Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1425: Chapter 1426 Who is Responsible for Lianlian’s Reputation_1

Bai Ruozhu saw He Lian’s reaction and kept a calm facade, speaking indifferently, ”Officer He, my husband has developed a habit at the Tongzheng Division of disliking strangers approaching, so I’m truly sorry that Miss He was injured. I’ve come to look after Miss He as a way to make it up to her.”

Because of the previous demotion of the Prefecture’s Chen Daoru of Jinshui City, as well as the escape of the County Magistrate Ma Jun from Guangqi City, and the series of events leading to the prefect Li Weijin being summoned back to the Capital by a Holy Edict for investigation, He Lian feared Jiang Yichun immensely. He even inquired early on about Jiang Yichun, only knowing that he had a wife from the village skilled in medical arts, who had once saved the injured Jiang Yichun on an official errand. Thus, in gratitude, Jiang Yichun married this woman of lower status.

In He Lian’s eyes, Bai Ruozhu was a woman who leveraged her favor to get more, insatiable in her greed. You did save someone, but as a village girl, what status do you have to match the grandson of a top official?

At this moment, he saw Bai Ruozhu as the jealous villain who prevented his daughter from following Lord Jiang. In his heart, he not only looked down on Bai Ruozhu but also began to harbor some hatred.

”Madame Jiang is too polite. I have already invited a famous doctor to treat my daughter; there’s no need for Madame Jiang to intervene,” said He Lian, his tone slightly impolite, especially with the way he pronounced ”I, the officer,” which really carried quite the official authority.

Bai Ruozhu scoffed, ”What rank is Officer He’s position?”

He Lian’s gaze flickered, ”What do you mean by asking this, Madame Jiang?”

”I just want to remind Officer He that you don’t seem like someone who doesn’t understand the rules. An official of much lower rank should not refer to himself as ’I, the officer’ in front of a fourth-rank edict lady,” she said, watching He Lian’s complexion grow increasingly unpleasant, her lips slightly curling, ”What do you think, Officer He?”

”This...” He Lian’s face turned even uglier, but being a clever man, he hurriedly corrected himself, ”It was a momentary oversight on my part, but if Madame Jiang truly has Miss He’s interests at heart, also consider Lianlian’s reputation, please. As a father, I also worry for my daughter.”

Look at that, it seems that a few words of intimidation in the morning weren’t enough to dissuade him from his hopes.

”Are you referring to the matter of the guard carrying Miss He back? This is the He Residence, isn’t it just a matter of managing your own servants? Besides, at that time it was an emergency. You wouldn’t let Miss He lay unconscious on the ground unattended, right? Surely, just because a guard carried Miss He, it doesn’t mean she has to marry Muyu, does it? Wouldn’t that be unfair to her?” Bai Ruozhu said, laughing, ”Of course, if Officer He doesn’t disdain Muyu’s status, then I will thank Officer He on Muyu’s behalf.”

She watched as He Lian’s face turned as distasteful as if he had eaten fly excrement, and continued as if she hadn’t noticed, ”Actually, the young fellow Muyu is quite handsome, good at martial arts, and has a good character. Even going for the Martial Exam Ranking shouldn’t be a problem. If Officer He has any requirements, once we return to the Capital, we’ll find him a position. Then he will be considered an officer too, though he’ll still be serving under my husband.”

He Lian’s face turned the color of a pig’s liver with rage; he wanted to say that it was Jiang Yichun who should take responsibility. But he had heard from Muyu earlier that Miss He had tried to approach Lord Jiang and ended up being sent flying by his palm wind.

In other words, Jiang Yichun had not touched his daughter at all. And even if he had touched her, his daughter had also been carried by the guard called Muyu, which surely damaged her reputation. If he insisted on making someone take responsibility, did he really want his beautiful daughter to marry a guard under Jiang Yichun?

”This, this...” He Lian dared not quarrel with Bai Ruozhu lightly, and for a moment didn’t know what to say. Stammering for a long time, he finally said, ”Let me think it over and also ask Lianlian about it.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”That’s good, after all, marriage is her own affair. If she is unwilling, I will instruct my people not to disclose the matter of Muyu carrying her all the way. Officer He, please be assured.”

”Good, good, much obliged to Madame Jiang,” said He Lian, his veins pulsing with anger, yet still suppressing it to thank Bai Ruozhu. He truly suspected that this woman had intentionally had her guard carry his daughter to ruin Lianlian’s innocence.

”So Master He is really certain he doesn’t need me to check on Miss He?” Bai Ruozhu asked with a smile, seeing He Lian become as red as a pig’s head made her feel exceptionally good.

”I wouldn’t dare to trouble Madam Jiang, wouldn’t dare to trouble Madam Jiang,” He Lian said in a huff, repeating himself.

”Alright, then I’ll take my leave first,” Bai Ruozhu said as she turned around and left with Jianqi.

Once she was far away, an angry He Lian threw a teacup to the floor, muttering to himself, ”That Madam Jiang is so sly and cunning, I can’t believe I fell for her tricks!”

Bai Ruozhu heard the sound of the porcelain shattering and laughed heartily, while Jianqi, who followed behind her, also had a smile on his face and said in a low voice, ”If Muyu knew that Madam said such things, he would surely cry all over again.”

Bai Ruozhu turned her head and gave Jianqi a sidelong glance. ”Cry my foot, does he really think He Lian would be willing to marry He Lianlian to him? Just wait and see, in the end, this matter will just fizzle out. He Lian won’t make a losing deal like that.”

A man who trades his daughter for career advancement wouldn’t willingly marry her off to a mere guard. He’d rather suppress the matter and wait a while longer, then offer his daughter to someone who could aid his promotion.

But was it going to be that easy? A woman who dared to seduce her husband, could she let her off easily? Besides, a woman like He Lianlian who didn’t know how to respect herself, flirting with a married man, just look at the damp spots on Jiang Yichun’s clothes at that time, it was clear what kind of person she was. She truly deserved to have her reputation damaged.

When Bai Ruozhu returned to her residence, she saw Muyu still kneeling in the yard and said, ”Master He demands someone be responsible for his daughter’s reputation. Since you held He Lianlian for so long, you will have to bite the bullet and take on this responsibility. As long as Miss He doesn’t object when she wakes up, we’ll hold a simple wedding ceremony for you two tomorrow.”

Muyu was dumbstruck when he heard this, ”Madam, isn’t it enough that I admitted my mistake? I don’t want to marry such a shameless woman, I—I’d rather go to the temple and become a monk!”

Bai Ruozhu laughed upon hearing this, ”Becoming a monk won’t help, monks can return to secular life too.”

She went over and patted Muyu on the shoulder, ”A man has to be able to carry his responsibilities, Muyu, I have faith in you!”

Jianqi at her side was about to burst out laughing, and Chen Feng, who was still kneeling, was also holding back his laughter. Compared to this, him kneeling for half a day really did seem trivial.

Then Bai Ruozhu turned to Chen Feng, ”Alright, you don’t have to kneel anymore. Make sure to keep the yard secure tonight, don’t let any riffraff sneak in.”

Having received a pardon, Chen Feng quickly thanked Bai Ruozhu before getting up.

Bai Ruozhu glanced at Jiang Yichun’s door, and after a moment of thought, decided to go over. She justified it to herself by thinking she should check whether he was truly accepting his punishment. What if he was lazy and hadn’t knelt down?