Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

172 You are the only one left in benwang’s world Part II

‘It’ was…the royal seal!

The seal owned by the emperor himself!

As long as a decree was stamped with this seal, it would be upheld as the order bestowed by the son of heaven!

This seal was not only used for the royal decree. Right now, it embodied the right to sit on the throne that was now empty. Ouyang Hongxian had planned this from the start!

If she did not return to the capital, the power to dictate the next heir to the throne would rest with Bai Han. And if Bai Yu was in the capital…then she would surely end up as the mother of this nation!

Bai Yu suddenly wanted to curse the dead. Isn’t this going a bit too far, Your Majesty?!

“An apology for the royal decree that bestowed your marriage eighteen years ago,” Bai Han explained the reason behind the royal seal ending up in her hands. However, it was not said to his daughter, but to his wife instead.

“There’s also this decree.” A familiar-looking fabric bundle was handed to Bai Yu. Inside was the royal decree Bai Yu had received the night she left the capital. “I’ve kept it when you were brought out of the palace.”

“Father…knows?” She whispered. Her gaze lowered to look at the bundle that she had always kept close to herself ever since she was given it. The content of that decree, combined with this royal seal, she had right now…

.....

“His Majesty had left these pieces in the hopes that you would be able to choose your own marriage.” Bai Han talked about the man who, despite being the son of heaven, still cared about a trivial matter within his family and intended to repent up until his last moment. “…So that you won’t have to suffer like your mother.” Those words were said with smiling lips, yet his eyes clearly reflected pain. Bai Han did not dare to look in the direction of Yue Mei, and so he did not see the change in his wife’s gaze.

“Go.” Bai Han stroked his daughter’s soft hair. “Bring these to him, the man you’ve chosen yourself.”

Bai Yu nodded. A tear of relief fell with a smile.

——————

“The carriage is already waiting at the side gate, miss.”

“I’ll go alone. You just wait here.”

“But…”

“You two are my personal maids, so of course, you won’t be able to move freely either.”

“Yes, miss.”

Bai Yu took the bundle and left the maids behind. Bai Han had arranged a common carriage for her to travel in secret. And because it was a secret, Bai Yu could not let Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang follow her. She had to wear a wide-brimmed hat with a thin veil that reached her waist to hide her appearance.

With her status, Bai Yu never had to use the side gate located in the opposite direction to the main gate. It was not surprising that Bai Yu got lost in the sprawling area of Bai Mansion before reaching her destination.

Still, getting lost was not as frustrating as having to see the two lovebirds. Bai Yu trod lightly to lessen the sound of her footsteps before moving to hide behind a bush. Her path was blocked by two people who were meeting ‘in secret.’ One person was weeping silently while the other watched painfully.

The man’s large hand pulled his beloved woman into an embrace. That made her tears flow freely as her sobs became harder to suppress. Ouyang Mingxian was consoling Bai Hua in his arms with the same agonized expression.

Oh, Bai Yu. If you had seen this in your past life, would you still insist on marrying him yourself?

“Benwang cannot let you go.”

“Hic…But, sister…”

“Benwang loves only you.”

“…I can’t…”

“Shh…” Ouyang Mingxian tightened his embrace. “…Silence, my dear. Benwang will take care of everything.”

Bai Hua swallowed back a sob. She pulled herself away from his arms and lifted her face to look into her lover’s eyes. “Is Wangye going to go against the royal decree?”

“…” Ouyang Mingxian did not reply.

More tears fell from Bai Hua’s swollen eyes. It was as if her heart had been broken into pieces by Ouyang Mingxian’s silence.

“I cannot love my sister’s husband…” Her hands balled into fists. The resolve that shone through the curtain of tears belonged to the woman who was not of this time. “…I cannot share a husband with my own sister!”

“But you know…” Ouyang Mingxian still maintained his calmness. “…Benwang doesn’t love her. This marriage is inevitable.”

“If I ask…” Bai Hua did not continue. Her thoughts and wishes were conveyed through the gaze that they exchanged.

Eventually, Ouyang Mingxian was the one to turn away. “Benwang still has to clear Mother’s name.”

Now it was Bai Hua’s turn to become silent. Hesitation filled her peach-blossom eyes.

“Hua-er.” The usual coldness in his voice was replaced by weariness. “Don’t let go of benwang’s hand.”

