The few light words fell into the ears like a clap of thunder on a clear day, catching one off guard.
Taking a deep breath, the stunned man finally found his voice: “Subordinate… I will go at once!”
The usually indifferent Ziyang Jun was furious for a woman. After the initial shock, he felt a bit moved. It wasn’t easy! After living for over twenty years, this old iron tree had finally bloomed a vibrant flower; it was indeed something the Jiang family should come and see!
With this thought, he felt a rush of wind beneath his feet and dashed out of the side room.
Huaiju lay dazed on the bed, hearing someone speak but unable to make out the words. In a hazy state, she felt someone turn her over, and then something gently tugged at her back, causing a sharp, fiery pain.
“Ah—” she gasped in pain, struggling to lift her eyelids.
Lingxiu stood by her bedside, clutching a piece of her half-dressed clothing, tears streaming down her face like pearls from a broken string. Seeing her open her eyes, the tears flowed even more fiercely: “Miss…”
“Why are you crying again?” Huaiju murmured, still dazed. “I’m fine… don’t cry…”
Is this what you call fine? Lingxiu shook her head anxiously, her mouth opening to speak but finding her throat choked, she stomped her feet and cried out even louder.
Jiang Xuanjin, who had been avoiding looking at the bed, suddenly turned around at the sound of Lingxiu’s cries, fearing something had happened to the person on the bed.
The person on the bed lay face down, her clothes half-removed, the fabric stuck to her back with blood, revealing a ghastly sight of bruises and mangled flesh.
Such severe injuries on her back?! Jiang Xuanjin’s heart jolted, unable to believe it. What kind of people were in the Bai residence that they could treat her so cruelly?
Li Huaiju’s pupils were dilated, her breath weak, yet she still managed to speak intermittently to Lingxiu: “It’s just a minor flesh wound… I didn’t let them have it easy either… don’t worry…”
Seeing her like this, Jiang Xuanjin frowned, disregarding any sense of propriety, and stepped forward to take Lingxiu’s place, saying, “Go find a physician.”
Lingxiu was still crying, and it took her a moment to react before she nodded and rushed out.
Once she was gone, Li Huaiju struggled to move her eyes, landing them on the person beside her.
“You…” she still had the heart to tease him. Even in her half-dead state, she hoarsely said, “You look so pale… are you worried about me?”
How could he be in the mood for such nonsense when she looked like this? Jiang Xuanjin was furious: “No!”
Pouting in a grievance, Li Huaiju murmured, “So heartless…”
With a stern face, Jiang Xuanjin was about to ask her how she ended up like this when he saw the person on the bed suddenly lean her head to the side, her eyes abruptly closing.
Startled, he quickly reached out to check her breath.
There was still a faint pulse.
His heart sank, then began to race wildly. Jiang Xuanjin looked down, feeling as if he had developed some heart condition; he had been acting strangely all day.
“Your Highness.” Lingxiu returned shortly after, stomping her feet anxiously, “They said the physician in the residence is with the Madam and can’t come!”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin’s expression turned cold.
While the family rules could be explained, knowing that Bai Zhuji was so severely injured yet keeping the physician away was an attempt to kill her. The esteemed Madam Yu had such a cruel heart.
He took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to her along with his purse, saying, “Take these and go outside the residence to find a physician. Use the side door, and don’t inform the Bai matriarch.”
“Understood!”
The physician summoned from outside arrived much quicker than those in the residence, but as soon as she entered and saw the person on the bed, her brows furrowed tightly.
“We need to remove the young lady’s clothing first and prepare some warm water. If there’s clean salt in the residence, bring some as well,” she instructed.
Lingxiu complied, and Jiang Xuanjin stood by, unable to restrain himself from asking, “Is it serious?”
The physician sighed, “This is more than serious; it’s a miracle this young lady is still alive. Looking at her pulse, she must have had a pre-existing condition, and with these severe injuries, both her internal and external health are compromised, and her spirit is exhausted. I truly have little confidence in being able to treat her.”
Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, frowning, “Just tell me what medicinal ingredients you need.”
“This is no longer a matter of medicinal ingredients…” The physician sighed, glancing at his expression, and helplessly said, “I’ll prescribe to keep her alive for now.”
“All right.”
After she wrote it down, Jiang Xuanjin turned back to the bed, looking at the pale face, and after a moment’s thought, he took her hand and rubbed his long-worn sandalwood prayer beads onto her wrist.
At the hour of Shen, the sunset.
Bai Dezhong had finally finished his duties in court and returned home. As soon as he stepped through the gate of his residence, a servant from the eastern courtyard rushed to him, saying, “Master, you must go see the Madam!”
“What happened to the Madam?” he asked, confused.
The servant led the way, shaking his head as he walked, “This servant cannot say; you will understand when you reach the eastern courtyard.”
Bai Dezhong followed, inwardly cursing Bai Mengshi for being so secretive.
However, upon reaching the main room of the eastern courtyard, he immediately understood why the servant had been reluctant to speak.
The usually tidy room was now in disarray. Tables and chairs lay overturned, exquisite porcelain that had been placed around the room was shattered, and the copper incense burner and silver spittoon were smashed and deformed on the ground, with even some bloodstains on the walls.
