Gu Qianying returned to her room after a day of purchasing herbs outside, only to find Xiao Yihao gazing out the window. Thinking he was unhappy, Gu Qianying approached him to comfort him, saying, "Xiao Yihao, Mother is going to buy a birthday gift for Master Baili. Do you want to go with me?"
Gu Qianying felt that children nowadays enjoyed lively atmospheres, and given the current situation, if she didn't take the child out for a stroll now, there might not be such an opportunity if the Western Regions descended into chaos.
She looked at Xiao Yihao with anticipation, but to her surprise, Xiao Yihao said, "Mother, my stomach hurts. I might have eaten something bad. I don't think I can go."
Xiao Yihao's face showed a hint of apology, and he felt a little guilty looking at Gu Qianying, but this was the only excuse he could think of at the moment.
Gu Qianying turned to Ouyang Qinglin and Duan Xifeng and asked, "Do you want to go with me?"
Ouyang Qinglin, always one to enjoy a bit of excitement, couldn't resist following along. "Of course! I've been a national advisor for so many years, my judgment is naturally impeccable. I can also offer you some advice."
Ouyang Qinglin also wanted to go out for a stroll, and this was finally a legitimate reason.
Gu Qianying nodded and looked at Duan Xifeng again. To her surprise, Duan Xifeng, who usually disliked crowds, also agreed to go. It seemed the scenery of the Western Regions was truly captivating.
With that, Duan Xifeng and Ouyang Qinglin accompanied Gu Qianying to buy gifts, leaving only Xiao Yihao at the Baili Manor.
Gu Qianying couldn't help but instruct him, "Remember to stay obediently in the courtyard, don't wander around casually, understand?"
Gu Qianying knew her son was rather mischievous, but if the child didn't want to go, she couldn't force him. After all, Gu Qianying was a mother who respected her child's wishes.
Thus, Gu Qianying, Ouyang Qinglin, and their party left the manor to select gifts.
Meanwhile, Baili Su, who remained at the Baili Manor, was lying quietly on his bed, his expression heavy. He couldn't stop thinking about Gu Qianying's wound from the previous night. The dagger hadn't pierced too deeply, but he was constantly worried about the scar left on her fair, jade-like arm. As Gu Qianying had said today, the poison was too potent, and perhaps the scar could not be removed. Baili Su felt a sense of regret. Just as he was lost in thought, Qinglin entered.
Qinglin bowed respectfully. "Young Master, Miss Song is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yu'er entered with a rosewood box.
"I heard you fainted again today, so I brought some soup to see you," Song Yu'er said with a smile, looking at the man in dark robes, his lips slightly pale, leaning on the bed without speaking.
The sunlight outside happened to fall on his face, making him look like a handsome man descended from the heavens. For a moment, she was lost in thought. If she didn't capture this man, she might never meet a better man in her life. This man was too perfect. Such a perfect man could only belong to her, a county princess.
However, Baili Su merely nodded slightly, then picked up a book beside him and began to read, as if Song Yu'er were not even there. Song Yu'er gritted her teeth, not feeling embarrassed. She thought to herself that a man like Baili Su should have some pride.
"This is the soup I personally watched the kitchen stew. It's very good for your health. Would you like to try some?" Song Yu'er personally poured the soup and brought it to Baili Su. However, Baili Su pushed it away, completely disregarding Song Yu'er's changing expression.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Song. However, the physician said I cannot drink this kind of medicinal cuisine right now. Please take it away." As he spoke, Baili Su finally looked directly at Song Yu'er, but only for a moment before shifting his gaze, as if feeling disgusted.
Song Yu'er was so angry she wanted to kill Baili Su, but she still held back. "Then, then what can you eat? I'll find someone to make it for you." Song Yu'er awkwardly handed the soup to the maid beside her and then asked again. Baili Su merely shook his head, saying nothing.
"You're reading poetry and prose? I like reading too. I'll bring a book next time to read with you. If we become husband and wife, this would be nice, wouldn't it?" Song Yu'er, spoiled since childhood, was now willing to speak so humbly for Baili Su. The maid beside her couldn't stand it.
"My lady is speaking to you like this, and you're so indifferent. Who gave you the nerve?" Xia Zhu unleashed a torrent of scolding. Baili Su merely looked up slightly, his face like ice that would never melt. That glance frightened Xia Zhu, and she cowered behind Song Yu'er, not daring to speak again.
"Since you need to recuperate, then rest well. Xia Zhu, let's go!" Song Yu'er suppressed her anger and left with her maid. Baili Su simply said indifferently, "Qinglin, see them out." Then he continued reading, showing no intention of getting up to see them off. This made Song Yu'er very angry, feeling unvalued. However, given the current situation, she realized she couldn't act rashly against Baili Su yet. If anything happened to him, she wouldn't be able to marry him.
As soon as they stepped out with the maid, Song Yu'er couldn't hold back. She tugged at the flowers beside her, feeling greatly wronged. Xia Zhu glanced at her and then cautiously approached.
"Miss, he's so cold to you, is it because of Gu Qianying?"
"Gu Qianying?" Song Yu'er found it strange, but then thought it made sense, and asked again, "What did that woman do now?" That woman, relying on her beautiful face, was shamelessly seducing her fiancé. How could this be right?
"I was on duty changing shifts last night, and I unexpectedly saw Baili Su carrying Gu Qianying towards his courtyard. They were very close, and I even saw her wrap her arms around the Second Young Master's neck. They were talking and laughing." In reality, she hadn't seen them talking and laughing intimately; those were Xia Zhu's fabrications, intended to further incite Song Yu'er's resentment towards Gu Qianying.
"And then? What else did you see?" Song Yu'er was even more furious upon hearing this, feeling as if she had been betrayed.
"Next, next..." Xia Zhu bit her lower lip, as if struggling whether to speak. But seeing her hesitation, Song Yu'er knew what had happened. She hadn't expected Gu Qianying, that vixen, to be so bold as to do such a thing. She fiercely plucked a blooming peony flower. She remembered that Gu Qianying always liked to embroider peonies on her clothes, and Baili Su's courtyard was also full of peonies, which made her quite jealous.