After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

After the formal banquet, everyone took the opportunity to connect and probe each other's intentions.

As the host, I will also provide a suitable place for the guests to sit and chat.

After escorting Baili Ce to the pavilion where Lin Zhangsi was, Seventeen was then sent off by Baili Ce to eat.

Similarly, there were several other close maids who served the head of the household or the family.

"Young lady, you have such a good temper. You didn't even get angry just now?"

Zhou Tianli has always been intolerant of any imperfections; she wouldn't have stayed if she hadn't wanted to catch up with Baili Ce and the others.

Bai Li Ce didn't think that way. He believed that being able to eat at someone else's house was like saving money for himself, so what was wrong with that?

But she shook her head, took a sip of tea, and feigned deep regret, saying, "This 'Snow Ridge Spring Tea' is originally an excellent tea, which can be simply brewed with boiling water. However, some people pretend to be sophisticated and use snow water to brew it, which ruins the tea's properties."

"But the tea's quality has already deteriorated, so why say more?"

"Pfft..." Manager Lin burst out laughing. "What you say is absolutely right, young lady."

He turned and patted Zhou Tianli's hand. "Alright, alright, we don't need to get so worked up over those people. We haven't seen each other for so long, so tell me, what interesting things have happened outside?"

Lin Zhangsi's family were originally palace officials, responsible for purchasing goods for the imperial city. In her generation, she became a palace etiquette official with the highest score in the civil service examination, responsible for teaching etiquette to the empress, concubines, princesses and noble ladies. She often worked in the palace, so she was naturally not very clear about what was happening outside.

"Oh, you didn't know that?" Zhou Tianli was two years younger than Manager Lin, but she didn't mince words and immediately looked at Baili Ce with a strange expression.

"Hmm?" Manager Lin followed Zhou Tianli's gaze and looked over.

Then Baili Ce stiffened up under the latter's malicious and gloating gaze.

"..." Zhou Tianli continued watching, of course. As long as she was thick-skinned enough, it would be Baili Ce who would be embarrassed.

Manager Lin was also full of expectations.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, I'll tell you." Gossiping is indeed human nature.

Bai Li Ce finally gave in, but he was unwilling to explain too clearly. "It's just that my old master was engaged to Wang Shi a long time ago, and he came to our door recently."

"Hahaha..." Zhou Tianli couldn't stop laughing.

Manager Lin rolled his eyes at her helplessly, "The Wang family of Lincheng?"

"right"

After listening, Manager Lin remained silent for a long while, his brows furrowing repeatedly, genuinely worried. "This is not a good marriage."

"What's wrong with it?!" Zhou Tianli teased deliberately.

"Wang Qingyan, the head of the Wang family, is only twenty-three years old. He is in his prime and full of talent. He has no parents or elderly parents, and no siblings."

"He doesn't even have a single concubine by his side. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the young lady were to marry him?"

You're so beautiful!

Bai Li Ce mentally spat a sticky mouthful of saliva at Zhou Tianli's face, "You talk so well, why don't I see your Zhou family going to discuss marriage?"

Hearing Baili Ce say this, Zhou Tianli immediately feigned melancholy, "Sigh, I'd like to go, but unfortunately I'm already thirty years old, I'm really not good enough for you~"

Bai Lize felt his fists harden. "Oh, so I'm not good enough for you?"

"Isn't it enough that people think you're good enough for them?" she said sarcastically.

Lin, who was stunned by what he heard, asked, "What do you mean?"

"I..." Baili Ce was about to say something when Zhou Tianli grabbed him and pressed him down.

"Let me tell you, let me tell you!" Zhou Tianli became very interested at the mention of this, and she leaned close to Manager Lin's ear and began to vividly describe it, embellishing the story...

But as Chief Manager Lin listened, his expression grew increasingly grave...

Instead of mocking Baili Ce, he sincerely and patiently advised, "This... the previous head of the Wang family controlled the Wang family for nearly forty years. I have met his son twice. He is of excellent character and talent and has never made any major mistakes."

"But when the old patriarch Wang passed away, he did not pass the position to his own son, but to Wang Qingyan."

"This is illogical."

"None of the forty-eight officials in charge of the Wang family objected."

"This clearly demonstrates that his methods and scheming are extraordinary."