Frowning deeply, Bai Dezhong shouted, “Has a thief broken in?!”
Bai Mengshi emerged from the side hall, crying as she knelt before him, clutching a handkerchief, “Master, you must give me justice!”
“What on earth happened?” Bai Dezhong helped her up, “What justice do you want from me?”
Wiping her tears, Bai Mengshi choked out, “What you see here is all Zhuji’s doing! She didn’t come home last night and sneaked back this morning. I was angry that she didn’t know her place, so I wanted to punish her a little to teach her a lesson. Who would have thought she would resist discipline, injuring the servants and smashing everything in my room!”
Bai Dezhong was shocked, “Is that true?”
“The evidence is all here; would I lie?” Bai Mengshi sighed, “I was thinking of letting Zhuji off lightly since she was upset about losing her engagement, but I didn’t want to be too harsh. Who would have thought she would show no remorse, even finding someone to back her up, refusing to accept punishment, and acting arrogantly!”
Bai Dezhong was furious, “Who dares to back her up?”
At this mention, Bai Mengshi stammered, not daring to answer.
Beside her, Old Madam Liu immediately added, “The Fourth Miss has done more than this! She even stole the Second Miss’s dowry, and when discovered, she showed no shame, instead threatening to steal all of the Second Miss’s dowry!”
What kind of nonsense is this? Bai Dezhong was so angry he felt dizzy, and without caring about who was backing whom, he pulled out the redwood ruler hidden in his sleeve and shouted, “Where is she now?!”
Bai Mengshi replied, “In the western courtyard.”
Bai Dezhong turned and stormed off, his anger boiling over!
He had always been disciplined and had devoted himself to teaching his children. He didn’t expect them to achieve great success, just to know the principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, and to discern right from wrong. Yet, how had he raised such a rebellious and lawless bandit?
Bai Zhuji hadn’t returned home all night, and he had been holding back his anger. Now, hearing Bai Mengshi’s words, Bai Dezhong wished he could beat Bai Zhuji back into the womb, wishing she had never been born!
Rushing to the western courtyard, he pushed open the door to the side room and saw Bai Zhuji lying on the bed, fast asleep.
She was still sleeping!
His anger surged, and Bai Dezhong stepped into the room, not even glancing at the others inside, raising the ruler to strike the person on the bed!
“Master!” Lingxiu cried out in alarm.
Bai Dezhong ignored her; it was useless to stop him now. He had no intention of holding back once he swung that ruler!
However, in the blink of an eye, someone suddenly stepped in front of the bed to block him. The three-foot-long redwood ruler landed in that person’s hand with a crisp sound.
“Crack!”
Everyone in the room gasped in shock.
Bai Dezhong stared in disbelief at the hand that caught the ruler for a moment before slowly raising his head to look at the face.
“Lord Bai.” Jiang Xuanjin’s expression was dark as he pushed the ruler aside and withdrew his sleeve, asking, “What are you doing?”
“Your Highness?!” Seeing him, Bai Dezhong took two steps back, momentarily thinking he had entered the wrong place. But looking back, the furnishings in the room, the scenery outside, and even Lingxiu standing nearby all confirmed that this was indeed Zhuji’s room.
At the hour of Shen, it was already late, and Ziyang Jun was still in another man’s daughter’s room?!
His previously restrained anger surged again, and Bai Dezhong looked at him in disbelief, both angry and frustrated: “I thought Your Highness was a gentleman who understood propriety, but I didn’t expect you to commit such an act of intruding into a lady’s chamber!”
He couldn’t see his half-dead daughter, yet he accused Jiang Xuanjin of intruding. Jiang Xuanjin frowned at him, instantly understanding why Bai Mengshi dared to beat Bai Zhuji so severely.
This old man, Bai Dezhong, didn’t care about his daughter’s life at all.
“Your Highness.” The physician beside him trembled as she handed him the medicine, “We must hurry; there’s no time to waste.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin disregarded Bai Dezhong and took the medicine, saying to Lingxiu, “Help your young lady.”
“Understood!” Lingxiu hurried over to sit at the head of the bed, propping up Li Huaiju to make it easier to administer the medicine.
As she moved, Bai Dezhong finally noticed the person on the bed had a face as pale as paper, and the smell of blood in the room was overwhelming.
“What happened?” he was taken aback.
Lingxiu gritted her teeth, “The young lady was beaten half to death by the Madam, and now there’s not a single good spot on her body. You don’t care at all, yet you still want to beat her to death! She is your daughter, how can your heart be so cruel!”
Upon hearing this, Bai Dezhong was taken aback: “The Madam beat her?”
After a pause, he frowned, “She has committed so many wrongs; she deserves to be punished!”
The veins on Jiang Xuanjin’s forehead throbbed as he looked at Bai Dezhong, finally unable to hold back any longer, his face cold as he shouted, “Yufeng!”
Yufeng had gone to Jiang’s residence and, upon hearing the news, had come to Bai’s residence first. Hearing the commotion, he immediately drew the dagger at his waist.
