Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1513: Chapter 1514: If We Had Known Today, Why Bother in the First Place_1

When the doorkeeper announced that Ministry of Rites Vice Minister Bai Guanghe sought an audience, Bai Ruozhu’s heart jumped fiercely. She set down the teacup she was holding and asked with some excitement, ”What is he here for?”

From nervousness and anger, her voice involuntarily grew much louder, startling everyone else in the room who was drinking tea.

”This, this servant does not know,” stammered the errand boy from the doorman’s lodge, having never seen the young mistress speak so loudly to him before, his mouth nervously tripping, ”Otherwise, shall this, this servant go and ask again?”

”Ruozhu, what’s the matter? Has that Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites offended you?” Lin Ping’er curiously asked.

Bai Ruozhu suddenly snapped back to her senses, quickly composing herself and said with a smile, ”It’s nothing, I was just surprised. I don’t associate with him.”

But at such a time, she couldn’t refuse to let him in. Even if she wanted to send him away, her parents would say she was rude to guests.

”Let him in,” Bai Ruozhu said resignedly.

Before long, Bai Guanghe was brought in, and after the two sides exchanged greetings, he swiftly glanced at Bai Yihong to the side and then hurriedly looked away.

His manner was like that of a guilty thief caught in the act.

”What brings Lord Bai to visit today?” Bai Ruozhu asked timely, helping him to regain composure.

”A friend of mine has been troubling young Bai for care. Today, I specifically came to offer my thanks and to see how Qingyan’s health is faring,” said Bai Guanghe.

Bai Yihong, not fully understanding, naively said, ”Lord Bai is too polite. We share the same surname, perhaps our families were one five hundred years ago.”

The corner of Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched—there was no need for five hundred years ago.

”Yes, fate,” Bai Guanghe said awkwardly.

”Since Lord Bai wishes to see Elder Qingyan, I will take you to him,” proposed Bai Ruozhu as she stood up; she feared if the conversation went on, Bai Guanghe might reveal something he shouldn’t.

”Good, good,” Bai Guanghe also stood, and in an instant, seemed to age several years, his body becoming hunched.

Walking along the path, Bai Guanghe eventually could not help but ask, ”You know everything?”

”Mhm,” responded Bai Ruozhu indifferently.

”You do not want your father to know?” Bai Guanghe showed a pained expression.

Bai Ruozhu stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, ”What do you think? If you had such a father, wouldn’t you feel pain?”

”I...” Bai Guanghe was at a loss for words and after a long moment, he sighed deeply, ”You’re right, maybe it’s better for you now. Let it be, let it be.”

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief; Bai Guanghe meant he would not acknowledge their relation.

”My father has suffered all his life, never understanding why his own parents were so partial. When he learned they were not his biological parents, he barely endured the shock. If he learns now what his real parents were like, it will hurt him once more; what would be the point?” Bai Ruozhu shook her head as she spoke, ”You couldn’t protect your own wife and children in those days, do not disturb his life now.”

Bai Guanghe’s body swayed, his complexion turning several shades paler, ”I understand.”

It wasn’t long before the two arrived at Qingyan’s yard. Qingyan was very surprised to see Bai Guanghe. Bai Guanghe explained with a wry smile, ”I couldn’t resist the urge to see what he looked like, to see if he resembled her.”

Qingyan sighed, ”If only we had known what would happen today, why behave as we did in the past?”

”You two talk, Ruozhu will take her leave,” said Bai Ruozhu, bowing slightly as she backed out.

Inside the room, Bai Guanghe said painfully, ”Ruozhu told me not to disturb her father. She’s right, having seen him just now, I can lay my heart to rest.”

”You, just take your time,” said Qingyan, not knowing how to console his old friend. Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family affairs, let alone him, a mere mortal?

Bai Ruozhu slowly walked away, returning to the front courtyard.

Lin Ping’er was looking out at the entrance to the Yard, and the moment she saw Ruozhu, she pulled her aside and asked in a low voice, ”Ruozhu, has something happened? Don’t keep it from mom, otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep, and I’ll just worry needlessly.”

Bai Ruozhu sighed and went on to tell her mother about the relationship between Bai Guanghe and Bai Yihong, knowing full well that she couldn’t keep it from her mother and that she would have to let her know sooner or later.

”You did the right thing. Let’s not tell your father for now; we don’t fancy that match!” Lin Ping’er said angrily.

”I knew mom would be on my side.” Bai Ruozhu said with a bitter smile.

At dinner, Bai Yihong even suggested inviting Bai Guanghe and Qingyan over for a meal, but the idea was immediately rejected by both Bai Ruozhu and Lin Ping’er.

Scratching his head and smiling, Bai Yihong said, ”That Officer Bai seemed amiable; I had a good impression of him.”

Was this the bond of blood?

Quickly forcing a smile, Bai Ruozhu said, ”Then you shouldn’t disturb their gathering of good friends; just let the two of them talk.”

”Yes, and Ruozhu had asked them earlier, so it wouldn’t be good to disturb them again,” Lin Ping’er added.

”Alright, we’ll talk another time then,” Bai Yihong said offhandedly.

Dinner continued, but suddenly someone came running in from outside—it was Hao Mu, a palace maid from Cining Palace!

”Officer Bai, Consort Yue has been seized with Fetal Qi; she might give birth soon. You must come with me to the Palace quickly!” Hao Mu said anxiously.

Bai Ruozhu leapt up in an instant and said to Jianqi quickly, ”Go get my Medical Box, then meet up with me.”

After she had spoken, she bid her parents a quick farewell and followed Hao Mu towards the Main Gate.

At this moment, a panting servant from the gatekeeper’s lodge came running over; he was supposed to guide Hao Mu, but couldn’t keep up with her pace and was left behind.

Bai Ruozhu and Hao Mu mounted their horses and galloped towards the Imperial Palace. By the time they reached the Palace Gate, Jianqi had caught up with the medicine box.

Now that Bai Ruozhu could take Jianqi out of the Palace, she immediately led them through the checkpoint and straight to Cining Palace.

”Wasn’t Consort Yue still half a month away? Why has she been seized with Fetal Qi?” Bai Ruozhu asked Hao Mu on the way.

”The consort went for a walk every day. Tonight, after dinner, she somehow slipped and fell. It hadn’t rained outside, so how could she have suddenly slipped?” Hao Mu spoke with urgency, ”Her handmaid tried to catch her, but didn’t manage to.”

”Let’s go see what’s happening first,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Upon reaching Cining Palace and rushing to Consort Yue’s Room, she saw several Imperial Doctors guarding the outside, including the Director Mao Xingcai, who heaved a huge sigh of relief at the sight of Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t bother with the formalities and rushed straight into the room.

Inside, she saw Consort Yue lying on the bed in pain, with a female physician at her bedside massaging her stomach. It wasn’t someone from the Female Physicians Institution, but rather Hao Baishuang!

Annoyed, Bai Ruozhu listened as the Empress Dowager urgently said, ”Wenwen has taken a fall, and her water has broken now, but the baby has yet to engage. What should we do?”

Bai Ruozhu gave Hao Baishuang a glance, surmising that the ”yet to engage” conclusion came from Hao Baishuang.

”Make way!” she said tersely to Hao Baishuang and pushed her aside to begin examining Consort Yue.

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Finally done, a whole ten thousand words! Waving goodbye as I beg for monthly tickets; my rank has dropped so much in these past few days, wuwuwu~