Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

211 Who was it that came into her womb? Part II

“How’s the empress?”

“Your Majesty, all injuries have been completely healed. However, Her Majesty was poisoned. While the effect is not lethal, it can cause Her Majesty to be more prone to fatigue than normal. Regular intake of nourishment is recommended.”

Ouyang Feilong came to Bai Yu’s palace that night. After learning of her half-sister’s secret, Bai Hua forbade everyone from visiting Bai Yu.

Even Xiao Xi and Xiao Chang could not come to help change Bai Yu’s clothes, as Bai Hua claimed that she was acting under the empress’ order. She had to change Bai Yu’s clothes herself and watched over her all day.

Bai Yu woke up one shichen before Ouyang Feilong came. Other than external injuries that could be healed with magic, Bai Yu was not wounded anywhere else. Her child was safe, though Bai Hua advised her to nourish her body more, as what Bai Yu had been consuming was not enough for the child in her womb.

Bai Yu ordered her sister not to reveal the secret to anyone, citing the reason that everything was for Ouyang Mingxian. Bai Hua gave her words as Bai Yu’s reason was the same thing she had guessed while sitting at her bedside.

The two agreed that this was what Bai Hua would tell Ouyang Feilong. Then, Bai Yu fell asleep again.

“Then the royal doctors will do as you suggest.”

Bai Hua curtsied as she responded; however, the worry on her face was apparent to Ouyang Feilong. “What is it?”

.....

“I would like to ask for Your Majesty’s permission to brew the medicine and bring it to the empress myself.”

“What did the empress say about this?” Ouyang Feilong knew of the relationship between Bai Yu and her half-sister. Regarding Bai Hua’s request, he wanted to ask for Bai Yu’s opinion first, but with her still sleeping, he could not decide on his own.

“Before sleeping, her majesty has given me permission.”

“Then you do as she pleases.”

“Your Majesty, there is another thing.”

Ouyang Feilong raised a brow. “What else?” Why did his wife’s sister seem to care so much about her today?

“The empress has ordered me here overnight. The incident has frightened her greatly.”

His little fool was that shocked?

“Very well.” Ouyang Feilong nodded in acknowledgment. “Zhen shall have the servants make preparations. You only have to take good care of her.”

He said before leaving without inquiring anything more. He believed that the little fool had a plan. His duty from here was to trust her and keep a silent eye on the situation.

Ouyang Feilong headed to his palace, where the general royal protector was waiting in front of it with a solemn face. The cause seemed to be the report he had just received.

“What did you find?”

“Your Majesty.” Yue Huiling organized her thoughts before replying. “The perpetrators are from a secret unit.”

From their skills, Ouyang Feilong was not surprised to learn that they were the party’s secret force. What he did not know was which family it was that aimed to harm him in front of other major families in the procession.

“My men hadn’t followed them too far before they committed suicide. There are some traces leading to a family that I don’t dare to confirm.”

“Which family?”

Yue Huiling swallowed thick saliva before speaking with a heavy heart. “It’s the Wei family’s secret unit.”

——————

“Wei family?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Does His Majesty know about this?”

“Yes. His Majesty has ordered me to keep it secret.”

“Is it alright for biaojie to tell me this, then?” Bai Yu studied the woman who came to visit her early in the morning with the latest information about yesterday’s incident.

Yue Huiling was not wearing armor. She came to request an audience in a noble lady’s clothes. It seemed she was being put on leave as punishment for her failure to protect the empress.

“The Wei family are His Majesty’s maternal relatives. The most powerful person in that family is…”

“Empress Dowager Wei.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Yue Huiling said gravely. “Since their target is Your Majesty, I can’t keep this secret because His Majesty himself is…”

A member of the Wei family, whose mother was also from the Wei family. Ouyang Feilong and Empress Dowager Wei might not be loving or close, but Ouyang Feilong still could not expose his own mother for sending men to harm Bai Yu. It was indeed a dilemma for the person in between.

“Thank you so much,” Bai Yu said in a gentle tone, trying to ease the other person’s stress. “I’ll be careful.”

“Biaoge worries a lot about Your Majesty.”

Bai He had not left for more than one shichen before such an incident happened. It was a wonder that her brother did not ride his horse back to Da Yang as soon as he heard the news.

“Your Majesty, please reply to his magic letter, at least to spare me from being pestered all day and night like this.” Today, Yue Huiling came not only out of her worry for Bai Yu but also because Bai He had been pestering her to give him an update after not receiving a word of reply from Bai Yu.

It was not that she did not want to. It was because…

“I can’t use magic.”

“Yes?”

“I only realized I couldn’t use magic when I was attacked. That’s why I couldn’t protect myself.”

Yue Huiling frowned. “But why suddenly…?”

“I don’t know.” Bai Yu sighed.

“Biaomei!” A word that suddenly appeared in her thoughts made Yue Huiling blurt out the pronoun that she was used to. “…You aren’t pregnant, right?”

Bai Yu’s heart raced.

“P… Pregnant?” She tried to maintain her facial expression. “…How is being pregnant related to using magic?”

“Have you lost your mind?! Magic users can’t use magic while they’re pregnant because it was used to nurture the fetus in the womb…”

Yue Huiling paused before casting her eyes on Bai Yu’s stomach. “…The more magic the mother possesses, the more the fetus absorbs.”

