Chapter 230 – The Foolish Prince Consort’s Farming Struggles – Am I the One You Love Most? (13)
Bai Tang sat down and leaned into Gao Luo’s arms as he began recounting what had just happened.
He had heard voices next door talking about killing the Seventh and Ninth Princes. One of the voices matched that of the man who had barged in earlier. Bai Tang, with his keen squirrel-like hearing, couldn’t have misheard it.
Uncle Gao began to feel suspicious. He had never mentioned his identity to Gao Luo since he lost his memory, nor had he told Bai Tang. So how did Bai Tang know? Could it be that he had come prepared, specifically targeting the Seventh Prince?
“Who exactly are you?” Uncle Gao asked harshly.
Frightened, Gao Luo hugged his little wife tightly. Uncle Gao was at it again—being fierce. It was just as he suspected: Uncle Gao was trying to help that Baili Bin steal his wife. Uncle Gao had turned into a bad guy too.
When it came to Bai Tang’s identity, Baili Bin had something to say.
“There’s no need to be so tense, Guard Gao,” Baili Bin said, then turned to Bai Tang. “Your name is Bai Tang?”
Bai Tang nodded, and Gao Luo protectively shielded him like a mother hen guarding her chick.
“Then that explains it,” Baili Bin said, exchanging a glance with Tian Xiao. “The Bai family was implicated because of their connection to the Empress’s family.”
Baili Bin took a sip of tea and began to speak of the past.
Three years ago, Baili Luo disappeared, and the Empress’s faction suffered attacks from various powers. The Tang family—maternal relatives of both Baili Luo and Bai;i Bin, and the current Grand Preceptor’s household—were severely affected. Still, the Empress was the mother of the nation, and the Grand Preceptor was not without influence. So the enemies targeted the Grand Preceptor’s trusted subordinates—namely, Bai Tang’s father.
In order to protect the Empress, the Grand Preceptor was forced to sacrifice the Bai family. More than thirty members of the Bai household were executed. At the time, Bai Tang had been recuperating outside and thus escaped the massacre. Afterward, he vanished without a trace.
Baili Bin had recognized Bai Tang because he bore a striking resemblance—about sixty percent—to Lady Bai. Before their marriages, Lady Bai and the Empress had been close friends. Even after marrying, the Empress would occasionally invite Lady Bai into the palace to catch up. Back when Bai Li Bin lived in Fengxi Palace, he had met Lady Bai several times and thus remembered her vividly—hence why he could recognize Bai Tang at a glance.
Bai Tang looked so much like Lady Bai—especially those eyes. Bright almond-shaped eyes, clear and pure, nothing like the calculating stares of the palace concubines who spent their days scheming.
“I… I don’t know. I don’t remember anything,” Bai Tang lowered his head and replied softly.
The Empress had seen Lady Bai once before her death. Lady Bai had pleaded with her to save her child. Bai Tang had always been frail since childhood; a revered monk had said he must be raised in a temple until the age of eighteen to ensure his survival. But by the time the Empress’s men arrived at the temple, it was already engulfed in flames. The fire had claimed the lives of many monks and worshippers, and Bai Tang was nowhere to be found.
After hearing Baili Bin’s account, everyone felt an overwhelming surge of pity for the young boy—especially Gao Luo. His wife’s family had been utterly destroyed, and it was all because of that Empress and Bai Bin. Heart aching, he held his wife close and gently comforted him. “If you’re feeling sad, Tang Tang, just cry. I’m right here.”
In the little white room, Qiu’er muttered, “The Empress’s whole family includes you too, thanks.”
Xiao A chimed in, “Technically, Qiu’er’s not wrong.”
Baili Bin added, “Royal Brother, my whole family includes you too…”
Gao Luo froze mid-hug. “I’m not—I’m not! Don’t make things up!” he protested hurriedly. He was not part of that family. “Tang Tang, don’t believe him. I’m really not…”
Bai Tang had never experienced the love of the original host’s parents. Even the original Bai Tang had grown up in a temple, only seeing his parents during the holidays. Their bond had been distant at best, and so the memories Bai Tang inherited were scant and fragmented.
