Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1506: Chapter 1607: Not the Orphan of Bai Yuanqing_1

Bai Guanghe was busy with official duties and reuniting with friends in the Capital, yet he was unaware that his wife was constantly mistreated at home, to the point that even the maids dared to bully her. Jiao Yunyun was a heroine, not a pushover, so she naturally fought back. As a result, the Bai elders found her even more vulgar and unbearable, leading to unending conflicts.

Bai Guanghe was a scholar, nurtured since childhood on the Four Books and Five Classics, and the principles of rites and filial piety. Although he did not blame his wife, he also could not bring himself to go against his parents’ wishes. Caught between the two, he ended up hurting Jiao Yunyun’s heart.

Even worse, the Bai elders took it upon themselves to marry Bai Guanghe to a woman from a literary family, the Kuai Family, and even elevated her to the status of a favored concubine. Although Bai Guanghe did not touch this woman from the Kuai Family and had a major falling-out with his parents, he ultimately still accepted their arrangement.

Devotedly in love with her husband, Jiao Yunyun was deeply hurt, crying day and night, almost endangering her unborn child. Fortunately, being a heroine, she quickly pulled herself out of self-pity. Although she was incredibly disappointed in Bai Guanghe, she had her child, and as long as the child treated her well in the future, she would be satisfied.

Unexpectedly, the Kuai Family woman, with her twisted mind, secretly sowed discord between Old Lady Bai and Jiao Yunyun and even bribed a servant to poison Jiao Yunyun. Luckily, Jiao Yunyun discovered it in time and, in a fit of anger, severed one of the Kuai woman’s hands with a sword. Yet Old Lady Bai refused to believe her words, thinking she designed the incident out of jealousy and demanded that Bai Guanghe divorce her, even threatening to send her to the Government Office.

Bai Guanghe also believed his mother’s words at the time and was deeply disappointed in Jiao Yunyun. However, he later discovered the truth and regretted his earlier actions. But by then, Jiao Yunyun had already lost hope and fled from the Bai Family.

And the person who helped her escape the Bai Family was none other than Bai Guanghe’s older brother!

He had hardly any presence in the Bai Family because he couldn’t even pass the imperial examination to become a recognized scholar. The Bai Family, proud of its literary heritage, had little regard for such an incapable offspring. Though he was unsuccessful in scholarship, he had a talent for business, something he dare not let his family find out about.

At the time, he was the only one who believed Jiao Yunyun was innocent. Essentially a kind person, he couldn’t bear to see Jiao Yunyun harmed by the Kuai woman again and helped Jiao Yunyun escape the Bai Family. Fearing a misunderstanding by Bai Guanghe, he left a letter explaining everything and said if Bai Guanghe learned the truth, he should meet him at a predetermined location.

Tragically, fate played a cruel trick; the letter was hidden away by a servant bribed by the Kuai woman. Bai Guanghe only found out about it after uncovering all of the Kuai woman’s actions, but by then, two months had passed, and when he went to the agreed-upon place, it was already empty.

In the years that followed, he and the Bai Family searched continuously but never heard any news of the two.

Old Lady Bai insisted on claiming that Jiao Yunyun and the oldest son had eloped, unable to bear the disgrace. Publicly, she declared that Jiao Yunyun had died from illness and that the child had perished in the womb. Bai Guanghe, who truly loved Jiao Yunyun, claimed he would mourn for three years, but in reality, it was a sign of hope, a wish to bring Jiao Yunyun home.

But what use was true love if the person was already dead? What was the point of waiting bitterly for three years?

The Bai Family’s lineage was thin, and after another year, the Bai elders, threatening death, forced Bai Guanghe to remarry. Later, Bai Guanghe married again, but now that wife too had passed away.

Bai Ruozhu’s expression changed constantly, and after a long time, she asked hesitantly, ”Is Bai Guanghe’s brother named Bai Yuanqing?”

Qingyan nodded, ”It seems you really do know something.”

Bai Ruozhu sighed, ”We originally didn’t know anything. My grandparents were always harsh on my father. He slaved away at home for decades, but no matter how hard he tried, Grandpa and Grandma always favored the eldest son. It wasn’t until recently that we learned my dad isn’t their biological child, but an orphan entrusted to them by a family friend. That person was Bai Yuanqing, whose last wish was for my dad to study hard and reveal his true identity only after becoming a Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination).”

She sneered as she spoke, ”I think Bai Yuanqing’s anger wasn’t just momentary, was it? If the Bai Family wasn’t too dangerous, would he rather die than entrust his child to his kin? I suppose his child must have been harmed by someone, and he would rather the child grow up, achieve some success and then return, or else he just wanted him to be an ordinary person, to live a peaceful life.”

She had a good impression of Bai Guanghe, but at this moment, she had lost all favor for him.

”A husband who can’t protect his wife, a father who can’t protect his eldest son, does he even deserve to be called a husband, a father? We dare not acknowledge such a Bai Family!”

”Whether we acknowledge them or not, it’s been so many years. Although my relationship with Guanghe is not bad, there are times when I don’t like his indecisiveness and his gentle and polite demeanor. He is just too nice a guy, not wanting to hurt anyone, yet he ends up hurting those who matter the most. Speaking of which, when he married Jiao Yunyun, he was too young and immature in many ways, which led to his failure to take good care of Jiao Yunyun,” Qingyan said hurriedly, trying to calm Bai Ruozhu down.

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath, stabilizing her emotions, ”Uncle Qingyan, let’s not let my parents know about this for now, and don’t talk to outsiders. Is it confirmed that it’s my dad on Bai Guanghe’s part?”

Qingyan shook his head, ”He’s not sure, and he’s a bit afraid to come and ask you.”

This was exactly where Bai Guanghe was irresolute, Bai Ruozhu thought, and she felt a little displeased at the thought of him. Her face quickly fell.

”At first when I knew my father’s biological father was Bai Yuanqing, I thought Bai Yuanqing might be the son of some wealthy family who had run away from home. I speculated there was turmoil at home, so if Bai Yuanqing’s son did not pass the Imperial Examination, it really wouldn’t be appropriate for him to claim his heritage. Little did I expect such complications in the story.”

”What more do you know about what happened afterward? Where is Jiao Yunyun? After all, she is also my wife’s sworn sister,” Qingyan asked with concern.

Bai Ruozhu then recounted the grudges and gratitude between Bai Yuanqing and Bai Fu, before saying, ”In this, he only mentioned that his wife died after giving birth to the child. Jiao Yunyun is probably no longer in this world. It’s a pity that a kind-hearted person like Bai Yuanqing did not live long, while a coward like Bai Guanghe who couldn’t protect his wife and child has lived to this day.”

She suddenly remembered Qingyan saying Bai Guanghe married Jiao Yunyun at a young age, and quickly asked, ”How old was Bai Guanghe when you met him? He was so unreliable?”

”Only eighteen. His achievement of becoming the youngest successful candidate in the imperial examinations was truly rare. Emperor Wen Hui wanted to promote him but was worried about his youth, so he sent him to the Western Regions to gain experience.”

Emperor Wen Hui was the Former Emperor’s father, Tang Yin’s grandpa, and it was quite some time ago.

”Do I look somewhat like Jiao Yunyun?” Bai Ruozhu recalled how Bai Guanghe fainted the first time he saw her.

”You do look a bit like her, Guanghe said your eyes are especially similar,” Qingyan said with an embarrassed smile, ”Actually, the first time I saw you, I also thought you looked a bit like her, but not enough to make me think any further.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”Then let’s leave this matter as it is for now.”