Leng Caidie was also nearby, watching the group huddled together, grumbling and seething with resentment. She sneered inwardly, but when she looked at Baili Su, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. In the Sheng Prince's mansion, she felt increasingly stifled, but outside of it, Ning Xishan was living an even more shameful life. This couldn't help but make her feel a little smug. Sure enough, the wicked are always brought down by others. Ning Xishan could only cause trouble in the Sheng Prince's mansion. What was she after leaving? Nothing at all.
Suddenly, Baili Su giggled at her. Leng Caidie was startled, a tender feeling flashing through her heart. Children really don't understand anything; they don't understand the power struggles adults face. Leng Caidie felt Ouyang Yue's gaze sweep over her. She looked up and saw Ouyang Yue's calm expression, showing neither hatred nor excessive affection for her. A sudden tremor ran through her. She couldn't help but wonder, what grudge did she have against Ouyang Yue? They didn't seem to have any hatred, so why was their relationship always so bad?
It was her aunt. Because of the situation between the Sun family and the Leng family, she had always been at odds with Ouyang Yue. However, Ouyang Yue had never harmed her, and what she had done was truly naive. Leng Caidie felt a sense of desolation. Suddenly, she felt like a failure as a person. Ever since she lost her arm and became the nominal Princess Consort of Sheng, the Sun family, who had always been on friendly terms with her, had never sent anyone to visit her again. On the contrary, because they intended to support Baili Mao, and because Ning Xishan became Baili Mao's concubine, the Sun family wanted to befriend Ning Xishan. But what did they take her, the principal princess consort and the Sun family's grandniece, for? Only then did she realize that the Sun family's kindness towards Leng Caidie and her mother was based on the fact that they had once been of use to them.
The Leng family has a more profound foundation than the other four major families, and it can be said that few can shake its power. The fact that Sun Shi was able to marry into the Leng family was entirely orchestrated by the Sun family. In fact, Sun Shi was most likely to marry into the eldest branch of the family, so that she could take control of the eldest branch in the future, which would be more helpful to the Sun family. However, Sun Shi's background was not good, and the Leng family was not stupid. Why would they marry a wife who clearly had ulterior motives? The second branch of the Leng family had a military general. The Sun family used all sorts of means to marry her into the Leng family, but she did not spend much time with her husband. Moreover, Leng Yuren was a philanderer and had many more women than the eldest and second branches of the family. In addition, Sun Shi could not bear a son. There was also the eldest branch's wife above her, and the old lady did not like her. It was difficult for her to cause any trouble. However, over the years, the Sun family has benefited a lot from the mother and daughter.
In the end, all she did was suffer a minor injury and her mother fell out of favor, and these people turned their backs on her—they were utterly heartless. Leng Caidie felt that her past enmity with Ouyang Yue because of Consort Sun made her seem so endearing. What did these things have to do with her? She now found those kinds of people utterly disgusting. For such people, Leng Caidie had risked being ostracized by everyone—how foolish she was!
The back garden of Prince Chen's mansion was rather secluded, while all the guests of Prince Chen's mansion were in the front hall and front courtyard, making this place seem even more deserted. Under a rockery stood a man and a woman. The woman was pretty and had an air of nobility about her, but her eyes were fixed on the man in front of her. The man was dressed in a casual pink robe and stood there casually, looking lazy and carefree. He had a handsome face and was a rare good-looking man.
The woman gazed at the man for a long time, her eyes as captivating as spring water. However, the man never turned to look at her. Baili Nan suddenly chuckled, "Leng Caiwen, as a woman, I abandoned my dignity and reserve to pursue you for so long, but I never expected the end result to be like this."
Leng Caiwen finally turned to look at Baili Nan. Seeing the self-deprecating smile on her face, her heart tightened slightly, and she sighed, "I'm sorry."
Is Baili Nan beautiful? Yes, she is beautiful. Unlike Ouyang Yue's exquisitely beautiful face, her beauty is more real, a beauty that one can almost touch. Is Baili Nan good-natured? Yes, she is. For a princess of the royal family to lower herself and pursue a man for years is something most people can't imagine or dare to do. She has courage and determination in love, and to be loved by such a woman is a blessing. Although Baili Nan inevitably has the temperament of a pampered princess, Leng Caiwen has met several princesses, and compared to them, Baili Nan's personality is simply too good. Does Baili Nan have anything likable about her? Yes, she has many virtues and is a rare woman of both beauty and talent. She would be a good wife and mother, but Leng Caiwen just can't seem to reciprocate her feelings.
