Chapter 469 - 471 Stupid Woman
With a loud bang, before Master Du had finished listening to the steward’s report, he slapped the table in anger. For a moment, the cups on the table jingled, almost knocked off the table.
"Master, calm your anger, do not harm your health." the steward said, nervously.
"Women’s nonsense, women’s nonsense! This family will be ruined by such women sooner or later," Master Du cursed out of frustration. "They say a good daughter-in-law can prosper a family for three generations, but a bad one can ruin family legacies!"
After all, this was a matter of the Du family, the steward dared not interfere, merely listening attentively.
Master Du gave a helpless sigh, "Fine, you can go. Fetch my second son for me."
That day, Master Du summoned his second son, Du Wenbin, for a talk. No one knew what they discussed. The steward, a confidant of Master Du, was famously discrete. However, within three days, Lady Zhang, the second mistress of the Du family, had returned to her parental home. Although her maids claimed that she returned to visit her parents, many in the Du family speculated about the connection, even if they didn’t know what exactly happened.
"Has Zhongshu been feeling better these days? If he is, then hurry up and visit Mr. Xie and his fellow student Bai Zepei. Also, improve your relationship with Bai Ruozhu." In the study room, Master Du instructed Du Wenbin.
A shadow crossed Du Wenbin’s face, yet he nodded, "Okay."
Master Du spent several decades in the business world, how possible that he doesn’t have even this bit of observational power? He knit his eyebrows, asking: "Are you hiding something from me? Does it have to do with Zhongshu?"
Du Wenbin shuddered, though he replied, "Father, it’s nothing."
"Speak! No concealment!" the old master suddenly shouted.
Du Wenbin was frightened, knowing he could not hide it, he had no choice but to say, "On the way back from Beiyu City, Zhongshu did not fall off the horse due to carelessness and suffer internal injuries, but was poisoned. Moreover, he was poisoned by someone close even before departure."
"What?" The old master’s eyes bulged. He had already guessed the situation inside.
"So, the kid has recently been in despair these days. Additionally, when Bai Ruozhu was detoxifying him, she took off her gown. He says he needs to be responsible for Bai Ruozhu and wants to marry her back home, but she doesn’t agree." Du Wenbin, sighed heavily as he recounted. His son still had a lot to grumble about. Even if it were him, he would also be depressed for a while.
"Why doesn’t she agree?" The old master didn’t blame Du Zhongshu for wanting to marry a widow, but rather asked why Bai Ruozhu wasn’t willing.
Naturally, Du Zhongshu didn’t mention to his father that Bai Ruozhu already had someone she liked. He feared that he would end up damaging her reputation if he said it out loud, claiming only that Bai Ruozhu was unwilling to marry him.
"I don’t know." Du Wenbin shook his head, "But from the sound of what Zhongshu said, her attitude is very firm and she doesn’t give any room for Zhongshu."
Master Du didn’t speak for a long while, and finally muttered, "Isn’t this playing hard-to-get? Or else, she has issues with Fuling, that’s why she’s unwilling? You go with a greeting card to the Meng family and say that you would like to ask Divine Doctor Bai to treat Fuling."
"Father, don’t provoke Fuling again with her temper." Du Wenbin said with concern.
The old master glared at him sternly, "This is why they say like mother like daughter. Such a spoilt daughter surely indicates that her mother can’t possibly be much of a catch."
Du Wenbin didn’t dare to speak. His father was very angry with his wife over this matter. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stand up for his wife, but he was tired of her brainless absurdities.
"Later, call Fuling over, I will teach her a good lesson. You go visit the Meng family. Right now, Bai Ruozhu is with old Madam Meng. Madam Meng is soft-hearted. If you ask her for help, saying that my granddaughter would lose a tooth becoming unable to marry, she could possibly be moved to help." Master Du’s eyes twinkled.
Du Wenbin nodded, "Then I’ll handle it right away."
"Take this opportunity to get closer to the Bai family. Also, I approve of Zhongshu and Bai Ruozhu’s matter." said Master Du.
Du Wenbin showed his joy. Although in his heart, he felt Bai Ruozhu wasn’t good enough for his son, watching his son looking so distressed these days, he felt somewhat unbearable. He even told his son that even if Bai Ruozhu agreed, it would still be a problem at home.
He did not expect his father to directly approve the matter, which made it less complicated.
As long as Bai Ruozhu was willing to turn back. Of course, he did not think about it because deep down, marrying Du Zhongshu was undoubtedly marrying above her station for Bai Ruozhu. With no opposition from home, what else could she disagree with?
...
Bai Ruozhu knew nothing about the movements of the Du family. She had begun to prepare to teach the medical practitioners sent by the Imperial Court.
After breakfast, she went to pay her respects to the old madam, a timing that she had deliberately chosen. She had asked Nanny Lu about the Meng Family’s visitation time the day before and she wanted to get there first. This way, she could avoid running into the Meng family’s wives, young masters, and Misses. She didn’t want to be embroiled in a power struggle amongst the wives every minute, nor did she want to watch others play these games.
Of course, the main reason was to avoid Madam Meng, Wang Miaoshuang, so as to prevent her from making a scene.
Old Madam Meng, seeing Bai Ruozhu, dismissed the servants by her side, "You should go to see the old master now. It’s a good thing to be able to serve the court. You must put your heart into it. However, you have no foundation and it’s easy for people to look down upon you. If anyone dares to show you a bad attitude, you just come and tell me."
Bai Ruozhu knew that Master Meng had informed the old madam about teaching suturing techniques in advance. It showed that Master Meng trusted the old madam who knew what details to focus on.
She gratefully smiled at the old madam, "Good, with you backing me up, what do I have to be afraid of?"
The old madam laughed happily, taking a hairpin from the side table and put it on Bai Ruozhu, "Wear this. Your attire is too plain. Those people love to judge people based on their jewelry."
Bai Ruozhu touched the hairpin. She had noticed it just now. An agate-set gold hairpin was by no means ordinary.
"Don’t take it off, or I’ll be upset." the old madam warned sternly.
"Thank you, old madam," Bai Ruozhu gratefully responded.
Then, she followed Nanny Lu to leave the charming residence, heading towards Master Meng Liangshen’s study room. She hadn’t gotten far, with Dengdeng in her arms, when she saw someone approaching the charming residence from another road. She had timed it perfectly, any later and she would have bumped into the Meng family.
Nanny Lu knew that Bai Ruozhu did not want to meet other people, so she quickened her pace. Soon, the two of them arrived at Master Meng Liangshen’s study room.
In the Meng Residence, Master Meng Liangshen’s study room had its own courtyard. Not just inside the room, even the yard was off-limits to just anyone. It had practically become a forbidden area of the Meng family.
No maids were assigned in the yard, only the Residence’s personal guards that he trusted.
So, when someone saw Bai Ruozhu walking towards Master Meng Liangshen’s study room, they were very surprised and went to report to the lady of the house right away.