Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1196: Chapter 1198: Why the Illness Lingers for So Long_1

Jiang Yichun gave a bitter smile, ”Don’t make a fuss, it was the Virtuous King who asked the Emperor to punish me, saying I was unfilial.”

For a moment, Jiang Yihong was stunned. He opened his mouth, wanting to say a few words in defense of Jiang Yichun, but he knew he couldn’t speak against the Emperor or his Grandpa, which left him red-faced with frustration.

”This, isn’t this too harsh? Grandpa is really...,” Jiang Yihong couldn’t bring himself to continue.

He had always thought that his Grandpa was too rigid. Even though he was young, he knew quite a bit about the world. His cousin had done nothing wrong. If Grandpa was a fair man, he shouldn’t take out his anger on his cousin.

Jiang Yichun patted Jiang Yihong’s shoulder, ”Alright, stop thinking about that. You can train in martial arts with me if you want, but your body is too weak. You need to build up your strength first, or else you could hurt yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yihong’s face fell, ”Am I really that weak?”

”Run around the mansion ten times a day. When you can do that easily, come and find me,” Jiang Yichun nodded and said.

Jiang Yihong felt very dejected watching his cousin walk away, but he quickly made a resolve to start training hard from today!

At dinner time, the various branches of the Jiang Family gathered together, the men at one table and the women and children at another. It was lively, yet the dishes were very simple and not very appetizing.

Jiang Yichun hardly touched his chopsticks. His wife had spoiled his palate; how could he get used to these bland dishes?

Elder Jiang Ge had already made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t going to show up. Bai Ruozhu had arranged for her kitchen maid to deliver medicine soup and nourishing porridge to Elder Jiang Ge.

In the midst of the meal, the kitchen maid who had been sent to deliver the medicine came to report, telling Bai Ruozhu, ”Madam, the Old Master took his medicine, but he outright refused to drink the porridge, saying...”

The kitchen maid hesitated, seemingly finding it difficult to relay the message.

Bai Ruozhu looked around the room and smiled at the kitchen maid, ”Just speak freely, it’s all family here, there’s no need to hold back.”

The kitchen maid nodded and said, ”The Old Master said that Bird’s Nest Porridge is a luxury he will never indulge in.”

Everyone was taken aback. Mrs. Dou sneered and said with an air of mockery, ”Where did the Bird’s Nest come from in our house?”

”I brought it from home, wanting to nourish Grandpa’s body. It’s just that we don’t have much Bird’s Nest, so it should be reserved for the sick elders first. Otherwise, I would definitely send a bowl to Auntie as well,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Mrs. Dou’s face reddened with anger, ”What are you implying? I was just asking; do you think I would compete with the Old Master for something?”

Bai Ruozhu showed a look of aggrievement, ”Auntie, don’t be upset. Hearing you ask that way, I thought... I must have misunderstood your meaning.”

No one else spoke up. Jiang Chenshi sneered inwardly, thinking to herself that Mrs. Dou was a petty person, anxious over a little Bird’s Nest.

”Achun, why don’t you go and try to persuade Grandpa? His health is so poor now, and without some nourishment, continuous medication won’t keep him going,” Bai Ruozhu said, giving Jiang Yichun a meaningful look.

Understanding her intention, Jiang Yichun stood up and said, ”Alright, I’ll be back quickly. You all continue with your meal.”

He now understood what Bai Ruozhu meant. Elder Jiang Ge just wanted to maintain a clean reputation, right? He thought even eating bird’s nest porridge was extravagantly improper, didn’t he? Well, he was going to force him to eat it and then let him feel uncomfortable about it.

Jiang Yichun returned shortly, saying he had finished eating. Bai Ruozhu chuckled to herself, thinking it wasn’t that he had ”finished eating” but that it was probably poured down his throat.

Because the Old Master was ill at the residence, no one drank during dinner, and everyone just ate and dispersed. After all, they were a group with harmonious faces but discordant hearts.

The Bai family returned to their yard and went to bed early because the next day, they would be able to go back and visit their parents at the Bai Family.

The night passed without incident. Early the next day, Bai Ruozhu woke everyone up early to prepare the medicine soup and have Jiang Yichun make sure Elder Jiang Ge drank it. She also had Jiang Yichun inform Jiang Xuexiang, and then they took the horse carriage back to the Bai Family.

One had to thank the Virtuous King for that beating. Jiang Yichun could take a five-day sick leave from court and just happened to have more time to spend with his wife and child.

As soon as the three of them arrived at the Bai Family, the entire family was abuzz with excitement. Everyone came out eagerly to welcome them, and faced with all the sincere smiles, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but feel moved—this was indeed home.

A smile appeared on Jiang Yichun’s face as well, thinking the same as Bai Ruozhu, that he felt more at ease in the Bai Family.

”Ruozhu, you didn’t run into any trouble on the way back, did you? Elder Jiang Ge didn’t give you a hard time, did he?” Lin Ping’er asked worriedly.

Bai Ruozhu said cheerfully, ”No trouble at all. I dismantled his Thatched Cottage to ensure he could recover peacefully. By now, he probably doesn’t even want to see me bring someone around.”

The Bai Family quickly understood Bai Ruozhu’s intentions. They had heard from her before how Elder Jiang Ge refused to live in a proper house and insisted on having a Thatched Cottage to feign nobility, only to fall sick repeatedly. They didn’t know if he was tormenting himself or his descendants.

”Just look, I told you there was no need to worry about her. It’s good enough that she doesn’t bully others,” Bai Yihong said with a hearty laugh.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ping’er felt relieved, but she still held Bai Ruozhu’s hand and said, ”If anything unpleasant ever happens in the future, don’t keep it to yourself. Just come back and talk to your mother, your sister-in-law, and Guizhi. You’ll feel better once you’ve talked about it.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded vigorously, ”Mom, don’t worry, this is my maternal home, and I’ll come back every now and then.”

After a bit of small talk, Bai Ruozhu called her mother, sister-in-law, Fusa, and others to the backyard to have a private conversation, because she had another task for today: to arrange certain matters properly.

”Fusa, remember not to make it too obvious when you talk, let the quickest girl slip up. There will surely be guests inquiring, and when that happens, just say what I told you, though those things are actually the truth,” Bai Ruozhu instructed.

Fusa immediately nodded, ”Sure, I’ll arrange it as you said. Those are indeed the hard truths. That old man has a screw loose in his head, and he dares accuse you guys of being unfilial. It’s like he just can’t find peace!”

”Mom and sister-in-law, you should also go out more often. If someone asks, don’t complain, just say you know about the situation, but for the old man’s sake, he definitely needs to live comfortably,” Bai Ruozhu continued.

Lin Ping’er and Wan Caiyue also nodded along. They knew that if such matters were twisted by malicious people, it would be detrimental to Bai Ruozhu. It was better if they started spreading the word themselves.

In fact, at the same time, Bai Ruozhu had already arranged for her subordinates to spread the news in the Capital. By evening, everyone in the Capital would likely know why Elder Jiang Ge had been sick for so long.

They had almost finished discussing the issue when Lin Ping’er suddenly took Bai Ruozhu’s hand and asked, ”Ruozhu, when are you planning to have another child? If conditions at the Jiang Family aren’t good, then don’t rush it, don’t affect your own health.”

Bai Ruozhu had actually been worried her mother would press her to have a second child, so upon hearing this, she quickly responded, ”You’re right, Mom. We’ll think about it after getting through this busy period.”