Chapter 1089 - 1091: Trust Doesn’t Mean Not Getting Angry_1
Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes, the Emperor arranged it? What does the Emperor mean by that? Does he think their marriage is too blissful?
However, she knew that Jiang Yichun was now handling a secret assignment related to that sheepskin scroll, so the Emperor assigning Jiao Bingqin here probably wasn’t simple.
"Is she his confidante, here to watch you?" Bai Ruozhu asked softly.
Jiang Yichun shook his head slightly, "Let’s talk back in the room."
Upon returning to the yard, Jiang Yichun naturally embraced his son affectionately. Little Dengdeng became so excited upon seeing his father, clinging to his father’s neck and refusing to let go. He would plant a kiss on his father’s face or loudly call out "Dad," bringing great joy to Jiang Yichun and dispersing the shadows on his face.
Jiang Yichun instructed his guards like Chenfeng to stay outside while he carried his son and went inside with his wife, simultaneously playing with the child and starting his explanation.
"This matter is top secret and cannot be revealed at all, not even Jing Lei, who is closest to me, knows," Jiang Yichun said, valuing Jing Lei the most among his four personal guards.
Bai Ruozhu frowned slightly. She had no interest in secrets, but she couldn’t bear not knowing the origins of Jiao Bingqin, after all, she was a woman her husband brought back from outside.
"You already know what kind of assignment I was on. Jiao Bingqin doesn’t really bear the surname Jiao, her ancestors were the ones who painted those sheepskin scrolls," Jiang Yichun said.
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes widened in astonishment; this was indeed a scenario she hadn’t foreseen.
"So she is entrusted with some legacy from her ancestors, which is now useful to the Emperor? And the Emperor, fearing discovery by others, snatched her away, so he had you bring her back to the Residence under the guise of bringing home a female confidante, in order to conceal the truth?" Bai Ruozhu quickly caught on, piecing together all the connections, but understanding did not mean she was ready to accept this, hence her tone was very displeased.
"What female confidante? She is just the daughter of a benefactor, whom I acknowledged as a sworn sister," Jiang Yichun said, touching his nose. He knew his woman would certainly be angry, but the Imperial Decree could not be defied. He could negotiate terms with the Emperor on other matters, but the Emperor placed great emphasis on the matter of the sheepskin scroll. Even when arranging this task for him, the Emperor maintained a strictly official tone, also reminding him in the conversation that both his wife and the Yue Family were under the Emperor’s close watch.
"Is that so? Then why shouldn’t I assign her to a more secluded place? Why do you appear so displeased?" Bai Ruozhu challenged, her eyebrows arched.
Jiang Yichun felt speechless, "I’m worried that if she’s placed too far away, the guard in the Residence won’t be able to keep an eye on that area properly and someone might exploit the situation."
Bai Ruozhu gave him a sidelong glance, "Really? Didn’t you call her ’Bingqin’? With such intimacy, are you perhaps eager to move her to our courtyard to be assured?"
"No, how could that be possible? I’d rather throw her out right away, but the Imperial Decree mustn’t be defied," said Jiang Yichun with an apologetic smile.
Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly, saying, "Fine, I understand the situation, but Jiao Bingqin is no simple character either. If she causes trouble in the Residence, don’t blame me for throwing her out. I don’t care whose person she is, unless the Emperor issues a Holy Edict, I cannot defy the order to evict her."
After she finished speaking, she snatched Dengdeng from Jiang Yichun’s arms and spoke coolly, "You must be tired from the journey, go freshen up. I’m taking Dengdeng to see Father and Mother."
"Ruozhu..." Jiang Yichun reached out to pull on Bai Ruozhu’s sleeve, but Bai Ruozhu shook it off, "Father and Mother are certainly distressed, and I can’t explain it to them, so I should spend more time with them."
Jiang Yichun was stunned on the spot, not knowing what to do for a long time. After all, he had not only angered his own wife but also displeased his parents-in-law.
He forced a smile. Could he really tell Ruozhu that the Emperor had threatened their family? With Ruozhu’s temperament, she would probably flare up immediately, right? But such was the power of the monarch: perhaps the Emperor was merely issuing a warning, but no one dared to provoke him lightly.
Bai Ruozhu carried Little Dengdeng to the Main Courtyard, and indeed, her parents were frowning and sighing incessantly.
It was like this: In official families, it was too common to have three wives and four concubines. For an officer like Jiang Yichun of fourth-rank, having several concubines and informal liaisons was very normal. However, the Bai Family was of peasant origin in the Northern villages, where it was uncommon for people to take concubines, so they really couldn’t accept this kind of reality.
Bai Yihong and Lin Ping’er were also aware of their daughter’s temper; she especially couldn’t tolerate such matters.
Bai Ruozhu entered the room holding Little Dengdeng and placed Dengdeng in her grandfather’s lap, laughing as she said, "Dad, mom, look at how long your faces are. If the servants see you like this, they might start to get wrong ideas even when there’s nothing wrong."
Lin Ping’er was somewhat defiantly said, "How can there be nothing wrong? The servants are probably all thinking that Miss Jiao is a lady brought back by the young master to be settled down. Now that he is a fourth-rank high officer, doesn’t he just do whatever he pleases?"
Bai Ruozhu sat down and pulled her mother’s arm. "I am still a woman granted a title by the Imperial Decree. This is our home. How can it be his turn to do as he pleases here? She’s only an orphan favored by his benefactor. He’s taking care of her for now, and once the Jiao Family’s grievances are redressed, perhaps the Emperor will even arrange a marriage for her."
Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong exchanged glances, both sensing that their daughter wasn’t merely reassuring them. They finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, we shouldn’t let a guest affect our mood, right? All your sighing makes it seem as if I’ve gone from being the wife to the concubine," Bai Ruozhu said with a laugh, joking.
Lin Ping’er playfully slapped her. "Don’t talk nonsense. How could our daughter end up as a concubine to anyone?"
Bai Ruozhu stuck out her tongue and pinched her mother’s cheek, pulling at it. "So, smile and show the demeanor of the lady of the house."
Lin Ping’er, helpless, glared at her daughter but actually looked less worried than before. Bai Yihong also chuckled from the side, "Yeah, we must have been overthinking. Yichun isn’t that kind of person."
Lin Ping’er rolled her eyes at him. "Back then, wasn’t it you who praised the lad, saying he was even better than your own son? What’s the result? It’s nothing but trouble. Which son-in-law who has married into the family acts like him, even bringing another woman home?"
Bai Yihong quickly gestured for silence, "His mom, don’t bring up the matter of him marrying into the family. Yichun is an official at the court; where would he put his face if you talk like this?"
Lin Ping’er huffed in displeasure but didn’t say more. However, she still had some worries inside. Jiao Bingqin was the daughter of Jiang Yichun’s benefactor; if she were really to become part of the family, it wouldn’t be unheard of for someone to marry the benefactor’s daughter out of gratitude. She would have to keep a close watch these days and not let Jiao Bingqin find an opportunity.
Thinking this way, Lin Ping’er instantly found her spirit, even becoming fervent in her resolve, discarding her previously despondent sighs.
Not far outside the room, Jiang Yichun, having changed his clothing, had hurried over. As a martial artist, his hearing was exceptionally good, so he naturally heard every word spoken inside the room, leaving him momentarily unsure whether he should enter or not.