Chapter 90: The Pedantry of Scholars

As the snow and fog outside thickened, the convoy naturally slowed down considerably to ensure safety and comfort.

Bai Hua's carriage was the fourth to last. In the carriage in front of her sat the prince's concubine, whose status was higher than hers. As for those behind her, they were maids, servants, and female servants.

The ancient road was quiet and secluded, becoming narrower and narrower as you went further in. The carriages were packed closely together, moving cautiously. The snow was thicker, and every time the horses took a step, they would sink deep into the snow, only to struggle to pull themselves out, leaving behind scattered hoofprints.

Bai Hua heard the crunching sound of footsteps on the snow and noticed that soldiers on foot were changing shifts to guard the carriage not far away. The two sides should not be far apart. She could almost hear the tassels of the spears held by the soldiers fluttering in the wind and snow. At the same time, she became nervous, afraid that the people outside would discover that a romantic affair was taking place in the carriage in broad daylight.

She was restless, her breathing became heavier, and her body was so weak that she could not support herself. She could only lean against Ning Jue and use his shoulder to barely keep herself steady.

Bai Hua raised her head slightly and felt the other person's palm still moving around, even more agile than a fish. The fish tail swung up and then fell down, stirring up waves in her heart and making her very uneasy.

She pressed her lips tightly together, her heart filled with anxiety and confusion. She felt as if a beaded thread was gradually tightening in her heart until it snapped completely. In an instant, the beads scattered everywhere with a crackling sound. Bai Hua couldn't help but let out a soft moan. She was startled and quickly covered her mouth with both hands, looking at the thick felt curtain of the carriage in fear, her cheeks flushed with regret.

Ning Jue looked at her and let out a hearty, clear laugh.

When Bai Hua glared at him, he raised his eyebrows and slowly withdrew his hand.

Then, he opened his palm to show her, so brazenly displaying the evidence of the crime. Bai Hua looked away, her face turning even redder with shame and anger.

Ning Jue's gaze was intense as he looked at her loose-fitting top, the collar pulled open at an angle, revealing a glimpse of her fair and rounded shoulder, and faint red marks near her collarbone. He couldn't look away for a moment.

The two stared at each other. Bai Hua's eyes were wet, as if filled with water, and her lips were glossy. Her whole body exuded charm, as if beckoning someone to sway with her.

Ning Jue's eyes were deep and unfathomable, and he couldn't help but feel a little itchy. However, due to the limited space, he couldn't do anything physically, so he could only flirt and tease him with words.

He leaned closer, whispering into Bai Hua's earlobe, "If I reached down further, would I scoop up a handful of water? Hua'er, tell me, what did it feel like just now?"

His question was really blunt!

Bai Hua instinctively clenched her knees together, enduring the subtle discomfort, and feigned annoyance as she reached out and slapped Ning Jue in the chest.

"Say it again..."

Her tone was threatening, but soft and lacked any real intimidation.

Ning Jue looked pleased. He had just gotten the better deal, and now he consciously moved back. Although he hadn't completely relieved his pain, he was glad to have a little bit of enjoyment during the tedious journey.

He raised his hand and smiled, cooperating, "Okay, okay, I won't say anything. But if you're not comfortable in these clothes, change them as soon as possible. Should I call Xiao You over for you?"

"Who are you calling me...?" Bai Hua glared at him again, dissatisfied.

Xiao You knew that the two of them were alone in the carriage. If she suddenly wanted to change her clothes for no reason, wouldn't that be deliberately leading others to have all sorts of wild thoughts?

Bai Hua didn't want to be scrutinized by suspicious eyes, nor did she want to answer Xiao You's questions. All she wanted to do was to cover up her true feelings and act as usual.

"No need to call Xiao You, I can change myself. My clothes are in the carriage."

Ning Jue did notice a dark blue package with subtle patterns in the corner, which contained Bai Hua's usual clothes. He looked away and kindly asked, "Since you're not going to call Xiao You over, do you need my help?"

Bai Hua quickly shook her head, refusing the offer firmly.

If we need his help, who knows when we'll be able to change these clothes again; it seems like there's no end in sight.

Ning Jue smiled and let her have her way. Finally, he touched Bai Hua's nape affectionately before withdrawing his hand and preparing to get out of the car.

After the person left, Bai Hua silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally able to relax, she slumped lazily onto the small table by the window, resting her head on one arm, lost in thought. She didn't rush to change her clothes; her strength hadn't fully recovered yet, and she needed to rest and recover first.

Her chest was still throbbing slightly, and the blush on her cheeks hadn't completely faded.

Bai Hua breathed lightly, trying to avoid amplifying her discomfort. Her face flushed, she gently massaged her chest a few times to ease the discomfort. Then, recalling how Ning Jue had treated her, she felt an indescribable sense of shame welling up inside her.

Besides reaching out, he also pulled open her collar and buried his head in her clothes...

Bai Hua abruptly stopped thinking, forcing herself not to recall anything further.

