Lingxi County
It had been less than half a month since Bai Shuangshuang fled her wedding, and the excitement in Lingxi County had yet to fade.
The tale of the Bai family’s Foolish Maiden running away was still the top topic over tea and after meals.
Those in the know said she had been picked up by a rich young lady, but those out of the loop were all over the place.
Some said she had run off with a wild man, some said she had fallen into the river and drowned, and others said a demon had carried her away—everyone had a version, each more absurd than the last.
The most furious was the youngest son of the County Deputy Magistrate.
That day, he had ridden his tall horse triumphantly to the Bai residence to pick up the bride, but the bridal sedan chair was completely empty, not even a ghost in sight.
The entire town of Lingxi County watched as his face turned green on the spot.
After returning home, he smashed an entire set of tea wares in his room, then stormed back to the Bai residence, slamming the table and cursing for half an hour, saying the Bai family was humiliating him, humiliating the county office, and humiliating the imperial officials.
The Bai family felt in the wrong and could only force a smile.
The family head personally came forward, exhausted every kind word, and promised to find him a concubine of exceptional beauty, plus compensated him with the deeds to two shops, before finally sending that God of Plague away.
As for Bai Shuangshuang’s parents, they had it much worse.
Her father was Bai Yongchang, from the most insignificant branch of the Bai family.
No talent, no backbone, no presence.
He had only two daughters—the eldest had long since married out, and the youngest was a fool.
Even the servants in the Bai family didn’t take him seriously.
Once Bai Shuangshuang ran away, the last shred of dignity Bai Yongchang had was also gone.
The clan reclaimed the few shops still under his name, saying they would “temporarily manage” them, but everyone knew they would never be returned.
At clan gatherings, no one wanted to sit at his table.
The direct-line relatives wouldn’t even greet him when they met; occasionally they’d cast a sidelong glance and say, “Can’t teach a daughter properly,” loud enough for him to hear but not too loud.
Bai Yongchang’s wife, Lin Shi, cried many times, but after crying she didn’t dare make a scene and could only hold it in.
Bai Yongchang didn’t cry, but he became even more silent, spending the whole day sitting in the yard in a daze, like a frostbitten eggplant.
Lingxi County Gate
Suddenly, a crowd of commoners gathered here, chatting about something and peering outside the city gate.
At the Lingxi County gate, Bai Shuangshuang reined in her horse.
She wore the official robe issued by the Prince’s Mansion—moon-white fabric with silver thread embroidery—and the Guiyun Sword hung at her waist.
Zhao Qingyue was on her right, in light-blue riding gear, lazily holding the reins.
Qiu Yue was on her left, in white as snow, quietly looking around.
Qingluan led a unit of elite soldiers in black armor with silver spears arrayed behind, along with a few cultivators from the Flying Immortal Platform mixed in among the armored warriors, their Spiritual Qi concealed, betraying nothing.
Over a hundred elite soldiers, banners fluttering, filed through the city gate, the clatter of hooves shaking the ground.
It looked imposing, but Bai Shuangshuang’s palms, gripping the reins, were completely sweaty.
Her face showed no expression, her back straight as a rod, appearing very composed.
But only she knew the tension inside.
In her past life, she was a cultivation prodigy and had seen many grand scenes, but that had nothing to do with being an official.
She had only read about it in books—never actually done it.
Fake it.
That was all she could do.
She tilted her head slightly and asked Zhao Qingyue in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“I… do I look like an official?”
Zhao Qingyue glanced at her, the corner of her mouth curling.
“Like a minor official.”
“…What minor official?”
“One who doesn’t have much rank but puts on a big show. In other words, a chicken feather used as a command arrow.”
Bai Shuangshuang wanted to roll her eyes but held back.
‘In public, she had to keep up appearances.’
The commoners had already gathered.
“Whose young lady is that? Such a grand display?”
“Look at that flag—it’s from the Prince’s Mansion!”
“The Prince’s Mansion? Jingnan Prince Manor?”
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
“Isn’t that the Foolish Maiden from the Bai Family?!”