Perhaps it's human nature to always think the best what you can't have. Leng Caiwen never seriously considered Baili Nan's pursuit of him, so there was no question of liking her.
Baili Nan smiled bitterly, his heart aching as if it were being squeezed tightly, it hurt so much!
She paused, forcing back the tears welling in her eyes, which reddened slightly. "Leng Caiwen, you are truly a heartless person. All the hopes I had were crushed because of those three words." She paused, as if the pain in her heart had not yet subsided, and she couldn't speak for a moment. "Caiwen, this is the last time I will call you that. I am not young anymore, and my mother has already begun to look for a future husband for me. From now on, I can no longer be willful. Over the years, my father and mother have watched over me and let me be reckless, just wanting me to be happy. They have never used their status to force you. Everything I have done is voluntary. If you don't like me, I can't force you, because that would only make you more unhappy."
"Actually, I once thought about spending my whole life with you like this. I just didn't believe that when we were both in our seventies or eighties, you would still be so heartless. But I never thought that Xuan Yuan Yue would come along. Her appearance shattered all my expectations for the future. You loved her so much, but unfortunately, she had someone else in her heart, yet you remained unchanged. At that time, I was really scared. I couldn't just give up all the efforts I had made over the years, so I did wrong things. I caused trouble for her. But now that I think about it, it's really cute. What does this have to do with other people? It's because I don't have the charm to make you like me." Baili Nan shook his head and said helplessly.
Leng Caiwen's eyes flickered slightly as she stared intently at Baili Nan without speaking. Leng Caiwen wasn't a quiet person, but her silence was surprisingly reassuring. Listening to her speak so quietly made all the resentment Baili Nan felt towards her vanish. Baili Nan's eyes reddened even more: "No one can be blamed for this. Perhaps we're just not meant to be. I've known you for so long longer than she has, yet you've never shown me even the slightest bit of affection. But I also have to thank you. If I had even the slightest bit, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to let go."
Leng Caiwen gazed silently at Baili Nan, his charming peach blossom eyes holding a deep depth that made it impossible to discern his thoughts. Finally, he sighed softly and said, "I'm truly sorry."
Baili Nan shook his head: "There's nothing to apologize for. This kind of thing is mutual. You don't owe me anything. It was just wishful thinking on my part from the beginning. You're a good brother. You've let me run wild all these years, and I should thank you for that. But the dream is over, and I have to do what I should do. I can't let my father, mother, and brother worry about me anymore."
Leng Caiwen smiled slightly: "You have indeed grown up. You will have a husband who will love you very much in the future."
Baili Nan looked at Leng Caiwen with a hint of reproach, her heart tightening again: "Of course I will find a man much better than you, and I will definitely be very happy." If she wasn't happy, wouldn't she be even more pathetic? Her eyes stung slightly, but she didn't want to cry weakly, at least not in front of Leng Caiwen. With a piercing pain in her heart, Baili Nan clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms to keep herself from crying. "You... have you never liked me? Even just a little bit would be fine." In the end, she couldn't help but ask.
Leng Caiwen remained silent for a while, and just when Baili Nan thought he wouldn't say it, he slowly spoke up: "No, I've always treated you like a younger sister."
"You...you're so cruel. I was already ready to give up, can't you even leave me a little bit of hope? You could at least lie to me." Baili Nan bit her lip, looking at Leng Caiwen with some anger.
Leng Caiwen gave a bitter smile: "Why do you have such thoughts? How are you going to live with them? If you want to be happy, you have to forget everything from the past. If you can't forget, you have to live with these thoughts for the rest of your life. Do you have the courage to do that?"
Baili Nan was taken aback, stood there for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Is this what you really think? Is this what you're really thinking?"
Leng Caiwen didn't continue the topic, but smiled at Baili Nan: "It's getting late, you can't leave for too long, it's not good if someone finds out. We shouldn't meet alone anymore, it's not good for you."
