She was draped only in soft and comfortable silk, which accentuated her exquisite figure.
This person was none other than Wenren Pingting.
As Bai Junjun approached, the sound of Wenren Pingting’s guqin also ceased.
"Mistress, Miss Bai has arrived."
Wenren Pingting casually waved them off, her voice no longer as clear and powerful as it was from the high stage but now had a hint of lazy magnetism.
Dian Hong and the surrounding maids bowed silently and withdrew to the corridor outside.
Only when they were alone did Wenren Pingting slowly lift her head, her eyes filled with inscrutable depth.
Bai Junjun was not intimidated and simply stood there, allowing her scrutiny.
Even as Wenren Pingting assessed her, she made sure to return the gaze without any disadvantage.
The two exchanged looks, and Wenren Pingting was the first to break, her smile bordering on a smirk.
"You really haven’t changed at all, still as presumptuous and arrogant as ever."
"?" Bai Junjun expressed confusion.
When had she ever been overbearing and disrespectful?
"Not even kneeling before the Princess Consort, what would you say?"
"..." Bai Junjun was speechless, having forgotten these tedious formalities for a moment.
Just as she considered whether to simply nod and give a bow, Wenren Pingting slowly rose to her feet.
"Everywhere outside they’re spreading the story that the World’s Number One Talent Girl died in Biluo, and that the Ninth Prince did not hesitate to venture to the Southern Lands to avenge his beloved.
Despite the rumors being as convincing as the truth, I was utterly disbelieving.
In this world, anyone could die, but Bai Junjun could not possibly be dead."
"?" Bai Junjun questioned in confusion, "I hadn’t realized you thought so highly of me."
If she remembered correctly, in the entire Imperial Capital, it was Wenren Pingting who loathed her the most, wasn’t it?
Before she snatched the title of the World’s Number One from her, Wenren Pingting had already disliked her, and afterwards, Wenren Pingting never once showed her a friendly face.
Wenren Pingting’s circle scorned any friendship with Bai Junjun.
Who knew that, with the Bai Yang Clan gone for three years, it was only her arch-nemesis who couldn’t seem to forget about her.
At her words, Wenren Pingting was suddenly struck with a laugh that bordered on irritation.
"I just figured that a bad person like you couldn’t possibly die so easily, that’s all."
What was this person going on about? Was it just because she had snatched the title of ’talent girl’ that she harbored such deep hatred? It was just a vacuous title. Even the chaos of war hadn’t stopped her from bearing a grudge – how petty. No wonder ancient sayings warned that women and villains were difficult to deal with.
It seemed the broad-mindedness that the Princess Consort showed by day was all an act.
While Bai Junjun was still inwardly criticizing, Wenren Pingting had already walked up to her.
"What are you implying now?"
"What do you mean ’what am I implying’?" Bai Junjun raised her eyebrows.
Wenren Pingting slowly surveyed her and then began speaking at the same unhurried pace.
"Surely you’re not suggesting that you faked your death on purpose? To give Yuwen Jun an excuse to head south? Heh, instead of staying comfortably in the Northern Lands, he foolishly waded into the troubled waters of the Southern Lands.
What, are you hoping Yuwen Jun will win this realm for you so that you can become Empress?"
"Princess Consort, watch your words," Bai Junjun said with her arms crossed.
Now she understood why Wenren Pingting harbored such great animosity: it was a combination of old grudges and new, thinking she too had come to vie for the position of Empress?
Considering how it seemed she had not only taken her title of ’World’s Number One’ but was now after the entire realm, it did appear rather unethical.
Unfortunately for her, Bai Junjun had no interest in that.
"Your imagination is rather rich, what a pity, you’ve thought too much. To tell the truth, when I heard about my own death in Biluo City, I was quite astonished too. Never did I think I’d be the subject of such gossip.
But really, if I were in cahoots with the Ninth Prince, why would I bother suffering in exile?"