But before she could rush in, an arm suddenly reached out and pulled her away from the side courtyard.
"Young lady, what do you want to do?" An Shisi looked at the thick wooden stick in her hand.
Bai Ruifeng was still stunned, and picked up the wooden stick to go over again: "He bullied Xiao Yan..."
An Shisi had no choice but to grab her: "Young lady, that's His Majesty!"
"Even His Majesty cannot bully Xiao Yan!"
An Shisi could only grit his teeth and say, "In matters of love, if it's consensual, it's not considered bullying. Besides, it's not like the Second Miss and His Majesty haven't been in love for just the first time..."
"Mutual affection?" Bai Ruifeng looked at An Shisi with disbelief. "Wasn't it the first day?"
"You all knew?"
An Shisi nodded and said, "Eldest Miss, aren't you very happy that His Majesty likes the Second Miss?"
"Ah!" Bai Ruifeng suddenly let out a short scream, then clutched her head and let out a long scream: "Ahhh!"
Inside the room, Bai Yan also heard the scream. She recognized Bai Ruifeng's voice and was about to push his shoulder... However, the old man had learned some flirting techniques these days and quickly made her lose her mind to care about those things.
Then a trembling voice rang out from the doorway: "Second...Second Miss, the Eldest Miss twisted her ankle when she went down the steps just now."
...
Bai Ruifeng was in her room before she got married when someone gently knocked on the door: "Sister."
Bai Ruifeng said, "Come in."
She looked up and saw that her younger sister's hair was still loose over her shoulders, and her face still had a lingering blush, like a delicate begonia that had been wet by the rain.
Bai Ruifeng took a deep breath and asked, "Was His Majesty also in your room just now?"
Bai Yan understood: "Sister's leg isn't injured?"
"Why do you care about my broken leg?" Bai Ruifeng snapped angrily. "Was it that scoundrel who forced you? You're still a child, you're not even married yet, you—"
Bai Yan's eyes widened, and she quickly clarified for Huo Jin: "He didn't force me. I like him, and he likes me too."
Bai Ruifeng slammed her hand on the table and raised her hand to hit her again, but in the end she couldn't bear it and stopped. She put her hand on her sister's arm and said, "Xiao Yan, I know you didn't have a father's love when you were young, so it's not surprising that you have feelings for him."
"But he's already old enough to be a vegetable leaf, and he's thirteen years older than you. What do you like about him?"
"Besides, he has poor morals. He has an improper relationship with the Empress Dowager! He also has an illegitimate child who is about your age!"
Huo Jin, the old vegetable vendor who had followed him in through the window, had a dark expression on his face. He knew where the rumor had come from.
“And he’s sick…he might not live more than a few years!” Bai Ruifeng said, “He’s a dying man. What will you do if he dies, Xiao Yan? You’ve been with him, you’re the emperor’s woman, how will you get married in the future?”
Bai Yan explained things to Huo Jin, including his illness: "I was destined to die young, but I could change my fate. Why can't he? Sister, I believe that human will can overcome fate."
Huo Jin's brows furrowed: "Die early? What do you mean, die early?"
"Man can conquer nature? What if we lose?"
"Sister, do you know there is a bird called the lovebird? They only seek one mate in their entire lives, and if one of them dies, the other will not live alone."
"Everyone is born with incomplete parts, and so am I. He can fill the void in my soul, and I feel happy when I see him and am with him. He is the part that makes my life complete... Losing that part doesn't necessarily mean I can't survive, but the happiest color in my life would be gone."
Bai Ruifeng looked into her sister's eyes, gritted her teeth, and finally turned away, tears streaming down her face. "I...who am I doing this for?"
"You love him, but what does he take you for? He's secretly seeing you without telling his family, which clearly shows he doesn't care about you at all!"
Bai Yan: "...Sister, it's not that I didn't tell you." She had actually said it many times, but she just didn't understand.
"Young lady," Huo Jin's voice rang out along with the knocking, "may I come in?"
Bai Ruifeng's face turned pale with fright. That scoundrel—bah! His Majesty is outside? Did he hear what she just said?
Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine!
"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects!" Bai Ruifeng dared not refuse him entry.
Huo Jin pushed open the door, but reached out to help Bai Ruifeng up, saying, "Please get up, elder sister." He addressed Bai Ruifeng, who was a few years younger than him, as elder sister without any pressure.
Bai Ruifeng: ...
Huo Jin glanced at Bai Ruifeng and explained in a more serious tone, "Huo Yanjun is not my illegitimate son, and I have no romantic relationship with Empress Dowager Chu."
Bai Ruifeng didn't dare to lift her head. Although she had died once, she was still afraid of dying. "Xiao Yan has already explained it to me."
Bai Yan glanced at Huo Jin, signaling him not to scare Bai Ruifeng.
Huo Jin then took two steps back, cupped his hands, and said, "However, what my elder sister said makes sense. Xiao Yan and I are not married, and our private interactions have indeed damaged her reputation. These past few days have been my fault."
Just as she said, whether they live or die, it's only perfect when they're together.
"After returning to the palace today, I will instruct the Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites to determine an auspicious date."
"Huo Jin hereby assures Sister Ye that I will not have any private dealings with Xiao Yan before our marriage."
"What?" Bai Yan and Bai Ruifeng both looked at Huo Jin.
Bai Yan: If she doesn't interact with people privately... then what is she doing all alone in the backyard?
Bai Ruifeng: Getting married... She's going to be the Empress's elder sister?
"Since you need to prepare for the wedding, elder sister, Huo Jin will take his leave now." He performed all the proper etiquette before stepping down the steps.
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