Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

“Your Majesty has trained Qin Wang to become a strong and mighty warrior. Your Majesty is well aware of his strength. Even without Bai Hua, I believe that Qin Wang will be able to win this war.”

Because she wanted Bai Hua to help her brother, she said things selfishly. But apart from Ouyang Hongxian, Ouyang Mingxian’s father, Bai Yu was another person who knew how strong he was. It might have been based on what she had seen in the series, but upon another consideration, she realized that Ouyang Mingxian had ascended the throne largely through his own strength. In the original story, Bai Yu and Bai Hua occasionally helped him, but not to a considerable degree.

Ouyang Hongxian gazed at the woman in front of him. From the beginning until now, she remained calm without a single sign of anxiety, yet her every word was filled with worry. And the source of that worry was the same as his.

“She’s wicked. Do you realize that?” The son of heaven turned to his new advisor.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Yue Nan smiled.

“Miss Bai.” The solemnity on the Emperor’s face had clearly lessened. A smile appeared on the handsome face, despite his age.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is your plan?”

.....

Bai Yu smiled, even though she was slightly embarrassed that the other person seemed to know that, in the end, everything she said was for Ouyang Feilong.

“I will have Bai Hua stay here to treat my brother. If everything goes smoothly, they will later go to the border...”

“And what are you going to do with the morale of the soldiers who are waiting for the divine doctor Bai Hua?”

Bai Yu could remain calm, even though the question was a difficult one. Still, she would have to eventually make a decision.

“I might not be much of a help, but if I accompany the troop as Bai Hua, then at least my presence can help raise the morale among the injured soldiers.”

“You mean that...”

“I will be Bai Hua, Your Majesty.”

——————

Bai Yu did not know how she could come up with such a plan.

She had zero medical knowledge, and even though she could manage her fear of blood more than before, she still offered to pretend to be Bai Hua. The reason that her presence alone would be a help might sound useful, but there was still an undeniable truth that she could not treat anyone at all.

“The carriage, Miss Bai.”

“Your Highness, I know how to ride a horse.”

Ouyang Mingxian arched his brow in surprise.

“At such an urgent time, please let me ride the horse.” The clear but firm voice was heard through the white veil. Despite being a fragile woman, she did not want to be a burden to others. The soldiers there were all silently praising ‘Miss Bai Hua’.

Shortly, a large black horse was led to replacing the carriage that had been prepared for her, the sole woman in the group. She had to travel together with Ouyang Mingxian and a troop of elite soldiers tonight, while the reinforcement troop and other royal doctors would follow the next morning since they required more time to prepare both the people and the resources.

Bai Yu returned to Yue Mansion in the middle of the night. She told her mother and Bai Hua the reason for her sudden departure. Despite her worry, Yue Mei reluctantly let her go since she could not go against the royal decree, even when that decree specified the name ‘Bai Hua’. Her disguise was only known to the Emperor, Ouyang Mingxian, Yue Nan, Bai Hua, and both her parents.

Bai Yu left without telling anyone the detail other than her disguise. The real Bai Hua wanted to help the soldiers, but the duty in front of her was as important. This was the first time Bai Yu looked at her in a different light. Even though her older sister was going to pretend to be her, Bai Hua said nothing in objection, only focusing on finding a way to cure Bai He.

Along with the news that Bai Hua had received the order to accompany the troop to the border, Bai Yu had also spread the word that she had fallen ill after losing the majority of her magic in her competition, coupled with the fatigue from taking care of the Bai household matters by herself. Her plan to impersonate Bai Hua then was fully completed.

“Are you alright?”

A voice sounded from the man riding the horse next to her. This was the first sentence he spoke to her ever since they started the journey. Ouyang Hongxian had explained everything to him before she arrived, so Bai Yu did not have to tell him anything else. Because everyone in the group had a magic level higher than red, the speed of travel was higher than normal. Ouyang Mingxian sent his voice through magic, so she could clearly hear him.

“I am fine.”

“Benwang never knew you could ride a horse.”

