I’m never disappointed in you

All the way home Bai Yu did not say anything to her two half-sisters. Her maids had to walk on foot because the carriage was not big enough for five people, and so silence took over. Still, there was no uneasiness or pressure as Bai Yue had expected.

Bai Yue could not believe that her evil first sister could be this calm after losing to third sister. It was unfortunate that she was deprived of an amusing scene.

When the carriage arrived at Bai mansion, Bai Yu and Bai He walked through the front gate as usual, while Bai Hua and Bai Yue had to use the side gate according to their status. This time, Bai Hua did not cause a commotion like last time, and Bai Yu also did not care enough to look at her.

Bai He led Bai Yu to the main building to greet their father and mother, but when they arrived, they found that father had gone to stay overnight at second Furen's residence. Their mother was the only one there. She seemed to be waiting for her and Bai He.

"Greetings to mother."

"Greetings to mother."

"You both sit down first." Yue Mei said to them flatly. Hot tea was served as soon as the two sat down in front of her. Bai Yu and Bai He took a sip, elegant as ever, while also discreetly exchanged a glance.

"I heard that you and Bai Hua had a magic competition today."

Cough! Both siblings choked on tea as soon as their mother finished speaking. Even with mental preparation, they did not expect her to mention it immediately like this.

"As for your third sister having magic, I don't think it's that impossible since her lowly mother's also able to use a little bit of magic. But you losing to that wretched girl…what should I do with you, Yu-er?"

Bai Yu knew that even though she could let go, her mother might not be the same. As for Bai He, he was relieved to see that his sister did not obsess over her own loss. It was only a shame that his mother could not feel the same as him.

"I'm sorry, mother."

"You asked for my permission to go train under grandfather, then why did you lose to that useless thing?" Her mother looked away, seeming like she refused to accept Bai Yu's apology.

"Mother, Yu-er tried her best. It's just that both I and sister did not expect third sister to have grey level magic that was one level higher than her."

"If your sister was diligent with her training, she would never lose to the grey magic of an inexperienced person who just knew how to use magic!"

Bai Yu had to hang her head and accept her fault regarding this.

"You should've known that the color of magic doesn't always mean strength. How one wields magic is the most important." The eyes that were always gentle now reflected only anger.

"Tomorrow morning you will return to your grandfather's mansion. If your skill does not improve, prepare to say goodbye to your title as Meihua Lady!"

Bai He reached next to him to lightly squeeze his sister's hands.

"If you can't even protect your title, then there's no hope for you defending your status as Qin Wang palace's first consort!"

"I understand, mother."

"Don't come back here, not until you've defeated that useless thing." Her mother gave an ultimatum before standing up and walked away, ignoring Bai He's call. Bai Yu could only bow her head and acknowledge her failure.

She was the daughter who was taught and brought up by Yue Mei. Being the number one beauty was an expectation, an order that Bai Yu must fulfill. Her first failure would naturally devastate her mother. Still, Bai Yu was determined to become better and stronger. She needed time to achieve that, but when she could, her mother would be proud of her just like before!

"Mother will calm down eventually. Don't take her words to heart." Bai He pressed his hands over his sister's to console her again.

"Big brother…" Bai Yu looked into the eyes of her brother who had always been beside her. "…At today's banquet, are you disappointed in me?"

Bai He held the hands of his sister who he had loved and cherished for all his life. He pulled her to his chest, his dark eyes shone a gentle love that reflected in his smile as he answered.

"I'm never disappointed in you."

For Bai Yu, that one word…was enough for her.

-----------------------

The next morning, Bai He accompanied her to the Yue family mansion. There was no trace of her mother who had always come to send her off. But Bai Yu did not think too much about it. She did feel guilty for disappointing her mother, but she was also sure that her practicing and training would make her Yue Mei forgive her. She felt that she deserved to be ignored right now.

When they arrived at the Yue family mansion, they went to greet the elders. This time, Yue Huiling was unusually quiet. Bai Yu guessed that she must be careful not to offend Bai He.

"This time the commander general intends to stay at the capital until winter ends. Right now the border was peaceful since the cold weather makes it harder to mobilize the troop."

"Then you'll stay here for quite a bit."

"Yes, grandfather." Bai He spoke to his grandfather Yue Chen, with Yue Chang, his uncle, joining in on the conversation here and there as another soldier in the family. Other women were sipping their tea, quietly listening to them talking. Even Yue Huiling said nothing.

