085 The Greatest Distance Is Life and Death

“So you’re the one who gave women’s clothing to that girl? She’s from the City Lord’s family.” Kong Juelin hadn’t met Baili Yue that day, so he was still unaware.
“It was Li Yexuan who asked her if the clothes were good. If they weren’t bad, she must be the City Lord’s daughter.”
In truth, it should have been obvious from the beginning; Baili Yue carried an extraordinary air—how could she be the daughter of a common family? It’s a pity that the hairpin she gifted me ended up with the girl Li Yexuan took to leap off the cliff. It fell into the mountain and was lost forever.
Fate governs the ties between people, and between people and objects too. My connection to the hairpin in Baili Yue’s hand was simply not meant to be.
I was naïve, inexperienced in the ways of the world—that’s how I now judge my former self. Never could I have imagined that this visit would unravel secrets that the aristocratic families dare not reveal. People are never as radiant as they seem, just as Baili Yue herself. She appeared noble and graceful, yet harbored unusual thoughts.
The City Lord’s mansion in Maple Leaf City was a miniature palace, no less grand in its own way.
Upon stepping into Lord Baili’s domain, servants promptly came forward to lead the way.
“Brother, may I ask what business the City Lord has summoned us for? I’ve only just arrived and am unfamiliar with Maple Leaf City’s customs. Could you enlighten me?” Kong Juelin was a treasure indeed; his words delighted even a servant, and he discreetly slipped him some silver.
Unfortunately, the guide knew little, but he spoke frankly.
It was said that envoys from Lingyun Kingdom had come to visit the City Lord, and incidentally wanted to see who had acquired the millennium-old Black Iron and the ten-thousand-year Heavenly Silkworm Silk.
Wait—those visitors from Lingyun Kingdom, could it be…
Indeed, as we entered, someone greeted us with a smile.
“Brother Li, you’ve come to trouble the City Lord as well.”
“Yes, Brother Wang.”
“So you two are acquainted? Then this must be the young gentleman who acquired the ancient clan’s treasures.” The City Lord turned to Li Yexuan.
“I merely won a jar of Brother Wang’s wine. As for the ancient clan’s treasures, I know nothing of them.”
Li Yexuan was bold, lying without a hint of hesitation.
“Oh? What’s the story?”
“It’s just that my attendant played that strange zither. Originally, we wanted to ask the ancient clan for the Black Iron and Heavenly Silkworm Silk, but the scene was too chaotic and we lost contact with them.”
“That truly is a pity.”
After all, no one saw the ancient clan hand anything to us, so none could say for sure.
“No matter. My purpose in attending the auction in Maple Leaf City was just to broaden my horizons. Such treasures only bring unease.”
Unease? Li Yexuan, you insisted I hide them—how thoughtful of you.
“And who are these two gentlemen?”
“I am Kong Juelin.”
“I am Mu Fan.”
“Master Kong, Master Mu.”
“Father…” A young woman entered from outside—not Baili Yue, but who else could she be? “I didn’t realize you had guests here. Forgive my intrusion.”
“This is my daughter, Baili Yue.”
Everyone turned to look at her—a rare beauty, indeed.
Baili Yue glanced at me, then walked up to me. “You see, we meet again after all.”
“Yes, I didn’t expect you to be the City Lord’s daughter.”
“Do the clothes still fit?” Baili Yue glanced at me, then at Li Yexuan, the meaning in her eyes unmistakable.
From appearances, we seemed a man and a woman. With Baili Yue speaking to me so intimately, and the City Lord remaining silent, it seemed he knew my true gender.
Kong Juelin and Li Yexuan knew as well. Only Wang Huan was unaware, and his gaze was somewhat odd.
Little one, frightened, aren’t you?
Between Baili Yue and me, our banter was easily understood, but in Wang Huan’s eyes, the subtle glances between Baili Yue and Li Yexuan might mean something else entirely.

