"She is my mother, what's wrong with her buying me clothes?" Bai Shengyi asked, confused.
Bai Murong's expression twisted for a moment. She felt that Bai Shengyi was targeting her, deliberately stabbing her heart with her identity as an adopted daughter!
Yet, Bai Shengyi's expression was incredibly sincere, as if she had no intention of doing so.
By this time, they had already reached the carriage. Bai Murong's gaze shifted, and she extended a foot in front of Bai Shengyi... If Bai Shengyi were to fall and lose all dignity, this outfit would only become another joke at Bai Shengyi's expense.
Bai Shengyi had already lifted her foot, preparing to board the carriage.
Bai Murong opened her mouth to distract Bai Shengyi, "Shengyi, you... Ah!"
A sharp pain shot through her toes, as if they hadn't been stepped on, but rather had their bones shattered by something.
"What are you screaming about?" Bai Shengyi stepped onto the carriage with her foot, then tilted her head curiously, "I think I stepped on something, was it your foot?"
"No!" Bai Murong squeezed out two words from her mouth, frowning slightly, "I just thought about how Prince Gong has been accompanying Princess Mingyu these past few days. Isn't it appropriate for you not to accompany him? You are engaged."
Since Bai Shengyi made her uncomfortable, she couldn't let Bai Shengyi have an easy time either!
Bai Shengyi smiled faintly, "What's the big deal? Aren't he and Sun Mingyu cousins?"
In the past, Bai Murong had also provoked the original owner in this way. The original owner, being timid and sensitive, loved Qin Zhao with all her heart but could never assert herself in front of him. She didn't dare to question Qin Zhao about this matter and could only bottle it up, weeping silently.
The only "outrageous" thing she did was likely being coaxed by Qin Zhao, instigated by Bai Murong, to break off her engagement with the King of the Underworld and publicly declare her love for Qin Zhao.
Thinking of this, Bai Shengyi felt extremely uncomfortable. She felt that this environment was too unfriendly for someone as pure, passionate, yet timid and cowardly as the original owner.
The man she loved manipulated her, the sister she trusted was jealous and plotted against her, her parents were absent, she had no close friends, and her grandfather was biased...
Speaking of which, whether it was Sun Mingyu, Qin Zhao, Bai Murong, or Duke Rong, they were all the murderers of the original owner. She would settle all accounts for the original owner and for herself.
Bai Murong had not managed to provoke Bai Shengyi. Seeing that it was getting late, she had no choice but to hurry onto the carriage and sit down.
Her toes were in extreme pain. She suspected that Bai Shengyi might have broken her bones and wanted to take off her shoe to check.
"Shengyi, can you turn around for a moment?"
Bai Murong bit her lip, saying with difficulty. In her heart, however, she cursed Bai Shengyi a thousand times, thinking how she wouldn't have suffered like this if not for Bai Shengyi.
Bai Shengyi closed her eyes to rest, ignoring her.
Bai Murong was too embarrassed to perform such an ungraceful action in front of Bai Shengyi, as if she were inferior to Bai Shengyi. However, she was too proud to call out to Bai Shengyi again, so she sulkily turned her head and looked elsewhere.
Bai Shengyi saw Bai Murong's series of actions clearly and couldn't help but smile faintly. Bai Murong would regret this.
Bones shattered by spiritual power, if not repaired in time, tsk tsk, it would likely only get more painful, perhaps even making her question her life.
Bai Shengyi's guess was not wrong.
When the carriage arrived at the imperial palace, Bai Murong walked through the vast palace with the others, feeling as if she were walking on a knife's edge, each step piercing her heart.
"Rongrong, what's wrong?" Duke Rong was the first to notice something amiss with Bai Murong and frowned.
Bai Murong forced a smile through the pain, "Nothing, Grandfather. I'm just nervous."
Duke Rong didn't suspect anything. His expression softened, and he smiled, "Don't be nervous. You are the most generous and sensible. You've never disappointed me. As for Shengyi, your personality is eccentric and difficult. Don't cause trouble today."