Bai Yu had discovered an ultimate weapon against her baiojie. From now on, if she wanted to avoid squabbling with Yue Huiling, she would have to take her big brother along!

"Yu-er might be staying here for quite a while. I hope grandfather won't mind if I come here to visit Yu-er and biaomei more often."

"Now you're using your sister as an excuse. Actually, you're tired of studying at home so you want to come and train your sword here just like before, right?" The elder Furen joked with her grandson. Bai He had always escaped his lessons to Yue mansion, even though he had been warned by his father already.

"To be honest, I want to see grandmother the most." The first master of the Bai family said with a smile. His sweet-talking made the elders all laughed. Even Yue Chen who always had a solemn look also smiled at his grandson's words.

"Big brother, if you act like that then there's nothing I can compete with you now." Bai Yu playfully pouted at Bai He. She took the opportunity to insert herself in the conversation circle, now that she saw that Yue Chen was not too hard to approach like she had thought.

Ouyang Feiling had given her advice on how to pass general Yue's test, so Bai Yu could not stay still and do nothing. The least she could do was talk.

"Biaomei is beautiful and sweet, everyone would be easily charmed by you. There's no need to worry." It was Yue Huiling who finally opened her mouth after remaining silent for so long beside her.

"But your beauty and sweetness are so little. So be careful not to be overlooked, baiomei." Bai He said to his cousin. He understood the implication in Yue Huiling's compliment to Bai Yu. He responded to it with a smile that did not reach his eyes, unlike what Bai Yu had always seen before. He knew well of his sister's wickedness, there was no way that he himself did not know how to be the same.

Yue Huiling had always been like this. If there was a chance for her to be superior to Bai He and Bai Yu, she would surely take it. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she could not surpass Bai He. Even when they were both lieutenant-general, she still lost to him by quite a margin. And in regards to their relationship with the commander general, Bai He was closer to him as well. Ever since she was young, every time Yue Huiling lost to Bai He, she would vent her frustration on Bai Yu instead.

Bai He did not quite understand his baiomei's thought process. They were relatives, and there was no point in trying to compete with each other at all. He might have always been mindful toward her, but he would not hesitate to retaliate when she crossed the line and touched Bai Yu.

"Alright, alright." The elder Furen drew everyone's attention. "I'm not biased toward any grandchild. Now that today we're gathered, why don't we find something to do."

"What should we do, grandmother? Normally, we would hold a martial arts competition when biaoge visits. But now that biaomei who doesn't know martial arts is also here, we might not be able to do that." Yue Huiling had yet to give up on mocking her on her weakness.

"But a magic competition is impossible as well. Since biaojie's magic level is the lowest, it'll be hard to judge." Bai Yu retorted with a sweet voice. So what if she did not know martial arts? At least her magic was stronger than Yue Huiling's.

"No need to strain your muscle for anything. A selection process for special guards will be held today. Why don't we go and observe together?" Her uncle interrupted before his daughter could reply with any ruder remarks. Yue Chang knew how much prejudice she held against the Bai siblings.

"What does grandfather think?" Bai He turned to the most senior person there.

Yue Chen nodded. "Let's do that. You should stay for lunch here as well."

"Yes, grandfather."

Bai Yu followed everyone to the training ground without changing. Today she wore a dark blue dress with a fox fur shawl for warmth. It was one of the dresses she had designed in the way that was not too different from the dresses in this time. But, at the same time, it still looked so unique that it stood out.

Yue family's training ground was spacious. The masters of the mansion all had seats on a raised platform in a tent set up for spectators next to the sparring stage. From a slight distance away, Bai Yu saw two women came to view the sparring as well. It was normal for this family for women to be able to spectate, though they were forbidden from entering the training area. The only exception was her biaojie who was both the lieutenant-general and the direct descendant of the Yue family's main house.

Bai Yu surmised that those young girls were Yue Huiling's half-sisters since the lieutenant-general became visibly irritated at the sight of them.

The sparring match started after they had arrived. This seemed to be the final round, so there were not many soldiers. Here, they would mainly spar by using martial arts, since not everyone could wield magic. It looked like Yue Chang's son who was born from a concubine were in the group of soldiers as well. Even from afar, Bai Yu could recognize him from his clothes and jade tassel on his waist.

