Chapter 207: Spending Time Together

Of course, Zhou Jingyun was no stranger to Shangguan Yue.

Now, he should be addressed as Li Yu.

And soon, he will be addressed as Your Highness.

But how did Bai Li get to know Shangguan Yue? No matter how he thought about it, the two couldn’t be connected. One was a criminal woman confined to the inner chambers, and the other was a prince hidden under the name of an illegitimate son.

“Because of my special constitution, I had dealings with him when I first entered the capital,” Bai Li said. “The Li Shilang incident.”

Li Shilang… Zhou Jingyun was stunned again. He had almost forgotten about that incident. Indeed, the Lu family had been implicated in the Li Shilang case because of the dried flowers she had gifted them. Right, Shangguan Yue had suddenly appeared to thank him at that time, which he had found baffling.

So, it wasn’t baffling after all?

“It was even earlier than that. Li Shilang’s falling into the water was related to me. I used illusion magic on Shangguan Yue’s pleasure boat,” Bai Li said apologetically. “I’m sorry. Besides hiding my face from you, I also kept many things from you.”

Li Shilang’s death was actually her doing? Zhou Jingyun was surprised, then he smiled bitterly. “It was right to keep it from me. After all, I didn’t know that Shen Qing and the others were manipulating me from behind.”

“Actually, no,” Bai Li said. “We weren’t close then, and my constitution is so strange. I was afraid I couldn’t explain it to you and would scare you.” She smiled again. “Later, I found out that you are smart and easy to talk to, open-minded, calm, and…”

Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not that good. So many ‘ands.'”

Bai Li said with a smile, “No matter what unbelievable things I said or did, you accepted them and helped me. You didn’t dislike or fear me. You are that good.”

He was that good in her eyes? Zhou Jingyun raised his hand to cover his nose and coughed lightly. “It was because you trusted me first and told me that I had the opportunity to help you.”

Bai Li laughed. “Then I should thank myself.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded with a smile. “Exactly.”

Bai Li gave him a playful glare. Suddenly, she came back to her senses. Weren’t they talking about Shangguan Yue? How did they get sidetracked? No wonder she felt like she had said a lot but hadn’t finished.

“Anyway, besides the Li Shilang incident on the pleasure boat, I was later pulled into an illusionary realm by Shen Qing and happened to meet him. I saved him, and he saved me, and that’s how we met.” Bai Li explained briefly, then smiled again. “But at that time, he knew Bai Li, not the Marchioness of Dongyang.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t actually hear the last sentence. Only the phrase “she saved him, and he saved her” echoed in his mind.

So she had encountered danger before, danger he didn’t know about.

“…And then, in the palace incident, he was the one who took me out, so I’ve been on the pleasure boat ever since.”

So he was the one who took her away. Zhou Jingyun suddenly thought of the strange behavior of the prodigal son when he first entered the palace that day. He must have been helping Bai Li then.

He also remembered that when Shangguan Yue regained his identity as Li Yu, the young man had followed Princess Jinyu out of the imperial city and bowed to him from afar without saying anything, which had aroused the curiosity of other officials.

He had thought it was because of the Empress’s case that Shangguan Yue had been given the opportunity to regain his identity.

Now he thought that perhaps the young man’s greeting to him was also because of Bai Li.

“Does he know… about you and me…?” Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but ask.

Bai Li nodded. “I told him that you know my identity and have been protecting me.”

As expected. Then he and Shangguan Yue could be considered acquaintances through Bai Li. Zhou Jingyun smiled and nodded thoughtfully. “The pleasure boat is full of mixed company. You won’t attract attention there. You have Princess Jinyu as your backer, and now you are a member of the royal family. It’s very safe on the pleasure boat.”

“It’s fine. There’s nothing unsafe,” Bai Li said. “They don’t care about catching me, and I’m not afraid of them. I’m just worried that it will be bad for you…”

She reached out and grabbed Zhou Jingyun’s sleeve, looking at him.

