Chapter 61 – Rebirth: The Poisonous Concubine (02)
Madam Bai’s words were final: If you want to go out, you’re not allowed to bring money. If you want money, you’re not allowed to go out.
Bai Mo had always been an obedient child, rarely going against his elders. To avoid upsetting Madam Bai, he decided to comply—no money, then no money. After all, he still had Xiao Bobao.
Xiao Moneybag Bobao: Mo Mo, where are your manners?
It was Bai Mo’s first time in an ancient-era world, and everything felt novel to him.
He wandered around half the garden before voluntarily heading to the study to read “Zhi Hu Zhe Ye” (archaic classical Chinese).
When Madam Bai brought Minister Bai to see his son diligently studying, the minister stroked his beard with satisfaction. Not bad, not bad. Books hold endless wisdom—reading more will teach him the principles of life.
“Dear, look how sensible Mo Mo has become. Now that he’s grown up, he needs to learn more about the world. As they say, ‘Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.’ Sending him far away would be too much, but tonight’s Lantern Festival is the perfect opportunity. Let him go out—first, to broaden his horizons instead of being confined to his mother’s care, and second, to test whether he has truly reformed.” Madam Bai skillfully pleaded for her youngest son’s freedom.
“You always have a way with words. Mo Mo is spoiled, and it’s all because of you.” Minister Bai sighed, sounding exasperated but clearly affectionate.
He and his wife had been childhood sweethearts, married in their youth, and had never quarreled—except once when he refused to let her have another child. Madam Bai had secretly conceived Mo Mo and didn’t tell him until it was too late. By the time he found out, she was already far along in her pregnancy, and there was no choice but to have the baby. Worse still, she had a difficult labor.
When it came to their youngest son, his feelings were mixed—he both loved and resented him. He tried to be strict, but every time he did, Madam Bai would glare at him in protest.
Sigh…
But Mo Mo was indeed intelligent and adorable, even if he refused to focus on the right things. He was mischievous but also deeply filial. Minister Bai found himself unable to either scold or punish him. Over time, his leniency had shaped Mo Mo’s current personality.
“They say a father should be strict, while a mother should be kind. If you’re already playing the strict father, then if I don’t play the kind mother, how is Mo Mo supposed to live?” Madam Bai leaned against her husband’s shoulder, and the two exchanged knowing smiles.
“Fine, fine. I can’t argue with you. Mo Mo is just like you—full of twisted logic.”
“Well, I gave birth to him. Of course, he takes after me…”
The little snow ferret, dizzy from all the reading, had no idea that his adoptive parents had just argued over him.
Xiao Bobao: “You call that an argument? I’ve read a lot of books, and this looks more like a public display of affection to me.”
The lonely little panda’s sorrow flowed like a river. When will my own romance come?
Most of the matchmaking system candidates weren’t interested in love—out of ten, at least eight were just after her points. And the other two? Even worse. They actually tried to steal her potential matches. After getting together, they even demanded that she transfer Mo Mo’s contract under their name.
D*mn it! Not only do they want the golden eggs, but they also want the hen that lays them. They may not be pretty, but they sure think highly of themselves.
Tsk…
Time passed as Bai Mo regretted stepping into the study, while Xiao Bobao continued ranting about the shameless matchmaking systems.
As night fell, lanterns were lit across the residence, and the stone lantern stands were adorned with glowing candles.
Inside the room, Bai Mo changed into a light moon-white robe with the help of Jin Xin, the senior maid. His hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, his face was cleansed, and a touch of moisturizing balm was applied. And just like that, a soft, fragrant little snow ferret was born.
“Sister Jin Xin, is this okay?” The bronze mirror wasn’t very clear, so the young boy had to ask for a second opinion.
“You look wonderful. I guarantee that if you walk out like this, you’ll surely charm many young ladies from noble families,” Jin Xin said with a smile.
For some reason, even though nothing about the young master had changed except for his new outfit, he suddenly seemed more lovable than ever. The more she looked at him, the more she adored him—especially when he smiled, his eyes sparkling like stars.
“All right then, I’m off! I’ll be back late, so don’t stay up waiting for me, Sister Jin Xin. Go to bed early—beauty sleep is important for good skin~”
The young boy jumped off the chair, and before his voice had even faded, he was already out of sight.