Baili Nan stared intently at Leng Caiwen, as if trying to etch him into her memory forever. Finally, she said softly, "Leng Caiwen, you're such a fool. The most foolish person I've ever met. But I admire you because I don't have the courage to keep waiting. From now on, we'll go our separate ways. There will never be another woman as foolish as me following you around every day, trying to win you back. You'll regret missing out on me in the future. This princess is leaving."
After saying this, Baili Nan turned and left. In that instant, tears finally streamed down her face. Her girlish happiness had come to an end. From now on, she would be like many other women, forced into marriage by her parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words, and then try her best to hold onto her husband's heart. She thought she would be happy, as long as she let go of her obsession. But... could she really let go so easily...?
Leng Caiwen suddenly went limp and leaned against the artificial hill, her eyes gazing at the sky with a somewhat unfocused look. She stood there for a long time, lost in thought.
The full moon celebration was a great success. Since Baili Su showed his power, no one dared to cause trouble at the celebration, so it can be considered a complete success.
In the Empress's Palace, the Empress lay on a chaise longue, with palace maids fanning her and occasionally peeling grapes for her. A smartly dressed woman, dressed differently from the maids, followed in front of the chaise longue; she was a head maid. The Empress said lazily, "Oh, you mean that the Prince of Chen looted a lot of women's jewelry and belongings at the full-moon celebration, and that he didn't get along with any of them?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Empress sneered, "It's really a bit strange. Even if Xuan Yuan Yue wanted to teach such a young child, there's no way he could. Yet he managed to intimidate those people. These people are truly shameful and utterly useless."
The palace maid remained silent, and the atmosphere in the room fell silent for a while. After a while, the Empress suddenly said, "In a few months, it will be the first birthday celebration. This is even more important than the full moon celebration. As the heir apparent, he is not an ordinary commoner and must be treated with utmost seriousness."
The maid who delivered the message was confused. She glanced at the Empress cautiously before lowering her head. The Empress gave her a brief look and said, "You may leave now. Both of you may also leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The palace maids withdrew, leaving only Lan Ni and Lan He in the room. As soon as the Empress moved, Lan Ni immediately stepped forward to help her sit up. The Empress then addressed the two of them, "Do you believe in the existence of demons in this world?"
The two exchanged a glance, neither daring to answer. The Empress, however, said, "I quite believe that such a young child can distinguish between good and bad people? If Xuanyuan Yue couldn't teach him, how could he?" The two paused, realizing the Empress was implying…
The Empress squinted at Lan He and said, "Doesn't the Prince of Chen like beautiful jewelry and ornaments? Go and bring out the Han Palace jade pendant from my collection. As the Empress, I naturally have to help with the baby's first birthday celebration. It would be good if there was something more for him to grab. If I don't show any appreciation, people might say I'm stingy."
Lan He and Lan Ni were both stunned. That jade pendant... that jade pendant was something of extraordinary significance. If it were taken out, it would likely cause some trouble. And the Empress was clearly well aware of this. This was exactly the kind of trouble she wanted. The Empress had a cold smile on her face: "I want to see how long they can be so arrogant. Come closer."
Lan Ni and Lan He approached, and the Empress said, "You two go and make preparations. Aren't there extraordinary people and events in the martial arts world? Find some; I need them. Be careful with this matter. Keep it a secret until it happens, or I won't let you off easily. And on the day of the baby's first birthday celebration, you have those people..."
Lan Ni and Lan He were also shocked. The Empress was so clever. If she hadn't told them, they would never have been able to imagine such a method. It was absolutely brilliant. It was like killing without bloodshed. If it were to spread, it would not be a blessing for the Prince Chen's mansion, but a disaster.
Ignoring their expressions, the Empress lay back on the chaise lounge and said indifferently, "How has Chengxiang Palace been these days?" Because of the Crown Prince's matter, the Empress had always harbored resentment towards the Empress Dowager. It was after that incident that the Empress fell ill. The imperial physician examined her and said she needed to rest, so the Empress Dowager exempted her from paying her respects. Even though the Empress recovered a few days ago, she was not in a hurry to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, Consort Sun and Consort Zhang have been very diligent lately. In particular, Consort Sun is often the first to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and the last to leave, and she seems to be making the Empress Dowager very happy," Lan Ni replied immediately.
