When tranquility finally returned to the Yard, Yu Hongxiu went to greet Ji Ziyan in the Main Hall. Xie Dun introduced her and everyone present, including Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun to Ji Ziyan, only he did not mention what Jiang Yichun’s name was, nor did he speak about what relations Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu shared.
"Sister Hongxiu, you should rest for a while. I will make a few of your favorite dishes," said Bai Ruozhu when she noticed Yu Hongxiu’s sallow cheeks. Considering that Yu Hongxiu was expecting twins, Bai Ruozhu wanted to prepare some delicious meals for her.
Jiang Yichun, carrying Dengdeng, quickly followed Ruozhu. Ruozhu gave him a helpless glare and said, "You men should go chat."
Jiang Yichun, wearing a mask that concealed his emotions, looked at Bai Ruozhu with affection in his eyes.
"What’s there to chat about with them? It’s more interesting to accompany you," he said. Though his voice was not loud, he did not conceal this from anyone. Yu Hongxiu behind them couldn’t help but chuckle. Realizing that it was impolite, she quickly stifled her laughter and pursed her lips.
While Xie Dun and Ji Ziyan did not laugh out loud, their faces were filled with smiles. Jiang Yichun glaringly stared at them, prompting the two to quickly avoid his gaze while pretending not to have heard the conversation between Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu.
Bai Ruozhu’s face flushed as she understood that Jiang Yichun enjoyed teasing her and watching her blush.
"Stop your foolish pranks. You should go and chat with Mister Ji, ask him about Xiaosi’s place in the Private School," Bai Ruozhu said sternly.
Jiang Yichun was delighted. His request to look into Xiaosi’s enrollment in the Private School meant that he was regarded as the head of the household.
"All right, you go ahead and do your work. Let the others help you and take it easy," advised Jiang Yichun.
Yu Hongxiu couldn’t help but laugh again. She shot Xie Dun a sideways glance as if to suggest, "Take a cue from him about how to take care of your wife."
Observing the good relationships of these two couples, Ji Ziyan’s face grew a little gloomy, probably due to the sudden reminder of his late wife.
As Bai Ruozhu turned her head to ask the guest about any dietary restrictions, she caught sight of Ji Ziyan’s reaction and decided not to ask. She quickly left the room.
This Mister Ji is also a pitiful person.
When lunchtime came around and Bai Ruozhu returned after completing her chores, Jiang Yichun and Xie Dun were already engrossed in conversation. Dengdeng had fallen asleep, and Jiang Yichun seemed amusing while holding him.
The doctor had already come and checked Yu Hongxiu. He suggested that she needed rest and reassured her that she could not be shocked anymore.
Xie Dun asked the doctor to check on Deng Shi. The doctor ambiguously stated that Deng Shi seemed to be losing her mind and advised them to ensure that she did not harm anyone.
During the meal, while everyone else was enjoying themselves, Xie Dun was somewhat oblivious to the taste of his food due to his worry about the potentially chaotic situation in the Residence.
After the meal, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun left the Xie Residence. They had done all they could to help, so they could now only hope for the others’ efforts.
On their way back in the horse carriage, they heard the sound of horse hooves; it was Wu Residence’s attendant who requested Jiang Yichun, "Young Master, our Master requests your presence in the Residence."
Jiang Yichun’s face instantly turned gloomy, "All right, I’ll be back in a moment."
"Young Master, our Master asks you to return immediately. There can be no delay," the attendant hastily relayed.
Jiang Yichun’s face turned ice cold, "I don’t like to repeat myself, go away!"
His informant’s voice carried a hint of inner strength, attacking the guard outside the carriage. The guard grunted in distress, clearly uncomfortable.
Bai Ruozhu slightly furrowed her brows, worrying that Wu Wanqing’s issue might have summoned him back for a reprimand.
She quickly tugged at Jiang Yichun’s sleeve and whispered, "You go first, don’t provoke your master’s anger any further. I can return home by myself in the carriage, it’s broad daylight, nothing will happen."
Jiang Yichun opened his mouth to protest but, out of respect for Ruozhu, ordered the carriage to halt, then rode away on his horse.
Dengdeng, who had just awoken, saw his father leaving and immediately burst into tears.
While holding and comforting Dengdeng, Bai Ruozhu muttered, "Why has Dengdeng become so clingy? Your father can’t possibly accompany you all day and night! He has official duties to attend to. Aren’t you an understanding child, Dengdeng?"
Dengdeng, still not quite understanding, continued to cry on the way home. It was as if his father had disappeared for a long time, just like before.
Upon returning to the Bai Family Yard, Lin Ping’er noticed that Dengdeng had cried till his eyes were red, leading her to think he was hungry. It was only after Bai Ruozhu provided an explanation that Lin Ping’er understood it was because his father had to leave due to some business.
Laughing and crying, Lin Ping’er said, "Why haven’t I seen you be so reluctant to part with your mother? You little ingrate!"
Bai Ruozhu felt a pang of sorrow, thinking, "Isn’t that the truth?"
...
In the Wu Residence, Wu Yunfeng saw Jiang Yichun arrive, and angrily bellowed, "Wretched creature, kneel!"
Jiang Yichun was taken aback but knelt down as disappointment crossed his face.
His master was the person who saved, raised, and taught him. He owed him a lot, so even if he did not think he did anything wrong, he was still willing to kneel.
"I did not ask you to side with your junior sister at all times, but you shouldn’t have allied with that Bai Ruozhu and treat your junior sister so ruthlessly! Her injuries are serious, and she won’t recover properly for at least half a year!" exclaimed Wu Yunfeng in anger.
Despite kneeling on the floor, Jiang Yichun kept his back straight. He looked at Wu Yunfeng, his eyes reddening a bit.
"Master, I can’t shirk responsibility for my junior sister’s injury, but it is not because of my feelings for Bai Ruozhu that I, in turn, harmed my junior sister. Our second apprentice brother should have told you about it. My junior sister suddenly used the Memory-losing Insect on Ruozhu, but it ended up being countered by the Poisonous Insect in Ruozhu."
Wu Yunfeng huffed coldly, "You gave that Bai Ruozhu a Poisonous Insect, wasn’t it directed against your junior sister?"
"Master must clearly investigate this. Ruozhu obtained the Poisonous Insect through a fortunate coincidence after helping a great person. Even I initially didn’t know about it. Ruozhu herself didn’t even know the real function of the Poisonous Insect," Jiang Yichun explained.
"Our junior sister is master’s only flesh and blood. We should take more care of her. I should not blame my junior sister for anything but she’s become more and more outrageous now. I believe only the master can stop her from making more mistakes."
Wu Yunfeng did not immediately lose his temper but his brows furrowed closely together. How could he not be distressed for his only kin, especially when his daughter lay on the bed with a pale face, suffering from severe internal injuries.
"Master, have you ever thought about why I lost that part of my memory? Was it because of my junior sister’s Memory-losing Insect? Master does not allow us to harm each other, does this allow my junior sister to use the Insect on me?" Jiang Yichun said with a cold laugh.
Wu Yunfeng was shocked and said incredulously, "How is that possible? Why would Wanqing do that?"
Jiang Yichun, with a cold face, relayed the incident of Wu Wanqing saving him and then using the Memory-losing Insect on him when she found out about his marriage.
"At that time, our first senior brother was still alive. I wouldn’t do anything like that. Even now, while the body of my first senior brother isn’t cold yet, I wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about my junior sister!"
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Oh dear, I had problems with my computer. There will be updates later. I’ll check for bugs...