DTBCF Chapter 3

“Dock?” Bai Xiangxiu asked curiously.

“Yes, the dock usually has goods brought in from foreign lands. I think you might be able to find what you’re looking for there,” Xiaoshi explained.

Xiaoshi had never considered something like this before. In the deep confines of the residence, how could one just leave whenever they wished? She felt like she’d been influenced by her mistress.

That’s right, Bai Xiangxiu thought, stroking her chin. After all, in many stories, there’s always a reason for the protagonist to sneak out. She decided she needed to venture outside; who knows what strange things she might come across?

She’d always felt that her arrival here was too strange. Others usually crossed over because of something like a coma or even death, yet her original body was unharmed. How could she be stuck in this place forever, fighting petty battles or meeting a tragic end?

After pacing for a bit, she calmed down and concluded that getting the old madam’s permission to go out was laughable. That woman was incredibly conservative, detesting when her son’s women roamed freely, attracting attention. This was also the reason for the strained relationship between the madam and the female lead.

The four new concubines, though not yet favored by the prince, had never stepped outside the residence until their deaths. The mere thought of the old madam made Bai Xiangxiu shiver—she was a fierce embodiment of feudalism.

“Do you think the old madam will let me out?” Bai Xiangxiu asked. The “old madam” wasn’t actually that old, just in her forties. Of course, this was something only spoken about behind closed doors. To her face, she was respectfully addressed as the “lady dowager.”

Xiaoshi shook her head. The dowager was strict, and very few in the household dared to break the rules. Xiaoshi doubted that she would approve an outing without a valid reason.

Bai Xiangxiu grinned mischievously, sending chills down Xiaoshi’s spine.

Half an hour later, Xiaoshi sat near the entrance, sewing, while her eyes kept glancing at the side gate. Beyond that gate was a corridor leading to a small door that opened to the outside world. Normally, it was only used by vegetable vendors.

She wondered if the mistress, disguised as a servant, had successfully snuck out.

Xiaoshi had wanted to stop her but couldn’t resist when her mistress smiled and blinked at her, leaving her dazed and completely at her mercy. With a sigh, she thought, The ancient saying about beauty causing chaos wasn’t wrong!

Indeed, Bai Xiangxiu had managed to slip out. It wasn’t difficult—vendors often used carts filled with large baskets of vegetables, so she had climbed into one and easily snuck out. When the vendor turned a corner, she quietly called out, “Stop the cart.”

Startled, the middle-aged man stopped the cart and looked inside the basket, only to see Bai Xiangxiu emerging with a head of cabbage leaves stuck to her hair. Despite her disheveled appearance, her exquisite beauty was still undeniable. She casually smiled at him, unfazed by the mess on her face, and said, “Brother, I’m sorry to trouble you. It’s like this…”

She quickly spun a tale she’d come up with while sitting in the cart.

She claimed that her mistress’s father had fallen ill, but the household wouldn’t allow a concubine to leave so easily. So, she had decided to sneak out to visit him on her mistress’s behalf. As she spoke, she handed the vendor a tael of silver.

Don’t think she was being naive or reckless, trusting someone like this just after arriving in ancient times. Offering money to a stranger in exchange for their silence could have easily backfired.

However, Bai Xiangxiu wasn’t acting blindly. She knew this vendor’s name was Sun Si’er, a filial man who held family values above all else. She had read about him in the book, which described how the female lead had escaped the estate using his vegetable cart, going in and out several times without ever being caught.

At that time, the female lead hadn’t yet arrived at the estate, and Bai Xiangxiu had coincidentally overheard that this vendor was named Sun Si’er. That was why she dared to hitch a ride on his cart, knowing he was soft-hearted.

Sun Si’er stared at the tael of silver in shock but quickly realized the young woman was lying. Judging by her looks, she was a mistress, not a servant. However, seeing her anxious expression, he thought she might be sneaking out to visit a sick father. In ancient times, filial piety was no joke, and no one would lie about their parents’ health. So, he chose to believe her story.

“Go on, then. I’ll stop the cart here again this afternoon,” Sun Si’er said, implying she could return through the same route later.

What a kind man! Bai Xiangxiu beamed at him and said, “Thank you, Brother Sun.” She then donned a wide-brimmed hat and headed toward the dock.

Sun Si’er watched her leave, a little worried. Even with the hat, her graceful figure was still far too eye-catching. However, he was an honest man, concerned only for her safety, without any other thoughts.

Bai Xiangxiu, oblivious to the fact that half her lie had already been uncovered, walked quickly, carrying a few silver pieces. After asking for directions, she soon found herself at the dock.

Upon arrival, she was slightly sweaty from the rush, and the large hat made her feel stifled. However, she knew she couldn’t take it off, as doing so would certainly attract attention. She could only fan herself with her hand while scanning the area.

The dock was bustling with activity, mostly men and very few women. There was a trade area nearby, and compared to the crowded tourist spots Bai Xiangxiu had seen in her modern life, this was nothing.

She hadn’t forgotten her goal and began searching through the various goods for a cactus. While the items were certainly exotic, they didn’t interest her as much as they might have excited others. Her focus was solely on finding plants, but no one had ever heard of a cactus or anything similar. Disappointment started to set in as she neared the end of the dock.

Suddenly, she heard a faint cry for help, like a child’s weak voice calling, “Help me.”

Startled, Bai Xiangxiu looked around but saw no children nearby. She thought she might have been hearing things, but then she heard the voice again, this time clearer and still calling for help.

She knew now it wasn’t her imagination. The voice seemed to be coming from a lower spot, so she bent down and carefully searched around.

So focused was she on finding the source of the cry that she didn’t notice a group of people approaching her. Nor did she realize that everyone else was stepping aside, leaving her alone, bent over by the road, searching for something and looking quite peculiar!

Song Jiaoyue was used to being the center of attention wherever he went, so he didn’t think much of it as he walked forward.

Ahead, a young woman with a large hat seemed completely absorbed in her search for something on the ground. When she accidentally bumped into his entourage, she brushed him aside, saying, “Move, can’t you hear someone calling for help?” Her voice was that of a young girl, though he hadn’t heard anyone calling for help.

Finding her actions amusing, he asked, “Miss, what are you looking for? Do you need help?”

“I’m looking for someone…” Bai Xiangxiu began to respond, but when she looked up, she was momentarily stunned.

In front of her stood a man with an air of elegance, his appearance striking and refined. His white silk robe and golden hairpin showed his noble status. Even through the gauze of her hat, she could see that he was a rare beauty.

But as her gaze moved down to the jade pendant at his waist, her heart sank. The pendant, engraved with a dragon and a phoenix and bearing the character “Song,” was none other than the signature accessory of the novel’s first male supporting character!