Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1217: Chapter 1219: Can Only Help Secretly_1

”I’ve brought Little Dengdeng back home, you must be missing your parents and child.” Jiang Yichun’s voice was very gentle, and his eyes were filled with tenderness as he looked at Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu was so happy she almost jumped up. She was tired these past days, and in her heart, she really didn’t want to return to the Jiang Family. Besides missing Little Dengdeng, she missed her parents the most.

”Thank you, Achun.” He truly was the one who understood her best.

He raised his hand to flick her forehead, ”What’s there to thank, I am your husband!”

She quickly dodged, saying with a giggly smile, ”Yes, indeed, husband.”

For a moment, the haze that had been weighing on her mind these days cleared away, and the two of them walked into the Bai Family hand in hand.

The family had been eagerly awaiting Bai Ruozhu’s return today, and Little Dengdeng, upon seeing his mother, toddled over as fast as his little legs could carry him, shouting as he ran, ”Mommy, hug!”

Bai Ruozhu joyfully scooped her son into her arms. It seemed he had gotten heavier again after just a few days, and she struggled to hold him.

Little Dengdeng hugged his mother’s neck and planted a kiss on her cheek, ”Mommy, I missed you.”

Bai Ruozhu’s heart instantly melted, and she hugged her precious son tightly, saying, ”My dear Dengdeng, Mommy missed you so much too.”

Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong were both happy and somewhat moved to see mother and son like this. Who would have thought that Bai Ruozhu would suddenly become the National Master’s disciple, and even go to keep vigil for the National Master?

After coaxing Little Dengdeng for a bit, Bai Ruozhu went to talk with her parents. Everyone gathered around her, saying she had lost weight these past days, and they pulled her inside to have a proper meal.

It was also just about dinner time, and with the wine and dishes served up, Bai Ruozhu felt that eating with her own family was more comforting.

After dinner, the family of three still returned to the Jiang Residence, after all, the Holy Edict was in place, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to disrespect the Emperor at this time.

”I didn’t expect the National Master would choose the area behind Jingxin Temple at Hongye Ridge. That temple shelters dirt and filth, wouldn’t it offend your teacher’s eyes? I’ll find an excuse to tear down Jingxin Temple later,” Jiang Yichun suddenly said on the way back.

Bai Ruozhu knew he was concerned about this matter only because the National Master was her teacher; otherwise, he wouldn’t even bother to give it a second thought.

”Let it be, Jingxin Temple is quite favored by some noblewomen in the Capital, there’s no need to make unnecessary trouble. I think my teacher’s state of mind wouldn’t be bothered by such things.” Bai Ruozhu felt that, since the National Master had been to the modern world and also spent time abroad, he would certainly be very tolerant of nuns seeking true love.

”Well then, they have Buddha before them, Buddha will surely punish them,” said Jiang Yichun.

The couple entered the Jiang Family, greeted Jiang Xuexiang and his wife, then paid a visit to Elder Jiang Ge before heading back to their own courtyard.

But Bai Ruozhu noticed that Elder Jiang Ge’s expression when looking at her was very conflicted, seeming quite displeased and yet somewhat incredulous.

As she was pondering what that old stick-in-the-mud was thinking this time, Jiang Yichun wrapped his arms around her slender waist and said, ”He can’t believe that the National Master would take you as a disciple. Despite his arrogance, he holds the National Master in high regard.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded slightly, seeming to remember how the old officials who once followed the Former Emperor had a particularly great admiration and respect for the National Master. However, when it came to the current Emperor, the National Master, being advanced in age, no longer divined fortunes, and the Emperor himself wasn’t too keen on such things, leading the National Master to gradually fade from public view.

”Do you think the Emperor won’t appoint Ning Yu as the National Master?” Bai Ruozhu suddenly considered this possibility.

Jiang Yichun was caught off guard by her unexpected question and responded with some confusion, ”Why do you ask that? Did Ning Yu ask you to inquire?”

Bai Ruozhu shook her head, ”Actually, my master took me as his disciple partly because of our past-life connection; he only met me when he was on his deathbed. On the other hand, he was also worried about Ning Yu and hoped that, once I entered his tutelage, I would look after Ning Yu a bit in the future. You’ve met Ning Yu. He is somewhat too naive.”

Jiang Yichun nodded. It had been Ning Yu who helped them find Xiaosi last time, and he admired Ning Yu’s abilities, but Ning Yu had rarely appeared in public before and one could say he was inexperienced in worldly matters.

”You probably didn’t expect that Ning Yu and Diao Bin have feelings for each other,” Bai Ruozhu said with a low chuckle, ”They both try hard to conceal it, but I’ve discovered it. It’s just that given the current situation, it’s not easy for the two of them to be together.”

Jiang Yichun immediately understood what Bai Ruozhu meant by questioning whether Ning Yu would become the National Master. He thought for a moment and asked, ”What about Ning Yu’s own wishes? If he himself doesn’t want to be the National Master, we could still lend a hand. But if he’s unwilling to give up that position for an uncertain romance, we shouldn’t end up harboring resentment in the end.”

”He says he wants to succeed our master’s mantle, but I can tell he still pines for the princess. Let’s put this aside for now; who knows what will happen later. Even for Diao Bin herself, it’s already very dangerous,” Bai Ruozhu said, sighing. Diao Bin’s brush with death was not only a calamity for Chu Hai and Diao Yao, wasn’t it?

In the following two days, there were no new messages from the palace. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor did not summon Bai Ruozhu to the palace. Still, Jiang Yichun went to the morning court as usual and would still be called into the Imperial Study Room for a conversation by the Emperor.

Jiang Yichun said that the Emperor wouldn’t punish the Bai Family; he had only intended to scare Bai Ruozhu in a moment of anger. The affair between Chu Hai and Diao Yao also would not be made public; it would only be a secret trial within the palace, since Diao Yao’s origins were tied to a disreputable Chapter in the Former Emperor’s life.

An Emperor who had relations with his brother’s wife, though it was a setup, contradicted ethical and societal norms—it wasn’t exactly something that could be openly discussed.

”You should continue to feign ignorance regarding Diao Yao’s situation. Chu Hai won’t say more about it either. We cannot help openly with this matter and should not speak rashly, but we can still provide discreet assistance,” Jiang Yichun instructed Bai Ruozhu. As for how they could discreetly assist, naturally, the two of them would find ways to investigate who had captured Diao Yao and possibly link it to the mastermind behind the plot back then.

”Master, Sui Ge requests an audience,” Jianqi suddenly announced from outside the door.

Bai Ruozhu was somewhat surprised. Her stewards reported back to her at the Bai Residence every five days, and she had advised them not to come to the Jiang Residence unless there was something urgent. Sui Ge’s arrival at this time surely meant something urgent. Could there have been an issue with the Weaving Pavilion?

Jiang Yichun stood up and said, ”You take care of your affairs; I’m just about to go investigate something.” Having said that, he left the room. He didn’t like to meddle in her business affairs.

This consideration made Bai Ruozhu feel particularly content. She didn’t like the idea of turning into a Golden Canary after marriage, nor did she enjoy everything being controlled by her husband. No matter the era, she wanted to be a woman who could balance family and career.

She summoned Nanny to take Little Dengdeng out to bask in the sun, and then she headed to the Main Hall to meet Sui Ge.

”Master, I’ve heard some news recently, so I hurried to report to you,” Sui Ge said after giving his respects.

”Oh? It seems urgent. Go ahead,” Bai Ruozhu said.

”It’s about that railing collapse incident at the previous welcome guest event...”