"Why should I give you an extra five thousand taels!" Ouyang Hua was really angry. It was bad enough that Ouyang Yue was forcing her to take advantage of her, but Ouyang Rou also wanted to get a free ride. Dream on!
Ouyang Rou sneered: "Eldest sister, leave yourself some room to maneuver, so you can meet again in the future. Do you know how much disaster this has brought me? And I have no control over what I might do!"
Ouyang Hua's expression changed, and he finally gritted his teeth: "Fine, I'll pay! But Third Sister, let's make things clear today. If you take this money and then complain to Father, don't blame me for being impolite!" Ouyang Rou also nodded in agreement.
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "My two sisters can rest assured, I promised you that I would not tell! But when will I receive the money?"
"It's not convenient to do this on the bus right now; I'll have to wait until we get home to give it to you."
Ouyang Yue thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll trust my two older sisters this once. The gift for Father is urgent and can't be missed. If we don't have the money by then, well... hmph!"
"I will definitely give you the money!" Ouyang Hua said coldly. Fifteen thousand taels of silver, but she only had ten thousand or thirty thousand taels on hand. She would have to ask her aunt for help to get the rest. This was practically taking away her entire fortune. Ouyang Hua gritted her teeth in hatred, and Ouyang Rou was no better off.
Having achieved her goal, Ouyang Yue hummed an unknown tune, swaying her head and looking extremely pleased, which almost made Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou so angry they almost twisted their noses!
This little incident on the road quickly brought the carriage to its destination, Chenghua Street.
Chenghua Street is located near Dongcheng District. Because its consumer base consists of middle- and upper-middle-class consumers, it can be said to be the place with the most diverse population among all streets in Beijing, and it is also one of the most popular streets in the city.
When Ouyang Zhide returned from the border, the city gate he passed through was the East Gate. Of course, Chenghua Street would be the only way through. The general's group left relatively early, but when they arrived at Chenghua Street, they found that they were still late. Chenghua Street was very crowded, and it would not be easy to squeeze into the carriage. It might even cause injury.
After some inquiries, Granny Xi and her entourage decided that everyone should get out of the carriage and walk to the restaurant. Along the way, Ouyang Yue was positioned between Dongxue and Chuncao to prevent them from getting separated in the crowd or being taken advantage of. However, Granny Ning naturally traveled with a large entourage; not only the women, but also a team of guards accompanied them. With these guards protecting them, people in the crowd naturally kept their distance, making it not as difficult as one might expect.
When everyone arrived at the restaurant booked by Old Ning, Ouyang Yue's eyes darkened. It turned out to be Xiangmanyuan, run by Lin Baiyu. What a coincidence!
At this moment, Xiangmanyuan was packed with people. Although news of Ouyang Zhide's return to the capital had only recently spread, it couldn't dampen the excitement of the people of the capital who wanted to see the great hero who protected the country. So today was destined to be a lively day. Although Ouyang Yue was reluctant, she couldn't bring it up now. Old Ning had sent someone to book a private room as soon as she received the news. If she canceled now, it would be difficult to find an empty private room on Chenghua Street.
The innkeeper knew early on that the General's Mansion had booked a private room. Upon seeing Old Madam Ning arrive, he immediately bowed and scraped, leading the women of the General's Mansion upstairs. Along the way, he couldn't help but flatter them: "Old Madam is truly blessed. General Ouyang has rendered loyal service to the Great Zhou Kingdom, a truly great achievement. This is all thanks to Old Madam's excellent guidance!"
Old Madam Ning smiled demurely: "Shopkeeper, you're too kind. This is all thanks to His Majesty's great favor. Otherwise, the general wouldn't have achieved what he has today. To be honest, His Majesty is truly wise and insightful." As she said this, wrinkles appeared on Old Madam Ning's face as she smiled.
"Yes, yes, Madam is right. Our Great Zhou Emperor is wise and mighty, but General Ouyang is also very brave." As she spoke, she led everyone to the second floor, then took a few steps forward and stopped at the private room in the middle of the second floor. "Madam, this is it. From here, you can see General Ouyang's journey through Chenghua Street. This is a room that I specially arranged for everyone in the General's Mansion."
"Thank you so much, shopkeeper." Mama Xi immediately gave him another silver ingot as a reward. The shopkeeper beamed with joy. At times like these, as long as the General's Mansion was pleased, how could the reward be small?
"Quickly, serve tea and snacks to everyone in the General's Mansion. Be quick and efficient!" The shopkeeper shouted as soon as Old Madam Ning stepped into the room. Ouyang Yue turned her head and glanced at the shopkeeper, who happened to be looking over. His heart skipped a beat, but he put on a smile.
