White Robe - Chapter 66
A lie is a lie; once it's spoken, it can never become the truth.
The lie that I am a woman will eventually be exposed.
I sighed softly and bowed, saying, "The one in white will go with Your Highness and will be dealt with as Your Highness sees fit." I reached for my small bundle on the table. The Jiao Wei Qin, a gift from Mr. Feng, had been left with Lan Ye during our escape. The bundle contained nothing but the jade box given to me by Xiao Lü, and Ju Xue was still in my sleeve. I glanced at the windowpane and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please."
I stood by the window, my arms crossed, my gaze fixed on the weeping willows swaying gently in the evening breeze. A clear stream flowed gently from behind the artificial hill, its surface shimmering golden in the setting sun. A few delicate chirps from returning birds broke the stillness of the air—my shadow was stretched long and dark by the setting sun, almost merging with the beautiful evening scene.
"Is the view outside the window so captivating to you?" Prince Ning stood behind me and said, "You've been motionless for almost two hours."
I moved slightly and said softly, "Is that so... Time really flies..." I slowly turned around and smiled, "Your Highness, Baiyi is thinking about something."
Prince Ning said, "Oh?"
I smiled slightly, reached out and tugged at the fine black silk gauze I was wearing, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I was just thinking that Your Highness brought me back to the palace, but it seems that you did not treat me as a criminal."
Prince Ning raised his eyebrows and said, "So, according to you, you would rather go to a damp and dark prison than stay by my side?"
I slowly said, "Baiyi knows she deceived the Prince. Although she had no choice at the time, her crime is indeed grave. If the Prince wants Baiyi to confess, then Baiyi's crime is unforgivable!" I paused, then raised my eyes and said, "Baiyi will naturally bear the guilt she should confess to. But there is one thing Baiyi doesn't understand: why did she become a wanted criminal, and why is she now in the Prince's residence?" I stepped forward and said loudly, "Although Baiyi is a woman, she is somewhat familiar with the criminal law of our dynasty: even though the Prince is of noble birth, he has no right to arbitrate a wanted criminal. Baiyi doesn't know why the Prince brought her back under the pretext of arresting a wanted criminal, using the guise of arrest but the reality of house arrest. Why is that?"
Prince Ning raised his eyes, and instead of being angry, he smiled and said, "So you doubt me?"
I remained expressionless and said, "The man in white is just a commoner, and he has committed a crime. How dare he doubt Your Highness?"
Prince Ning slowly rose and stood beside me, saying slowly, "The White-Robed Prime Minister... The White-Robed Prime Minister... A year ago, when I was organizing the textile industry in Shanxi, I discovered that Guiyun Manor had suddenly appeared in Shanxi's textile industry. In Guiyun Manor, there appeared a White-Robed Prime Minister known as having unparalleled divine eyes... Therefore, I was eager to learn about this prodigy praised by everyone, but I never expected that you would actually—" Prince Ning turned around, his eyes slowly shooting towards me, his expression unreadable, whether it was joy or melancholy.
My heart skipped a beat. Seeing Prince Ning speaking so eloquently and with such a gentle expression, I felt a pang of guilt and lowered my head, saying, "Your Highness... I..." but I couldn't utter a word for a moment.
Prince Ning waved his hand lightly and said, "After you lifted your veil that day, did I not suspect you? How could I not use such a business prodigy? I sent spies everywhere to investigate your background, but even the most skilled spies could only find out that you mysteriously appeared at Guiyun Manor a year ago. Where were you before you appeared at Guiyun Manor? Where were you from? But they couldn't find out anything about you. It's as if you appeared out of thin air in Jiangzhou a year ago... White Robe, White Robe, who exactly are you? Even I can't find out your identity; you disguised yourself as a man, and almost everyone who saw you was deceived by you; you are skilled in social maneuvering, and in just one year you controlled the textile industry in Shanxi; and it is said that you escaped from Guiyun Manor and wandered the world with a notorious assassin... You—what am I supposed to do with you?!"
