Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

“Very well.” Chu Zhaoran still wanted silence to contemplate. His original intention of immediately leaving then changed to accepting Yue Nan’s offer.

Two figures walked side by side out of the ritual room, the place where only the three-eyed seer and the emperor were allowed. Yue Nan brought him to a tree garden. It was an ordinary garden that was not especially beautiful compared to any other.

“An orchard?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Yue Nan nodded. “My niece and nephew have been residing here for over a year. They have planted this garden to be used as their playground.” Despite his words, the truth was that the older one had planted it while the younger used it as her playground.

“Is that so?” Chu Zhaoran nodded, not thinking who Yue Nan’s niece and nephew could be. In his mind, he was trying to find a person from the Bai family who could fit into the prophecy… This prophecy for Da Chu seemed to have turned into his mission for the royal family.

“Then, please, relish your time at ease.”

“Thank you.” Yue Nan knew he wanted to be alone. Although he was the one who had invited him here, he did not join him.

Chu Zhaoran glanced at his surroundings. It felt strange that such an ordinary place would be within the divine valley. Furthermore, it was an orchard instead of a flower garden like what he had in his royal garden, which was popular among his consorts.

.....

Crack

A pair of dark eyes opened at the sound of dried leaves being crushed. She was alerted… The only people who could enter this garden were her and her brother. There were times that Sister Xiao Xi would come to take her to the noble manners class, but this was not her. The person heading in her direction had magic, and the level was higher than she could detect as well.

Was it Uncle Nan?

The small figure in the long, annoying dress designed by her mother slowly sat up, letting her legs hang from the large branch that she always used as her hideout and makeshift bed for her nap. The intruder’s footsteps came closer, causing her to focus on it as she waited to see the appearance of that person.

Doe-like eyes widened at the sight of the intruder. It was not the same silver hair of her uncle, but a tall figure in a gold dragon robe. The golden magic that was shown in his hair and eyes made it difficult to determine his age from his handsome face.

She loved the color gold!

Gold like her father’s beautiful eyes!

And this man was decked out in her favorite color—gold!

“Hm?” Chu Zhaoran’s sharp senses and ability to perceive magic currents allowed him to know that he was not alone. There was someone with black-level magic above…

His golden eyes stared at the small figure among the branches in surprise… A woman?

“Brother! I can’t get down!”

This was her first sentence to the alluring intruder.

Mother. I like him. I want him!

“If you know you can’t get down, then why did you climb up there in the first place?” Chu Zhaoran walked up to the tree the girl was sitting on. His pace was relaxed. He knew both that she would not fall and that she was pretending to not be able to get down. What he was unsure of was what the little doe was playing at.

“I’m afraid of bears! Mother has told me that I should play dead when it comes, but I climbed this tree instead.” Chatter came from her little lips. Though he knew she was lying, Chu Zhaoran loved hearing her sweet, clear voice. Regrettably, she was still young; otherwise, he would jump up to carry her himself and bring her back to the palace to hear her chirp all day and night.

“What should zhen do, then?” There was only one man who could wear the dragon robe. Chu Zhaoran felt no need to hide his identity, though it seemed the sweet little doe paid no attention to his status at all.

“I’m going to jump down. Can Brother catch me?”

Little liar. Don’t you already know martial arts?

“Come. Zhen will catch you.” He was called ‘brother’ even though he was more than a decade older than her. The prophecy was brushed away from his mind and replaced by the thought of playing with the little doe.

“Brother, can you come a little closer? I’m afraid I’ll fall.” In order to be as close as possible to the attractive golden-haired man, she would gladly be a sinner and lie no matter how many times.

Chu Zhaoran moved to stand closer to where she was sitting. He looked up at the liar above him at the same time she looked down. By chance, the gazes of two pairs of eyes collided…

Chu Zhaoran almost forgot to breathe when he could see the owner of that beautiful voice closely.

She was enchanting… Indeed, very enchanting.

“Aaahh!”

“Whoaa.”

The woman who inherited beauty from her mother and father felt her heart beat out of rhythm when she met the golden eyes that were as beautiful as her father’s, but in a different sense. She was so captivated by those eyes that she forgot where she was and leaned to the front, falling from her seat on the branch.

Chu Zhaoran could barely catch her in time because he was momentarily dazed by her beauty.

“Oww…” She cried out from the slight pain. Her face was against his broad chest while his strong arm was around her waist and his other arm helped support her head. She was lying on him, as he had used his body to support her fall when he had lost his balance and was pushed to the ground. Fortunately, she had lost her weight as she had grown, so she was no longer shaped like a steamed bun, as her mother liked to call her.

“Are you hurt?” Chu Zhaoran asked.

“Brother! Are you hurt?” The little lady in his arms said at the same time.

Two pairs of different colored eyes met once again. This time, the distance had greatly lessened, and they both were as surprised as the first time…

She was beautiful… The closer he looked, the more beautiful she was.

While he was admiring the fourteen-year-old woman’s eyes, the owner of that enchanting beauty and curves more advanced than her age was doing the same thing… The gold color on his body was the most captivating!

“Brother…” Her sweet voice woke Chu Zhaoran’s from his reverie. “…Please marry me!”

The Golden Emperor paused. Then, instead of accepting or denying it, he burst out laughing. “Hahahaha. Little liar. How old are you to want to marry an old man like zhen?”

The woman who was called the little liar shuffled and escaped from his embrace. She moved to sit on the ground next to Chu Zhaoran, who was now using his arm to prop up his head while waiting for her answer. His eyes glimmered with amusement, and that had increased his charm to the point of almost making her heart pop out of her chest.

This golden man…was the most fascinating!

“I’m already fourteen. Next year will be my hair-pinning ceremony…” Her little face was serious. “Brother, don’t forget to send your hairpin to me!”

Chu Zhaoran raised an eyebrow as he replied with the same seriousness. “I am thirty-four. Are you willing to marry the man who’s the same age as your father?”

“That’s not a problem!” The little doe replied with a determined look. She grabbed his larger hands with her small ones. “Even if you’re older than me, Mother has said that it’s fine. As long as you love me, everything will go well!”

“Why is that?” Chu Zhaoran was starting to become truly interested in this woman.

“Because Mother said… a person in love will look younger!”

“…”

“So, Brother’s oldness will not be an obstacle to our love life!”

“You…” Chu Zhaoran did not know whether to laugh or cry. How was this little doe raised? “…What is your name?”

“If I tell you, you have to send a hairpin to my ceremony.”

Chu Zhaoran internally complimented the little beauty… She did not want to be at any disadvantage at all.

“Sure.” The golden man nodded. “Tell me your name.”

“You have to give me a big gold hairpin!”

“Sure.”

“Bai Zhenai.”

Bai Zhenai smiled widely.

“My name is Bai Zhenai.”