Chapter 996 - 998 Bai Diao Bin’s Confession_1
Liu Family seemed quite unhappy with Bai Ruozhu talking to Bo Zheng, rushing over with displeasure and saying, "What on earth has Chang Sheng gone off to do? Why must we all wait for him? It’s not like he’s doing something unspeakable, right?"
"Grandma, as I’ve said, Achun is under the Ministry of War and needed to inspect the barracks along the way, as well as meet with some officials, so some delay was inevitable." Bai Ruozhu explained patiently, to avoid Liu Family making a fuss.
Liu Family was about to speak again when Bo Zheng intervened, "It’s also thanks to Officer Jiang having duties that we are able to take advantage of his favor and ride on the official ship. Otherwise, if we took a civilian ship, it wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable and would be much slower."
Seeing Bo Zheng speak up, Liu Family had no choice but to stop talking and even offered him a warm smile.
Bai Ruozhu gave Tao Ren a look, signaling her to make sure the old lady was taken care of, and Tao Ren, understanding, hurriedly persuaded the old lady to go back to her room to rest.
Afterwards, the family stayed in Luohe City for a full three days before setting off again towards the Capital City.
Before departing, Princess Diao Bin found Bai Ruozhu for a private talk, and Bai Ruozhu signaled Jianqi with her eyes to wait outside.
"Ruozhu, is Brother Yichun involved in some kind of trouble? I can see his care for you, and I think he wouldn’t fail to hurry over. Should I send a message to my imperial brother and ask him to dispatch someone to help?" Princess Diao Bin asked with concern.
Facing such a kind and beautiful girl, Bai Ruozhu could not harbor any feelings of aversion, but she still felt somewhat awkward.
"You needn’t worry. He simply is following an imperial decree," she said curtly, not daring to say more, in case the Emperor desired to keep it from his sister.
Princess Diao Bin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Since it was under an imperial decree, there would naturally be sufficient manpower and presumably more safety.
"Once we reach the Capital, my imperial brother and the Empress Mother will surely notice something amiss with me. When that happens, you and Yichun must not mention that you gave me the medicine, and certainly not that you administered it to my second brother. I will tell them that I carelessly lost it, and I came to you only because I heard of your exceptional medical skills and wished to seek your assistance."
Glancing at Princess Diao Bin with a sense of shame, Bai Ruozhu said, "It’s tough on you to have considered so much for us. In the end, it’s my family that owes you."
Princess Diao Bin flashed her a wan smile, "It’s nothing, really. Once I give something away, I shouldn’t ask for it back. It’s only right that you used it."
Bai Ruozhu felt a tangle of emotions. She had once even doubted whether this pure and good-natured princess was pretending to be an innocent flower, but now, facing such forthrightness from Diao Bin, she felt her suspicions had been too harsh.
Seeing Bai Ruozhu’s embarrassed expression, Princess Diao Bin thought she was uncomfortable speaking with her and offered a bitter smile as she removed her gauze cap.
"Actually, I owe you an apology too. Because of something I said back then, the Emperor treated you that way, and I was wrong to have done so," said Princess Diao Bin.
Bai Ruozhu hastily replied, "It’s not your fault, and it’s all in the past; it’s nothing much."
Princess Diao Bin shook her head, "I was timid as a child and was deceived by Yang Fei’s maid to be taken to the back garden and scolded. It was Brother Yichun who happened to pass by and helped me, even taking me to see the Emperor. I have always been grateful to him. It wasn’t that I was particularly infatuated with him."
As she spoke, a faint pink blush appeared on her face, adding a touch of color to her otherwise pale complexion.
"But when I was fifteen, the Emperor wanted to arrange a marriage for me. I too wanted to find someone I genuinely liked. At that moment, I didn’t know how to refuse, so I said I would marry someone who truly cared for me like Brother Yichun. In the end, I was just using him as a shield because it had been many years since he appeared. I was being capricious."
Princess Diao Bin’s face grew even redder as she spoke, "But after the Emperor gave you trouble, I went to explain everything to him and ended up getting scolded quite harshly." She gave a sheepish smile, "So you don’t have to feel awkward around me. I truly see you as a sister-in-law, even if you’re a little younger than me. We can still be friends, can’t we?"
Listening to her, Bai Ruozhu was stunned. She scrutinized Princess Diao Bin carefully before confirming that she wasn’t just saying this to console her. Her expression was very sincere; it seemed she genuinely held no romantic feelings for Jiang Yichun. It was merely the disappointment she felt in the Palace, thinking that her once caring big brother had forgotten about her.
"Of course, we can be friends." Bai Ruozhu smiled back at her. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with Princess Diao Bin, such a kindhearted girl?
Princess Diao Bin’s mood lifted, "Having opened up to you, my heart feels at ease. Please, help me explain to Brother Yichun too. I really can’t bring myself to tell him." She said, playfully sticking out her small tongue.
Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Alright, I will tell him."
"Actually, the Emperor has some regrets as well, but as the ruler of the nation, it would be inappropriate for him to apologize to you. However, he has promised not to prevent you and Brother Yichun from being together," Princess Diao Bin said, covering her mouth with a giggle. "He keeps saying that I’ve tricked him for years, calling me crafty."
"If you never wanted to marry someone you didn’t like, why agree to a marriage alliance with the Turkic Country?" Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help asking.
Because of Li Yi, she didn’t have a good impression of the Turkic Country and truly couldn’t bear the thought of Princess Diao Bin, such a beautiful woman, marrying into the Turkic Country.
"My brother, the Emperor, is still young, and eligible princesses are scarce. What else could I do but enter into a marriage alliance? Besides, if not Turkic, it would have to be Chengshui Country. I’ve heard that both the old Emperor and the Prince in Chengshui are somewhat perverse," Princess Diao Bin said, barely able to conceal the disgust on her face.
Thinking of Zhou Jue, who didn’t differentiate between men and women, and Zhou Jue’s father lusting after his own son, Bai Ruozhu also felt sick to her stomach. Chengshui Country was too chaotic, the top corrupted the bottom.
"I think, given the Emperor’s affection for you, it would be possible to bestow another princess’s hand and let someone else endure the marriage alliance," Bai Ruozhu said without holding back.
Princess Diao Bin shook her head, "After all, I have no one I love. Wherever I marry, it’s still marrying. Why sacrifice another person?"
Bai Ruozhu was at a loss for words and after thinking for a while said, "How can you bear to leave your mother without your company? How can you bear knowing she would cry for you night after night?"
This time, Princess Diao Bin was left speechless and her expression dimmed. Of course, how could she bear to see her mother upset?
Yet, the majority of Danliang Country’s men either revered or flattered her, which she truly disliked.
As they resumed their journey, Bai Ruozhu’s spirits were significantly lifted, and Princess Diao Bin was also much more relaxed. It was time for her to go back and be honest with the Emperor and her mother. But imagining her mother’s hidden tears at seeing her like this - wouldn’t she start crying secretly again?
Thinking of her mother shedding tears, she remembered Bai Ruozhu’s words. Perhaps it was time to reconsider.
After that, the journey was uneventful. Several days later, the group finally arrived at the Capital City. Bai Ruozhu had been there once before, so the initial excitement was gone. Still, for everyone else, it was thrilling; this was the heart of Danliang Country, the most prosperous place.
"Madam Jiang, our master has been anxiously waiting. Could I take Mr. Bai and the second master Bai to Bo Residence first upon entering the city?" As soon as they entered the city, Bo Zheng couldn’t wait to suggest.