Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1593: Chapter 1593: No Way to Return Home_1

He had become embroiled with Grand Princess Huilan, and Tang Yin felt some irritation, as well as some resentment towards his aunt for always engaging in activities that couldn’t be made public. But upon reflection, it wasn’t just because Bai Ruozhu hadn’t shared the stocks of Hua Xiangrong with her. Rather, it was her love of control. Whenever there was something she couldn’t dictate, she would find it unbearable.

Even towards him, the Emperor’s nephew, she behaved the same way. Although she never stated it directly, the Emperor was aware that she harbored many complaints against him.

As an emperor, he could not blindly take her side without distinguishing right from wrong—that was the act of a feckless ruler. Besides, he had already shown Grand Princess Huilan enough respect. Anyone else would have been punished by now, or at the very least ordered to reflect behind closed doors.

He sighed to himself, knowing that someone who dared to order guards to draw their swords and chop people down in the street was becoming increasingly audacious.

”You may all withdraw for now. I will ascertain the truth of the matter and ensure justice is served,” Tang Yin suppressed the frustration in his heart and spoke with a heavy tone.

Jiang Zhihe felt somewhat anxious and didn’t dare to rise hastily, but Bai Ruozhu tugged at her, saying, ”We thank the Emperor for his understanding. We will take our leave first.”

She pulled Jiang Zhihe out of the Imperial Study Room, and they hadn’t gone far before they saw the officers from the City Patrol rushing in the direction of the Imperial Study Room.

Bai Ruozhu chuckled softly and said, ”The Grand Princess is really not smart and too impulsive. Otherwise, with her status, your situation wouldn’t have been easy to handle. But now, there’s no need to worry at all.”

”But what if she doesn’t admit it? What if she claims that we were disrespectful to her and that her guards acted out of anger?” Jiang Zhihe asked with worry.

Bai Ruozhu nodded with a smile, ”The fact that you’re considering these possibilities shows that you’ve grown up. However, what she says isn’t important. After all, there are eyewitnesses. Yet, eyewitnesses aren’t absolute. In the end, it depends on whom the Emperor believes.”

Jiang Zhihe couldn’t help but feel worried, ”But she’s the Emperor’s aunt. Wouldn’t the Emperor...”

”Not necessarily. She’s tarnished her own reputation, and even if the Emperor wanted to protect her, his patience is likely wearing thin through these repeated incidents,” Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but chuckle again. Perhaps the Grand Princess had attempted several times but failed to pose any threat to her, and the Emperor was tired of it as well.

Since she was already in the Palace, Bai Ruozhu took Jiang Zhihe to see the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager inquired, she did not avoid the topic and recounted the events. The Empress Dowager was shocked and speechless for a while, but at the end, she patted Jiang Zhihe’s hand and said, ”Child, rest assured. I will see to it that justice is done for you.”

With the Empress Dowager’s assurance, Jiang Zhihe felt a bit more at ease. After thanking the Empress Dowager, she and Bai Ruozhu left the Palace and returned to the Yu Residence.

By then, Yu Chenghua was pacing at the doorstep, anxious like an ant on a hot pan. He had gone to find Jiang Yichun, and upon returning home, learned that the Grand Princess had helped the three members of the Dou Family and even ordered the guards to draw swords and chase after his wife and sister-in-law in the street. He was so furious that he nearly caused a ruckus at the Residence of the Duke of Zheng.

It was Zao Bo and his guards who restrained him, all sustaining some injuries in the process. Only then did he learn that Dou Yun had blatantly moved into his home!

Of course, Dou Yun and her family didn’t have the power to do this themselves. It was the Grand Princess who had ordered her subordinates to knock down Zao Bo and two guards of the Yu Residence, allowing Dou Yun to take residence there.

Yu Chenghua was so angry that his hands were trembling. He wanted to storm in and throw that shameless woman Dou Yun out, but remembering how Dou Yun had unashamedly thrown herself at him when he had saved her, Yu Chenghua didn’t want to meet Dou Yun alone, lest there be more misunderstandings. Even if he had to expel someone, he would wait for his wife to return, as it would be better to have her presence. Otherwise, if the shameless Dou family made slanderous remarks and his wife misunderstood, what would he do?

