Li Rushuang frowned as she listened: "Princess Nan, is there some misunderstanding? What are you talking about? I know Yue'er's character very well, and she has absolutely nothing to do with what you're saying. If Princess Nan is angry about anything, please feel free to tell me. It's only right for me to offer some advice, but it's not good to take it out on others."
"Hmph! What is there for this princess to be angry about? I don't need your advice. Everything I'm saying is the truth. You've only been deceived by her appearance. I advise you to see things clearly before associating with such a person, lest you be sold out later and end up helping that shameless scoundrel make mistakes. By then, it will be too late for regrets." If Baili Nan had been somewhat evasive before, she was now directly targeting Ouyang Yue. All pretense was gone, and this was a genuine attempt to cause trouble for Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Yue's expression was not good: "If Princess Nan doesn't like me, doesn't like this Prince Chen's mansion, then please go wherever the gate faces." As she spoke, she pointed in the distance towards the mansion gate, without any intention of comforting her.
Baili Nan's expression darkened further: "What, you've been hit where it hurts, are you angry and ashamed? Still trying to deny it? You married my cousin, you should have been a good wife and mother, but what have you done? I've seen you flirting with other men, even bringing them into the mansion. You're quite something, woman. Even so, my cousin tolerates you, it seems he truly dotes on you. Yet, you show no gratitude, instead becoming even more brazen. If you hadn't deliberately seduced him, how could the Second Young Master Leng have... just because of..." You went to a faraway place to get bird's nest, and ended up being chased. I even suspect you sent someone there, afraid your affair would be exposed, so you used someone else to do your dirty work. Poor Second Young Master Leng was kept in the dark, and even came back injured to find you, unaware that he had fallen into a wolf's den. A woman like you deserves to be exposed and despised by the world. Second Young Master Leng's behavior was not only wrong, but even your cousin shouldn't have married a promiscuous woman like you who maliciously seduces others. It's an insult to your cousin!"
Baili Nan's accusations were all sarcastic and quite alarming!
Leaving aside the fact that Ouyang Yue is already married, even for those who are not married, marriage is a separate matter, and if someone were to say she is fickle and unfaithful, it would be utterly despicable and contemptible. If such rumors were to spread, what family would want such a wife? Even a concubine would have to think twice, because if they were to marry a promiscuous woman, she would likely have affairs and cause chaos in the household. Who would want to invite trouble? Such people are basically unsellable goods. And if such a thing were to happen after she married into the royal family, it would be even more disastrous.
Ouyang Yue married no ordinary man. In others' eyes, Baili Chen was a favored prince, a man of immense wealth and honor. Would such a person allow you to harbor any undesirable thoughts? If he found out, he'd break your legs. Besides, even if Baili Chen didn't care about all this because he was infatuated with Ouyang Yue, it didn't mean others didn't. If Ouyang Yue were truly flirting and directly brought him to her residence for such a convenient position, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the royal family? Emperor Mingxian might secretly execute her in a fit of anger, without anyone noticing. Then, the princess's residence wouldn't even be able to cause trouble.
If Baili Nan is determined to succeed, and with the Prince of De's Mansion as his backer, plus Emperor Mingxian's desire to save face, this matter might not be able to be accomplished, and Ouyang Yue would be in trouble then.
Ouyang Yue pursed her lips, sat quietly, and did not speak, but looked at Baili Nan with extreme indifference.
Ouyang Yue wore a light pink long robe embroidered with magpies and entwined branches. This festive outfit accentuated her fair and rosy complexion, making her even more captivating. However, at this moment, all that charm seemed to vanish in an instant. Ouyang Yue's eyes were simply cold, an indescribable coldness. A subtle yet undeniable aura emanated from her, more effective than outright rage. Her cold gaze was like a blood-stained, incredibly sharp knife, piercing through and leaving a trail of blood.
Baili Nan's heart tightened; Xuan Yuan Yue's gaze was terrifying! A chill ran down her spine, but when she thought of Leng Caiwen, she quickly dismissed the feeling. She couldn't understand why Leng Caiwen was still so fond of Xuan Yuan Yue, who was already married. She had almost killed him, yet he was still willing to live in the Chen Prince's mansion. But the thought of Leng Caiwen still smiling at Ouyang Yue despite all this made her feel suffocated with jealousy. Why was the man she had pursued for so long so infatuated with this woman? She wasn't much less capable than her. She was truly resentful and couldn't find any balance in her heart.