“What are you doing?” Bai Dezhong shouted, “This is Bai’s residence! Your Highness is overstepping, and you want to bully the master?”
Ignoring his words entirely, Jiang Xuanjin ordered Yufeng, “Clear out the bystanders from this courtyard. You guard the entrance; without my orders, not even a fly is to enter.”
“Understood!” Yufeng complied, positioning the dagger in front of Bai Dezhong and pushing him out.
Did that “bystander” include him? Bai Dezhong stepped out of the room, turning back to see that he was truly furious: “Jiang Xuanjin, you are going too far! Tomorrow in court, I will report you!”
Putting down the empty medicine bowl, Jiang Xuanjin stood up and walked to the door, gripping the door frame as he looked at the agitated man outside, coldly saying, “You may report me, Lord Bai; I will be waiting for His Majesty’s summons.”
With that, he waved his hand and shut the door, blocking all the noisy sounds outside.
The people in the room were too frightened to speak, the physician trembling as she sorted through the medicinal ingredients brought by Yufeng, while Lingxiu hurried to check on Li Huaiju.
Not looking was one thing, but upon seeing her, Lingxiu gasped, “Miss!”
The person on the bed frowned tightly, her previously pale face suddenly flushed an abnormal color, her mouth slightly open, and her body convulsed like a fish thrown onto a rocky shore. The skin that had been treated with good medicine now oozed blood.
Jiang Xuanjin clenched his jaw and quickly strode over, reaching out to check her forehead.
It was burning hot!
Taking a deep breath, he turned to the physician: “She has a high fever.”
Upon hearing this, the physician hurriedly put down what she was holding, went over to check her pulse, and her expression instantly turned grave.
What’s wrong? Jiang Xuanjin looked at her.
The physician sighed, pointing toward the door as she stood up to leave. Jiang Xuanjin understood and followed her out, closing the door behind him.
“I’ll speak frankly.” Once the door was closed, the physician said softly, “This young lady has severe internal and external injuries, especially to her spleen and lungs. If she didn’t have a high fever, taking some spiritual medicine might have a chance for recovery, but with this high fever not subsiding, I’m afraid…”
She didn’t finish her sentence. Jiang Xuanjin understood, his face remaining calm, but his sleeves tightened slightly.
The physician sighed, “I will go prepare some medicine to reduce the fever. Please find some wine and water to help wipe her down. Whether she can survive depends on her fate.”
“All right.” He replied softly, watching the physician leave, lingering at the door for a moment.
The night was cool as water, and all the lights in the Bai residence had been extinguished, except for the brightly lit room in the western courtyard. Stretching out his hand to catch the light seeping through the crack in the door, Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips and sighed lightly.
Returning to the room, he had Lingxiu fetch a jar of wine, then twisted a cloth to gently wipe Li Huaiju’s face hands, and feet. He repeated this for an hour without growing tired of it.
When the physician’s medicine arrived, Jiang Xuanjin finally stopped.
“Administer it to her.” The physician gestured, “Be careful not to touch her wounds.”
Lingxiu nodded and lifted Li Huaiju, while Jiang Xuanjin took the medicine, blowing on it to cool it down, and spooned it into her mouth.
However, this time, Li Huaiju did not swallow the medicine. She frowned and spat it all out. Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened as he simply set down the spoon, picked up the bowl, and forced the medicine into her mouth.
Though she still spat out a lot, at least some went down. By the time the bowl was empty, Jiang Xuanjin had spent another half an hour with her, and Li Huaiju gradually calmed down, no longer convulsing.
As the night deepened, the noise outside the courtyard gradually faded. Lingxiu anxiously glanced at the time, then at Jiang Xuanjin, who sat motionless by the bed, unable to help but say softly, “Your Highness, you should rest in the guest room. I can watch over her.”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t move, simply changing the cloth and continuing to wipe her face, casually asking, “What does your young lady usually eat in the residence?”
Lingxiu was taken aback, not understanding why he was asking this, but she answered truthfully, “According to the rules, she has light porridge and small dishes for breakfast, two vegetarian dishes and a small bowl of rice for lunch, and dinner is similar to lunch.”
As she spoke, she continued to murmur, “The people in this residence are all those who step on the low to elevate themselves. They know the Madam doesn’t favor my young lady, so her food and clothing are all neglected. When my young lady was foolish, they took pleasure in bullying her whenever I wasn’t around. Now that she has finally regained her senses, they are finding ways to cut her monthly allowance, making her life truly difficult!”
After hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at the person on the bed and said softly, “I thought… I truly misjudged her.”
When she said she couldn’t eat or wear properly in the Bai residence, he had thought she was lying to gain his sympathy, but it turned out to be true; he just hadn’t wanted to believe it.
So, all this time, were the lies he thought she told him hiding her true feelings that he had overlooked?
As this thought arose, countless things she had said echoed in his ears:
“Are you stupid? When a girl says she wants to apologize, she’s trying to get close to you. Who cares if she needs to apologize!”
“I won’t let go; don’t say such useless things.”
“In my eyes, you are naturally the most important.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned, instinctively wanting to shake his head to dispel these voices. However, the last softest sentence still irresistibly drilled into his ears.
