Miss Pearl

  Everyone's heart was wavering between fear and astonishment, causing them to want to lift their heads but not dare to. Baili wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, covering his abdomen as he struggled to get up, despite being surrounded by guests, yet no one came forward to offer a helping hand, instead retreating a few steps back and keeping their distance, as if he was some kind of filthy thing.

  This is the country of Yueyueze, where social hierarchy is paramount and cannot be crossed. Slaves are forever slaves, forever lowly dogs by their master's side, only qualified to kneel and serve tea after washing off their filth. Even if they die for their master, it's not enough to earn a word of gratitude, let alone being touched by the high-and-mighty master, who considers them inferior creatures. Not even the most favored and trusted servant would be allowed to sully their master's hand, let alone someone else's slave.

  Baili Yunxiao seemed to be completely unaware of the strange looks from the people around him, let alone his voice sounded cold and emotionless. His entire being gave off a gloomy feeling that made him stand out from the crowd. He didn't take another step forward, as if he was ignoring everything around him. All that could be seen was him slowly lifting his left hand, which had been hanging by his side, with his palm facing the white pearl. In a cool and detached tone, he said: "If you all have doubts about my identity, this object should be able to dispel your concerns."

  Only a hundred miles away, in the palm of his hand was a circular black jade pendant the size of a palm, with three pairs of auspicious clouds carved on it, surrounding a "cloud" character at the center of the jade pendant. Below the jade pendant hung a sword-shaped jade pendant that only direct descendants of the imperial family were qualified to wear. Even if Bai Zhen didn't recognize the black jade pendant, she would definitely recognize this symbol of the noble status of the imperial children. So, this black jade pendant was the symbol of Ze Guo Zhi's power and identity as Yun Wang Ye!

  "I, your servant girl, dare not question Your Highness's identity!" White Pearl's heart was shocked and unwilling, but she still bowed her head deeply, biting her lips tightly, and knelt down in front of Baili Yunxiao.

  Bai Zhenzhu's eyes turned extremely venomous in that instant when she knelt down, revealing the intense hatred and resentment in her heart. He actually took out the symbol of Yun Wangye's identity, which even the king would show three points of respect for, all because of Bai Liuli. Why, why?!

  There were guests who raised their heads because of the hundred-mile cloud and white pearl, but when they saw the ghost mask on the face of the hundred-mile cloud and the black jade pendant in his palm, they suddenly knelt to the ground, trembling all over, knocking their heads heavily on the ground, shaking their voices and saying: "Your subordinates dare not doubt Your Highness!"

  Whether it was the Ghost King's eyes or the Cloud King Jade Pendant on his hand, they were all things that could take their lives. How could they not be terrified?

  In an instant, all the guests in the hall and everyone present, whether they were looking up or not, suddenly knelt down to Baili Yunxiao, fearing that he would change his mood and take their lives.

  Except for Bai Liuli and Bai Yue who was in a daze.

  Bai Luli looked at the black jade pendant in Baili Yunxiao's palm, her eyes clear and sparkling. The size and shape of the pendant were the same as those held by the White family head, but the color and patterns on the pendant were different. The White family's jade pendant had a pattern of weapons, symbolizing military power and conquest, while the black jade pendant in Baili Yunxiao's hand had a pattern of qilin, a mythical creature that symbolized law and order.

  Baili Yunxiao did not rebuke Bai Liuli's rudeness, but instead lowered his hand and said calmly: "This king is quite interested in the change of ownership of the White family. I heard that the previous head of the White family died under suspicious circumstances. Does the new head of the house mind if this king listens to how you handle this matter?"

  Bai Luli's death is a well-known fact, and Bai Zhenzhu becoming the head of the Bai family is also a widely known fact in the imperial capital. This is an ironclad fact that only lacks a formal announcement. However, Baili Yunxiao's words "acting as the head of the household" directly denied Bai Zhenzhu's status as the head of the household. Moreover, he was discussing how to handle Bai Luli's death, not how to deal with the black-clad woman in front of him who she believed to be the murderer. There are clearly underlying implications in his words.

  "It is an honor for my daughter and the White family to be granted an audience with Your Majesty." Unable to obtain an exemption from courtesy from Baili Yunxiao, Bai Zhenzhu could only maintain her kneeling posture and respectfully replied. Despite any discontent in her heart, she could only instruct the housekeeper to say, "Someone, offer a seat to His Majesty."

  "Let's forget it." But before Bai Zhenzhu could even finish her sentence, she was rejected by Baili Yunfei, who turned around and walked out of the house. "I'll let Fengxue stay behind to listen in, so you all won't be too restrained."

  Bai Zhenzhu suddenly lifted her head, staring unblinkingly at the back of Baili Yunxiao, her teeth almost biting through her lower lip. Just then, Baili Yunxiao left a last sentence as he stepped out the door, "Everyone, please rise."

  Bai Luli's mouth curved into a smiling arc, and she slightly bowed her head to Baoli Yunxiao's back, "Your servant girl sends off the king."

  Never mind why he appeared at the White House and why he left after just that, just now he is standing on her side, which has saved her a lot of trouble.

  "Sha Mu." Before Bai Zhen Zhu could say anything, Bai Liu Li called out in a lukewarm tone towards the outside of the house. She then carefully observed the changes in Bai Zhen Zhu's expression, today being the day she saw her gentle and calm sister's expressions change the most frequently. Just like now, when she heard her call Sha Mu, and saw Sha Mu walk in with his head down from outside, his expression was cold enough to make her suspect that the sister she had known all along might not be who she thought she was.

  "Big sister, Sha Mu is here." Sha Mu entered the temple and stood before Bai Liu Li with her head bowed respectfully, waiting for instructions. She didn't dare to look up at Bai Zhen Zhu because she had a feeling that Miss Pearl was not as gentle as she seemed on the surface.

  In the White Manor, although Bai Zhenzhu was older than Bai Liuli, she couldn't be called "Big Miss" by the people in the manor. Also, because she was older than Bai Liuli, she couldn't be called "Second Miss". So, she was simply called "Miss Zhenzhu" by everyone. As a slave, her status was low and she shouldn't have been allowed to address her master directly by name. This way of addressing her somewhat diminished Bai Zhenzhu's identity.

  Bai Luli didn't know whether it was because the Bai family's people were all hoping she would die so they could make Bai Zhenzhu the real young mistress, or if Bai Zhenzhu had instructed everyone to call her "young mistress" herself. In any case, when Bai Lifang said "protect the young mistress", she heard it very clearly.

  "Grandfather, I'll go play with you later, let Sha Mu take you back to the garden first and wait for me?" Bai Luli didn't care about the reactions of the people around her, she just gently coaxed something while hugging Bai Yue's arm. After that, Bai Yue actually smiled and laughed, where was his fierce appearance from before? Bai Luli gently smoothed out his rough white hair, and saw Bai Yue nodding vigorously, only then did she instruct Sha Mu, "Take the old man back to the garden to rest."

  The crowd, who had barely gathered the courage to lift their heads again after Bai Yunxiao left, were shocked by what they saw before them. The only person who could get close to Bai Yue, who was notoriously violent and wouldn't let anyone near him, was the evil woman Bai Liuli. Could it be that this sudden appearance of a woman was really Bai Liuli?! Was it truly possible for someone to come back from the dead?!

  Bai Luli raised her eyes again to look at Bai Zhenzhu, smiled slightly, and lifted her hand to take off the gauze hat on her head.