“Actually,” Bai Tang looked at the anxious Gao Luo, “Ah Luo, you really are part of their family. You’re his older brother.”
Gao Luo panicked. “I’m not, I’m not, I’m not—!” He wasn’t related to Bai Bin. He hadn’t killed his wife’s whole family!
But Bai Tang took Gao Luo’s hand. “It’s just the truth. So, Ah Luo, you have to take responsibility for the rest of my life.”
Hearing this, Gao Luo finally stopped crying and broke into a smile. From now on, he would listen to everything his wife said and love him wholeheartedly.
As night fell, Bai Tang and the others boarded the carriage, ready to return to the village.
This time, since they hadn’t gone to Miaoxin Hall to get medicine, they took a different route.
This street was livelier—and noticeably more… improper.
Red lanterns hung high, and scantily clad women leaned flirtatiously in front of Spring Breeze Pavilion, striking alluring poses.
Bai Tang lifted the curtain to look outside—that place was where the original male side character had lived through the most tragic part of his life.
The windows upstairs glowed brightly, and shadows flitted behind the paper screens. Even without entering, just by looking at the silhouettes, it was clear what was going on inside.
Suddenly, a pair of hands covered Bai Tang’s eyes.
Gao Luo let the curtain fall, refusing to let Bai Tang see outside.
He didn’t know exactly what kind of place that was, but it was obviously no decent establishment. With women wearing so little in public, they couldn’t be proper people. He couldn’t let them corrupt his little wife.
“Tang Tang, that place isn’t fun,” Gao Luo said with a pout.
“Mhm, it’s not fun. That’s not a good place. I won’t go, and you’re not allowed to go either,” Bai Tang replied, looking into Gao Luo’s innocent eyes.
“Okay, we won’t go,” Gao Luo said joyfully, relieved that he had finally shifted his wife’s attention.
Off to the side, Bai Li Bin—force-fed another mouthful of public affection—thought bitterly: Why did I reject Mother Empress’s marriage arrangement back then? If I hadn’t, I’d be the one with an imperial consort in my arms right now.
The carriage gradually left the bustling little town behind, the wheels clattering as they rolled along the mountain path.
Bai Tang studied the map. Once they passed this stretch of mountain road, there would be a large rock ahead, and around it, a lot of Zhengxi grass grew.
“Stop the carriage,” Bai Tang called out.
“Whoa—” Uncle Gao pulled the reins and brought the carriage to a halt.
“What’s wrong?” Gao Luo asked.
Bai Tang smiled. “I’m going to dig up some herbs for you.”
As soon as the others heard he was gathering herbs for Gao Luo, even Baili Bin, who had been half-asleep, suddenly perked up.
If it can heal Royal Brother, what are we waiting for? Let’s go, let’s go!
Uncle Gao drove the carriage off the road and into the woods. The group cut a few branches, tore up some old clothes, and wrapped them around the ends to make simple torches, then followed Bai Tang into the forested mountainside.
Gao Luo held tightly onto Bai Tang, always staying one step ahead. At each stretch of the path, he would go first to check for danger before letting Bai Tang pass.
“It’s fine, really. You don’t need to worry,” Bai Tang said.
In a place like the forest, no one understood danger better than Bai Tang. The squirrel’s keen sense of smell and instinct were his life-saving skills.
Finally, the group arrived at the large boulder. Bai Tang picked up a torch and peered into the narrow crack between the rocks. “See that? Those are Zhengxi herbs.”
“But we can’t get in there,” Tian Xiao said. The crack was too narrow, and their bodies too large to squeeze through. The only one who might be able to get in… was probably the Seventh Prince’s consort.
Due to years of malnutrition, Bai Tang was slim and frail. Though he was already seventeen, he looked more like fourteen or fifteen—and even thinner than average at that.
“I can do it.” Bai Tang handed the torch to Uncle Gao.
Gao Luo didn’t want Bai Tang risking himself alone. He pulled him back, refusing to let him go.