“I want to be with you. To see you every year.”
Her voice was like a yellow oriole, the ending carrying a charming little hook that made one’s heart itch.
His heart warmed, and Jiang Xuanjin felt a slight tightness in his throat. Looking down again, the smiling face that had just been in his ears and eyes gradually faded away, leaving the person on the bed still weak and pale.
He suddenly tightened the cloth in his hand.
“Your Highness?” Lingxiu was startled, looking at him in confusion.
Slightly taken aback, he realized he had lost his composure and slowly lowered his eyes, “It’s nothing.”
The restlessness in his chest gradually calmed down, and Jiang Xuanjin reached out again to check Li Huaiju’s forehead.
The high fever still hadn’t subsided.
His heart sank, and he turned to the physician, “Come check on her.”
The physician, who had been dozing off at the table, snapped back to attention and hurried over to check her pulse again. This time, her lips turned pale.
“How is it?” Jiang Xuanjin asked.
After hesitating for a while, the physician reluctantly uttered four words: “Leave it to fate.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin looked down at the person on the bed, his sword-like brows not relaxing.
Reaching out to touch the prayer beads on her wrist, which had accompanied him for many years, he whispered, “Even if it’s fate, it should favor you a little.”
Lingxiu, hearing this, looked at him in surprise, feeling an inexplicable sting in her nose.
After Bai Dezhong left the western courtyard, he returned to Bai Mengshi’s side. Although he was angry at Jiang Xuanjin’s domineering behavior, he calmed down and felt something was off, so he asked Bai Mengshi, “Did you beat Zhuji?”
Bai Mengshi paused, then said aggrievedly, “Didn’t I say? I wanted her to learn a lesson, so I had someone administer family discipline. But the family discipline wasn’t heavy at all; who would truly use force against her? You mustn’t believe those tricks!”
“Then what about Ziyang Jun?” Bai Dezhong frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me he was protecting Zhuji?”
Bai Mengshi felt even more wronged: “What status does Ziyang Jun have? He wouldn’t give me half a face; how could I dare to report him?”
Indeed, he didn’t give her any face at all. Not to mention Bai Mengshi, he hadn’t received any good treatment from him either.
Bai Dezhong thought for a moment and felt that Bai Mengshi’s words had some merit. He was angry, but he decided to wash up and rest first, planning to report him in the morning court.
However, after sleeping and waking up, as he walked to court, Bai Dezhong hesitated again.
Yesterday, Ziyang Jun had shown no guilt, and his demeanor was upright, not at all like someone who had done something shameful. When he left, he had shown no fear of being reported to the emperor, even saying he would wait for His Majesty’s summons.
Was there something he didn’t know?
Standing in the court, he secretly glanced at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, and after much hesitation, he ultimately swallowed the prepared report back down.
Today, there were inexplicably fewer people in court, and the meeting ended in just an hour. Bai Dezhong hurried out of the palace, thinking that if Jiang Xuanjin was still in the western courtyard without giving an explanation, he would go find the old master of the Jiang family to discuss it.
However, as soon as he stepped into the Bai residence, Bai Dezhong was startled by the scene inside.
The bridal gifts covered in red silk stretched from the entrance all the way to the front hall, looking like a fiery red dragon at a glance.
“Master!” The doorman came up to him with a beaming face, “You’re back! The Jiang family members are all waiting in the front hall!”
Bai Dezhong was slightly taken aback, gently patting his forehead. He realized he had been so angry that he had forgotten today was the day the Jiang family came to propose marriage. Right now, Xuanji’s marriage was the most important thing; as for the others, they could wait until later.
Regaining his composure, he straightened his posture and stepped into the front hall.
Bai Mengshi was already standing in the front hall, her eyes gleaming as she swept a glance at the sea of red around her, practically beaming with joy.
The bridal gifts determined the importance the groom’s family placed on the bride, and her daughter Xuanji was truly fortunate to have received the highest standard of sixty-four bridal gifts from the Jiang family. Just looking at the corners of the first two bundles revealed the substantial weight of what was covered beneath the red silk.
The relatives of the Bai family standing behind her all envied, “Xuanji is marrying well; this daughter was not raised in vain!”
Hearing this, Bai Mengshi felt even happier, but she still modestly covered her mouth, saying, “The bridal gifts are secondary; what matters is that Xuanji can marry a good husband.”
A few relatives praised her again, lifting Bai Mengshi to the skies.
The Jiang family members sat quietly in the guest seats, sipping tea without saying a word.
When Bai Dezhong entered, he didn’t look around much, first greeting Jiang Chong at the front: “Thank you, in-laws, for waiting so long.”
Jiang Chong stood up, not responding to the title of “in-law,” and clasped his hands, saying, “Lord Bai serves the country; it is only right for us to wait.”
Bai Dezhong was taken aback, smiling politely but feeling something was off. His gaze swept to the side, and he was instantly stunned.
Old Master Jiang sat at the guest seat, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, with a smiling Jiang Shen beside him. Behind them stood a row of Jiang family uncles and relatives, any one of whom was a prominent figure in the court.
No wonder there were so few people in court today; how come all these people were here?!