The Empress laughed sarcastically: "This Consort Sun really thinks that if I don't show any favor, she can gain face in front of the Empress Dowager? Perhaps she can for a while, but who in this palace isn't being schemed against by the Empress Dowager? The Sun family and the Lin family have always had a feud. She really is a weathervane. People like her die quickly."
Lan Ni and Lan He stood to one side with their heads bowed. The Empress hadn't expected these two palace maids to respond to her, but a dark glint flashed in her eyes: "That old woman has been using me for so many years; she'll die by my hand sooner or later. But right now, the most urgent thing is to find someone to support. Should it be the Third Prince or the Ninth Prince...?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Ning and her mother, Lady Shang, have lost face at Prince Chen's residence this time," Lan He said in a low voice.
The Empress narrowed her eyes: "You may all leave now. I have other plans." A faint, cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
The "first birthday celebration" takes place a year after a child's birth, marking the first turning point in their life. Both boys and girls participate, though the timing may differ. Naturally, the Prince of Chen's heir's first birthday celebration was a grand affair, with many friends invited. Of course, those with ulterior motives also appeared on this day, yet the Prince of Chen's residence was filled with joy...
☆、253、A God-like First Birthday Celebration (Spectacular)
Compared to the full moon celebration a year ago, there were even more people attending Baili Su's first birthday celebration this year. Regardless of age, anyone who came to congratulate and watch the ceremony with gifts was welcome to come and was not turned away. In the Chen Prince's mansion, one could even see a few ordinary commoners. Of course, these were not to be feared; they were just people who wanted to join in the fun and climb the social ladder. The Chen Prince's mansion would not give them the opportunity to cause trouble here.
The first birthday celebration was held before lunch. At this time, the guests who came to the mansion were just led around by the servants of the Prince Chen's mansion. A few close friends would sit together and chat. In addition to the table set up in the main hall for people to sit on, temporary sheds were set up in the two gardens. One was for people to chat and play, and the other was for a troupe of actors to watch a play.
Ouyang Yue was inside the house at the moment. Baili Su had just fallen asleep, and she didn't want to go out, so she stayed to take care of him. A woman was sitting in front of her, dressed in a gray robe with a cloth tied around her head. She looked to be in her early twenties and had delicate features. However, when facing Ouyang Yue, she was noticeably respectful and cautious. Ouyang Yue took a sip of tea, paused for a moment, and then said, "Village Chief, have you remembered clearly?"
The woman, named Ling'er, said, "Reporting to Master, the village chief said he couldn't be completely sure, but he felt it was very similar. Just to be on the safe side, he hoped to investigate further. My brother in the village has already led people to investigate, but this matter is of great importance, and my brother said that Master should also be informed, so I rushed over overnight."
Ouyang Yue nodded: "Hua Cheng is right. If this is true, it is of great importance and we should investigate it as soon as possible."
The girl was Hua Ling'er, and the brother she spoke of, Hua Cheng, was one of the two people Ouyang Yue had sent to Hongfeng Village after returning to the capital to teach various skills to the villagers. Hua Cheng was the leader of the group. Hua Cheng and Ling'er were cousins. Originally, the Hua family was a prestigious family, but they offended someone and were framed and wiped out. At that time, they were young and escaped by hiding in a rice jar. They had been living a life of wandering ever since. However, Hua Cheng was a capable person. Although he was only ten years old at the time, he was a visionary and ambitious person. He began to bide his time and took Hua Ling'er out to find odd jobs while raising money for school. They lived a very hard life, but Hua Cheng and Hua Ling'er were sensible. They knew that although the hardship was bitter, the reward would be great. Otherwise, what could two children do? Only if Hua Cheng passed the imperial examination or made a lot of money could they improve their lives and then take revenge.
Hard work pays off. Hua Cheng, through his own efforts and talent, finally passed the imperial examination. Perhaps because he had worked so hard for so long, his success triggered a sudden outburst of hatred buried deep within him. So they began to plot revenge for their family. Although they succeeded in the end, they were too hasty and gave themselves away, which led to their own downfall. After being captured, they escaped by trickery and lived an even more turbulent life of constant hiding and fleeing. Ouyang Yue only helped them by chance, but in reality, she had struck gold.
