Unlike the Regent who rested for only five days, Hua Zhi, the Grand Tutor, rested for a full half month before performing her duties as Grand Tutor. She spent half a day in the palace and the rest of the time staying in the prince's mansion, devoting herself to working on her library.
Xiaohan no longer went to the Hua family. He carried one classic history book after another and filled the bookshelf bit by bit with his master. When he accidentally opened a book he liked, he would squat down and read it for a while. The master and the apprentice had the same happy expression, just like two rice bugs rolling in a rice jar.
Chen Qing held back his laughter at the door and reported, "Princess, the third master of the Bai family wants to see you."
The only person in the Bai family who dared to come to her house to look for her was Bai Mingxia, so she had to meet him. Hua Zhi helped Yingchun down the ladder with her hand, and told her little apprentice, "Don't climb the ladder. Take a rest when you are tired."
Zeng Han nodded. Although he still didn't smile or show any expression, the uneasiness between his eyebrows disappeared. Hua Zhi touched his head and once again confirmed that her decision to leave him with Master Prajna for a while was the right one.
After returning to the house and changing clothes, Hua Zhi asked on the way to the front yard, "Did he come alone or did he bring someone with him?"
Chen Qing smiled, "The third master brought his eldest daughter here."
Hua Zhi was not surprised. When she knew that Uncle Bai's daughter disguised herself as a man to go to the market, she guessed that she would be brought to her one day. She just didn't know what kind of result Uncle Bai wanted. There were some things she could not give.
Entering the flower hall, Hua Zhi saw the little girl standing quietly behind Bai Mingxia at first sight. She had a dignified manner and a respectful look, just like the daughters of wealthy families.
Hua Zhi suddenly thought of herself. She had once been like that.
"Greetings, Princess."
Hua Zhi exempted the two from the formalities, "I thought my uncle had left Beijing, I didn't expect he was still here."
The unchanged address warmed Bai Mingxia's heart. His troubled mind seemed to finally see the light. He also put respect in his heart and spoke with some of the pleasantness of the past. "Now that I have a few useful people under my command, I don't need to take care of everything. I will have more time in the capital in the future."
"That's good. My fourth uncle has cut off contact with some people and is now bored. Since my uncle is often in the capital, he has more people to talk to."
As she spoke, Hua Zhi suddenly looked at the little girl, and met her gaze as she quietly raised her head. She was startled by the sudden eye contact, and all her dignified and respectful demeanor was ruined, and she quickly lowered her head again.
Bai Mingxia knew what had happened without turning around. He sighed inwardly and introduced her to the princess: "This is my daughter, her maiden name is Pei Qiu."
Bai Peiqiu walked to the front and bowed to Hua Zhiyingying, "Peiqiu pays respects to the princess."
"No need to be polite." Hua Zhi fiddled with the beads on her wrist and looked at Bai Mingxia. "Uncle Shi and I have been dealing with each other for several years. You should know what kind of person I am. If you have anything to say, just speak frankly."
Bai Mingxia smiled bitterly. It was because he knew that he came to ask for a meeting today. If it were someone else, how could he dare to do so? "Qiu'er, go out and wait."
Hua Zhi glanced at Yingchun, who understood and walked forward to lead Bai Peiqiu away.
In the silence, Bai Mingxia broke the silence, "Princess, do you know that many girls in the capital are learning from you now?"
“I have heard of it.”
"It's the same with the Bai family, but my eldest daughter's story didn't just start now. Back then, the eldest daughter came to me to discuss the canned food business. I mentioned it to her after she returned, and somehow Qiu'er remembered it. I only found out a few days ago that she had secretly visited you a few times, and she knew much more about you than I do."
Bai Mingxia shook his head but there was a smile on his face. How could he not feel proud that his daughter could learn from the most outstanding woman in Daqing and achieved such a high level of accomplishment? However, this little bit of pride was nothing compared to his worries.
Everyone knows that in recent years he has been close to the Hua family, or to be more precise, the eldest daughter of the Hua family. If someone thinks that he deliberately instigated Qiu'er to learn from the Taifu in order to achieve some ulterior motive, the now weakened Bai family cannot afford the consequences.
"I want to find a good husband for Qiu'er, but the princess knows my current situation. I don't like ordinary families, and I'm afraid that too good families will not like me. I might as well be thick-skinned and come to the princess to ask for a bargain. I wonder if the Hua family is willing to marry me."
Speaking of the Hua family, Hua Zhi knew that this was probably referring to Berlin. She couldn't refuse directly, so she just said, "Uncle, you must have come to the wrong family. I was the head of the family before, but now that I'm married, there's no reason for me to interfere in my mother's family affairs."
"Your Highness, this is outrageous. Everyone knows that the Hua family values you."
Hua Zhi smiled and stopped talking about those foreign things. "I don't intend to let Bolin get married too early, but the girl can't wait."