Feeling shocked, Bai Dezhong forced himself to calm down and bowed to Old Master Jiang: “Old Master, you have personally come to the residence; I am truly honored!”
Old Master Jiang smiled and kindly said, “In-law, please take a seat.”
Glancing at the people behind him, Bai Dezhong stiffly took a seat, daring to sit only halfway, his back straight.
Old Master Jiang continued, “I have come today to propose marriage.”
Bai Dezhong nodded, clasping his hands, “Actually, according to the rules, the general should come to propose. Your visit is truly making me feel ashamed for the lack of courtesy in my residence.”
Old Master Jiang shook his head with a smile: “I am indeed following the rules; there is no need for you to feel uneasy, your residence is quite courteous.”
What does this mean? Bai Dezhong felt a bit confused, and Bai Mengshi behind him was equally puzzled.
According to the rules, shouldn’t it be the groom’s father who comes to propose? Why was Old Master Jiang here for Jiang Yan’s marriage? Moreover, didn’t the general just slip up by calling Bai Dezhong “Lord”?
Before they could figure it out, Old Master Jiang said, “Is my son Xuanjin still causing trouble in your residence?”
Mentioning this, Bai Dezhong’s expression turned a bit unpleasant: “Your Highness is probably still in the western courtyard.”
“Very well.” Old Master Jiang nodded, then turned to Jiang Chong, “Go call him over.”
Bai Mengshi, seeing this, hurriedly interjected, “The Jiang family has so many people here today for Xuanji’s marriage; it’s already a grand affair, why trouble His Highness?”
Looking at her, Old Master Jiang smiled, “If it were just for the marriage of your second daughter, I wouldn’t need to be here today.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Dezhong finally realized something, looking at the Jiang family members in shock. He opened his mouth to speak but felt his thoughts were too absurd to voice.
Bai Mengshi still didn’t understand, frowning in confusion, feeling this was nonsensical. The people of the Bai family whispered among themselves, discussing in hushed tones.
In the western courtyard.
Jiang Xuanjin hadn’t slept all night but still hadn’t waited for the person on the bed to wake up. His gaze was fixed on the physician checking the pulse, his eyes as dark as night.
The physician trembled as she pressed on the pulse, not speaking for a long time. He felt a bit anxious and stepped forward to check the person’s breath again. However, before he could place his fingers, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open.
“Master.” Yufeng entered, cupping his hands to convey the message, “The Old Master requests your presence in the front hall; the eldest son is waiting for you outside.”
Requesting him to go. It must be Bai Dezhong returning from court. Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips, glancing at the person on the bed, his fingers hovering an inch from her breath. After a moment’s thought, he ultimately let his hand drop to tuck her in.
“I will handle other matters for her first.” He stood up and said to Lingxiu, “Take good care of your young lady; if anything happens, come and inform me.”
Lingxiu nodded repeatedly.
Taking the clean outer robe handed to him by Yufeng, Jiang Xuanjin changed clothes, splashed his face with cold water, and went out to find Jiang Chong. The two of them headed to the front hall, and just as they crossed the threshold, they heard Old Master Jiang’s voice scolding, “What kind of behavior is this!”
Everyone was startled, unsure who he was scolding. Jiang Xuanjin, however, stepped forward, standing before him with his head lowered: “I have been disrespectful.”
“You know you’ve been disrespectful?” Old Master Jiang glared, “On the day of the proposal, you, the one getting married, can arrive later than the in-laws?”
The front hall, which had just been bustling, fell silent as if everyone had died.
Bai Dezhong’s eyes widened, and Bai Mengshi’s eyes also bulged. The Bai family members behind them were all frozen in place, some even pinching their ears, doubting whether they were dreaming.
The one getting married is who? Ziyang Jun? Is this old man losing his mind?
Amidst the shock, Jiang Xuanjin’s expression remained calm as he turned to Bai Dezhong, saying softly, “The younger generation arrived late; I hope the Lord will forgive me.”
Bai Dezhong: “…”
Although Jiang Xuanjin was younger and of a lower generation, his status was such that he usually referred to himself as “This Lord.” Hearing him refer to himself as “the younger generation” made Bai Dezhong feel inexplicably flustered.
“What is going on?” Bai Mengshi was no longer calm, frowning at Jiang Xuanjin, then looking at Old Master Jiang behind him, “Shouldn’t today be for the young master of the Jiang family to propose to Xuanji? How did it turn into Ziyang Jun wanting to marry?”
Old Master Jiang, leaning on his cane, smiled and said, “Today, we have invited so many people from both families to clarify this matter, to avoid future gossip—Xuanjin’s generation is older than Yan’er’s, so his marriage naturally takes precedence over Yan’er’s. Today, the entire Jiang family is here to show Lord Bai our sincerity, hoping you will rest assured to marry your daughter to Xuanjin.”
Hearing this, Bai Dezhong was shocked, not because he was surprised by the Jiang family’s sincerity, but because… Ziyang Jun really wanted to be his son-in-law?
How many people in court wanted to connect with Ziyang Jun? Even Qi Ge Lao was willing to offer his legitimate daughter as a concubine; how could such a stunning beauty catch his eye? How could he possibly be interested in Bai Zhuji?
