Chapter 1137: You Should Take Her As Your Bride
Chapter 1137: Chapter 1137: You Should Take Her As Your Bride
"Yes, Imperial Father. If I may ask, what important matter is being discussed here? And why is the court discussing it directly with Young Lady Bai?" Liu Jun inquired, casting a quick, curious glance toward Bai Xifeng.
"Well... that..." The Emperor hesitated, looking visibly uncomfortable and unsure of how to explain the embarrassing situation.
"Your Highness, we were currently attempting to arrange a royal marriage between yourself and Young Lady Bai, the legitimate daughter of Great General Bai." Imperial Secretary Qian Zemin interjected smoothly, answering on behalf of the Emperor.
Upon hearing those words, Bai Chunhua’s hands instantly clenched into tight fists beneath her long, elegant sleeves. Why were the Emperor and the high ministers still so obsessed with forcing Bai Xifeng to marry the Crown Prince?! Didn’t they already know that Bai Xifeng had thoroughly rejected and humiliated the Crown Prince before?! Why on earth were they still desperately trying to push this ridiculous marriage proposal?!
Liu Jun turned his head to look straight at Bai Xifeng. His face flickered with a complex mixture of sudden surprise and undisguised delight at the same time. He clearly had not expected to hear that his imperial father and the court officials were actively trying to bestow Bai Xifeng upon him as his bride.
"Please don’t look at me with that ridiculous face. I have already rejected the idea, so don’t get your hopes up. I would never, in a million years, marry a man like you." Bai Xifeng stated coldly, instantly crushing Liu Jun’s rising delusions before they could even take root.
Her words were razor-sharp and devastatingly direct, leaving him absolutely zero room for misunderstanding or wishful thinking.
She then shifted her gaze sideways to land on the stiffened figure of Bai Chunhua. "Besides, you have been practically glued to her side back at the academy every single day anyway. You should just take her as your bride instead."
Bai Chunhua gasped softly in shock when Bai Xifeng suddenly dragged her straight into the spotlight.
She had never anticipated that Bai Xifeng would bring up their private relationship so openly and mockingly in front of the Emperor and the entire imperial assembly. For a long, agonising moment, she stood frozen under the stares of the court, completely at a loss for how to react.
Bai Chunhua sneaked a quick glance at Liu Jun out of the corner of her eye. She had fully expected him to look thrilled by Bai Xifeng’s sarcastic suggestion. Instead, her heart plummeted into a pit of deep bitterness when she saw a heavy, dark frown crease his brow.
So, it turned out His Highness the Crown Prince had no intention of marrying her or raising her to the position of Crown Princess after all.
That harsh realisation weighed heavily on Bai Chunhua’s heart, leaving a dull ache in her chest.
"So, I take it we are all done here? Great, because I am taking my leave now. Your Majesty, Your Highness, please excuse me." Bai Xifeng said smoothly, cupping her hands in a brief, offhand gesture of respect before turning on her heel to leave.
She did not give a damn whether they granted her permission to step out or not. If anyone in the room proved foolish enough to try blocking her path, she would gladly make them regret it. She had already accomplished what she came here to do. There was zero reason for her to stick around in this stuffy hall just to listen to them drone on with another useless lecture, trying to force her into marrying Liu Jun.
The moment Bai Xifeng stepped outside the hall doors, Xiao Li rushed to her side, her face pale with worry.
"Young Miss! Are you alright?!" Xiao Li asked frantically, her eyes scanning Bai Xifeng up and down to check if she had suffered any injuries inside.
"I am completely fine. They didn’t do anything to me. Well, to be honest, I doubt they’d even dare try." Bai Xifeng replied with a light, amused chuckle.
"Thank goodness!" Xiao Li let out a long sigh of relief. "So... can we finally head back now?"
"Mm... Yes, let’s get out of here." Bai Xifeng nodded.
However, before they could even take a single step toward the courtyard exit, a palace eunuch came sprinting toward them, cutting them off and coming to a breathless stop right in front of them.
"Thank goodness... you have not left yet!" The eunuch gasped, bending over slightly to catch his breath after running at full speed. After taking a few deep gulps of air, he straightened up and continued, "Young Lady Bai, Her Highness humbly requests your presence and invites you over for a visit."
"And who is your master?" Bai Xifeng asked, her voice cool and guarded.
"It is Her Imperial Highness, the Empress Dowager." The eunuch answered respectfully.
Bai Xifeng blinked, wondering what business the Empress Dowager could possibly have with her.
Granted, she was not completely unacquainted with the grand matron. She had once treated the Empress Dowager’s illness, after all. However, after that single medical encounter, they had maintained zero contact or personal connection.
Still, turning down a direct invitation sent personally by the Empress Dowager herself would be considered excessively rude and needlessly provocative. Weighing her options, Bai Xifeng decided to hear the old woman out.
"Lead the way." Bai Xifeng instructed the eunuch.
"Right this way, please." The eunuch gestured politely before turning around to guide them down the winding corridors that led directly toward the Empress Dowager’s private palace.
After navigating the massive imperial gardens for a short while, they finally arrived at the grand estate.
The palace guards posted at the entrance immediately stepped aside upon recognising the leading eunuch, allowing them smooth entry inside.
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