Bai Chuxiao was unconvinced; this was clearly an attempt to appeal to emotions, and she wouldn't believe it. She didn't respond, but simply asked with a smile, "The Crown Princess doesn't mind my second sister?"
Liu Shuyao chuckled, "His Highness likes your second sister, so what right do I have to say anything? I am now all alone, and all my favor comes from the Empress and the Crown Prince. All I do is hope that the Eastern Palace will get better and better."
Liu Shuyao understood things clearly and spoke frankly to her. Bai Chuxiao nodded. In fact, given their current situation, they didn't have any deep-seated hatred for the Crown Prince, so helping him wouldn't hurt. It was better than letting Chu Tianling run rampant. As for the Prince of Xiang, with Bai Linan around, he probably wouldn't trust them much.
"Sister Liu's thinking is very clear, Chu Xiao admires her." It's true, not everyone can be the Crown Princess; if it were her, she absolutely could not tolerate other women sharing her husband.
Seeing that Bai Chuxiao seemed more willing to get closer to her, Liu Shuyao smiled again, "I do not like the Bai family, nor do I like your second sister, but from the first time I met Sister Bai at the Spring Banquet, I felt that one day we might become friends. Actually, in Sister Bai's heart, she keeps herself and the Bai family very separate, doesn't she?"
"Sister Liu is right. You must know about the things that happen in wealthy and powerful families. I am me, and the Bai family is the Bai family," Bai Chuxiao replied frankly. Liu Shuyao's judgment was accurate. As for being friends, that was another matter.
"So, His Highness the Crown Prince used the idea of marrying Miss Bai to win over your father, you, and the Prince of Yan, thinking we were all one family. I'm afraid you, sister, didn't like that," Liu Shuyao said, revealing her guess.
Bai Chuxiao genuinely admired the woman before her, saying, "It is truly a fortunate event for His Highness the Crown Prince to marry my sister as his Crown Princess."
Liu Shuyao chuckled, "It's just that Your Highness didn't understand before, but that won't happen again." She didn't say much more; she had already made her stance clear enough today. She didn't expect a few words to elicit a definitive answer from Bai Chuxiao; saying anything more might only backfire.
As they spoke, they walked to a pavilion and sat down. The palace servants brought them tea.
Liu Shuyao, holding a cup of tea, asked with a smile, "I heard that my younger sister will be turning 18 at the beginning of next month. Perhaps I can come and celebrate with her then?"
Bai Chuxiao couldn't refuse, and politely replied, "I'm naturally happy that the Crown Princess can come." Her birthday is on the first day of the sixth month, which is only ten days away. However, the Crown Prince is still injured, so it's uncertain whether Liu Shuyao can come.
"Sister Bai and His Highness Prince Yan's marriage must be coming soon."
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "It's not decided yet, there's no rush. It's naturally not good to beat Prince Xiang and Prince Qi to it."
In this dynasty, most women were engaged or married around thirteen or fourteen. In her previous life, she would still be considered a minor at that age, so she wasn't in a hurry.
"Speaking of which, Sister Bai, do you know that Princess Zhaoyang and Prince Consort Zhang seem to be on their way back to the capital?"
Bai Chuxiao shook her head. Her daughter was getting married, so it was only right that she return to the capital. She hadn't met this princess yet, and she wondered what kind of people Princess Zhaoyang and her husband, Zhang, were...
When Bai Chuwan met the Crown Prince, he was reclining on the bed reading a book.
"Wan'er?" Chu Tianyou looked at her with a hint of surprise.
Bai Chuwan rushed to Chu Tianyou's bedside, tears welling in her eyes. "Brother Tianyou, how are you? I heard you were injured, and Wan'er was so worried."
Chu Tianyou put down his book, took her hand, and smiled, "I'm fine, but why are you here?"
Holding his hand, Bai Chuwan felt her heart pound again, and a blush rose to her cheeks. "Wan'er was worried about Brother Tianyou, so she came with my elder sister. The Crown Princess was talking to my elder sister, so she had someone bring me here to see you."
Chu Tianyou felt a surge of satisfaction with Liu Shuyao. She was efficient and magnanimous in allowing Wan'er to see him. With her around, he could relax a lot.
"I am very happy that Wan'er can come."
Seeing that the Crown Prince still cared about her, Bai Chuwan said shyly, "Brother Tianyou, you're really something! You haven't visited Wan'er in so long. Wan'er thought you'd forgotten about me now that you've married the Crown Princess."
The Crown Prince pulled her into his arms, gently comforting her, "How could that be? It's just that I promised you the position of Crown Princess before, and now... I'm afraid Wan'er won't be willing."
Hearing this, Bai Chuwan felt a pang of disappointment. She nestled in Chu Tianyou's arms, biting her lip before saying, "After all, it's His Majesty's decree. Wan'er doesn't blame Brother Tianyou. Wan'er loves you. As long as Brother Tianyou treats Wan'er sincerely, I'm willing to be a concubine…" A concubine is, after all, a concubine. Both daughters of the Prime Minister's family, yet she had to submit to Liu Shuyao. How could she accept this? But what could she do now?
Chu Tianyou looked overjoyed. "Wan'er, is what you said true? Then... is your father also willing?"
Bai Chuwan made up her mind. As long as she could win the Crown Prince's heart, it wouldn't be impossible for her to bring down Liu Shuyao and rise to power herself, or even obtain a higher position in the future.
So she adopted a submissive, dependent demeanor, saying, "If Wan'er is willing, Father will be willing too. Does Brother Tianyou love Wan'er...?"
Chu Tianyou curled the corners of his lips. "Wan'er, don't you understand my feelings? You are the only one in my heart. Don't worry, although you are nominally a concubine, I will welcome you into the manor with the courtesy due to a crown princess. I will also inform the servants that your status is the same as Shuyao's. You can also tell your father to put his mind at ease."
Bai Chuwan said, moved, "Brother Tianyou, you're so kind. Now that you've said that, Father will surely have no more worries."
Her father currently forbids her from seeing the Crown Prince, all because of the Liu family's influence. He can't bring himself to do it, and what if he hastily marries her off to save face? She's thinking of herself, and with the Crown Prince's assurance, her father might relent.
Having been at the East Palace for quite some time, Bai Chuxiao was getting a little bored. She and Liu Shuyao didn't have much to talk about, so she got up to say goodbye.
However, I should still visit the Crown Prince before leaving; otherwise, it wouldn't be right.
Liu Shuyao accompanied her to the Crown Prince's side. Without a maid's announcement, they entered to find the Crown Prince and Bai Chuwan still embracing.
Bai Chuxiao glanced at Liu Shuyao beside her and found that she remained calm and composed, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. She couldn't help but admire her even more.
Bai Chuwan felt a little embarrassed and quickly stood up, while the Crown Prince seemed indifferent.
"Greetings, Your Highness. How is Your Highness's health?" Bai Chuxiao asked casually.
"I'm much better now, I'm fine. I have to thank Seventh Brother for this. Please convey my gratitude to him, Miss Bai."
"Your Highness is too kind. In that case, my second sister and I will not disturb Your Highness's rest any longer."
Chu Tianyou nodded with a smile.
After leaving the East Palace, Bai Chuxiao turned to Liu Shuyao and smiled, "Your Highness, you flatter me." Bai Chuwan's eagerness to become a concubine had indeed been quite embarrassing.
Liu Shuyao smiled at her indifferently. She knew Bai Chuwan's personality perfectly well; she wouldn't find anything Bai Chuwan did strange, so there was no need to say anything more.
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