Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

“The sickly third prince, Shu Fei’s* son,” Ouyang Feilong eventually answered.

“Should I investigate the situation within Da Chu’s imperial palace?”

“Benwang has already given an order.” In truth, he was here because he had the same thought as Bai Yu. He wanted to observe the situation within the capital. If infighting between the royals was to happen, then Da Yang would surely be treated as a pawn for them to use, and Ouyang Feilong would never allow that.

“If what Yu-er says becomes true, then what can we do right now?” Bai He was considerably swayed by Bai Yu’s words. The more he thought, the more it made sense. Such things were bound to happen when it was time for the new emperor to ascend. What was unusual was that this time, they pulled Da Yang into their internal fight.

“Invite the first princess to come to meet benwang.”

Knowing that Ouyang Feilong would never do anything without a reason, Bai He excused himself to carry out the order immediately. He saw how his sister disliked the first princess, but the importance of their motherland had to come first.

As soon as her brother’s tall figure disappeared behind the same door for the second time of the day, Bai Yu turned to look at the beautiful face of the man next to her.

“Will she come? Wangye asked her to leave only a little while ago.”

.....

“Benwang believes she will come.”

Because the princess might know details of Chu Zhaoran’s situation. That could be the reason she wished to stop the war by offering marriage. It should have been that way several years ago, but meeting Ouyang Feilong was harder than anything. Many times, the spoiled first princess was left frustrated because she was turned away from seeing him. They had met only a few times, and the topic of diplomatic marriage was brought up every time. This was the third time that Chu Jiaoxin insisted on the proposal. This time, he was the one to call her here. Surely, the first princess who had always been serious about this would come.

“A discussion about marriage?”

Bai Yu understood the reason Chu Jiaoxin mentioned marriage. It was a way to stop the war. Bai Yu admired her for not sitting idly, watching as the war raged and caused more and more loss. If a diplomatic marriage ended up happening, she would be the one to wed since no other princess of Da Chu was of eligible age.

The problem was the groom of Da Yang. Who would be of comparable rank to her? It should have been Taizi, but he already had his first consort. It would be a disgrace for Chu Jiaoxin to become the second consort. The only people left were either Ouyang Mingxian or Ouyang Feilong.

“What are you worried about?” A warm touch fell on the frown on her forehead. Ouyang Feilong could not help himself from using his fingertip to knock lightly on it a few times. Even now, she still thought he would marry another woman?

 “Nothing, Your Highness.” It was something she could not predict, so Bai Yu was slightly irritated.

“Really?” His eyes narrowed.

“Really.” Bai Yu nodded to confirm, though her brows were starting to move together and form a frown once again.

Ouyang Feilong smiled. “Benwang will have you prove your own words.”

“Prove wha...Aah!” Before she could make sense of his meaning, her body was pulled up and put on the other person’s lap. And instead of putting his arms around her waist to prevent her from falling, he sat still, forcing Bai Yu to grab his shoulders for fear that she would actually fall down. She was not used to sitting on a man’s lap!

“What is Wangye playing at?” Dark eyes glared at the person who chuckled at her reaction.

“Benwang wants to see whether Xiao Yu is lying or not,” he said as he embraced her, rendering Bai Yu unable to struggle or slip, something he should have done from the start.

Bai Yu scowled at him. She had to be the person who touched him first; otherwise, he would not help secure her. This devious man!

It seemed Ouyang Feilong felt nothing, even after she saw through his plan. He even pressed his nose on her cheek and took a deep breath from her skin. Bai Yu’s mouth hung open.

“Mmm.” Ouyang Feilong had a thinking face, then turned to do the same on her other cheek while she was left red-faced at having her tofu eaten by the Black Dragon.

Slap!

As soon as she regained her composure, she hit his broad shoulder. “What is Wangye doing?!”

“Benwang is smelling vinegar from you.”

Was he saying she was jealous?!

“The smell is quite strong, too.” Then, he pressed his nose against her other cheek, alternating and repeating without caring how she was trying to evade him.

Bai Yu was so embarrassed that she was at a loss of what to do. She tried to slap his shoulder again but was caught by his hand. She did not give up, even though she knew she could not fight his strength. She used her other hand and tried again and was caught again.

Her wrists were held by his one hand. Her waist was entwined by his arm in as tight hold as the one around her wrists.

“Wangye, release me.”

Ouyang Feilong shook his head.

“Release me first.” Bai Yu tried fruitlessly to struggle against him.

“No.” Ouyang Feilong kissed the back of her hand, on the skin he had teased that became darker. “You’ve already come all this way here. Do you really want benwang to release you, Xiao Yu?”

