Go Change Your Clothes

Xiao Yiliu looked at her younger brother, deeply conflicted. There had been only three people in the carriage, and she knew perfectly well whose name Bai Mo had called in her drunkenness. Her brother was like an immortal; why should he have to abase himself like this?

With her brother's looks and character, what woman could he not marry?

Sigh...

When Bai Jingyao heard what Xiao Muzhi said, he stared intently at him, nervously clutching Tang Xin's hand and repeatedly trying to give his wife a hint. His eyes shone with delight. The young man's character, looks, family background, words and conduct were all excellent.

At that inopportune moment, Bai Peilan spoke up. "Young Master Xiao, do you think that because you've had intimate contact, you can only marry my unfilial daughter? If you're unwilling, please don't force yourself. We can act as though today never happened, and we certainly won't damage your reputation."

Bai Jingyao glared at his younger sister. What nonsense was this fool spouting now?

"Peilan, be quiet. I think Young Master Xiao is excellent. What family wouldn't want to seek the hand of a young man from the Xiao family? Momo is fortunate enough to have this chance, so why don't you hurry and thank Elder Xiao?"

Bai Peilan looked blankly at her elder brother. Young Master Xiao had clearly been forced into this. How could her brother have the nerve to take advantage of the situation??

Elder Xiao looked at her grandson hesitantly. She knew full well that he had feelings for her young friend Bai.

She sighed softly. "Sigh! If your Bai family truly wishes to seek my grandson's hand, we can discuss it further."

When Bai Jingyao saw Elder Xiao relent, he sprang to his feet in excitement, shoved his dumbfounded sister aside, and began chatting with Elder Xiao, his face wreathed in smiles.

"We do, we certainly do. I think this is wonderful. Marriage is all about fate. Everything that happened today can only mean that Momo and Muzhi are destined for each other, that this marriage was made for them. Don't you agree?

"Momo's father died early, and her stepfather can't be relied on for anything important. As her uncle, I'm as good as her father, and I have the final say in her marriage.

"Momo is the eldest legitimate daughter of our earl's residence and will inherit the title one day. Though my brother-in-law passed away early, he left behind a dowry that stretched for ten miles in red. I'll be sure to add a generous betrothal gift. If Muzhi feels uncomfortable living here with his parents, we have several other properties in the Capital where they can establish their own household. Muzhi can take charge as soon as he marries in."

He gave Bai Peilan a kick.

"Isn't that right, Peilan? Hmm?"

Bai Peilan hurriedly nodded, feeling that everything her brother said made perfect sense. What a bargain this was! If Momo could marry a young master of the Xiao family, he would be every bit as good as someone from the Shen family, and it wouldn't be nearly so difficult. Wasn't this a pie falling from the sky?

"My brother is absolutely right. If the Xiao family is willing, whatever you ask for, our Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State will do its utmost to provide."

Xiao Yiliu felt deeply uncomfortable. Seeing that her brother had not objected to a single word, she could only offer a reminder. "Younger Sister Bai is drunk. Why don't we wait until she sobers up before discussing it? The elders can have dinner first. Seeking a hand and arranging a betrothal are major matters; they can't be arranged at a moment's notice."

Elder Xiao thought her granddaughter made sense. Bai Mo was a woman with a mind of her own. Once she sobered up, if she truly wished to seek his hand, there was no need to rush.

Bai Jingyao was excellent at reading a situation and understood the reason at a glance. He immediately began ushering everyone along. "Please, everyone, come this way. The meal is ready. Do try it and see if it suits your tastes."

He said nothing more about the matter they had originally come to discuss today: seeking a marriage with the Shen family tomorrow.

Bai Mo had been fed two large bowls of sobering soup. Even in her muddled state, she slept restlessly. Her dreams were full of Shen Qing breaking things off with her so resolutely; then he appeared as the imperial consort, and then he was walking hand in hand with another woman.

After about an hour, Bai Mo opened her eyes slightly. An ordinary person might have remained drunk all night, but her constitution was unusual, and she had things on her mind, so she could no longer sleep.

Her head felt like it was splitting open!

She could only close her eyes again and circulate her Wood-Element Ability to sober herself up.

Before long, she felt completely sober.

A fragment of what had happened in the carriage suddenly flashed through Bai Mo's mind. This is bad.

"Lichun."

Lichun hurried into the room and saw her mistress sitting perfectly well on the edge of the bed.

"Miss, how are you awake already? Was the sobering soup that effective? I thought you wouldn't wake up until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

"When the Xiao siblings left, did they say anything?"

Lichun looked at her mistress strangely. Remembering what she had seen in the carriage, she thought, That's my mistress for you. So bold. Hehehe...

"Xiaohan just went to the main courtyard. She said Elder Xiao, Miss Xiao and Young Master Xiao are all still in the main hall. They've just finished their meal."

"What? Elder Xiao is here too?"

Lichun nodded quickly.

"Eldest Miss, that's just like you. We all saw you and Young Master Xiao kissing in the carriage. At the time, your uncle..."

Before Lichun could finish, Bai Mo hurried to her feet and headed for the main courtyard.

The main courtyard was not far from the one where Bai Mo lived, and she arrived after a few minutes' walk.

Bai Jingyao had just led everyone back to their seats, and light tea had been served to cut the richness of the meal. It was getting late, and he had intended to give the Xiao siblings and Elder Xiao a proper send-off, then stay behind to purchase additional betrothal gifts. Just then, he saw Bai Mo striding over.

When Xiao Muzhi saw Bai Mo, he sprang to his feet. His hand shook, and a little tea splashed onto the hem of his robe.

Bai Mo gave Xiao Muzhi a complicated look, then stepped forward and spoke softly. "I'm sorry about today. The hem of your robe is wet, and it's evening. Be careful not to catch a chill. I'll have a servant boy from the residence take you to change."

She turned and gave an order to Lichun, who had hurried after her.

"Lichun, assign a servant boy to help the young master change."

"Yes. Young Master, please come with me."

Xiao Muzhi felt as though his heart were a tangled mess. He didn't want to leave.

She actually remembered...

He wanted to hear what Bai Mo would ultimately decide.

The elders were all astonished.

"Momo, how did you sober up so quickly? It hasn't even been an hour."

"Uncle, I think the sobering soup the maid made this time must have worked."

Seeing how Bai Mo had treated her grandson, Elder Xiao felt somewhat reassured. "Muzhi, go and change first."

Xiao Muzhi had no choice but to follow the servant boy away in haste.

Bai Jingyao nudged Tang Xin, asking her to speak.

Tang Xin thought her husband was adorable. While Momo was absent, he had talked with such enthusiasm that spit flew, and at the dinner table he had even worked out how many children Momo would have and what they would be called. Now that his niece was here, he didn't dare make a sound.

"Momo, Miss Xiao has already told us about what happened today."

Bai Mo did not blame Xiao Yiliu for speaking out of turn. On the contrary, she was grateful. She hadn't known how to bring up something so embarrassing herself, so it was just as well that Xiao Yiliu had spoken. She turned to her and cupped her fists. "Sorry for the trouble, Sister Xiao."

Xiao Yiliu hurriedly waved her hand.

Bai Mo then placed one hand over the other and bowed to Elder Xiao and her aunt. "Thank you, Aunt, for running about and taking such pains for me, and thank you, Elder Xiao, for traveling such a long way for my sake. I've let you both down."

She then turned to Bai Jingyao and Bai Peilan, her eyes reddening slightly. "I'm sorry, Uncle, for making you worry so much. I'm sorry, Mother, for making you worry."