Chapter 65: Attitude

Chapter 65: Attitude

Princess Jiahe and Bai Xu had quite a connection.

That day, Princess Jiahe's carriage bumped into Bai Xu on the street. The princess ordered her personal maid, Liu Ying, to take Bai Xu to a clinic. After examining him, the physician said Bai Xu was physically unharmed but had fainted due to shock and being weak.

As a fellow medical practitioner, Bai Xu knew that while the shock played a part, his recent days of not eating enough were the main cause.

So when Liu Ying offered him money, Bai Xu kept refusing.

But Liu Ying said coldly, "You should take this, sir, so you don't faint in front of our princess's carriage again. Those who know might understand you fainted from hunger, but those who don't will think our princess's carriage ran you over!"

At that time, Princess Jiahe had just been released from house arrest. As her personal maid, Liu Ying thought it would be an act of kindness to do a good deed for their princess.

Bai Xu, however, turned red, then pale at Liu Ying's words. Just as he was about to explain, Liu Ying left with her attendants.

Standing there, watching as she walked away, Bai Xu's face turned bright red.

Little did he know then that he would soon see Liu Ying and Princess Jiahe again.

That day, as soon as Bai Xu returned to the inn, the waiter informed him that his rent was up and asked if he wanted to stay longer.

In other words, if he wanted to stay, he had to pay.

Although Bai Xu had unexpectedly come into money, he didn't know how long it would take to find Xin He, and he hadn't found a way to earn a living. It wasn't a good idea to rely solely on his limited funds.

After some thought, Bai Xu decided not to continue renting at the inn. Instead, he went to a Buddhist temple in the suburbs.

He discussed with the abbot: he would donate some money to the temple, and in return, the temple would allow him to stay for a period of time. The abbot agreed.

After that, Bai Xu stayed at the temple at night and went into the city during the day to continue searching for Xin He, while also selling the medicinal herbs he had gathered.

One day, as he was about to leave the temple, a young monk hurriedly found him, saying a female worshipper had fallen ill at the temple and urgently requested Bai Xu to take a look.

When Bai Xu arrived, he saw a lavishly dressed woman lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, her hands and feet shaking uncontrollably.

Bai Xu immediately recognized it as a seizure. He knelt down, using a handkerchief to prevent her from biting her tongue while simultaneously taking out silver needles to use acupuncture.

After treating the woman, her maid suddenly exclaimed, "Aren’t you the one who hit by our carriage that day?"

At Liu Ying’s words, Bai Xu, who had been focused on treating the patient, finally remembered her.

That day, Bai Xu had saved Princess Jiahe’s life, but instead of gratitude, the princess, embarrassed that Bai Xu had witnessed her in such a state, had him taken to her home and locked up.

To say "confined" isn’t entirely accurate, as Princess Jiahe ordered that Bai Xu be well-fed and taken care of—he was just not allowed to leave.

But Bai Xu, still thinking about finding Xin He, tried to reason with Princess Jiahe.

However, Princess Jiahe arrogantly said, "If it weren’t for the fact that you saved my life, just for seeing me like that, I would have had you executed."

Bai Xu knew Princess Jiahe was worried he would spread the story, so he quickly raised his hand and made a vow.

But Princess Jiahe remained unmoved.

Bai Xu then explained to her that he had come to the capital only to find someone, and once he found them, he would immediately go back home. At that point, Princess Jiahe wouldn’t have to worry about him revealing her secret.

Princess Jiahe thought to herself: she couldn’t kill Bai Xu since he had saved her, but she also couldn’t keep him confined forever. If he returned home, her concerns would be resolved.

So Princess Jiahe said, "What is the name and appearance of the person you’re looking for? I’ll help you find them."

Bai Xu didn’t know Xin He and Wei Mingjin’s real names, so he first described their appearances to Princess Jiahe.

Princess Jiahe found it overwhelming and directly called for an artist to sketch them.

After the portraits were completed, Princess Jiahe was shocked.

Wasn’t this Wei Mingjin and Xin He?

Upon further questioning, Princess Jiahe was even more shocked. Xin He had almost married Bai Xu, but they were kept apart due to Wei Mingjin’s interference.

