Bai Tanshen quickly pressed her shoulders down. The young general, who had a cold expression on his face, now revealed a rare gentleness. "Don't move around. You've caught a cold. You should keep warm now. Don't go outside again."
Bai Jinyan frowned and nodded. "Fifth Sister, you have to be careful. You scared me out of my wits."
It was too real.
Bai Xianyu touched her face in a daze and muttered, "… Eldest Brother, Fourth Brother, which year of the Qian Era is this?"
"Sister, are you muddle-headed from sleeping? This is the 16th year of the Qian Era."
16th year of Qian Era.
She had just turned 15.
Eldest Brother had not yet been sent to the frontier because of his achievements, and had not died on the battlefield like his father.
Second Brother and his family had not yet been killed. Third Brother had not yet been assassinated by evildoers in prison, and Fourth Brother was still such a bright and noble person. He had not been exiled such that he could not see them even till his death.
Heavens… She had been given a chance to start over.
Bai Xianyu blinked and tears fell.
Seeing this, Bai Tanshen clenched his fists by his side. "Why are you crying? Could it be that someone bullied you when we weren't around?"
Bai Jinyan also said angrily, "Let your brother know. I'm good at fighting. I'll beat him up until he's drenched!" His sister had been pampered since she was young and had never suffered at all. Now that she had fallen into the water and was crying, his heart really ached for her.
Bai Tanshen narrowed his eyes and looked at Bai Jinyan coldly. "Is this how you look after your sister? If anything happens to her, I'll break your legs."
Bai Jinyan looked at Bai Xianyu aggrievedly. Teacher had called him to copy a book at the last minute. "It would be great if I could put you in my pocket, and bring you along with me all the time, so I won't have to be worried about any accidents."
Bai Xianyu could not help but laugh. "I was careless."
Their words of persuasion were stuck in their throats as they looked at her suspiciously.
However, Bai Xianyu seemed to heave a sigh of relief and chuckled softly.
* * *
Ten days later.
Lushan Academy.
"It's been ten days. Why isn't that person from the General's Manor here yet?"
"I heard that it was because she fell into the lake and caught a cold. The day before yesterday, her third brother left court and personally came to apply for leave."
"How did she fall into the lake for no reason?"
Everyone's discussion reached the right corner of the academy.
The man leaned against the wall, his long legs slightly bent. He was dressed in a black robe with woven silver cloud patterns and broad sleeves. The cuffs of the sleeves were embroidered with golden cloud patterns. His strong and slender calves were wrapped in black-green satin boots. The wide belt with green cloud patterns was tightened, and his waist was strong.
His eyelids were closed, cold as snow. Leaning against the wall, he was indescribably handsome, and his long and narrow phoenix eyes were cold and austere.
As soon as Bai Xianyu entered the academy, she saw such a scene.
She was a little dazed, but she quickly composed herself.
It was no wonder that the young ladies of the various aristocratic families in the capital and even the Seventh Princess, who was favored by the Emperor, would flock to Xie Xingyun.
Xie Xingyun's charming appearance was the reason why she was so mesmerized by him.
But in this life, she did not want to fight anymore.
She did not want Xie Xingyun anymore.
"Xianyu, you're here!"
"Are you feeling better?"
Xie Xingyun's gaze finally changed. He looked up and silently sized up the girl who was surrounded by everyone.
She was wearing a silk dress with gold trimmings and a soft fur brocade cloak. Her black hair was like satin and was tied back into a bun. She only used a hollowed-out bead to twist it. Her waist was slender and her facial features were beautiful. Her skin was so fair that it was almost transparent. Perhaps it was because it was cold and she had caught a cold, her entire body was delicate and graceful. I felt pity for her.
Xie Xingyun suddenly recalled that Bai Xianyu had once pulled his sleeve shamelessly. A blush appeared on her devastatingly beautiful face, but she still held back her embarrassment and looked at him in a daze—
"…No matter what, I'm still the number one beauty in the capital. If you don't marry me, someone else will marry me and take me away."