Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1213: Chapter 1215 Vigil_1

At this time, there was no rule saying one could only have one teacher, and while Bai Ruozhu’s teacher in the Commerce Association was Lin Zhenghui, it did not stop her from worshiping the National Master as her Teacher. Even when Lin Zhenghui found out, he was approving and happy about it, which also proved that he had a good eye, as his disciple had managed to win the favor of the National Master.

When Ning Yu saw the red swelling on Bai Ruozhu’s forehead from kowtowing and the genuine sorrow in her expression, he wondered if she really had a special connection with his teacher.

”Did you know my teacher before?” he asked, unable to hold back the thought.

Bai Ruozhu smiled, but it was a desolate smile. ”What if I told you that we met in a past life and he was my teacher, would you believe me?”

Ning Yu was stunned for a moment, but soon he nodded earnestly, ”I believe it. Otherwise, my teacher wouldn’t have said he had a connection with you out of the blue and wanted to take you as his disciple.”

Bai Ruozhu had wanted to say that what his teacher was most concerned about was actually him, but she thought better of it, deciding not to crush Ning Yu’s spirits by bluntly saying he was naïve, to the point that his teacher was worried about him getting taken advantage of even in death.

”My teacher asked you to burn the letter after reading it,” Ning Yu pointed to the letter in Bai Ruozhu’s hands.

Bai Ruozhu composed her tumultuous emotions and placed the letter over the burning candle, quickly turning it to ashes.

She nodded gratefully at Ning Yu, at least he didn’t ask about the content of the letter.

When the two of them came out of the Astrology Tower, Bai Ruozhu was also wearing mourning clothes, which surprised everyone. Ning Yu explained to the crowd, ”Before my teacher’s demise, he said he had a predestined relationship with Bai Ruozhu and wanted to accept her into his tutelage. It’s just a pity he could not personally teach her.”

As he said this, Ning Yu’s eyes reddened, and tears started to flow again; it was such a pity that his teacher had died too early.

Many people expressed shock. In Danliang Country, countless people wished to become disciples of the National Master, including numerous Imperial Relatives who wanted to send their children into his tutelage. However, the National Master had long stated that he would not easily take disciples, fearing he might incur taboos and invite divine retribution, ultimately causing harm to both others and himself.

Over the years, the National Master had only taken Ning Yu as his disciple. Ning Yu’s origins were shrouded in mystery, seemingly a foundling the National Master had picked up. Now that he was dead, the sudden acceptance of Bai Ruozhu as a disciple was beyond unexpected.

Jiang Yichun was also very surprised, but he felt happy for his wife; although she became a disciple late, this added a layer to her identity and provided her with additional protection.

Soon, the Emperor and the Empress arrived personally to hold a memorial for the National Master, and the National Master’s funeral proceeded in an orderly fashion. Bai Ruozhu stayed in the Astrology Tower, just like Ning Yu, as the National Master’s disciple guarding his spirit.

The news quickly reached the Bai Family and the Jiang Family. The Bai Family’s feelings were mixed with both joy and sorrow, mainly worried about Bai Ruozhu, fearing she might exhaust herself.

In the Jiang Family, some were happy, while others were jealous. The outspoken Madame Dou said openly, ”Is that really true? The National Master never said he would take her as his disciple before, and now that he is dead, there’s no proof. She’s in there with the National Master’s disciple every day; who knows what they’re up to?”

Madame Dou’s intention was to suggest that the National Master hadn’t actually taken Bai Ruozhu as a disciple and that there was something shady between Bai Ruozhu and Ning Yu. Therefore, Ning Yu fabricated the master’s last words just to be with Bai Ruozhu.

Anyone could hear what she was implying. At that time, Jiang Xuexiang’s face grew very long, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying harshly, ”Cousin, watch your words. Neither the National Master nor his disciple is someone you can slander at will. If you don’t want to bring disaster upon our family, better mind your own tongue!”

Madame Dou was startled and shrank back, not daring to say more, but the resentment in her eyes became even more pronounced.

