was clearly not something an ordinary person could wear. Originally, the man's temperament was already cold and gloomy, but now that he had changed into a new outfit, not only did he stand out even more, but the noble and arrogant aura emanating from him became even more intense.

  Perfect man!

  A perfect man who makes you want to avoid him!

  "Come here!" The man's deep eyes stared tightly at her every move, as if seeing that she wanted to run, and couldn't help but speak again.

  At the sight of that calm and arrogant demeanor, Bai Xin almost laughed. Did this man take her for a lowly servant girl?

  This is her home, her territory!

  She stepped back two steps, sat down on the stool in the corner of the wall, put her left leg over her right leg, raised an eyebrow and sneered at the man: "What does this gentleman mean? Can you explain what's going on in the yard?"

  I didn't argue with her about her distance, but looked straight at her face: "Give it to you."

  Upon hearing this, Bai Xin smiled. "I didn't expect you to be so generous. I'm used to receiving charity from others, and since you're offering it to me willingly, I won't decline. Thanks then!"

  A complex glint flashed in the man's eyes: "Don't go and see what I've sent?"

  "Bai Xin smiled and said, 'It's not too late to look again after you leave.' She paused for a moment, then stood up, stretched out her hand pointing towards the outside of the door, 'Please go, young master. I won't see you off far, we'll meet again someday.'"

  Seeing this, Yan Mo's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, his sharp face somewhat cold, but he still sat motionless on the wooden bed, as if he had a special liking for that broken wooden board.

  "Why didn't you ask me what brought me here?" He guessed she would want to know the answer.

  "Didn't you come here to deliver something to me?"

  "This is just one of them."

  Just as Yan Mo was waiting for her to ask 'the second one', he suddenly saw the woman walk over, grab his sleeve and pull him towards the door. "Since you have something urgent to attend to, then hurry up and go. I'll take care of things here."

  "....?!?" Yan Mo's face turned black. Looking at the small hand that was pulling him out, his eyes sank, and he reached out to grab its wrist, pulling it down.

  He knew she was skinny, but the first time he grabbed her hand, he was still shocked by her thinness. Just as he was stunned for a moment, Bai Xindian suddenly raised his hand and glared at him with extreme displeasure.

  "Sir, if you have something to say, just say it. It's getting dark outside. A man and a woman being alone in the same room doesn't seem quite right!"

  Upon hearing this, Yan Mo suddenly raised the corner of her lips and smiled lightly, saying to her slightly angry face: "It's not like we haven't been together before, you're only feeling uneasy now, isn't it a bit late?"

  Her face was pale and her eyebrows were furrowed. Actually, she knew that his coming here must be related to the village chief's affairs, but unfortunately, she had planned to keep a low profile from the beginning, and it was even more impossible for her to ask anything now.

  She just pretended to be deaf and dumb.

  The man seemed to have no intention of leaving, she felt suffocated, her eyes rolled over, and suddenly beckoned the man with a hook of her finger, smiling: "Come here, I have something to say to you."

  Her transformation left Yan Mo Yu somewhat unable to react. However, seeing the woman's smiling face, his expression eased a bit, with a hint of delight and curiosity, he stood up and walked over.

  Bai Xin walked out of the hall door and beckoned to the man again. "Come here, I want to talk to you."

  He put down his pen and followed her out of the house without another thought.

  Just as the man had stood up, the woman darted inside like a gust of wind. Before he could react, there was a loud "bang" and the old door suddenly closed, shutting his tall and sturdy body outside. The door almost hit his head.

  "......?!" Suddenly, Yan Mo's face turned black as coal, staring at the tightly closed wooden door, only gnashing his teeth. "Open the door!"

  Damn it, this woman, he's always thinking about her at every moment, is she treating him like this?!

  Digression

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