"If you, Baili clan, were to marry such a person, it might seem glamorous and beneficial on the surface, but in reality, you would likely face limitations at every turn."

"Moreover, the way for aristocratic families to survive is to be half-full and half-reduced, and not to be too sharp."

"Marrying into the Wang family is not only a case of attracting trouble, but also..." Chief Lin paused for a moment. Although she often moved around in the inner palace, she could see some of the affairs of the previous dynasty.

These words shouldn't have been said, but after a moment's thought, I decided to give Baili Ce a heads-up, "He could very well use them to defend against open and covert attacks."

"Young lady, even if you meant it, you should still consider the long-term survival of your family."

Look, look, this is what true sisterhood is all about.

These words truly touched her heart. "Your words, Master, are heartfelt and I will remember them. However, this is not something I can simply refuse."

“That’s right,” Zhou Tianli said, having finished her joke, she became serious. “If the head of the Wang family dared to stop her in the street, would he be afraid of her rejection?”

"Besides, after this commotion, how many families would still dare to marry her?"

"Even if they're not afraid of gossip, they're probably afraid of offending the Wang family."

Bai Li Ce was also worried about this. Although it didn't matter whether he got married or not, offending the Wang family would always be troublesome.

So she stayed behind to hear their advice. "Then, according to Patriarch Zhou, what should I do?"

The Zhou family head rested his chin on his hand on the table. Since they were acquaintances, there was no need to be too formal. "What else can you do? Find an even bigger backer, of course."

She was straightforward and acted freely, but since becoming the head of the family, she often had to compromise for the sake of the family's interests and think things through carefully. "Hey, don't even think about getting married into my family. My family can't afford to offend the Wang family."

"..." Damn, she actually figured it out.

Bai Li Ce had no choice but to abandon the idea, lamenting the hardships of life, "Everyone thinks that when noble families marry, the more powerful the better."

"Little did they know that the greater the power, the greater the risk."

"Just find someone who can help you take the risks, right?" Zhou Tianli said casually, but with a hidden meaning.

Pooh!

Bai Li Ce finally couldn't help but glare at her, "If you can't even rely on yourself, who can you rely on? If you grovel and act subservient, you'll only be eaten alive, leaving nothing but bones. What glory will you ever have?"

Manager Lin breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm relieved that you think that way, but..."

"Something terrible has happened!" Just then, a servant from the He family ran over.

Upon seeing other people arrive, Zhou Tianli immediately straightened her posture. "What is it?"

"There's been trouble in the kitchen and someone got injured. The head of the family would like to ask Head Zhou and Manager Lin to go and take a look."

If it were just people from the He family causing trouble, they certainly wouldn't have come to call for help.

Manager Lin and Zhou Tianli exchanged a glance, sensing something was wrong. "Who's causing trouble?"

"Yes... your personal maids," the servant reported humbly, bowing low, afraid of being scolded mercilessly.

Manager Lin's expression immediately turned serious. The people she brought out were known for their propriety and intelligence; how could they possibly cause trouble outside?

"It's probably the He family's servants deliberately stirring up trouble. Let's go take a look."

"Okay," Zhou Tianli said guiltily, glancing at Baili Ce, a hint of panic flashing across her face.

“Then I’ll go with…” Baili Ce made a move to stand up.

However, Zhou Tianli immediately advised her to go back, saying, "There are too many people and too many eyes in the kitchen, so you shouldn't go, young lady."

Hmm? Baili Ce was puzzled. Why all of a sudden...?

Something's wrong with you!

Zhou Tianli immediately realized this as well, and quickly changed her approach, "Some people aren't like me, they have nothing to do with you, young lady. If you go, then the He family head..."

What follows is self-evident.

Oh ~

That makes sense. "Okay, then you two go ahead and get busy. I'll wait here for Seventeen."

After exchanging polite farewells, Manager Lin and Patriarch Zhou quickly followed the servant.

"Whoosh—" Sure enough, a dark shadow swept past her sight a moment later and disappeared behind the artificial hill.

Once he was sure they were far away, Baili Ce got up, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the shadowy figures, continuing until he reached behind the artificial hill.

In the apricot grove behind the artificial hill, the young master Wang was standing under a tree, his eyes full of curiosity as he picked a green apricot and stuffed it into his mouth, grimacing and wincing violently from the sourness.

