Chapter 654 - 638: Dove Occupying the Magpie’s Nest
Early the next morning, Bai Ruozhu took a horse carriage to visit Yu Hongxiu at the Meng Residence, leaving Jiang Yichun at home to look after their son. Staring remorsefully at his son, Jiang Yichun couldn’t help but sigh. It was because of this little rascal keeping them up all night and refusing to sleep that Jiang Yichun had deeply experienced the hardship of putting a child to bed.
The child finally fell asleep. Looking at the soundly sleeping Bai Ruozhu, he didn’t have the heart to wake her. He thought of at least relieving his itch by stroking her a few times. To his surprise, before he could touch her a few times, Dengdeng started bawling his eyes out again. Upon inspection, Jiang Yichun found that the little rascal had wet his diapers!
Jiang Yichun got all flustered changing Dengdeng’s diaper and finally pacified the boy to sleep. After all the fuss, just as he got the chance to touch his wife once more, Bai Ruozhu, still sound asleep, turned out to be quite temperamental. She kicked him and murmured in a half-awake state, "Quiet!"
Therefore...he had practically done nothing last night, an idea that was utterly frustrating!
Looking at the little rascal sound asleep in his arms, he couldn’t help but glare at his son. The boy who wouldn’t sleep at night, wouldn’t wake up now.
...
When Bai Ruozhu arrived at the Meng Residence, she first went to see the old lady of the house. On seeing her, the old lady hurriedly said, "Quickly go and persuade Hongxiu. She wants to return to the Xie Residence. Isn’t she well provided for here? If she goes back and encounters fetal complications, what then?"
"I’ll try to work it out. Anyway, it’s not feasible for her to always be separated from Mr. Xie," replied Bai Ruozhu.
The old lady of Meng Residence sighed, "It’s all because Xie Dun can’t seem to get rid of that shitty relative of his. If it weren’t inappropriate for me to meddle in other people’s family affairs, I would have chased her away myself!"
Bai Ruozhu went to Yu Hongxiu’s room, and sure enough, found her instructing a maid to pack her things.
"Sister Hongxiu, sit down at once. You are still nourishing a baby!" Bai Ruozhu went over to help her sit down, and admonished her.
"You’re here, Ruozhu. I’ve been meaning to send you a message before I return home," Yu Hongxiu said.
Bai Ruozhu slightly frowned, "Has Mr. Xie’s second aunt left yet?"
The color faded slightly from Yu Hongxiu’s face as she faintly shook her head, "No. His second uncle and second aunt have mentioned that the harvest this year in the countryside hasn’t been good. Due to this, they’ve moved in with Xie Dun. It seems improper to drive them away. Moreover, his second aunt has brought Deng Jiayin with her."
"What?" Bai Ruozhu was very close to uttering a curse. That Deng Jiayin happened to be Xie Dun’s second aunt Deng Shi’s niece, and she still pined to marry Mr. Xie.
How could Mr. Xie not comprehend the need to keep such appearances? Why let them live in the Xie Residence? Was he planning to watch his wife be aggrieved to death?
Seeing Bai Ruozhu’s reaction, Yu Hongxiu quickly explained, "His second aunt has proposed that if he is unwilling to marry her as his wife, he should at least help arrange a good marriage for Deng Jiayin. After all, this arrangement has delayed the girl for a few years."
"His own wife?" Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. This Deng Shi was thinking too wishfully. "The delay isn’t caused by Mr. Xie. What justification does it have to admit them into your residence? Have they no sense of self-restraint?"
Yu Hongxiu was also feeling uncomfortable, she lamented, "I too wondered the same. But his second uncle and aunt were playing the sentiment card. They confessed to having wronged Deng Jiayin all these years. If they aren’t able to arrange a decent marriage for Deng Jiayin, they wouldn’t bear to show their faces before Deng Shi’s older brother. They would be better off dead."
They threatened with death. This is how ruthless family politics can be. Even someone as astute as Mr. Xie couldn’t find a way out.
"But, your returning home now is genuinely not safe. You’re not alone, you also have two souls in your womb!" Bai Ruozhu said, worried.