After seeing Wei Mingjin’s true colors, Princess Jiahe had been determined to save Xin He from his clutches but hadn’t found a good way. Now, learning of this, she immediately said, "Leave this to me. I will definitely get you and Xin He back together."

But Princess Jiahe never expected that right after making this promise, she would hear the news that Wei Mingjin was to marry Xin He.

So she hurried over to the Wei house to find Xin He.

When Xin He heard that Bai Xu had come all the way from Chu County to the capital to find her, she was really touched.

In all her life, Bai Xu was the first person to be so good to her.

But after the initial wave of emotion, Xin He looked down sadly and said with difficulty, "Princess, please tell Bai Xu for me that I'm sorry."

Hearing this, Princess Jiahe grew anxious.

"Xin He, what do you mean? Are you really going to resign yourself to marrying that two-faced fake Wei Mingjin?"

Xin He smiled bitterly, her eyes downcast. "Princess, Wei Mingjin and I are marrying because the emperor ordered it."

If it weren’t for the imperial decree, upon hearing that Bai Xu had come to the capital, Xin He would have fought for it.

But she and Wei Mingjin were marrying by the emperor’s command. If she dared to escape the marriage, not only would she suffer, but Bai Xu and Princess Jiahe would also get in trouble.

Princess Jiahe, protected by Noble Consort Yun, would not be in life in danger even if it came to that. But she and Bai Xu were ordinary commoners—if it came to that, they would be the ones to be killed.

She could not let Bai Xu get hurt because of her again.

After learning of Xin He’s concerns, Princess Jiahe immediately said, "What’s the big deal? Father was deceived by that hypocrite Wei Mingjin into granting the marriage. I’ll take you and Bai Xu to see Father. If you explain everything in front of him, he will surely revoke the decree. Then I’ll ask Father to grant a marriage between you and Bai Xu. After that, Wei Mingjin won’t be able to keep you two apart!"

As soon as Princess Jiahe finished speaking, before Xin He could respond, a slightly mocking male voice sounded from outside the door.

"The princess truly is out of touch."

As soon as Princess Jiahe saw Wei Mingjin, she got angry like a cat and shouted, "Who let you in? Get out!"

But instead of leaving, Wei Mingjin stepped inside.

"Princess, you seem to have forgotten—this is my residence," Wei Mingjin said coldly. Then he walked to Xin He’s side and stood there, his gaze icy as he looked at Princess Jiahe. "Also, I advise you, Princess, to stop meddling in others' affairs, lest you hurt yourself and others."

"You dare threaten me?"

Wei Mingjin smiled faintly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. "I wouldn’t dare threaten you, Princess. But do you think, if His Majesty knew you were still pestering me, he might directly arrange a marriage for you?"

"Since when have I been pestering you?" Princess Jiahe retorted immediately.

Wei Mingjin said casually, "Princess, you’re trying so hard to break up Xin He and me. Isn’t that pestering me?"

"I am not pestering you! I’m helping Xin He escape your clutches and aiding two lovers in being together!"

"But who would believe that?" Wei Mingjin smiled slightly. "After all, it’s well-known that you previously wanted me as your consort. No matter what you do now, people will think you’re trying to break up Xin He and me."

Princess Jiahe was so mad she almost jumped up and slapped Wei Mingjin twice.

She’d never in all her life seen anyone as shameless as Wei Mingjin! He’d done every horrible thing imaginable, yet somehow managed to get away unscathed!

Xin He had always known Wei Mingjin was shameless, but she never imagined he could be this low.

Seeing Princess Jiahe suddenly flush red, breathing rapidly, and showing early signs of a seizure, Liu Ying hurried forward to support her and said urgently, "Your Highness, don’t get agitated. Please sit down and rest."

Noticing this, Xin He quickly opened the doors and windows while coldly addressing Wei Mingjin, "Get out!"

"He Niang, I—"

Before Wei Mingjin could finish, Xin He sharply turned her head, her gaze icy and filled with undisguised disgust.

Wei Mingjin’s body stiffened abruptly.

But Xin He paid him no further attention, instead striding quickly to Princess Jiahe’s side with a concerned expression. "Do you have your medicine with you, Your Highness? Should we call the royal doctor?"