"As the eldest son of the Hua family, the younger brother of the Grand Tutor, and the emperor's companion, I'm afraid he can't do whatever he wants in this matter."
"I won't let anyone force him. The Hua family doesn't need a marriage to consolidate their position, and he doesn't need a marriage to gain a firm foothold. Even if he can't get married freely, I hope he can find someone he likes within a limited range. That's someone he wants to spend his life with. Only he knows whether it's the one he likes."
Bai Mingxia could tell that this was not an excuse, the princess really intended this. Her love for her family was well known. Even when the Hua family was in the most difficult times, she never sacrificed any of her sisters and tried her best to arrange good marriages for them. She was like this for other people, so how could she not be doubly attentive to her own brother
However, "Qiu'er is well-educated and well-mannered, which is in line with the Hua family's tradition. Besides, she is only twelve years old after the New Year, so she can wait."
"My uncle's daughter is good, but she is not suitable to marry into the Hua family. People who look like me are not suitable to marry into the Hua family." Hua Zhi said it directly. How could a man from the Hua family marry a wife who looked like her sisters? Wouldn't that be a mess
Bai Mingxia was stunned. He was a smart man, but he had not thought of this because of his obsession. Now that it was pointed out, how could he not understand? This was really...
Bai Mingxia stood up and bowed, "I was mistaken, please forgive me, Princess."
"Uncle, you love your children, there's no need to be like this." Hua Zhixu supported him, "I think uncle, you don't have to worry too much. Learning from someone is not to become her in the end. You either surpass her or gradually grow into the person you like. Whether it's the former or the latter, isn't everyone happy?"
"I don't dare to think about surpassing the princess. I just hope she can figure it out." Bai Mingxia smiled bitterly. He couldn't think of anyone in the world who could surpass the princess, and he didn't dare to have such expectations for his daughter.
Without further ado, Bai Mingxia quickly took his leave.
Hua Zhi escorted everyone out of the flower hall, and Yingchun invited Bai Peiqiu out from the next room at the right time. She bowed to Hua Zhi, then stood beside her father with her head lowered.
Hua Zhi found this familiar scene both amusing and confusing. Was she also so... naive in her grandfather's eyes back then
"Want to be the second Hua Zhi?"
Both father and daughter were startled by these sudden words. Bai Mingxia opened his mouth to speak, but finally closed it again, and stepped aside to let his daughter face the princess.
"Hua Zhi wants to be Bai Peiqiu."
Bai Peiqiu raised her head, her face full of surprise.
Hua Zhi tilted her head and smiled, "Why not? Bai Peiqiu lives a stable and carefree life, with her parents taking care of her. Every day, she thinks about which book to read and how to become better. Bai Peiqiu doesn't have to go through the misfortunes of her family falling apart, doesn't have to shoulder the family's livelihood, doesn't have to travel thousands of miles, and doesn't have to face all kinds of life and death hardships. If Bai Peiqiu wants to be like Hua Zhi, she must go through all of this. Are you willing?"
Bai Peiqiu twisted the handkerchief in her hand. Are you willing? Of course she was unwilling. She knew very well what the princess had experienced, and it was because she admired her that she took her as an example to learn from. But she had never thought about what would happen if she had experienced those things. She probably couldn't get through the first level. She didn't have the courage and ability of the eldest daughter of the Hua family to support such a large family under such circumstances.
"So, why do you want to be Hua Zhi? Bai Peiqiu can be very good herself."
Bai Peiqiu bravely raised her head and looked directly at the princess. She smiled and didn't look condescending at all. There was no displeasure on her face as if she was offended or disturbed. However, the composure and confidence in her eyes and eyebrows were beyond the reach of others. She still admired this person, but she also understood where she was wrong.
Yes, no one can become Hua Zhi, no one can learn to be like her, because no one will have her experience. Even if someone does, no one will have her ability to escape danger and hold up the sky with her body.
She is Bai Peiqiu, the eldest daughter of the third branch of the Bai family. Why does she need to set such a big goal? She just needs to surpass the girls from other branches of the Bai family and make her parents proud.
Bai Peiqiu bowed deeply and stood behind her father again. She would think things through carefully.
Bai Mingxia also bowed to Hua Zhi, feeling that the trip was not in vain as his daughter could learn from him.
The voice of greeting came from far away, Hua Zhi smiled at the man who strode over, "Are you not busy today?"
"I'm done." Gu Yanxi waved her hand to exempt the Bai family father and daughter from the ceremony. Without moving her eyes away from Azhi, Bai Mingxia tactfully bowed and took his leave.
When they reached the corner, Bai Peiqiu glanced back quietly, and saw the powerful Regent smiling and whispering something as he walked into the house with his arm around the princess' waist. She blushed and quickly quickened her pace to catch up with her father.
The prince and princess look really happy! So nice!
PS: The word count is almost three thousand.