Chapter 23: Such a Busybody

Bai Jinxi returned to Yuxiu Zhai, ready to change her clothes and take a good bath, when she heard Yun Mo Yi’s voice from the front courtyard.

“Sister Xi, are you alright? I heard you came back covered in mud?” It seemed like she was concerned about Bai Jinxi, but the slightly raised intonation at the end of her sentence added a hint of barely perceptible schadenfreude to her tone.

“Sister Xi, I came to see you too!” Hearing Lu Yian’s voice, Bai Jinxi’s eyes flashed with coldness.

See me? More like come to see me make a fool of myself!

Ever since he was injured in the mountains behind Luoyun Temple, Lu Yian had been much calmer over the past month. He no longer actively approached her, only occasionally greeting her with a nod when they met in the mansion.

Bai Jinxi had initially been worried that he had discovered her actions. Later, she had Banxia probe Qingdai and learned that it wasn’t that Lu Yian had become hostile towards her, but that he was now immersed in Tiandong’s tender embrace and couldn’t get out.

Bai Jinxi had known that Tiandong was a scheming woman who knew how to coax people. Otherwise, why would Princess Qingyang, who couldn’t stand her in her previous life, accept her?

She just didn’t expect that in just a few months, Tiandong had coaxed Lu Yian to the point where he wouldn’t even come near her.

Good. When she had assigned Tiandong to Xilin Garden, she had intended for her to fight with the County Lord!

Yun Moyi and Lu Yian were already in the courtyard. There was no way she could take a bath now. Bai Jinxi simply wiped her face with a handkerchief and went out to greet them.

“Aunt Yun, you came so quickly. It seems someone must have reported me to you!”

Bai Jinxi pretended not to see their shock and sat down on the main seat. Then, she confidently and indignantly said,

Yun Moyi had heard from the gatekeepers that Bai Jinxi had returned covered in mud, as if she had rolled in the mud. She had thought the servants were exaggerating, but now that she saw it, Bai Jinxi was truly a mud doll.

“Oh dear, what happened? How could Banxia let you get so dirty?”

Sensing Yun Mo Yi’s suppressed laughter, Bai Jinxi rolled her eyes in her heart. If you knew what I did, you wouldn’t be able to laugh anymore!

“Aunt Yun, it’s not Banxia’s fault. I met a hunter brother today. He took me out hunting for wild rabbits. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch it, and it ran away. I also fell and got covered in mud…”

As she spoke, perhaps feeling wronged, Bai Jinxi pouted her lips, her face full of regret.

Then, she suddenly looked up at Yun Moyi with hopeful eyes.

“Aunt Yun, I made an appointment with the brother to go hunting for wild rabbits again in seven days. You love me so much, you wouldn’t stop me, would you?”

Before Yun Moyi could speak, Lu Yian, who was standing beside her, finally remembered that he was Bai Jinxi’s future husband. He frowned and reprimanded her with dissatisfaction,

“Sister Xi, we are engaged. Since you know about the difference between men and women, why are you so close to an outsider? It’s simply improper!”

Hah, now he’s taking the engagement seriously. Such a busybody! Bai Jinxi sneered in her heart, glancing at Tiandong, who was standing nearby, without a trace.

Bai Jinxi’s eyes dimmed, as if she was a little scared by the reprimand. She looked at Yun Moyi cautiously and said in a timid voice,

“Aunt Yun… Do you think I shouldn’t go out to play? If you say so, then I won’t go. I’ll stay at home and study medicine… Master Huiming gave me a medical book, and I haven’t even looked at it yet!”

Hearing Bai Jinxi say this, Yun Moyi was startled. She quickly glared at her son and then put on a loving expression, smiling at her and saying, “Sister Xi, don’t listen to your brother An. Aunt Yun believes you have good judgment.”

“But Brother An… Maybe it’s better not to go. After all, we’ll be a family in the future.”

Bai Jinxi retreated strategically, putting on a docile expression and looking at Yun Moyi with flattery.

“An’er, apologize to your sister Xi! Look at how scared you made her! Girls are to be cherished, but you’re being so harsh.”

Yun Moyi immediately put on a stern face, pushed Lu Yian forward, and urged him.

Facing Lu Yian directly, Bai Jinxi quickly lowered her head, pretending to be very flustered. She repeatedly twisted the hem of her clothes, not looking at him or speaking…

Under the pressure of his mother’s stern gaze, Lu Yian reluctantly squeezed out a smile.

“Sister Xi, I was rude just now. I apologize.”

Bai Jinxi didn’t raise her head. She said in a voice barely audible, “Aunt Yun, don’t force Brother An. I understand what he means. I don’t want Brother An to dislike me…”

As if she had made a decision, she gritted her teeth and looked at Yun Moyi with determination.

“Aunt Yun, I won’t go out to play anymore. Please find a female tutor for me and teach me music, chess, calligraphy, and painting… I know that other young ladies all learn these things. I don’t know anything, and I’ve embarrassed you…”

How could this be! It was rare for this stinky girl to just run wild in the mansion all day long, without her having to do anything, she would ruin herself. Now, she absolutely couldn’t let her have the chance to turn over a new leaf!

Thinking of this, Yun Moyi pushed Lu Yian a little harder. “Stinky boy, if your sister Xi doesn’t forgive you, you’ll stand here and don’t go back!”

Both Bai Jinxi and Lu Yian froze.

Lu Yian was reluctant to apologize. He hadn’t said anything wrong! His fiancée had run out to play with another man, and she came back looking like a mud monkey. If this got out, how would the people at the academy laugh at him!

Bai Jinxi froze because she was disgusted. Making Lu Yian stand there and not leave, who was she punishing?! She had been thinking of taking advantage of the situation a little more, to properly trample on Lu Yian’s face. Now, she also wanted to get this over with quickly…

Clearing her throat, Lu Yian stepped forward to take Bai Jinxi’s hand, but she gently dodged him.

“Sister Xi, I was indeed wrong. You’re only ten and a half years old. You should be at the age of playing. Don’t force yourself to learn those things those young ladies from noble families learn. Actually, I… I admire your innocence and carefree nature the most.”

Lu Yian pretended to be sincere as he confessed to Bai Jinxi, completely ignoring the fact that Tiandong’s face was already as black as the bottom of a pot.

“Really? Then… then can I go out to play again?” Bai Jinxi seemed to be instantly coaxed, looking at Lu Yian with hopeful eyes.

“Of course.” Lu Yian and Yun Moyi said in unison.

“Ah, that’s great! I knew Aunt Yun and Brother An would understand me!” After repeatedly confirming that she could go out to play, Bai Jinxi bounced happily, splashing mud on both of them.

Seeing that her son had finally coaxed Bai Jinxi, Yun Moyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She decided that she would intervene less in the stinky girl’s affairs from now on. Let her do whatever she likes.

Yun Moyi took out a token and motioned for Banxia to take it. “This is the mansion’s entry token. From now on, whenever Sister Xi wants to go out to play, as long as you two are with her, just make sure she’s safe. You don’t need to come and ask me anymore.”

“Wow! Thank you, Aunt Yun!” This time, Bai Jinxi showed a genuine smile.

She really had to thank her for giving her this opportunity to go out so easily.

With this entry token, she would have much more freedom to do things!