Chapter 357 – The Sweet Princess Was Here – The Meeting (02)
Bai Tang woke up on a plain wooden bed, still digesting the memories of the body’s original owner, when a sudden sharp pain struck his head.
Unable to bear this “aggrievance,” Bai Tang’s soft, milky voice trembled as if he were about to cry. “Qiu’er… didn’t you say memory transmission wouldn’t hurt anymore…?”
His quivering voice and the way his delicate little face scrunched up made Qiu’er’s heart ache. With a sudden jolt—like a dead dog springing to life—he flipped upright. “In theory, it shouldn’t hurt at all! Does it still hurt that much…?”
Xiao A scanned Bai Tang’s body and quickly found the source of the pain.
“The host’s head is bruised—hidden under the hair. That’s why it hurts,” Xiao A explained as he activated the healing function for Bai Tang.
By now, the timeline had reached the period when the people of Huan Kingdom were living in misery, unable to even clothe themselves. The king of Huan Kingdom was prepared to bring Bai Tang and Bai Fangxin to the Wu Dynasty to seek protection.
Before Bai Tang arrived, Bai Fangxin told him that the emperor of the Wu Dynasty was a handsome man who held the power of life and death over the world. She even fabricated countless romantic stories about things that supposedly happened to him.
Having been frail since childhood and raised like a porcelain doll, Bai Tang had never heard such things. Right then and there, he developed admiration for the Wu Emperor. He even went to the queen and said he was willing to contribute to his kingdom by marrying the Wu Emperor as a concubine in exchange for peace for the Huan Kingdom’s people.
A marriage alliance was the fastest solution—even Bai Tang, who knew nothing, understood that much.
The queen flew into a rage, refusing to let her most beloved youngest son marry an old man well past fifty.
But Bai Tang was stubborn and refused to yield. On his way back to the palace, he stepped into a trap Bai Fangxin had set and fell, hitting his head.
Little did Bai Tang know that everything Bai Fangxin had told him was a lie. Because Bai Tang was born of the queen and had always been adored by both parents—and even the palace concubines showered him with affection—while she was only a princess born of a consort. If she hadn’t schemed to draw the king’s attention, she might still be living with her mother in a tiny palace barely better than the cold palace.
Bai Fangxin had grown up hearing the palace servants praise Bai Tang. Her mother constantly told her not to fight, not to snatch—what belonged to her would be hers; what didn’t belong to her couldn’t be taken anyway.
Reality proved her mother wrong. Only by fighting and stealing could Bai Fangxin and her mother be seen by the king, and only then did their living conditions improve dramatically.
Originally, Bai Fangxin had planned to ruin Bai Tang’s beautiful face. Unexpectedly, he was lucky: he only hit his head and fainted. When he woke again, it was Bai Tang—the transmigrator—who had taken over.
“Tang Tang, the female lead of this world is not a good person. Don’t let her appearance fool you.” Qiu’er narrowed his eyes, his impression of the heroine plummeting.
“I won’t.” After receiving treatment, Bai Tang was fully revived—his head no longer hurt, and his spirits were lifted.
The heroine of this world looked like a delicate little white flower—fragile and pitiable. She carried herself humbly, the kind of posture that most easily stirred a man’s compassion.
That was how the king of Huan Kingdom had first been drawn to her. Ever since Bai Fangxin gained his attention, the palace began spreading rumors unfavorable to Bai Tang—such as the Seventh Prince (Bai Tang) being arrogant and unreasonable, unlike the gentle and considerate Third Princess (Bai Fangxin); or how the Seventh Prince was rude and insolent, lacking the Third Princess’s refined manners… That sort of thing. Bai Tang thought back and realized that on the days before each rumor spread, Bai Fangxin had always been beside him.
The heroine’s ambition was obvious.
The queen entered Bai Tang’s chambers, her eyes full of affection and heartache.
“Tang Tang… You’re my youngest child. I’ve always spoiled you. I loved you, but in a way, that love has harmed you too…” The queen covered her face and wept.
Bai Tang didn’t understand, yet he knew that he was the cause of his mother’s sorrow. “Mother Queen… I’m sorry…”
The queen shook her head. “It’s too late now. Your father has decided to take you to the Wu Dynasty. No matter how good the Wu Dynasty may be, it isn’t our home. It’s a long journey across mountains and rivers—once you leave, we may never meet again. And… the Emperor of the Wu Dynasty has certain peculiar preferences that are not spoken of publicly…”
Everything had already been decided. The king of Huan Kingdom had resolved to bring Bai Tang along, largely due to Bai Fangxin’s scheming. She had encouraged Bai Tang to make a scene with the queen who adored him, and once things escalated, she went before the king to play the “good person,” persuading him to take Bai Tang.
After observing Bai Tang’s behavior, the king considered it briefly and agreed.
After all, Bai Tang was the most beautiful of his children; he would surely catch someone’s eye. Bai Fangxin and Bai Tang could also support one another in the Wu Dynasty.
Bai Tang managed—with great effort—to comfort the queen. But just as she left, the king sent someone to inform him to pack his belongings. They would depart in three days.
Bai Tang expressed his thanks and then began selecting items in his chambers with Qiu’er and Xiao A.