She tried to calm herself down, but it didn't work. So she simply lifted the curtain and let in a little cool air. The cold air refreshed her and made her shiver. Then she looked through the gap at the snow-covered road and the branches of the roadside bushes that were struggling under the weight of the snow and occasionally shaking off the snow. Finally, she managed to calm her mind and slowly clear her thoughts.

As the sun sets, it seems we'll be walking along this ancient road until nightfall.

Bai Hua was calculating the days in her mind. Today was the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. If the journey went smoothly, they could probably return to the capital before the New Year.

With the day of reunion with her brother just around the corner, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

In just the past two years, not only have the people around her changed, but she herself has also changed a lot.

Things have changed, but people are no longer the same.

But 'not' is just change, and change is not necessarily a bad thing.

...

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, with the Spring Festival approaching, every household in Jingqi City was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and pasted with the character "福" (good fortune) and Spring Festival couplets. The sounds of fireworks and firecrackers rose and fell from the east and west of the city, continuing until midnight without stopping.

Bai Hua arrived in Jingqi on the last day before the New Year. As soon as she entered the city, she followed Ning Jue and went to a secluded courtyard in the west of the city.

Ning Jue had mentioned this matter to General Wang beforehand and quickly received his consent, so the two left smoothly.

After a winding journey, the two finally found the place. Although the location of Bai Shu'an's residence was remote, it occupied a considerable area. There were two lifelike stone lions standing at the entrance, with red silk draped over their bodies to ward off evil and bring good fortune. It was clear that the owner was a person of some status and position.

Before getting out of the car, Bai Hua lifted the curtain and looked around. She noticed that there was no plaque in front of the house, so she did not know the owner's surname or his identity. There was only a couplet on the door with the four characters "岁月熙宁" written in running script.

"Young master, where is my brother?"

"The former residence of Grand Tutor Dong. He had some private dealings with your father. When your elder brother was wronged, he was powerless to do anything and has always felt guilty. Now that there is a need for him, he has been very attentive."

Most of her father's old friends chose to protect themselves after the Bai family's incident, including this Lord Dong. But no matter when, Bai Hua would remember the favors they did for her.

Before getting out of the carriage, Ning Jue instructed her, "Hua'er, it is not convenient for you to enter the manor now. I will get out of the carriage later and ask the gatekeeper to go in and pass on a message. After that, your brother can come out to see you. But you must not be too excited and try not to cry. Today's meeting is to put your mind at ease. Afterwards, I will urge the case to be closed as soon as possible and completely clear your brother's name."

Bai Hua nodded in agreement, knowing the gravity of the matter: "Don't worry, young master, I'll do whatever you say."

Ning Jue reached out and comforted her on the shoulder before getting out of the car nimbly.

His black crane-feather cloak gave him a strong sense of oppression. He took a few steps forward, forcing the guard at the door to subconsciously take a half step back.

After briefly explaining his purpose, the other party lowered his guard. He must have been given some instructions beforehand, because he cooperated by telling Ning Jue to wait a moment, and then turned around and went inside to announce his arrival.

Bai Hua also got out of the car at this moment and stood side by side with Ning Jue. Her eyes fell on the magnificent vermilion gate in front of her, and her heart was beating very fast.

Kyoto winters are bitterly cold, especially after nightfall when the wind is biting.

Even though Bai Hua was dressed warmly, in a snow-white fox fur cloak over a lambskin jacket, with her head completely covered by a hood, she still couldn't help but squint and shrink her neck under her collar when a cold wind blew across her face.

Seeing this, Ning Jue took half a step forward and adjusted his shoulder. He looked at Bai Hua and said, "Hua'er, it's too cold outside. Why don't you get in the car and wait? Don't worry, I'll call you down as soon as I hear any noise inside."

Bai Hua stubbornly shook her head: "No need, it's fine. I'll wait here. I'll just get anxious in the car."

Ning Jue stopped trying to persuade her, knowing that she was eager to see her brother and that even the coldest weather couldn't stop her.

Before long, hurried footsteps came from inside. Ning Jue, who was originally standing in front to shield Bai Hua from the wind, heard the footsteps and immediately darted forward like a rabbit, stepping ahead of Ning Jue and naturally pressing Ning Jue down on her shoulder.

Ning Jue glanced at Bai Hua, then turned back to look ahead.

Someone pushed open the door and came out. It was a slender, handsome man. His face was obviously pale and weak, probably due to the torture he had suffered in prison. His shoulders were thin, and he looked like a frail scholar. At first glance, he looked somewhat similar to Bai Hua. It was the kind of resemblance that family members couldn't tell, but strangers would immediately recognize that the two were siblings.

Because he was related to Bai Hua, Ning Jue's first impression of Bai Shu'an wasn't bad.

Upon seeing who it was, Bai Hua's eyes lit up instantly. As she stepped forward to greet him, she excitedly called out, "Brother!"

Bai Shu'an looked up, his eyes filled with excitement, and replied in a hoarse voice, "...Hua'er."

After standing face to face, the brother and sister embraced each other. Even though they had a thousand words to say, they couldn't express them at that moment.

