Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

208 I am not going anymore! Part I

When Bai Yu woke up, Ouyang Feilong was already gone. There was still his warmth left on the mattress beside her. She had been tired more easily lately, and so she would go to sleep before Ouyang Feilong came back to the palace. Almost every morning, she would wake up to find a trace of his warmth. And on the nights that he did not come, Xiao Xi would tell her that he slept in the royal study.

As the son of heaven, Ouyang Feilong was working hard for citizens and the nation in a way he was not used to. He had to govern and not fight on the battlefield, as he had done for over a decade. Bai Yu understood this well, so she tried to avoid causing problems for her lover.

It had been almost two weeks that the wind blew in the direction of her palace. All the consorts and concubines knew that Bai Yu had laid a trap, letting Mu De Fei feel complacent first before striking back and taking over her power, then reducing the Empress Dowager’s power all in one fell swoop.

Ouyang Feilong said nothing, even though he knew what she did. At the same time, Bai Yu knew that he went to visit the Empress Dowager in the middle of the night that day, but she did not care to ask him about it.

These days, Bai Yu spent her time studying books on herbs in order to be careful of foods that were harmful to pregnancy. She pretended not to like the flavor of the food and used it as an excuse to build her own kitchen so that she could control the cooking by herself. What she ate must not contain a single ingredient that could harm her child.

As for the ingredients that were harmful to pregnancy, she allowed them to be cooked and put on the table as well, though she would not touch them at all. Every day, she alternated between learning about herbs and food and finding nourishments to send to Ouyang Feilong. She would do it herself before her bedtime every day. Sometimes, she would try to be polite and send them to Empress Dowager Wei as well. At other times, she would make deserts and send them to the palaces of other Wangs, never neglecting the forgotten princes and princesses, in order to avoid arousing suspicion regarding her having a personal kitchen.

Ouyang Wenrou frequently visited her to check on her body. He claimed that he wished to exchange his knowledge about herbs that could be used to make food or snacks for Ouyang Feilong.

“Bring this fragrance pouch to His Majesty.”

“Your Majesty will not go?”

.....

Bai Yu glanced at the bright sunlight outside and shook her head. “Relay the message that there are various kinds of herbs in this pouch. His Majesty should put it next to the pillow before going to sleep.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xiao Xi replied before leaving to attend to the assigned duty.

“How is Qin Wang Palace lately?” Bai Yu asked her other maid, who was still in the room.

“Everything is quiet, Your Majesty.”

“And Qin Wang Fei?”

“Nothing is worrying, Your Majesty.”

“Send an invitation. Tell them to come to visit bengong sometimes.”

While not too certain as to why Bai Yu wanted to meet two women whom she did not quite like, Xiao Chang understood what her mistress meant by ‘them.’

“Bengong is going to take a nap for a while. Come here and massage bengong.”

She had been sewing the pouch since yesterday until today’s afternoon. Naturally, her muscles would ache. She leaned back, letting her thoughts drift as she waited for sleepiness to arrive.

In truth, her summoning Chu Jiaoxin and Bai Hua was not because she wanted to pick on them. On that day of the sparring match, her consciousness was too hazy, making her unable to realize that those two women were…worried about her. It might not be much, but at least they did not stand by and watch her die.

Bai Yu did not want to blame her pregnancy for her picking on or being unfriendly toward those women. As she thought to herself, she recalled the question Ouyang Feilong had asked her on that day he had freed her.

What was she fighting against? She thought she was free, yet she unconsciously circled back to the same place she had started.

Now, Bai Yu had not only herself to protect but another life in her body as well. Because she had to take care of that little life, she wanted to meet the two women who were an answer to the question of what she was exactly fighting against.

A familiar fragrance of herbs entered her nose. Her knitted brows, caused by the thoughts she was preoccupied with, slowly loosened. She closed her eyes as she reclined her body, letting her maid massage her legs. However, kneading turned into groping as the hands moved up to the inside of her thighs.

“That…”

Bai Yu opened her eyes, intending to stop Xiao Chang. Her words were instantly muted as she was met with a pair of golden eyes. His large hands fondling her thighs did not stop. Instead, they slid under her clothes and continued to explore, all despite her intention to protest.

“How did your majesty come here?” The son of heaven was before her, yet she showed no sign of curtsying to him. The servants had retreated, leaving only Bai Yu and the person with naughty hands on her thigh. His palms did not seem to wander further.

“Did you not send this to call zhen here?” His brow arched as a smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

What made him so happy?

“How can I dare to call your majesty?”

Ouyang Feilong laughed low. His enchanting face came closer until the tip of their noses almost touched. Then, a fragrance pouch was held up in the space between them. “Did you not use this to bait zhen?”

“How?” Bai Yu was still confused.

The pouch moved away from her sight. Ouyang Feilong pressed a light kiss on her nose before moving away, for fear that he would no longer be able to restrain himself.

“Did you not tell zhen to put this pouch next to the pillow when zhen sleeps?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, do you know where zhen sleeps?”

“At…” Her palace!

“Does that not mean you’re inviting zhen to sleep with you?”

“That…” Who would want it to mean that?!

“Very well.” Ouyang Feilong put up a generous act. “I understand that the empress misses me so much, so I shall sleep beside you now. How is it?” He not only spoke but immediately moved closer to her reclining form.

“Your Majesty, it’s not appropriate here.”

“Inappropriate?” He pretended to huddle close, even though he knew that she meant the narrow space.

“Feilong!” The threat came in a whisper as she slapped the hand that started caressing her thigh again.

“Heh.”

Seeing Bai Yu’s tiredness, Ouyang Feilong let her continue her rest. Despite having many more matters to attend to, he wanted to tease the person who was often asleep before his return. Thus, he chose to remain here for several ke more.

“You keep this and put it next to zhen’s pillow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The fragrance pouch returned to her hands once again. Bai Yu’s face reddened when she recalled the meaning her husband had interpreted from the gift.

“Zhen has been busy lately. You must take care of your health.”

“I understand.” The so-called number one beauty revealed a captivating smile.

“Oh.” A thought occurred to Ouyang Feilong. “It’ll soon be Mother’s birthday. Zhen wants you to decide on one thing.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?” She had made some preparations already. However, she had not reported the progress to him yet since there were too many aspects that were not finalized.

“Mother likes flowers.” Ouyang Feilong glanced at Bai Yu’s face, trying to observe whether she still held some grievances toward Empress Dowager Wei or not. What he saw was a nod of agreement with his words.

“I’d thought of holding a banquet in the royal garden, but I feared it might exceed my ability.”

“Zhen has the same thought.” Ouyang Feilong let out a smile. He was relieved to see that Bai Yu was a clever woman who knew when to lead and follow. He believed she could know what he was planning through his mention of his mother’s preference.

“Why don’t you let Qin Wang Fei help you with the royal garden?”

Bai Yu considered his suggestion. She understood how Ouyang Feilong wanted to please Empress Dowager Wei in order to patch up the rift between her and his mother. Her reputation was on the line. There would be no problem if she cut ties with Mu De Fei. However, as an empress, she might be in a difficult position if she soured her relationship with the Empress Dowager. Two weeks was more than enough for a display of power.

“Yes, Your Majesty. That might be a good idea.” Bai Yu smiled at him.

His hand gently stroked her head as he uttered the word that she heard every night in her dream. “Good girl.”