Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1427: Chapter 1428 Don’t Mess with the Madame_1

The one who hated the Dowager Empress that year must have been some favored concubine, right? Most of the hatred between women originates from men.

However, Bai Ruozhu was unclear about the things that had happened in the Imperial Palace back then and could only ask the Dowager Empress herself after returning to the Palace.

She shared her thoughts with Hao Feng before taking her leave to return to her room.

In the room, Zhanna was in the process of removing one pant leg to massage the muscles above her amputated leg when Bai Ruozhu entered unexpectedly. Zhanna’s face flushed with embarrassment and she hurriedly pulled a quilt over her leg to cover it.

Massaging the leg was something Bai Ruozhu had instructed her to do to prevent the muscles around her amputated leg from atrophying. Naturally, the best way to massage was with the ancient underwear removed. However, Zhanna was from ancient times and even being seen by someone of the same sex would cause her embarrassment.

Another thing—it was that she didn’t want anyone to see her amputation, even if it were Bai Ruozhu, who was a doctor.

Bai Ruozhu understood her feelings and pretended she hadn’t seen anything. She entered the room, took apart her hairpin, and then turned to say, ”Rest early, we have to set off again tomorrow.”

”Mm, I’m about to sleep,” said Zhanna. She hurriedly lay down, then called out to Bai Ruozhu, ”Madam, what do you think of this pouch I have woven?”

With boredom setting in on the road, Bai Ruozhu had taught Zhanna some needlework so that once she arrived in Capital City, she would have a means to make a living.

Now, seeing the results, Bai Ruozhu noticed that Zhanna had quite a talent for weaving. She had mastered it quickly, was capable of improvising, and the little pouch she had made was quite attractive.

”Not bad, but why is it black?” Bai Ruozhu thought everything was fine except for the color.

Zhanna hung her head, ”I wanted to give it to Brother Chu Hai to thank him for looking after me recently. He could use it to carry books or medicinal materials or something.”

Ah, so it was for a man. Bai Ruozhu quietly observed her expression, guessing that Chu Hai hadn’t made things clear to her yet.

”Alright, time to sleep,” said Bai Ruozhu, deciding not to pry further, as it was Chu Hai’s own affair.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Bai Ruozhu had Hao Feng notify He Lian that they were ready to depart.

When Hao Feng went to see He Lian, he was still in bed, cuddling his concubine. Hearing the message, he quickly got dressed and ran out, his hair still not properly done because of the hurry.

”Officer Jiang, why such a rush? You should at least have lunch so that the town can give you a proper send-off,” He Lian said anxiously upon seeing Jiang Yichun.

Jiang Yichun snorted coldly, ”Dare not linger, lest your family has more daughters.”

Bai Ruozhu barely managed to suppress a laugh; Achun’s tongue was as sharp as ever.

He Lian, not daring to offend him, could only proceed stiffly, ”Officer Jiang jests; it is my negligence in hospitality.”

Fearing Jiang Yichun might corner He Lian too harshly, Bai Ruozhu interjected, ”We are under Imperial Decree, and we must make haste to report back to Capital City. Please, no need for that send-off, Officer He. The question is, should we leave Muyu with you?”

Muyu, who was behind them, nearly burst into tears. What? Leave him behind? Was he supposed to become a live-in son-in-law? There was no way he wanted to marry that kind of woman!

He Lian’s face turned ashen, and he managed to squeeze out a slight smile before saying, ”Madam Jiang jokes; there is no such thing, no such thing at all.”

Sure enough, he looked down on Muyu, afraid it would be a losing deal, and Muyu, being spurned by others, was still completely unaware and even excitedly laughed, relieved that he would not have to marry that shameless He Lianlian.

”Then we’ll be on our way, Officer He. Till we meet again!” Bai Ruozhu sat astride her horse looking dashing as she cupped one fist in the other hand as a salute to He Lian, then led the team away.

The group quickly left Jinshui City, and by noon they had just reached the next town, where Bai Ruozhu called Muyu over and quietly gave her a couple of instructions.

Muyu looked at her with a face full of astonishment and said, ”Madam, please don’t.”

”Hmm? Then return to Jinshui City and be a live-in son-in-law; I’ll secure the match for you,” Bai Ruozhu said with an icy expression.

Muyu’s face fell instantly, ”Will it be alright if I do it? Sigh, it’s all because of my sharp tongue, I shouldn’t have crossed Madam, I truly deserve it.”

They found a restaurant for lunch, and Bai Ruozhu noticed it was quite crowded, the corners of her mouth subtly lifting.

During the meal, Muyu suddenly asked for wine, and Jiang Yichun was about to stop her, to which Bai Ruozhu said, ”Let her drink, she’s not feeling comfortable inside.”

So Muyu began to drink sullenly, one cup after another, quickly drawing the attention of the other patrons and indeed the shopkeeper.

Sure enough, Muyu began to utter ”drunken words”.

”What’s wrong with us guards? Why should our status be considered lower? Officer He’s daughter, He Lianlian, got into trouble and it fell on me to carry her home, yet I haven’t complained that it sullied my reputation. That He Lian claimed his daughter’s chastity was of utmost importance and put the responsibility on me; I wasn’t willing, nor am I the kind to shirk my duty, but they looked down on me as soon as they heard I was a guard! Did they really think I wanted to marry their daughter? I dare not bring such an ill-behaved woman home!”

She was quite drunk, her speech getting slurred but her voice was loud, everyone nearby heard everything clearly. Although somewhat incoherent, most could guess what she was talking about; they just didn’t know how Officer He’s daughter had caused trouble or why the guard ended up carrying her.

Bai Ruozhu cast a stern look over, ”Enough, for Miss He’s reputation, let no one mention this matter again!”

Those listening in secretly nodded, thinking how kind-hearted the lady was. If only they knew that this scene was directed by Bai Ruozhu, they would be spitting blood.

”Madam, not to speak out of turn, but what reputation does she have to speak of? Clinging to our master and throwing herself into his arms; but who is our master? Can just anybody get close to him? With a mere flick of qi, her clothes didn’t even touch him as he sent her flying. That woman fainted, and I just took her home, yet I was the one disparaged. I can’t swallow this insult,” Muyu remarked, quite good at her role in the play.

Hao Feng couldn’t help but laugh, ”Could it be that Miss He despised you, upsetting you, and you wanted to claim the beauty for yourself after all?”

”Pah!” Muyu spat to the side like a drunk, ”I just feel disrespected being looked down upon; rather than marrying her, I’d rather shave my head and become a monk.”

”Muyu, shut up, never speak of this again or you need not follow us anymore,” Bai Ruozhu said, feigning a stern face. Muyu knew it was enough and deflated to the side of the table, quietly drowning her sorrows in wine, her reputation as Muyu, alas, waning away.

Jiang Yichun frowned slightly; he sensed this act was orchestrated by Bai Ruozhu, though he didn’t understand why she would command Muyu to raise the issue of He Lianlian throwing herself at him. He felt uncomfortable thinking Bai Ruozhu was trying to associate other women with him.

Actually, Bai Ruozhu was taking precautions. She even instructed Muyu to mention that ”he sent her flying without a touch to her clothes,” all to avert future trouble. What if He Lian shamelessly reached an extreme, fabricating rumors that Jiang Yichun had some amorous interaction with He Lianlian when passing by, then sending the girl to the Capital? What then?