Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

Chapter 41

41 Seemed evil, just because she’s a villainess Part I

Bai Yu copied the text until late at night. Her hand moved with muscle memory and produced beautiful handwriting of the original body’s. But because she was originally not used to writing Chinese characters, it still took her longer than it should.

“It’s a bit difficult, probably because my wound was just healed,” Bai Yu said sweetly the next morning when she brought the copied text to her mother.

“Your fingers are still not fully healed?” Yue Mei was soft on her daughter as always.

“It’s not much, but some movements are a bit difficult.” She had to use that as an excuse since there were many more events that Bai Yu would have to go through while she was still uncertain whether her skill was on the same level as the original’s or not. If she used her hand as an excuse, then she would have a backup plan in case something went wrong. Though actually, her hands had completely healed.

“The Emperor had announced that there’ll be a celebration banquet for the people who helped with the disease, but there’s no specific date yet. Still, you should practice your guqin skill. This time you have to catch the Emperor’s attention, and then the title Qin Wang Fei will be just in reach.”

“Yu-er understands, mother.”

Bai Yu was not worried about being Qin Wang Fei. This was not yet the part where the fight for the throne turned intense and Ouyang Mingxian married her to consolidate his power. What she was worried about was having to compete with Bai Hua’s astonishing skill at the magic dance. In the series, that was the first time Bai Hua showed her magic to the public, and it was also the time where Bai Yu lost to Bai Hua’s black-level magic.

No matter what it was, the series or the fate, Bai Yu could not bear to lose!

But magic guqin was worrisome. She did not know if she could be as good as the original Bai Yu, and so she must hurry back to her residence to practice. Her path as a fashionista had to be halted in the meantime. As for her practice, that would also be after her morning battle.

.....

“Greetings from Yue-er to first mother. Greetings to first sister.” Bai Yue walked into the main building with her mother, the second Furen. Both of them said their greetings with bright smiles. In this mansion, they were the only two people who dared to interrupt while Bai Yu and her mother were talking. Though their manners were far from pleasant, they were in an acceptable degree that Yue Mei did not bother to call for punishment.

This was Bai Yu’s first breakfast after returning from the temple. And that must mean she had to meet other women who had respectable positions in this household.

“First miss seems a little skinnier after returning from the temple. You should eat a lot today,” The second Furen said with a clear attempt at sounding gentle. Today, the mother and daughter pair were dressing more elegantly than usual. There must be something special that Bai Yu did not know about.

“Thank you second Furen for your concern.” She was probably feeling pleased, thinking that Bai Yu had a difficult time at the village. What she did not know was that it did not bother Bai Yu at all. On the contrary, she was glad to hear others tell her that she was skinny.

“You look tanned, sister. Normally you’re delicate and graceful like an angel, but now you’ve become sunburned and haggard. The sun is probably so strong in the backwater.”

“How about you who coop up indoor until your skin pales? Do you really think wearing white is a good choice, sister?”

“What about it, sister?! What’s the problem with me wearing white?”

Everyone knew that wearing white would elevate the image of a normal beauty into a saintess. Bai Yue intentionally chose this color because she wanted to attract attention from the guest who would be visiting today. She intended to stand out with her appearance, and she was sure that she would receive an invitation. Her first sister must be jealous so she tried to sabotage her confidence!

“A pale face, and even paler body, with white clothes that blended with the skin...” Bai Yu sneered, looking at her younger sister up and down. Hmph! Such a poor taste. “...You look like a Ju-on that villagers near the temple told me about. A pale-skinned spirit wearing white. At nightfall, it’ll detach its head, innard from the body, and fly out to eat animal feces.”

“Y...you” Bai Yue’s face paled at what she heard. She did not realize that what Bai Yu described was an imagination resulting from a combination between Ju-on and Krasue.

“I hope fourth sister’s head and insides will not float out to find something in the stable to eat at night.”

“First miss teases Yue-er too much.” It was the second Furen who interrupted to protect her daughter from being more embarrassed. Though she never heard of a Ju-on spirit before, she had to agree that her Yue-er’s paleness did fit the description from Bai Yu.