Baili Nan gritted his teeth and said, "Not saying anything means you're admitting it. You really dare to admit it. You truly have no sense of shame!"
Ouyang Yue's eyes were deep and cold, and a mocking smile played on her lips: "Princess Nan is really pitiful."
"What did you say! Who's pitiful!" Upon hearing this, Baili Nan retorted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Isn't that so? When you can't have what you want, you presumptuously blame others with your own pain, cover up the truth, judge others by your own petty standards, and make yourself both pathetic and hateful. Is this an attempt to win people's sympathy? Unfortunately, this only makes you look worse." Ouyang Yue's voice was calm, but every word she spoke made Baili Nan's face turn pale.
"Judging others by your own petty standards, do you even deserve to? What else could it be but the truth? Do you still want to deny that Young Master Leng has feelings for you? And you two are cousins, yet you don't know how to avoid suspicion by living together. Isn't that promiscuity? You disregard royal laws, where do you place your cousin? A woman like you is disgusting, how could your cousin possibly be attracted to you? It's like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung." Baili Nan was furious. Ouyang Yue clearly knew everything, yet she still tried to be clever and argue, making her despise her even more.
Ouyang Yue's lips curled into a cold smile: "Firstly, the reason I let my cousin stay at Prince Chen's residence is because it was his request. As a relative, do you expect me to turn a blind eye to those in need and act like a heartless rich person? Secondly, your so-called 'advantage of proximity' is completely fabricated. Let's not even talk about how I spend most of my time with the Prince. Even if I weren't, I would have maids with me. My interactions with my cousin are not limited to just the two of us. Can this so-called 'advantage of proximity' be presented in public? Thirdly, even if all of this is true, so what? And what right do you have to interfere? Are you driven by jealousy and a petty mind, or are you truly on the side of justice, feeling the need to seek fairness for others? If it's the latter, I must admire your kindness. If it's the former, this Princess Consort has to despise Princess Nan. Don't you know that jealous women are the ugliest? Doing things that violate conscience because of jealousy is even more despicable. If I were a man, I would never like this kind of woman!"
Baili Nan stiffened at Ouyang Yue's words, his face turning ashen as he glared at her: "What a sharp tongue you have! You've said everything, making it seem like I, the princess, am the one who committed the crime. No wonder so many people like you just because you have such a sharp tongue."
Ouyang Yue laughed: "Whether it's a man or a woman, excellence naturally attracts many admirers. Does Princess Nan think that outstanding people should uglify themselves and be insulted? It turns out Princess Nan has such an unseemly taste; it's truly an eye-opener. But I'm sorry, this princess consort has no such intention of humiliating herself. It's perfectly normal for excellence to be admired. As long as I know my limits, no one can control me, including you!"
Baili Nan sneered: "Is that so? You know how to behave? I think you don't know how at all, or you're just deliberately acting recklessly."
Ouyang Yue had lost her patience. She had talked to Baili Nan so much, but it was no use trying to reason with her. She was convinced that there was something going on between her and her cousin, so what was the point of explaining anymore? Suddenly, a saying came to Ouyang Yue's mind: "The Buddha resides in the heart. If a person's heart is full of shit, then what they see will naturally be shit. Talking about Buddha with this kind of person is completely useless!"
