Chen Ruoxi was anxiously awaiting news in the courtyard when her personal maid, Chuntao, rushed in, flustered and unable to meet her gaze, indicating that something was amiss.
During breakfast, she had overheard the servants mention that the Old Master had gone to the Rose Courtyard to see Xuan Yue. Curiosity piqued, she wondered what had transpired between them that warranted Chuntao's inquiry.
Chuntao hurried to Chen Ruoxi's side, bowing her head and kneeling on the ground. "Miss, the Old Master requests your presence in the study."
Chen Ruoxi shot a glance at Chuntao, wanting to reprimand her, but before she could speak, Chuntao blurted out, "Miss, the Old Master treats Miss Xuan Yue with utmost respect. Everyone says she is a good person, but I beg to differ. The Old Master didn't even scold me when he found out. Xuan Yue told him that on rainy days, having someone to share the quiet is a comfort, which only implies that she has been under surveillance during her time at the Bai residence. Miss, she is simply adding fuel to the fire."
Fearing Chen Ruoxi's wrath, Chuntao shifted the blame entirely onto Xuan Yue. Chen Ruoxi shot her an irritated glance, cursing her own lack of competent servants.
"You will kneel here until I return. You may not rise."
Standing up, Chen Ruoxi knew that the reason the Old Master had chosen her from among many was due to her adherence to propriety and her ability to handle affairs with grace. Under her management, the Bai household had remained orderly, even with Bai Zhanfeng residing in the military camp daily. Not once had she voiced a complaint, not even to her family, and over time, she had sensed that the Old Master felt a modicum of guilt towards her.
Straightening her garments, she glanced back at her kneeling maid before turning to leave.
The Old Master's study was located in the back courtyard of the Bai residence, quite a distance from Chen Ruoxi's main quarters. She navigated the covered walkway and made her way directly to the rear garden.
The back courtyard was notably cleaner compared to the front hall and main residence. Although Bai Zhanfeng was now the head of the Bai family, his personality made Bai Ao wary of him offending others. Thus, he handled many matters himself, only discussing particularly important issues in the study.
Standing at the door, Chen Ruoxi gently rapped on it before pushing it open. Bai Ao was seated at a desk, brow furrowed and lips pressed together, his expression gravely serious. Upon seeing her enter, he maintained his stern demeanor, gesturing for her to take a seat beside him.
Chen Ruoxi turned and closed the door, then approached Bai Ao and bowed slightly. "Old Master, you summoned me," she said, taking her place in the indicated chair. Her respectful posture, however, lacked warmth.
Bai Ao gazed at her and sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. He had personally chosen her for Feng'er, finding her gentle, virtuous, and sensible. Since her marriage to Feng'er, she had been dutiful and earned the praise of the household servants. Not once had she complained about Feng'er or reached out to the Chen family for support. Bai Ao was deeply satisfied with her demeanor, yet sadly, Feng'er remained indifferent to her.
He couldn't help but think of his departed son and daughter-in-law, reminiscing about their early days of marriage with a bittersweet sigh. Had they still been alive, Feng'er would not be enduring such hardship; it was his failing as a grandfather.
"Chuntao has informed you, I assume?"
Bai Ao's expression was cold, though his tone softened slightly. He felt some guilt towards Chen Ruoxi; while he was displeased with the current situation, he acknowledged that she was the mistress of the Bai household, and Feng'er shared part of the responsibility for what had transpired. Had he not treated Ruoxi so dismissively, the situation might not have escalated.
"I beg your pardon, Old Master."
At his words, Chen Ruoxi knelt on the floor. "I have already punished Chuntao. This matter arose from my oversight. Chuntao has grown up by my side; just a few days ago, I confided in her. I never anticipated she would act so recklessly."
Seeing Chen Ruoxi kneeling, Bai Ao's heart softened. The Bai and Chen families had a long-standing friendship; he had been colleagues with Chen Shoufu for decades and viewed Ruoxi almost as a granddaughter. However, her recent actions were indeed thoughtless.
"Please rise."
Bai Ao's voice was firm. Chen Ruoxi obediently stood but did not sit down, merely bowing her head in place.
"Ruoxi, you are a perceptive child. The world has changed, and we no longer hold the reins in Chu Kingdom. Now that we have aligned ourselves with Feng and Lan, we must not allow any rifts to develop. Xuan Yue is the queen of Feng and the consort of Lan. I understand your wariness regarding Feng'er, but as the mistress of the Bai family, you must embody its dignity."