I saw Prince Ning sigh several times before turning away and remaining silent. His words, spoken so frankly, softened my heart, and I sighed, “Your Highness, why do you go to such lengths for Baiyi? Baiyi is just an ordinary woman who had no choice but to disguise herself as a man to survive. Even ants try to live, and Baiyi’s actions are nothing more than a desperate attempt to survive.”
Prince Ning shook his head, his eyes fixed on me, a strange expression slowly appearing on his face: "Since the rumors spread that you were kidnapped by Young Master Shang, and that the famous White Robe was actually a young woman, I was both shocked and furious upon hearing this news, and swore to personally bring you back. But—" Prince Ning took a step forward, his voice rising a few decibels: "But when I saw you at that small inn, I didn't expect that even in your daughter's clothes, you would remain calm and composed, your every move exuding elegance and composure. So… I've changed my mind!" He suddenly placed a hand on my face and whispered, "I want to keep you… to keep the White Robe, now a woman, by my side."
Prince Ning's hands were exceptionally fair and delicate, and he wore a green jade ring on his finger.
His cuffs, embroidered with square knots, faintly exuded a delicate fragrance.
I raised my head, my gaze slowly turning cold: "I wonder if Your Highness wishes to keep Baiyi, a woman, by your side, or to keep Baiyi as Your Highness's woman?"
Prince Ning was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Is there any difference?"
I said, "There are differences, significant differences." I looked at Prince Ning and said, "If Your Highness wishes for Baiyi to stay by your side and serve you, Baiyi will gladly oblige. But if Your Highness wishes for Baiyi to be your woman..." I walked to the table, picked up a small jade paperweight, and suddenly asked:
"Your Highness has a fondness for jade, and you must already have a considerable collection like this."
Prince Ning nodded and said, "Indeed, I love collecting fine jade the most, and I naturally have quite a few of this quality in my mansion."
I gently traced the smooth surface of the jade with my fingers and softly said, “Your Highness… you must have many women in your household who are as beautiful as jade… Because you are so accustomed to the delicate beauty of jade, you can sometimes find wonder in stones. Baiyi is just a stone that cannot withstand scrutiny. Even if she remains in your household, she will only be one of the most insignificant pieces in your collection…” I bowed deeply to Prince Ning before him and said, “Your Highness, Baiyi’s greatest love in life is freedom. At most, she can only live a quiet life in Guiyun Manor, as a humble mountain dweller, and die there. Why doesn’t Your Highness release Baiyi, so that she and Your Highness can become acquainted in the martial world? Baiyi will surely be grateful for Your Highness’s great kindness!”
Prince Ning stared at me for a long time without saying a word. Suddenly, he flicked his sleeve and strode out of the house.
A knotted handkerchief symbolizes my longing for you.
I now realize that "longing" is such a strange thing. It can make you forget time, forget space, forget where you are. All you can remember is the smiles and words of the person you miss, every little detail... It can even make you unable to distinguish when it is an illusion and when it is real.
“Shang…” I slowly pulled back the hand that had been pushing open the window. The soft rustling of leaves could be heard from time to time outside, mixed with the occasional anxious chirping of cicadas, which sounded unusually loud in the silence.
Turns out... I misheard again...
I picked up the now-cold tea from the table, took a sip, and slowly swallowed it. The constant longing I felt each day had become a torment, a heavy burden on my heart. I've had a mild heart condition since childhood, but back then I was young and mature beyond my years, adhering to the concept of "few desires," and wanted very little of anything. But since meeting Shang Shaochang, my mind has suddenly and involuntarily been filled with thoughts of him, like an empty attic suddenly crammed with goods. No matter how I try to adjust my emotions, I can never return to those peaceful and serene days.
Ten days have passed... Prince Ning still doesn't want to release me...
My residence is the quietest place in the Ning Prince's mansion. To avoid disturbing me, the Ning Prince has decreed that no one, except for two maids serving me, is allowed to set foot in my quarters without prior notice. However, the area within a three-mile radius of my residence is swarming with soldiers from the Prince's mansion. While others are indeed forbidden from entering, I am also unable to leave the Ning Prince's mansion. Furthermore, the Ning Prince's use of Guiyun Manor as leverage makes me hesitant to act rashly at any time.