“Did Bai Ying threaten you? You don’t have to pay attention to her. Next time she dares to threaten you, ask her if she wants to see her biological daughter.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at the sleeve she was holding and nodded. “Okay, I’ll remember that.” He glanced at the sky again. The evening drumbeat was coming to an end. “Then you rest here tonight.” He turned around. “I’ll go buy some new bedding and things…”

Bai Li grabbed his arm. “What are you buying? We have everything here. Besides, I’ve already slept for a whole day. I won’t be sleepy at night.” She asked again, “What about you? Can you go back before the curfew?”

He could, but… Zhou Jingyun thought.

“The Empress has just passed away. I should be more cautious,” he said.

So he wasn’t leaving. Bai Li said “Okay” with a beaming smile.

Then they had a whole night to talk. They could surely finish talking, right?

But… they suddenly seemed to have nothing to say.

Silence filled the room.

Their eyes met.

Zhou Jingyun smiled first, and Bai Li followed suit, although she didn’t know what they were smiling about.

“I’ll go get the baby,” Zhou Jingyun said. “You saved her life. Let her get familiar with you and remember your kindness.”

Bai Li laughed. “She’s so young. What can she remember?” She pouted. “It’s not that I want her to remember my kindness. I just want to make it impossible for her biological mother to get her way.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled without saying a word. He only said, “I’ll go get the baby.”

Bai Li didn’t stop him and watched him walk out. She hesitated for a moment, then moved the small table on the Arhat bed, spread out the quilt, and pressed it with her hand to feel its softness.

When Zhou Jingyun came in carrying the baby, he heard her muttering to herself, “Your mother dislikes me, but I don’t dislike you.” He couldn’t help but laugh and said, “She’s full and has slept well. Her diaper has just been changed.”

Bai Li looked at the baby in his arms and curtsied. “Your Highness, please get on the bed.”

Zhou Jingyun burst into laughter.

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Hearing the man’s clear laughter coming from the room, Mama Xu, the servant in the courtyard, couldn’t help but smile too.

“This is the first time I’ve heard Young Master laugh like this,” she whispered to Huang Ru. “Young Master has been in and out all day today, and the smile on his face hasn’t faded.”

Huang Ru looked at the shadows projected on the window. One person was sitting on the Arhat bed, and the other was standing by the bed, talking and laughing softly from time to time. She sighed softly. “After going through so many frustrating things, it’s good that he can meet someone who makes him happy and laugh. I’m a little relieved.”

Mama Xu was a newly bought servant and didn’t know much about the family. There was a Madam, a Young Master, and now a baby and a young lady. It seemed like a very common family of four, and the husband and wife were talking and laughing, loving and affectionate. But it felt strange.

However, Mama Xu had served in the households of disgraced officials and knew the rules. Ask what should be asked, don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked. Whether she understood or not, just go along with it.

“Don’t worry, Madam. Young Master is really considerate. Just now, he even learned how to hold the baby, how to feed her, and how to change her diaper,” she said with a chuckle.

Huang Ru also smiled. “You go boil some water. I’ll make some tea and snacks for them.”

“Madam, you’re tired. Go and rest. This old servant can do it herself,” Mama Xu said.

Huang Ru shook her head, glanced at the room, and whispered, “That baby is actually very picky. She doesn’t eat much of what she doesn’t like, only what she likes.”

Mama Xu complimented, “Madam is so good to the young lady.”

Huang Ru shook her head. “Actually, it’s her who is good to me. She didn’t leave in disgust and can still tolerate my presence.”

See? It’s strange and incomprehensible. Mama Xu pretended not to hear. “I’ll go start the fire.” She went into the kitchen first.

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The lamplight flickered in the room, but perhaps because the night was fading, the light also dimmed.

Zhou Jingyun turned to look out the window. The sky was already turning white.

Didn’t they say that the days are short and the nights are long in winter? Why did it feel like the night had passed in the blink of an eye?