His final words carried weight. Given the importance of the matter, she had handled it poorly. Bai Ao had turned a blind eye to Xuan Yue's absence in visiting them, knowing Chuntao was her personal maid. Even if Chuntao acted independently, she remained implicated.
"Ruoxi understands."
Her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves as Chen Ruoxi lowered her head, obediently responding to each statement with demure compliance.
"Xier, I understand your concerns. Feng Xianyue is certainly not the sort of person you fear," Bai Ao said, fixing his gaze upon Chen Ruoxi. "In terms of grace and demeanor, she is in no way inferior to any man. After over forty years in officialdom, I have encountered all kinds of people, and a woman like her is indeed a rare find. As the queen of the Lan Kingdom, she serves as a paragon for the world; she comprehends the weight of her responsibilities and would never act in a manner unbefitting her status."
Bai Ao's certainty regarding this matter brought him both clarity and sorrow as he reprimanded Bai Zhanfeng. In a world filled with countless women, why did his grandson fall for one who would never truly belong to him? Yet, the more he interacted with her, the more he understood; how could any man resist such a woman? This knowledge weighed heavily on his heart, while Ruoxi, still naive to the realities of love, remained oblivious to the nature of her feelings for Feng'er. Bai Ao sighed internally, worried she might do something foolish.
Ruoxi held her tongue, feeling a sense of injustice brewing within her. Throughout her life, she had never witnessed the old man speak so highly of anyone—let alone a woman. Her anxiety morphed into anger as she grappled with the question of what made Feng Xianyue so remarkable. Why did all the fortune seem to favor her? The Lan King willingly faced death for her, the heir of Xuanyuan praised her, and the princes of Feng indulged her every whim. Was that not enough? Why did her husband continue to linger on her image? Despite knowing there would be no outcome, he chose to torment himself rather than accept her. She was Chen Ruoxi, the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Chen family; what was wrong with her?
Ruoxi failed to comprehend that matters of the heart are never simply about merit. When feelings align, even the most flawed individual can become endearing; conversely, when disinterest prevails, even the most admirable qualities can be rendered invisible. She felt a sense of discontent. After more than six months in the Bai household, she had acted with utmost caution and diligence, yet the old man had never offered a word of praise. Meanwhile, she had heard of her own accomplishments, but the stories circulating among the public felt exaggerated.
Each day, she rose at midday, with her first thought being to seek out food, and afterward, she would indulge in slumber. She yearned for the old man's exquisite wines, often drinking herself into a stupor, resembling the unrefined commoners she despised. Yet, this very person held her husband's heart, and no matter how hard she tried, she was met only with indifference. Now, the old man admonished her due to her affairs; it was clear to her that his admiration stemmed not merely from her prestigious background, but from qualities she could not fathom.
Reflecting on Xianyue's first day at the Bai residence, a pang of bitterness struck Ruoxi. On such a cold day, she had risen early to bring her husband a garment she had personally sewn, only for him to silently return home with another woman, feasting and celebrating. Despite their marriage, she had never seen him so genuinely happy, as he guided this woman away from her—she, his lawful wife.
After all this time, her avoidance of Xianyue stemmed from her disdain for a woman she considered beneath her; yet now, a strong desire surged within her to see what unique charm had captivated everyone else.
"I will take Chun Tao to the Rose Garden to apologize later," she declared.
The mention of the Rose Garden rekindled her resentment. Although it resembled other courtyards, its name held a significance she yearned to possess. She had longed to reside there, but he had always refused her, yet upon her arrival, he had ordered it prepared for her occupancy.
Bai Ao nodded in approval. "Ruoxi, I recognize your pain and frustration. It is my and Feng'er's fault, but now that you are a member of the Bai family, you must consider the greater good. Understand what actions are appropriate, and what are not; you must be clear in your thoughts."
As Bai Ao rose, his stern tone bore a warning. Ruoxi was a good girl, but at times, she became too stubborn.
"I understand," Ruoxi replied.
Bai Ao nodded with satisfaction, gesturing for her to leave. He believed she would grasp the lesson, unaware that this incident would awaken her inner fury, ultimately leading her to commit an irreparable error that would nearly destroy the entire Bai family.