Chapter 1052 - 1054: Shamelessness to the Extreme_1
Bai Yixiao also followed in praising Bai Ruozhu’s filial piety, and Lady Bo also beamed as she exchanged pleasantries with the Bai Family members, creating a harmonious scene in the Main Hall.
At that moment, a member of the Liu Family suddenly huffed, saying, "What filial piety has she shown? She only has eyes for her mother, neglecting us Elders, even her father is not in her sights, or else why didn’t she secure an official position for him?"
As soon as the Liu Family member spoke, the room instantly fell quiet; a mocking look flashed in Lady Bo’s eyes, but she quickly masked it.
Seeing Lady Bo’s reaction, Bai Ruozhu realized that Lady Bo did not like the Liu Family member, but only out of her well-cultivated demeanor did she show great politeness to this guest.
No wonder Lady Bo looked down on the Liu Family member—you shouldn’t speak out of ignorance. Are official positions with real power so easily earned? It’s not about buying and selling offices.
Bai Fu indeed knew the ins and outs, and his old face turned slightly red as he glared at the Liu Family member and said, "Don’t talk nonsense, the children will handle their own affairs."
Nowadays, the Liu Family member was no longer afraid of Bai Fu; with a maid serving by her side, she quickly became inflated with arrogance. She glared back at Bai Fu and said, "What’s there not to say? If she’s so capable, why doesn’t she help rescue her uncle too? They’re now enjoying the good life, but have they spared a thought for how Yibo suffers outside?"
The Liu Family member said this with tears welling up in her eyes. Bai Fu truly felt sorry for his son and couldn’t help feeling a bit sour himself, so he sighed heavily and did not scold the Liu Family member again.
Bai Zhi showed a look of embarrassment and hurriedly stepped forward, taking the Liu Family member’s arm, and gently persuaded, "Mother, today is the day the second brother and his wife have come to kowtow and celebrate with you all. Let’s not talk about such disheartening matters and have a joyous meal together."
Bai Zhi intended to mediate, but the Liu Family member simply did not know when to stop. Wiping away tears, she said, "Why should they be celebrating? My eldest son hasn’t returned; I can’t feel happy! Whichever of you is truly filial, go rescue your big brother for me at once!"
Lady Bo’s face turned somewhat awkward. She opened her mouth but in the end, chose not to speak. In fact, the Old Master had already promised to save Bai Yibo, but these things were not so easily accomplished; didn’t it require time to work through relationships?
Of course, her husband was not willing to get involved, so even though he had promised the Old Master, he deliberately dragged his feet.
Bai Zhi was anxious inside. She glanced at Lady Bo’s expression and spoke in a hushed tone, "Mother, please don’t make a scene. Big brother’s issue is no small matter. He has made mistakes and can’t blame others. Now it might be good for him to learn a lesson through hardship."
Upon hearing this, the Liu Family member became upset, "What do you mean by that? Aren’t you his blood sister? Have you been brainwashed by the second branch of the family? To think you’d say such a thing!"
Bai Lu had been struggling to listen quietly and cleared his throat loudly, saying, "Sister-in-law, don’t blame Bai Zhi. She understands the principle; why can’t you and big brother see the truth? Yibo has committed grave offenses, and it’s unfair to press our younger uncle for help."
Lady Bo smiled gratefully at Bai Lu upon hearing this. It was indeed a troublesome matter. With the intricate relationships in the capital, her husband, who had been ennobled through military merits, could easily provide a handle for others if not careful—how would they deal with that?
"Yes, mother, if it were something else, we would definitely do our utmost to help big brother, but this really is big brother’s fault. He should pay the price for the mistakes he has made." Bai Yihong felt the Liu Family member’s accusations were constantly directed at him and couldn’t help but speak out, his face full of anguish.
Bai Ruozhu and her mother exchanged glances, both feeling tremendously sorry for Bai Yihong.
Unexpectedly, the Liu Family matriarch suddenly lost her temper. With a swoosh, she leaped up from her chair and yelled at Bai Yihong, "It was you who didn’t let the Bo Family save Yibo. What on earth were you thinking? I struggled to raise you, and even a dog knows to be grateful, yet you harm my son like this. I should never have..."
"Shut up!" Bai Fu suddenly roared, interrupting Mrs. Liu.
Everyone in the room jolted, and now even Bai Lu and Bai Yixiao wore looks of suspicion. What did Mrs. Liu mean by her words? It sounded as if Bai Yihong wasn’t her son, and Bai Yibo was her biological child?
"Elder brother, don’t stop sister-in-law. With so many people here, and the Marquis’s wife present, let her speak clearly. Our Bai Family can’t have any ambiguity, lest others get the wrong idea," said Bai Lu as he furrowed his brows. As the clan leader, he had the right to ask for clarity.
Mrs. Liu was still angry, no longer heeding Bai Fu’s intervention, shouting loudly, "Let’s make it clear then! We took in an ingrate who turned on our own son. I was truly blind to have done such an unappreciated hard work!"
If Bai Ruozhu didn’t know the truth, she might have thought Mrs. Liu was merely ranting in anger, but knowing the truth and hearing such comments, Bai Ruozhu felt so disgusted she wanted to vomit. She had seen shameless people, but never anyone as shameless as Mrs. Liu!
"Is Grandmother really toiling thanklessly? Did you not enjoy spending that thousand pieces of silver?" Bai Ruozhu finally couldn’t hold back and asked.
"How do you know?" The color drained from Mrs. Liu’s face, and she looked incredulously at Bai Ruozhu, inadvertently blurting out what she had inside her.
Bai Fuqi pointed at Mrs. Liu, "Shut your mouth, spouting nonsense at your age. Have you lost your mind or what?"
Mrs. Liu snapped out of it and was startled, quickly retorting, "What thousand pieces? You’re talking nonsense!"
But by then, the expressions of everyone in the room had changed significantly, clear signs that Bai Fu and Mrs. Liu were hiding something, and Bai Ruozhu had already uncovered it.
At that moment, Bai Yihong looked the most bewildered, having realized he was not the biological child of Bai Fu and Mrs. Liu. His lips trembling, he turned to Mrs. Liu and asked, "Mother, are you serious about what you just said?"
Seeing Mrs. Liu’s eyes dart around, he then turned to Bai Ruozhu and asked, "Daughter, what exactly do you know?"
Bai Ruozhu, seeing her father in such a state, felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had not intended to spill the beans so early, fearing that her father couldn’t bear the shock. She had not expected Mrs. Liu to shout it out like a mad dog and to say it so shamelessly. What does "ingrate" mean? How many years had Bai Yihong exerted himself to the point of exhaustion? Even Bai Yibo’s exile couldn’t be blamed on Bai Yihong; that was his own fault!
Yet, Mrs. Liu and the Old Master kept insisting that Bai Yihong had sabotaged Bai Yibo. How could Bai Ruozhu bear to let her father take the blame for such an injustice?
Bai Yihong could no longer care about the crowd. His voice choked with emotion, he said, "Father, Mother, I’m not your biological child, right? You don’t need to hide it from me; I can handle the truth. To be honest, I have secretly resented you, feeling you favored my elder brother. But now I understand. Your raising me has already been a great kindness, and I do not blame you!"