"Young miss, we should be heading out soon." Hong Li stared worryingly at the closed door. She could only sigh in relief that they dressed her up early. It had been 4 hours since her young miss said she needed some time alone to mentally prepare herself for the banquet. Not a sound could be heard from the room during these hours.
A quiet "mm" came from behind the door. Within the room, sat a young lady, 19 years of age, staring at a mirror. Reflected from the mirror was a face with features that seem to embody delicateness and tranquility. Although she kept her face neutral, she looked like a frail beauty who makes one just want to protect her. If the corners of her mouth were to curl even the slightest bit downwards, she would appear extremely pitiful, tugging at the heartstrings of others. Her soft eyes reflected fear and reluctance. Slowly, she got up and walked out. She gave a soft smile to her personal maid servant, "Let's go."
Despite how pleasing to the ear it sounded, the sound of Bai Lian's soft, gentle voice only made Hong Li worry further. 'Will young miss really be alright at the banquet? Won't the other young ladies bully her?' brooded Hong Li to herself. Although Hong Li adored her gentle master, she couldn't help but worry Bai Lian wouldn't be able to defend herself from the poisonous tongues of others with such a docile personality.
Seeing the unease in her usually relaxed young miss' eyes, Hong Li gently grasped Bai Lian's hands. "Y-Young miss, don't worry. You have worked hard all these years. No one can look down on you anymore. Even if someone tries to bully you, master, madam, and young master will protect you!"
A trace of warmth passed through Bai Lian's eyes. Her gentle smile, softened up even more. Her smile appeared so relaxed, that one would not be surprised if she were to suddenly fall asleep. This was the smile she usually had while living peacefully in the residence.
To be unable to cultivate in a world where the strong and talented were respected, only hardship can be assured, especially for one born in one of the great clans. Despite her inability to cultivate, Bai Lian was loved by her parents and older brother. She was treated as the pearl in palm of their hands and her frailness only heightened their urge to protect her. For her sake, her parents moved their branch of the family away from the main branch where she was treated as a stain on their prestigious clan.
People have said she must have used a lifetime's worth of fortune to be born in such a family. However, if she truly used up as much fortune as they have said, would she be incapable of cultivating in such a world?
Those outside her family ridiculed her as a waste, the trash of the Bai Clan. Faced with such prejudice, she could only put up a gentle smile, lower her head, and attempt to be one with the background. A weak, ordinary person like her should not be picking fights with spirit masters capable of easily killing her.
A teasing voice called out, "I was starting to worry you suddenly became ill in order to avoid the banquet." In front of the spirit beast-drawn carriages was Bai Ru, Bai Lian's elder brother.
"I'm not a willful child. Regardless of how much I want to run away, I know I cannot not go to this banquet." Bai Lian pouted and feigned anger. However, the corner of her lips twitched, threatening to raise into a warm smile, giving her act away.
"Remember Lian'er, if anyone bullies you, you just need to tell me and I will take care of it for you. You do not need to be afraid of anyone there." Bai Ru's warm gaze was tinged with worry as her looked at his little sister, despite trying to give her assurance.
Bai Lian had not been to a banquet, or even out of the residence as a matter in fact, in many years. Her doting parents could not bear for her to be hurt under the scrutiny of others, so they allowed her to stay cooped up in the residence as she liked.
However, she could not escape this Spring Banquet because the Emperor of Evergreen Kingdom, Fan Yi Jun, planned on announcing the date of the wedding for her and the crown prince, Fan Yu Han. They were engaged since birth. However, the wedding was never brought up after she came of age. How could the royal couple want their crown prince to marry a waste? The royal couple were surely waiting for a good time to break off the engagement, while minimizing any conflict with the Bai Clan.
The royal couple were now willing to let the crown prince go through with the engagement because Bai Lian had gained fame as a doctor. Although the famed doctors were generally alchemists who could concoct pills, Bai Lian was capable of making medicines on par with pills using revolutionary methods and recipes she created. Since when have normal medicines been on par with the medicines that could only be made by alchemist? Due to the rarity of alchemists, gaining these revolutionary medicine recipes that could even be made by a waste could greatly strengthen the Evergreen Kingdom.
"You finally decided to crawl out of your little hole, Lian'er." Bai Haolei smiled tenderly at his daughter as he approached his children with his wife.
"Lian'er, you just need to stick with mother. Mother will handle any mosquito that tries to sting you, so just relax and try to enjoy the banquet." Kang Yi's soothing voice comforted Bai Lian.
"It's not good for everyone to worry too much. How could I suffer when you guys will be so close to me." Bai Lian's signature gentle smile was laced with warmth.
The hint of worry that had been in her eyes melted. Faced with such a loving family, how could she dare feel sorry for herself. Bai Lian was not the pitiful, weak-willed person she had seemed. Otherwise, how could she bear to smile gently before the scrutiny faced outside the Bai Residence with such purity radiating from her smile.