When Xing Yuan had finished consolidating the information and went to find her elder sister, she was shocked to discover one thing: the banquet was only halfway through, and her elder sister had already left early.
Didn't they say such banquets were unavoidable? How could she have left early? Xing Yuan was a little disappointed, but she quickly perked up. Fine, since that was the case, she would visit her directly.
With that thought, Xing Yuan lost interest in the unfinished banquet. After letting Feng Lipan know, she also left.
The next day, Xing Yuan, after preparing expensive gifts and dressing herself up as a martial arts practitioner, went to the Prime Minister's mansion to pay a visit.
The Feng Yuan dynasty valued martial arts. Since Xing Yuan openly submitted her visiting card and brought gifts, Bai Yulin naturally had no reason to refuse the guest.
"May I ask what connection you have with me, young lady, and what brings you here today?" Bai Yulin looked at Xing Yuan cautiously, probing gently.
"Prime Minister Bai is a busy man, how could he remember an unknown nobody like me! My master is Huangfu Song, does Prime Minister Bai know him?" Xing Yuan's voice was neither hurried nor slow, her expression carrying a hint of composure.
Bai Yulin thought carefully before he remembered who his master was that Xing Yuan spoke of. He immediately said politely, "So you're an acquaintance! But Brother Huangfu hasn't been heard from in many years. What proof do you have that you are his disciple?"
It was not Bai Yulin's fault for being suspicious. When his wife had passed away years ago, Huangfu Song had not even come to pay his respects. How could a mysterious disciple suddenly appear after so many years? He had every reason to suspect that the person before him was an imposter or sent by someone else.
Xing Yuan was not annoyed. She calmly took off half of a jade pendant and handed it to Bai Yulin. "Prime Minister Bai, please take a look. This jade pendant was originally one piece. It was a birthday gift from my master to your esteemed daughter when she was born, with her inscription on the back. The material of this jade is special. Even if someone had seen it, they could never replicate an identical one. Therefore, this should be enough to prove my identity."
Bai Yulin took the jade pendant and examined it closely. After confirming its authenticity, he returned it to Xing Yuan. He smiled and said, "Hmm, the jade pendant is indeed real. But I have one thing I don't understand, and I hope the young lady can clarify. Why haven't we heard from Brother Huangfu in so many years, and why have you suddenly come to visit?"
Xing Yuan was prepared and said naturally, "My master unfortunately passed away years ago from serious injuries during a spar. He didn't have time to give clear dying instructions. This half of the jade pendant is his only memento. I only recently found out about Prime Minister's relationship with my master, so I thought I would come and see."
Bai Yulin's face showed a look of realization, "So that's how it is!"
Xing Yuan stood up, took two steps back, cupped her hands, and said respectfully, "I have an impertinent request, and I hope Prime Minister will agree!"
Bai Yulin's face showed hesitation. Did this person have a request? But he still said with great grace, "Please speak, young lady. If I can do it, I will not refuse."
"I have come to the capital this time to fulfill my master's dying wish. However, since I arrived in the capital, I have heard much about Miss Bai, and I am very worried. I hope Prime Minister will allow me to follow your esteemed daughter and protect her!" Xing Yuan's words were very polite on the surface, but the implication was clear.
Bai Yulin's face turned a mottled shade of green and white. Wasn't this saying he was neglecting his own daughter? But with so many people talking, he indeed had no reasonable excuse to explain why he had ignored his legitimate daughter for so many years.
So he softened his tone and conceded, "This... I will have to ask my little daughter's opinion."
Then Bai Yulin ordered the servant waiting at the door, "Go and invite the eldest young lady over. Say that there is a guest."
The servant acknowledged the order and left. Bai Yulin also helped Xing Yuan up and said politely, "My little daughter's residence is some distance from here. Young lady, please have some tea and wait."
Xing Yuan nodded understandingly.
Meanwhile, the servant hurried to Bai Qingyue's residence and politely said to the maid serving the eldest young lady, "Is the young lady in? The master has something to inform her of."
"Of course, she is. Where else would the young lady be? You wait here, I'll go and inform the young lady." The maid finished speaking, turned, and called softly twice in front of the young lady's room. After receiving a response, she pushed the door open and went in.
"Miss!"
"I know. Let him speak at the door!" Bai Qingyue's expression was indifferent, lacking energy.
"Yes!" Then the maid called the servant to the door.
"Miss, the master asks you to go to the front hall. There is a guest!" The servant said respectfully at the door.
Bai Qingyue let out a cold snort, her face full of indifference. Who could possibly come to find her? She immediately said sarcastically, "A guest? Then why are they looking for me?"
"This... this servant does not know. This is the master's order. It seems to be... someone from the former mistress's side."
Bai Qingyue's movements paused. Her eyes were filled with a daze. Someone from her mother's side? Could it be her uncle?
Bai Qingyue's heart fluttered with excitement. She stood up and walked out, asking, "What does that person look like?"
"Yes, it's a young lady. I didn't dare to look too closely."
Hearing "young lady," Bai Qingyue subconsciously thought of that person. But she quickly denied it. Although she didn't know much about that person, she instinctively felt that with that person's temperament, if they were really coming to find her, they wouldn't be so open about it. Climbing through the window in the middle of the night might be more likely.
"Let's go!" Bai Qingyue adjusted her robes and said in a deep voice. No matter who it was, she would know after seeing them.
But when Bai Qingyue arrived at the front hall, she instantly felt as if the world had become dreamlike. The person she had directly dismissed had actually come in this way. This feeling was truly quite unexpected.
Bai Qingyue looked at her father and said respectfully, "May I ask why Father has summoned me here?"
The clear voice instantly drew all of Xing Yuan's attention. As Bai Qingyue looked at Xing Yuan, Xing Yuan deliberately winked playfully at her, as if asking, "Surprised?"
"Quite startled, indeed!" Bai Qingyue thought to herself.
"Cough cough, that's right, Qingyue! This is your uncle's disciple. She says she is willing to follow her master's dying wish and wants to stay by your side to take care of you. What do you think?" Bai Yulin said unnaturally, not really hoping Bai Qingyue would agree.
"Dying wish?" Bai Qingyue's mind was instantly occupied by these two words. Her eyes were filled with sadness. Uncle was really gone...
"Qingyue, what do you think?" Bai Yulin called her back from her daze.
"Whatever Father decides!" Bai Qingyue's mind was in a mess, and she instinctively pushed the responsibility back to him.
ps: The function for sending gifts and leaving messages can only be seen on the computer. So I usually might not notice it. I just discovered it today, so I am informing you in advance.