Bai Yu spit out a laugh. “Apologies to Wangye. I am not so weak that I require Wangye’s protection at all times.”

Then, she increased her speed and rode away from the man, who fell silent at the words of the woman whom he had always ignored. When she was beautiful and precious, he never thought to cherish her. Now just go back to protecting that useless and fragile flower!

Her mouth, under the veil, slightly curved down. Her one hand let go from the reins to touch an object in her sleeve pocket, checking that it was still there and safe. Feeling the existence of the fabric bundle, her thoughts went back to the one that had given it to her as she broke into a smile. A warm smile that could share its comfort with anyone who saw it.

———————

“I will be Bai Hua, Your Majesty.”

“What are you doing this for?”

“Your Majesty, I only wish for my brother to wake up...”

Her words stopped at the lift of his hand. Ouyang Hongxian gazed at her face for a long while. Bai Yu tried to control her expression in response. After a brief moment, the Emperor revealed his usual smile again, as if he was no longer questioning anything. “Zhen thinks you should keep that answer to yourself.”

Bai Yu was starting to feel unsure about what the Emperor knew, exactly. At first, he acted obliviously, but now he suddenly seemed to know what she was planning to do and for whom she was doing it.

“Truthfully, zhen agrees with your plan. But first, zhen needs you to promise one thing.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?” No matter how hard it was, she was willing to do it as long as it would lead her away from the path of her old fate. The fate that would always result in her red string of fate slipping away.

Golden eyes gazed at the woman in front of him with mixed feelings. Then, they moved to Yue Nan, who had been looking at him. Yue Nan gave a slight nod. The man’s face was calm, though his eyes glittered with a smile. Ouyang Hongxian eventually showed a resigned smile.

Other than Bai Yu, he had no other way, huh?

“Zhen will not interrogate you about your purpose. Zhen only wants you to accomplish what you said you would do.” His tone was gentle but firm.

Bai Yu was well aware of her own purpose. If it was before, she would tell herself that she wanted to avoid the never-ending cycle of fate and karma, that she wanted to defeat cruel fate. But right now, she had a new reason as to why she had to struggle so much and put herself in this situation. It was for one person. The person who had pulled her out of that vicious cycle of fate. She would accomplish it, no matter what, so that she could meet Ouyang Feilong again.

“If you fail...” Bai Yu paid close attention to his words. She would listen to no matter what kind of condition the Emperor had for her. “...If you fail, do not set foot in the capital ever again!”

Her eyes widened at the unexpected condition… W...what did he mean?!

“Your Majesty means that..”

“Worry not...” Ouyang Hongxian stood up to his full height. His golden eyes were still fixed on her. He stepped away from the throne, his hand bringing out something. “Do your duty to the best of your ability. And if you can return, this will be your reward.”

The tall figure stopped in front of her. The long object wrapped in golden cloth was in his extended hand.

“The future you saw… zhen actually knew.” The face of the man who ruled over all Da Yang still held a smile, even though his gentle voice was filled with pain.

The already known future? Did that mean...

“Even if zhen has to die, at least zhen can rest peacefully...knowing that Long-er has someone like you beside him.”

Ever since the silver-haired man appeared, his vision had slowly gained its missing pieces.

Ever since he took the throne, he would always see something in his dreams. The blurry picture was finally made clear by Yue Nan. It was the death that this soul had experienced over and over again in countless lives after this. He did not fear that it would happen to him again.

Every question he asked Bai Yu was out of curiosity, of him wanting to know how much she loved his younger brother and whether she was capable enough to stand beside his most significant person or not.

Ouyang Hongxian was afraid of death once.

But the vision revealed to him washed the fear away. The only thing he feared was that his younger brother, the dear brother he had raised, would not be able to stand on this bloody battlefield named the imperial palace. He could only send him away as far as possible, to send the woman he loved to be with him. He could only pay for his sin… the sin that had severed the string of fate throughout many lives after.

“Your Majesty...”

“Take care of zhen’s brother.”