Bai Yu stared at the match in front of her, unblinking. It was largely similar to fight scenes she had to practice for movies, though there were some techniques she was not familiar with. The most important part of the fight was how they adapt their techniques and forms to take on their opponents. Bai Yu intently studied them, trying to remember the strategies they used by viewing them as scenes that she would have to act.

"In a bare-handed fight, these five were all neck and neck. I suggest they use weapons as well. What do you think, father?" Bai Yu heard Yue Chang's voicing his idea to his father. Though she was afraid that those weapons would draw blood, she was excited to witness their skills at the same time.

Shortly after, each of the last five men had a sword in their hands. In such an important sparring match as this, they had to use real swords. Still, striking with the intent to kill was forbidden.

Bai Yu turned back her focus to the fight again She did not realize that Bai He's was looking at her with an amused gaze. Her manners might be impeccable as ever, but the sparkles of enthusiasm in her eyes were unhidden. Since when had his delicate sister been so interest in fighting?

Whoooosh

"Careful!!" The lieutenant-general sensed the sound of something flying through the air. His instinct honed from battle told him that danger was approaching, but the problem was that the sword was not flying toward him…It was going toward Bai Yu!

"Ahh!!!!"

Bai Yu was pulled back to reality by the scream from the two women. She could see that something was coming toward her. She calmly pulled out her hairpin and hold it in front of her.

Thunk!

The sword sank into the hairpin, suffused with red magic that enveloped her whole body. Its sharp edge went through that barrier and was a hairbreadth away from her face.

Bai Yu blinked a few times.

Suddenly, black magic took over hers and ground the sword into dust. It was Bai He who came into her view.

Bai Yu blinked again.

"Yu-er, are you alright?" His large hands took her shoulder and pulled her up. He turned her over to search for an injury. His usually gentle voice was anxious. "The sword flew too fast and I was sitting too far away from you. I was so afraid that I couldn't save you in time."

Seeing that his sister was still silent. Bai He supposed that she might still be in shock. And so he pulled her into a hug, slowly stroking her hair in an attempt to comfort her.

Bai Yu, when on the receiving end of such a substantial amount of worry, hugged him back. She rubbed his back to tell him that she was safe. She did not even realize that the sword was flying so fast, and the fact that what Bai He said did not match her experience confused her. Was her eyesight so bad that she saw it in slow-motion? Or was her big brother exaggerating?

"Miss Bai, Master Bai, please forgive me."

A stern voice came along with a sound of clothes rubbing together because of the wearer's hasty action to kneel. Bai Yu separated herself from her brother's hug and discovered that the owner of that flying sword was the man she thought was Yue Chang's concubine's son.

"Caution is the characteristic a soldier must have. If your duty was to protect the royals and you turned your sword toward them by mistake, taking ten lives from you would still be far from enough!"

Bai He roared like the sound of thunder. The man could not say anything in response, only bowing his head, accepting his failure. Even Yue Chang who was his father did not interfere or try to help. He knew that this nephew was furious over this major case of carelessness. Furthermore, everything that Bai He said was true.

If Bai Yu, the heart of Bai's family, had even a scratch on her, Bai He would surely not let this man live. Yue Chang knew how ruthless and resolute his nephew was, otherwise he would not be able to achieve the title of lieutenant-general at such a young age.

"True, you've won the match. But you don't have the quality of the royal guard!"

"Lieutenant-general, please have mercy." Even while being pressured, the man could maintain his politeness as he begged.

"You have to be punished," Bai Yu's uncle said amidst the silence. No matter how enraged Bai He was, the authority in making decisions still remained in the member of the Yue family, so he stood back and quietly sent his killing intent toward that man.

"Yes, father."

'Yue Shi' answered his father firmly with respect. However, he himself did not understand how his sword could change its course. He had been vigorously practicing for this match, but somehow an unexpected mistake occurred.

"Uncle, please wait." A clear voice cut through the heavy air. The woman who just had a near-death experience walked up to join them, as graceful as ever. Everyone else on the training ground all looked at the beauty while silently admired her calmness.

But they could only afford a brief glance before soldiers at the sparring stage felt their breaths caught in their chests. Bai He's oppressing killing intent forced them to turn their eyes away. No one dared to look at Bai Yu except the masters within the tent, so they had to strain their ears instead.

"Before punishing him, shouldn't we find what caused the sword to change its direction first?"

