Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1614: Chapter 1614: The Emperor Grants a Marriage

Upon hearing the news, Bai Ruozhu almost dropped the teacup. How shameless of Saihan! Truly, when the offer of peace is not taken, punishment will follow. This alliance between the two countries is better off without!

However, the news had spread for two days, and the Turkic Envoy Group had not hurried to leave. Instead, Turkic envoys were busy smoothing things over, looking for a way back. Unexpectedly, several ministers stood up proactively to help reconcile, advising the Emperor to think twice, stating that now is not the time to turn against the Turkic Country and rekindle border conflicts.

Some even urged the Emperor to allow Princess Diao Yao to marry into the alliance, arguing that she was just a princess without background, not worth offending the Turkic Country over.

This remark made the Emperor furious, directly ordering twenty lashes on the official who spoke, then decreeing him to return home to ponder his actions, not attending court for a month.

With such an outcome, those who initially tried to reconcile dared not speak further. It was evident to all that the Emperor was determined this time, resolutely refusing to yield to Saihan’s unreasonable demands.

Because of this incident, Bai Ruozhu grew a bit more fond of the Emperor, admiring how he protected Diao Yao and stood firm against the Turkic Prince, proving himself to be a wise ruler.

Winter arrived in a blink, with each day colder than the last. The Bai Family lit the Earth Dragon, keeping the house comfortably warm.

Madam Jiang visited the Bai Family, envying them greatly, but without a hint of jealousy.

”You came, so no need for gifts. We’re all related, no need for such courtesy,” Lin Ping’er said with a smile. Bai Ruozhu would arrive home later, so she accompanied Madam Jiang for a chat.

Madam Jiang smiled and said, ”It’s just a token from me. You can’t refuse it. Without your help, who knows how Zhihe’s days would be.”

”Now that the children are well, there’s no need to worry. Zhihe is a clever child; she’ll manage her days well,” Lin Ping’er advised with a smile.

”Yes, I see that Yu Chenghua is also an excellent child, thanks to Yichun and Ruozhu for matchmaking,” Madam Jiang said, then shifted the topic, ”You know Dou Yun’s injury healed, but she seems...”

She paused, pointing to her own head, implying Dou Yun had some mental issues.

Lin Ping’er instantly thought of Bai Ruolan, feeling a bit softer inside, asked, ”What happened? Did they come again?”

Madam Jiang sighed, ”Not exactly, but Dou Yun’s head injury hasn’t completely healed, still wrapped in bandages, yet she naively runs about saying the Jiang Residence is her home, wanting to return home. How could the gatekeepers let her in? She just stood by the gate without leaving, worrying people in that cold weather.”

Lin Ping’er sighed along, ”Originally we were good relatives, but it turned out like this. It’s all because the Dou Family is too ungrateful.”

”I happened to bump into her while going out, she didn’t recognize me, just insisted on going home. It’s really unbearable to watch,” Madam Jiang sighed again. She didn’t feel unresentful about Dou Yun. Dou Yun hanged herself at the Yu Residence gate on her daughter’s wedding night, also fussing about marrying Yu Chenghua. She had long hated Dou Yun, but seeing her in a foolish state, it left her conflicted.

”Probably hit her head hard,” Lin Ping’er commented thoughtfully.

At this moment, Bai Ruozhu walked in from outside, having vaguely heard some of the conversation, asked, ”Is Dou Yun really foolish? Not pretending to be foolish to gain sympathy?”

”Doesn’t seem like it, but hard to say. Previously couldn’t tell, that girl had many schemes,” Madam Jiang replied.

Bai Ruozhu pondered, ”Better not tell Zhihe about this, so she won’t feel sad. Dou Yun deserves it; even the Emperor decreed it, yet she stubbornly crashed into the pillar. Would the Emperor be threatened by her?”

She had no sympathy for Dou Yun, having disliked her from the beginning.

Quickly, the three changed the topic. Madam Jiang asked about formulas for nurturing and aiding women in conceiving, to which Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, ”Aunt, you’re too rushed for this. It’s about fate; such young age, no need to supplement.”

Madam Jiang laughed awkwardly, feeling too embarrassed to continue questioning.

Early next day, Jiang Yichun attended court for the morning assembly. Bai Ruozhu didn’t rush to the Female Physicians Institution but asked the horse carriage to take her to the street where the Jiang Residence was, wanting to secretly observe if Dou Yun would appear and verify if she was truly foolish.

Arriving near the Jiang Residence, she got off the horse carriage and hid in the shadows to watch. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Dou Yun appeared.

A bandage wrapped around her head, clothes worn haphazardly, one shoe missing, and despite it being winter, she stepped on the ground wearing only socks, appearing unaffected by the cold.

As she walked, she suddenly squatted and shouted at a dried grass by the roadside, ”Ganoderma, good stuff!”

She suddenly frenziedly pulled at the clump of dead grass, as if fearing someone would snatch it away, tore it out without caring about dirt on the roots, stuffing the entire grass into her mouth, chewing vigorously, then swallowing it down.

Bai Ruozhu watched in shock, wondering if Dou Yun felt choked eating dirt.

Soon, Dou Yun stood up from the ground, staggering towards the Jiang Residence, starting to knock at the Main Gate.

”Open the door, I want to go home!”

The gatekeeper impatiently said, ”Why is it you again? Told you repeatedly yesterday, this isn’t your home. Your head’s hurt, better get it treated; it might still be curable. Why waste time here?”

After speaking, he turned to leave, but Dou Yun suddenly lunged, hugging his leg and shouted, ”Grandpa, I miss you so much, I want to go home, I want candies!”

The elderly gatekeeper jumped in fright, struggled hard to shake her off, hurriedly withdrew into the yard, calling outside, ”You’ve mistaken me. Go find your parents for treatment.”

Dou Yun remained unmoved, sitting on the steps at the Jiang Residence gate, playing with her hair, occasionally muttering, ”I know the way home, it’s my house.”

Bai Ruozhu shook her head in helplessness, turned silently, left, then found the horse carriage, heading towards the Palace.

Upon entering the Palace, she unexpectedly heard explosive news.

During the morning assembly, the Emperor decreed marriage for the top three of this year’s exams. Bai Zepei naturally was to marry the third miss of the Si Family, Si Yihuan, and the Prime Minister couldn’t be more delighted. The number three scholar was granted a Marquis’s legitimate daughter.

When it came to Tang Feng, the Emperor praised for a moment, noted his achievements in Jiangnan, then mentioned his cousin Diao Yao’s grace and beauty, gentle character, granting her to Tang Feng as a wife.

Unexpectedly, Tang Feng’s expression changed immediately, speaking out, ”I am unworthy of Princess Diao Yao. Please, Emperor, retract this order!”