"Princess Nan, if you don't like it, then leave. This Prince Chen's residence isn't a place where just anyone can come and go as they please. As for what Princess Nan said, I, the Princess Consort, have never acknowledged it. If you make any unfounded accusations and cause trouble, I, the Princess Consort, will definitely go to Prince De's residence and to my father to seek justice. Does Princess Nan think that just because of the Emperor's favor, you can arbitrarily accuse a woman of innocence and maliciously label her? Furthermore, I, the Princess Consort, hope that Princess Nan will recognize the facts. Moreover, this matter of Prince Chen's residence is my decision, and it's not your place to interfere. If you don't like it, leave immediately. If you utter another word, don't blame me for being impolite!" Ouyang Yue's voice was icy, sending a chill down everyone's spine. Li Rushuang knew that Yue'er was angry and also harbored extreme resentment towards Baili Nan. Did she think that just because she was a princess, she could speak recklessly? She knew that Prince Chen and Yue'er had a very good relationship. If someone with ulterior motives overheard and spread the word, what if Prince Chen harbored resentment? Baili Nan may have enjoyed his words, but he hadn't considered whether it might damage their relationship. Furthermore, they all knew what had happened to Leng Caiwen in the manor back then. It was Leng Caiwen's own request, and given the circumstances at the time, it wasn't good for her to live outside. Especially now, if Leng Caiwen had lived outside with such serious injuries, she would probably be dead by now—either from illness or by a second assassination attempt.
This Baili Nan usually seems so clever and quick-witted, but now he's lost his mind and is spouting nonsense!
Qi Qi and Lu Yan's expressions were also not good. Baili Nan did not expect Ouyang Yue to speak like this, and he was furious: "You still won't let this princess go? What do you want now? Humph! If you do something, I'm afraid you won't be able to stop yourself. Do you really think this Great Zhou Dynasty is your backyard? Let me tell you, if you dare to touch me today, tomorrow the censor will impeach you for being unfaithful and force you to abdicate!"
What Ouyang Yue hates most is two things: first, someone attacking someone she cares about; and second, being threatened or framed. However, she is never threatened by anyone. Ouyang Yue sneered, "Dongxue, escort Princess Nan away from this Prince Chen's residence. She will never be allowed to set foot in this Prince Chen's residence again!"
"Xuanyuan Yue, you are the Princess Consort of Chen, but that doesn't mean you're in charge of everything in the Chen Prince's Mansion. How dare you do this? Do you think your cousin will let you off? Do you want to disrupt the peace of the Chen Prince's Mansion and the De Prince's Mansion? Can you bear the consequences?" Baili Nan was even more furious because at this moment, Dong Xue had already walked over and suddenly reached out to grab both of her arms. Baili Nan's maid was about to step forward to stop her, but Dong Xue kicked them both to the ground, making them unable to get up. Baili Nan shouted angrily.
Ouyang Yue's eyes were cold: "Princess Nan, if you want to harm the De Prince's Mansion, don't drag the Chen Prince's Mansion into it. The Prince and the Imperial Uncle are blood relatives, there's nothing to talk about. The Chen Prince's Mansion is upright and has nothing to fear. The De Prince is kind and benevolent. There have never been any secrets that can't be told, and there won't be any in the future. So what are you afraid of!"
"you!"
"What's going on, you lowly servant? How dare you grab my sister! Let go!" Just then, the men who were sparring in the garden noticed the commotion. They turned around and saw Dongxue holding down the struggling Baili Nan. When Baili Gan saw his sister being bullied, he rushed over and was about to slap Dongxue on the head.
"Bang!" But at this moment, a man in black suddenly appeared and struck with the same palm. The two men's palms collided and they were both forced to retreat. Baili Gan even managed to retreat three more steps before stopping, his expression changing drastically.
But Leng Sha, dressed in black with a cold and stern face, stood straight in front of Dong Xue. Bai Ligan was also provoked: "You, a mere guard of the Chen Prince's mansion, dare to lay a hand on this young master? Have all the servants of the Chen Prince's mansion gone too far? Cousin, what exactly is going on? Look at the group of good servants you have raised."
Ouyang Yue stood up, supporting her pregnant belly. "Your Highness, there's no need to be angry. It was I, the Princess Consort, who captured Princess Nan and kicked her out of the Chen Prince's residence, forbidding her from ever setting foot there again. If Your Highness is unhappy, take it out on me. Don't be angry with the dutiful servants in the residence; it would be an insult to your dignity as Your Highness." Ouyang Yue's expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever. However, Baili Chen, Xuan Yuan Chaohua, and Dai Yu all trembled. Looking at the struggling Baili Nan, their eyes flashed, and Baili Chen and Xuan Yuan Chaohua even had murderous intent in their eyes.
