Chapter 1012 - 1014 Give Me Three Days_1
Bai Ruozhu stepped closer to Dongqing, staring into her eyes and said, "Your death would settle everything, but do you really no longer care about your brother?"
Dongqing’s eyes showed a look of terror, "Will he really not let my brother go? He’s just a child, how could he be so heartless?"
Dongqing spoke in a panic, the ’he’ at the beginning referred to the master who saved her brother, the ’he’ later referred to her brother himself.
Bai Ruozhu signaled Cui Fan to release her acupoints and then told her, "Now that your acupoints have been unblocked, if you still insist on dying, I won’t stop you. If you want to save your brother, you must act according to my plan."
Dongqing crawled and knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Bai Ruozhu, "Miss, I beg you, please save my brother."
"You have already failed to trust me once, I hope that this time, you won’t be swayed by others no matter what and follow my instructions."
Dongqing nodded vigorously, "This time I will definitely listen to the miss; if I do anything to wrong you again, let me be cast into the eighteen layers of hell after I die to suffer from the burns of Karmic Fire."
Ancient people believed in ghosts and gods, and that the dead would be sent to hell. Dongqing’s willingness to make such a heavy vow must mean she had really made up her mind.
"Good, get up, wipe away your tears, and make yourself stronger," said Bai Ruozhu. She looked at Jianqi and continued, "Send someone to search for Dongqing’s brother’s whereabouts. That person should be related to the Yang Family. If necessary, borrow the power of the Commerce Association to help."
Then she said to Cui Fan, "Such an incident has occurred in the Residence due to my negligence, as well as your lack of caution. From today, rearrange the guard shifts to ensure the safety of the Residence!"
Cui Fan hurriedly bowed, "Yes, after I arrange the affairs, I will come to receive my punishment."
After Bai Ruozhu finished, she entrusted Dongqing to Muyu for care, "Stay in this Yard and protect her, don’t let anyone approach."
"Cui Fan, spread the word that a maid has committed suicide by jumping into a well in the old lady’s courtyard, and no one is allowed to approach. Seal the lips of those who know Dongqing is still alive, and don’t let a single word leak out," Bai Ruozhu ordered sternly.
"Yes," Cui Fan quickly took the order and withdrew.
"Jianqi, also tell your people to keep their mouths shut," Bai Ruozhu added.
"Yes, I will go and tell them right away."
Bai Ruozhu then instructed Dongqing to hide there and recuperate, not to go out for the time being, and she would naturally be called upon when needed.
Afterward, Bai Ruozhu went to the Main Courtyard, intending to discuss things with her parents first, only to find out that a eunuch had delivered the Holy Edict summoning her to the Palace.
Bai Ruozhu looked at Guizhi, who had been following her, "Please help pacify father and mother, and also make sure to keep what happened just now a secret."
Guizhi nodded, "Be careful, and if it really comes down to it, ask the Empress Dowager and the princess for help."
Bai Ruozhu nodded and followed the eunuch who delivered the order to leave.
Upon arriving at the Palace, she learned that the Emperor wanted to preside over the investigation personally, but the morning court had already ended, and he had ordered all related parties to wait in the Imperial Study Room.
When Bai Ruozhu entered the Imperial Study Room, she saw Jiang Yichun’s dark gaze turn towards her. The icy facade on his face seemed to have cracked, as if warm and gentle sunlight was shining through.
He flashed her a slight smile, signaling for her to rest assured, he was there for her.
She had never doubted that he couldn’t protect her well, but she didn’t like to hide behind a man at all times. Men were human too, they could get tired, and she felt for her Achun; she didn’t want him to bear everything alone.
"Your servant, Bai Ruozhu, greets Your Majesty," she said. Now that she had been granted a title, she could no longer refer to herself as a commoner.
"Bai Ruozhu, no need for formalities. You must have asked the messenger eunuch on your way here and know why I have summoned you," the emperor’s cold voice suggested that he was not fond of Bai Ruozhu.
Since the emperor had said "no need for formalities," she also did not wish to refer to herself as "your servant," which was the court etiquette of Danliang Country, but she had always found it extremely awkward.
"It is said that someone obtained my bracelet and claimed it was the one gifted by the Empress Dowager. I haven’t had the chance to check my jewelry box, so I’m still unclear on the situation. Just before I left my residence, I heard that a maid had committed suicide by jumping into a well."
It was like a word game; she only mentioned the maid committing suicide, not that she had died, and even if the person stood alive before the emperor, it wouldn’t count as deceiving him.
The emperor ordered someone to bring the bracelet to her for identification, and indeed, it was the one given to her by the Empress Dowager.
"Bai Ruozhu, Officer Yang accuses you of bribing Yang Hongwen’s concubines to falsely charge him; he says you gave them this bracelet. If the human and material evidence is present, what is your explanation?" The emperor’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the authority of a superior.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at Yang Tianhua and saw his eyes filled with malice and triumph as if to say: "Do you, a minor girl, really think you can compete with me?"
"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. I have just moved to the Capital with my family. The Residence is somewhat chaotic, which led to this theft, and even resulted in someone jumping into a well. It’s truly shameful. However, I have never bribed Yang Hongwen’s concubines. Think about it, traditionally, women regard their husbands as their heaven. Faced with their respected husbands, would they really betray them over a mere bracelet?"
As she spoke, Bai Ruozhu glanced at Yang Tianhua, the implication clear in her words—if those women were indeed Yang Hongwen’s concubines, how could they be easily bribed with some money by an outsider like her?
"But that is a bracelet granted by the Empress Dowager, which naturally might incite envy," Yang Tianhua interjected with a cold huff.
A sneer of mockery flashed in Bai Ruozhu’s eyes; Yang Tianhua was outsmarting himself with his so-called cleverness.
"At the Empress Dowager’s Birthday Banquet, only the attending officials and titled ladies knew she gave me the bracelet. How would a mere concubine of Yang Hongwen know it was bestowed by the Empress Dowager or its value to be envious?" Bai Ruozhu said, shaking her head. "If they simply believed my words, why didn’t I just take any random item and pretend it was the one? After all, she wouldn’t recognize it, would she?"
"You used something to bribe others; who knows what schemes you have up your sleeve?" Yang Tianhua retorted.
Ignoring him, Bai Ruozhu bowed to the emperor and said, "Please grant me three days, Your Majesty, to investigate the theft of the jewelry in my home and to uncover who is framing me!"
"Now that we have both eyewitness and physical evidence, you are making fallacious arguments! Clearly, you are a woman with a vicious heart. My son spoke a few extra words with you, and you seek to bring about his death, ungrateful for the courtesy he showed by thanking you that day," Yang Tianhua pointed at Bai Ruozhu’s nose and began to curse.
Unable to help herself, Bai Ruozhu laughed. These court officials were all actors; they could paint black as white and perform so passionately, pretending his son was the kindest and most modest child in the world.
The emperor furrowed his brows slightly, evidently also displeased with Yang Tianhua’s demeanor. Of course, it would be a wonder if the emperor favored anyone from the Yang Family.
"Fine, since I have previously given Yang Hongwen a chance to find evidence, I will also give you three days to prove your innocence," the emperor said.
"Your Majesty, I, your humble official, protest!" Yang Tianhua exclaimed.