Bai Shuangshuang’s mouth twitched.
‘Recognized? Already?’
She took a deep breath and continued to keep up her act.
“It really is! The Bai family’s Foolish Girl! How is she wearing an official robe?”
“I heard she latched onto the Prince’s Mansion and became the Princess’s maidservant—”
“A maidservant dressed like that? Have you ever seen a maidservant leading soldiers?”
“This Foolish Girl has made something of herself?”
The whispers surged like a tide.
Bai Shuangshuang listened, her face expressionless, but inside she had already cursed the one who shouted “Foolish Maiden” eight hundred times.
‘You’re the fool. Your whole family are fools.’
Zhao Qingyue had obviously heard it too; her shoulder lifted slightly as she suppressed a laugh.
“Lord Bai, so beloved by the people,” she said in a breathy voice.
“Shut up!”
Bai Shuangshuang did not go to the county office, nor did she return to the Bai residence.
She headed straight with her group to the largest inn in Lingxi County and checked in.
The whole inn was booked.
Over a hundred elite soldiers set up camp outside the inn, their black armor and silver spears neatly arranged, taking up most of the street.
The innkeeper’s legs went weak from fear, and he stammered, “N-no need to pay.”
But Bai Shuangshuang didn’t intend to save that money and had Zhao Qingyue pay the full price.
After settling in, Zhao Qingyue called Qingluan over.
“Sister Qingluan, send a few people to the county office and the Bai residence to deliver a message.”
Qingluan nodded.
“What should I say?”
Bai Shuangshuang thought for a moment, and a slow smile curved across her lips.
“Say that the Prince’s Mansion Special Envoy, Bai Shuangshuang, will host a banquet at the marketplace tomorrow at 9 AM. Invite the County Magistrate, the Deputy Magistrate, and the head of the Bai family to come and meet.”
Qingluan acknowledged and left.
Bai Shuangshuang stood by the window, watching the commoners on the street still craning their necks and listening to the gossip.
“I heard that Foolish Girl is back?”
“Impossible? Does she dare to come back?”
“Why wouldn’t she dare? She’s a person of the Prince’s Mansion now, riding a tall horse with a long line of elite soldiers behind her!”
Zhao Qingyue walked up from behind, holding a sugar-coated hawthorn stick she had bought at some point.
“Not going to the county office, not going to the Bai residence, staying in an inn first, and making them come to see you? Aren’t you just putting on airs?”
Bai Shuangshuang opened her mouth, but the Young Lady Zhao didn’t seem to intend to share the treat, so she could only clear her throat and pretend nothing happened.
“Ahem, that’s right.”
Her tone was light.
“A petty person riding high, returning home in glory—how can I not put on airs?”
Zhao Qingyue looked at her and suddenly laughed.
“You really get into character.”
Bai Shuangshuang turned around.
“I have to get into character. I have to act for everyone to see. I’m just a lowly maidservant who stumbled into good fortune and won the Princess’s favor, simply coming back to flaunt my success. That way, no one will suspect this is the Prince’s Mansion’s grand strategy.”
Zhao Qingyue raised an eyebrow.
“You really don’t care about saving face.”
Bai Shuangshuang blinked.
“What do I have to lose? I’m just a foolish girl. Doesn’t all my power come from the Princess? If a consort meddles in politics, the foolish ruler can’t escape blame either. Actually, this makes the Princess lose face~”
Zhao Qingyue was startled, then after a moment of realization, her face flushed slightly.
“I was just making a metaphor~” Bai Shuangshuang added, her tone innocent.
“What are you thinking?”
Zhao Qingyue reached out and smacked her—not hard, but Bai Shuangshuang still let out an “Ouch!”
Qiu Yue watched the two of them from the side, wanting to laugh but not daring to, her face red with the effort.
Bai Shuangshuang rubbed her smacked shoulder and turned back to look out the window.
The dusk of Lingxi County had already settled in, cooking smoke curling up, dogs barking here and there.
It was the mundane world of mortals she had never truly looked at in either this life or the last…