"Whoosh!" The door to the next room suddenly opened, and a head popped out. The head looked around, then the body flashed, revealing a man in a pink robe, holding a folding fan and fanning himself in a very flamboyant manner. It was none other than Leng Caiwen!
"Oh my, it's the old lady of the General's Mansion. Madam, this junior, Leng Caiwen, greets Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning." Leng Caiwen walked over with a smile and gave a slight bow.
Old Madam Ning smiled gently: "So it's the second young master of the Leng family. What a coincidence."
Leng Caiwen shook his head: "It's not a coincidence at all. General Ouyang has returned in triumph, and I can't sit still, so I naturally came out to join in the fun. I didn't expect to meet everyone from the General's Mansion here. Hey, I never mind Caiwen keeping you company, do I?"
Old Madam Ning's face stiffened. Although Leng Caiwen was the top of the three talents in the capital, his philandering nature also made him the top of the three talents. What was the meaning of him, a grown man, being in a room with a group of women? Before Old Madam Ning could reply, Leng Caiwen said again, "If it's inconvenient, then forget it. I'll go back to accompany the Ninth Prince." Leng Caiwen shook his head and turned to leave.
Old Madam Ning was startled: "The Ninth Prince is right next door?"
Leng Caiwen nodded, a faint smile on her face: "That's right, I'm just here to keep you company today."
"Well, the Ninth Prince is right next door. I should go and pay my respects." Old Madam Ning immediately tugged at Madam Ning, who understood and immediately helped Old Madam Ning up. No matter how great the honor of the General's Mansion was, it was given by the royal family. If people knew that the women of their mansion did not pay their respects to the Ninth Prince when Ouyang Zhide returned to the capital, it would definitely cause gossip!
Ouyang Yue, walking behind, almost rolled her eyes. Leng Caiwen was clearly doing it on purpose. At this moment, Leng Caiwen turned his head and happened to see Ouyang Yue's pouting expression. He chuckled, which made Ouyang Yue roll her eyes again. Leng Caiwen opened his fan and laughed even more flamboyantly.
"Your subject, Lady Ning, pays her respects to the Ninth Prince."
"This humble woman, Ouyang Yue/Ouyang Hua/Ouyang Rou, pays her respects to the Ninth Prince."
"This servant... greets the Ninth Prince..."
Led by Old Madam Ning, everyone entered the house and knelt on the ground. Then a deep, mellow voice rang out, which Ouyang Yue recognized as the voice of the Ninth Prince, Baili Chen: "Get up."
"Madam Ning, there's no need for such formalities. I heard that General Ouyang has returned to the capital, and my father ordered the Crown Prince to welcome him on behalf of the Emperor. I've come to join in the fun, so there's no need for further formalities."
Everyone looked up and Ouyang Yue clearly heard a burst of rapid breathing from the women. Many of them had never seen Baili Chen before and were naturally amazed.
Today, Baili Chen was dressed in a long silver robe, cinched at the waist with a belt featuring a hidden dragon pattern, displaying his understated luxury. A silver crown adorned his head, holding back his black hair and making his face appear even more translucent than white jade. Coupled with his exquisitely handsome features, even a sage would be moved. Moreover, Baili Chen, simply sitting quietly to the side, exuded a casual and carefree air, as if he could effortlessly blend into everything around him—a feeling truly indescribable. Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou's eyes flickered rapidly, and a slight blush crept onto their cheeks.
Although the Ninth Prince is sickly, his demeanor and appearance are truly unmatched! Besides, he holds a high position and widower status. Even if they were to marry him and live a life of widowhood, they would still feel it was worth it to be husband and wife for even a moment.
Only Ouyang Yue looked up at Baili Chen once, then looked away and scanned the room. Finally, her gaze lingered on Leng Caiwen on the side, and something seemed to be running through her mind.
Bai Lichen's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at the group from the General's Mansion. He paused for a moment on Ouyang Yue, and a slight smirk appeared on his lips: "I feel bad for troubling Old Madam Ning. Why don't we eat here? This meal is on me."
"This..." Old Madam Ning hesitated. She had anticipated Ouyang Zhide's return to the capital today, and that trouble would ensue, but she hadn't expected to encounter such a problem so soon. They had accepted the Ninth Prince's invitation immediately after Ouyang Zhide's return, albeit by chance. If someone with ulterior motives saw this and spread the word, it would be a major problem. Furthermore, Old Madam Ning had no intention of siding with the Ninth Prince, so she didn't want to get too close to him and was naturally unwilling to comply.
"Haha, what a coincidence! I didn't expect the Ninth Prince to be in this restaurant too." A burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the door, and the door was opened at the same time. Upon seeing this, the people from the General's Mansion immediately knelt down to pay their respects.
"Your subject, Lady Ning, pays her respects to the Fifth Prince."
"This humble woman, Ouyang Yue/Ouyang Hua/Ouyang Rou, pays her respects to the Fifth Prince."
"This servant... greets the Fifth Prince..."
Baili Jian was dressed in a blue brocade robe with dragon and phoenix patterns embroidered on the hem. When he walked, the dragons seemed to be soaring, which was very impressive. However, Baili Jian had a gentle face and refined features, which softened the arrogance of a royal son and made people more likable to him.
"Oh, Madam Ning, what are you all doing here? What a coincidence! You're here to welcome General Ouyang too, aren't you?" Baili Jian spoke very humbly, immediately bringing smiles to the faces of the women in the General's Mansion.
Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou blushed even more. Although the Fifth Prince did not have the captivating appearance of the Ninth Prince, he was kind-hearted, the son of Consort Sun, who was the most favored concubine of the Emperor, and healthy. He was a more suitable husband than the Ninth Prince.
????"yes……"
"Ninth Prince, this is really not right of you. General Ouyang has only just returned to the manor, and you're already blocking this place to meet with the women of the General's household. What kind of logic is this? Ninth Prince, do you have some unspeakable secret that you don't want anyone to know?" Before Old Madam Ning could finish speaking, a sharp female voice suddenly rang out, and then a woman dressed in a wedding gown, with delicate features but sharp eyes, walked in.
The people in the General's Mansion were secretly bitter. They had only come to see Ouyang Zhide, but they hadn't expected to see not only the Ninth Prince and the Fifth Prince, but also the Fifth Princess.
The Ninth Prince and the Fifth Prince belong to two different factions, and the Fifth Prince, Baili Le, is Baili Jian's younger sister, so naturally she sides with Baili Jian. These words are meant to put Baili Chen down. But it's not a pleasant thing to say; this matter also involves the people of the General's Mansion. If word gets out, wouldn't people gossip that they are plotting something with the Ninth Prince here?
Old Lady Ning still took the lead in kneeling and bowing to Baili Le, inwardly criticizing her, but she dared not be negligent: "Your subject, Lady Ning, pays respects to the Fifth Princess."
"This humble woman, Ouyang Yue/Ouyang Hua/Ouyang Rou, pays her respects to the Fifth Princess."
"This servant...pays respects to the Fifth Princess..."
"Hmm, there are rules. Get up, all of you. This princess is not worthy of your grand greetings. General Ouyang is a great hero. Even the Emperor sent the Crown Prince to greet him." Baili Le's appearance resembled Baili Jian's by a third, but she didn't have a trace of Baili Jian's gentle demeanor. Her words were sharp and sarcastic, as if she was always intentionally or unintentionally picking at someone.
Everyone in the General's Mansion, including Old Madam Ning, lowered their heads, not daring to respond to the question.
"What, is it so hard to answer my question, or are you hiding something?" Baili Le persisted. Old Madam Ning's face paled slightly, and she quickly shook her head. Baili Jian, however, quickly interrupted Baili Le, saying in a gentle tone, "Fifth Princess, you mustn't be rude. Old Madam Ning must have booked a private room at Xiangmanlou and happened to run into Ninth Prince. What nonsense are you spouting?"
Baili Le snorted and turned his head away without saying a word. Old Madam Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, I heard the other day that my son was going back to the capital, so I booked a room next door. When I came, I heard that the Ninth Prince was in the next room. According to etiquette, I should naturally pay my respects."
"Alright, since you've come to see General Ouyang, I won't disturb you any longer. You can leave now." Baili Le waved his hand, looking rather impatient.
Old Lady Ning bowed and was about to leave when Baili Le suddenly reached out and said, "Aren't you the one who was reprimanded by the Second Princess in the palace?" He was pointing at Ouyang Rou, who was dressed in white.
Ouyang Rou was startled, her face showing fear and a hint of weakness. Her eyes seemed to be looking at Baili Jian, her expression full of unspeakable grievance. Baili Le smiled and said, "Madam Ning, I think the three young ladies in your household are about the same age as me. Why don't you let them keep me company here?"
Old Madam Ning was slightly annoyed. Why was the Fifth Princess so persistent? However, she couldn't disobey her request: "The three of you can stay here and keep the princess company. Remember to behave yourselves and don't cause any trouble..." Everyone understood the warning look in her eyes. Only then did Old Madam Ning lead Ning and the others away.