On the second day of Bai Ruozhu’s vigil in the Astrology Tower, Hao Mu came to the tower with the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager, announcing that Diao Yao had been found.

”Indeed, just as Master Ning calculated, the person was locked away in a corner near Taiye Pool in Leng Palace. That place is so remote, and someone had died there recently, making it terribly inauspicious. Moreover, by the time the body was found, it had already started to decompose. For quite a while, no one was willing to clean that part of the Yard; yet, unexpectedly, Diao Yao was confined there,” said Hao Mu.

Bai Ruozhu suddenly lifted her head and asked Hao Mu, ”Was the person who died there previously Fu Yiyi?”

”Madame Jiang, you’ve heard about it too? It was her. If not for the cold weather, the stench at the time of discovery would have been even more unbearable. But let’s not talk about this; it’s too ominous. Miss Diao Yao is actually alright, it’s just that she has no idea who captured her; she only saw masked figures,” Hao Mu said.

This detail did not surprise Bai Ruozhu. If the other party wasn’t such a cautious individual, how could they have kept Diao Yao hidden in the palace for so many days without a sound?

For some reason, the image of that ghost-faced man surfaced in her mind. She knew that Fu Yiyi must have been killed by that ghost-faced man, but who exactly was he to move and kill so freely within the Imperial Palace? With such a person or a mysterious group inside the palace, was the regime of Danliang truly stable?

”Madame Jiang, the Empress Dowager has ordered you to visit Cining Palace to check on Miss Diao Yao. Although the Imperial Doctor has said she’s fine, the Empress Dowager trusts you the most,” Hao Mu added.

Bai Ruozhu nodded; she wanted to see Diao Yao as well, to see if there was a way to help break Diao Bin’s curse while ensuring the safety of the Diao siblings.

Ning Yu also stood up and said, ”Let the child take care of it; I will also go and see how the princess is doing.”

They were to guard the spirit for seven days; they could leave for brief moments during the day, but at night, they were required to serve in front of the spirit.

Following Hao Mu, both of them went to Cining Palace, where they soon saw Diao Yao, who had become much thinner.

Diao Yao was a girl from the Western Regions. Although she was young and bore the appearance of a little loli, her body was solid from practicing martial arts, giving her a healthy beauty unlike the fragile women of Danliang Country. Unfortunately, Diao Yao had lost a lot of weight; her once cute apple-shaped face had turned into a melon seed face, and she looked as if she could fall over with a mere gust of wind.

”Sister Ruozhu!” Diao Yao’s voice was choked with emotion, and she rushed to embrace Bai Ruozhu as soon as she saw her, ”Thank you, Brother Han said you would definitely be able to help us.”

Seeing Diao Yao like this, Bai Ruozhu felt a pang of distress and gently patted her back, saying, ”It’s good that you’re alright, it’s good that you’re alright.”

The Empress Dowager also wiped the corner of her eyes and said, ”Xiaoyao, rest assured, I will find out who tried to harm you and seek justice for you and your brother.”

Bai Ruozhu looked into the eyes of the Empress Dowager, realizing that she did not seem to be pretending; she truly had nothing to do with the abduction of Diao Yao.

Approaching the Empress Dowager, Ning Yu bowed respectfully and asked, ”May I inquire as to how Princess Diao Bin is doing now?”

The Empress Dowager’s face clouded with worry, ”Her condition is not good; let’s go see her.”

It was during a bout of the curse that Princess Diao Bin was moved to Cining Palace by the Empress Dowager, so she could take care of her personally.

As they followed the Empress Dowager to the Side Hall, they had not yet entered when they heard the low sound of sobbing—it was Princess Diao Bin crying secretly!

The Empress Dowager paused, saying softly, ”This child always says she’s fine when she sees me but cries secretly behind my back.” As she spoke, the Empress Dowager also wiped her eyes.

Ning Yu walked ahead, hurriedly rushing in, while Bai Ruozhu quickly followed, concerned that Ning Yu’s impatience might displease the Empress Dowager.