If it weren’t for yesterday’s incident, Bai Dezhong might have naively thought Jiang Xuanjin was interested in Xuanji. But after yesterday’s events… if he still didn’t know who Jiang Xuanjin wanted to marry, then he had wasted over forty years of his life!
Bai Mengshi clearly realized this as well, her face turning from red to white, staring at Jiang Xuanjin with wide eyes, her fingernails digging into her flesh.
He wanted to marry Bai Zhuji? How could he marry Bai Zhuji! Xuanji marrying Jiang Yan was already a high climb; how could that foolish girl marry Ziyang Jun? If this really happened, wouldn’t Xuanji have to call her “Aunt” in the future? This was simply absurd!
Furious, she no longer cared about propriety and urgently spoke up, “This matter cannot happen!”
Before Bai Dezhong could speak, the womenfolk spoke first. Old Master Jiang frowned, looking displeased as he glanced at her, asking in a deep voice, “Why can’t it happen?”
Bai Mengshi was flustered, both angry and anxious, stepping forward to ask, “Old Master, do you know who His Highness intends to marry?”
“Of course I know.” He nodded, “Your fourth miss, Bai Zhuji.”
“Since you know, then you should also know that Bai Zhuji has been foolish for many years and has poor character! Marrying the young master is already questionable; how can she deserve to marry His Highness?” Bai Mengshi shook her head repeatedly. “I ask the Old Master to think it over!”
This was a harsh statement, implicitly stepping on Jiang Yan’s toes. Jiang Chong shot her a glance, instantly losing his good temper.
“You are being unreasonable!” Bai Dezhong sensed something was off and scolded her, “This is not a place for you to speak!”
“His Highness is the pillar of the nation; his marriage cannot be taken lightly. Even if you punish me today, I must clarify this; I cannot let her deceive His Highness!” Bai Mengshi took on a righteous attitude, “What I say is the truth. Bai Zhuji not only has a habit of stealing but also doesn’t return home at night, ruining her reputation; she is truly unworthy of being in high society!”
When other families marry off their daughters, they are eager to say good things, fearing the groom’s family will look down on them. But the Bai family was different; the person proposing marriage said a few words, and the matriarch was in a hurry to smear dirt on her daughter.
Jiang Xuanjin looked at her frantic appearance and slightly curled his lips: “The truth, you say?”
Meeting his gaze, Bai Mengshi felt a bit guilty but still nodded vigorously, “Yes. Everyone in the residence knows! Bai Zhuji, out of vanity, stole her second sister’s dowry to wear, and yesterday she didn’t know where she ran off to, not returning all night!”
“She stole her second sister’s dowry?” Jiang Xuanjin pondered, “Is Madam Bai referring to the jewelry the Fourth Miss was wearing yesterday?”
“Yes!” Bai Mengshi affirmed, “Those were prepared by me for my second daughter; I checked, and there’s no mistake.”
With a sneer, Jiang Xuanjin took out a golden hairpin adorned with eight treasures: “Then Madam Bai should take a look; is this also part of the Second Miss’s dowry?”
This was something Bai Zhuji had left behind in Moju, which Yufeng had picked up and brought to the Bai residence, originally intending to return it to her when she woke up, but it unexpectedly came in handy.
Bai Mengshi glanced at the hairpin in his hand, noticing it looked similar to the ones Bai Zhuji had worn, and immediately nodded, “Yes! This is also!”
Retracting his hand, Jiang Xuanjin nodded, “That makes it easy. This hairpin comes from the Cang Hai Yi Zhu Pavilion, and the owner, Manager Lu, lives next door. If Madam Bai insists that these items were prepared by you for the Second Miss’s dowry, then why not invite Manager Lu over for a clarification?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Mengshi’s face turned pale. She immediately retorted, “Your Highness means to say I am lying?”
This was a retort born of anger and shame; most people would be intimidated by her and would say something like “That’s not what I meant.”
However, standing before her was Jiang Xuanjin, who never gave anyone a face.
“You are indeed lying.” He furrowed his brows, his expression growing colder, “The Fourth Miss’s jewelry was gifted by Manager Lu of the Cang Hai Yi Zhu Pavilion, yet you claim it was stolen from the Second Miss’s dowry. The matriarch of the Bai family, how dare you slander a junior in public?”
Not expecting her lies to be exposed on the spot, Bai Mengshi was instantly embarrassed, stammering a few words, her awkwardness fully revealed.
Seeing her like this, Bai Dezhong felt embarrassed and angrily scolded, “How dare you speak nonsense here!”
“I…” Bai Mengshi gritted her teeth, thick-skinned and refusing to admit it, “I did not lie! His Highness is trying to protect Bai Zhuji! Even if that jewelry came from somewhere else, the fact that she didn’t return home at night is still true! Who knows what happened to a girl who hasn’t come of age, staying overnight at someone else’s house?”
“You are being ridiculous!” Bai Dezhong could no longer sit still, standing up and slapping Bai Mengshi across the face, causing her to stagger back a few steps.
