Chapter 1064 - 1066: Mrs. Bo’s Predicament_1
"Although today’s events have deeply saddened Father, from another perspective, it could be considered a good thing. Previously, we were inseparably linked to the old mansion and even had to worry about being implicated by Bai Yibo. Now that everything is out in the open, and the old lady has even proposed settling accounts, it’s as though a burden has been lifted for us," Bai Ruozhu continued.
Zhang Liliang and the others all nodded silently, this might indeed be a blessing in disguise.
"But if the old Master and the old lady have no one to take care of them in their old age, people will inevitably talk about us. The saying ’the grace of birth is greater than the grace of nurturing’ alone is enough to crush us. Therefore, I’m now not opposed to rescuing Bai Yibo. With him, their own son, around, we won’t have to worry as much. As for whether or not the Bo Residence will look after them, that will be the Bo Family and the old mansion’s concern," Bai Ruozhu added.
Bai Zepei’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, and after some thought, he said, "The old lady is not an easy person to talk to. You plugged the gap with the token for her claim of five thousand taels, but she definitely won’t let the matter rest there."
Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow, "I will give her a sum as settlement money, Father also doesn’t like owing others. As for the amount, I haven’t decided yet. It will depend on her behavior."
Guizhi, who was listening at the side, spoke up with some indignation, "How does foster father owe them anything? They took a thousand taels from someone else and didn’t even allow foster father to go to school. Who owes whom here?"
Bai Ruozhu shook her head, "Old accounts are difficult to settle, and it’s understandable that the old Master is adamant in his refusal to acknowledge them. Outsiders value filial piety, and even a well-provided child must show filial piety. Since the old lady wants to settle accounts with us and sever ties, we should give what we owe, at the very least to silence the critics."
Sighing, she said, "And with Father’s character, he will not be at peace in his life without paying that money."
In the end, Bai Yihong had a kind heart. Even though he resented Bai Fu and the Liu Family, and had begun to harbor some hatred, he still remembered they had raised him and was willing to make an effort to repay them in some way.
"Even if I have no objections to what you’ve said, let’s just forget about Father acknowledging his kin," Bai Zepei said with a stern face.
Everyone looked at him perplexed, and he spoke unhurriedly, "Back then, Bai Yuanqing left his hometown and refused to return, there must have been a reason for that. If his family was reliable, he could have simply given the old Master a sum of money to send the children back to the family and ensure another sum for the old Master if he could bring the children back. It would seem that this shouldn’t have been an issue. Yet, he did not allow the old Master to tell Father about this and even said it should wait until Father passed the imperial examinations, suggesting there are likely bigger issues at play."
"It is quite possible that Bai Yuanqing’s family places great importance on literary accomplishment, without passing the imperial examinations one wouldn’t be able to stand firm in the family. I remember Bai Yuanqing also failed the imperial examinations, perhaps that’s why he refused to return to his family. And without any titles, what use would it be for Father to find that family?"
Bai Ruozhu understood her second brother’s concerns. He was also worried about Father, afraid that if Father truly acknowledged his relatives, it could lead to a second heartbreak, which was completely unnecessary.
"All these matters mainly come from what the old lady said, but how much of it did the old Master conceal from her, how much might she be wrong about? So, I still want to find an opportunity to investigate clearly," Bai Ruozhu pondered.
Bai Zepei’s frown deepened, seemingly very resistant to the idea of searching for relatives. Bai Ruozhu could only say that there was no rush and they could discuss it slowly in the future.
With no further discussion that night, the following day Bai Ruozhu went to the Bo Residence again. The stewards to the guards at the Bo Family treated her with much greater enthusiasm, their eyes filled with gratitude as they looked at her. It was clear they were very loyal to Bo Qun and thus grateful to her for saving him.
