The moonlight, though cool, shone warmly on them. Tonight, they had tentatively expressed their feelings for each other, bringing them much closer.
The two quietly entered the city, and Bai Chuxiao then asked, "There must be quite a few rumors about me in the capital these days, right?"
Chu Tianze said solemnly, "Don't worry, I've already sent people to clear up those rumors today. You should stay at your eldest sister's place tonight. I've already spoken to her, and she'll send someone to take you back to your residence tomorrow. There won't be any more rumors then."
"Speaking of which, the eldest princess has spoken up for me a few times, probably because of you. May I ask why?"
Chu Tianze shook his head. "Actually, I don't know either. But my eldest sister has always been very close to me since we were little. My mother's status as a concubine wasn't obvious. When I was young, I was bullied a lot by my older brothers, and it was always my eldest sister who helped me. She always told me that I could come to her if I had any difficulties."
After Chu Tianze escorted her to the Grand Princess's residence, he greeted the Grand Princess and then left.
The eldest princess looked at her and smiled, "Xiaoxiao, now that you're here, please settle in. I'd like to spend more time with you."
Bai Chuxiao chuckled upon hearing this, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, but won't the eldest princess ask what happened today?"
"I don't mind, and I won't ask any more questions. After all, it's rare for my seventh brother to trouble me like this. Since he treats you sincerely, I will naturally treat you as family as well. If you have any trouble, you can come to me. I will do my best to help."
"Thank you, Your Highness, but..."
Seeing Bai Chuxiao's puzzled look, the eldest princess smiled again, "You want to ask me why I'm helping Seventh Brother and you so much?"
Having her thoughts discovered, Bai Chuxiao nodded shyly.
The eldest princess sighed before saying, "Actually, it wouldn't hurt to tell you. I know that my seventh brother has always had doubts. You should know that I grew up by the late Empress's side, and my mother treated me extremely well. Everyone says that my seventh brother looks like my father, but I think his eyes look more like my mother's. That's why I've always been closer to him since I was little."
Mentioning the late empress stirred up some sadness in the eldest princess, and Bai Chuxiao, seeing this, refrained from asking further questions. However, she did develop a certain curiosity about the late empress, and it seemed she would have to ask her second uncle about it another day.
The next morning, the eldest princess sent the head maid of her household to personally escort her to the Left Prime Minister's residence.
As soon as they stepped into the mansion gate, Madam Xie approached with Bai Chuwan, mocking, "Oh, isn't this the eldest young lady? We were all worried when we heard she was captured by the lecherous thief. She didn't return all night. What did the lecherous thief do with you last night?"
Bai Chuwan was still upset about not becoming the Crown Princess yesterday, but as soon as she returned home, she heard that Bai Chuxiao had been kidnapped, causing quite a stir in the capital. So she and Xie Shi immediately sent people to add fuel to the fire, to solidify Bai Chuxiao's reputation for infidelity, regardless of whether it was true or not. Let's see how she can marry the Prince of Yan now. She herself can't be the Crown Princess, how can Bai Chuxiao be the Princess of Yan properly?
She couldn't help but sneer, "Eldest sister, how could you do such a disgraceful thing? Isn't this bringing shame to the Left Prime Minister's residence and Father? What will outsiders think of the young ladies of the Left Prime Minister's family?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly and remained silent, but the head maid of the First Princess's residence immediately shouted, "Madam Bai, Second Miss Bai, please watch your words! Yesterday, the First Miss was invited by our Princess for a chat, and they got along very well, so she stayed another night. Those rumors outside are nothing but baseless gossip. Our First Princess's residence will investigate who is spreading these rumors, and those who are caught will not be let off lightly..."
Madam Xie and Bai Chuwan's expressions changed. They hadn't expected this girl to have quietly climbed up to the eldest princess. They had also played a part in yesterday's events; would they be found out? What should they do?
Thinking of this, Madam Xie quickly said, "Please don't be offended, Granny. Since that's the case, it's truly unfair to the eldest young lady, who has had to endure so much gossip for no reason. Please tell the eldest princess that our Left Prime Minister's residence will investigate this matter thoroughly and give the eldest young lady an explanation. We wouldn't dare trouble the eldest princess any further."
Seeing this, the old nanny didn't say anything, but simply curtsied to Bai Chuxiao, "Young Miss, then this old servant will take her leave now."
Bai Chuxiao chuckled lightly, "Thank you for seeing me off, Granny."
Seeing that she had left, Madam Xie changed her tune again, "Hmph, she really thinks she has a powerful backer. They were just being polite."
Bai Chuxiao sighed and smiled, "Speaking of which, Sister Liu is truly blessed. She is the Crown Princess bestowed by His Majesty himself. Before, when I saw how affectionate my second sister and the Crown Prince were, I thought she was going to be the Crown Princess. Who knew..."
Bai Chuwan's face immediately turned ugly, and she wrung out her handkerchief tightly. These words had hit her hard, and she couldn't refute them for a moment.
Madam Xie gritted her teeth and said, "Bai Chuxiao, don't be so smug. No matter what, the news of your abduction and failure to return all night has spread throughout the capital. Do you think the Prince of Yan will still marry you?"
"I will naturally marry her; you needn't trouble yourself with my affairs with Xiaoxiao, Madam Bai," Chu Tianze strode in.
Having just finished speaking, Xie was immediately proven wrong. She cursed inwardly, wondering when Chu Tianze had been bewitched by this girl. Nevertheless, she quickly bowed.
"My elder sister already told me yesterday that she invited Xiaoxiao to her residence. Does Madam Bai not believe me? Do you want my elder sister to come and tell you in person?"
Madam Xie quickly replied, "This humble servant wouldn't dare, Your Highness has misunderstood."
Chu Tianze snorted coldly, then pulled Bai Chuxiao toward her Glazed Courtyard, looking at her with such familiarity that she seemed to be the master of the Left Prime Minister's residence.
Watching their retreating figures, Bai Chuwan's expression darkened, consumed by jealousy. Why...? She, Bai Chuwan, was the pride of the capital, praised by everyone, yet the Emperor only praised Liu Shuyao, who had even stolen the rightful place of Crown Princess from her. Even Bai Chuxiao now had the Prince of Yan protecting her. How could she just sit idly by and watch Bai Chuxiao's status surpass hers...? Now that all the princes had their principal wives, she could only become the Crown Prince's concubine. And one day... wouldn't that be more prestigious than an ordinary princess...?
Upon returning to Liuli Courtyard, Lanxin immediately knelt down, sobbing, "Miss, you're finally back! I worried all night. It's all my fault for being so incompetent. Not only did I fail to protect you, but I also caused you to risk your life alone because of me. Please punish me, Miss."
Lanxin understood that back in the capital, with her mistress's skills, even if the enemy outnumbered them, she could have easily escaped. However, it was because of her—a burden with mediocre martial arts skills—that her mistress, for her safety, arranged for her to leave first, while she herself went to the bandits' den alone.
Bai Chuxiao chuckled, "Get up. This wasn't your fault. Chu Tianling is malicious. Even without you, I probably could have gotten away with it. Besides, I'm perfectly fine."
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