Those who know Ouyang Yue know that she is very measured in her actions, ruthless towards enemies, gentle and kind to friends, and indifferent to those she doesn't know well or have no connection with. She is not afraid of offending people or causing trouble, but she also doesn't offend people casually. For Ouyang Yue to do something like kicking Baili Nan out, this woman must have done something excessive. Baili Chen and Xuan Yuan Chaohua were absolutely certain of this.
Even though Dai Yu didn't know Ouyang Yue as well as the previous two, she still knew that Baili Nan must have done something wrong to anger Ouyang Yue.
Baili Gan, unaware of all this, immediately darkened his face upon hearing this: "Princess Consort Chen, what do you mean by this? Sending my sister away? Are you disrespecting Crown Prince De? She is still your cousin, no matter what. If she did something wrong, you could have just pointed it out. Why did you have to do something so tactless? We came to Prince Chen's residence to visit Second Young Master Leng out of good intentions. You want us to leave empty-handed? And now you're kicking us out? What kind of logic is this? Do you think that just because you're a princess consort, you can be so arrogant and disregard everyone? Even if you don't respect the monk, you should at least respect the Buddha. You're not even respecting Father!"
Baili Qia is Emperor Mingxian's own brother, and someone Emperor Mingxian values highly. Even the Empress has to treat Prince De with caution. Even though Ouyang Yue has a dual identity, it's not powerful enough to make her act recklessly. Unless she dares to defy Emperor Mingxian, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, courting death!
Ouyang Yue's expression remained indifferent: "If others give me face, I will naturally give them face in return. If they don't, I won't offer them a warm face. I'm not one to be bullied to the point of being beaten on the head and still endure it. And Prince De, please don't misunderstand, and don't try to pin any big accusations on me. I can't bear that. The fact that Prince Chen's residence no longer welcomes Princess Nan doesn't mean we don't respect Uncle De, nor does it mean we refuse Prince De's entry. At most, it's just a conflict between me and Princess Nan. Prince De, please be careful with your words. If you provoke a conflict between the two residences, then it will be your fault."
Upon hearing this, Baili Gan felt a surge of anger: "Well, well, what a silver tongue you have! You kidnap my sister and you won't even let me get angry? What an overbearing act!" Baili Gan was usually very easygoing, even to the point of being a bit mischievous, but that didn't mean he was a person with an exceptionally good temper.
Baili Chen walked over, helped Ouyang Yue up, and gently patted her back: "My wife, don't be angry. It's bad for your health. If you don't like Princess Nan, just don't let her visit us again."
"Baili Chen, how dare you do this! Are you all insane!" Baili Gan roared. He really couldn't understand how a simple visit to the sick could end up being humiliated and dismissed. He felt that these two people must be crazy to take their good intentions for granted.
"Whether he's gone mad or not, Prince De will understand after a proper talk with your younger sister. This small mansion of Prince Chen's residence cannot afford to accommodate such a great figure. We have no choice but to decline your hospitality from now on. Please leave!" Ouyang Yue waved her hand, and immediately a guard team walked in from the garden. Baili Gan's face turned ashen. He shoved Dong Xue aside and pulled Baili Nan away, angrily shouting before leaving, "Hmph! You have insulted my Prince De's residence so much, don't expect me to let this go!"
Baili Gan was furious the whole way, and he destroyed flowers and trees wherever he went, but the people of the Chen Prince's Mansion turned a blind eye. As soon as he left the gate of the Chen Prince's Mansion, he heard a "bang" and the gate slammed shut, making Baili Gan swallow all the cursing words he wanted to say. This made him very angry.
Returning to the Prince of De's residence with Baili Nan, just as Prince De was about to leave after finishing his official business, Baili Gan angrily said, "Father, the seventh prince is too outrageous! We kindly went to Prince Chen's residence to visit him in his illness, but we were kicked out by them. It's simply outrageous!"
Baili Qia was stunned; he had never expected such a thing.
This goes without saying for the royal family. Even ordinary families, before completely destroying a relationship, will always maintain a facade of politeness. To kick someone out directly is an act of enmity. Moreover, as Emperor Mingxian's own brother, Baili Qia knows something about what happened in the palace back then. He believes he still cares for Baili Chen and has never done anything to wrong him. Even if he doesn't care about Baili Chen's feelings, Baili Chen shouldn't disregard his status as his uncle and kick his children out. What face does he have left?