Zhou Jingyun looked back at the Arhat bed. The room was small, and the Arhat bed was small too. Now that it was crowded with three people, it seemed even more cramped.

But his cloak was big enough to cover all three of them.

The tiny baby was lying in the middle. He was leaning against the right side, and Bai Li was originally leaning against the left side. But as they talked, she fell asleep, first leaning on his shoulder, then sliding into his arms. To make her sleep more comfortably, Zhou Jingyun gently helped her lie down on his lap.

She was sleeping soundly.

A blush appeared on her fair face.

Long eyelashes.

A pretty nose.

Her hair, which had been casually tied up, had come loose, and her black hair fell on her face and his legs.

Zhou Jingyun reached out and gently brushed aside her long hair. His fingers touched the woman’s cheek, then quickly withdrew like a dragonfly skimming the water.

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“Young Master,” Jiang Yun’s voice came softly from outside the window. “Your family is looking for you.”

Zhou Jingyun frowned slightly. He had already asked his attendant to tell his family that he had something to do. Why were they still looking for him?

Wasn’t it just one night that he didn’t go back?

“Go out and see. Don’t let them know about this place,” Zhou Jingyun said in a low voice. He then instructed, “And buy some breakfast from the street.”

Jiang Yun responded with a “Yes,” but as he was about to leave, Zhou Jingyun called him back.

“Forget it, don’t buy breakfast. I’ll go.”

Hearing the conversation inside, Jiang Yun said in confusion, “It’s fine. I’ll do it on the way. Young Master doesn’t need to go out again.”

“No, I’ll go myself,” Zhou Jingyun insisted.

As they were talking, Bai Li, who was sleeping on his lap, moved and slowly opened her eyes. She saw Zhou Jingyun’s jawline and looked a little dazed, as if she hadn’t realized where she was.

“Did I have a dream? I shouldn’t be seeing Zhou Jingyun in my dreams…” she muttered.

Zhou Jingyun heard it and blurted out, “Why?”

Don’t people usually dream of those they want to see? Why wouldn’t she… Did she not want to see him?

Bai Li frowned and muttered, “Zhou Jingyun is real. I only want the real…”

She came back to her senses before finishing her sentence and looked up. Zhou Jingyun looked down at her.

This…

“I fell asleep.” Bai Li hurriedly sat up. No, she should say “I woke up.” It turned out that what she saw wasn’t a dream, it was real.

Zhou Jingyun quickly reached out to support her shoulder. “Don’t get up too quickly. Be careful of dizziness and be careful of the baby.”

Bai Li responded with two “Ohs” and looked at the baby covered by the cloak beside her. She came to her senses. “I actually fell asleep again.”

Zhou Jingyun said with a smile, “Taking care of a baby is very tiring.”

Bai Li chuckled and glanced at him. “You’re the one taking care of her.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled and asked, “Do you want to lie down for a while longer? I’ll go prepare breakfast.” He said, propping himself up to get out of bed, but his brows furrowed.

“No need.” Bai Li said, but before she could finish, she noticed his expression and his slightly stiff movements. She hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Jingyun smiled. “My leg is a little numb.”

Bai Li realized that she had been resting her head on his leg when she woke up and felt a little embarrassed. “You can just put me on the bed.” She said, reaching out to help him.

Zhou Jingyun wanted to say “No need,” but looking at her outstretched hand, he hesitated for a moment and placed his hand lightly on her wrist, using her support to stand up.

“No need to prepare breakfast.” Bai Li said, helping him stand up. She smoothed out his robe. “I’ll go back now. I haven’t been back for two nights. They’ll be worried.”

Zhou Jingyun said, “Okay.”

Bai Li looked at the sleeping baby on the bed again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her here,” Zhou Jingyun said.