Madam was right—Young Master had truly grown up. He even cared about the servants now.
Having served Bai Mo for nearly ten years, Jin Xin felt a wave of emotion.
Although the young master was considerate of her, as the head maid, Jin Xin still had her responsibilities. After Bai Mo left with his entourage of attendants, she gathered the newly assigned maids in his courtyard and gave them a stern warning.
“Young Master has a kind heart and won’t punish servants without reason. But if I catch any of you taking advantage of his kindness to slack off, don’t blame me for being the villain. I’ll report you to Madam, and you’ll be flogged and thrown out of the estate.”
“Of course, if you work hard and do well, both Madam and Young Master will reward you…”
“Yes, we will heed your teachings, Sister Jin Xin,” the maids responded respectfully.
The little snow ferret who had just left the Bai Estate felt like a caged bird set free.
Now, he finally understood why the original host disliked studying so much—if it were him, he wouldn’t be able to tolerate it either.
The books here were far harder to comprehend than modern ones, and there were many characters he didn’t recognize. He could barely get through a passage by guessing, reading the words but not truly understanding their meaning.
Xiao Bobao gloated, “Learning has no limits, Mo Mo! The sea of knowledge is vast—take your time and enjoy the journey~”
Finally! Mo Mo couldn’t rely on his book smarts to twist logic to his advantage. This was satisfying!
The culture of Jin Country wasn’t overly strict on women. While the mainstream belief still upheld the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, it wasn’t unheard of for women to run businesses. Most were from impoverished backgrounds with no men in the family. Over time, this trend spread to merchant and noble families—wealthy and powerful women whom no one dared to provoke.
The Lantern Festival was a product of this cultural shift, originally meant for strong-willed women to select their husbands. Over the years, it evolved into a night where even unmarried noblewomen could step out into the streets in search of a suitable match.
Humming an unfamiliar tune, Bai Mo strolled leisurely through the bustling streets, marveling at everything he saw. Authentic candied hawthorn skewers, lifelike figurines crafted from dough, and lively street performances—it wasn’t anything particularly luxurious, but it was a fresh and novel experience, something he had never encountered before.
“Xiao Bobao, look! He’s swallowing a sword!”
The little snow ferret had never seen such a spectacle before. With no seats available, the crowd was packed tightly around the street performance, layer upon layer, all cheering enthusiastically.
Being short in stature, the little snow ferret was stuck on the outer edge of the crowd. No matter how hard he tried to stand on his tiptoes, he couldn’t see anything happening in the middle.
“Ugh, this is so unfair! Don’t people understand the concept of first come, first served? Why isn’t anyone lining up properly?” The boy muttered to himself, kicking a small stone on the ground in frustration.
Suddenly, a low chuckle came from behind him. Already in a bad mood, Bai Mo became even more irritated at being laughed at.
“Who’s there? What are you laughing at?!” The boy turned around angrily, puffing his cheeks.
His attendants were stuck outside the crowd, while behind him stood a man wearing a theatrical mask. The laughter had come from him.
“What’s so funny? Stop laughing~” Bai Mo’s voice was soft and slightly whiny, his tone rising at the end like a little kitten trying to act fierce. He naively believed his cute growl would intimidate the man, unaware that, in the stranger’s eyes, he looked utterly adorable rather than threatening.
The man chuckled. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop laughing. I just remembered a funny joke, and I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t laughing at a little kitten throwing a tantrum…”
Yu Chenyì hadn’t expected that being sent out by his mother to meet his never-before-seen fiancé at the Lantern Festival would lead him to discover a little kitten instead. So cute.
Xiao Bobao: “Mo Mo, he’s insulting you in his head. He’s calling you a toothless kitten.”
Bai Mo: “!” What nonsense! A kitten? Was a kitten as handsome as him? As powerful as him? As majestic as him?
“Don’t call me a kitten. I’m a great snow ferret!” Bai Mo declared indignantly. This was a serious matter—species identity should not be taken lightly.
The man let out another light laugh. “Alright, alright, you’re a great snow ferret.” Perhaps the boy just preferred snow ferrets.
His little fiancé was truly adorable.
All noble families had their own identifying symbols, and the jade pendant hanging from the boy’s waist was precisely the token the Yu family had given the Bai family.