It had to be said that Yu Chenghua was coarser yet had his finer points. He had indeed learned a lot while accompanying Jiang Yichun.

But now, he truly couldn’t return to his own home and could only circle around his own doorstep.

After a while, the Bai Family’s horse carriage came to a stop at the entrance of the Yu Residence, and Yu Chenghua rushed over to ask, ”Is that my sister-in-law and Zhihe?”

Upon hearing Yu Chenghua’s voice, Jiang Zhihe’s eyes softened to an extreme, and without waiting for Bai Ruozhu to reply, she hurriedly said, ”Husband, it’s us.”

Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips and stole a laugh from the side. Although this couple had not yet consummated their marriage, their affection for each other was very strong. The Dou Family’s disturbance had given them a sense of shared adversity and a common enemy, which in turn deepened their affection for one another.

Jiang Zhihe drew back the carriage curtain, and Yu Chenghua hastened to extend his hand to help her down from the carriage. Their cheeks both flushed slightly; after all, they were newlyweds and both felt shy.

Following them out of the carriage, Bai Ruozhu said with a smile, ”Brother-in-law is eager to see Zhihe, waiting right by the entrance to greet her.”

Embarrassment showed on Yu Chenghua’s face, ”I was indeed eager to see Zhihe, but it was also inconvenient for me to return to the residence.”

He was quite honest about it.

Bai Ruozhu’s expression changed slightly, she could roughly guess what had happened. Ordinary people would not think of or do such a thing, but the Grand Princess was arrogant and domineering, and the Dou Family had already shed all semblance of shame, naturally capable of such actions.

”What happened?” asked Jiang Zhihe with concern.

Yu Chenghua steeled himself and said, ”The Grand Princess sent someone to injure Zao Bo and three others, and allowed Dou Yun to move into the residence.”

”How can they be so shameless!” Even with her usually mild temper, Jiang Zhihe was now seething with anger.

Bai Ruozhu patted her on the shoulder, ”Don’t worry, having them inside is actually to our advantage. We can directly report to the officials that they forced their way into a civilian’s home and injured people of the Yu Residence. In addition, report a burglary in our home and have the Capital Metropolitan Prefecture bring people to arrest them.”

”My sister-in-law is right, I’ll send someone to handle it immediately!” Yu Chenghua’s eyes lit up; he had only been concerned about not wanting to confront Dou Yun alone and hadn’t considered this angle. He had never encountered such shamelessness and was momentarily thrown off balance.

He called over a guard whose injuries were minor to report to the officers, then turned to see Bai Ruozhu taking Zao Bo’s pulse and giving him a medicine pill. He felt a surge of gratitude, for if it were someone else, they surely wouldn’t care about a servant of his household. But Zao Bo had been dedicated and taken great care of him over the years, and even though Zao Bo was a servant, Yu Chenghua had long come to respect him as an elder.

It was just that Zao Bo refused to take charge and insisted on being a gatekeeper; otherwise, Yu Chenghua had planned for Zao Bo to spend his old age comfortably in the residence.

Luckily, being a gatekeeper wasn’t a strenuous job, as his residence hardly had any visitors on a regular basis, but he hadn’t expected these past few days to descend into such turmoil.

Jiang Zhihe, who also deeply respected the elderly servant Zao Bo, asked after him with concern, feeling relieved upon learning that Zao Bo had only sustained superficial injuries.

Bai Ruozhu then treated another guard for a dislocated joint and gave him some medicine for bruises and sprains.

It wasn’t long before they saw a man astride a tall horse galloping towards them. He was a handsome man, who under normal circumstances would seem like an immortal descended to earth, but at that moment, with evil energy about him and clothed in black, he resembled a Rakshasa straight out of hell.

He dismounted swiftly and rushed over to Bai Ruozhu, grabbing her shoulders, and asked, ”Wife, are you all right?”