Chapter 1160: 1154: Blood for Blood

Chapter 1160: Chapter 1154: Blood for Blood

The former Sima Ruodan was a bit bold but a simple and kind-hearted girl. To people… especially family, she had no defenses at all. She hadn’t even met Xue Renyi, so if her engagement was taken, it was taken; she didn’t care that much. But they forced her mother to death! This… Sima Ruodan could never forgive!

Sima Ruodan was sobbing uncontrollably, looking up at Bai Qingyan with overwhelming sorrow: “I can give up anything, but I can’t give up my mother! They deceived my mother utterly!”

She clutched her gown tightly, unable to stop crying: “My mother… took her own life! She believed wholeheartedly that by taking her own life, the Sima family would finally make me the true daughter of the Sima family! They tricked my mother! They killed her! I no longer have her… they killed my mother! They forced her to death! I must make the entire Sima family pay with blood!”

Hearing Sima Ruodan’s hysterical cries, Lu Ninghuan’s eyes turned red like a criminal’s daughter being sent away, and naturally, she understood.

Sima Ruodan’s emotions silenced everyone in the room.

In this room, besides Bai Qingqi, who had already investigated Sima Ruodan thoroughly, the others were hearing for the first time the hatred Sima Ruodan carried behind her back.

Bai Jinzhao, enraged by Sima Ruodan’s story, stood up and helped her up, her eyes red as she said, “Sister Liaochen, whether you’re Liaochen or Sister Sima, in any case… you’re recognized by me, Bai Jinzhao, as a friend. When we return to Dadu City, I will definitely get justice for you and your mother! As for that Xue Renyi, I will also take you to him and tell him you are his true fiancée!”

Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinzhi both have temperaments that are quite similar, considering themselves heroines, and love to right wrongs. Hearing such a tragic story… they couldn’t hold back, wanting to march to the Sima family at that moment!

How could anyone do such things! The Sima family took someone as a godchild and then abandoned them, and at the end, not only took away her daughter’s engagement, but also wanted to marry her off to an old widower — what kind of monsters are these; they are no different from those of the Bai Clan in Shuoyang.

Sima Ruotong, filled with tears, looked at Bai Jinzhao. She had spent some time with Bai Jinzhao, knowing she was someone with a lot of courage, and she shook her head with tears: “It’s alright, my vengeance is mine to take! Furthermore, I have no interest in this engagement, it was all for my father and mother. Now they are both gone, this engagement means nothing to me.”

At first, Sima Ruodan truly remembered nothing, but a fortnight later… she gradually remembered much, but still pretended to be amnesiac and refused to leave the Bai family army because she feared others would soon expel her once they knew her memories returned, admitting she was afraid of making mistakes, so she continued to pretend to be foolish as she had been before recovering her past memories.

She admitted there was a time when she harbored dark thoughts… because this place included the Emperor’s siblings. If she could marry the Emperor of Zhou’s brother, returning gloriously to Dadu City, she would make the Sima family pay!

Yet… she was not entirely disingenuous. She genuinely liked the generals and women of the Bai family, sincerely… liked Bai Qingqi, the man who saved her risking his life in an instant, admired his graceful demeanor, his unburdened mind.

She did not expect to become Bai Qingqi’s legitimate wife, even just a concubine would do, all she wanted was to be by his side.

But such thought faded the longer she was with the Bai family women, she wanted more to achieve merit like them…

“I want revenge, so I stayed with the Bai family army! I admit initially my thoughts were impure… wishing to marry the Emperor’s brother, become a noble imperial daughter-in-law! Daily I fantasized of watching the Sima family grovel at my feet begging for mercy when I returned to Dadu City in the future!” Sima Ruodan had never been so open to anyone, “But looking at the fifth, sixth, and seventh young ladies and then the Emperor, I realized I might not need to rely on men to seek revenge now that the Emperor reigns! I have more paths to choose… I can also achieve merit on the battlefield, just like the Emperor! I could even take the imperial examination, not wasting my parent’s teachings!”

The ‘Dan’ character her father gave her, from the use of ‘Danqing’ to symbolize unwavering purity, she couldn’t let her father down.

Sima Ruodan knelt to Bai Qingyan again, bowing to the Bai family members, and to Lu Ninghuan. She looked at Bai Qingqi, determined to bury her affection deep within, solemnly bowing to Bai Qingqi: “Sima Ruodan confesses to the Emperor and the generals of the Bai family, these days… have only caused trouble for all; Sima Ruodan apologizes here, she will never forget the lifesaving grace from the masters and generals of the Bai family, she will repay it! Today… hereby bids farewell to all benefactors and masters!”

Sima Ruodan straightened her back and bowed with tears once more.

Bai Qingyan looked at Sima Ruodan, feeling a sense of kinship with her hatred, remembering how she returned with the deep-seated animosity of the Bai family’s blood feud, the intensity of that hatred then… was overwhelming.

Holding onto Chun Zhi’s hand, she got up, walked to Sima Ruodan, and bent over, raising Sima Ruodan with both hands: “Since you’ve decided not to depend on men and wish to accomplish work… then there’s no need to leave the Bai family army, especially as Aunt Lu is already your master, considering it makes you a part of the Bai family army.”

“Your Majesty…” Sima Ruodan’s voice choked with emotion.

“Currently, there is something that requires your assistance, something concerning the capture of Yecheng Pass — would you be willing?” Bai Qingyan asked with a smile.

Sima Ruodan hearing this, nodded forcefully: “Sima Ruodan would willingly sacrifice her life for this task!”

“Good… now sit! We’ll talk while we eat…” Bai Qingyan handed her handkerchief to Sima Ruodan, patting her hand accordingly.

Sima Ruodan’s grudge with the Sima family, and how to repay it is her own concern; Bai Qingyan only hoped that this child wouldn’t be blinded by hatred, nor allow vengeance to stain her heart and character.

Xiao Ruohai was to impersonate Ye Yingnan’s daughter to infiltrate Yecheng Pass, this he disclosed to Sima Ruodan.

Sima Ruodan nodded: “I can do this! But… I need to meet this lady and the madam, and also if I could know the madam’s long-standing daily habits, especially her food preferences, that would be best! In case, upon infiltration, they are tested by the long-time servant.”