Thinking this, Baili Qia calmly asked, "What exactly happened? What did you do in the Prince Chen's residence? Weren't you getting along well before? Why were you suddenly kicked out?"
Baili Gan angrily tried to explain, but finally said, "At the time, I was sparring with the Seventh Prince, General Xuanyuan, and the Acting Minister. The Seventh Prince's wife and my sister were sitting some distance away. Later, we heard a commotion over there, and when we looked over, we saw my sister's hands being bound by the maid next to the Seventh Prince's wife. Of course, I was furious. But then the Seventh Prince's wife, for some reason, started saying a bunch of nonsensical things, and even said that from now on, my sister was not allowed to step into the Prince Chen's residence. She didn't mention my father or me."
Upon hearing this, Baili Qia frowned and asked, "Nan'er, what happened between you and Lao Qi's wife? How could she dislike you so much? You are usually very dignified and polite. Is there some misunderstanding here?"
Baili Nan, still fuming, couldn't help but say, "Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Xuan Yuan Yue is promiscuous. She married my cousin and still seduced other women. What kind of misunderstanding is this? She doesn't even deny it herself."
"Shut up! What are you saying? How dare you spout such nonsense!" Baili Qia shouted angrily. This was a matter of royal scandal, and Baili Qia would not allow Baili Nan to speak recklessly. If it were to spread, the Chen Prince's Mansion and even the royal family would be disgraced. This was no ordinary joke.
"Father, I'm telling the truth. She married my cousin, yet she still lets him live in the mansion. That Second Young Master Leng even ran away from the capital because she wanted to eat bird's nest, which led to his being robbed and murdered. Isn't that her fault? She still acts as if it's all her own business, always wanting more than she has. Does this kind of woman deserve to be my cousin's wife?" Baili Nan became more and more angry as she spoke, and then burst into tears. She felt very wronged. Not only did Leng Caiwen not understand her feelings, but Ouyang Yue's self-righteous attitude and her audacity in kicking her out of the mansion were also unacceptable. When she returned to the Prince De's mansion, her father's first reaction was to reprimand her.
Both Baili Gan and Baili Qia were stunned, but their expressions were not good. Baili Gan couldn't help but say with exasperation, "Is this how you talk to the seventh prince's wife? As a princess of the royal family, you are high above others, and your words and actions should be a model for all noble ladies. Your words are putting the seventh prince's wife in an unjust position, and could cause her a lot of trouble. How can you say such things carelessly?"
"I'm not making this up. Isn't this the truth? She's taking advantage of her proximity to him and wants to be unfaithful. I'm just stating the facts!"
"What facts! You...you...it's true you're my daughter, but you're still a princess, a higher rank than me, and you have the Princess's residence behind you. Even I wouldn't easily offend you. You've really offended someone this time. This concerns a woman's chastity; how can you spout such nonsense? Throwing you out would be too lenient. If it were anyone else, they would be guilty of a thousand deaths! How could you be so foolish!" Baili Qia retorted angrily.
"What are you still saying in defense of her..."
"Shut up!" Baili Gan shouted. "Sister, it's true you like Leng Caiwen, and it's fine if you worry about him and feel sorry for him, but you have to use your brain. Even if Leng Caiwen likes Princess Chen, what does that have to do with you? You should have kept this to yourself, but you dared to say it out loud. Besides, are you really stupid or just pretending? Baili Chen is always following Xuan Yuan Yue around. What could possibly happen to him under these circumstances? Aren't you just trying to frame someone? You're only doing this because you come from the Prince De's mansion. Otherwise, do you think you'd be back today?"
Baili Gan was also a playboy with many women in his life, and he knew Baili Chen and Leng Caiwen. Such matters of the heart should not be interfered with by others, and outsiders should not be involved in any disputes. Baili Nan accused someone of adultery without any evidence, especially the Princess Consort of Prince Chen. Ouyang Yue then entered the palace to have the Emperor and Empress uphold justice. How could Baili Nan possibly expect a good outcome? The royal family has its own rules. Baili Qia and Emperor Mingxian are indeed brothers, but Baili Chen is Emperor Mingxian's son. Emperor Mingxian is still in his prime, and his sons are all grown up. Although the Crown Prince is powerful, there have been many who have risen from the weak to become emperor. Until then, who knows what might happen?