Yet everyone tacitly chose not to enlighten Wang Huan.
“Father, since our guests have come from afar, how can we not honor them as hosts?”
“Very well. Servants, prepare a banquet.”
“Thank you, City Lord.”
Just then, outside the City Lord’s gate, a crowd had gathered, murmuring and bustling.
A servant entered to report, and the City Lord’s face darkened as he went out. Driven by curiosity, I followed.
A woman in bright red bridal attire stood outside the Baili residence.
It was her—the woman we’d rescued from Maple Leaf Forest, named Jin Yu.
“What sort of person are you, daring to make trouble at the gates of my Baili residence? Guards, drive her away at once—don’t let such a person offend the eye.” Baili Yue was the first to speak out, and I was puzzled. Could there be some connection between Baili Yue and Jin Yu? No wonder we found them together in the forest.
“If the young lady wishes to drive me away, so be it. But once I leave, the bloodline of the Baili family will no longer be Baili’s.” Jin Yu caressed her belly as she spoke, her smile tinged with malice.
Her words left Baili Yue and the City Lord with faces as dark as pig’s liver.
An illicit affair!
“So the three benefactors are here at the Baili residence. If not for your rescue that day, Jin Yu would have died with her unborn child.”
Before all those people, Jin Yu bowed to the three of us.
“Is the child Changfeng’s?”
The City Lord, thick-skinned, asked outright.
“Yes.”
“Let’s all go inside. Forgive us for the spectacle today; I’ll apologize properly another day.” The City Lord led everyone back inside. Li Yexuan, Kong Juelin, and I had all helped rescue Jin Yu, so we were involved. Wang Huan, too, followed shamelessly.
“Servants, summon the young master.”
“Father…” Baili Yue tried to stop the City Lord.
“Enough. The child is his; he has the right to decide.”
Everyone fell silent. A child’s fate isn’t for one person to decide—it concerns two.
Baili Yue’s expression twisted, her eyes full of hate, the handkerchief in her hands almost shredded. The plum blossoms embroidered on it were pitifully ruined.
All love beauty; all mourn its destruction.
I had to reassess my opinion of Baili Yue. At our first meeting, she had the aura of a noble lady, attracting me instantly. Wearing her clothes, I felt I’d absorbed some of her grace. Now, everything was different—thank goodness I hadn’t worn them today.
But Baili Yue and I were never the same kind of person. Even my former self, a princess of the realm, had been taught to behave impeccably, and I truly had. Among familiar faces, I could be more relaxed; in certain situations, I always seemed a bit aloof. Whether that counts as grace I don’t know, but coldness I certainly had.
The child in Jin Yu’s belly must be Baili Yue’s elder brother, Baili Changfeng’s. That would make Jin Yu Baili Yue’s sister-in-law—not a rival for a man, so why was Baili Yue so twisted? Could it be about inheritance? But that seems unlikely; the City Lord would not skimp on her dowry, and marrying would pose no issue. I truly couldn’t fathom what troubled Baili Yue so deeply.
Yet I hadn’t anticipated how absurd her reason for unhappiness was. In days to come, I would have to spend much effort accepting this strange truth.
“This is a Baili family matter, but since you three are the child’s saviors, you ought to stay and listen. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
“No trouble,” Li Yexuan said, finding a seat and waiting for tea.
“City Lord, don’t mind us. We’re fine,” Wang Huan chimed in, audaciously. He looked calculating, surely considering how to use this incident to pressure the City Lord into allegiance with Lingyun Kingdom. That kingdom had already fallen to villains, and Maple Leaf City, so rich, I’d rather it belonged to Moonlight Kingdom. I wondered if Li Yexuan could see through Wang Huan’s ambitions.
“Thank you all.” The City Lord’s face grew darker. Family matters—every great clan has them, but airing them before outsiders is always unpleasant.
Baili Changfeng finally arrived, stepping into the room and glancing at Jin Yu and Baili Yue.
“Father.”
The City Lord slapped Changfeng across the face.

“Father, don’t!”
“Please don’t!”
“City Lord, don’t!”
Baili Yue was the first to rush forward, shielding Changfeng. The second slap never fell.
Jin Yu stood aside, unmoving.
“You’ve done well—where does Baili’s honor go now?”
“Your son admits his fault. Since Jin Yu is with child, let her be accepted.”
“No!” Before the City Lord could speak, Baili Yue cried out, glaring fiercely at Jin Yu as if to bore a hole through her.
“Miss, Jin Yu was just a maid beside the young master, and in a moment of confusion failed to resist him. Originally, Jin Yu wanted to heed your advice, leap off the cliff, and end it all. But the child is the young master’s—he has a right to know.” Jin Yu spoke all at once.
“You knew all along, you wanted to kill a child yet unborn!” Baili Changfeng gripped Baili Yue’s hand tightly.
“Yes, I wanted them dead. She has no right to bear your child. Only…” Baili Yue’s words were cut short by Changfeng’s slap, drawing blood.
Baili Yue stood in shock.
“Enough! I’m not dead—what are you two doing?”
“Father.”
“Father.”
Brother and sister knelt together.
“Steward, settle Jin Yu somewhere and ensure the safety of mother and child.”
The steward, called upon, took Jin Yu away without daring to breathe. Here, he was the only servant present.
“Changfeng, fifty strokes, three days facing the wall.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Changfeng left without looking back, leaving Baili Yue staring after him.
“Yue’er, your mother passed early, and I’ve neglected your upbringing. I never expected my daughter would behave so poorly, like a common shrew. Go back to your room. Soon you’ll marry the second son of the Wu family.”
“No, I won’t, I’d rather die!”
Bang—a teacup smashed in front of Baili Yue.
“City Lord, may I say a word?” I couldn’t bear it any longer and stepped forward.
“Please, Master Mu.”
“Miss Baili is merely confused for the moment. Allow me to take her aside and counsel her.”
“Then I’ll trouble you.”
I helped Baili Yue to her feet; her body trembled, leaning entirely against me.
“Come with me first.”
Seeing her father’s resolve, Baili Yue followed me.
Behind us, the men continued their polite conversation. After such an incident, the City Lord’s dignity was indeed compromised. As a father, he could only sigh.
Baili Yue didn’t realize how fortunate she was: her father would still scold and punish her. As for me, even if I begged, I could never hope for a father’s slap again in this lifetime.
The greatest distance is but life and death.