Chapter 750 - 752: The Stubborn Old Man Comes to the Door
Although the servant boy had no ill intentions, Bai Ruozhu still had him reassigned, asking the Commerce Association to send someone more discreet to replace him.
Rules are what makes a circle round. If her servants freely spread her business, what kind of privacy could she expect in her own property? What, were she and her child just like monkeys in a zoo for everyone to gawk at?
"Have someone investigate what else Lady Jiang has been telling people," Bai Ruozhu instructed Jianqi.
Before Jianqi could respond, Elder Jiang Ge had already come knocking on the door.
As the news of Elder Jiang Ge’s arrival was brought by a new servant, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but feel nervous. For a moment, she felt unsure if she should even let him in.
Rumors were spreading about her child having smallpox, a highly contagious disease. For Elder Jiang Ge to risk getting infected by showing up, he must still care for his great-grandson. However, he did banish Jiang Yichun and his son back then, and since Jiang Yichun hadn’t forgiven him, should she really let him in?
Would Achun be upset with her?
But, if she refused to let Elder Jiang in, would that cause her trouble?
Weighing her options, Bai Ruozhu ultimately decided to ask Lin Zhenghui, her master, to go out and meet Elder Jiang Ge.
"Master, I’m so sorry for the trouble. Please tell him that Achun is not in the capital, and I, as his wife, am not suitable for receiving guests. Hopefully he will understand. He follows old traditions very strictly. I don’t expect he will be angry," Bauerzhu pleaded.
"Hmph, am I your master or your errand boy? Both you and Jiang always cause me such trouble!" Lin Zhenghui grumbled, even as he set off to meet the visitor.
Upon seeing Elder Jiang Ge, he took the initiative to say, "Elder Jiang Ge, I am Lin Zhenghui, an elder of the Commerce Association and also Bai Ruozhu’s master. Jiang has left the capital on business and she, being a woman, is not suitable for receiving guests. Please be understanding. As for the child’s illness, you mustn’t believe the rumors. He only has a rash, not smallpox."
Elder Jiang Ge was greatly relieved. "As long as he’s alright. He is my first great-grandson, it would grieve me if anything happened to him."
Lin Zhenghui couldn’t help giving a cold snort. "I’ve known Jiang since he was fifteen. I know very well what is going on in your family. You disowned your own grandson, where did you get a great-grandson from?"
"What do you mean, I disowned him? It was him and that scoundrel who insisted on leaving the capital. Otherwise, he’d still be the Young Master of the Jiang family right now. Nothing would have changed," Elder Jiang Ge retorted indignantly.
Lin Zhenghui burst into laughter. "Without his parents’ protection, would he have even managed to grow up? Do you honestly think your family is innocent? Are you completely sure you wrongly accused your second son?"
"I don’t want to dredge up the past. Why would my own eyes deceive me? My disgrace is having an unfilial son in the Jiang family. It’s a lifelong shame for me, Jiang Chenxun!" Elder Jiang Ge growled, barely suppressing his voice.
"Well, continue wallowing in your shame then. Stop bothering Xiaojiang and his family. They’re living good lives now, and they don’t want to see your stubborn old face," said Lin Zhenghui, turning to leave, ignoring anything else Elder Jiang Ge shouted after him.
When Lin Zhenghui returned, fuming with anger, Bai Ruozhu could tell that he’d had a confrontation with Elder Jiang Ge. She felt guilty and said, "Master, had I known, I wouldn’t have asked you to meet him. His displeasure may bring us trouble."
Lin Zhenghui looked at her crossly. "Even without you, I would’ve chided him for Xiaojiang. I’ve long had a grievance against that stubborn old man. Caring about the child now, where was he before? To think he discarded his family for the sake of so-called rules and reputation, what a character he is!"
Bai Ruozhu quickly poured him a cup of tea and said, "Master, please don’t get upset over this. He has left. That’s all, it’s over."
Lin Zhenghui huffed but went on to say: "The Association is currently discussing your proposal. The Head frequently praises you. Even some of the old and stubborn ones have had to admit that the younger generation can bring fresh ideas. The Head was one of those who supported the election of a younger elder back then. He has asked me to tell you privately to continue to make good proposals for the association when you have the chance. It might lessen the objections to having a younger Elder."
Bai Ruozhu nodded and replied, "These matters require deep thought. I’ll consider it carefully."
After Lin Zhenghui had left, Bai Ruozhu began writing letters to her family at home. She estimated that her return date would be delayed. Jiang Yichun’s mission to suppress bandits was likely to take a while. Once she finished the letters, she had them sent to the post station. However, they hadn’t even left the capital city when someone stole them.
"This letter only says that she will be delayed in getting back. She said nothing else? Could this letter be a decoy, and there’s another one?" questioned the person who had intercepted the letter in a deep voice.
"I will investigate further!"
The man checked the letter again, confirming that it contained no secrets. He handed it over to his subordinates and said, "Seal it up and send it on its way."
Bai Ruozhu spent the following two days playing with Dengdeng in the yard. She occasionally stepped outside to get some fresh air, but she noticed something was wrong.
Dengdeng’s red rash hadn’t faded!
She checked his pulse and found nothing wrong with his health. According to the timing, his infant rash should’ve subsided by now. Why was it still there?
Suddenly, she thought of poisonous insect poison. She immediately carried Dengdeng to find Lin Zhenghui, saying, "Master, could you please find a trustworthy expert who knows about poisonous insects? I suspect Dengdeng has been poisoned."
Dengdeng definitely had infant fever before, but the persistent rash must be due to some other cause. She didn’t recognize the poisonous insect poison when Dengdeng was poisoned before either, but he had been cured, so why was this happening again?
"Didn’t we cure the child of his poisoning before? Why would this happen again?" Lin Zhenghui grew nervous. "I’ll find someone right away, but this isn’t my territory, so it may take some time."
Bai Ruozhu nodded and said, "Dengdeng’s condition is stable for the time being. We just need someone trustworthy."
She also called Furball to try to pull out the insect from Dengdeng’s body. Given Furball’s propensity for devouring other poisonous insects, he could’ve been a great help, but much to her surprise, Furball shook his head instead. She didn’t know if that meant he couldn’t help, or if there simply were no poisonous insects in Dengdeng.
By evening, the red rash on Dengdeng’s body had suddenly lightened a bit, although it remained as potent on his face. Hoping it was all in her head, Bai Ruozhu secretly wished the rash would soon fade.
...
Meanwhile, in the Wu Residence of Beiyu City in the northwest, a visitor cloaked completely in a cape arrived. This person didn’t go through the main entrance, but he slipped undetected into Wu Yunfeng’s courtyard. A guard noticed him and was about to raise an alarm when the mysterious figure moved his finger. A shadow flitted past, and the guard collapsed on the ground with a black aura clouding his face.
Being a martial arts expert, Wu Yunfeng instantly rushed out. He hesitated seeing the cloaked figure, then his expression relaxed. "Why are you here? Did Qingqing send you with a message?"