"Yes, yes, I have it." Liu Ying promptly took out a crackle-glaze porcelain bottle from her small pouch, shook out a brown pill, dissolved it in water, and fed it to Princess Jiahe. Only after drinking it did the Princess gradually calm down.

Xin He was still somewhat uneasy and asked, "Your Highness, should we call for a royal doctor to examine you?"

"No need!" Princess Jiahe waved her hand weakly, leaning against Liu Ying to recover for a moment before trembling and saying, "Liu Ying, help me up. I’m returning to the palace to see Father and have him charge Wei Mingjin with the crime of grave disrespect."

"Your Highness—" Liu Ying wanted to dissuade her, but Xin He spoke first.

"Your Highness, why get so worked up over such a person? It’s not worth it." Xin He poured a cup of warm water and handed it to the Princess, speaking gently, "Your Highness, I really appreciate that you wish to help me and Bai Xu, but let’s just drop this matter here."

"How can we just end it here?" Princess Jiahe sat up abruptly. "Are you just going to give up like that?"

"Your Highness, it’s not that I want to yield, but the Emperor’s decree has been issued. This marriage can no longer be changed. If we continue to make trouble, not only will it change nothing, but it will also get you and Bai Xu in trouble. It’s not worth it."

Seeing Xin He like this, Princess Jiahe opened her mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out.

Earlier, she had been so enraged that she lost her rationality. Now, having calmed down, she had to admit that Xin He was right.

In the past, Princess Jiahe had been confident that if she just whined or begged a little, her father would change his mind.

But after the incident where she wanted to make Wei Mingjin her consort, Princess Jiahe saw her true place in her father’s heart.

On the surface, her father doted on her endlessly, but this affection was conditional—it only applied when court politics were not involved. Once politics came into play, neither his doting nor his kindness remained.

If she really took Xin He and Bai Xu to see the Emperor, and if Wei Mingjin added fuel to the fire with a few words, her father might not only refuse to grant the marriage but could even order Bai Xu’s execution.

After all, in her father’s eyes now, Wei Mingjin—the triple-first rank scholar—was far more important than his own daughter. Whenever Wei Mingjin was involved, regardless of the truth, her father would assume she was being unreasonable.

The usually proud Princess Jiahe now looked like a flower hit by frost, listlessly saying, "I’m sorry. I went back on my word."

She had previously promised Xin He she would help her escape Wei Mingjin’s clutches, but she had failed.

"Princess, you have not failed me."

Even in such a difficult situation, Xin He showed no trace of despair. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Princess Jiahe. "On the contrary, I must thank you for trying so hard for me and for bringing news of Bai Xu."

"But I couldn’t help you in the end." Princess Jiahe felt guilty.

Xin He was such a good person, yet she had to marry that hypocrite Wei Mingjin. It filled the Princess with indignation.

Xin He, however, smiled and said, "Since Your Highness says so, there is actually one matter I would like to ask for your help with now. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing—"

"Willing, of course I’m willing." Princess Jiahe was absolutely willing.

After a little while, Princess Jiahe left with her attendants, and Xin He walked her out.

After the Princess had gone far, Xin He turned and saw Wei Mingjin, who was standing behind her.

Unlike the warm way she’d acted in front of Princess Jiahe, the moment she saw Wei Mingjin, Xin He’s face turned cold.

Even though Wei Mingjin stood behind her, she acted as if she hadn’t seen him and was about to walk away when he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"He Niang," Wei Mingjin said softly.

Xin He looked up, her gaze cold. "Bai Xu has come to the capital."

"So you would leave me for him?" Wei Mingjin was instantly furious, and his grip on her wrist tightened abruptly. "He Niang, don’t forget—we are married by the Emperor’s decree…"

Before he could finish, Xin He interrupted.

"If anything happens to him, I will kill you myself."

With that, she pulled her hand away and turned to leave indifferently.

Wei Mingjin stood rooted to the spot, feeling as if a large hand were squeezing his heart, the pain making his entire body shake slightly.

In a single day, Xin He had snapped at him twice for someone else.

The first time, she told him to get out.

The second time, she threatened him: if he dared lay a hand on Bai Xu, she would kill him.

Bitter resentment and jealousy surged in his heart, and Wei Mingjin clenched his fists inside his wide sleeves.

Was Bai Xu really that important to her?