Once she arrived in the main courtyard, she saw Jiu Sheng was already there. Jiu Sheng approached Bai Ruozhu, respectfully greeted her with a bow, and dutifully addressed her as "Teacher". Thankfully it wasn’t the first time he had called her that, so Bai Ruozhu wasn’t as uncomfortable as before.
"Teacher, I reported to the Emperor yesterday. When the Emperor asked why you were at the Bo Residence, I said you might be visiting as a guest," Jiu Sheng said quietly as he leaned in closer.
The Bo Residence didn’t publicize the matter of finding a distant relative with much fanfare, Lord Bo and Lady Bo also feared the Bai Family might misunderstand that they were seeking favor with Jiang Yichun, now a favorite by the Emperor’s side, and so intentionally tried to cozy up.
After the Bai Ruozhu family entered the capital, they also didn’t stay at the Bo Residence, and likewise didn’t mention this matter to anyone, so the Emperor didn’t know that the Bai Family was related to the Marquis Jingping’s Residence.
Of course, the Bai Ruozhu family now had not a drop of blood relation with the Marquis Jingping’s Residence.
Why did the old lady reveal Bai Yihong’s origins if not for fear that Bai Ruozhu’s family would snatch away her great benefits?
"It’s fine, I will explain when I visit the Empress Dowager later," said Bai Ruozhu.
Jiu Sheng nodded without saying much more and directly spoke about Bo Qun’s condition; he had just checked on him. Bo Qun hadn’t had a fever the previous night, his constitution was good and he was recovering well, he would be able to get out of bed in a few days.
At that moment, Lady Bo walked out briskly, a look of apology on her face, "Ruozhu is here, how could we talk in the yard? Come inside quickly for a cup of tea. Imperial Doctor Jiu, please join as well."
As she spoke, Lady Bo went to take Bai Ruozhu’s arm, her attitude very affectionate, and yet without a hint of pretense, which made Bai Ruozhu feel very cordial.
The two proceeded into the room, and Lady Bo’s voice dropped a little, "Yesterday, the third young master was rude to you, and he has been punished according to the Family Law. Please don’t take it to heart, after all, I am to blame for not disciplining my sons well."
Bai Ruozhu suddenly thought of novels about family struggles from before she transmigrated, where the matriarch often killed concubine-born children and she became curious, would Lady Bo do such a thing?
"Family Law? Surely it wasn’t a rattan stick on the back, was it?" Bai Ruozhu deliberately asked a few more questions.
"Indeed, he was beaten twenty times with the rattan stick and is now resting in his room, unable to go out and cause trouble," Lady Bo spoke in a lowered voice, her expression somewhat sheepish.
Just then, Bo Qun’s coughing could be heard from inside the room, and Lady Bo immediately became nervous, letting go of Bai Ruozhu’s arm and hurried into the room.
Behind her, Jiu Sheng whispered mysteriously, "Teacher, you may not be aware of the affair of that concubine-born son in the Bo Residence."
Bai Ruozhu raised her eyebrows, realizing she knew too little about matters in the capital.
"In times past, when the previous Empress Dowager was alive, she granted a precious concubine from the Bing Family to Marquis Bo, who was a concubine-born daughter of the Empress Dowager’s own family. The third young master of the Marquis’ Residence was born to that Bing woman. Despite the Empress Dowager having passed away, the Bing Family remains an old and respected clan. It is said that both the Bing woman and the third young master keep close ties with the Bing Family, whereas Lady Bo’s maternal family is much weaker in comparison," Jiu Sheng explained cautiously.
Bai Ruozhu remembered that Bo Qun had been granted his title for his military merits on the battlefield, having been awarded a marriage by the late Emperor. However, since the marriage, he hadn’t returned to the battlefield, merely handling some military affairs in the capital.
The Emperor always finds a way to suppress those subjects who rise too quickly. It seemed the late Emperor was quite concerned about Bo Qun forming marital ties with a military family, hence the arranged marriage to Lady Bo from the Xie Family, who was the daughter of a literary official, specifically an Imperial Censor.