"You're too kind, Yu-er. It is my child who was reckless and almost hurt you." Yue Chang was grateful for his niece's compassion, but he also saw that Yue Shi was careless and caused the accident.

"But I saw something before the sword changed its course."

"Nonsense! Everyone saw that brother made a mistake. Biaomei doesn't know martial arts so that's impossible." At Yue Huiling's words, Bai Yu was certain that others here did not see the same thing she did. A surprise was visible on their faces, and they nodded in support of biaojie who did not stop pecking at her.

Except for one person who had remained quiet from the start.

"I believe that grandfather saw the same thing I did." Bai Yu turned to Yue Chen who had been watching the scene in front of him in silence. The sharp gazed toward his beautiful granddaughter glinted a slight change. Every eye focused on general Yue, waiting for him to confirm what Bai Yu had insisted.

"It is as she said."

At his affirmation, those eyes shifted back to Bai Yu again. Right now, on her charming face was a wide smile that made two dimples visible on her cheeks. Bai Yu was overjoyed. At least that was not something only she saw, and she did not hallucinate.

"If that's not a mistake, then what's the cause?" Bai He asked his sister.

"If I guess correctly…" Bai Yu paused as she wrangled with her thoughts. "…It's a concealed weapon, brother."

Bai Yu had been watching Yue Shi fought from the start since she knew he had skills. It was his last attack that he intended to throw his sword to stop the movement of his opponent. However, it collided with something that was launched at high speed. That something was a weapon so small and hard to see that it sent the sword toward Bai Yu without anyone noticing.

"Soldiers! Apprehend every contestant and combed through the stage to find the concealed weapon."

Yue Chang immediately barked an order without stopping to consider Bai Yu's words. All soldiers in the vicinity promptly followed his command.

Soldiers who were participating in the match were caught as a precaution. When speaking of a concealed weapon, then that would also mean a spy. The only force in Da Yang that was allowed to carry concealed weapons was the 'Black dragon unit', commandeered by Ouyang Feilong. It was impossible that one of those would appear among Yue Chen's men.

Though Bai Yu unexpected that the spy revealed themselves so easily, she guessed that there must be a reason behind it. Or this might be a scene set up by Yue Chen. At first, Bai Yu only wanted to help Yue Shi. She did not think that it would turn into such a big deal.

She and other Yue women were kept in the tent for their safety. Some soldiers were called to guard them. Bai He stood unmoving beside Bai Yu. Because this was a matter within the Yue family's army, he had no right to meddle. It was the same with Yue Huiling who was standing next to Yue Chen, the latter seemed as indifferent as ever.

Two kes passed before a concealed weapon was found. It took a while to find since it was small and especially transparent.

"As expected. This is Da Chu's." Yue Chen studied the weapon in his hand.

Yue Chang frowned. "Father, you mean…"

"Lieutenant-general, hear your command."

"Bai He is here to receive the order!" Bai He kneeled in front of his grandfather.

"Huiling is here to receive the order!" Yue Huiling kneeled in front of her grandfather.

"Pass this message to the commander general…" The important part of his words was cut off by his magic.

"We have taken your command, general Yue!" The two lieutenant-generals firmly answered. This was the first time that Bai Yu saw Yue Huiling's serious expression. She stood up and talked to Bai He for only a few words before going the other way.

Bai He walked back to Bai Yu's side with a face grimmer than when they had yet to find the concealed weapon.

"How did you see it?"

"I was just looking at the match like normal. I can't see where that weapon came from, I only knew when I saw it collided with the sword." Bai Yu told him the truth.

"You have good eyes." A stern voice from her grandfather sounded as he moved to stand in front of her.

"Grandfather's praising me too much." Bai Yu humbled herself.

"Being able to see Da Chu's concealed weapon is an ability that many skilled men can do. But being to see the speed of the attack that changed the sword's course, that's an ability only a few possess. You could see it as if it's a normal thing, and you were even calm enough to stop it." This was the first long sentence that Yue Chen spoke to her. The large, callous hand of the experienced general patted twice on her shoulder.

"Tomorrow, wait for me at your mother's Meihua residence's training ground."

"Grandfather, you mean…"

"I'll teach you how to use those eyes as a weapon." He patted her shoulder twice, again.

Bai Yu was elated. She wanted to shout loud to express her happiness but then had to suppress tears instead. Because it seemed like all the bones in her shoulder were shattered…