Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1738: Chapter 1738: If You Want to Retreat, Then Retreat

King Rui, no, now he can truly be called the new emperor or the false emperor. His eyes narrowed as he subdued the killing intent within. If others all believed it was Elder Jiang Ge showing a divine sign, he was certain this was Jiang Yichun’s handiwork. He clearly had it repeatedly checked, so how did they do it?

The row of characters was slightly lighter in color compared to the surrounding stones, yet emitted a red glow. It was said to be dyed with red pigment, but it didn’t quite look like that. Instead, it seemed more like the color seeping from within the stone pillar.

”Why hasn’t anyone come to clean it up?” The inner attendant harshly scolded the guards nearby. The new emperor, however, raised his hand and said, ”Forget it. Someone wants to play ghost tricks. I, being righteous, am not afraid of shadows. Don’t pay it too much mind.”

In his heart, he secretly cursed that he must replace this inner attendant; he was simply a fool! Since the other party went through such an elaborate scheme, they must be well-prepared. Do you think it could be wiped away so easily? If it couldn’t be cleaned off, wouldn’t it astonish the officials even more? Wouldn’t it further mythologize this event?

”Alright, the son doesn’t speak of strange, powerful, chaotic things. Elder Jiang Ge is already at rest. Everyone, don’t let yourselves be used by those with intentions,” the new emperor turned and said to the officials.

The crowd agreed, but what they actually thought in their hearts was another matter.

Elder Jiang Ge was a minister for three reigns. Too many officials had worked with him or studied under his name, and many recognized his penmanship. These people didn’t express it outwardly, but their hearts were in turmoil. Thinking of Elder Jiang Ge dying by striking his head on the Golden Throne, they felt ashamed to attend an audience with the new emperor.

Therefore, in the morning audience the next day, quite a few reported illness and did not attend. Several submitted memorials directly requesting to resign and return home. King Rui feigned great benevolence on the surface, but after the audience, he went straight into the Yangxin Hall and twisted the neck of the said inner attendant, having someone secretly bury the body in the Back Garden.

”That Jiang Yichun truly is a figure, a pity he’s not loyal to me,” the new emperor said coldly to the commander of the Imperial Dragon Guards, ”Send people to intercept him, kill him at all costs, and bring his head to me!”

”Yes, I obey the command, Your Majesty.”

If he couldn’t bring Jiang Yichun’s head, he should bring back his own.

The new emperor didn’t say this, but the commander of the Imperial Dragon Guards already thought of it. He understood the new emperor’s nature—ruthless, unscrupulous, never soft-hearted with anyone. But this was also why he was loyal to the new emperor. The previous Emperor Wuning, Tang Yin, was too benevolent; otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up as a mutt.

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Jiang Yichun and his party were hiding in the outskirts of the capital, not daring to send messages casually. On Bai Ruozhu’s side, the wait was full of anxiety; Guizhi and the others were arriving soon, followed by Uncle Zhang and their group. But why was there still no news from Achun?

She couldn’t help recalling that night’s dream, a chill settling in her heart, but her son came over to hug her and said in his childish voice, ”Mom, I’m here to play with the little brother.”

She came out of that fearful and worried emotion.

Little Dengdeng insisted on pressing his ear against Bai Ruozhu’s belly and said, ”I can hear brother talking. He even called me brother.”

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, tapping her son’s head, saying, ”You little fool, it’s not even three months yet. Brother hasn’t formed; how could he talk to you?”

Little Dengdeng pouted, ”He is talking, but only to me.”

”Alright, alright, it’s a special language between you kids.” Bai Ruozhu didn’t bother to argue with her son and went along with his words.

At this moment, Rendong entered and softly asked, ”Eldest Miss, Mistress said everything’s ready, asking when you’ll go over?”

”I’ll go over now; it wouldn’t be good to delay any longer.” Bai Ruozhu finished speaking and took her son’s hand, leading Rendong and Nanny Zhang towards the Main Hall.

Today they had agreed to go to Fengye Village. They were moving soon, and they had to go to Fengye Village to say goodbye and offer incense to the Bai Family ancestors in the Ancestral Hall.

The family gathered in the Main Hall, took two horse carriages to Fengye Village, and when they left the village, they were seen by Fo Qilao, who displeasedly remarked to others about the Bai Family’s grand procession, which was overheard by Bai Ruozhu sitting in the horse carriage.

Bai Ruozhu laughed and lifted the window curtain, leaning out to say to the gossiping Fo Qilao, ”Does this Fo Qilao find this grand? Isn’t it even grander when we move out in a few days? Fo Qilao may not have grandness but has a good reputation for stirring people up. I hope you maintain such good relations.”

If Fo Qilao couldn’t hear the sarcasm in Bai Ruozhu’s words, he would truly be a fool. He glared at Bai Ruozhu and said, ”Stop being sarcastic with me. Yes, it’s me and everyone pushing you out. But it’s you who create trouble. What if you bring disaster to the Village?”

”Is that so?” Bai Ruozhu chuckled softly, ”What’s really going on, Fo Qilao knows in his heart. I’m kind-hearted and don’t want to bring it up, otherwise bringing it to light, someone’s grand-niece won’t be able to marry.”

Fo Qilao’s face instantly turned pale, dumbfounded. How did she know?

By the time he came back to his senses, Bai Ruozhu’s horse carriage had already gone far, leaving him with sweaty palms and worries about her threat. Despite being angry, he had to worry that if word spread, Gui Gui truly wouldn’t be able to get married.

So, for the following days, Fo Qilao uncharacteristically quieted down.

Bai Ruozhu’s family arrived at Fengye Village. They disembarked from the carriage and greeted the approaching Li Family members, but the Li Family gave them meaningful looks and whispered, ”Your clan members from the old mansion arrived early this morning.”

Lin Ping’er heard this and was immediately displeased, ”What are they here for? Are they deliberately trying to meet us?”

”Definitely not; they certainly wouldn’t want to see you now,” Li Family said with a chuckle, then lowered her voice and added, ”Your old man and Bai Yibo are demanding to remove your family from the clan register.”

Bai Ruozhu understood at once why. She just didn’t know whether the old man was, like the people in the Village, afraid or just using this as an opportunity for revenge against her family.

At this moment, Bai Lu’s roar came from inside the house: ”You are the real rebels! Get out of here! The emperor still governs here, yet you all speak of the new emperor. Are you siding with the new emperor? Isn’t that rebellion?”

Bai Fu’s voice raised too, clearly intending for Bai Ruozhu and her family outside, given the sound of the horse carriage arriving.

”They were never part of the Bai Family. Now they go around causing trouble. Mountain Village doesn’t dare let them live, yet you cover for them. Is this how you act as clan head?”

”Are you afraid of being implicated? Fine, you can withdraw from the clan registry yourself. Whatever happens, it won’t fall on you!” Bai Lu said angrily.

Bai Fu pointed at Bai Lu’s nose, ”I am your older brother, after all. What are they? Outsiders without a drop of our blood, and you would drive me out to protect them?”

Bai Lu slapped away the finger Bai Fu pointed at him and shouted, ”Look at what you’ve done for the clan over the years. Does it matter if there’s no blood relation? At least they contributed to the clan and sincerely treated us as family. You, the revered Scholar lord, what have you done?”