Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2294: Chapter 2293: The Lao Family Files an Imperial Decree

Bai Zepei didn’t have to think to know what it was about, but he had no choice but to brace himself and stay.

As soon as Lao Xun entered the Imperial Study Room, he saw Bai Zepei burying his head in reviewing memorials, and he felt a burst of anger in his heart. He couldn’t believe Bai Zepei wasn’t aware of this matter.

”Minister Lao Xun pays respects to Your Majesty.” Lao Xun respectfully saluted.

”Lao Aiqing, no need for formalities. Coming to see me at this hour, is there some urgent matter?” The Emperor asked lazily, appearing rather weary.

Lao Xun was startled, but he still pressed on and said, ”Reporting to Your Majesty, my daughter Lao Wan, though not exceptionally talented, has always been deeply loved by my wife and me. I have always hoped she would have a good match, and she mentioned being fond of Scholar Bai, which is why I agreed to this marriage. Otherwise, given Wan’er’s talents, why should she become a concubine?”

”If Scholar Bai didn’t fancy Wan’er, he could have directly refused me. How could he send her away and let the commoners in the Capital know about it? Where does that leave me, and where should the Lao Family’s face be placed?”

Tang Yin smiled and said, ”Is Wen Shu here to lodge an imperial complaint against Scholar Bai?”

Lao Xun felt his heart tighten, but he quickly calmed down. ”In response to Your Majesty’s question, I only wish to seek justice for my daughter.”

Tang Yin looked at Bai Zepei, ”What does Bai Aiqing think?”

Bai Zepei put down the memorials, stood up and saluted, then stood beside Lao Xun, saying, ”I truly knew nothing of this matter and cannot explain it to Wen Shu. However, Wen Shu just mentioned wanting a good match for your beloved daughter. Isn’t Prince Du a good match?”

This left Lao Xun speechless. If he said no, wouldn’t he offend Du Zhongshu? Despite Du Zhongshu having little background, he was indeed backed by the Yueqiu Tribe.

Lao Xun pondered and said, ”Prince Du is indeed a young talent and a rare good husband, but a good woman doesn’t marry two husbands. How could she be sent to the Bai Residence and then to Prince Du’s Residence? What will others think of our Lao Family in the future?”

Bai Zepei responded calmly, ”Wen Shu, your words are mistaken. Your daughter was not married off, so there’s no saying of having two husbands.”

”You...” Wen Shu was flushed red with anger down to his neck, but what Bai Zepei said was true. A concubine could be given away, so there was no saying that a good concubine doesn’t serve two masters.

”Alright, both Aiqings, stop arguing. As I see it, this was orchestrated by Bai’s Divine Doctor, somewhat capriciously, but within the Bai Family rules. Although it isn’t considerate, it makes sense. Besides, Bai’s Divine Doctor is a miracle worker when it comes to treating illnesses. Even the Crown Prince’s birth mother, Noble Consort Le, seeks her when she needs medical help. So Wen Shu, do not dwell on it. Furthermore, I hear that in the end, Miss Lao walked into Prince Du’s Residence voluntarily,” Tang Yin said cheerfully, though his stance was clear.

Wen Shu’s hand trembled with anger, but he didn’t dare go against the Emperor’s words. He could only bow and say, ”Your Majesty is absolutely right, I understand.”

”Alright, you all may leave now. I’m tired,” Tang Yin waved them off, and both Lao Xun and Bai Zepei took their leave. However, upon exiting the Imperial Study Room, Lao Xun gave Bai Zepei a fierce glare and said, ”Scholar Bai, I will remember this!”

Bai Zepei glanced at him coolly, ”I’m deeply honored to have Lao Wen Shu keep me in mind.”

”Hmph, we’ll see!” Wen Shu flicked his sleeves and walked off briskly.

He not only resented Bai Zepei but was also angry with his own disappointing illegitimate daughter. How could she walk into Prince Du’s Residence by herself? She left him with no explanation in front of His Majesty, practically embarrassing himself!

...

At the Bai Residence, Bai Ruozhu was lazily eating grapes. These fruits were scarce nowadays, but she disliked peeling them and didn’t want to order her maid to do it. Only when her Achun was around would it be peeled and fed to her mouth.

She quickly lost interest after eating just a few.

Fo Lanying walked in with excitement, ”Ruozhu, everything went smoothly, praise me!”

Bai Ruozhu laughed, ”Not bad, our Lan Ying is beautiful, sharp-tongued, evil-hearted, tormenting the opponent so they suffer silently, the perfect accomplice for mischief!”

Fo Lanying laughed heartily, ”Is this a compliment? But I like it!”

Yizi couldn’t help but chuckle, ”Lan Ying, you’re too amusing.”

Fo Lanying shared all that happened along the way, and Bai Ruozhu nodded continuously. Fo Lanying indeed lived up to her expectations as a great hand at mischief.

”Later, Lao Wan suddenly got out of the sedan, which scared me, thinking the effects of the medicine wore off and she would cause trouble again. After all, if she wasn’t willing, forcing her like this wouldn’t look good if known, right?” Fo Lanying scratched her head.

”The medicine was still effective, I just used another method.” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Fo Lanying was curious, ”What method? Could you control her with poison from afar?”

”How could I? I’m not a god.” Bai Ruozhu said, glancing outside the hall at Qiu Zhi, who was squatting at the wall corner drawing circles, ”It was his doing.”

”Huh?” Fo Lanying was a bit slow to react.

Yuan Licheng excitedly said, ”It’s a Taoist Magic from Mount Longhu that can control minds. However, it usually doesn’t succeed easily, but Lao Wan was already poisoned by Madam Bai, so she was easier to control.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”Yes, I arranged for Qiu Zhi to follow and control Lao Wan from hiding.”

Fo Lanying couldn’t believe, ”Isn’t he very upright? Would he agree to this kind of thing?”

Bai Ruozhu smirked mischievously, ”Who asked him to make a Master-servant Contract without my consent? Didn’t he say he couldn’t disobey my orders? So I tried it out, and indeed it worked well.”

Yizi covered her mouth laughing, ”Master, you’re too wicked.”

Fo Lanying burst into laughter, ”Ruozhu, you’re really something. I understand now, one shouldn’t easily offend you, or the consequences are unimaginable.”

Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow, ”Haven’t you offended me before?”

Fo Lanying hurriedly grinned awkwardly, ”That was youthful folly, just consider me immature.”

Oh dear, she definitely wouldn’t want to end up like Qiu Zhi squatting and drawing circles at the corner.

At this moment, Qiu Zhi’s wail timely sounded, ”Patriarch, I’ve wronged you, I didn’t mean to violate the Sect Rules, but I am helpless!”

Bai Ruozhu pursed her lips, ”This little Daoist is too dense, he needs to be taught well in the future.”

Qiu Zhi began to cry, ”Master, could you not make me do bad things?”

Bai Ruozhu tossed a grape at him, ”Nonsense! What do you mean bad things? Lao Wan and Du Zhongshu, such a lovely couple is a great match, it’s a good deed, isn’t it?”

Qiu Zhi paused, ”Really? It sort of sounds true when you say it.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded in satisfaction, ”A promising young man, you’re not so dull after all.”