“I must have lost my mind.” Bai Yu pretended to agree.

“I can sense the chaotic current of magic in your body. Why did you say you can’t use it?”

“That…”

“Are you hiding something from me, biaomei?”

Bai Yu never thought that within two days, the secret she was determined to keep would be exposed so easily. How could she continue to hide it?!

—————–

It had been almost a week since the attack on the emperor’s procession. Panic faded from the people’s minds, replaced by stories of Emperor Ouyang Feilong valiantly protecting his empress. Unfortunately, there was no news of the perpetrators being captured.

One week later, good news came from the border. Ouyang Mingxian, who had joined the envoy, successfully agreed with Da Chu’s emperor to release prisoners of war from the past years. Soon, those soldiers would be able to return to their families, exempt from having to be enlisted again unless they were willing to.

This success had garnered great favor from Da Yang citizens. Ouyang Mingxian’s name was known and revered once more after the war between the two nations. It was as Ouyang Feilong had intended.

Ouyang Mingxian was heading closer and closer to the Eastern Palace.

Bai Yu summoned Chu Jiaoxin and Bai Hua to her palace to gift them brocades and jewels. A husband’s feat was considered his wives’ as well. Thus, she had to call the two women to give them several chests of gifts before holding them back for a conversation.

Ever since that day of the sparring match, Bai Yu never met Chu Jiaoxin again. Today, she intended to speak with her.

“Ming-er has accomplished a great feat. Naturally, you both should be rewarded.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Two voices politely replied in unison.

“Bengong actually wants to bring you to greet Mother together, but the poison from the injuries made bengong tire so easily. Because bengong has to avoid straining the body, Qin Wang Fei will have to go by yourselves.”

“Your Majesty, please take care of your body.” The current Chu Jiaoxin seemed to be more tactful than before. Bai Yu did not know the reason, but at least it was a good thing for her. Back when she was injured in the sparring match, this woman had extended a small kindness to her. After some reflection, Bai Yu came to the conclusion that she should not be biased against someone because of past incidents.

“Bengong will have Hua-er stay here to brew today’s tonic. Bengong hopes you won’t be offended.”

Empress Dowager Wei loved Ouyang Mingxian. With such wonderful news, she must want a company to share her joy. Since Mu Qilin was grounded by her, Bai Yu thought that Chu Jiaoxin would be the best person to approach Empress Dowager Wei, unlike Bai Hua, whom the elderly woman never liked.

“I do not dare.”

The current Chu Jiaoxin truly had changed.

“You’ve come far from your motherland. Is Ming-er treating you well?” Bai Yu did not know why she asked such a question, but it made Chu Jiaoxin turn her face up to meet her gaze. Those eyes reflected a calmer and more reserved than before.

“I have left my motherland for its sake. Qin Wang, too, is a man who lives for his nation’s sake. As spouses, we respect each other and will treat each other well until our last days.”

Live together with respect?

So Chu Jiaoxin was doing her duty as Da Chu’s first princess. “Bengong admires you.”

Chu Jiaoxin looked at her in surprise. Bai Yu was also surprised at herself for being calm and seeing Chu Jiaoxin in a new light.

She gently laid her hand on her stomach. Who was it that came into her womb? How did you change your mother to this degree?

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Despite receiving praise, Chu Jiaoxin did not seem to be more friendly toward her. She curtsied, said her farewell, then left for Empress Dowager Wei’s palace, plagued by confusion as to what Bai Yu was planning.

“Allow me to check the pulse.” After Chu Jiaoxin had left, Bai Hua began her duty that she had been continuing since the day Bai Yu was injured. In the past, she had greatly resented her half-sister. However, after an open and honest conversation with Chu Jiaoxin and Ouyang Mingxian regarding their statuses, she started to accept the situation she was in.

She might not be his first wife, but at least she had Ouyang Mingxian’s love to sustain her heart. At the same time, Chu Jiaoxin would not be involved with her husband in name. The first princess would live only as a friend.

.....

“How’s the child?” Bai Yu was never bored with asking the same question every day.

“Your Majesty…” Bai Hua did not immediately answer. It took her longer than usual to check Bai Yu’s pulse. “Today, ‘they’ are much healthier than before.”

“They?” What did she mean?

“It’s a twin.” Bai Hua smiled. She was excited, as these children were considered her nephews as well. “The last time I checked, it was slightly unclear. But now that it’s almost three months into the pregnancy, the pulses can be discerned more clearly.”

“Do you know the sexes?” Bai Yu stroked her stomach with a gentle smile. It was a familiar image for Bai Hua, who had come to examine her body and brew tonics. She never expected to see such an expression from this woman. To her, Bai Yu had considerably changed.

“With this era’s knowledge, it’s impossible to know.”

“That’s fine.”

“Then I’ll prepare the tonic. Your Majesty will need more nourishment from now on.”

“Thank you so much.” Bai Yu nodded as she thanked Bai Hua. Her tone was not gentle, but also not too brash.

After having to see each other every day out of necessity, their relationship seemed to have improved. Bai Yu no longer thought to find faults in the doctor’s ability, while Bai Hua did not bemoan or complain about what had happened in the past. They were not fast friends, but they did not see each other as enemies anymore.

It was as if everything was falling into its place, with two lives acting as guides. And for Bai Yu right now… The love for her children had mysteriously eclipsed all her hatred and resentment. How strange.