Heavy snow had been falling intermittently for a few days, and the capital city was covered in silver with a festive red hue, which was very beautiful, but it was also really cold.
Apart from having to perform her duties as the Grand Tutor, Hua Zhi usually stayed in the library with underground dragons and never went anywhere else. She read books or answered questions with her little disciples, and enjoyed herself very much. Sometimes she even hoped that such cold days could last a little longer. Although it was cold, everyone knew that the Grand Tutor was in poor health, so she could justifiably turn down various banquets from outside.
Just like right now.
"I didn't want to bring it to you, but I got news that Miss Pei Qiu will also attend the Bai family's spring banquet."
"You know I have high hopes for her." Even so, Hua Zhi still took the invitation and opened it to read it. The wording was still the same. She glanced at it and closed it. She looked up and asked her butler, "Is the news accurate?"
Yingchun smiled, "Yes, if I hadn't confirmed this, I wouldn't have dared to disturb you."
Hua Zhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Reply to the message and I will be there on time."
"yes."
Hua Zhi not only went herself, but also brought Berlin along. This kind of banquet hosted by aristocratic families under various pretexts was actually just a way for them to meet the girls and boys from various families. It was also a rare opportunity for the girls and boys to meet each other openly. Everyone knew that the siblings were very close, and it was even expected by many people that they would come together. So no one noticed the dusty servant next to Berlin.
After dealing with the Bai family and sending away all the Bai family servants, Hua Zhi bowed to the servant and said, "I'm sorry for wronging you."
The servant looked up and saw who else could that face be but the emperor. He motioned for the tutor to stand up, took off his hat and looked around the pavilion with curtains. "It's quite unique."
It can block the wind and prevent others from prying eyes. Isn't it unique? Hua Zhi lifted a corner and looked outside. There are only three independent pavilions like this. It seems that they are prepared for people with special identities. Obviously, her current identity can deserve the word special.
"Who does the Master want me to see?"
"Your Majesty can see whoever he wants. Rather than hearing about a person's character from others, I would rather you see it with your own eyes. Since we are going to live together for the rest of our lives, we should at least get along well with each other, right?"
"Like the Grand Tutor and the Regent?"
Hua Zhi smiled, "Life goes on anyway, but if the person by your side is the one you want, then life will be more enjoyable."
"Taifu is right." The emperor patted Bolin on the shoulder, "Did you hear that? Pick someone who suits your taste."
Hua Bolin responded lightly, "Your Majesty, please choose first. The entire court is waiting."
The emperor patted him again, and from the sound one could tell that he had put in a lot of strength.
Hua Zhi just pretended not to see it. This was how they had always gotten along. Berlin was getting better and better at finding the right balance, so she had nothing to worry about.
"Princess, the girls from the Bai family come to pay their respects."
Hua Zhi is now in a high position, so there is no need for her to meet anyone. The emperor immediately put his hat back on and stood behind Berlin consciously.
Hua Zhi nodded to Bao Xia, and Bao Xia understood and opened the curtain to invite the person in.
"Mrs. Bai greets the Regent Princess. Long live the Princess."
Hua Zhi took a quick glance and saw that Bai Peiqiu was not among the seven or eight girls. She immediately realized that the girl was probably excluded.
She kept a few people to talk for a few words before serving tea to thank them. After that, she spoke only a few words to each wave of people who came. She was neither warm nor treated anyone differently. Everyone was tactful and even if they wanted to be the daughter-in-law of the Hua family, they only dared to look at Hua Bailin twice before leaving.
After finishing a cup of tea, Hua Zhi looked at the two people who were staring at her with a bit of disdain, so much so that she even forgot to respect the emperor. She waved her hand and said, "It's rare for the emperor to come out. Bolin, take him to see the Bai family's spring banquet."
Hua Bailin and the Emperor looked at each other and tried to hold back their laughter. They felt a sense of accomplishment in making their elder sister (the Grand Tutor) helpless. After all, not everyone could do this.
This kind of banquet was elegant even with the wine to liven up the atmosphere. Hua Bolin had both the status and ability to enter all of the small circles that formed automatically. The emperor did gain some insights after playing around, but compared to what he had seen and played outside the capital, these were nothing.
"A frog in a well." The emperor looked up and laughed sarcastically after leaving the crowd. "If I hadn't followed the master, I would probably be like them, thinking I was great and being complacent."
"My eldest sister always said that studying too much is worse than having no books at all."
Both of them were taught by Hua Zhi. They smiled at each other, their hearts full of emotion. Their teacher might not be as knowledgeable as the great scholars of the time, but she let them see the world outside the capital with their own eyes and let them know how big the world outside is. To them, this was more useful than a hundred or a thousand words of sages.
Approaching the pavilion, they heard voices coming from inside. The two looked at the maid, who just bowed without any expression. In other words, the people inside were just ordinary visitors who did not want to get involved in trouble, so the two were in no hurry to go in.
In the pavilion, Hua Zhi took Yingchun's hint and put down her teacup to ask, "Are you still on bad terms with the Bai family?"
It was normal for noble families to be evasive when speaking. Bai Peiqiu didn't know why the princess asked so bluntly, but her father had already told her that there was no need to hide anything in front of the princess, so she answered frankly, "Grandfather once mentioned that father should return to the Bai family, but father did not agree."
"If that's the case, you should know that you will be excluded if you come here. Just find an excuse to refuse. Why give them the opportunity to humiliate you? If Uncle Bai comes back and finds out, I don't know how heartbroken he will be."
"Pei Qiu thanks the princess for protecting me." Bai Pei Qiu stood up and bowed. Feeling the kindness, she spoke more like a friend. "I was sad at first, but later I realized that the only people who can hurt me are the ones I care about. So I don't care. Aren't they taking advantage of my father's care to get ahead?"
As if she felt that she had said too much, Bai Peiqiu stood up and bowed again, "My daughter is rude, please forgive me, Princess."
"That's the truth. There's no sin in it. Sit down and talk." Hua Zhi looked at the girl whose eyebrows had grown more mature. Her expression and posture were indeed different, as if she had suddenly become enlightened and found the direction and knew what to do.
"You should know that your grandparents are still alive. Your mother may not be able to make the decision on your marriage. Aren't you worried that the Bai family will use this to hold you hostage?"
"My parents are very worried, but I think my grandmother can't do anything to me. There are so many rules for marrying off daughters in aristocratic families, and I'm not the only daughter in the Bai family who's waiting to be married. Even for the sake of my other sisters, she can't make a big fuss about this matter. At most, she can make my marriage less pleasant. I'm mentally prepared."
Bai Peiqiu actually wanted to ask the princess for help. As long as the princess intervened in the matter, the Bai family would not be able to do anything, and her father would not have to think about bowing to the Bai family. But she resisted the urge. Now was not the time to do so.