Huan Kingdom was truly poor. Even the so-called “fine items” used by the royal family were not even half as good as what Bai Tang had once used.
Nothing was particularly valuable—they were just decorations. Bringing them along would only take up space. It was better to leave them behind, letting these objects remain as mementos for the queen.
Just as she’d said: once he left, who knew when they would meet again?
Thinking of this made the queen’s heart ache. She took her private savings, exchanged them for banknotes, and quietly slipped them into Bai Tang’s bundle.
After much hardship, they finally reached the Wu Dynasty’s capital. Bai Fangxin’s beauty had suffered from the arduous journey; in contrast, Bai Tang’s looks remained untouched by wind or rain. And once they entered the Central Plains—where the air and water were nourishing—his skin seemed even fairer than it had been back home.
The king of Huan Kingdom settled the group at the capital’s guest residence, awaiting the summons of the Wu Emperor.
Bai Fangxin watched as everyone fussed over Bai Tang first and suppressed her rising jealousy. She continued her coaxing: “Seventh Brother, we’re here on a mission. With your looks, you’ll surely be chosen. I probably won’t be so lucky… perhaps I’ll have to return home with Father.”
The beauty lowered her eyes, a lonely expression spreading across her face.
In the past, the original Bai Tang would have comforted her, maybe even done foolish or unpopular things just to cheer her up.
But Bai Tang was no longer that naïve. He didn’t respond with sympathy—he simply nodded earnestly. “It’s good to go back. Mother has advised me too, and I’ve thought it through. Gold nest, silver nest—none of them compare to your own little nest. No matter how comfortable the Wu Dynasty is, it’s still someone else’s home. Being far from familiar lands can’t compare to living freely in the Huan Kingdom~”
This was not what Bai Fangxin wanted. What she wanted was for Bai Tang to belittle himself, promise to speak well of her to the king, and guarantee that at the banquet tomorrow night, he would recommend her as the top candidate.
Upon entering the Wu Dynasty’s capital, Bai Fangxin finally understood what true luxury meant. Even the guest residence used for receiving foreign royalty offered far better food, clothing, and living conditions than anything in the Huan Kingdom. Of course she didn’t want to return. She had to find a way to stay. But with Bai Tang around, the comparison only harmed her—most people would naturally choose Bai Tang over her.
Since Bai Tang refused to respond, Bai Fangxin had no choice but to excuse herself with fatigue and return to rest, secretly plotting her next move.
A day passed in the blink of an eye.
Envoys from the imperial palace arrived to escort the King of the Huan Kingdom inside to meet the emperor.
Golden brilliance, layered terraces, lofted pavilions, walls carved with dragons—beauty everywhere one looked.
Anyone entering the palace for the first time would be struck speechless by the Wu Dynasty’s grandeur. The king of the Huan Kingdom managed to keep his composure; Bai Fangxin, however, gasped again and again. Bai Tang looked around, as though searching for someone.
The eunuch leading them glanced back, taking in everyone’s reactions.
With his head lowered and his tone respectful, he nonetheless sneered inwardly at these “country bumpkins” who had never seen the world.
“King of the Huan Kingdom, Seventh Prince, Third Princess—this way, please.”
“Thank you.” The king naturally noticed the young eunuch’s disdain, but circumstances left him powerless. A man under another’s roof had no choice but to bow his head.
To display national prestige, the Wu Dynasty invited all high-ranking civil and military officials to the banquet. Concubines of noble rank also had seats.
The king of Huan Kingdom was seated at the emperor’s lower left. Across from them sat the crown prince and the other imperial princes.
Wu Chenyi’s heart tightened the moment he saw the young man wearing the Huan Kingdom prince’s robe—his breath quickened, and his heartbeat suddenly surged.
It was him. The boy who had appeared in his dreams countless times. The one who haunted his soul.
Wu Chenyi could see Bai Tang, and of course, Bai Tang saw him as well.
The boy smiled slightly. Two faint dimples appeared on his soft, round face; his eyes curved into crescents, as though he had just spotted something—or someone—that made him deeply happy.
Wu Chenyi’s lips lifted faintly. He summoned his trusted attendant and ordered him to bring a plate of stir-fried pine nuts to the Seventh Prince of the Huan Kingdom.
The attendant was surprised but carried out the order.
Soon, a plate of freshly stir-fried pine nuts was placed before Bai Tang. His face lit up with delight, his eyes sparkling.
He looked up, mouthed a silent “thank you” to Wu Chenyi, then eagerly picked up his chopsticks and placed the pine nuts into his mouth.
Mm~ delicious~
Meanwhile, the Wu Emperor and the King of the Huan Kingdom continued their conversation.
The pine nuts were a bit salty, so Bai Tang reached for the wine cup on the table and drank it in one gulp. A spicy burn spread through his mouth.
“Ah—so spicy~” The boy stuck out his soft pink tongue and fanned his lips with his hand.
His adorable expression made several concubines cover their mouths to stifle laughter. This Seventh Prince was truly beautiful. If they had such a cute child themselves, they would have no trouble luring the emperor into their palace.
Author’s Note:
The imperial concubines’ maternal instincts exploded the moment they saw Tang Tang~