Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

53 If he did not call himself benwang, then he was a beauty! Part I

Bai He burst out laughing.

He smiled at his beloved sister as he stepped towards the person who suddenly and remorselessly had the urge to squander the family’s fortune. Their mother almost fainted when she discovered that almost all diamonds in the chest were made into his sister’s dress. He had to return to the mansion and took quite some time to console her. All without the cause of this mess knowing anything.

“You naughty girl, your mother almost stormed Yue mansion to spank you,” he said with only a slight smile because they were in the middle of a banquet. Otherwise, Bai Yu’s forehead would have been flicked until it turned red.

His sister replied with a smile so sweet that other men around them felt their hearts race. Bai Yu smiled and talked to her brother as if they were the only two people in the entire world. While conversing with his sister, Bai He sent out killing intent toward the noblemen who kept staring at his sister.

Originally, he intended to enter the banquet together with Wangye, but when he saw Bai Yu being surrounded by Furens and gentlemen of various families, he had to hasten his pace to intervene. And he had completely forgotten about the important person who he had left behind to enter the party alone.

Bai Yu and Bai He enjoyed their conversation like other young nobles around them. The atmosphere around them was vastly different from high-ranking aristocrats who were stunned for the second time.

This time, it was also because of a beauty. But a male beauty.

A man in pure white whose appearance was even more beautiful than women astonished everyone in the banquet. His tall figure that exuded authority made women’s hearts beat fast and inspired both jealousy and admiration in men. Only a few would have thought that he was identical to the late someone...

“Your...Majesty...” The senior chancellor who had served Da Yang for two consecutive reigns could not believe his own eyes.

.....

So alike. Especially those familiar golden eyes...

“Make way for the Emperor. Make way for the Empress.”

Both liveliness and confusion were put on hold when the Son of Heaven in golden robe stepped into the banquet. Beside him was a lady in matching golden clothes but embroidered with a phoenix in flight, the symbol of the phoenix beside the throne.

Everyone in the banquet bowed and gave blessings to the two. Though many were surprised that the Empress Dowager did not arrive together with the Emperor, they all kept their silence.

The tall figure of Ouyang Hongxian walked up to the honored seat that was on a raised platform facing the performance stage. On his right was Empress Wang while his left was empty as Empress Dowager Wei had not yet come, and from Ouyang Hongxian’s frequent sighs, it became clearer and clearer that she would not come tonight.

Other guests were seated facing the stage in the middle as well. The seats next to Empress Wang were given to female royals and high-rank royal consorts who were permitted to participate. Next to those were for Furens of different families. Bai Yu sat among other young ladies of the same age in the area next to the Furens.

Obviously, Bai Yu had to be separated from Bai He because the seats were divided into male and female sides. The chair next to the Emperor was for another male royal, and it seemed that the Emperor glanced at that seat unusually often. His action made senior aristocrats in the seating zone next to the princes tense up. After them were noblemen ranging from major families to minor ones.

Because of their family’s influence, Bai Yu and Bai He were in the front row. To Bai Yu’s left was Xu Peipei, and to her right was Yue Huiling in a flaming red dress that, to Bai Yu’s personal opinion, did not suit her tanned skin very well.

If given the opportunity, I want to design you a dress too, biaojie!

Music sounded as Ouyang Hongxian waved his hand. Dancers moved onto the stage and started their performance. Bai Yu did not care about conversing with women next to her like other noble ladies, and the dance did not interest her one bit. There was only food on the table in front of her that she enjoyed, even better, she did not have to move too much while eating. Her head was too heavy!

Still, lowering her head to eat also took a toll on her neck as well. And so, Bai Yu had to lift her face to look at the performance from time to time. But before she could look at anything, her eyes met with her brother’s. He was gazing toward her, looking both worried and amused after she had told him about the weight of her head accessories.

Applaud sounded through the banquet after the second performance ended. Then, the Emperor called Bai Yu, Bai Hua, Ouyang Mingxian, and others who had contributed to curing the disease over to receive rewards. Bai Yu was surprised that the Emperor gave several chests of diamonds for her alone, but she immediately understood when she looked down at her own dress.

The Emperor had some sense of humor.

“Miss Bai is uniquely beautiful today. You’ve broadened bengong’s view.” It was Empress Wang who mentioned her dress.

“I had this dress made by the anonymous master, Your Majesty. The fabrics are mainly from those that Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager have given me.”

“And it was a fine decision. The design and pattern are both something bengong has never seen before...” Empress Wang motioned her hand. “...Come here, can bengong look at it closer?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Bai Yu curtsied before slowly approaching Empress Wang. When she came close, the Empress’ eyes widened slightly when she noticed the specks of diamonds in the fabric before her expression was concealed by calmness again. Ouyang Hongxian still had the same gentle smile.

Bai Yu notices that his golden eyes glanced toward the seat next to him again.

“It is truly an exquisite design.”

“If it is to Your Majesty’s liking, dare I suggest that I order the anonymous master to sew a dress for Your Majesty’s?”

“Good. Very good.” Empress Wang was pleased with her suggestion, and then she gave Bai Yu another reward.

Presenting her dress to the Empress went smoothly, as she had hoped. Now that this dress caught the Empress’ eyes, other consorts, high-ranking Furens, and young ladies would surely flock to buy this style of dress that she had designed for the anonymous master.

“Your Majesties, if I may suggest,” Taizi Fei intentionally spoke up after Empress Wang had given her praise and reward. “Seeing that Miss Bais are both beautiful and intelligent, it would be an honor to see their joint performance.”

Bai Yu suppressed a sigh. Bai Hua who was sitting behind her put down her cup of liquor, causing a slight sound.

“Bengong heard that Miss Bai Yu was adept in guqin. But what would Miss Bai Hua perform alongside her?” Empress Wang nodded to her daughter-in-law. Both seemed to have an intention to help Bai Yu in publicly humiliating Bai Hua. However, the Empress did not realize that Taizi Fei intended to humiliate both of them at the same time.

“Answering Your Majesty, I can dance.” Bai Yu still handled the situation calmly.

“Then Miss Bai Yu plays the magic guqin while Miss Bai Hua performs a magic dance, is that alright?” Taizi Fei concluded with a sweet voice.

“Very well.” Empress Wang nodded, satisfied, before turning to Ouyang Hongxian. “What does Your Majesty think?”

“It’s been a while since Miss Bai Yu last performed magic guqin. This arrangement is fine.” Empress Wang and Taizi Fei both set up a plan like this already, then what could he do to object?

As Bai Yu silently lamented her inevitable fate, a seven strings guqin was brought in front of her. Bai Hua asked for two long fabrics to use for her dance. Bai Hua intended to perform rhythmic gymnastics, substituting the ribbon stick with the cloth.

While waiting for the fabrics, Bai Yu and Bai Hua unintentionally met each other’s eyes. According to the script, Bai Yu was going to play the song that she was skilled at in an attempt to be superior to Bai Hua. But in the end, Bai Hua could expertly show her skills in combination with her grey magic, stealing the spotlight from Bai Yu.

That day, the heroine had gotten back at the villainess, while at the same time announcing to everyone that she was no longer the worthless woman.

Bai Yu put her fingers on the strings that she had used to slander her half-sister. She turned away from Bai Hua’s eyes because of her own pridefulness. Bai Yu knew full well what that look from Bai Hua meant, but she did not want to cooperate.

This time, she chose to follow the faith, but she also refused to lose!