“Wangye…”

“Benwang only has you. You are the only one left in benwang’s world.” The prince’s knees hit the ground before the woman who was branded as useless from birth. His arms were wrapped around her thin waist, his face pressed into the body in his embrace.

Bai Yu could not control the pain that shot through her heart.

Not because she still loved and missed Ouyang Mingxian, but because she now knew that in the past life, she was the only one who had to suffer because of love. Because Ouyang Mingxian’s world only had Bai Hua left. Because Bai Yu’s world only contained Ouyang Mingxian.

Why…do they have to suffer?

Just because of the throne.

Just because of power.

Just because of birth.

Just how many more hearts have to be broken?

Bai Yu walked away from the two lovers with a heavy heart. She felt pity for her old self, wondering how she would feel if she had witnessed that scene. Would she come to her senses and choose not to marry Ouyang Mingxian? She could not thank herself enough for no longer loving that man, the man who would become her husband in three days, the man who still could not let go of his own lover. No matter which angle one looked at this situation…it was impossible for everyone involved not to be hurt.

“Miss.”

“Let’s go.” Bai Yu chose to take a slight detour to the carriage where her father’s men had been waiting. She stepped into the car with a bundle in her hand; both the royal seal and the royal decree were inside. If she was robbed on her way to her destination, the Da Yang dynasty would surely meet its end. The corner of her mouth lifted at the thought. She was going to choose her own path; why would she have to concern herself with those lovers’? Let them feel pain too, as this was only a fraction of what the former Bai Yu had felt. She was more merciful to them than she needed to be already.

From the announcement of the royal wedding to the moment Bai Yu was standing in front of Rui Wang Palace, almost one shichen had passed. She was unsure how far the news about her had spread. She could only hope that the person inside would know that she came to him as her last resort.

“My miss wishes to have an audience with Wangye.”

“The current situation is tumultuous. The commander-general is busy with royal affairs and has ordered to turn away all guests.” The soldier at the gate strictly upheld his duty. Her carriage driver then retreated at the answer.

Bai Yu understood how the capital was in turmoil right now. She did not throw a tantrum when denied access but instead said nothing as she handed the black jade to the gatekeeper.

“This way, miss.” As expected, Bai Yu was invited in as soon as the palace owner’s jade was shown. What surprised her instead was the person who came out to greet her.

It was not Ouyang Feilong, nor her older brother. It was a stranger, a woman who held the title of second consort to Rui Wang.

“The commander-general is currently occupied. I’m afraid Miss will have to wait too long, so I came to welcome Miss first.”

“Many thanks.” Bai Yu curtsied to Ouyang Feilong’s second consort, who was a different woman from the one she had met the last time she was here. Furthermore, this time’s welcome gave a much better impression as well.

This consort seemed to be a few years older than her. She might even be the same age as Ouyang Feilong. Despite her age, which was already past her period of full bloom, her beauty did not diminish at all. The smile she gave Bai Yu could strangely make her heart calm. Truly, she was a calm and serene woman, a respite for those around her.

“Please wait here, miss.”

‘Zhao Ninghua’ said with a smile while at the same time studying the woman obscured by the long veil hung from her wide-brimmed hat. Even though half of her body was hidden by the thin fabric, she could still see how good of a figure she had. Not to mention the pure, unblemished skin of her hand, her naturally sweet voice, and her fine manners. It was clear that she was a noble lady from one of the major families.

Zhao Ninghua was the first to marry into this palace. She had greeted many guests while the palace owner was stationed at the border, though she had never once met a guest who came with the black jade that Rui Wang always kept on himself at all times. A clever woman such as Zhao Ninghua would obviously know to treat Bai Yu with respect and not cling to her title as Rui Wang’s second consort.

She had always known that her title was only in name. The person with the true title of ‘consort’ in her husband’s heart might be this woman. She could see from his gaze that was cast toward the veiled woman the instant he entered the parlor room. It was unusually free of the indifference he had when looking at them.

“I shall bring the tea.”

“Mm.”

Bai Yu sat with her back to the door, and so she did not know that the person she came to see was already in the room. She only saw the second consort smile, calmly stand up, and curtsy to the man before leaving the room.

There were only Bai Yu and Ouyang Feilong here.