If Baili Chen really gets that opportunity in the future, the Prince De's Mansion might be resented because of Baili Nan's matter. No matter who it is, those who are resented by the emperor will not have a good ending!
“But she…” Baili Nan was still somewhat unconvinced, but Baili Qia slapped him across the face.
Baili Qia wasn't exactly a good person either. In the past, he dealt with Baili Gan, who was clueless and often caused trouble, by believing that "spare the rod and spoil the child." But he had always doted on his daughter. This was the first time he had ever hit Baili Nan since she was a child. Baili Nan touched her face and stared at Baili Qia in disbelief.
Baili Qia, however, had a stern face: "Nan'er, your father is trying to wake you up! You like Leng Caiwen, and your father has always turned a blind eye. If there were truly a possibility between you two, your father would have gone to the palace to ask for a marriage decree for you, but did you do that? Leng Caiwen is just a playboy. Not only does he not study for the imperial examinations, but he also frequents brothels. You, a princess of the Prince of De's mansion, do you need to lower yourself for such a person? Moreover, your father has spoiled you without telling you, but you have been exceptionally talented since childhood and have even been somewhat involved in court affairs. Don't you understand that? As a princess of the Prince of De's mansion and the emperor's own niece, we cannot decide your marriage. In the future, everything will be decided by the emperor. Your father has indulged you for so long, only to give you a little compensation, but do you really think you can control everything yourself? You should have given up if you couldn't win over Leng Caiwen. Now, out of jealousy, you've uttered such foul words, and you still think you're right?!"
Baili Nan covered his face and sobbed softly, looking utterly aggrieved.
She knew these truths perfectly well, but she couldn't control herself in the Prince Chen's mansion. When she learned that Leng Caiwen was injured because Ouyang Yue wanted to eat bird's nest, she felt an overwhelming jealousy and hatred. She couldn't suppress that feeling; she simply couldn't control herself. She was getting older and approaching marriageable age. If she couldn't be with Leng Caiwen soon, she would have to marry the son of some minister she might never have even met, someone who was only there to maintain the balance of power in the court. From a young age, Baili Nan only had Leng Caiwen in her heart. Apart from her family, she never looked at any other man. She could call herself devoted, but such devotion didn't elicit any reaction from Leng Caiwen; all she received was a cold rejection.
What difference was there between Leng Caiwen and her? Wasn't it impossible for Ouyang Yue and him to be together? Yet he was able to, and even left the capital for Ouyang Yue's sake, causing such a big incident, yet he was still so willing to do it. Leng Caiwen's behavior made her feel extremely ridiculous and cheap. She had done so much, yet she received no response at all. How could she be at peace with that?
Perhaps she knew in her heart that Leng Caiwen was just deluding herself; even if something were to happen in the Prince Chen's mansion, it would be impossible. But she couldn't suppress the wickedness in her heart. She really wanted to ruin Ouyang Yue's happiness. Seeing the pain on her face, so infatuated with Leng Caiwen, might make her feel a little better. Before, her relationship with Ouyang Yue was neither warm nor cold, but deep down, she had never had such thoughts, only she hadn't shown them. But today, she couldn't control herself.
She felt as if a demon was dwelling in her heart, and it had finally found a crack, surging out with overwhelming force. She wanted to destroy Ouyang Yue!
But what did she get in return? She was turned away from the Prince Chen's mansion, and even her doting father and brother couldn't accept or understand her. Baili Nan felt that her heart was really aching, aching so much that she couldn't find a way out, and she was going crazy.
Baili Nan covered his face and stumbled back to his own yard.
Watching Baili Nan run away crying, Baili Qia couldn't help but sigh deeply. He turned to Baili Gan and said, "Nan'er went too far. Go to the Prince Chen's residence right now and apologize on her behalf."
Baili Gan nodded. He had said some things in the Prince Chen's mansion earlier, but fortunately, Ouyang Yue had made it clear that the Prince Chen's mansion did not welcome Baili Nan, but that did not include him and his father. No matter what, he had to make a show of it, but whether he could get Ouyang Yue to forgive his sister was hard to say. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "If you ask me, Leng Caiwen is still a scoundrel. He just doesn't know how to cherish such a good woman as my sister."