Hua Cheng is a rare talent, possessing both courage and resourcefulness, a strong sense of the big picture, and the ability to bide his time. If they hadn't been so young and driven by vengeance, they likely wouldn't have exposed their weaknesses in the end. Hua Ling, though not as capable as Hua Cheng, is meticulous and, during her wanderings, she learned some skills from an old doctor, albeit unorthodox ones. Without Hua Ling's medical expertise, the siblings wouldn't have survived their later wanderings. When Ouyang Yueyi took Red Maple Mountain as a fallback, she sent them with a group of people there. Now, Red Maple Mountain has changed completely.
The story Hua Ling'er told Ouyang Yue was actually a coincidence. After Hong Dabao's incident, the imperial court sent a new county magistrate. This magistrate wasn't exactly incorruptible, but he certainly wouldn't dare to cause trouble for the village like Hong Jian Gou. In addition, after Hongfeng Mountain donated a batch of ginseng, no one bothered them anymore. The villagers of Hongfeng Village would occasionally go to the city. Just recently, when the village chief of Hongfeng Village took Xiao Chao to the city market, they unexpectedly met someone. After returning home, he couldn't sleep and then went to find Hua Cheng.
Based on the village chief's description of his appearance, Hua Cheng drew a portrait of the man and sent it to Ouyang Yue for a closer look. The portrait was placed on the low table next to Ouyang Yue. The man had a ferocious expression and a long, twisted scar on his forehead that was particularly eye-catching. It was none other than Gui Sha. However, the village chief of Hongfeng Village felt that the man looked familiar, but it was not him.
According to the village chief, the area around Red Maple Mountain was once rife with bandits, and the people lived in misery. These bandits and thieves committed all sorts of atrocities, including burning, killing, and looting. People were most afraid of having beautiful girls in their families because they simply couldn't support them. These girls were either kidnapped by bandits to become their wives or used by thugs and then sold into brothels. Later, these people became so rampant that the imperial court sent troops to suppress them. However, the bandits and thieves were not fools. The people from several villages united to resist the imperial army. The stalemate lasted for a long time, and then the imperial court sent the then First General, Xuan Yuanhu, to suppress them.
Xuanyuan Hu was a guardian deity of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Even the sound of his voice would send shivers down the spines of bandits, who would not dare to confront him directly. Xuanyuan Hu himself was extremely capable, and his men were already backing down as soon as he was dispatched. But at this time, a plague suddenly broke out in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and many refugees flocked to the area. Of course, these refugees wanted to go to the capital, but the area around Red Maple Village was a necessary route to the capital, and there were many refugees fleeing. Xuanyuan Hu, having repelled the bandits, originally wanted to take care of these refugees, but for some unknown reason, the refugees suddenly rioted. Xuanyuan Hu was a rare general, a famous general in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a man who was extremely loyal to the Great Zhou. In the end, he died in the riot caused by the refugees.
It's a sad story, really. Xuan Yuanhu's death was quite strange and suspicious. He, the top general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, possessing martial arts skills, was actually killed by a group of disaster victims. This simply didn't make sense. Some of his generals were also killed or wounded afterward, and the circumstances were unclear. The matter was suppressed. The village chief of Hongfeng Village was young at the time, and because he lived there, he inadvertently discovered that those disaster victims might not have been ordinary people, but rather bandits in disguise. Having grown up in Hongfeng Village, the village chief knew the local bandits very well. He suspected that the leader was the chief of the most notorious bandit group, the Blood Wolf Stronghold. These people hated the imperial court the most. If that person was indeed the Blood Wolf Stronghold chief, Gui Zi, then these disaster victims who flooded in under the guise of the plague were a deliberate attempt by Gui Zi to harm Xuan Yuanhu. Of course, the village chief couldn't be entirely certain.
Imagine a bandit versus a general, the most beloved general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, backed by the Xuanyuan Army. If this got out, not only would Blood Wolf Stronghold be wiped out, but all the bandits in the Great Zhou Dynasty would be destroyed in their rage. Besides, soldiers and bandits are inherently afraid of the court; how could they dare to oppose it or harm Xuanyuan Hu? Moreover, the village chief was young but not stupid; he discovered this by chance, and for his own safety, he dared not reveal it. But upon seeing Gui Sha in the city, the village chief suddenly remembered years ago. Gui Sha looked very much like the Japanese soldier—not exactly identical, but resembling him by seven or eight points. He was much younger than the Japanese soldier and must be his descendant. Gui Sha's fierce appearance inexplicably stirred the village chief's heart. Ouyang Yue's identity had already been revealed, and after much thought, the village chief realized that this matter concerned Ouyang Yue's grandfather, Xuanyuan Hu, so it was necessary to tell Ouyang Yue.