Bai Shuan let go and slowly released Bai Hua. Seeing his younger sister safe and sound, a heavy weight that had been hanging over his heart for so long finally settled down. Similarly, seeing her brother unharmed, Bai Hua's anxious heart finally calmed down after her journey.

The two were concerned about each other and had so many things they wanted to know, but they could only ask so many at a time. So the brother and sister raced against time and asked a series of questions and showed their concern.

"Hua'er, when did you come to the capital?"

"Today."

Have you met your sister-in-law?

"I haven't had a chance yet. I'll go see my sister-in-law and Xiaoyi after I've met my brother."

Xiao Yi is Bai Shu'an and his wife Zhu Xijun's only daughter. She is five years old this year, with big, bright eyes and a soft, adorable appearance. When Bai Hua left Beijing, Xiao Yi was only three and a half years old, and she probably doesn't even remember her now.

Bai Hua countered, "Brother, did you suffer a lot at Dali Temple? You look so thin... Also, do you have any old injuries that haven't healed yet?"

Bai Shuan shook his head and replied, "I had some external injuries before, but they have gradually healed after I stayed here. The Dali Temple prison is a place that tortures people. Fortunately, I survived and did not suffer any severe punishment. If my innocence is cleared in the future, I will accept these punishments."

Bai Hua felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but say indignantly, "Those damned bastards from the Dali Temple are all good-for-nothings! They can't catch the real corrupt officials, so they drag my brother out to take the blame. It's utterly shameless!"

Bai Shuan sighed, trying to calm his younger sister down. Then, glancing to the side, he realized there was someone else standing next to him.

Actually, the other party had a strong presence and was tall, so he was bound to attract attention. However, he was so focused on Hua'er that he didn't pay attention to anything else.

Bai Shu'an asked Bai Hua, "Who is this person who came with you?"

After asking the question, Bai Shu'an's first thought was that this was a disciple sent by Rong Linyan to protect Hua'er, but the other party was so outstanding that he didn't seem like just a lowly disciple.

Bai Hua didn't let her brother hesitate for long before quickly replying, "His name is Ning Jue, and he is... Hua'er's fiancé."

Upon hearing this, Bai Shu'an turned his head in surprise, thinking he must have misheard: "Who did you say he is?"

Ning Jue took half a step forward, without asking Bai Hua to repeat the question.

He took the initiative to introduce himself: "Brother Shu'an, my name is Ning Jue. I work under the Great General. I met Hua'er in Jiling by chance and was betrothed by the Great General. Once Brother Shu'an's case is settled, we plan to complete the marriage."

When Ning Jue said these words, Bai Shu'an's brows were furrowed and never relaxed.

It wasn't that he looked down on Ning Jue or felt she wasn't good enough for his younger sister; it was just that Hua'er had clearly been engaged to his cousin Rong Linyan before, so how come there's another woman with the surname Ning now?

Furthermore, after hearing Ning Jue say that the two were betrothed by the Great General, Bai Shu'an quickly connected the dots and misunderstood that the Great General had forcibly separated his younger sister and cousin for the sake of his subordinates, and then forced them into marriage. Therefore, he had no reason to be friendly towards Ning Jue.

Bai Shu'an stood in front of Bai Hua with a stern face, then looked at Ning Jue with hostility in his eyes: "Imperial marriage? What kind of marriage? Hua'er is already engaged to my aunt's cousin. You interfered halfway through, taking advantage of the power of the Great General King to steal someone else's love. Isn't that despicable?"

Writers are never forgiving.

Ning Jue raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. He slowly looked at Bai Hua with a slightly aggrieved expression, waiting for her to stand up for him.

As expected, Bai Hua took the initiative to protect him.

When she faced Bai Shu'an, she used her story of being kidnapped and rescued, and then accidentally having physical contact with him while they were escaping by falling into the water.

After listening, Bai Shu'an's face turned pale and then red. He hesitated for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

"So, it was that brat Rong Linyan who married someone else and betrayed you, while Young Master Ning was your savior who stood up for you?"

Bai Hua nodded vigorously: "Yes."

Bai Shu'an looked at Ning Jue again, but this time the meaning in his eyes was clearly different from before; at least the hostility had subsided considerably.

He seemed to be asking for a reply, and Ning Jue nodded in agreement.

Bai Shu'an sighed again, and after a long while, he frowned and asked, "When do you plan to get married?"

This question left both of them completely baffled.

Before the two could exchange glances and come up with an answer, Bai Shu'an urged them, "Since the fact that you two had an accidental physical intimacy is true, then your marriage should not be delayed any longer. The sooner the better. You must get the marriage done before Ji Ling's rumors spread. My case is not urgent. Your marriage is the priority. The sooner the better! Hurry up!"

"Scholars, pedantic," Bai Hua thought to herself.

Ning Jue felt that his brother-in-law was really shrewd; it was worth all the trouble he had gone to for this embezzlement case, and he had even gone to the trouble of finding him such a comfortable place to stay.