“It’s fine. So many people are watching me. Nothing will happen.”
“No, no, I won’t let you go.”
“You said you’d listen to me back in the carriage. Now you’re being disobedient.”
Gao Luo still looked unhappy, but he loosened his grip on Bai Tang’s arm.
“Be good. Once I get the herbs, you’ll get better.” Bai Tang gently stroked Gao Luo’s cheek. Taking advantage of Gao Luo’s loosened hold, he swiftly turned and slipped into the crevice.
“Be careful…”
“Take it slow…”
“Watch your head…”
“Okay, okay, once you get enough, come out…”
From the moment Bai Tang went in, Gao Luo lay by the crack calling out to him constantly.
Inside the narrow space, with his back to the others, Bai Tang’s hand morphed into a squirrel’s paw. He carefully but efficiently dug into the soil near the Zhengxi herbs.
This ability was really handy—he didn’t even have to fully transform into a squirrel. Perfect.
Bai Tang thought happily, completely forgetting the awkward scene the first time he’d partially transformed.
He dug up one plant after another, clearly determined not to leave a single Zhengxi herb behind.
After all, this patch was unclaimed. Whoever found it first, owned it. These herbs had to belong to his future husband.
As time passed, the torches began to burn low. Gao Luo’s voice had grown hoarse from calling. “Tang Tang, come out now. That’s enough. It’s getting dark—let’s go home.”
Suddenly, Baili Bin found himself feeling a little envious of his older brother. How nice it would be to have someone treat him like that—someone who didn’t care about appearances, who stuck with you even if your brain didn’t work quite right.
“I’m done~”
The boy’s voice was full of excitement. He looked at the pile of Zhengxi herbs on the ground. With this much medicine, Ah Luo would definitely get better.
Qiu’er: “If he eats that whole pile in one go, I don’t know if the male lead will get better, but he’ll definitely die from it.”
Xiao A: “Can you say a little less?”
Bai Tang: “……”
Bai Tang first tossed the Zhengxi herbs out, and Baili Bin and the others caught them. Only then did he begin crawling out of the crevice himself.
As soon as he emerged, Gao Luo was already waiting with clothes in hand.
“Tang Tang, are you cold? Let’s hurry home and take a hot bath, then drink something spicy and warming—ginger soup! You mustn’t catch a cold…” Gao Luo wrapped a coat around Bai Tang and took his icy hands, breathing warm air onto them to try and warm them up.
“Get in the carriage,” he said, scooping Bai Tang up into his arms and carrying him inside.
Once onboard, Gao Luo immediately rummaged through their bundles for handkerchiefs and cloths, then gently began drying Bai Tang’s hair.
The night air was chilly and damp, and the moisture between the rocks was heavy. After staying in that crevice for so long, Bai Tang was nearly soaked with dew.
“Here, drink some water,” Gao Luo said, opening a water pouch. It was filled earlier that afternoon at the restaurant with hot water, but now it had long since gone cold. Gao Luo didn’t realize this—he just looked on eagerly, hoping that once Bai Tang drank it, he’d feel better.
Bai Tang graciously accepted, sipping the water in small, polite gulps.
Just as Baili Bin happily boarded the carriage carrying the bundle of Zhengxi herbs, he was greeted by the heartwarming scene—and suddenly, he thought: Maybe Royal Brother is actually pretty good like this. If he wakes up and turns back into that cunning, manipulative Seventh Prince—the one who tricks you into thanking him after he’s used you—this boy definitely won’t be able to escape from the palm of his hand.
“Royal Brother, ahem, could you move over a little?” Baili Bin asked, pointing to the bundle that had taken over his seat.
Gao Luo shot him a glare. “You can sit outside with Uncle Gao and the others.”
Baili Bin: Wuwuwu… Royal Brother, that’s not fair. You used to dote on me the most. Am I still the one you love most or not…?
Author’s Note:
Baili Bin: “Am I still the one you love the most? Why won’t you say anything?”
Baili Luo (coldly): “No.”