Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1542: Chapter 1542: Too Low Emotional Intelligence_1

”Diao Bin, you...” Even the always composed Tang Yin was stunned, and it was already too late to stop her.

Which woman does not cherish beauty? Which woman would willingly bear white hair? Tang Yin had always known the bitterness in his sister’s heart, so he didn’t want Diao Bin to show herself in public, not because he feared disgrace or anything, but because he feared that the same gaze from others would hurt her.

And at that moment, every official in the court was staring at Diao Bin’s white hair—some with expressions of surprise, some with sorrow and sympathy, and even some looked at Diao Bin as if watching a monster. Tang Yin, sitting high above on the Dragon Throne, saw it all clearly, and the stoicism on his sister’s face, and the hidden pain in her eyes, only stabbed more painfully into his own.

”Enough!” Tang Yin shouted angrily, ”If Prince Saihan is still insistent, then let the union between our two countries be called off. Princess Diao Bin has contracted a serious illness and can withstand no further agitation!”

”Someone, escort the princess back!” Tang Yin’s voice grew louder, but he quickly regretted it, worrying that Diao Bin might misunderstand that he was yelling at her. He wanted to explain to his sister but could only hold back.

He was the ruler of a nation, a being of supreme authority, yet he was not without helplessness.

Prince Saihan was evidently taken aback as well; he was initially somewhat incredulous, but upon a closer look, he confirmed that Princess Diao Bin’s hair was not dyed—it was truly and completely white!

Because his eyesight was strong, it was easy for him to see clearly the roots of Diao Bin’s hair—adhering to her scalp, they were white without a trace of black!

For a moment, he too was at a loss and even uncertain of what to do.

Diao Bin said, ”Could the Turkic accept a white-haired queen?” She didn’t say consort but queen, possibly indicating that he could lose his inheritance to the Turkic throne because his wife was a princess with white hair—after all, his father’s truly beloved child was not him, and a white-haired consort would provide his father with a reason to deny him.

With this thought in mind, Saihan bowed to Tang Yin, ”It was not my intention to cause Princess Diao Bin such severe distress. As someone who understands compassion, let us discuss this matter another time. I shall take my leave now.”

When Saihan had left, Tang Yin had no interest in questioning the ministers and simply waved his sleeve, declaring, ”Court is dismissed.”

And the ministers below, who dared to speak of other matters? They all retreated.

It wasn’t until Princess Diao Bin had been returned to Cining Palace that the Empress Dowager and Bai Ruozhu learned of the incident, taken aback that the usually gentle Diao Bin would reveal her white hair in public at all costs to refuse marrying the Turkic prince.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes reddened, ”Silly child, why must you do this?”

At this moment, Diao Bin’s heart must be even heavier, right?

Bai Ruozhu felt pity for the girl before her, stricken by fate, and so did the Empress Dowager, who, despite her sorrow, did not cry out loud, fearful of increasing Diao Bin’s distress.

Diao Bin, not in a good mood and visibly exhausted, said, ”Mother, Ruozhu, I need to rest in my room now.”

”Go ahead, try not to think too much,” the Empress Dowager said, immediately regretting it. Since she asked her to not overthink, why bring it up at all?

Diao Bin obediently nodded, then hurried back to her room.

She didn’t allow the palace maids to enter to serve her, and after closing the door, her tears started to flow unrestrained.

She dared not cry aloud, fearing that someone outside might hear and report it to her mother; her mother had already worried too much for her, she could not bear to upset her further.

She lay down on the bed and covered her head with the blanket, then began to sob quietly under it. Her shoulders trembled with each sob, like a small injured animal, full of pain yet on guard against everything. She couldn’t forget the looks directed at her by the crowd, even those that were sympathetic, which only added to her embarrassment and heartache.

After some time, she stopped crying and slowly emerged from under the blanket; hiding in the blanket during the hot summer was not comfortable. Her hair was drenched with sweat, and her body sticky.

”Summon someone to fetch some hot water; I wish to bathe,” Princess Diao Bin ordered.

”Yes, Your Highness,” a palace maid outside answered.

Soon, a bucket of water was brought in, and Diao Bin asked all the maids to leave. She then shed her clothes and immersed herself in the water.

Her entire body sank beneath the surface, allowing the water to wet her hair and her face. In this way, even if she shed tears, they wouldn’t be noticeable.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside, ”I must see the Princess!” Ning Yu rushed towards the door.

”Young Master Ning, that’s not possible, the Princess... is not in a position to receive visitors...” The palace maid hadn’t finished speaking when Ning Yu pushed past her and hurriedly burst into the room.

Just as Diao Bin finished holding her breath and emerged from the water, she opened her eyes to see Ning Yu already behind the screen. She screamed in surprise and quickly covered her chest, then swiftly sank back into the water, leaving only her face above the surface.

”You, how could you barge in like this? Get out immediately!” Diao Bin, not knowing whether to be angry or bashful, had a small face that was already as red as a ripe apple.

Ning Yu quickly turned his head away, ”I, I didn’t see anything!” he protested, but then regretted it, wondering if he was just shirking responsibility.

”I, I’ll take responsibility!” he quickly corrected himself, but then regretted it again. Wasn’t that statement like he was reluctant, only willing to take responsibility because of the circumstances?

”Diao Bin, I truly like you!” he blurted out in his haste, but then he regretted it—not the confession itself, but he feared it sounded too hasty. Would she think he was acting rashly?

Seeing his panicked expression, the blush on Diao Bin’s face slowly faded, and a coy smile appeared, ”Why are you still standing there, hurry up and get out!”

Ning Yu caught the playful scolding in her tone and realized standing inside the room was inappropriate. He quickly left with a blush on his face.

As soon as he was out, he glared at the palace maid at the door, ”Do not speak carelessly!”

The palace maid quickly nodded in agreement, ”This servant will not speak out of turn.”

It wasn’t even a quarter-hour later that Bai Ruozhu found out about the incident. It wasn’t because the news spread throughout the Cining Palace, but because Ning Yu himself told her, seeking her advice on how to request permission from the Empress Dowager to marry Diao Bin.

Bai Ruozhu, trying to hold back her laughter, said, ”You absolutely must not mention having seen Diao Bin bathe or that you feel obliged to do anything. This doesn’t just make you seem reluctant, only willing to take responsibility due to an accident, but it also risks making it seem as if you’re blackmailing the Empress Dowager, claiming you saw the Princess naked and thus she has no choice but to marry you.”

Ning Yu shuddered, ”Then, what should I do?”

Bai Ruozhu shook her head; Ning Yu was clearly the kind of person with a high IQ but shockingly low EQ. She patiently gave him some guidance, telling Ning Yu how to express his feelings for Diao Bin, as well as to come up with a plan for how he intended to take care of her in the future, to present a satisfactory proposal to the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, how could his wish to marry Diao Bin be anything but wishful thinking?

Ning Yu nodded and said somewhat distractedly, ”I must think this over carefully; I cannot let Diao Bin suffer hardships with me.”

After Ning Yu left, a eunuch announced that Mr. Yao had arrived at the palace and that the Queen was requesting her presence at Liuyun Hall once more.

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