Chapter 1180: Chapter 1180: Too Cold and Too Sweet
Rui’s Mansion.
After dinner, Prince Rui and Princess Rui tried again and again to comfort the Second Young Master.
"Qiyan, now that you’ve come back this time, don’t run off again."
"That’s right, how dangerous it is out there, the Jianghu is treacherous; better to behave yourself and properly be the Princely Heir."
"In a few days your elder brother will be back as well, you two brothers should have a good reunion."
Bai Qiyang nodded, holding his parents’ hands, quite moved. "I won’t leave again."
"No matter how free it is outside, it can’t compare to how safe home is. From now on I’ll stay by Father and Mother’s side and be filial."
Princess Rui smiled gently and with emotion. "Go and rest early. If you need anything, just have the maids see to it."
After that, the couple turned and left.
Mu Xi had been standing not far behind Bai Qiyang the whole time, not daring to step forward.
Only when Prince Rui and his wife had gone did she walk up to Bai Qiyang’s side. "Brother, can I stay too?"
Bai Qiyang looked back, his smile warm. "Of course. Didn’t we already talk it over with my father during dinner?"
"They’ve already agreed to let you stay, you heard it yourself. So Xixi, from now on this is your home. Don’t worry, no one will dare bully us anymore!"
A look of wanting to speak yet holding back showed on Mu Xi’s delicate features. "But I feel like your father doesn’t like me."
Bai Qiyang was surprised. "How could that be? You’re overthinking it."
"It’s true. Otherwise, why didn’t they exchange any pleasantries with me just now? Except for when you spoke up, they never spoke to me."
The maidservant at the side nearly burst out laughing.
What sort of status do the Prince and Princess Consort have; what is there for them to chat about with this outsider young lady.
Bai Qiyang, however, felt Mu Xi had been wronged.
"Maybe it’s because I just came back and Father and the others haven’t had time to react yet. It all happened too suddenly."
"It’s all right, Xixi. Spend more time with my father and mother, and you’ll find they’re very easy to get along with."
"Besides, you helped me; you practically saved my life. My father won’t treat you like thin air."
After hearing this, Mu Xi could only nod.
Just as Bai Qiyang had said, Prince Rui and the others were quite attentive to Mu Xi as well.
Especially after Bai Qiyang emphasized that when he’d been going hungry before, it was Mu Xi who had secretly brought him food.
Princess Rui then all the more generously had people buy a great many silk fabrics and pearl jewelry and sent them to Mu Xi.
She practically treated her as a young lady of the Imperial Mansion.
It was just that, when it came to entering her into the Imperial Family register, Bai Xilie did not agree, and Prince Rui did not agree either.
Bai Qiyang brought it up no more.
Bai Zhi’er, however, considering that her Second Brother had just returned, specially arranged a banquet in the palace to entertain Bai Qiyang.
On this day, Bai Qiyang took Mu Xi along with him to attend the banquet.
For this small palace banquet, Bai Zhi’er had invited mostly her own relatives and friends.
Fang Youzhen and Fang Wushen, the sister and brother, were among them; and of course, Historian Wang’s niece, Jiang Ying, was included as well.
The men’s seats and women’s seats were separate.
Bai Zhi’er sat with Fang Youzhen, Jiang Ying, and Mu Xi in the pavilion.
Jiang Ying was holding a dish of honeydew custard, eating with lingering fragrance in her mouth.
She liked it immensely.
"Princess, isn’t honeydew only in season in the seventh and eighth months? How is it that now it’s winter and we can still eat it!"
Fang Youzhen laughed beside her. "That’s because the Princess has an orchard, planted full of rare fruits from all over the world."
Bai Zhi’er said, "If you like it, before you go home later I’ll have a palace Servant pack some for you to take back, so you can share it with your family."
Frank and forthright, Jiang Ying hurriedly said, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony with the Princess. Let me thank the Princess in advance!"
Just then, Mu Xi, who was sitting to the side, started coughing.
Bai Zhi’er quickly asked, "Miss Mu, what’s wrong, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Mu Xi patted her chest, looking quite uncomfortable as she pushed the honeydew plate in front of her further away.
"It’s so cold, and far too sweet. I can’t eat it."