Fruit biting incident.

"Greetings, Young Master Wang."

"See... hiss..." Lu Jian didn't expect Baili Ce to come by himself, and so quickly. As soon as he opened his mouth to return the greeting, saliva immediately flowed out and dripped onto his clothes, the kind that he didn't even have time to wipe away.

Oops! He had no choice but to quickly turn his back to her and take out a handkerchief to wipe the drool off his clothes.

From Baili Ce's perspective, one could vaguely see the trembling of his hands and his extreme embarrassment and panic.

"Ahem..." But after all, he was a man destined for great things. After a moment, Lu Jian turned around with elegance and composure.

"You don't seem surprised at all to see me here, young lady?"

Bai Li Ce smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a knowing look, "Wasn't it you, young master, who led me here?"

“How come you see?”

"It's no fun if you explain it so clearly." In short, she has little patience for things she's not interested in.

"Heh," Lu Jian smiled confidently, a hint of dissatisfaction in his smile, but he maintained his distance from Baili Ce.

"I heard that something unpleasant happened to the young lady on her way to the He family."

"It was truly unpleasant." When those people dressed in red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple appeared, Baili Ce knew that such a moment would come.

It's estimated that for the next six months or so, she will become a laughing stock.

"If you wish to laugh, then do so; there's no need to inform me specifically."

Seeing that Baili Ce was about to leave, Lu Jian quickly called out to him, "Young lady, you have misunderstood."

"..." Out of politeness, Baili Ce stopped again.

Lu Jian's eyes lit up with a sly glint in them. "I wanted to tell you, young lady, that I was the one who did it."

"!!!" So it was you, you bastard, who tipped me off!

Baili Ce laughed, "It seems this is the first time I've met you, young master?"

"indeed"

Bai Li Ce took two steps closer with a forced smile. "Then why did you harm me, young master?"

"I just wanted to see how the young lady would treat Lady Wang."

Bai Li Ce moved closer, his demeanor both dignified and composed, elegant yet unhurried, yet filled with an invisible sense of oppression. "Oh? Could it be that you, young master, wish to seize power from the royal family?"

“You could say that,” Lu Jian said, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by admiration.

Stopping three steps away from Lu Jian, and looking at his completely composed expression, Bai Li Ce suddenly began to believe this explanation.

"But as far as I know, there is no Wang family more prominent than the Wang family head."

She had met the son of the previous head of the Wang family.

Although that person was of good character and talent, his mind was not on power, fame, or fortune.

Simply put, his ambition is to roam the world freely and live a carefree life.

Lu Jian suddenly smiled enigmatically, "What if..."

"Is it a king among princes, dukes, generals, and ministers?"

"..." The smile on Baili Ce's face gradually disappeared.

He then understood what he meant and immediately became slender!

Then Lu Jian helped him up.

He quickly withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back. Suddenly, Lu Jian's entire image became incredibly noble, shimmering with golden light. "It's no fun if I explain it too clearly."

"Then why doesn't Patriarch He recognize you?" Given He Shoufeng's style, if he knew that the "Young Master Wang" in front of him was the current emperor, his son-in-law, he would have jumped up to the sky and circled the sun three times over, stepping on all the guests at the banquet.

Lu Jian smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned, "Because I told him that I am His Majesty's personal eunuch."

"..." So the legend that emperors liked to dress up as eunuchs is true.

However, "Chairman He didn't say you 'came from afar'..."

"In that case... perhaps He Shoufeng hasn't read enough books?"

"..."

"In short, please believe me, young lady, that I have no ill intentions."

Yes, yes, yes, she's the real bastard!

"However, I still want to ask you, young lady, is it really that you don't want to agree to the marriage proposal from the Wang family?"

"Yes"

Absolutely!

"That's right, young lady. Please wait for good news." With a slight nod, Lu Jian did not linger any longer.

Huh? That's it?

"Your Highness, is there nothing you need me to do?"

There's no need to discuss any conditions for cooperation or make any deals.

"nothing now."

"Well..." It had been a long, long time since he had gotten something for free so cleanly and purely, and Bai Li Ce was a little unaccustomed to it.

Lu Jian turned his head to the side amidst the green apricots and the afterglow of the setting sun, looking as spirited as a crane about to take flight.

"I need to show the young lady that I have the ability."

......