Bai Murong's previous persuasion had indeed struck a chord with Duke Rong. He subconsciously felt that Bai Shengyi was a troublemaker.
Bai Shengyi felt inexplicable and said indifferently, "Can you guarantee that trouble won't find me?"
"You! Can't you speak properly?" Duke Rong was angered.
Bai Shengyi couldn't be bothered to respond. She had come to the palace to see if there was a better way to break off her engagement with Qin Zhao, not to listen to him scold her by virtue of his elder status.
Duke Rong became even more angered by Bai Shengyi's demeanor. Bai Murong quickly appeased and comforted him. To others passing by, it appeared that Bai Shengyi was staring blankly into the distance with vacant eyes, while Duke Rong and Bai Murong were together, intimate as a family.
Bai Shengyi was like an outsider, gradually being left behind.
Maids and guards were not allowed in the palace. The Bai family only had these three people entering the palace. Bai Shengyi was alone, appearing somewhat pitiable.
"The little girl must be feeling upset in her heart. Asai, look, that eunuch is leading two other people away. Why don't you go help the little girl? What if she gets lost later?"
Not far from the Bai family, an old man with white hair and beard chuckled and suggested to Qin Si.
He had seen Bai Shengyi dealing with the guards of the Grand Princess's mansion in the imperial palace before and had a very deep impression of her. Moreover, he had keenly noticed that Qin Si's attitude towards Bai Shengyi was very special at the moment.
"Grandfather, this is not appropriate."
Qin Si, dressed in a silver robe, stood tall and straight, but it couldn't conceal the intense aura of killing intent and pressure emanating from him, causing the surrounding palace maids to keep a distance of three feet.
Qin Si: "Grandfather, don't be fooled by her appearance. This woman is the most cunning."
As Qin Si spoke, his feet unconsciously quickened, moving towards Bai Shengyi.
Lord Rong watched his grandson's actions, his smile deepening. He subtly beckoned to the eunuch leading the way and took his people down another path.
Bai Shengyi was actually appreciating the pure Chinese national style.
Green tiles and red walls, carved beams and painted buildings.
This was something she had never seen before, and it suited her taste perfectly.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around and saw such a handsome man as Qin Si, her mood immediately improved.
"Oh! Prince of the Underworld, what a coincidence." Since they were in the palace, Bai Shengyi didn't want to cause trouble for herself, so she restrained herself a little.
Qin Si felt that the term "Prince of the Underworld" was a bit off.
"Does Your Highness need something from me?"
"No."
He said coldly. Seeing Bai Shengyi staring at him with a half-smile, for some reason, his grandfather's words flashed through his mind, and a few words escaped his lips.
"Are you... alright?"
As soon as he spoke, Qin Si regretted it. This woman had always tolerated the Bai family and blindly supported Qin Zhao. Wasn't asking this question asking for humiliation?
Speaking of which, he really couldn't understand why the cute and clever little girl from childhood had become so unlikable as she grew up.
Bai Shengyi was unaware of Qin Si's complex thoughts and was instead quite puzzled, "Prince of the Underworld, I'm fine. Are you also going to the birthday banquet?"
It wasn't surprising to her, as it was rumored that Qin Si rarely came to the imperial palace since the current emperor ascended the throne. He hadn't even attended the emperor's birthday, let alone the Empress's birthday.
The outside world had speculated a lot about his grievances and conflicts with the current emperor because of this.
Qin Si felt that his pity was purely wasted: "Is that not allowed?"
"Oh, Prince of the Underworld, do as you please." Bai Shengyi hooked her lips, "I just feel like the sun has risen from the east."
"How can the sun rise from the east... No! The sun naturally rises from the east!"
Qin Si was caught off guard by Bai Shengyi's words. Just as he was about to get angry, he saw Bai Shengyi's smile.
That smile, filled with starlight, was brilliant and sharp, yet reserved and clear, which made him momentarily dazed.
For a moment, Qin Si's anger dissipated, and his face felt a little hot.
He turned his head and said stiffly, "Let's hurry. It's getting late."