"Do not worry about me. I will take care of myself. Before, I couldn’t wrap my head around this. I’ve been through all kinds of overt and covert battles in Jiangnan mansion. This time around, I will not let them succeed. I don’t wish for my child to be born fatherless," Yu Hongxiu said firmly. It appeared she had made up her mind.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t possibly be relieved by such a statement. But she knew that what Yu Hongxiu said was true. If the father of Yu Hongxiu’s child was driven away before the child was even born, how pitiful would that be for the child?
"Then, I’ll go back with you. It will also give me a chance to knock some sense into Deng Shi’s head. Lest she should act too rashly," Bai Ruozhu said. She had recently learned some combat moves from bodyguard Cui Fan, and even learned to practice Qigong. She didn’t believe she wouldn’t be able to handle Deng Shi.
Moreover, didn’t she have poisons and her pet Furball with her?
She helped Yu Hongxiu pack up, before accompanying her to bid farewell to the old lady of the house. The old lady was very reluctant to let her go. Before they left, she gave her a few nourishing gifts and sent two highly skilled bodyguards to accompany them.
Yu Hongxiu was so moved her eyes turned red, "I promise to come and see the old lady again in a few days. This time, I’m determined to not suffer any losses."
The old lady of the Meng Residence laughed, "That’s more like it. You finally have the demeanor of a lady from a noble family."
Subsequently, Bai Ruozhu accompanied Yu Hongxiu back to the Xie Residence. As soon as they stepped inside the door, the maid, Ruyi, came running towards them in tears, looking as if she had just seen her saviors.
"Madam, finally you’re back, these women are trying to take over our house!" Ruyi said angrily, though she kept her voice down out of fear for Deng Shi.
The expression on Yu Hongxiu’s face changed slightly. But she wasn’t as easy to provoke as before. It seems she had finally figured things out in these few days, instantly radiating the grace of a high-status madame.
In the two years she had been married to Mr. Xie, with no in-laws to serve, no younger siblings or sisters-in-law to appease, and without a concubine or maid to be wary of, she only had Mr. Xie’s uncle’s family that disrupted her life occasionally. Her life had been quite contented.
However, this contented life had made her an overjoyed little woman, which led to Deng Shi’s successful ploy against her. Fortunately, she has realised it now before it was too late.
"It’s alright. Let’s check it out," Yu Hongxiu patted Ruyi’s hand and calmly walked towards the main house.
Bai Ruozhu signaled the two guards to follow them, just in case of any unexpected incident that might harm Yu Hongxiu.
As they entered the main house, they saw Deng Shi and Deng Jiayin sipping tea. Yu Hongxiu paused for a moment, but soon put on a smile and said, "Ah, how come the second aunt is entertaining guests here? It must be inconvenient for you, isn’t it?"
Both Deng Shi and Deng Jiayin were surprised to see Yu Hongxiu back so soon, but Deng Shi quickly regained her composure and replied, "Hongxiu, why did you return so soon? Why didn’t you stay a few more days with the elder lady of the Meng Residence? Since there is no female master in the house, I had to stand in your place."
Standing in her place? Clearly, Deng Jiayin had taken a fancy to Yu Hongxiu’s belongings. At this very moment, Deng Jiayin was adorning Yu Hongxiu’s hairpin on her head.
Bai Ruozhu squinted her eyes. She had seen Yu Hongxiu wearing that hairpin before. Detecting Bai Ruozhu’s gaze, Deng Jiayin felt a bit uncomfortable.
Taking someone’s belongings without their permission is theft!
"It’s good that the second aunt has mentioned that I’m the female master of this house. Now that I’m back, you and the second uncle can relax a bit more and truly enjoy your retired life," said Yu Hongxiu. After she finished, she signaled the bodyguards, "You guys take my belongings inside, and check the room while you’re at it. I have two babies inside me now, I have to be extremely careful."
"Yes!" The bodyguards obeyed and entered the room. Ruyi also caught Yu Hongxiu’s hint and immediately followed them. Soon, everything in the room that didn’t belong to Yu Hongxiu was thrown out.