After Bai Lang had left the main hall, Bai Kang turned on his third concubine. There was no trace of emotions, not in his eyes or a crack of frown on his face. His eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold,  and hard.

"Su Rou Xue, you love stirring up trouble, don't you?"

Su Rou Xue jumped back from him. She has never seen Bai Kang like this. Her blood drained and heart hammered erratically. This was the first time she's been afraid of Bai Kang. His anger came like a wildfire, hot and fast.

I don't understand what you mean, husband," Sue Rou Xue said, acting absent-mindlessly, her hands trembling at her sides.

Does this woman think he's dumb? "Stop acting mindlessly. Throwing around accusations. Who was it that said someone got Xiao Lang sick? Who said it? Where are they? Bring them  to me?"

Bai Kang temper rarely flares up. He believes he treats his wife and concubines equally, mainly to prevent seeds of jealousy and roots of hatred. He has seen what jealousy and hatred could do to a family, his father's generation the prime example. Bai Kang aimed to treat all his children well to prevent any in-fighting.

Su Rou Xue, afraid she might not be able to get out of this, did what she does best. "How can a master act this way? I was just concerned for my daughter. You can't blame me for asking. Master didn't even visit when Xiao Lang was sick, not once.”

Bai Kang knew he's guilty of neglecting his youngest, but that didn't excuse Su Rou Xue. She was playing with fire. She, after all, hinted that his wife Qu Rou Li was responsible for making his child sick.

"That  is funny." Yun Yi chimed in. "Because you didn't visit the child either. I heard you stayed in the neighbouring courtyard her entire sickness. I bet today is the first time you're seeing the child."

Yun Yi hit the nail on the head. The quick-witted concubine smiled behind her teacup. She loved getting this concubine  riled up. You could see Qu Rou Li  turning red  with anger.

Su Rou Xue grits her teeth and snaps back at Yun Yi. This woman is always ruining her plans. "How would you know what I did? I only stayed in that courtyard at night."

Yun Yi rolled her eyes at that, watching Qu Rou Li dab at her eyes making them red and watery. She bet all her wealth that Su Rou Xue put garlic or onion juice on that cloth.“I took care of Xiao Lang in the days risking my health. You're not a mother so you wouldn't understand." Su Rou Xue wailed.

Bai Si banged the table, ceasing all arguments. He glared hard at Su Rou Xue when the woman opened her mouth, but all she could do was  swallow her grievance without uttering another sound.

"Enough! We're all guilty of neglecting Xiao Lang. That's why Bai Kang, you will send Xiao Lang with Xiao Nuo to etiquette classes."

Bai Kang nods and dismisses his concubines, Yun Yi and Qu Rou Li went to his office.

Instead of a soft gaze that promised love and affection, Su Rou Xue eyes glared with an intensity that tightened Su Qing's chest. There was no softness in that gaze. It was a look that conveyed a bubbling hatred.

Su Rou Xue bit her lip angrily. Her plan was flawless. Where did it go wrong? "That dull-witted child." She said and marched to her courtyard.

Bai Lang sat in front of the mirror in her room and took the cloth filled with ice from her cheeks. It was barely noticeable but Su Rou Xue's hand print was still there, faintly red.

Lou Meng stood behind Bai Lang watching her. It's a scrutinizing gaze that the receiver of it would not miss. Bai Lang felt like she had a bullseye taped to her back.

"Young miss, the master is here to see you." A servant announced.

Bai Lang hopped off the chair and headed to the main room. Bai Kang was seated quite impassively around a red sandalwood table.

“Xiao Lang, come sit down."

Usually, there's no need for Bai Kang to have a private dinner with Bai Lang. Dinner is usually served in the main house with everyone, but Bai Kang wanted some private time with Bai Lang.

Bai Lang sat opposite her father and began eating. Only sounds of cutlery could be heard. Bai Lang stuffed a pork bun in her mouth, not realizing she's pouting.

'Can't he say something? It's like eating in with a brick wall.'

Bai Kang didn't know what to say and if he heard his daughter's thoughts he might choke to death. Bai Kang looked at Bai Lang to see her pouting.Is she shy? He thought.

"Xiao Lang." He called, her head snapping up almost immediately. "You will be joining Xiao Nuo in etiquette classes."

Bai Lang was very much looking forward to it. In her previous life, her new mother never sent her to learn,she only pampered her day and night, only Bai Lang did not understand that her mother was setting her up, as a result, when Bai lang married, she was constantly mocked for being uncultured.

Bai Lang blinked her eyes asking, "What is the tutor going to teach us? I want to learn to paint, say poetry and write and, and…

Bai Kang laughed, "It's a little too early for that, but she will teach you anything you want."

"Thank you, father." Bai Lang's voice was so sweet and fine that Bai Kang couldn't help but laugh again, maybe Bai Lang really is just shy.

"Xiao Lang, you won't be able to learn much if you're still this shy. Make sure you talk to your tutor."

"Yes father."

Bai Lang looked at her father, hissing lightly when she ate.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Land shook her head, holding her cheek for a moment. "Nothing's wrong. Father, can I go now. Jiejie promised to take me out on the boat."

It was still light out so a brief boat ride wouldn't matter.

"Go." Bai Kang could see the faint red marks on Bai Lang's cheek.

When Bai Lang reached Bai Liu courtyard, Bai Sheng and Bai Wen were already present. Bai Sheng was already looking like his father and at sixteen was already growing muscles. A much skinnier Bai Wen stood beside him.

"Jiejie?" Bai Lang called. Bai Sheng and Bai Wen looked towards the voice, they haven't seen their little sister for a while. She usually avoids them.

"What are you doing here, Xiao Lang?" Bai Sheng asked.

Bai Lang ran to Bai Liu holding her hand. "Jiejie invited me. She said I can come on the boat."

Bai Sheng frowned. It may be plain prejudice but he doesn't like Bai Lang's mother, Su Rou Xue, and dislikes inadvertently transferring to Bai Lang.

"You're too little Xiao Lang."

"I am not little, Ge ge. You just don't want to take me."

Seeing that adorable face pouting and glaring looking like a hissing kitten, Bai Wen, and Bai Liu stifled a laugh.

"What Ge ge means Xiao Lang is that you're too young." Bai Wen said trying to appease her.

"I still want to go."

"Don't be so obstinate." Bai Sheng tells her.

Bai Lang didn't want to miss this chance, she wanted to see what life is outside these walls.

"How about I play with you on shore while Ge ge takes sisters out boating?" Bai Wen suggests.

Bai Lang nods smiling, by this time Bai Nuo has arrived. A short carriage ride later, the five siblings arrived at the lake. The lakeside air was pungent with the fragrance of jasmine. This was no natural basin filled with water, but the luxury addition to a formal garden by Bai Si when he first bought the property. In the carriage, it was pointed out that they weren't going out and the lake was still on the property.

Bai Sheng took Bai Liu and Bai Nuo out on the boat, while Bai Wen found himself a spot to read. 'How is this playing with me?' Bai Lang thought.

"Don't go too far." Bai Wen called out to Bai Lang. Bai Lang wandered around, occasionally looking at flowers and frogs that hop around the lake. Bai Lang had told Lou Meng, who came with her, to stay with the carriage so she can't be blamed for lowering her guard. Bai Lang knows Lou Meng is planning something but doesn't know when and where.

Bai Lang stood at the lakeside looking at the plants there. There's only a foot or so between her and the water edge when she feels hands on her.

All at once her entire body was travelling forwards and the scenery started to blur as Bai Lang fell head first into the fall. The expected splash of water came then her body began sinking into the cold.