Chapter 959 - 961 Bai-haired Princess Visits_1
Then someone behind them called out again, "Head of the list, sir, please touch my son’s head too, he’s going to take the child scholar exam next year. Let us also bask in your immortal Qi."
Bai Zepei’s mouth twitched, what immortal Qi did he have? If he had any, would he need to participate in the Imperial Examination?
Following that, many more people started shouting, some even said, "Head of the list, sir, don’t leave yet. I’m going to fetch my kids from home and I’ll be right back!"
Bai Ruozhu was already laughing so hard in the back that she couldn’t straighten her waist. Could it be that today her second brother would have to stand here, specializing as a head-toucher?
Bai Zepei touched a few more children’s heads, then suddenly held his stomach and said, "I have a stomachache, I’ll step aside for a moment."
The Bai Family members held back their laughter and hurriedly followed him. The well-regarded head of the list was compelled by everyone to "flee" because of pressure. This day of announcing the examination rankings was indeed quite entertaining.
Once they were in the carriage, Bai Ruozhu laughed and said, "Second brother, touch Dengdeng’s head too, so we can also share in the immortal Qi."
Everyone in the carriage burst out laughing. Bai Zepei, no matter how composed he was, was now slightly blushing and gave Bai Ruozhu an annoyed glare.
"You had it coming, second brother, for making us worry. You deserved to be annoyed by people," said Bai Zehao with a laugh.
"Big brother, you..." How did you become like this? Bai Zepei felt that even his big brother had learned to be mischievous.
"Me what? Shall I shout out that head of the list Bai Zepei is right here?" Bai Zehao said with a mischievous grin.
Bai Zepei silently closed his mouth. Where had the honest and naive big brother gone?
The family took the horse carriage home. When they arrived at the entrance to their alley, they found a horse carriage parked at their door. Bai Ruozhu, with her good eyesight, immediately noticed that although the carriage wasn’t particularly luxurious, the materials used were of high quality, and the horses pulling the carriage were also fine animals; it was indeed a low-key but luxurious carriage.
"Eh, who has come to visit?" Lin Ping’er muttered curiously.
Bai Ruozhu also felt it strange. As the carriage approached, the curtains of the carriage were lifted, and a white-clothed woman wearing a gauze cap stepped down.
The Bai family members alighted from their carriage, and their eyes couldn’t help but focus on the woman. Although her face was covered by the gauze cap, and her clothes were quite plain, the particular presence she exuded was undeniable. Furthermore, the fabric of her clothes was high-quality, with the cuffs and collar embroidered with exquisite dark pattern flowers, clearly indicating that this woman was someone of notable status.
The woman looked toward them, did not perform the usual courtesies, but merely nodded slightly and said, "Brother Yichun, sister-in-law, have you arrived back home?"
Bai Ruozhu was momentarily stunned, then quickly looked towards Jiang Yichun, only to see a surprised expression on his face as well—it was clear he hadn’t expected the woman to show up here either.
Jiang Yichun, not wanting her to overthink and feeling awkward, coughed twice and did not reply. With no choice, Bai Ruozhu somewhat helplessly bowed slightly and said, "Princess Diao Bin, what brings you to Beiyu City? If you had sent word in advance, we could have come to greet you."
Indeed, the woman wearing the gauze cap was Jiang Yichun’s childhood friend, Princess Diao Bin. Bai Ruozhu recognized her immediately upon hearing her distinctively sweet voice. How could she forget?
But why had Princess Diao Bin suddenly appeared here?
Princess Diao Bin’s face was hidden beneath her gauze cap, so no one could see her expression. She stepped forward with an anxious tone and said, "Just call me Diao Bin, I came here on my own, not wishing anyone to know I’m here."
"You came here on your own? Without the Emperor’s knowledge?" Jiang Yichun asked anxiously.
"Can we go inside to talk?" Her voice had become much quieter, with a hint of pleading, like the meow of a kitten.
Thinking of the time Princess Diao Bin had kindly helped her, the pill she had given had even saved her second brother’s life, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t harbor any resentment, and quickly led Diao Bin inside, saying, "Please sit down and have a cup of tea before we talk."
"Thank you, sister-in-law," Diao Bin’s voice was somewhat choked, as if she was about to cry.
The Bai Family members looked at each other, all feeling that the situation was not simple. The princess had left the palace on her own and come to their place; they wondered what could be the matter.
Ling Ping’er gave everyone a look, and they all withdrew, commanding the maids to serve some fine tea, leaving the Main Hall for Princess Diao Bin and the couple, Bai Ruozhu.
The tea was served quickly, but Diao Bin didn’t take off her gauze cap, only lifting a corner to take a sip. Bai Ruozhu immediately grew suspicious—caps are worn outside, but who keeps them on inside, even when drinking tea, without taking them off? Could it be that Princess Diao Bin had something on her face she didn’t want others to see?
As Jiang Yichun was more familiar with Diao Bin, he asked directly, "Diao Bin, why do you keep wearing that gauze cap? What’s happened to your face?"
Princess Diao Bin’s hand trembled as she held her tea cup, spilling some onto her fingers. She quickly set down the cup and wiped her fingers dry with a handkerchief.
"I was afraid I’d frighten you, so I dared not take off my cap," she said, already on the verge of crying.
"What exactly happened, take off your cap and let me see. Achun and I know some medical skills; perhaps we can help you," Bai Ruozhu said urgently.
Diao Bin sniffled and slowly took off her gauze cap, her hands trembling either from nervousness or from being too upset.
Upon removing it, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but gasp—Princess Diao Bin’s hair had turned completely white!
Her face was also ghostly pale, as if devoid of any blood.
"Diao Bin, what happened? Are you poisoned? Does the Emperor know about this?" Jiang Yichun asked three questions in quick succession, clearly alarmed.
Princess Diao Bin began to sob, saying, "The Emperor doesn’t know, I ran away secretly. Before, when my father was seriously ill, he called me to talk and gave me a pill, saying that if one day my illness became too severe, I should take that pill. At the time, I even said I was in good health, and that he should take it if he was ill, but he shook his head and said the pill wasn’t for his illness, and it would be useless for him."
Bai Ruozhu’s eyelids twitched; she already knew which pill Princess Diao Bin was talking about!
Princess Diao Bin looked at Bai Ruozhu with a guilty expression and said, "Sister-in-law Ruozhu, I know one shouldn’t ask for a gift to be returned, and I never expected to suddenly become like this, but the Emperor has arranged my marriage with the crown prince of the Turkic Country for next year. If I show up like this, I’m afraid I can’t explain it to the Turkic Country."
"Still, you can’t just leave without telling the Emperor. What if something happened to you on the way here?" Jiang Yichun said, both anxious and helpless.
Princess Diao Bin wiped her tears and said, "The Emperor knows I have that pill, and if he finds out I’ve become like this, he’ll know I gave the pill to you. I’m afraid he won’t be pleased..."
Her voice trailed off much softer. She wasn’t so much afraid of the Emperor being displeased as she was afraid of him venting his anger on Jiang Yichun and his wife!
Bai Ruozhu’s heart ached, seeing such a good girl turned into this state, but the medicine had already been used to save her second brother. How could she give her another pill?