Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1436: Chapter 1437: It’s Good to Be Home_1

Ning Yu sat weakly in the chair beside him, his eyes full of worry as he looked at Bai Ruozhu, seemingly not optimistic about her ability to master the National Master’s Heart Method.

Jiang Yichun’s brow furrowed slightly, he couldn’t bear to see her work so hard. If she failed to learn it, she would feel more than just disappointment; she would also carry an extra burden in her heart.

Yet, he could do nothing to help, he could only stand in the distance and silently watch her, praying in his heart for her success.

When noon arrived, Ning Yu interrupted Bai Ruozhu’s meditation, ”Alright, it’s time to take a break. Lord Jiang should be done with his work by now, you should go home and check in first.”

At this moment, Bai Ruozhu was feeling somewhat restless and anxious. Nearly a whole morning had passed, and she hadn’t even touched the threshold of the method. With only three days in total, could she really do it?

”Okay, I will go check on Diao Bin and then head back,” she said, and as she turned to leave, she saw Jiang Yichun standing at the door. He quickly smiled at her, but the worry in his eyes couldn’t be concealed and was caught by her gaze.

All of a sudden, a smile appeared on Bai Ruozhu’s face, ”Why, do you think I can’t learn it? I’ve already got some feeling for it, I’m sure there will be no problem. Didn’t the National Master say I am a person graced with a rising purple aura? How could I possibly be lacking?”

”I know you’ll have no problem, just don’t work yourself too hard, you haven’t had proper rest since we’ve been traveling these past three days,” Jiang Yichun said with a tone of empathy.

”Yeah, I’m going to get a good night’s sleep tonight,” Bai Ruozhu said confidently, not wanting to see him worried.

The two went to visit Princess Diao Bin. Lying on the bed, she appeared so thin as if she had sunken into the mattress. Her body hidden under the covers seemed as frail as a piece of paper, making one’s heart ache at the sight.

What’s more distressing was that her hair had turned completely white, and her face was covered with age spots. Where was the blooming young lady now?

Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was slow, as if she were asleep.

Bai Ruozhu walked over to her side, tenderly touching her hand that lay outside the covers. Her skin was dry and wrinkled, also marked with age spots. If she hadn’t given her that pill back then, would Princess Diao Bin look like this now?

”Let’s go. I need to focus on practicing, and to detoxify Fen Wan as soon as possible,” said Bai Ruozhu, her voice muffled as she sniffed.

Jiang Yichun put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her, and after they met with the Empress Dowager, they picked up the happily-engaged Little Dengdeng and then left the Palace.

The Main Hall returned to its usual cold atmosphere. The Empress Dowager sighed wistfully and said to Hao Mu by her side, ”Having a child around certainly livens up the place. This Palace just has too few children.”

”Don’t worry, Empress Dowager. Isn’t Consort Yue about to give birth in a few months? You’ll have more than enough liveliness then,” Hao Mu replied with a smile.

The Empress Dowager’s expression brightened a little, ”Indeed, I look forward to holding Wenwen’s baby. However, the Emperor’s lineage is still too thin. The other women in the Palace don’t seem to be showing any signs, either. Later on, I’ll have Ruozhu take a good look at them, so they, too, can bear heirs for the Emperor sooner rather than later.”

Hao Mu’s eyes flickered, hesitant, and after struggling for a few seconds, she carefully said, ”Empress Dowager, I’ve heard some rumors.”

”Oh? Let’s hear them.” The Empress Dowager knew that Hao Mu was skilled in martial arts and frequented many places. She was also prudent and cautious by nature, so anything she brought up was not likely to be mere idle gossip.

”There are whispers that the Emperor intends to have Consort Yue’s firstborn to be the Crown Prince, not wanting the other Consorts to take the lead, even the Empress...” Hao Mu cut herself off, not daring to continue further.

The Empress Dowager was very surprised but not angry, and with a sigh, she said, ”Yinyin’s own matters, I shall not interfere anymore.”

She knew that her son had been close with his cousin Wenwen since they were young, having grown up together like childhood sweethearts. He had even hinted at a wish to marry Ding Wen, but, unfortunately, the Former Emperor had arranged a marriage for him with a lady from the Han Family on his deathbed, and that was why he and Wenwen could not become husband and wife.

Latter, he brought Wenwen into the Palace but did not grant her the title of consort, simply assigning her a position that was not too high nor too low, which in itself was a way of indirectly protecting Wenwen.

After all, the Ding Family was no longer what it used to be; Wenwen’s maternal family wasn’t strong enough.

The Empress Dowager silently sighed once more. Both her children were good and placed great value on affection, but now neither of them was doing too well. How could she, as their mother, not feel heartache?

...

Bai Ruozhu and his family of three left the Palace Gate and rode towards the Bai Residence. Bai Ruozhu, thinking about seeing his family soon, temporarily put the worry of not having learned the Heart Method to the back of his mind.

Little Dengdeng sat in front of his father, thrilled by the horse’s bouncing gait. He giggled merrily one moment, and the next he was shouting excitedly, which made Bai Ruozhu, riding alongside, smile as well.

As the trio turned into the alley where the Bai Residence was located, they saw a crowd at the door, all of them craning their necks in anticipation, having probably waited for them for half a day!

”Dad, Mom, we’re back!” Bai Ruozhu, like a child, called out excitedly, then dismounted in a flash and rushed to Lin Ping’er’s side, hugging his mother tightly.

Before, when he was smaller, he could throw himself into his mother’s arms. Now, he was taller than Lin Ping’er by half a head, and her temples had more silvery hairs.

Lin Ping’er’s eyes reddened, yet her smile was so deep that crow’s feet formed. Overcome with emotion, she said, ”You’re finally back. Your mother has missed you to death!”

”I missed Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Xiaosi, and Guizhi too. I’ve been thinking about coming home every day, and now I’m finally back,” Bai Ruozhu said without realizing the whine in his voice.

Little Dengdeng, who was carried off the horse by his father, pouted and said, ”Doesn’t Mom miss me?”

Bai Ruozhu let go of Lin Ping’er and, with feigned annoyance, pinched Little Dengdeng’s nose, ”Does Mom not miss you? At the City Gate, she was already saying she missed our Dengdeng. Did you forget that?”

Little Dengdeng laughed mischievously, ”She did, she did. I haven’t forgotten.”

Everyone laughed. Jiang Yichun stepped forward to greet the elders, and Bai Ruozhu also hurriedly greeted his brothers and the rest. The family, caught in excitement, had forgotten to enter the house and just gathered at the door to chat. It was Zhang Liliang who reminded them, and they all hurried back into the Yard.

”I’ve had a feast prepared; let’s all sit down to eat and talk,” Lin Ping’er said with a smile.

Everyone agreed. Guizhi linked arms with Bai Ruozhu, asking if she had eaten and slept well while away. Bai Ruozhu assured her with a smile that everything was fine and then asked about how the Beauty Pavilion was doing.

Looking at her lively and warm family, Bai Ruozhu felt an exceptional sense of warmth. In this life, with love, kinship, and friendship, what more could she be unsatisfied with?

After entering the house, Bai Ruozhu had Jianqi distribute gifts to everyone, and even the smallest member, Little Chenxi, received a gift. The little girl couldn’t speak yet, but she smiled broadly at the sight of her present, acting just like Dengdeng did as a baby. Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh and say, ”It seems that all the children of our Bai Family are born Money Freaks.”