Although the village chief could not be sure whether Xuan Yuanhu's death was truly a setup, the descendants of the Xuan family should know about it. Besides, this was his master, so it was impossible to keep it a secret. Therefore, it was inconvenient for Hua Ling'er to visit Ouyang Yue under the guise of a woman from out of town visiting relatives in the capital.
"Any news from the village chief?" A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Yue's eyes. The death of Xuan Yuanhu had always been a wound in Princess Shuangxia's heart. She knew there was something fishy about it, but there were quite a few refugees involved, and many had fled for their lives. Although some were captured later, they couldn't get any information out of them. Moreover, it was confirmed they were indeed refugees, so how could she make things difficult for them? The matter was simply left unresolved. However, the strangeness of the situation wasn't just on Princess Shuangxia's mind; Xuan Yuanchaohua and Ouyang Yue also felt uneasy. They all felt that the whole thing seemed pre-planned, shrouded in mystery.
The village chief only suspected something was amiss, and just happened to feel that something was strange. As for the fact that this ghost killer looks similar to the Japanese soldiers from back then, that's just speculation. If this matter is to be investigated, it will probably be difficult to investigate after so many years.
"Don't worry, Master. When I saw Gui Sha in the city, he seemed to be seriously injured and had bought a lot of medicine. Later, after the village chief told my brother, my brother secretly sent people to keep an eye on Gui Sha. However, when I went to the capital, Gui Sha did not make any unusual moves. He just drank medicine to heal his injuries every day."
Ouyang Yue tapped her fingers lightly on the table, pondering carefully. Right now, all of this was just their speculation. If the Japanese soldier was dead, it would be difficult to get any information from Gui Sha. But this was their only breakthrough. If Xuan Yuan Hu's death wasn't an accident, then someone was targeting the Xuan Yuan family's princess residence. If they didn't investigate thoroughly, they would be sitting idly by and waiting to die. Ouyang Yue never liked to act behind the scenes, so this matter naturally required them to take the initiative: "What are the chances that our people can capture Gui Sha without alerting outsiders?"
Hua Ling paused for a moment and said, "Brother, I've observed that this Ghost Killer's injuries are quite severe. With a little planning, I think there's a 70-80% chance of success."
Ouyang Yue thought for a moment and said, "Alright, let Hua Cheng make the preparations. Don't alert him. First, arrest and keep an eye on Gui Sha. However, this person used to be the head of an assassin organization. He is not only cunning but also ruthless. We can't give him a chance to escape. I will decide later whether to leave the capital or bring him to the capital secretly."
"Understood, Your subordinate," Hua Ling'er replied immediately.
"Your Highness, most of the people outside have arrived." Chuncao walked in and said. Ouyang Yue nodded slightly. "Ling'er, there's no rush to leave. Wait at the palace for a day and leave tomorrow. Chuncao, take Ling'er downstairs to rest."
"Yes, Your Highness." Chuncao personally led Hualing'er away. Ouyang Yue tidied up again, called Dongxue, and then carried the still-sleeping Baili Su out of the hall.
At this moment, a lot of people had gathered in the hall. Baili Chen was sitting on the throne, greeting the guests. Today was Baili Su's first birthday celebration, and Princess Shuangxia was naturally present as well. She was sitting in the seat of honor, exuding an air of majesty. However, she, who was usually indifferent and aloof, had a faint smile on her lips, looking happy.
"Greetings, Princess Consort Chen!" As soon as Ouyang Yue came out, many people bowed to her. Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Today is the first birthday celebration for the Crown Prince. I am already very happy that everyone could come to participate. There is no need for further formalities."
Ouyang Yue approached Princess Shuangxia and said, "Grandmother, do you think it's time for the first birthday celebration to begin?"
Princess Shuangxia glanced at the table and said, "Send someone to inform them that the baby's first birthday celebration can begin now." Since there would be lunch afterwards, they couldn't afford to waste too much time. Baili Chen cast a questioning glance his way. He naturally knew about Ling'er's visit to the mansion to see Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue blinked slightly. The matter was too complicated to explain in a few words. Even if the matter wasn't clarified, she wouldn't let her grandmother know. Her grandmother and grandfather had a deep relationship, and she was afraid they would be heartbroken.