Baili Qia shook his head: "Perhaps he is the smart one. He just thinks, what future do he have with Nan'er? My brother only told me today that a historian from the Da Gan Dynasty will come to the Da Zhou Dynasty. He hasn't said what his specific purpose is yet, but this matter must be taken seriously. Da Gan just conquered a city on our border, and Xuan Yuan Chao Hua is about to return to the border. Their mission at this time is probably for ulterior motives."
Baili Gan pondered the reason why Baili Qia spoke at this moment, and his expression changed slightly. He said to Baili Qia, "Father, I'm going to the Prince Chen's residence first. I was a little impolite to you just now."
"Go ahead, prepare some more generous gifts, and I'll send more people to Nan'er's place later. We can't let her cause any more trouble lately. Try to talk to her and offer some advice whenever you can. She's just stuck in a rut and can't see things clearly." Baili Qia sighed. How could he feel good seeing his daughter like this?
"Yes, son understands." Baili Gan replied, then went to the storeroom and took out a whole box of rare and precious items. He then went to the Prince Chen's residence. However, after trembling outside for a while, someone slowly opened the door. When they saw Baili Gan, they only bowed politely, showing no respect whatsoever. Baili Gan was helpless, since it was their fault.
A moment later, a servant led him into the hall. Apart from him and Baili Nan, everyone else was sitting in the same place as when they first arrived. However, everyone looked at him with a bad expression, especially Baili Chen, who seemed to want to kill him with his eyes. Before he could speak, Baili Chen said, "What are you doing here? Haven't you finished cursing yet? Are you about to continue cursing?"
Baili Gan smiled wryly: "Cousin, what are you saying? I just went back to find out what happened and realized that this matter had wronged your wife. That's why I specially prepared generous gifts to apologize. It's just that my sister acted too rashly before, which made your wife so angry that she wouldn't let her into the mansion. I was afraid that if I brought Nan'er here to apologize rashly, your wife might not be able to calm down. So I came to apologize personally. I hope that your wife will consider that Nan'er is young and has been spoiled since she was a child, and that we are all relatives, so please don't blame her."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua sneered: "I can cut off Princess Nan's head and then go to Prince De's mansion to apologize. Will Prince De's son forgive me? I will bring a cartload of treasures to apologize then."
Baili Gan's lips twitched slightly. He was a little uncomfortable with Xuan Yuan Chaohua's sharp tongue, but there was nothing he could do about it, since they were in the wrong first.
When Baili Gan and Baili Nan returned, Li Rushuang and the other two women naturally recounted the entire incident without embellishment. The three men were furious, and Xuan Yuan Chaohua even grabbed his weapon, ready to chase after them and give them a good beating.
Baili Chen was so angry that he even considered severing ties with the Prince of De's residence. This Baili Nan was truly taking advantage of him. Everyone thought that Ouyang Yue was just kicking her out and never letting her into the Prince of Chen's residence again, which was already too good for her. Baili Chen also said that although he couldn't take revenge openly, it wasn't impossible for him to kill Baili Nan secretly. Anyway, he had no feelings for this so-called cousin, so if she died, she died. He absolutely couldn't let his wife suffer any injustice.
On this matter, Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua were in complete agreement, but Ouyang Yue still refused. However, no sooner had this matter been settled than Baili Gan arrived. How could these two not be furious? They were just looking for someone to vent their anger on, so Baili Gan had no choice but to endure it.
"General Xuanyuan is joking," Baili Gan could only say with a smile. Xuanyuan Chaohua snorted coldly but didn't say anything more. After all, this guy was still the heir of the Prince of De.
Ouyang Yue simply sipped her soup, her expression indifferent: "Thank you for your concern, Prince De. It's just a small matter. I'll accept the gift and won't send any more."
Baili Gan's forehead twitched. "You should at least accept the gift. This doesn't seem like accepting an apology." As if knowing what Baili Gan was thinking, Ouyang Yue said calmly, "The matter of Princess Nan can be left as is. However, I will not take back what I've said. She is no longer welcome in the Chen Prince's residence. But if we meet outside, I will still address her as my cousin. As for the Prince of De's heir, if he wishes to maintain relations with the Chen Prince's residence, everything can naturally remain as before."