Covering her face and leaning against the table, Bai Mengshi’s eyes grew increasingly resentful: “What I said is the truth, and it’s for the good of our Bai family. If His Highness impulsively marries Zhuji and later discovers something is wrong, wouldn’t he blame our family?”
This statement was malicious, each word hinting that Bai Zhuji was unclean. Saying it in front of the elders of both families, she had no intention of leaving Bai Zhuji any way out.
The Jiang family members exchanged glances, and after a moment of silence, Old Master Jiang suddenly stood up and bowed to Bai Dezhong.
Bai Dezhong quickly reached out to support him, frowning, “You are too kind, Old Master!”
“I should be doing this.” Old Master Jiang sighed, “As Madam Bai said, a girl who hasn’t come of age staying overnight at someone else’s house is indeed inappropriate.”
Bai Mengshi was overjoyed, thinking her words had finally taken effect.
However, Old Master Jiang continued, “Moreover, Xuanjin has always been a person of propriety. Knowing this would be bad for the Fourth Miss, he still allowed her to stay overnight at the Jiang residence; this is truly my failure in teaching my son, and I feel ashamed before my in-laws!”
Jiang Chong followed suit, “As the elder brother, I did not stop him, and I feel ashamed before Lord Bai!”
Jiang Shen clasped his hands, “As the second brother, I also did not stop him, and I feel even more ashamed before Lord Bai!”
The row of Jiang family members who knew about “the Third Young Master hiding a woman in his room” all bowed to Bai Dezhong. As Jiang’s family members, they not only did not stop him but were particularly pleased, feeling quite ashamed!
Looking at the row of bowed heads before him, Bai Dezhong was stunned, and Bai Mengshi was also stunned.
“Last night… Zhuji stayed at the Jiang residence?” Bai Dezhong asked in a low voice.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at him, his expression cold: “The Fourth Miss injured her foot at the Jiang residence yesterday and was unable to walk, so I allowed her to stay in the guest building. This matter was my oversight, and it has nothing to do with the Fourth Miss; I ask for your forgiveness, Lord.”
What stealing and being unclean, it turned out all were slanders! After Jiang Xuanjin finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell on Bai Mengshi. This time, even the Bai family members felt that Bai Mengshi’s actions were truly malicious and absurd!
Bai Dezhong looked at Jiang Xuanjin with deep guilt: “So, Your Highness’s earlier rudeness was because I wronged Zhuji?”
With a slightly darkened expression, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Do you think you merely wronged her?”
Bai Dezhong was taken aback: “Otherwise?”
Looking at Bai Mengshi, Jiang Xuanjin said to Bai Dezhong, “Your wife nearly beat your daughter to death. If I hadn’t intervened last night, that ruler of yours would have likely taken her life! And you, good sir, not only ignored it but also wronged her; is there anything in your words or actions worthy of respect from me?”
Bai Dezhong’s heart jolted, and he opened his mouth, unable to refute.
The Jiang family members were also shocked, quickly asking him, “What happened? Did the Fourth Miss get hurt?”
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions as he replied, “Her life and death are uncertain.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Dezhong looked at Bai Mengshi in disbelief, who quickly lowered her head, muttering, “I didn’t use that much force.”
It was all the servants who had acted.
Without caring to greet anyone else, Bai Dezhong strode toward the western courtyard. Old Master Jiang couldn’t sit still either, fearing that the daughter-in-law they had been eagerly waiting for would be lost, and hurriedly followed with his cane.
As he moved, the Jiang family members all sprang into action, leaving only Bai Mengshi and a few Bai family members standing dazed in the hall.
As they neared the western courtyard, a maid rushed out from the entrance, running hurriedly and tripping, falling hard to the ground.
“Lingxiu?” Bai Dezhong called out.
It seemed she had fallen hard; Lingxiu couldn’t get up, lying on the ground and looking up at Jiang Xuanjin, grinning foolishly, “Your Highness, the young lady has pulled through!”
That smile was radiant, even with dirt on her face, it seemed to shine. However, that light faded in an instant, and Lingxiu stared blankly at a spot in the air before suddenly bursting into tears.
All the anxiety and fear from the night before poured out in her cries, filled with sorrow, making everyone present feel a pang in their hearts.
Jiang Xuanjin watched her, the hand he had been clenching loosening slightly.
She pulled through…
Hearing those four words, everyone felt a mix of emotions. Bai Dezhong glanced at the small room ahead, finally realizing he had truly treated Zhuji poorly, allowing her to be bullied to such an extent.
He turned to the group behind him, saying, “The room is small; let His Highness and the Old Master go in first. Everyone else can rest in the nearby room.”
With so many people coming to see the patient, it would disturb her. Although everyone wanted to see the Fourth Miss, since the host had said so, they nodded in understanding.
Jiang Xuanjin entered the room, familiar with the surroundings as he approached the bed, looking down at the person’s face.
It was still a pale face, but faintly, he could sense a hint of vitality.
Relaxing his brows, he glanced at Bai Dezhong beside him, standing up to make room. Bai Dezhong leaned forward to take a look, his eyes filled with guilt.