The boy’s age matched perfectly, and he carried the jade pendant with him. Aside from Bai Mo, Yu Chenyi couldn’t think of anyone else he could be.
“Young Master Bai, if you don’t mind, I can take you to a place with a better view.”
Yu Big-Tailed Wolf Chenyi took out a sweet, enticing red apple, patiently waiting for the little rabbit to take the bait.
“I’m not going.” Bai Mo’s sense of caution was still intact—he firmly refused to go anywhere with a stranger. This man seemed suspicious, and who knew what kind of tricks he had up his sleeve?
“Thank you, everyone! Thank you, dear villagers! If you enjoyed our performance, we hope those who can spare money will contribute money, and those who can offer help will offer help…”
Unknowingly, the acrobatics performance had come to an end. The performer walked around with a bronze gong, hoping for some tips.
The crowd had been enjoying the show, but the moment it was time to pay, they quickly dispersed. As people pushed outward, Bai Mo, who had his back to the stage, was caught off guard and stumbled forward.
“Careful!”
A pleasant scent of grass and wood drifted into his nose, mixed with a crisp, fresh hint of spring water. That smell…
Bai Mo froze for a moment, dazed, as he was steadied by strong hands. His gaze landed blankly on Yu Chenyi’s mask.
“Are you alright?”
The man’s deep, gentle voice sounded so familiar. Bai Mo felt frustrated—he should have recognized it immediately.
“What’s your name?” the young man asked, reaching out to remove the man’s mask.
Revealed beneath the mask was an extraordinarily handsome face—sharp features, defined contours, and eyes filled with a teasing warmth. At that moment, a single phrase floated into Bai Mo’s mind: ‘As refined as jade, a young master without equal.’
“I am Yu Chenyi, your fiancé. So? Are you satisfied with me?”
Boom—
The man’s smooth confession made Bai Mo’s face flush red. Clenching his fist, he half-heartedly punched Yu Chenyi’s chest in protest.
How infuriating! Not only did he not find me first, but he’s also laughing at me. Laugh, laugh, laugh—what’s so funny?!
“You can sleep on the floor from now on.” The boy huffed, saying it out of spite, only to have his fist caught in Yu Chenyo’s palm.
“That won’t do. Your husband is weak and frail—if I sleep on the floor, I’ll catch a cold. Would you really be that cruel, Mo Mo?”
Yu Chenyi was delighted that Bai Mo had recognized his identity. More importantly, Bai Mo didn’t seem entirely opposed to him in that way.
The moment Yu Cheniì realized that his childhood betrothal was to this boy, his initial reluctance transformed into eager anticipation.
The two of them were exceptionally good-looking, making it impossible to go unnoticed while pulling and tugging at each other in the middle of the street. After the crowd dispersed, Bai Mo’s attendants finally noticed their young master being entangled with a strange man and quickly rushed toward them.
“Come with me~” Bai Mo glanced at the approaching attendants, grabbed Yu Chenyi’s hand, and turned to run.
Using the crowd for cover, they dodged and weaved through the streets, disguising themselves along the way. Before long, they had successfully shaken off their pursuers.
“Young Master is missing! Let’s split up and search for him!”
As the attendants ran past, Bai Mo finally removed his mask and made a mischievous face at their retreating backs.
“How are you so sure we lost them? Aren’t you afraid Lady Bai will scold you?” Yu Chenyi asked curiously. Bai Mo was, after all, the madam’s beloved treasure—he was fiercely protected.
The boy stuffed a pig-head mask into Yu Chenyi’s hands and said, “What does that have to do with me? You’re the one who kidnapped me. If anyone asks, they’ll come looking for you. Everyone saw it happen, okay~?”
With that, Bai Mo took off running, leaving behind a dumbfounded Yu Chenyì.
“I…” Yu Chenyi chuckled in amusement. He hadn’t expected to be tricked so easily. Just as he was about to give chase, the mask vendor hurried over.
“Young Master, you haven’t paid yet!”
Realizing that Bai Mo was already far ahead, Yu Chenyi instinctively reached for the pouch at his waist—only to find it missing.
Huh?
Looking up, he saw the young man holding the money pouch triumphantly, waving it in the air like a trophy.
“I’m hungry. I’ll be waiting for you at the restaurant up ahead—don’t take too long~”