Chapter 152: 151: Encounter with Robbery_1

Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Encounter with Robbery_1

Bai Jinxiu felt nauseous just looking at her father’s illegitimate son. She turned her head and instructed, “Feed him the medicine!”

Seeing two guards bring in the medicine, Bai Qingxuan kept retreating. “How dare you! I’m the only heir of the Duke’s household. How could Grandmother ever let me die? You must be conspiring against me behind her back!”

One guard grabbed the struggling Bai Qingxuan while the other dislocated his jaw and poured the entire bowl of muting medicine into his mouth, then reattached his jaw.

Bai Qingxuan’s legs weakened, and he fell to his knees, coughing violently, trying desperately to vomit the bitter medicine. No matter what he did, it was to no avail. The burning pain in his throat made him writhe on the ground, hysterically crying for help, but his voice grew quieter and raspier until no sound could come out.

“Cut off his arms and legs. Stop the bleeding. Be careful not to damage his face. Throw him into Jiuqu Alley. The Wang family’s young master will certainly give such tender young officials a warm reception!” Bai Qingyan finished speaking and did not wish to stay any longer. She turned and left.

The young master of the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley, known for his cruelty and fondness for exceedingly handsome officials, had caused the deaths of countless officials of low status over the years. Bai Qingxuan, in his hands, would likely endure a fate worse than death.

Bai Jinxiu noticed Bai Jintong still standing there, quietly watching Bai Qingxuan’s painful struggles. She called out to her, “Jintong?”

Bai Jintong, her gaze icy, walked out of the woodshed and said to the guards at the door, “This illegitimate son used a sword to mutilate Mrs. Ji Liu’s corpse and had it thrown out to feed the dogs. Do the same to him. Cut off his arms and legs and make him watch as he’s fed to the dogs!”

The guard hesitated, recalling what this illegitimate son did to Ji Tingyu’s new wife, and gritted his teeth. “Third Young Lady, rest assured!”

Bai Jintong nodded and looked up at her two elder sisters walking along the corridor adorned with white lanterns and plain silk. She quickly followed.

Bai Qingyan turned her head and spoke slowly to Bai Jinxiu, “Yingshuang, although clumsy, possesses great strength and loyalty. She only has a habit of eating snacks. Once Nanny Tong teaches her some manners, she can serve by your side. Elder Sister knows your martial arts skills are good, but with Yingshuang around, I will feel more at ease with you in Dadu. The journey to the southern borders is dangerous. I really have no way to take her along.”

Bai Jinxiu nodded, “Elder Sister, rest assured. I will take good care of Yingshuang and take her with me when I go out.”

“With Yingshuang, you can handle some things better and train those who can be useful to you.”

“Elder Sister, take Little Four with you to the southern borders!” Bai Jintong suggested as she walked alongside Bai Qingyan, worrying that her elder sister had no one to use after heading to the southern borders. “Today, Little Four took out the silver spear that Grandfather gave her. If you don’t let her go, she might sneak off! That girl is very bold.”

Bai Qingyan was slightly taken aback. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “I will think about it.”

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The three sisters walked to Changshou Courtyard, where Mrs. Dong and the fifth wife, Mrs. Qi, had not yet arrived.

Nanny Jiang had someone bring sheep’s milk and snacks for the young ladies. Before long, Mrs. Dong and the fifth wife came together into the main room.

The charcoal burner in the room burned brightly. Nanny Jiang knew Bai Qingyan feared the cold, so she had a little maid add several pieces of Yingshuang charcoal to the brazier with a copper tong, covered it with a carved copper screen, and moved it closer to Bai Qingyan before leading the other maids out of the room.

The Eldest Princess, seated on a lotus-patterned cushion, leaned against a cloud-patterned pillow embroidered with gold thread and spoke softly, “The major events of the Bai family are over. I have reported to the Emperor and requested to renounce my title. The Bai family’s widows will return to Shuoyang. On the fifteenth, I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to cultivate in peace, leaving only Third Young Lady Jintong to serve me. Tomorrow, the eldest daughter-in-law will send a few competent stewards to Shuoyang to renovate the ancestral home. It is estimated that it will be habitable by May or June. By then, the fifth daughter-in-law will have given birth and completed her confinement. You will return to Shuoyang with the eldest daughter-in-law.”

The Eldest Princess had mentioned this before. Mrs. Dong, the second wife, Mrs. Liu, the third wife, Mrs. Li, the fourth wife, Mrs. Wang, and the fifth wife, Mrs. Qi, knew and had no objections.

Moreover, staying in the Capital meant endless schemes against the Bai family.

Fortunately, King Liang’s plot to frame the Bai family for treason did not succeed today. Otherwise, the entire Bai family might not have survived.

“Does anyone want to return to your mother’s family?” The Eldest Princess opened her eyes and asked gently, without any hint of rebuke.

There was no one else in the room, not even Nanny Jiang, who stood outside the door. The Eldest Princess was merely giving face to any daughter-in-law who wanted to leave the Bai family.

“Mother…” The second wife, Mrs. Liu, clutched her handkerchief, her eyes red, and spoke through tears, “I have no intention of leaving the Bai family, but Jinxiu is in Dadu. I don’t want to be apart from her. Could I accompany you to the temple instead?”

Mrs. Liu’s husband, her own son, and even her stepson had all died in the southern borders. Bai Jinxiu was her only beloved child. Not seeing her and not knowing if she was well made it impossible for Mrs. Liu to be at ease!

Bai Jinxiu held Mrs. Liu’s hand and gently persuaded, “Mother, the Emperor granted Grandfather the title of King of Zhen because our Bai family showed the intention to leave Dadu. Grandmother is the Eldest Princess and will remain in Dadu naturally. I have married into the Qin family, so I cannot leave Dadu either. But Mother, you must go with Aunt for now! Luckily, there’s still some time. It’s not like you have to leave immediately!”

“Second Aunt, don’t worry. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe one day our Bai family will return!” Bai Jintong knew her elder sister’s plan and comforted Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu held her daughter’s hand tightly and remained silent. Once they returned to Shuoyang, coming back to Dadu would not be easy!

“Second daughter-in-law, you and your eldest sister-in-law should go to Shuoyang first. If you really can’t stay away from Jinxiu and want to return to Dadu after the three years of mourning, I will personally discuss it with the Qin family and give you a separation letter to let you return to your mother’s home. Is that acceptable?”

The Eldest Princess lowered her stature and spoke gently to Mrs. Liu.

Seeing her mother-in-law’s posture, Mrs. Liu’s heart ached. With tears, she said, “Mother, I don’t want a separation letter. I just can’t stop worrying about Jinxiu! Thinking of going to Shuoyang… so far from Jinxiu! Forget it. Shuoyang it is. As Third Young Lady said, there may be a chance to return to Dadu!”

Mrs. Liu’s words had just fallen when Nanny Jiang lifted the curtain and entered. She stood behind the jade and coral inlaid eight-treasure screen and spoke in a low voice, “Eldest Princess, Master Bai Qiyun from Shuoyang was attacked on the road and returned in embarrassment, covered in wounds. He claims that the silver taels from the Duke’s household gifted to the clan were robbed and requests help from the Duke’s household.”