His eyes turned up to meet hers, which had been watching his every move. Two pairs of two colors gazed into each other for a long while to convey the meaning of the word ‘release’ in order to come to an agreement. Finally, Bai Yu shook her head. Ouyang Feilong smiled. A hot kiss pressed onto the back of her hand once more. “This time, benwang will never let you go.”

Bai Yu turned her face away from his gaze. It was obvious that her face was red again. There was no longer a possibility of someone interrupting them since golden magic had enveloped the room before she could notice.

Seeing her reaction, Ouyang Feilong could not help but let out a light chuckle. He was a man, and he had seen various women, both deceitful and innocent. With his growing years, his experience increased. But strangely, his heart, which had always been indifferent to everything, raced just because this woman looked away from him. The more he studied her, the more he felt as if he was in a dream. She was truly in front of him now.

He had already braced his heart when he left. This battle would determine their fate, whether they deserved each other or not. No matter how much he missed her, he never wished for her to go through hardships like he did. He wanted to protect her, even from far away, but she then came near, and he could unexpectedly protect her while within an arm’s reach.

This place and the story after this might be dangerous, but with Bai Yu here, Ouyang Feilong now understood that he was not protecting her one-sidedly. She, too, was protecting him.

“You will stay beside benwang, right?” Her smaller hands were let free. Ouyang Feilong embraced Bai Yu with both arms, pulling her close as he put his chin on her shoulder. He looked at her profile and waited.

“The Emperor...” Her lips revealed the person who Ouyang Feilong had already expected to have a hand in her being here. “...Has sent me to be with Wangye.”

“Is that all?” His hand moved from her waist to her chin, lightly turning her face back to meet him.

“There is a royal decree...” Bai Yu cast her eyes downward to look at the hand that had yet to leave her face. “...If I cannot help Wangye, I am not allowed to return to the capital ever again.”

“So you came because of brother’s order.” His tone was full of hurt, though his eyes glinted when the person who kept refusing to meet his gaze now turned to him with wide eyes.

“That’s not it at all.” Bai Yu shook her head to emphasize, not realizing that she was fooled into looking at his face.

“If it wasn’t because of brother, would you be beside benwang?”

The other person did not have to think or voice an answer. With a slight nod from Bai Yu, Ouyang Feilong beamed. He could not restrain himself from putting his nose to her cheek again.

“I’m all bruised up now.” Bai Yu muttered but could not escape him even once.

“About the first princess, if a marriage is truly necessary, then benwang wants you to help benwang decide.” After he had had his fill of her cheeks, Ouyang Feilong spoke with his face full of smiles.

Bai Yu nodded. But before she could ask what decision she should make, her mouth was taken by his. Ouyang Feilong lightly pressed his lips onto her soft ones before moving away, before he lost control and they could not continue the conversation.

Bai Yu blinked, watching a strange smile from the person who had stolen her kiss in a blink.

“And that matter regarding the second prince, benwang will handle it for you.”

“Yes?” Bai Yu tilted her head. “What matter, Your Highness?”

Ouyang Feilong did not answer. His hand held her wrist and raised it up. “That thing in your sleeve pocket, why don’t you give it to benwang?”

The thing in her left sleeve… Chu Zhaoran’s identification jade!

“Quick.” Ouyang Feilong let go and held out his hands to rush her.

Bai Yu smiled, resigned. She took the golden jade out of the pocket and slowly put it on his palm. And as soon as he had it, Ouyang Feilong gripped the priceless jade so tightly that Bai Yu had to hurry and push the jade away, together with his hands, to show that she did not regret parting with it at all.

Bai Yu was not surprised that Ouyang Feilong knew about it. Still, she was not sure how much he knew about her and Chu Zhaoran. She had no intention of asking, since now that it had come to this, she would leave any decision to him anyway. Staying quiet and obedient was best right now.

“Only benwang’s jade is enough for you.” Despite the grip on the jade, his face showed a strange smile that Bai Yu finally understood as a sign of danger. Her brain rushed to find a way out of this situation.

“What is it?”

It might be because she was staring at him for too long, so now Ouyang Feilong raised his eyebrow and questioned her. Bai Yu said nothing as she moved her face closer to his and lightly pressed her nose to his cheek.

“Oh.” Bai Yu jerked back, eyes wide, with a hand over her mouth in an exaggerated act. Then, she quickly did the same to his other cheek while the man was still stunned and expressionless.

A chuckle escaped her lips. “I can smell vinegar, Your Highness.”

After saying so, she smiled widely to show off her little dimples.

“Heh!” Ouyang Feilong could not suppress a smile.

——————-

* Shu Fei: one of the positions of the royal consort, as following this order from the highest to the lowest rank: Huang Gui Fei, Gui Fei, Shu Fei, De Fei, Sien Fei (the order is referred to only in this novel).