Ouyang Hua, Ouyang Rou, and Ouyang Yue were left behind. Baili Le smiled, resting her chin on her hand: "I think this second young lady of the General's Mansion is really frail and pitiful. It must be that the second princess is jealous because you are prettier than her!"
Ouyang Rou nodded inwardly, her face filled with fear: "It was my improper conduct that led to this princess's justification for punishing me."
"Oh, you got hit by the Second Princess, and you're still speaking up for her? Are you being honest?" Baili Le smiled knowingly, but a hint of malice flashed in his eyes. Ouyang Yue noticed this and immediately lowered her head.
“The Second Princess has her reasons! This humble woman dares not offer any objections!” Ouyang Rou replied softly.
Baili Le's smile faded, and her expression suddenly darkened: "Of course, then this princess has her reasons for beating you up!"
"Ah..." Ouyang Rou was stunned, her face blank. This Fifth Princess had been all smiles just a moment ago, why was she about to hit her? She trembled with fear and knelt on the ground, "This humble woman, this humble woman, please forgive me, Your Highness..."
"Forgive me, forgive me, forgive what?! You're innocent, why should I forgive you? If you're guilty, why should I forgive you? Tell me!" Baili Le sneered, making Ouyang Rou tremble with fear. She still remembered the scene in the palace when the male guard slapped the shopkeeper in front of so many noble young masters and ladies. She would never forget that humiliation!
Ouyang Hua's eyes flickered slightly. At this moment, Ouyang Rou was being harassed. As her sister, it would seem too heartless to stand by and watch coldly. Moreover, both princes were here, and now that their father had returned with great favor, it seemed that no matter how much the Fifth Princess harassed them, they would be fine in the end. It would be better to make a good impression on the two princes.
After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Hua said softly, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. My second sister is still young and her actions are somewhat lacking in judgment."
Suddenly, Baili Le burst into laughter. The exquisite ornaments on her head made a crisp sound, and a golden phoenix hairpin swayed slightly by her ear, exuding unparalleled magnificence. Baili Le suddenly stood up: "Fine, since she has no sense of propriety, and you are her older sister, as the eldest sister is like a mother, you shall bear the blame for this crime! Guards! This princess hates her mouth, slap her!"
Ouyang Hua was dumbfounded. Was this Fifth Princess really so opportunistic? She was just being polite; when did she say she would take the blame for Ouyang Rou? "Princess, no, this humble woman...this humble woman..." Ouyang Hua's face was ashen, and her body swayed slightly, making her waist appear even more delicate and boneless. Unfortunately, the three men in the room seemed not to see it and remained unmoved.
Ouyang Hua was shocked and secretly regretted his momentary lapse of pleading for Ouyang Rou, which had implicated him.
Ouyang Yue frowned slightly. Baili Le's arrogance was no less than that of Baili Jing.
Indeed, Baili Jing is the Empress's daughter, a legitimate legitimate daughter, and her status is higher than Baili Le's. Although Consort Sun's rank is somewhat lower, it is said that the Fifth Princess Baili Le is more favored by the Emperor and can rival Baili Jing in the palace. Today, it was only because the General's Mansion came to watch that they got involved in this kind of palace intrigue. It's truly annoying.
Baili Le glanced around and caught Ouyang Yue's expression. Her eyes turned cold: "You seem very dissatisfied. What, do you disagree with my actions? Do you want to plead for your two elder sisters?"
Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou, reminded of this, immediately turned around, grabbed Ouyang Yue, and pushed her forward, saying repeatedly, "Sister, you've always been the most eloquent. Please beg the princess to spare us."
"Yes, little sister, you're Father's favorite, so your words carry more weight than ours. Go ahead and say it!"
With a few words, the two of them put Ouyang Yue in the spotlight. If it weren't for Ouyang Zhide, these people wouldn't have met here today. Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou didn't understand why Baili Le was causing them trouble at first, but now they understand.
Ouyang Zhide's return to the capital naturally brought a shift to the already balanced power dynamic among the princes. Those who couldn't be won over had to be eliminated! Baili Le was playing the villain, instilling fear in the General's Mansion. Perhaps the Fifth Prince, Baili Jian, would later mediate, making them grateful for his kindness and thus surrender? Or perhaps Baili Le was simply demonstrating her power, instilling fear in the General's Mansion and forcing them to follow her?
