Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1487: Chapter 1588 Leaving the Marriage Arrangements to You_1

”It seems Ruozhu has been wrongly accused, and the Department of Precautionary Punishment must thoroughly investigate this matter to clarify the situation and seek justice for Consort Lv,” the Empress Dowager said with a stern face.

Seeing this, the Empress, fearing that the Empress Dowager would hold her accountable for previously preventing Bai Ruozhu from saving Consort Lv, hastily said, ”Yes, Mother is right. The Department of Precautionary Punishment must act swiftly and not let the criminal escape.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at her and said with some displeasure, ”The Empress should also put more effort into managing the Harem, choose people more carefully, and prevent these troubles from happening again.”

The Empress bowed her head, appearing submissive, ”Mother’s lesson is well received; it is my fault. I will surely devote more effort to managing the Harem and prevent such incidents from occurring.”

Seeing her humble attitude, the Empress Dowager found it hard to say anything more.

The matter was then handed over to the Department of Precautionary Punishment. Bai Ruozhu saw that Consort Lv had taken her medicine and was sleeping peacefully, so she took her leave.

Mao Xingcai was off duty from the Palace today, but he did not rush to leave. Following Wei Pengbo, he called him aside where nobody else was and asked, ”What really happened just now? You didn’t do anything foolish, did you?”

”What are you thinking? I just can’t stand Bai Ruozhu, yet I didn’t want her to get off the hook. It’s such a pity,” Wei Pengbo sighed heavily.

Mao Xingcai frowned, ”Although we all dislike that Bai Ruozhu, the Formulas weren’t incorrectly written by her. It’s only right that she is exonerated. How can you call it a pity? We shouldn’t be making false accusations.”

Mao Xingcai was stern and conservative, but he was also very upright at heart, which made him suitable to be the officer of the Imperial Medical Hospital.

”You’re not looking at it the right way. How can you feel sympathy for an enemy? She is inherently lacking in Medical Skills, and if she really endangered a patient, getting rid of her sooner rather than later would be acting in heaven’s stead,” Wei Pengbo declared.

Mao Xingcai was taken aback and didn’t know how to argue, but he felt something wasn’t right. He disliked Bai Ruozhu and wanted to oust her from the Female Physicians Institution; in fact, he believed there was no need for such an institution to exist at all. His intention was to surpass Bai Ruozhu through Medical Skills, not to win by seeing her framed and wronged.

He discreetly gave Wei Pengbo a look, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and then left without looking back. Wei Pengbo, still worried about being exposed, did not notice Mao Xingcai’s mood.

On her way home, Bai Ruozhu saw that night had already fallen. Lin Ping’er was still worried and asked, ”Why are you so late today? Nothing happened, right?”

She quickly glanced at her second brother, who surely knew but hadn’t told the family.

”Nothing happened, I just spent a while longer talking with the Empress Dowager,” Bai Ruozhu said, thinking that since her innocence was already proven, there was no need to bring it up and worry her parents.

After dinner, while the family was playing with Little Dengdeng and Little Chenxi, Bai Zepei called Bai Ruozhu outside.

”Don’t worry, the Emperor believes in you,” Bai Zepei said in a low voice.

Bai Ruozhu looked at her second brother with a smile, ”Since when did Second Brother speak on my behalf?”

”No, the risk was too great,” Bai Zepei’s voice remained low.

Bai Ruozhu was taken aback and hadn’t recovered when she saw her second brother smiling, ”Just teasing you. The Emperor asked me, saying that he trusts in the character and Medical Skills I believe in.”

”Second Brother, you’ve learned to be naughty,” Bai Ruozhu said while shaking her head, a look of helplessness on her face, ”Entering public service has corrupted you; the officialdom truly is a dye vat.”

Second Brother choked for a moment, then said with a sheepish smile, ”You’re quite the smooth talker.”

Bai Ruozhu rarely saw Second Brother like this, and couldn’t help but feel reflective. After all, what kind of woman would Second Brother like?

”Second Brother, have you ever thought about who you’ll marry?” As her thoughts wandered, she blurted out her inner question, and by the time she realized it, it was too late to take it back. The emperor had given Second Brother half a year’s time, yet here she was, the younger sister, rushing him.

She had thought Second Brother would avoid the topic, but contrary to expectations, he looked at Bai Ruozhu and asked, ”Little sister, who do you think is suitable?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruozhu perked up, ”I used to think Tu Ying was not bad, but now she has disappeared without a trace. Later, I thought Second Brother would mostly like a woman who could add fragrance to red sleeves, and also one who has a good temper, someone who can get along well with father, mother, elder brother, and sister-in-law. Then I thought Wanhua wasn’t bad, Si Yihuan too.”

”Leng Wanhua won’t do.” Second Brother rejected Leng Wanhua with a single sentence.

Bai Ruozhu thought carefully and understood, ”Second Brother feels she’s too capable, and has a strong personality, right? You’re afraid she’ll take over sister-in-law’s duties and make things difficult for elder brother and sister-in-law?”

Bai Zepei didn’t utter a sound, but his silence was an agreement.

”Then Si Yihuan isn’t bad. She has a good nature, and is a foodie, too. Even though her family has connections, she isn’t interested in managing the household,” Bai Ruozhu laughed, ”And she’s also beautiful. We shouldn’t judge by appearances, but good looks mean good genetics.”

”What are genetics?” Second Brother asked.

The corner of Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched slightly, ”For instance, both Achun and I are good-looking, so our Little Dengdeng will surely be handsome, bound to be a beautiful young man in the future.”

Fearing that Second Brother might be suspicious, she added, ”I saw this once in a medical book.”

Second Brother’s gaze flickered slightly, but he didn’t ask further. He knew she had many things he had never understood, and he also knew she wasn’t truly his little sister anymore. He even once considered that she might be an immortal reincarnate. As for her so-called ’nonsensical ramblings,’ he never found them strange.

”If you think Si Yihuan is good, then just choose her,” Bai Zepei said.

Bai Ruozhu was stunned. What did he mean by choosing Si Yihuan because she thought she was good? Shouldn’t such a significant matter be carefully considered and discussed with their parents?

”Second Brother, no, I really can’t make this decision. Otherwise, wait and observe some more, ah. You should also see if you truly like her nature. Marriage is not child’s play,” Bai Ruozhu spoke quickly, genuinely afraid that a hasty decision might lead to Second Brother’s unhappiness later, and she would utterly despise herself for it.

”Then you observe some more. Second Brother’s marriage will be up to you.” After saying that, Second Brother turned and went back to his room. Bai Ruozhu watched his slender figure and cursed inwardly. Had Second Brother lost his mind? Leaving marriage decisions to her? She wasn’t his mother!

That night, after returning to her room, Bai Ruozhu coaxed Little Dengdeng to sleep, but found herself wide awake.

She wondered where Achun was now, how his mission was going, whether he had encountered any danger, or if there were any troubles bothering him. Resting her chin on her hands, she thought for a long time, but felt that the more she thought, the more she was prone to wild guesses, which only made her mood more oppressive.

She simply took out paper and pen and started drawing the design for a prosthetic limb. In her previous life, she had not studied prosthetics, so drawing it was somewhat difficult, and she pondered over some parts repeatedly, wasting several sheets of paper until she finally produced a somewhat refined design.

She would hand over the design to her father in the morning, so he could collaborate with the Toy House’s Carpenter Master to study it and quickly create one for Zhanna.