Bai Susu, seeing the situation, forced a smile and flattered earnestly, "That only means they have poor judgment and are not worthy of you!"
"The Crown Prince could read at three and practice martial arts at five. At nine, he went to battle and slew the Turkic prince; at eleven, he led troops to Lingnan to suppress bandits, bringing peace to its people; at thirteen, during the Jiangnan flood, when disaster relief funds were embezzled, leaving corpses everywhere, it was you who, unfazed by court pressure, executed all corrupt officials. Such an outstanding hero like you, how many women in the world are worthy of you?!"
"If this humble woman has the good fortune to marry you, it would surely be a blessing from the virtues of my ancestors!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Qiwu couldn't help but feel a bit better.
Even if he knew she was just flattering him!
But he was quite comfortable with the flattery.
Now, perhaps only she felt marrying him was a blessing!
Nowadays, which noblewoman in the entire Capital City doesn't act like they're facing a flood beast upon seeing him?
...
But soon, Feng Qiwu turned cold and said, "And after that? Why don't you continue?"
Bai Susu naturally knew he was referring to the time after he executed those corrupt officials, when he suddenly changed personality, contracted a mysterious illness, and became violent and bloodthirsty.
Many said it was retribution for his indiscriminate killings.
But Bai Susu knew there must be some undisclosed reason behind it.
Otherwise, how could a benign star suddenly become a killer star?
But some words, naturally, couldn't be spoken in front of Feng Qiwu just yet.
So Bai Susu paused for a moment, looked at him seriously and said, "I don't know the details that followed, but I believe the Crown Prince must have had his reasons for whatever he did! As for what others say, I won't believe any of it, I only trust your words!"
Feng Qiwu suddenly looked at her steadily for a moment after hearing this.
Then he gave a quirky smile, "I didn't know there was someone who believed in me so much?"
He paused, then suddenly changed his tone, staring at her with a sinister look, "What if I say I'm going to kill you right now? Would you believe that?"
Bai Susu's face stiffened at first, then she widened her eyes in grievance, and gritted, "To die at the hands of a man I adore would... also be Susu's blessing!"
With that, she closed her eyes tremblingly, in a stance as if awaiting execution.
Seeing her obviously scared to death but still trying to be heroic, Feng Qiwu couldn't help but find it amusing.
In the next moment, the curve of his lips faded; he stepped forward, lifted Bai Susu's chin, and gazed at her coldly with sharp eyes, "Since you admire me so, why are you entangled with my third brother? Everyone in the Capital City knows you're fond of him! Bai Susu, do you think I'm that easy to fool?"
Bai Susu, however, wore a wry smile hearing this.
"The Crown Prince has misunderstood; with you being like a pearl and jade in front, how could this humble woman fancy the third prince?"
"Oh? Then why do you cling to my third brother every day?" Feng Qiwu showed a skeptical expression.
"It's not that I want to cling to the third prince, but I have to pretend to cling to him." Bai Susu quickly organized her words in her mind.
"Actually, this humble woman doesn't like the third prince, and he doesn't like me either. The one he truly admires is my half-sister Wan Wan."
"But there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. Many events this humble woman is entitled to attend, while Wan Wan is not."
"The third prince asked me to help connect them so he could see Wan Wan often."
"I've been close with Wan Wan since we were young, and Wan Wan likes the third prince. I couldn't refuse them, so naturally, I had to help cover for them!"
"But who knew that in the eyes of others, it would look like I was clinging to the third prince and admired him!"
At this point, Bai Susu helplessly and bitterly smiled, "Today, I appeared in this side hall because the third prince asked me to bring Wan Wan over."
"To bring Wan Wan over, I even deliberately got my clothes wet."
"But I didn't expect Wan Wan to sprain her ankle and be unable to come. Fearing the third prince would get anxious, I rushed over to notify him."
"But I didn't anticipate running into the great hall... and you." Bai Susu's face was calm.
She wasn't lying at all.
Except for the part where the original situation backfired, and she almost got herself in trouble.
...
Seeing her so confident, Feng Qiwu finally nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll believe you this time, but if I find you've deceived me in the slightest, hmph! Be careful or you might lose your head!" Feng Qiwu stared at her menacingly.
Bai Susu immediately nodded obediently, "Everything this humble woman said is true, I wouldn't dare deceive the Crown Prince at all!"
Internally, she sighed with relief.
Had she temporarily passed the test?
Feng Qiwu, seeing her anxious yet obedient appearance, couldn't help but feel a touch of softness in his heart.
This fragile darling, her nature is far too simple!
She doesn't even realize she's been manipulated!
She doesn't think about it either; if the third prince was indeed waiting for her, why would it be the crown prince who showed up instead!
And at this moment, a clear and melodious female voice suddenly came from outside the hall, "Sister, I'm here, are you inside?"
Hearing this, Bai Susu felt a chill in her heart, but her expression turned a little panicked as she looked at Feng Qiwu.
"Crown Prince, it's my sister Wan Wan looking for me! What should we do now? If she finds us here together, she'll definitely tell Grandfather, who might misunderstand that you bullied me and come to confront you." Bai Susu looked panicked and flustered.
Seeing that in such a moment her only worry was being tattled on, Feng Qiwu found it somewhat amusing.
And besides, does Prime Minister Bai even have the guts to confront him now?
"Why panic? If the sky falls, I'll hold it for you!" Feng Qiwu chuckled.
In the next moment, he wrapped his arm around Bai Susu's waist and leapt into the air, landing steadily on a beam.
Thoughts of scheming: This delicate darling probably thinks her half-sister is also a good one!
She doesn't consider that even if she hasn't been to this side hall, just because of her half-sister's shouting, once Feng Changge knows, he'd suspect she might have caught him cheating!
Given Feng Changge's suspicious nature, even as a precaution, he wouldn't let her go easily!
Today, I'll let her see clearly her half-sister's sinister nature, so she won't get swallowed up in the future without realizing it!
...
At that moment, Bai Susu was still hearing Feng Qiwu's earlier words that made her feel exceptionally secure – that he would support her if the sky fell.
Ever since her parents died in a car crash, she lost her shelter from wind and rain, and for over a decade, she had grown used to relying solely on herself.
But Feng Qiwu's words just now hit her heart hard and brought a sting to her nose.
So, being protected feels this good.
Just for the sake of Feng Qiwu's words, she would never let him meet the same fate as in the original novel.