However, this matter is not suitable for princes to do, because every step they take can elevate them to a different level. But princesses are, after all, women and cannot serve in the court, so their significance is different. Moreover, sometimes women may seem useless, but they can actually change things!
"Tell me, is it wrong for me to punish them?!"
Ouyang Yue calmly replied, "Princess, you are of noble birth, and everything you do is justified. You represent not only the dignity of the royal family but also the role model for women. As for whether my two elder sisters have offended you, that is for the princess to decide. I dare not comment on matters concerning the princess."
"How dare you! You dare to mock this princess!" Baili Le didn't expect Ouyang Yue to actually dare to refute her. Moreover, no matter how she listened to her words, it sounded like she was disregarding royal dignity and making things difficult for others like a rogue woman.
"I wouldn't dare. Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I would never dare to mock the princess," Ouyang Yue said, neither humble nor arrogant.
Although she was an orphan in her previous life, she received the best education from childhood. When she joined the special forces and completed several SSS-level missions, she was even received by national leaders. She was no less than anyone else.
Moreover, with the aura she's cultivated over the years, it would be very easy for her to intimidate people if she wanted to!
Ouyang Yue stood ramrod straight. Though only twelve years old and somewhat short, when she gazed at you calmly, an invisible aura seemed to surge around her—an innate air of authority. Even Baili Le, who had grown up under strict palace rules and possessed a noble, imperious demeanor from childhood, couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
Baili Jian's eyes changed slightly, and his gaze towards Ouyang Yue deepened.
Actually, Ouyang Yue didn't need to intervene, but Baili Le was deliberately looking for trouble today. No matter how humble you were, she would find an excuse to cause trouble. She was still too naive to think she could use this to suppress and control the General's Mansion. Although Ouyang Yue didn't feel any sense of belonging to the General's Mansion, it was her place to live now. Less trouble and less contact with the royal family would allow her to do what she wanted more quickly and without worry. Furthermore, although Ouyang Yue knew this was ancient times and that imperial power was supreme, her inner pride was unshakeable, not even by a princess!
"You! Someone come here..." Looking at Ouyang Yue's imposing aura, Baili Le felt herself become inferior without even realizing it, which made her feel a sense of crisis. Today she was only putting on an act, but at this moment, she really wanted to kill Ouyang Yue!
"Alright, Fifth Princess, have you had enough? There's a limit to jokes. You're used to it, but look how you've scared the three young ladies of the General's Mansion. You're becoming more and more unruly." Baili Jian suddenly scolded Ouyang Yue, stood up, and bowed to her. "Third Miss, please forgive her. The Fifth Princess loves to make these scary jokes. She does this because she likes you. Please don't take offense."
Ouyang Yue's lips curled up slightly, while Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou smiled gratefully at Baili Jian: "Fifth Prince, what are you saying? It's just that we are timid. How can you blame the Fifth Princess? Hehehe."
"Yes, it's all my fault."
With Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou smoothing things over, Baili Jian turned his gaze to Ouyang Yue, whose smile widened: "Yes, the Fifth Princess is of noble birth, naturally different from ordinary women like us."
Baili Le narrowed her eyes, and seeing the warning look in Baili Jian's eyes, she smiled and nodded: "Yes, my jokes are quite funny, aren't they?"
Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou were still shaken, but they nodded hastily with smiles on their faces.
"Oh no, it's over already? How could this happen? The show's over just like that, what a waste!" At this moment, Leng Caiwen, who had been standing to the side watching the commotion with wide eyes, suddenly exclaimed, "When did the Fifth Princess start liking to make jokes like this? I didn't hear it. It's all bark and no bite. Isn't that right, Ninth Prince?"
Baili Chen, who had been sitting silently, gently sipped his tea and gave a faint reply. Baili Le's lips twitched at this: "You should say less. Fifth Princess just found someone to fend for her. If you do this, you'll only embarrass her. Besides, General Ouyang has just returned to the capital, and Father will have to give him some face. If Father finds out that Fifth Princess beats the daughter of a high-ranking official without explanation, he might be furious. Fifth Princess has never suffered any hardship since childhood. If she's beaten, her skin will probably be torn and bleeding. I can't bear to see that!"
Ouyang Yue's lips twitched. After this incident, she had only met the Ninth Prince three times. The first time was at the artificial hill in the Imperial Palace, when Ouyang Hua tricked him into sending people to rescue her. She vividly remembered that the Ninth Prince remained silent for a long time before managing to utter a single word. The second time was in the palace, when the Ninth Prince vomited blood and fainted. He didn't seem like he was now at all, talking so much, and even his insults were sarcastic and laced with profanity.