Bai YuLan had forgotten. Her current life was devoid of any worry. She had spent so many years in peace and had been fortunate to experience of what a family was like, despite her current life's background as an orphan. She had received so much love from the Ji family and from this little girl she had already thought as her own sister.

YuLan forgot that if she did not do anything, she would really have to follow Ji LanBai to the third Prince's household.

She had a modern woman's soul, and her previous self was very independent. Mia Simmons loved to test her own limits, roamed the world, broke traditional rules.

Aside of the possibility of being caged, which was already not looking as an attractive future, was she just imagining the slightest of zeal that the Third Prince had in his current gaze at her?

Forget about Ji LanBai's own willingness to have her living under the same household; in this ancient era, it was not at all outside the norms to have the Mistress' maids serving the Master as well, be it on or off the bed. 

YuLan did not even have to ask herself if she wanted that possibility. The answer was a definite resounding No.

Even if it were for Ji LanBai. Even if Ji LanBai did not mind. YuLan was not willing to wrong herself.

And she must make sure this young Prince would not be deluded to think otherwise. She might be overthinking things and thought too much about the expectation in Zhang GuoFu's gaze towards her, but she wanted to make her stance and opinion known. 

Ji LanBai might not be willing to understand YuLan's intention to pull away, but as the actual head of the household, the Third Prince would make appropriate decisions. So YuLan had to make him understand. Now.

"Third Prince... ," she started.

"Please, just call me by my name." There was a trace of hurt in Zhang GuoFu's tone, knowing that she had suddenly chosen to address him by his title to keep her distance.

YuLan was silent, still staring at Zhang GuoFu who had not shifted his gaze as well. She sighed,

"My wish is only one," she said softly, but her tone was resolute, "that GuoFu, you will cherish one person - and only one person - for the rest of your life."

She added, "That person... is not me."

Both of them knew who she was referring to. The oblivious girl was happily playing with water.

"LanBai is good. She is adorable and I truly wish to look after her for the rest of my life." Zhang GuoFu smiled, but a trace of bitterness appeared in his small smile at YuLan's earlier words, 

"Can I not look after you as well, YuLan?"

Another delighted squeal of LanBai was heard. The both of them looked at her direction, to see some fat baby swans - a group of white fluffy cygnets - trailing behind the white mother swan, all of them bravely heading towards LanBai. They all probably thought that she had food for them.

YuLan smiled at Ji LanBai's clear bright expression as the latter kept chortling to herself in glee, trying to coax the white balls to come closer.

"GuoFu, I just need you to look after LanBai." Her voice was almost a whisper, just enough for him to hear.

"I will not be with her." YuLan decidedly thought in her mind. As to how and when, she needed to think about that soon.

"YuLan... ." Zhang GuoFu had already resigned to her firm decision. She was always like that. She was always a flower that decided to bloom in high places, always out of reach. Although she was not arrogant, there was a sense of pride in her every conduct, that she would not yield to anyone.

But he just wanted to let her know what this ... feeling he had... what this admiration he had towards her,

"When I first met you, you were unconscious."

YuLan nodded, also remembering that particular event years ago, when they were all very young. She had always been grateful to this kind and dignified Prince. But she was not going to put her own future in someone else's palms.

"When I carried you in my arms," GuoFu smiled at her, "I remember thinking that you were so tiny. So fragile."

"Maybe that was the first time a thought appeared in my mind, a thought that only grew stronger in time. A sense of responsibility if you will, that I can, perhaps, always carry you under my protection."

This time YuLan glared at him,

"Trying to make sense of this sense of responsibility... ." She gritted her teeth. Her modern brain could not keep up with this weird thinking, "... Then similarly, should Zhen BuFeng also carry me under his protection?"

She was referring to that occasion in Lian house when she had fallen into the pond and Zhen BuFeng had jumped to rescue her. He had even carried her in his arms soon after.

To her, it did not matter who would offer assistance; she would thank them all the same and would try to reciprocate their kindness in turn. Heck, back then she even allowed a complete stranger - that Jing Mo guy who had grown quite close to Xiao Hui - to lift her body up, before being interrupted by Zhen BuFeng.

What was with ancient people way of thinking of taking responsibility for this and that, just because the slightest of skin-ship occurred?

YuLan calmed herself down. She had to constantly remind herself that this was a different time from her past. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled them as she opened them again.

Her irate expression was now gone. Zhang GuoFu was clearly now uncomfortable from her latest outburst. She walked closer to him, but still keeping an arm's length distance,

"GuoFu. If you think I am important, then please just grant me my wish," 

She looked at LanBai, who was now nervously trying to extend her arms just a little bit closer to the fat baby swans.

"Watch over this young woman. I think of her as my own sister." She softly smiled.

"She is kind. She is honest. Whatever you see there, that is Ji LanBai. She does not hide anything else."

"While I am the complete opposite," she added inside her own mind.

"Sometimes she can be dumb," YuLan cruelly said, but there was only doting in her tone. It made Zhang GuoFu relaxed and also chuckled. 

Those words could not be more true as they just observed LanBai running in panic, She were being chased by mother swan, who was now also on ground, because she got too close to her babies. Father swan had actually just appeared out of nowhere from behind some water plants and decisively swam to where his partner and babies were to offer assistance.

"But that is her innocence. Keep her safe. If there is one person you must carry under your protection for the rest of your life, that person is her." YuLan's smile got wider, realizing that she actually sounded like a mother-in-law now.

Both people were now at peace, having said what they wanted to say. Zhang GuoFu's gaze was fixated at Ji LanBai, as was YuLan's.

Regardless what might have sprouted inside Zhang GuoFu's heart towards her, she could not bear to accept it. She would not accept it. 

Ji LanBai ran towards them, and hide behind Zhang GuoFu's back. She fidgeted as she clung onto Zhang GuoFu's robes, seeking his protection from the irate two adult swans who were elongating their necks at her in threat, bellowing a series of warning noise. Zhang GuoFu could not help but to laugh a little at her predicament. He backed away with Ji LanBai behind him, putting more distance between them and the swans. Fortunately soon a few servants also came, having heard the swans' noise as well and drove them off.

From how Zhang GuoFu had looked at and had treated Ji LanBai, YuLan believed Ji LanBai was also in his heart and time could only make it stronger.   

Of course, she did not think it was very ideal for a man to be thinking of two women at the same time, but she had to remember that this was an era where patriarchy was ripe. The Third Prince had grown up in the Imperial Palace, where there were probably tens or hundreds of concubines warming the bed of only one Emperor. 

Personally, she was disgusted at that thought, but she could only try her utmost for LanBai's best interest. And her own.