After Bai Lang had exited the main hall, Bai Kang's gaze turned to his third concubine, Su Rou Xue. There was an absence of emotion in his eyes, and not a single crease of concern on his face. His eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, and unyielding.

"Su Rou Xue, you seem to enjoy causing trouble, don't you?" Bai Kang's voice was laced with an undeniable edge.

Su Rou Xue stepped back, her eyes widening in fear. This was the first time she had seen Bai Kang like this. Her blood ran cold and her heart raced erratically. Bai Kang's anger burned like a wildfire, intense and fast.

"I don't understand what you mean, husband," Su Rou Xue stammered, her hands trembling at her sides.

Did this woman truly believe he was oblivious? "Stop pretending, stop making baseless accusations. Who claimed that someone made Xiao Lang sick? Who said it? Where are they? Bring them to me!"

Bai Kang rarely allowed his temper to get the best of him. He believed in treating his wives and concubines equally, to prevent any seeds of jealousy or roots of hatred from taking hold. He had witnessed firsthand the destructive power of jealousy and hatred in his father's generation, and he was determined to keep his family united by treating all his children with fairness and care.

Fearful that she may not be able to escape unscathed, Su Rou Xue resorted to her usual tactics. "How can a master behave like this? I was only concerned for my daughter. You can't blame me for asking. You didn't even visit Xiao Lang when she was sick, not once."

Bai Kang knew he was guilty of neglecting his youngest daughter, but that did not excuse Su Rou Xue's behavior. She was playing with fire, for she had hinted at his wife Qu Rou Li being responsible for their child's illness.

Yun Yi chimed in with a smirk. "That's interesting, because you didn't visit the child either. I heard you stayed in the neighboring courtyard the entire time she was sick. I bet today is the first time you're even seeing Xiao Lang."

Yun Yi hit the nail on the head. The quick-witted concubine couldn't help but smile behind her teacup. She could see the anger rising in Qu Rou Li's face.

Gritting her teeth, Su Rou Xue snapped back at Yun Yi. This woman always managed to ruin her plans. "How would you know what I did? I only stayed in that courtyard at night."

Yun Yi rolled her eyes, observing Qu Rou Li's red and watery eyes from her false display of emotion. She was willing to bet her entire wealth that Su Rou Xue had put garlic or onion juice on that cloth. "I took care of Xiao Lang during the day, risking my own health. But you wouldn't understand, since you're not a mother," Su Rou Xue wailed.

Bai Si slammed his hand on the table, silencing all arguments. He glared intensely at Su Rou Xue, who swallowed her grievances without uttering another word.

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

Bai Kang nodded, dismissing his concubines. Yun Yi and Qu Rou Li left for his office.

Instead of a gaze filled with love and affection, Su Rou Xue's eyes burned with an intensity that made Su Qing's chest tighten. There was no kindness in that gaze, only a simmering hatred.

Su Rou Xue bit her lip angrily. Her plan had been foolproof, so where had it gone wrong? "That foolish child," she muttered before storming off to her own courtyard.

Meanwhile, Bai Lang sat in front of her mirror, removing the cloth filled with ice from her cheeks. The red mark from Su Rou Xue's hand was still faintly visible.

Lou Meng stood behind Bai Lang, watching her closely. It was a scrutinizing gaze that she couldn't ignore. Bai Lang felt as though she had a target on her back.

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

Bai Lang hopped off her chair and made her way to the main room. Bai Kang was seated at a red sandalwood table, his expression impassive.

"Xiao Lang, come sit," he said.

It was unusual for Bai Kang to have a private dinner with Bai Lang. Usually, meals were shared with everyone in the main house. But tonight, Bai Kang desired some alone time with his daughter.

Bai Lang took a seat across from her father and began eating. The only sounds that filled the room were those of cutlery clinking against plates. Bai Lang stuffed a pork.

Bai Kang was at a loss for words, feeling like he was talking to a brick wall. He glanced over at Bai Lang, who was pouting, and wondered if she was just shy.

"Xiao Lang?" he called, and she immediately looked up. "You will be joining Xiao Nuo in etiquette classes."

Bai Lang was excited about the prospect. In her previous life she had strick palace mamas teaching her, her legal mother wanted her to learn to please her father, but she always sent her to learn with the stricker mamas, day and night bai chen would be covered in bruises. But Bai Lang realize that her mother was setting her up for failure and instead she learned everything they thought her even while taking the abuse from them. As a result, when Bai Lang got married, she was constantly praise for being cultured and refine, but look what good that did her.

Bai Lang blinked her eyes, asking, "What will the tutor teach us? I want to learn how to paint, recite poetry, and write…"

Bai Kang chuckled. "It's a bit early for that, but she will teach you anything you want."

"Thank you, father," Bai Lang's voice was sweet and delicate, making Bai Kang laugh again. Maybe Bai Lang was just shy after all.

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

"Yes, father."

As Bai Lang looked at her father, she hissed lightly while eating.

"What's wrong?" Bai Kang asked.

Bai Lang shook her head, briefly holding her cheek. "Nothing's wrong. Father, can I go now? Jiejie promised to take me out on the boat."

It was still early, so a short boat ride wouldn't hurt.

"Go," Bai Kang said, noticing the faint red marks on Bai Lang's cheek.

When Bai Lang arrived at Bai Liu's courtyard, Bai Sheng and Bai Wen were already there. Bai Sheng, who resembled their father, was sixteen and already starting to build muscles. Bai Wen, on the other hand, was much skinnier.

"Jiejie?" Bai Lang called out. Bai Sheng and Bai Wen turned towards her voice, having not seen their little sister in a while. She usually avoided them.

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

Bai Lang ran to Bai Liu and held her hand. "Jiejie invited me. She said I could come on the boat."

Bai Sheng frowned. It may be unfair prejudice, but he didn't like Bai Lang's mother, Su Rou Xue, and that dislike unknowingly transferred to Bai Lang.

"You're too little, Xiao Lang."

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

Seeing Bai Lang's adorable pouting face, 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.

"But I still want to go."

"Don't be so stubborn," Bai Sheng told her.

Bai Lang didn't want to miss this opportunity. She wanted to see what life was like outside of these walls.

"How about I play with you on the shore while Ge ge takes the sisters out on the boat?" Bai Wen suggested.

Bai Lang nodded, smiling. By this time, Bai Nuo had arrived. After a short carriage ride, the five siblings arrived at the lake. The air by the lakeside was filled with the fragrance of jasmine. This was no ordinary lake, but a luxurious addition to the formal garden when Bai Si first bought the property. In the carriage, they were told that they weren't going far and that the lake was still on the property.

Bai Sheng took Bai Liu and Bai Nuo out on the boat, while Bai Wen found 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 admiring the flowers and frogs that hopped around the lake. She had told Lou Meng, who had come with her, to stay by the carriage so she wouldn't be blamed for letting her guard down. Bai Lang knew that Lou Meng had something planned, but she didn't know when or where.

As Bai Lang stood by the lakeside, observing the plants there, she felt hands on her.

Suddenly, her entire body was propelled forward, and the scenery started to blur as Bai Lang fell headfirst into the water. The expected splash came, and then her body began sinking into the cold depths.

'