“I am not a good father,” he said, “I promised her mother to take good care of her, but I failed.”
Old Master Jiang said, “It’s not too late to make amends now.”
Bai Dezhong smiled bitterly: “What does the Old Master think I should do to make amends?”
“Isn’t it simple?” Old Master Jiang glared, pointing at Jiang Xuanjin with his cane, “Marrying your daughter to him is the best way to make amends.”
“…”
Bai Dezhong fell silent, and after a moment, he had to admit: “The Old Master is right.” He looked at Jiang Xuanjin beside him: “Perhaps it is heaven’s way of showing mercy to Zhuji, allowing her to gain the favor of His Highness. To be honest, this morning, I almost reported His Highness. Fortunately, I trusted His Highness’s good character this time.”
Jiang Xuanjin remained silent, his head lowered.
Old Master Jiang chuckled, “Even if you had reported him, it would have been fine; this child has never been reported before, and having an experience wouldn’t be bad.”
Feeling grateful for the in-laws’ generosity, Bai Dezhong glanced at the weak person on the bed, worriedly asking the physician, “Is she truly all right?”
The physician smiled wearily, “The prescription has been prepared; as long as she takes the medicine three times a day and is cared for attentively, she will be fine.”
Nodding, Bai Dezhong clasped his hands toward Jiang Xuanjin: “Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my daughter’s life.”
Before Jiang Xuanjin could respond, Old Master Jiang shook his head, “What is there to thank? If he hadn’t saved her, he wouldn’t have a wife!”
Saying this, he pulled Bai Dezhong out, “Since the in-laws have accepted this marriage, let’s discuss the wedding date and collect the bridal gifts.”
Bai Dezhong repeatedly agreed, stumbling a few steps to follow him out, but couldn’t help but glance back one last time.
In the dimly lit room, Ziyang Jun stood quietly by the bed, his posture aloof, just like the figure he had seen in the court. So close, yet it felt so far away.
In the eastern courtyard’s main room.
Bai Xuanji had silently shed half an hour’s worth of tears, while Bai Mengshi applied ice to her face, her eyes filled with indignation.
“She must have used some seductive tricks; otherwise, how could His Highness take a liking to her?” Bai Mengshi said hatefully, comforting her with a few words, “Don’t worry; they only said to prioritize Ziyang Jun’s marriage, but they didn’t say anything about canceling yours.”
“Not even a word was mentioned; what’s the difference from saying they’re canceling?” Bai Xuanji wiped her tears, “Besides, even if it’s not canceled, marrying over there is still beneath Bai Zhuji.”
While having a good marriage made her happy, what made her even happier was stepping on Bai Zhuji. Now, not only was her marriage uncertain, but Bai Zhuji had also turned the tables on her, making her unwilling to accept it.
Thinking of the envious looks from the relatives earlier, Bai Xuanji felt a surge of hatred.
Bai Mengshi sighed, “If I had known, I should have just killed her; that way, even if Ziyang Jun wanted to marry, she wouldn’t have been able to.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanji looked up at her.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Bai Mengshi quickly added, “I’m just joking; if I killed her, I would have to go to jail.”
Wiping her tears, Bai Xuanji said, “If you kill her openly, you will go to jail.”
But what if it wasn’t done openly?
Bai Mengshi was taken aback, looking at her with a sudden chill down her spine.
After the Jiang family and Bai family discussed the details of the marriage, they took their leave. Old Master Jiang stepped out the door, glancing at Jiang Xuanjin, who hadn’t followed, feeling both angry and amused: “You, the esteemed Ziyang Jun, are you going to marry into the Bai family?”
“I have something to return to her,” Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Once she wakes up, I’ll return it and leave.”
Worrying about the person was one thing, but finding some excuse about returning something was another. Old Master Jiang shook his head, “What a waste!”
Jiang Xuanjin ignored him, watching them leave, and exchanged a few words with Bai Dezhong before returning to the western courtyard.
“Master.” Yufeng followed behind him, “You should take a nap; your eyes are red.”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, sitting at the bedside, “I didn’t attend court today, and there are many matters to handle. Just brew me a cup of tea.”
Yufeng sighed and went to fulfill his orders.
Many memorials had just been sent here, and Jiang Xuanjin rubbed his temples, patiently picking them up one by one to read. Upon reaching the fifth one, the person on the bed coughed softly.
Startled, he quickly leaned over to look, only to see Bai Zhuji with her eyes tightly closed, her lips slightly parted as if murmuring something. He didn’t catch it the first time, but the second time, the two words were clear.
She was calling: “Father Emperor.”
Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, staring at her for a moment before smiling.
She was still dreaming of being a princess; how charming!
Just as he was about to reach out to touch her mumbling lips, a voice suddenly shouted from outside, “Who is it?!”
It was Yufeng’s voice. Jiang Xuanjin raised an eyebrow, putting down the memorial and getting up to open the door.
Outside, Yufeng held a cup of tea in one hand and a dagger in the other, looking warily at the person opposite him.
The person opposite was dressed in a silver-threaded snow robe, holding a Nanyang jade fan.
“Get lost!” Lu Jingxing glared at him, his eyes filled with hostility.