When Bai Yu'an was on duty the next day, he looked at the time and lowered his head to the Queen Mother's Renshou Palace.
Wen Changqing came out and grabbed Bai Yu'an from behind and told her, "Go to the Queen Mother later and talk to her. First, admit your mistake."
Bai Yu'an didn't say anything, just hummed in a vague way, and walked forward again.
When he arrived at the gate of Renshou Palace, Bai Yu'an knelt on the ground, handed the fold in his hand to the eunuch who came over and said, "Bai Yu'an came here to apologize today. Please ask my father-in-law to present the fold to the Queen Mother on my behalf."
Eunuch Lin glanced at Bai Yu'an and then at the snowy sky, thinking that this was last year's new top talent.
After blowing some warm air on his hand, he took the fold and said sympathetically, "Master Bai, wait a moment."
After saying that, Eunuch Lin took the folder and went inside.
Bai Yu'an looked at Eunuch Lin's disappearing back and lowered his eyes again.
Bai Yu'an knelt down for more than an hour.
The sleeves were already covered with a thin layer of snow. When Bai Yuan moved slightly, the snow began to fall.
There was still no movement in Renshou Palace. Bai Yu'an was not surprised. She was the first to apologize today and only let the Queen Mother understand her respect.
Feeling the sound of footsteps beside him, Bai Yu'an couldn't help but turn his head and look over, only to see Shen Jue standing next to him.
Fingertips Shen Jue is wearing a purple official robe, with phoenix eyes and a high nose. A cold expression suddenly appears on his face. His expression is noble and cold, which makes people feel oppressive for no reason.
The hunting robe blown up by the wind hit the cuffs of Bai Yu'an's red coat, sweeping out a trail of snow.
It was a snowy day and the wind was strong. Shen Jue only glanced at Bai Yu'an who was kneeling on the ground, then raised his legs and walked towards the door.
When the eunuch at the door saw Shen Jue, he immediately bowed respectfully, went in to deliver the message, and soon invited the people in.
Bai Yu'an glanced at Shen Jue's tall back, then silently swept the snow off her sleeves.
After a while, a eunuch came to Bai Yu'an, rolled up his sleeves and said to her: "Master Bai, the Queen Mother please come in, get up quickly."
Bai Yuan then stood up with his knees supported.
But his body seemed to have been frozen, and his movements to stand up were a bit awkward. If it weren't for the support from the eunuch next to him, Bai Yu'an would have felt like he couldn't stand up.
After moving her stiff calves and thanking the eunuch next to her, Bai Yuan lowered her head and walked inside.
There was a palace maid waiting at the door. When she saw Bai Yu'an, she walked in front to lead her.
After passing through the layers of gauze, the palace maid stood behind a curtain and whispered: "Master Bai, please go in."
Bai Yu'an walked inside and looked up, only to see half a curtain hanging in front of the main seat, which just blocked the upper body of Queen Mother Wei.
Beneath Queen Mother Wei, Shen Jue was sitting there, still holding the fold she presented.
Bai Yu'an quickly narrowed her eyebrows, knelt on the ground and bowed respectfully: "I have met the Queen Mother, and I have met Shen Shoufu."
Bai Yu'an then said respectfully to Queen Mother Wei: "Today I am here to apologize to the Queen Mother and ask for her forgiveness."
Queen Mother Wei behind the curtain seemed to move. Bai Yu'an did not raise her head, waiting for Queen Mother Wei to speak.
After a while, Queen Mother Wei's lazy voice sounded from behind the curtain: "Bian Xiu, first tell me what crime you committed."
Bai Yu'an lowered his head and said, "Yesterday, I quarreled with Princess Jianing with my words. I knew that my words were inappropriate, so I came to apologize."
As soon as Bai Yu'an finished speaking, a cold snort from Queen Mother Wei came from above: "Bai Yu'an, you are so brave."
Bai Yu'an lowered his head and said, "Please forgive me, Queen Mother."
Empress Dowager Wei snorted again: "You keep talking about following etiquette on the fold, and then you mention the orders of your parents."
"Then do you think the Ai family is forcing you?"
Bai Yu'an raised his head and looked at the curtain, and said without being humble, "I have no intention of doing so, but I have already had a marriage in my family, and I dare not let it down."
Empress Dowager Wei's majestic voice sounded: "As long as you marry Miaochun, you don't have to worry about the marriage in your hometown. The Ai family will take care of it for you."
Bai Yuan's head felt cold, and she lowered her head and kowtowed to Queen Mother Wei: "I have already promised my unmarried wife, and I ask the Queen Mother to fulfill her promise."
There was a sound of broken porcelain, and then came the angry and cold voice of Queen Mother Wei: "Bai Yu'an, do you think that Princess Jianing, the niece of the Ai family, is not worthy of you!"
Queen Mother Wei's majestic voice resounded throughout the palace, making the maids standing next to her break into cold sweat and look at Bai Yu'an who was kneeling on the ground.
Thinking about how such a young master would dare to refuse the Queen Mother.
Bai Yu quietly looked at the broken porcelain not far away in front of her, with a dull expression on her face, but still spoke sincerely: "Princess Jianing's country is so beautiful and beautiful, I feel ashamed and don't dare to think about it."
"Moreover, my marriage has been decided since I was a child. If I betray my trust, how can I have the dignity to stand as an official?"
As soon as Bai Yu'an finished speaking, the Queen Mother's mocking snort came from the palace.
"What a treacherous man."
"It seems that Aijia showed you the way today, but you are not willing to show your gratitude to me."
Bai Yu'an was stunned, and just as he was about to explain, the angry voice of Queen Mother Wei came over again: "Bai Yu'an, the Ai family now gives you three ways."
"The first way is for you to marry Miao Chun as your legal wife and live a good life with Miao Chun."
"The second way is that the Ai family will demote you to Jiuliang, and you will never return to the capital."
"The third way is that the Aijia can let you stay in Hanlin, but the Aijia wants you to never marry or take concubines, and you will be childless for the rest of your life. If you dare to disobey, the Aijia will chop off your head."
"Bai Yu'an, think carefully about which one you choose."
Bai Yu'an lowered her head, knowing that Queen Mother Wei seemed to have given her three ways, but she was always forcing her to choose the first one.
But now she has no choice but to choose the second option.
If she chose the third option and never married, she would have betrayed her original intention and abandoned her marriage in her hometown in order to stay in the Imperial Academy. She would also be held accountable by the Queen Mother.
Bai Yuan calmed down, then kowtowed and said, "I choose the second path."
After Bai Yu'an finished speaking, even the eunuch standing next to Queen Mother Wei couldn't help but look sideways.
Looking at Bai Yu'an, she is still a high school prospect, but she behaves like a fool.
Are those ethical principles so important?
There was some pity in his eyes, hey, he is a nerdy scholar after all.
Queen Mother Wei, who was above her, did not expect Bai Yu'an to be so courageous. Jiuliang was a difficult place and he would rather go to Jiuliang than marry Miaochun, which impressed her.
Queen Mother Wei changed her position and began to look at Bai Yu'an who was kneeling on the ground with squinted eyes.
This Bai Yu'an is indeed a handsome and refined young master, Duan Fang. It makes sense that Miao Chun likes him.
But this man challenged the royal family's reputation. Even though she felt a little regretful in her heart, she would not let him go easily.
It would be better to let him go to Jiuliang, it would save her the trouble of looking at him.
Queen Mother Wei was about to speak, but she saw Shen Jue, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up, bowed to the Queen Mother and said, "Your Majesty, would you like to hear a few words of advice from me?"
Queen Mother Wei looked at Shen Jue's tall figure through the curtain.
In her memory, Shen Jue had never cared about these things, but today he came to ask her about it personally. She wanted to hear what he had to say.
"What does Shen Shoufu want to say?"
Shen Jue winked at the eunuch standing next to him and motioned for Bai Yu'an to be taken out.