Hearing that Baili Su's first birthday celebration was about to begin, some people who were listening to music and chatting outside hurried back to the main hall. Because there were so many people today, and everyone wanted to see something new for Baili Su's first birthday celebration, the hall was so crowded that the screens were eventually removed. Anyway, there were so many men and women in the hall, there was no need to do so many formalities, and who would be able to get into trouble at a time like this?
At this moment, a white carpet was laid out in the hall, upon which various objects were displayed. These included Baili Chen's seal of the Prince of Chen, scriptures from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, as well as writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, abacuses, coins, account books, jewelry, flowers, rouge, and food such as chicken legs, scallions, garlic, and celery. Each item had its own meaning; for example, chicken legs represented a life free from worries about food and clothing, scallions represented intelligence, garlic represented good calculation skills, celery represented diligence, and straw represented expertise in farming. Swords and other items naturally symbolized a future as a powerful military general. The other items also had their own literal meanings. The Prince of Chen's mansion was quite well-prepared, having prepared everything that was usually needed for the baby's first birthday celebration, whether it was used or not.
Looking at Baili Su, who was still fast asleep, Ouyang Yue poked him with her finger: "Su'er, wake up quickly, the first birthday celebration is about to begin."
"Ugh!" Baili Su let out a dissatisfied sound. As Ouyang Yue poked and prodded him with her fingers, he finally opened his eyes reluctantly. His big eyes were blurry, and he blew bubbles from his mouth, which popped with a "pop." Baili Su opened his mouth with a sullen expression and grabbed Ouyang Yue's hand, biting it in a fit of frustration. Unfortunately, he was small and weak, so his actions were more like tickling. Ouyang Yue chuckled, "Su'er, today is your first birthday celebration, don't sleep."
Baili Su bit his lip. Oh right, today is the baby's first birthday celebration! How could I have forgotten? His big, round eyes darted around as he released Ouyang Yue's hand.
Sun Meng'er covered her hands with a handkerchief and said, "The young master is really cute. He's sleeping so soundly on such an important day, without any worries. He's very lucky. He'll definitely catch something good later."
“That’s right, the young master is born into the royal family, how could he not be blessed?” Someone immediately chimed in. Leng Caidie and Ning Xishan didn’t react much. Ning Xishan snorted inwardly, but didn’t want to say anything more. This little brat was very strange, and she didn’t want to suffer the humiliation she had at the full moon celebration.
"Then let's begin..." Baili Chen waved his hand, but before he could finish speaking, a shrill voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty the Empress, please give us your reward!"
Everyone was taken aback. This kind of first birthday celebration was something that elders would occasionally do as gifts, but for the Empress...
A moment later, a eunuch-looking man led a group of junior eunuchs and maids in. The head eunuch naturally bowed to Baili Chen and the others and greeted them one by one. Then, he smiled at Baili Chen and said, "This servant has come to congratulate Prince Chen and Princess Chen. Her Majesty the Empress is a model of virtue and also likes to take care of the younger generation. I heard that the young prince of Prince Chen's mansion is having his first birthday celebration today, so I found an item to give to the young prince and brought it up."
The palace maid behind him immediately brought out a box, inside which was a jade pendant that was entirely green. The pendant was decorated with dragons and phoenixes, and a row of equally crystal clear jade beads were arranged on it, which was very eye-catching. However, those who truly knew its value had different expressions when they looked at the pendant.
This jade pendant was originally Baili Cheng's personal possession. When Baili Cheng was born, Emperor Mingxian, in a moment of joy, bestowed upon him the title of Crown Prince and gifted him this jade pendant. It was originally something Emperor Mingxian wore when he was young. Of course, this thing doesn't prove anything, but it was passed down from Emperor Mingxian to the Crown Prince, so it has a different kind of meaning. If Baili Su really chooses this jade, there will probably be rumors that Baili Su will be the new Crown Prince. Baili Su has the qualifications, but how many imperial grandsons are there before him? Emperor Mingxian is still young now, and although the struggle among the princes has calmed down, that's only on the surface. In reality, the struggle behind the scenes is even more intense. If Baili Su takes this jade pendant at this time, it might cause a big problem.