Bai Li smiled at him. “I’ll come visit her often.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded. He wanted to say something, but whether it was because of the sound of their conversation or because the people around her had woken up, the baby, who had been sleeping, suddenly twisted, closed her eyes, and started crying “Wah.”

Not as flustered as yesterday, Zhou Jingyun turned around and said, “It’s time to change her diaper. I’ll do it.”

Bai Li watched him skillfully change the diaper, while she walked to the desk, casually tied up her hair, and straightened her clothes.

Turning around again, she saw that the baby, after having her diaper changed, was still crying. Zhou Jingyun held her in his arms and coaxed her, “It’s time to feed.” Seeing Bai Li looking at him, he smiled. “You go.” He picked up the cloak with one hand and wrapped both himself and the baby in it. “We’ll see you off.”

Bai Li smiled, looked at him and the baby in his arms, and said, “Okay.” She lifted her foot and walked out.

Zhou Jingyun followed, holding the baby and coaxing her.

Jiang Yun opened the door at the side.

Bai Li walked over and gestured to Zhou Jingyun. “It’s cold outside. Don’t come out.”

Zhou Jingyun said, “Okay.” He stood in the courtyard and didn’t take another step, watching Bai Li.

Bai Li smiled at him and waved to the crying baby. “I’m leaving, crybaby.” She said, then glanced at the room where Huang Ru was.

In the dim light, the door was tightly closed, silent.

But…

Bai Li seemed to be able to see the figure standing behind the door. She didn’t say anything more, withdrew her gaze, turned around, and walked away.

Zhou Jingyun looked at the empty courtyard gate, slightly lost in thought.

The door creaked open, and Huang Ru came out. “Give me the baby. I’ll feed her. You should go back too, so your family won’t worry.”

Zhou Jingyun hummed in agreement without saying anything, handed the baby to Huang Ru, and watched her carry the baby inside.

“Young Master, you should go back quickly,” Jiang Yun said in a low voice. “Feng’er said that because you didn’t go back, he was also kicked out and hasn’t had breakfast all morning…”

Zhou Jingyun laughed, shook his head, then nodded. He took a deep breath. “Add some furniture to this place today.”

Jiang Yun was about to respond with a “Yes,” but was interrupted by Zhou Jingyun again.

“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Zhou Jingyun said, wrapping his cloak around himself and walking out. “You guard the door.”

Jiang Yun frowned. It seemed the door was a bit difficult to guard. This door had suddenly been breached by a young lady.

Young Master had explained to him last night that it was Bai Li, the youngest daughter of the executed Bai Xun, a criminal wanted by the court.

After saying this, he didn’t say much more.

But… how did Young Master get to know a criminal wanted by the court? And they seemed to have known each other for a long time. He even took care of everything personally…

And there was a baby.

There was no explanation for the baby at all.

Many strange things had happened in the past two days and nights.

Forget it, he’d better continue guarding the door.

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As the morning light gradually brightened, the carriages picking up people at the dock dispersed in a chaotic manner.

Peace returned to the banks of the Jinshui River.

A waiter who was seeing off guests under the pleasure boat yawned, and suddenly his eyes blurred. Someone appeared in front of him.

“Ah Cheng,” a female voice said.

The waiter named Ah Cheng widened his eyes and, recognizing the person in front of him, exclaimed, “Young Lady Bai, you—”

Bai Li looked into his eyes and nodded slightly. “Yes, I came to see off the guests too. Now that the guests have been seen off, I’m going back.”

Ah Cheng stared at her blankly, then nodded. “Yes, the guests have been seen off. Young Lady, please go back to the boat and rest.”

Bai Li walked past him towards the boat. Everyone she met along the way reacted the same way, without causing any commotion or needing any explanation. She quickly reached the third floor and pushed open the door with a sense of relief.

In the dimly lit room with the curtains drawn, someone suddenly stood up.

“Ah Li, you’re back.”

Bai Li was stunned. Before she could see who was in the room, the person rushed over and hugged her.

“That’s great, you’re okay.”