Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

223 Bai Yu, the villainess, gladly accepted defeat against fate Part I

Bai Yu could not believe the meaning behind his words. He thought she was lying? He thought she had done it because she still loved Ouyang Mingxian?

“What…does Your Majesty mean?” Bai Yu pretended to be a fool and did not understand him. She wanted to hear Ouyang Feilong’s thoughts rather than interpret them herself.

“The deeper the love, the better the liar.” Ouyang Feilong’s tone did not change at all, despite the silent tears overflowing from Bai Yu’s dark eyes. The Black Dragon studied the beautiful face of the woman who he had believed truly loved him. He once believed that she had turned to love him instead of Ouyang Mingxian. Yet everything was just a scene for her to act in.

If she could stop loving Ouyang Mingxian, then it would be simple for her to stop loving him as well! He should have believed his mother before everything progressed to the point of loss!

“Your Majesty thinks I did it?” Bai Yu did not move to wipe the tears on her cheeks. She tried to swallow a hard lump in her throat as she controlled her voice so as not to tremble. “Your Majesty thinks I’m a cruel woman who can harm even my own grandnephew?”

Ouyang Feilong turned away from Bai Yu’s deploring gaze. “You should get some rest.”

Then, the carriage stopped. Other than his last words, none of the two passengers said anything more. There were only sobs from the villainess, who was seen as unchangingly wicked.

—————–

After sending her back to her palace, Ouyang Feilong did not stay overnight with her, using the word ‘work’ as an excuse. If he did not come, she would also not go to see him. There was nothing to say between those who held no trust between them!

.....

The next morning, news of Bai Hua’s miscarriage was known throughout Da Yang. To make matters worse, Bai Yu’s name was mentioned as well.

Empress Bai sent her personal maid and tonic to Second Consort Bai. The evil maid then cruelly served a poisoned tonic to the consort. After three consecutive days, the pregnant woman easily miscarried. The rumor was passed from one person to another. Despite it being the royalty’s secret, this news was spread among the courtiers and street merchants alike.

This was surely Empress Dowager Wei’s doing. There were only a few witnesses last night, and even if Ouyang Feilong had something on his mind that he did not share with her, he could not destroy the royal family’s reputation with such horrific news.

Bai Yu was almost entirely certain that Empress Dowager Wei was behind everything. Everything that did not only include releasing the rumor, but also ‘everything that had happened’ right now.

Bai Hua’s miscarriage, which Bai Yu was the cause, had yet to be investigated, Ouyang Feilong received multiple petitions on the morning of that same day. Since the powerful Bai family was involved, there was no period of calm before others started trampling over them. The Wei family and court officials who sided with Ouyang Mingxian handed a petition requesting a thorough investigation into Bai Yu’s palace and all of her servants.

On the other hand, the Bai family remained quiet. There was no concrete evidence yet, and both Bai Yu and Bai Hua were from the Bai family, making it difficult to decide on the course of action. At the same time, the Yue family presented a petition for a thorough investigation as well, with the intention of protecting Bai Yu to the utmost of their ability.

Bai Yu remembered that in her last life after she had caused Bai Hua’s miscarriage, the Bai family, who were at the end of their patience after her endless wickedness, decided to cut ties with her. Bai Yu never expected that the miscarriage would truly happen without her involvement. Still, even as the first daughter of the first furen, the Bai family could not fully protect her.

“Empress Bai, hear the royal decree.”

A voice from in front of the palace made Bai Yu put down her teacup. Today’s morning greeting did not go as smoothly as usual. The consorts were intimidated by Bai Yu’s unusual silence, and no one dared mention Bai Hua’s loss. The sudden announcement raised waves of whispers from among them as they speculated on the content of the royal order that had arrived.

Xiao Xi came to support her as she walked forward. The Emperor’s eunuch was waiting there for her, a golden fabric in hand. Bai Yu kneeled to say her blessings. “Bai Yu gladly receives the royal decree. May the Emperor live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years.”

The object represented the person. The royal decree should be treated no differently from the emperor.

“Zhao Gui Fei, hear the royal decree.”

“Mu De Fei, hear the royal decree.”

The two women who were suddenly called were already kneeling. Still confused, they reflectively said the words of blessings in response, as did everyone else after learning that the royal decree was not addressed to the empress alone.

“Heaven commands, the emperor relays. Empress Bai Yu is impeccable in her duty of managing the inner court. Now she carries the dragon heir of the royal family. His majesty gives the order to let Empress Bai Yu rest in her palace, taking care of her body in preparation for the birth of the dragon heir. All matters within the inner court will be under Gui Fei Zhao Ninghua and De Fei Mu Qilin’s responsibility. That is all.”

Bai Yu held her hands up above her head to receive the golden decree that was like thunder at midday.

“Bai Yu feels grateful for his majesty’s grace. May the Emperor live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years.”

“Please take care of your health, Your Majesty,” The emperor’s eunuch said to her as a maid came forward, presenting a tray with a tonic that Ouyang Feilong often sent to her. He also said that this maid would serve her in place of Xiao Chang, who was still imprisoned.

While not seeing each other, this tonic was the only connection between them: the same thing that was used to accuse her of hurting Bai Hua. The more she thought, the more laughable everything felt to her. She had received the tonic from the emperor, then she gave it to Bai Hua. She did not know how many others knew this, but if the tonic was enough evidence, would that not be equivalent to accusing the son of heaven himself as well?

Bai Yu could only hope that Ouyang Feilong would see it as a joke after he had calmed down. He would not truly think that she was the one who hurt Bai Hua. This order of his was only a way to satisfy everyone involved. This order that took away her power was merely a plan that Ouyang Feilong had…

She believed so.

“You all can leave. Morning meetings will be temporarily suspended starting tomorrow,” Bai Yu said this to the consorts, who had remained silent after witnessing Bai Yu being grounded and having her authority taken away.

“You two should also leave. Bengong shall summon you tomorrow.”

Zhao Ninghua and Mu Qilin curtsied before leaving, one with a different thought than the other. One was worried about what had happened, while the other was gladdened by the newly received responsibility. The wind within the inner court was clearly changing.

“Summon General Yue to see bengong.”

Although her power was lessened, it was not as important as Bai Hua’s miscarriage. Her maid was still imprisoned and possibly tortured to admit to the crime she did not commit.

Last night, she tried to comfort herself by thinking that Ouyang Feilong must have been tired and confused, and so she gave him time to reconsider. At least Xiao Chang would remain safe as long as there was no proof that she had done it or that Bai Yu had ordered her to. However, as soon as morning came, she was proven wrong. Ouyang Feilong had given order as if he had almost entirely believed that she was guilty.

Bai Yu was unsure whether he had issued it because he truly thought so or because he was pressured by the court officials. She chose to believe the latter. Still, she could not latch on to the trust and let Xiao Chang’s safety rest completely in his hand. She must ask Yue Huiling to ensure Xiao Chang’s wellbeing.

This was an abuse of power. But because Xiao Chang was not the culprit, Bai Yu would never let anyone hurt her.

Heh! It seemed that she, too, had a heroine tendency, just like when Bai Hua protected her own maid at that time, not long after Bai Yu had crossed into this world.

“Your Majesty…” A maid who had brought the tonic to her spoke. “His Majesty has an order forbidding anyone from disturbing Your Majesty’s rest.”