Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1973: Chapter 1972: Your Face Is Your Own

Bai Ruozhu looked at the officer again. She hadn’t remembered the faces of all the officers in the government office, but she was Meng Liangshen’s foster daughter. Surely, the officers under Meng Liangshen knew her? It was clear this person was new.

Meng Liangshen just went on an expedition, and the affairs of the government office were temporarily handed over to Han Zhiyong. Did they replace people with his own men so quickly?

Bai Ruozhu didn’t quite understand. Meng Liangshen accompanied the emperor on the expedition. He could have entrusted this position to confidants temporarily. Wasn’t it inappropriate to appoint an outsider just like this?

However, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t guess the intrigues of the bureaucracy. Perhaps Meng Liangshen didn’t want to take too many major roles or maybe he wanted to stay in the Capital this time? If he had control over Beiyu, naturally the emperor wouldn’t dare to assign him important positions in the Capital.

The balance between the ruler and his ministers is always varied. This is the art of an emperor’s strategy, Bai Ruozhu found it exhausting just thinking about it.

When Bai Ruozhu entered, a doctor was examining Ji An’s face. Since the doctor was a middle-aged man, Ji An felt a bit embarrassed, her ears turning red.

”To Lord Han, Miss Ji’s face indeed developed a rash from improperly using rouge. I just checked, the rogue from the School is not made cleanly, which easily causes skin problems,” the doctor said, withdrawing his hand.

Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes, fully aware of the quality of the School’s supplies, and she had just checked earlier; it was impossible that Aunt Xin and the others had swapped materials.

This doctor was problematic. Haha, Ma Linglong was indeed well-prepared.

”Jianqi, send someone to keep an eye on this doctor later, and investigate his background. Don’t let him get away,” Bai Ruozhu instructed in a low voice.

After speaking, she walked towards the courtyard, asking unhurriedly, ”What is this gentleman’s name? Was he brought by Lord Han? A doctor from Fushou Hall?”

”I am Tian Chen, just arrived from out of town, and I have started consulting at Fushou Hall. Here is my medical certificate,” Tian Chen said, taking out a document from his chest.

Bai Ruozhu chuckled inwardly, being so well-prepared was suspicious. Ordinarily, doctors keep their medical certificates at home and rarely carry them, clearly to better prove his identity as a doctor in this case.

”Oh, why not invite an old doctor from Fushou Hall?” Bai Ruozhu looked at Han Zhiyong and asked.

Beside her, Ma Linglong called out, ”Bai Ruozhu are you pretending to be stupid? Many doctors from Fushou Hall joined the Medical Alliance which you established. Of course, they will speak for you. How can this case be impartially judged?”

Han Zhiyong smiled and cupped his hands, ”Lord Bai, we must handle official business impartially, please don’t mind.”

Bai Ruozhu returned the salute, ”Lord Han, you’re too kind. As long as official business is handled impartially, it’s fine.”

She emphasized ”impartially handled” heavily, as if she couldn’t see the tricks within. Who wasn’t handling official business properly?

”Since the doctor already said there’s an issue with your School, temporarily close it and replace the rouge and powders with qualified ones. Also, with Miss Ji’s face like this, you should offer her some compensation,” Han Zhiyong said kindly, as if mediating a dispute.

Bai Ruozhu laughed coldly within but didn’t want to fight with them now, coldly saying, ”Since Lord Han has spoken, how dare I disobey? Just don’t let this woman’s quarrel affect the official work. Some people are just putting on a show, Lord, keep your eyes open.”

Han Zhiyong’s eyes flashed with coldness but quickly restrained it, smiling and saying, ”Lord Bai, you’ve gone too far.”

Bai Ruozhu liked Han Zhiyong less and less, thinking he’s clever, but truly clever people wouldn’t make things difficult for her now.

Her husband was on an expedition, leading as a deputy general. Her second brother’s Yue Family was also temporarily in charge of the government. Even if they wanted to make trouble, it shouldn’t be for Ma Linglong, who was already married outside the Ma Family, right?

Unless...

Unless Ma Linglong used Ma Tongfang to deceive him, or he had some secrets held by Ma Linglong.

As for being bewitched by Ma Linglong to the point of losing reason, Bai Ruozhu thought Han Zhiyong didn’t seem like that kind of man.

”Lord Han, what about the matter of her hitting me?” Ma Linglong said relentlessly.

Han Zhiyong’s eyes flashed with impatience, which Bai Ruozhu clearly saw, saying unceremoniously, ”It was light that I only hit you, better than not having someone chop off your head. The army just set out, and you cursed our soldiers. Killing you would not be wrong, not to mention I’m a fourth-rank official, and can’t punish an unruly woman?”

Though Ji Bao has official status, Ma Linglong hasn’t been given a princess title.

”You’re lying, when did I curse our soldiers? I just said a few things about your husband, and you’re twisting the situation,” Ma Linglong said unwillingly, her face swollen like a pig’s head, hurting every time she spoke. She wished she could rush over and scratch Bai Ruozhu’s face.

”Who do you think my husband is? How could someone like you insult him? Lord Han, is it now permitted to insult officials of the Imperial Court?” Bai Ruozhu looked at Han Zhiyong.

He responded awkwardly, ”I wasn’t present at the time, otherwise I would’ve punished her severely, giving her thirty flogs.”

Ma Linglong understood, realizing she just shouldn’t curse anymore.

”If Madam Ji wants to continue causing trouble, let’s settle this properly. My husband is leading an army, and you’re cursing him for mishaps. That’s cursing the army’s success, justifiable enough to lock you up,” Bai Ruozhu said, seeing Ma Linglong about to speak, ”Don’t hurry to deny it. I’m too lazy to settle accounts with you. Know when to stop before things get worse for yourself.”

”Don’t think you can threaten me just because you have an official position, the world still speaks of justice,” Ma Linglong shouted.

Bai Ruozhu laughed sarcastically, ”People like you speak of justice? Today, I’m too lazy to argue with you, how pitiful Miss Ji is. Suddenly developing a rash in a span of ten days after learning makeup, isn’t it due to recent wrong ingestion or contact with something? If not treated properly, it might scar, which would be having nothing to gain.”

Ji An trembled, being a concubine’s daughter from a merchant family, she wouldn’t marry into a good family. If her face was ruined...

In her heart, she vaguely felt it had nothing to do with the new bride School, but she didn’t dare say anything. As she thought about it, it seemed like two days ago she ate...

Ji An quickly glanced at Ma Linglong with shock, disbelief, and a hint of anger in her eyes.

Bai Ruozhu chuckled, ”If she truly cared about her family, she would’ve taken you to get medical treatment instead of dragging you to create a ruckus. Miss Ji hasn’t received any treatment, right?”

”Let Doctor Tian prescribe some medicine for Miss Ji immediately,” Han Zhiyong said quickly.

Bai Ruozhu ignored him, continuing, ”Your face is your own, don’t become a tool for others to use.”

”Bai Ruozhu, what do you mean? Don’t sow discord here. Your School is problematic; it should be permanently shut down to prevent more deceit!” Ma Linglong shouted arrogantly.

”Oh? Is this for Mrs. Ji to decide? I didn’t know your official position was this high.”