Green Mountain

"Who is that young nun?"

"I've seen her, she's Prince Jing's daughter, Zhu Baili."

"Is it her?"

The officials' wives looked up towards the stone steps.

Amidst the crowd's gaze, the Empress gently took Bai Li's wrist and gracefully walked down the steps, as if she was leading her own daughter. Bai Li's fair and slender neck was like a white mythical deer, clear and pure.

On the stone steps, only Imperial Concubine Xue's face remained gloomy.

The Empress paused in front of the concubines, who all lowered their heads, along with the titled ladies and officials' wives behind them, parting like waves to make a path.

As the crowd parted, Wu Yun in the crowd leapt into Bai Li's arms again. The Empress released her hand teasingly, "Strange, this little creature isn't so close to me, why does it take to you so quickly? Could it be sensing your divine favor?"

The Empress's voice grew louder, not meant for Bai Li alone but for everyone, "If so, you must visit Kunning Palace often, so that Heaven may favor my Kunning Palace more."

Bai Li, holding Wu Yun, bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress looked at the Commander of the Divine Chief Eunuch beside her, her expression calm, "Lord Admiral, is there no problem?"

The Commander of the Divine Chief Eunuch still had a gash-like scar on his face and quickly bowed, "With Your Majesty's words, naturally, there is no problem."

The Empress smiled at Bai Li and said, "Come, accompany me to pick mulberry leaves."

She led Bai Li through the concubines, officials' wives, and nuns, her gaze unwavering.

Zhu Lingyun stood in the crowd, silently watching Bai Li pass by her. She wanted to push through the crowd to remind Bai Li not to forget her, but the Jiefan Guard had already stationed themselves at the edge of the crowd, like a wall, driving her back with their gaze.

She tried several times to call out, but the palace maid shook the Empress Golden Rattle, and the rustling sound reminded everyone to be silent, forcing her to swallow back the words "sister" on her lips.

Bai Li didn't even look at her.

Zhu Lingyun suddenly thought, if it were before, her sister would have found a way to take her along. She always gave her the best and shielded her from harm.

If not for Xuanzhen…

The Empress's procession led the way, followed by the concubines, then the titled ladies, and finally the nuns of Jingyang Palace. Zhu Lingyun could only follow at the very end of the procession, her gaze through the gaps in the crowd vaguely catching Bai Li's silhouette.

The past cannot be undone.

Among the officials' wives, Qi Zhaoning suddenly fell silent, and Qi Zhaoyun turned to her, "Why the sudden gloominess?"

Qi Zhaoning asked without context, "Is she the Commandery Princess from the Four Dreams of Bianliang?"

Qi Zhaoyun sighed, "Princess Bai Li is just Princess Bai Li, not some Commandery Princess from the Four Dreams of Bianliang, don't get too absorbed."

Qi Zhaoning said nothing, she watched Bai Li walk towards her, then brushed past.

She looked at Bai Li's fresh, bare face and recalled the straight back she had as she walked through the crowd towards the grand hall, softly murmuring to herself, "No wonder those who've seen the storytellers want to write them into stories. If I were writing it, I'd also think they match, they are the same kind of people."

Qi Zhaoyun was puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

Qi Zhaoning turned to look at Qi Zhaoyun, her eyes filled with complex thoughts, "Sister, Chen Ji lied to me, his reason for holding the reins for the Princess wasn't what he said; there are feelings between them. His visit to Tianbao Pavilion wasn't for me either, did you see the wooden hairpin on Zhu Baili's head? I suspect Chen Ji went for her, which is why he only bought a simple silver hairpin."

Qi Zhaoyun sighed, "Can you be so sure from just one meeting? What if you're wrong?"

Qi Zhaoning was resolute, "I'm not wrong, it must be so."

Qi Zhaoyun advised, "Even if it's as you think, Princess Bai Li is now in Jingyang Palace, there's no possibility between them, what's the point of dwelling on it?"

Qi Zhaoning suddenly laughed, "Yes, so what if there are feelings. Ever since I was a child, there's nothing I, Qi Zhaoning, wanted that I couldn't get."

Qi Zhaoyun murmured, "So what if there are feelings..."

Qi Zhaoning, sensing her sister's low spirits, was immediately curious, "Sister, how are things with that Huang Que?"

Qi Zhaoyun softly replied, "Grandfather wants him to marry into our family, he refuses."

Qi Zhaoning raised her eyebrows, "Why wouldn't he agree? Marrying into the Qi family wouldn't disgrace him."

Qi Zhaoyun looked into the distant sky, "Can't blame him."

...

...

The Empress and Bai Li walked into the silk garden. For some reason, Bai Li suddenly felt at ease beside her.

The Empress, full of smiles, said, "Thank you today, had it not been for your divine favor, this dirty water would've surely been splashed on me."

Bai Li slightly bowed her head, "There's no need to be polite, Your Majesty, it's what a humble girl should do."

The Empress curiously asked, "Earlier, how did you cast the nine times of yin and yang?"

Bai Li carefully explained, "After moving into Jingyang Palace, an Immortal once entrusted me with a dream. Just now, seeing Your Majesty in distress, I dared to attempt it."

The Empress, observing her expression, knew she was lying, but didn't mind.

Who in this world doesn't have secrets?

The Empress laughed and said, "You're quite brave, not even fearing the Jiefan Guard, just boldly walking up to the hall. What if they stopped you, what if you were accused of disrespect? Xue dear might also regret now, today she calculated everything but didn't account for a little nun from Jingyang Palace like you."

Bai Li remained silent.

She was not as brave as others thought, she just knew that someone who braved turbulent waves in a small boat to get here must have endured many hardships.