I touched something cool and smooth in my sleeve—Ju Xue.
But I know that it's almost impossible for me to use Ju Xue like I did last time.
Although I succeeded in the last attack, my whole body felt like it had fallen apart and I was completely powerless afterward. This Ju Xue sword is definitely not made of ordinary jade; it seems to be able to absorb a person's life force! When I unleashed that sword strike, I clearly felt something come to life within the Ju Xue sword—when that sword was swung out, I could barely control that unruly power, a power that almost made the sword slip from my hand and shoot straight into the sky along with that streak of snow light!
What kind of sword did Mr. Feng give me?!
A maid's soft voice came from outside the door: "Miss, it's time for dinner."
I waved my hand and said, "No need, take it away." Normally, this well-trained maid would have already retreated, but for some reason today, she didn't retreat but instead pushed the door open and entered with a "creak."
I frowned and said, "I already said there's no need for dinner today, why are you—" As I spoke, I naturally turned around and met the "maid's" innocent and refreshing smile, who sweetly said, "Sister Bai—"
I was both surprised and delighted. Who else but Xiao Lü could call me "Sister Bai" like that! After making sure no one was outside, I quickly pulled her inside, closed the door, and, holding her hand, exclaimed happily, "You—how did you get in? Where's that little maid? How did you end up wearing her clothes?"
Xiao Lü, dressed as a maid with her hair in two buns and wearing a floral dress, had a charming and delicate air about her. She made a face at me and said, "Don't worry, sister. I only let her sleep for a while and borrowed her clothes to see you. Sister, do I look good dressed like this?"
I chuckled softly and asked, "What do you want to see me for?"
Xiao Lü didn't notice anything unusual in my words and smiled, "Of course I'm here to bring medicine to my sister. It's July now, and although it's summer, heart ailments are most likely to flare up. The medicine I prepared for Sister Bai may have been lost at Lan Ye's place, so I'm here today to bring you the newly prepared pills."
I said calmly, "Is that so... I've been living in this palace for so long that I've almost forgotten about mornings and evenings, forgotten about the seasons, and even forgotten about my own illness..."
Seeing my calm and expressionless face, Xiao Lü stopped smiling and stammered, "Sister... why are you so unhappy... at least it's better here than when we were fleeing for our lives, isn't it?"
I said slowly, "It's true, it's peaceful here. If you ask where the safest place in Jiangzhou City is, it's none other than the Ning Prince's Mansion. Staying here, I certainly won't have to suffer the hardships of constant travel. However, I'm used to freedom by nature, how can I bear such a magnificent cage... I haven't felt happy for a single day here. But, none of that compares to—" I suddenly turned around, my eyes flashing with a sharp light, staring directly at Xiao Lü's panicked face: "None of that compares to the betrayal of me by the person I trusted most!"
Startled, Xiao Lü took several steps back and said, "Sister Bai, no—"
“Isn’t that right?!” I stood up and said, word by word, “If not, how could Prince Ning have found us? If not, why weren’t you in your room when he searched us that day? I’ve tested Prince Ning several times, and before this, he had never searched such a remote little shop. If no one informed on me, how could he have gotten my information? In Jiangzhou City, there are very few people who can recognize me, let alone after I changed into crimson clothes. How could someone who has never seen my true face recognize me as the one in white? On the day of the search, Young Master Shang was in the same room as me. Only you could use the excuse of buying groceries to go out and tell me your whereabouts, and even tell him your room number, so that he could catch you in one fell swoop, right?” By the end, my voice had become unusually stern and cold. Seeing Xiao Lü's tears welling up in her eyes, her small body already retreating to the corner of the wall, her heart softened, and her voice became gentler as she said, "Why... why did you tell Prince Ning where I was... how could you... how could you—" She sighed, but didn't know what to say.
Little Green shook her head repeatedly, saying, "Sister Bai, it's not like that...it's not like that..." Her voice was already trembling with tears, and as she shook her head, tears streamed down her face, making her look incredibly pitiful. I sighed, "Little Green, how could you..." Just as I was about to step forward, I suddenly heard someone say in my ear: