Bai Junjun wasn’t even afraid of fighting zombies, so what’s to fear from a mere gaze attack.
This kind of staring contest between girls was child’s play to her.
As expected, Wenren Pingting quickly succumbed. She didn’t know what Bai Junjun had been through in the past three years, but she realized it had definitely changed her.
In the past, Bai Junjun was at most a wise Shi clan’s legitimate daughter, but now, Wenren Pingting felt she couldn’t see through her eyes, as if she held many secrets and was absolutely unafraid of royal wealth and power.
Even though Wenren Pingting found her own thoughts ridiculous, the intuition that came naturally to women told her that Bai Junjun was not someone to be trifled with now.
These past few days, she truly had been muddle-headed.
Wenren Pingting lowered her eyes, "You may go back."
"?" Bai Junjun, after swallowing the last bite of her chewy meat, asked, "I don’t need to eat anymore?"
"Mhm," Wenren Pingting nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the tabletop, ignoring Bai Junjun across from her.
Bai Junjun sighed and shook her head, "You, you’re just too rational and restrained, so much suppressed inside. Even if you become Empress, what joy is there? It’s like putting yourself in chains and suffocating to death."
"..." Wenren Pingting’s eyebrows twitched, "You are not the fish, so how can you know the happiness of the fish?"
"But you’re not a fish, insisting on jumping into the water, you’ll suffocate yourself sooner or later."
As Bai Junjun spoke, she stretched out her arms, "Decide for yourself. I’ll be heading back now."
Bai Junjun got off the horse carriage slowly and leisurely, returning to her own territory with ease.
Wenren Pingting sat in the carriage for a long time, muttered, "A gentleman remains cautious when alone. What do you understand."
"Master, shall I prepare a new meal for you?"
Wenren Pingting glanced at the four untouched dishes and shook her head, "Have them removed."
"I won’t eat tonight," Wenren Pingting said blandly, leaning against the carriage wall.
"Yes." Dian Hong didn’t say much, helplessly signaling the maids to pack away the food.
Her master was restrained since childhood, with only two individuals able to stir her emotions. One forever sealed in silence, the other was Bai Junjun.
Even if it only made her master angry, it was still an emotion after all.
The master only showed a hint of her true emotions in front of Bai Junjun, slightly relaxing her suppressed feelings.
Dian Hong felt pity for her master but was powerless to help, ultimately letting out a sigh.
Since that day they had a falling-out, Wenren Pingting finally left Bai Junjun alone.
Without further disturbances, Bai Junjun’s days returned to peace; every day she happily played chess on the carriage, ate when it was time, and slept after being full.
A journey that should have taken ten days, they managed to make it last for twenty.
Ah Fu and Ah Gui, who set out later, had already gone to the Imperial Capital, got their wine, and were preparing to return, and they had only just arrived.
There are too many tears to speak of.
Before returning to the Capital City, Wenren Pingting finally came to Bai Junjun’s horse carriage for the first time.
At that moment, everyone was drinking porridge.
Upon seeing Wenren Pingting approaching, everyone was taken aback, but it was Bai Sasa who reacted first, paying respects to Wenren Pingting, and then the others followed suit.
Speaking of etiquette, Bai Junjun had at least dined in the Royal Court for a few days and was not completely unfamiliar with the protocols, whereas Li Wenli was a bit rusty.
By the time he remembered to bow, Wenren Pingting’s gaze had already fallen on Bai Junjun.
Li Wenli sat down sheepishly, seeing that the beauty had ignored him, he figured he could dispense with it.
On this side, Wenren Pingting spoke without any sign of discomfort.
"I have already sent a message to His Highness, and upon hearing of your return, he is very pleased and wants to receive you personally," she said.