"I didn’t expect that the Hao family who rented me the shop is indeed related to Liu Xianxian. I should have been more thoughtful. Do you think Prince Duan is behind this?" Bai Ruozhu asked quietly.
Jiang Yichun warmed her icy hands, feeling pitiful, and said, "Don’t go out at night anymore. If you must go out, dress warmly, or else I’ll spank you!" He even glanced at her buttocks as he spoke. Bai Ruozhu blushed, remembering that he once did truly spank her. What a lecher he was!
Seeing her blushing, Jiang Yichun knew she had taken note of his words and spoke more seriously, "Prince Duan probably has no time for such things, but the Hao family must have used his influence. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to openly fight against you."
Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly, "Regardless of whose influence they borrowed, as long as they’re proven to be guilty, they can’t escape the law, right? Prince Duan wouldn’t endanger his reputation for a minor character like this, right?"
Jiang Yichun nodded and said, "Meng Liangshen and I are investigating the matter secretly. Let me know if you need help, don’t treat your husband like a stranger." His tone carried a hint of mild complaint.
She couldn’t help but laugh, he was jealous because she didn’t rely on him.
"It’s not that I treat you as a stranger, it’s just that I see you as my last resort. If I let you step in from the beginning, then I would not need to worry about anything, but that would make me dumber over time. Do you want a stupid wife?" She said mischievously.
Seeing her playful smile, he couldn’t help but caress her petite nose and said, "With me spoiling you, even if you become a little dull, it doesn’t matter. You are smarter than most women."
She couldn’t help but laugh, "You sure know how to flatter me."
She felt warmth in her heart. She remembered that there was an article she had read in her previous life that said a woman who marries the right man doesn’t need to be strong because she has a man to care and love her. Jiang Yichun spoiled her enough that she didn’t have to worry about everything. But she wanted to be by his side, like a kapok flower, experiencing ups and downs together, growing together.
Early the next morning, Bai Ruozhu tidied up and stepped out. A dark guard came to report, "Lady, Madame Hao went to the Qiao residence by horse carriage early in the morning. We tampered with the carriage, and she started running towards the Qiao residence in panic. What should we do...?" The dark guard left his sentence hanging.
Bai Ruozhu hurriedly said, "Don’t lay hands on her to avoid provoking criticism. Just keep an eye on the Qiao residence, I’ll go there immediately."
She thought she had woken up early enough, but it seemed Madame Qiao was quite anxious, even before the government office had opened.
Jiang Yichun followed her and said, "I’ll go with you."
Bai Ruozhu laughed and playfully hit him, "You’re busy recently, you don’t have to worry about me. Aren’t the dark guards still there?"
"Alright then, I’ll go to the Meng Residence soon," Jiang Yichun didn’t insist.
"Then if things go well, I need to visit the Meng Residence too. Can I come to find you so that we can go home together?" She looked up at him while standing there, a delight on her face that melted his heart.
"Alright, we’ll go home together when the time comes." He said with a smile.
Bai Ruozhu traveled to the Qiao Residence by horse carriage. On the way, Jianqi reported, "Madame Hao has arrived. Mr. Qiao has yet again rejected her. She’s causing a big scene at the gate of the Qiao Residence now. Young Master Qiao is also causing a ruckus to his father for her. Madame Qiao is siding with her son and it seems like Mr. Qiao is relenting."
Bai Ruozhu instructed Wei San to speed up, and they quickly reached the entrance of the Qiao Residence.
"Father, didn’t you say our family isn’t entertaining guests today? If you’re not seeing Madame Hao, you shouldn’t see other people either!" Young Master Qiao shouted when he saw Bai Ruozhu.
The gate of the Qiao’s yard was wide open, with only some servants obstructing Madame Hao from entering. Bai Ruozhu looked at Young Master Qiao, wondering why he was so hostile towards her for no reason. Could it be that Madame Hao had bribed him, or discovered his weakness?
Seeing Bai Ruozhu, Mr. Qiao couldn’t hide his shame.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t pay him much attention and addressed Young Master Qiao, "How did you end up in gambling debt? Could someone have set you up?"
Her words weren’t baseless. The Hao family had been calculating against Bai Ruozhu from the start. They didn’t expect that she was able to rent the shop next door. By the time Young Master Qiao had gambling debts, the Hao family definitely wasn’t directly involved. But seeing that the Qiao family rented their shop to Bai Ruozhu after Young Master Qiao owed a huge gambling debt, and the Hao family was the first to rush to purchase it, surely the Hao family was behind this scheme.
The face of Young Master Qiao turned red, and he shouted at Bai Ruozhu, "Don’t make nonsense accusations! I didn’t owe any gambling debts!"
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh. Even at this point, he was still such a prideful character.
Young Master Qiao felt guilty under her laughter, and didn’t dare to say any more. On his side, Madame Hao hurriedly said, "Young Master Qiao is here to participate in the imperial examination. Don’t tarnish his reputation."
Bai Ruozhu was shocked that Young Master Qiao was a scholar. She remained silent, realizing that she couldn’t let Madame Hao further exploit the situation.
Subtly, she flicked her fingernails as if doing a simple finger exercise. But behind her, Jianqi’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw her move.
Jianqi remembered the medicine Bai Ruozhu had given him to cure his throat. Now that his throat was better and without the pain before, he should have known that his mistress was a medicine expert.
Inside the main courtyard, Young Master Qiao stood closest to the doorway. This favored Bai Ruozhu’s approach.
Soon, Young Master Qiao’s expression became dazed. He suddenly doubled over in pain and started crying, "The first time I went gambling I was deceived by a classmate. I didn’t understand the rules of the gambling house and lost a lot of money. My parents had to rent out our shop to pay off the debt. I feel so guilty, and I swear that I will never gamble again in my life."
Everyone was surprised to see Young Master Qiao suddenly break down. Madame Qiao wiped tears from the corner of her eye while Mr. Qiao stomped his foot in anger, "You still have the nerve to say that! Then why did you go again?"
"Father, I’m wrong! I’m really wrong!" Young Master Qiao held his head and cried painfully, "One day, the one who deceived me to go to the casino blocked me after school. He gave me a silver banknote and said it was to pay back the debt he owed to me. He said he had been feeling guilty for causing me to lose money, and that the moment he earned enough, he thought of paying me back first. I saw that he looked sincere and got rid of all the grudges against him, but I didn’t expect..." Young Master Qiao started to sob again, unable to continue speaking.