Bai Zheng waved her hand. "Let me study it first. I'll tell you when I'm sure. That's all for today. I have something to attend to and need to go out."
"You're going out?" Lan Xun was a bit surprised.
Since receiving the invitation from the palace the other day, Bai Zheng had come to the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion and had been staying in the marquis's study to handle affairs. She hadn't gone out for three consecutive days.
Feng Linyuan was originally afraid that Bai Zheng would worry about his recovery, so he rushed to Yunyan Mountain.
After all, Bai Zheng had already been busy with his affairs and hadn't had a good rest for several days. If he let her travel back and forth between Yongding and Yunyan Mountain because of his health, Feng Linyuan really couldn't bear it.
So he deliberately left a bunch of affairs, claiming to entrust them to Bai Zheng, but actually wanted to use these trivial matters to keep her busy.
Unexpectedly, Bai Zheng was so responsible and efficient. She strived to live up to Feng Linyuan's trust in everything and handled everything personally.
Therefore, in the past few days, not to mention leaving the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, she hadn't even stepped out of Feng Linyuan's study.
When she was tired, she would take a nap on Feng Linyuan's small bed.
Although the result was very different from what Feng Linyuan had expected, compared to letting Bai Zheng not only have no rest but also be physically exhausted from traveling back and forth, just sitting in the study to handle affairs was already quite good.
So Lan Xun simply kept Bai Zheng's current situation from Feng Linyuan and didn't plan to tell him.
He thought today would be the same as the previous few days, but unexpectedly, Bai Zheng suddenly said she was going out.
This was not her usual style.
Lan Xun was a bit caught off guard and tentatively asked, "What kind of matter requires Miss Bai to go out in person? If you don't mind, Lan Xun can do it on your behalf."
Bai Zheng shook her head. "Someone is going to give me a great gift today. I've been looking forward to this gift for several days. If I don't go to receive it in person, I'm afraid the other party won't give it to me."
"Really?!" Lan Xun sighed. "In that case, I'll send someone to take Miss Bai there. I just wonder where Miss Bai is going?"
Hearing this, Bai Zheng frowned slightly and asked, "Has anyone from the Bai Mansion come?"
Lan Xun was stunned. "I don't know about that..."
"Miss Bai!"
Before Lan Xun could finish his sentence, a maid rushed into the room in a hurry from outside. "Someone from the Bai Mansion is here to see you."
Lan Xun's eyes widened. He was just about to say, "Miss Bai is really a prophet," when he saw Bai Zheng leave gracefully.
Inside the back gate of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, Qing Shao stood under the eaves in a low - key cloak.
As soon as Bai Zheng saw her, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Qing Shao was the only maid in the Bai Mansion who knew martial arts and could protect Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng had originally not allowed her to go out since her body had just recovered, but this time Qing Shao knew the importance of the matter and came to deliver the message in person. Presumably, it was out of concern for her mistress.
Bai Zheng didn't say much. She just gave Qing Shao a smile when she saw her and then got into the carriage and headed out of the city.
The coachman drove the carriage according to Bai Zheng's instructions. All the way, he drove through the West City Gate and arrived at Lianxiang Lake, twenty miles outside the city.
It was the season for spring outings. The sun was shining brightly today. There were a continuous stream of tourists coming and going around Lianxiang Lake. It was very lively.
When Qing Shao got out of the carriage and saw this scene, she immediately muttered discontentedly, "Why choose such a crowded place? There are so many pairs of eyes watching!"
Bai Zheng stretched and took a deep breath. Her nose was filled with the fragrance of grass and the moisture of the lake. She felt refreshed.
She closed her eyes contentedly, tilted her head to enjoy the caress of the warm spring sun, and said lazily, "I think this place is quite nice."
"Miss!" Qing Shao supported her forehead. "Do you really think you're here for a spring outing?"
Bai Zheng opened her eyes and looked at a small boat not far away. "The truly reclusive hide in the bustling world, silly girl."
"The truly reclusive... Oh, right!" Qing Shao suddenly realized.
The matter to be discussed this time was extremely confidential. The other party definitely didn't want others to see this meeting with Bai Zheng.
But the other party wasn't sure if there was anyone following behind. Instead of secretly choosing a sparsely - populated place where it was easy to be watched, it was better to come here openly.
After all, there were people everywhere. It wasn't strange to meet anyone.
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng looked at the small boat in the distance and her smile grew wider. "I didn't expect her to be so cautious. She's really worth cooperating with." With that, she pulled Qing Shao towards the small boat.
The small boat was originally parked some distance from the shore. When it saw Bai Zheng coming, a boatman came out of the boat, rowed it to the shore to pick up Bai Zheng and her, and then headed towards the middle of Lianxiang Lake.
Lianxiang Lake was the largest lake near Yongding City.
Although there were many pleasure boats on the lake, because the lake was so big, they didn't seem crowded. If they didn't deliberately get close, the boats wouldn't even be very near to each other.
The small boat rowed all the way to the center of the lake. With Qing Shao's support, Bai Zheng transferred to a big boat moored in the middle of the lake.
The big boat was moored steadily. When Bai Zheng stepped on it, she didn't feel even a slight shake.
Led by the servant on the boat, Bai Zheng walked into a room. The wooden door was wide open, and only a thin silk curtain blocked the outside view and the glaring sunlight.
As soon as Bai Zheng stepped into the room, she couldn't quite adapt to the change in light.
She instinctively squinted her eyes and vaguely saw a gorgeous figure of a woman in front of her.
As soon as the woman saw her come in, she laughed crisply. "Miss Bai has finally come."
Hearing this familiar voice, Bai Zheng also nodded slightly with a smile. "Bai Zheng pays respects to Princess Yunxi."
In front of her, Princess Yunxi was wearing a plain silk dress with a faint cyan tint. Her long black hair was coiled into a high bun. All the luxurious ornaments in her hair were replaced by a simple pear blossom. Only two strands of hair hung beside her ears, making her skin look even fairer.
"Don't be so formal." Princess Yunxi stepped forward warmly. While holding Bai Zheng's arm and pulling her to sit on a chair, she showed Bai Zheng everything on the boat, chattering non - stop.
"This boat cost me a fortune. I bought it just so that when I talk to Miss Bai today, there won't be any eavesdroppers. Miss Bai, do you think I'm being very cautious?"
Bai Zheng nodded seriously. "It seems that the gift Princess Yunxi is going to give Bai Zheng this time must be quite a generous one."
Hearing this, Princess Yunxi's dark eyes immediately lit up. "Miss Bai is really a prophet! In the past three days, I've really found out a lot of good things!"
As Bai Zheng gradually adapted to the light and saw Princess Yunxi's expression clearly, she showed a look of interest on her face in a timely manner and leaned forward. "What good things?"
"Your cousin really opened my eyes." As Princess Yunxi said this, she raised her arm and gently clapped her hands.