CHAPTER TWO

After returning to her courtyard, Bai Lang took a refreshing bath and adorned herself in a lovely outfit.

Seated in front of the mirror, she watched as Lou Meng delicately combed her hair. The ten-year-old girl was dressed in a delicate pink robe made from the finest fabric, adorned with embroidered plum blossoms.

The robe enhanced her youthful appearance, giving her a healthy and vibrant glow.

Lou Meng skillfully styled Bai Lang's hair into two buns on top of her head, a hairstyle commonly worn by young girls.

To complete the look, Lou Meng added a beautifully crafted gold Buyao, a hair accessory that caught Bai Lang's attention.

It was a rare find in the kingdom of Sha, making Bai Lang appreciate its intricate design even more.

As Bai Lang admired her reflection, Lou Meng gently put down the wooden comb.

"Third Miss, you look absolutely stunning, this Buyao complements you perfectly."

Seeing the joyful smile on Bai Lang's face, Lou Meng knew that she had succeeded in making the young girl happy.

"Let's proceed." Bai lang muttered, Her response fell short of Lou meng expectations.

Why wasn't the young miss showering her with compliments like she used to? Lou Meng pondered, a frown etched on her face.

Exiting the courtyard, Lou meng trailed behind Bai Lang and followed her into the main yard. Stepping into the main hall, Bai Lang caught sight of what she assumed to be her grandfather, father, the main wife, and her father's three concubines, including her concubine mother.

"Bai Lang greets zufu, fuqin, zumu, muqin, and niang." Bai Lang greeted respectfully.

The conversation in the room halted as Bai Lang entered, capturing everyone's attention.

Bai Lang's grandfather, Bai Si, erupted in a hearty laugh. Bai Si had a genuine love for his grandchildren, and seeing the one who was once on the brink of death now in perfect health brought him immense joy.

"Bai Lang, please take a seat. We wouldn't want any illness to resurface in you," Bai Kang, Bai Lang's father, advised.

Lou Meng assisted Bai Lang as she settled into her seat. "I apologize for causing you worry, fuqin."

Bai Kang remained silent, taken aback by his youngest daughter's newfound assertiveness.

Qu Rou Li, Bai Kang's official wife, spoke up instead. "It's wonderful to see Xiao Lang doing well, don't you agree, Sou Rou Xue?"

Bai Lang felt a wave of confusion wash over her as she tried to comprehend the situation.

"What's happening?" she asked, her face displaying her bewilderment. The majority of the adults in the room smiled at the sight of the young girl's adorable confusion, her tilted head and innocent expression making them yearn to spoil her.

"It's truly delightful," Sou Qing, Bai Lang's father's second concubine and her mother's paternal cousin, chimed in.

"Xiao Lang, remember to visit Aunt later. I have your favorite candied Kumquats," Sou Qing invited, to which Bai Lang bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you, sou Qing niang," she replied, her adorable smile putting Sou Qing's mind at ease.

Concerned about the child's well-being under her cousin's care, Sou Qing had worried due to Su Rou Xue's reputation of not being gentle or motherly. Bai Lang's timid nature only added to Sou Qing's apprehension.

Bai Lang scanned the room, sensing that the tension in the air had yet to dissipate. Her grandfather and father appeared upset, the main wife wore an aggrieved expression, and the woman she now identified as her mother had tear stains on her cheeks.

While others may have felt pity for a weeping beauty, Bai Lang recognized the anger hidden behind her mother's teary eyes.

"Xiao Lang, this concubine mother is overjoyed to see you better," Su Rou Xue sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

She used a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, making her eyes even redder.

"You should have rested more. I know you're still weak from your illness."

The woman speaking was none other than Su Rou Xue, Bai Lang's biological mother. Her cries echoed through the room, as if mourning someone's demise.

As Bai Kang's first concubine, Yun Yi, rolled her eyes at the dramatic women, Bai Lang couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. It seemed that no one paid Su Rou Xue any mind, as if this kind of scene was a regular occurrence.

Bai Kang sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated.

"Xiao Lang, are you feeling better now?"

To Bai Lang, the question felt more like a statement than an actual inquiry.

" Answering Fuqin, your daughter is feeling better now. I actually woke up a week ago, but I wanted to be well-rested before visiting you. I apologize for being unfilial, but I didn't want all of you to catch my cold."

"A cold?" Bai Kang repeated, confusion evident on his face.

Bai Lang's adorable face turned sad. "Yes, father. The doctor told me I couldn't leave my room or my cold would worsen. I wanted to see you and zufu, but I had to follow the doctor's orders."

Fourteen pairs of eyes turned towards Su Rou Xue, silently questioning why she was crying over a simple cold.

Su Rou Xue avoided their gazes, pretending not to see, and instead glared at Bai Lang. However, Bai Lang chose to ignore her glares.

A hint of guilt washed over Bai Si and Bai Kang's hearts. They realized that they hadn't paid much attention to the youngest girl until Su Rou Xue had brought her up, but it wasn't entirely their fault.

Bai Lang had always kept to herself and distanced herself from the family. It was rare to see her twice in a week.

"Bai Lang, I will accompany you later. Go and visit your siblings. They have been worried about you," Bai Kang said, granting her permission to leave.

Feeling excused, Bai Lang knew that they would continue discussing what went unsaid earlier. She left the main hall and made her way to the main gardens, where her older sisters were waiting. Her two eldest brothers were with their teachers and wouldn't be present.

From what Bai Lang had gathered about her current family, Bai Si was the current patriarch of the Bai family. The Bai family only had one branch since Bai Si's brothers had died due to an internal fight within the family.

Bai Si had only one child, Bai Kang, who had one wife and three concubines.

The wife, Qu Rou Li, had two children: Bai Sheng, the eldest son at sixteen years old, and Bai Lui, the eldest daughter at fourteen years old.

Bai Lang overheard the servants gossiping about the prime minister's son showing interest in Bai Lui, who was about to reach a marriageable age.

Bai Kang's first concubine, Yun Yi, didn't have any children but was still highly favored, even by Qu Rou Li. The second concubine was Su Qing, Su Rou Xue's paternal cousin.

The only difference was that Su Qing's family came from a merchant background. Su Qing had twins, a second son named Bai Wen and a second daughter named Bai Nuo, both thirteen years old.

The third and final concubine was Su Rou Xue, Bai Lang's biological mother. Su Rou Xue hailed from a marquise house, unlike her cousin.

From what Bai Lang could gather, Su Rou Xue was a troublemaker. Sooner or later, she would drag Bai Lang into her schemes. However, Bai Lang wanted no part in it. She wanted to live a life she couldn't in her past life, and in order for that to happen, she needed to distance herself from her concubine mother.

Bai Lang spotted her sisters in the center of the garden, surrounded by servants who were setting up a table with tea and sweets. Other servants held umbrellas, shielding the young misses from the sun's rays.

"Jie jie?" Bai Lang called out sweetly, eager to finally meet her new sisters and see what they were like.