“When there’s time, jiejie will teach fourth sister how to choose dresses that compliment your pure white skin,” Bai Yu said with a smile, ending the conversation when her father arrived. Still, she had to internally sigh. Why did people of this time like to mock others using flowery language so much? She would prefer it more if they were straightforward like Ouyang Feilong.

No. She should not think about that person. Too foul-mouthed! It should be Xu Peipei who was honest at the right degree.

Bai Han walked into the main house with the third Furen who he had spent the night with. The morning battle then promptly ended with everyone standing up to curtsy to the head of the Bai family.

Throughout the rest of the meal, Bai Yu did not pay any attention to the bragging from third Furen who considered herself to be the current favorite of their husband. She let her mother handle their enemies like always as she puzzled over the second Furen and her daughter who wore unusually fine clothes to the morning table.

It was not long before the answer came. After everyone had finished breakfast and gone back to their own building, a maid came running to inform them of Qin Wang and Wei Wang’s arrival.

Bai Yu was dressed up by her two maids who were determined to not let her lose to Bai Yue, who somehow had already known, and so had been waiting in her best dress since early morning.

When she arrived, the two royals were already at the front gate. Bai Yu walked slowly in her usual graceful gait, not too rushed or lagged even when she wanted to run. She did not want people to think she was intentionally late to attract Ouyang Mingxian’s attention.

“Blessings to Qin Wang. Blessings to Wei Wang.”

Today Ouyang Mingxian wore a dark blue attire with a fur cape the same color as Bai Yu. She did not plan to have a matching set with him at all. It was Ouyang Mingxian who suddenly stopped wearing his favorite black clothes and copied her!

The tall figure looked at Miss Bai who dressed more beautifully than when she was at the village. She had been wearing a lot of dark blue clothes that he himself had started taking a liking to. Still, even in that same color, she was more charming and graceful than every time they had met before. Ouyang Mingxian could not help but think that this color did suit Bai Yu very well.

“Miss Bai is as beautiful as ever.” It was Ouyang Wenrou who complimented her out loud.

He was surprised to see an unmarried woman like Bai Yu chose dark color clothing instead of soft pastel ones that other young ladies loved. Because lighter colors which were popular among the noblewomen would make the wearer look more delicate. The observant Ouyang Wenrou instinctively praised her.

“Wangye is exaggerating.”

“Apologies to senior chancellor Bai. Today benwang and third brother suddenly came without notifying you first.” Ouyang Wenrou smiled gently, as always, to Bai Yu. He said this with his usual soft voice to Bai Han, who was dressed as a man ready on his duty, and surely, Bai Han did not dare to be upset about the sudden visit.

They all went to sit down at the main building. Ouyang Mingxian was at the honored seat, next to him was Ouyang Wenrou, and everyone else sat according to their own ranks. Bai Yu was beside her mother and behind them were the two Furens and Bai Yue. Bai Hua was forbidden from welcoming the royals as usual.

“Grandmother has asked benwang to deliver the royal banquet invitation to Bai Furen.”

“Wangye is too gracious.” Yue Mei received the invitation from Qin Wang, whom Empress Dowager Wei always entrusted with every matter pertaining to the Bai family.

“Also, grandmother wanted to see first miss Bai Yu and third miss Bai Hua today’s morning.”

An audience with Empress Dowager today’s morning? She was going to see something fun.

Bai Yu was not excited that she was summoned, but she was excited for Bai Hua. The order must mean that Empress Dowager was keeping an eye on Bai Hua and her relationship with Ouyang Mingxian. This happened faster than Bai Yu had expected.

“Hua-er has been unwell since she came back from the temple...”

“Would you like benwang to see her?”

Yue Mei was going to refuse but was interrupted by Ouyang Wenrou as if he knew her thoughts from the beginning.

“Benwang had a morning meeting to attend. Two misses, please finish preparing yourselves within one ke.” It was Ouyang Mingxian who pressured her with a cold voice and stiff expression.

He must be eager to meet Bai Hua. But he probably did not know what Bai Hua was going to face after this. Hmph!

Bai Yu was brought back to her building to change into a more luxurious dress and accessories. It was a tradition among the nobles to look the most elegant as one could when visiting the palace. For Bai Hua, Yue Mei ordered Xiao Jun to take care of how she would dress.