Baili Gan smiled and said, "My cousin's wife is very generous, and I admire her greatly." Baili Gan breathed a sigh of relief, chatted for a while, and then left. Although Ouyang Yue had forgiven him, he felt very uncomfortable because Baili Gan and Xuanyuan Chaohua were both glaring at him with coldness. He would find a way to ease the tension later.
Ouyang Yue accepted the box of things and had Dongxue open it to take a look. She said, "Pick two of the worst items to take with you when we go to the Leng residence tomorrow. It's not good to come back empty-handed." She looked at Baili Chen with some helplessness, "If it weren't for this box of things, I really wouldn't want Baili Gan to come here. I should teach him a lesson again."
"Pfft!" Dai Yu almost spat out a mouthful of water, quickly swallowing it back into her mouth. So, if it weren't for this box of treasures, this matter would have remained at a standstill. How greedy you are!
Baili Chen knew that Ouyang Yue's words were meant to appease him, but in reality, she was considering his feelings. Even as a prince, he shouldn't offend the Prince of De's mansion so easily. This was a way to save face for both mansions. Tenderness flickered in Baili Chen's eyes as he held Ouyang Yue's hand tightly.
The next day, after Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue had washed up and eaten breakfast, Baili Chen sent a servant to deliver a note to the Leng residence, indicating that they would arrive shortly. Normally, when visiting someone's residence, one would have to set a date a few days in advance. However, since Ouyang Yue was the Princess Consort of Chen, she was of a higher status than the Leng residence. Furthermore, Ouyang Yue deliberately wanted to give them a show of force. And this was just the beginning; she had much more to do next.
After they finished eating, the two rode their horses to the Leng residence. Although they didn't linger, it had been about half an hour since the letter was delivered. So when they arrived at the Leng residence, they saw the Leng family's matriarch, Madam Xie, along with the two masters and mistresses, a host of legitimate and illegitimate children, and many servants standing outside to greet them. It was quite a scene. Although they had waited for more than half an hour, no one dared to utter a single complaint. Even Madam Sun from the second branch of the family, although she looked displeased, didn't say anything at this time. She just stared at Ouyang Yue as she stepped down from the luxurious carriage adorned with pearls, her eyes flashing with hatred.
Ouyang Yue was helped down by Baili Chen, a cold smile always on her lips. When she glanced at Sun Shi, her expression was even more meaningful, and there was a hint of unease in it.
Since the Leng family was about to fall into chaos, she'll just add fuel to the fire. Not only the Leng family, but all five great families will be thrown into chaos!
☆、218, I hereby sentence you to the punishment of 'tongue-pulling'!
A crowd of people stood outside the Leng residence. When they saw Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue alight from their carriage, they immediately rushed over to greet them. Xie Shi, supported by her two daughters-in-law, also stood up and bowed when she saw Ouyang Yue: "This humble woman greets Prince Chen and Princess Chen." Since Xie Shi had already bowed, let alone the others, a whole crowd of people knelt down outside the Leng residence.
Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen accepted the offer without any qualms, which made Xie Shi and the others look rather unpleasant. Ouyang Yue said calmly, "Let's talk about it inside."
"It is Prince Chen and Princess Chen." Led by Madam Xie, the entire Leng family filed in. As one of the five great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and a family with a history of about a thousand years, the Leng family's heritage was far beyond that of ordinary families. The pavilions and towers were all elegant and charming, understated yet luxurious and comfortable. The garden had three tiers of flower fields, and although only one tier was open in winter, the beautiful scenery was still admirable.
After passing through a garden, we arrived at the main hall of the Leng residence. The walls of the hall were decorated with carvings representing good fortune and prosperity. There were two rows of rosewood tables and chairs in the hall, and on both sides were two rows of maids dressed in the same color clothes, looking down and glancing sideways. At first glance, they were all about the same height. Above the main position in the main hall hung two large characters with soft handwriting, "Xiang He" (meaning peace and harmony), and the walls were inlaid with precious stones, which showed a low-key luxury.