Ouyang Yue looked at the various beads on the jade pendant. Baili Su liked bright and colorful things, which had been known since the full moon celebration. The Empress was really thoughtful. She clearly wanted Baili Su to choose it even if he didn't want to.
Baili Chen's expression darkened slightly, but he still said, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. Someone, put the jade pendant away properly."
Baili Zhi's expression changed slightly as he looked at Baili Su, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. Sun Meng'er, standing beside him, tugged at her handkerchief and patted her mouth lightly, though the smile in her eyes was undeniable. Originally, the items chosen during the baby's first birthday celebration should be of the same color family or similar colors to make it easier for the child to choose without being distracted by the colors. Even if Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen wanted to stop it, what did the child know? Besides, the eunuch stepped aside after delivering the item, clearly just watching. At this point, even if Ouyang Yue wanted to, she didn't dare to go too far. This little brat would most likely choose that jade pendant, and then things would get interesting. He would inevitably be branded as ambitious and disobedient to his elders. You know, it's not Baili Su's turn to become the crown prince yet; his father hasn't even achieved that yet. If they could make father and son estranged and make Baili Chen wary of Ouyang Yue, then the Chen Prince's mansion would be in chaos. Would they need anyone else to deal with them then? They'd be courting death!
Sun Meng'er sneered, wondering how the Prince Chen's mansion would manage to get through today.
Ouyang Yue put Baili Su down. Today, Baili Su was dressed in a white robe and had a small crown on his head. The smaller crown was inlaid with a smaller ruby, which made Baili Su's already delicate face even more beautiful and lovely. Ouyang Yue smiled and stood aside, saying, "Su'er, come on, see what you like here and grab it."
Baili Su sat on the white carpet, a cute bubble coming out of his small mouth. He tilted his head and looked back and forth with his big eyes at the guests, not at all at the various toys and objects in front of him. It seemed that these people were more interesting to him than the things he had picked for the first birthday celebration. Looking at everyone, his little mouth would occasionally grin, revealing a cute and silly smile. Few of the women in the circle could resist his cuteness.
Ouyang Yue wasn't in a hurry and waited quietly, smiling as she waved her hand and said, "Su'er, try catching one."
Baili Su seemed to only just realize what was happening. He turned his little head, his big, dark eyes darting around, and grinned, but he didn't move. Sun Meng'er frowned as she watched. Why wasn't this brat moving? He was wasting time. Her gaze couldn't help but sweep towards the spot where the jade pendant the Empress had brought was placed. It was in the middle, with Baili Chen's seal, straw books, and other items in front of it. However, those items were all very ordinary and inconspicuous compared to the jade pendant.
Baili Su crawled slowly forward, his hands on the ground. The nearest book was a Confucian classic, which he ignored, continuing on his way. Next was Baili Chen's official seal, which he also ignored, his eyes gleaming. Baili Chen felt a pang of anxiety. Although he wasn't particularly afraid of anyone, how could a father not worry about making Baili Su a target of public criticism? The Empress was a ruthless and vicious woman. During Baili Su's year in the Prince Chen's residence, his mother, Baili Chen, had a good grasp of his mind. This little guy was a complete money-grubber, though his greed was outwardly obvious. If he saw something he didn't like, he'd find a way to snatch it from the person and keep it. But once he got it, he'd usually just put it away in the storeroom without even looking at it. The Empress had figured out Baili Su's habits; this was clearly a trap. But Baili Su was still a child and didn't understand. Besides, during the first birthday celebration, it was extremely taboo for adults to coax or force something upon him.
Baili Su crawled around on the white carpet, gradually pressing against the jade pendant. Everyone's hearts couldn't help but rise. Did the Prince of Chen really take a fancy to that jade pendant?
Sun Meng'er kept shouting in her heart, "Quickly grab it, quickly grab that jade pendant!"
Baili Su finally sat down in front of the jade pendant. No one reached out to take it. Instead, he tilted his head to look at it, grinned, and stretched out his chubby little hand to grab it. Sun Meng'er was furious and her heart was in her throat. However, Baili Su stretched out his little hand and landed directly on the jade pendant. Then, his two little hands continued to crawl forward.