Chapter 306: Chapter 302: Drawing the Line

Tang Xiaobai followed her sister, about to enter the carriage, but unconsciously turned back to glance at Li Mu.

Li Mu’s gaze was quiet initially, but upon seeing her look back, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Tang Xiaobai’s face slightly reddened, she smiled with pressed lips, saying, “You… be careful today, I’ll be waiting in the Mansion to welcome you.”

“You? Who are you referring to?” intervened Li Xingyuan, sourly.

Li Mu curved his lips into a smile and agreed, “Alright.”

Tang Xiaobai’s face turned even redder, she bowed her head and slipped into the carriage.

The carriage curtain fell, obscuring the elegant figure of the young man.

“Is that Qin Xiao?” asked Tang Jiaojiao suddenly.

Tang Xiaobai was puzzled, “Sister, didn’t you recognize him? It’s still the same mask.”

Tang Jiaojiao mused, “He’s changed quite a lot…”

“Indeed, when I saw him for the first time last year, I nearly didn’t recognize him!”

“Ha!”

Tang Xiaobai shivered, “Sister… why did you suddenly sneer?”

Maintaining her sneer, Tang Jiaojiao said, “I agreed for you to go to the Northwest to find Father and Brother, yet you ended up having fun in Hedong with that Qin fellow!”

“Father agreed!” Tang Xiaobai hurriedly replied.

“Father agreed, but did I agree?” the eldest sister’s aura remained fierce.

This…

Though she hadn’t been back for over a year, Tang Xiaobai still remembered Tang Jiaojiao’s temper.

No explanation worked during her nitpicking.

Tang Xiaobai simply gave in, “I already went, what will you do?”

“You—” Tang Jiaojiao’s beautiful eyes widened, lifting her hand, about to hit her on the head.

Suddenly catching sight of her meticulously styled hair bun, the motion paused and didn’t go down.

When she left early last summer, her soft and beautiful girl’s hair had been tied into a neat boy’s bun.

Now it was changed back.

It’s good she’s back.

Tang Jiaojiao silently put down her hand.

Tang Xiaobai, not encountering the expected action, opened her eyes and caught sight of the ripple in her sister’s eyes.

Feeling seen, Tang Jiaojiao fiercely glared at her and turned her head away.

“Sister.” Tang Xiaobai called out to her.

She ignored her.

Tang Xiaobai sat beside her, hugged her arm, and delicately called out again.

Shaking her arm off, Tang Jiaojiao disdainfully said, “Don’t call me so disgustingly!”

Tang Xiaobai giggled, holding on even tighter, “Is Sister still in the Palace accompanying the Empress Dowager?”

Earlier, the Emperor decreed several prominent ladies of the capital to enter the Palace and accompany the Empress Dowager, using the pretense of marriage alliances to remind some relevant ministers in court.

Though the peace talks were disrupted and the marriage alliance didn’t happen, Tang Jiaojiao and the other ladies weren’t immediately allowed to leave the Palace.

“His Majesty called us into the Palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, not to choose candidates for marriage alliances. It’s impossible for us to be released just because the talks failed,” said Tang Jiaojiao, not without sarcasm.

“You could still come out early today? That’s not bad, you aren’t restricted,” Tang Xiaobai comforted.

Tang Jiaojiao coldly snorted, “Entering the Palace was already accommodating enough, who could stop me from leaving?”

Tang Xiaobai: …

“Has our family become so defiant?” Tang Xiaobai was shocked.

Tang Jiaojiao glared at her, “What do you think?”

According to Tang Xiaobai, it should be half and half.

The eldest sister always spoke like this.

Entering the Palace was probably unavoidable, but leaving it seemed to have solutions.

“Sister, don’t worry—” Tang Xiaobai whispered in her ear, “The Crown Prince will return to the capital soon. By then, we can ask him to say a word to the Empress Dowager, surely they’ll let you come home!”

“Ashina Duoduo is dead, what is there to worry about?” Tang Jiaojiao eyed her, “Seems you’re still a bit considerate!” After thinking for a while, she added, “The Qin family quite understands gratitude.”

After saying this, she coldly snorted again, seemingly reminded of something irritating.

Tang Xiaobai was wondering what she was angry about, and unexpectedly was asked, “What’s with you and that Qin boy?”

“Well, it’s just like that…” Tang Xiaobai muttered evasively, avoiding her gaze.

How should one put it? Couldn’t she be a bit more confident and trust her own judgment?

Tang Jiaojiao scoffed softly, “He was a servant from our Duke Yan Mansion, isn’t it disgraceful to say it out loud?”

Tang Xiaobai didn’t like that remark, “He pacified the Southern and Northern Desert, a meritorious military action recorded in history, how is it disgraceful?”

“It’s not like he pacified the Southern and Northern Desert by himself, besides, it’s uncertain if he can claim this achievement!”

“Ah Xiao believes he can claim it!” Tang Xiaobai had great confidence in him.

Tang Jiaojiao was noncommittal, changing the subject, “And what about Xin Yi? How did he die?”

…

Xin Yi’s matter involved quite a lot behind the scenes, it was hard to explain all at once.

Tang Xiaobai decided to leave it for after returning to the Mansion to discuss with her parents.

“Such a pitiful child…” Gu Ning listened, her eyes reddening, appearing very saddened.

Who knows who coerced Xin Yi into death years ago.

Having once protected Xin Yi, Tang Shigong showed no special reaction upon hearing this, not even a sigh, and remained silent and thoughtful.

After a moment of contemplation, Tang Shigong said, “Since Xin Yi is dead, the old affairs of Empress Xiao’ai will soon be brought up, significant changes will occur in the court—”

Tang Xiaobai eagerly awaited her father’s instructions about the major upheaval in the court, but only heard his bland statement: “However, our Duke Yan Mansion doesn’t need to get involved, from today onwards, be mindful to stay away from Changshan Prince Mansion and the Qin siblings.”

“Would that mean drawing a line?” Tang Jiaojiao uttered impulsively.

Tang Shigong looked at her thoughtfully, nodding, “Correct.”

Tang Jiaojiao’s eyes flashed with urgency, wanting to say something, but eventually, she closed her mouth, turning her face towards Tang Xiaobai.

Usually, if anyone spoke ill of Qin Xiao, Tang Xiaobai would be anxious. Yet now, the suggestion to distance from the Qin siblings didn’t elicit any objection from her.

Both Tang Jiaojiao and Tang Shigong were a bit puzzled by her lack of reaction: “Has Ah Jiao got it?”

“I got it.” Tang Xiaobai agreed, pausing slightly and hesitantly said, “Ah Xiao used to live in our mansion; before going to Hedong, he hadn’t officially moved into the Qin family’s house, so now—”

“Let him move out today.” Tang Shigong stated.

Tang Xiaobai was stunned, “Is it that urgent?”

Tang Shigong nodded, offering no explanation.

Tang Xiaobai’s eyes revealed a slight difficulty, but she still acquiesced: “Once they return from the Palace, I will inform him.”

Her father was not one to shy away from issues, nor would he sever ties with the Crown Prince faction in such a critical moment.

Drawing a line could also be a strategy.

Just like when Empress Xiao’ai’s maternal Yu family fell, and the Gu family, related by marriage, chose to stand by and preserve themselves, allowing them to secretly protect the Yu family and Gu Yuan siblings.

When the little ancestor chose to let Li Xingyuan petition to bring back the Crown Prince, rather than letting her brother do it, it was probably for the same reason.

She understood the reasoning, but she also knew well the temper of the little ancestor.

They were in the height of their romance; upon returning, asking him to leave could hardly expect a good expression.

It had to be her to convey the message.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep