Chapter 802 - 804: To Serve as a Foil for Her_1
Jianqi also noticed Bai Ruozhu’s gaze and his lips twitched slightly as he said, "The sword has been found, and just as the master guessed, it turns out there is a pair of male and female swords. Mine is the male sword, and Concealed Clumsy holds the female sword. When he saw my sword, greed got the better of him, as he wanted to gather both to maximize the swords’ power."
Bai Ruozhu sneered, "It really was him, but what delayed you all these days?"
"Concealed Clumsy had learned some Array techniques and was incredibly cunning. He hid the sword well, and even though Elder Xuan Jizi confirmed that he had set up an Array at the Sword Washing Pool, he adamantly denied it, which meant we couldn’t find my Black Gold Sword. I wanted to torture him for answers, but Elder Xuan Jizi interfered, causing the delay."
Bai Ruozhu’s face cooled, "Is the Huashan Sect protecting one of their own? So they didn’t return your sword? They said not long ago that they owed me a favor; how could they have the audacity?"
"The Elder Xuan Jizi and the sect leader were both helping me find the sword, and eventually, they did find it. But Concealed Clumsy, being unwilling to let go, threw it down to the bottom of the cliffs at Mount Hua," said Jianqi, grinding his teeth. "I immediately killed Concealed Clumsy, and Elder Xuan Jizi wanted to kill me, but the Huashan sect leader stopped him."
"Afterward, the Huashan Sect sent people to search in the valley for the sword, but they never succeeded. Seeing as so much time had already passed, I could only rush back here. Elder Xuan Jizi said that once the sword is found, he’d personally deliver it to me."
Jianqi rarely spoke this much. His voice had been damaged in the past, preventing him from speaking much, and his nature also inclined him toward silence. So now, he was extremely uncomfortable, clearing his throat a few times as if his throat felt uneasy.
Listening, Bai Ruozhu’s face turned colder, and she bit down on her teeth, saying, "That Concealed Clumsy deserved death, well done! Offending a Huashan Sect elder is no matter; she was unreasonable to begin with. If she could raise such a disciple, her protective attitude and lack of sensibility don’t suggest she’s a good person."
Jiang Yichun, knowing that Jianqi’s sword had not been retrieved, immediately said generously, "I’ll find you a fine sword to use for now." After he finished, he winked at Bai Ruozhu, implying how generous he was toward her subordinates, right?
Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes. It’s not as if she lacked money or the ability to buy a good sword to reward her subordinates. What was he so proud of?
The next day, a letter from Old Madam Meng arrived, and Bai Ruozhu conveyed Old Madam Meng’s intentions to Jiang Yichun, who said he’d take the opportunity to thank her in person.
The banquet was to be held in three days, so Bai Ruozhu began preparing her clothes and jewelry. Although her family did not lack fashionable styles, Old Madam Meng had mentioned she still wanted to prepare a brand-new outfit.
During this time, Fang Guizhi also returned and offered some advice. Nowadays, she was very well-informed about what the noblewomen and celebrities of Beiyu City were into.
Bai Ruozhu noticed that Fang Guizhi was in good spirits, her face often breaking into confident smiles, and she felt genuinely happy for her. However, she faintly sensed a sweetness in Guizhi’s smiles, as if she might be in love.
"Guizhi, I’ve looked for a matchmaker to find you some respectable families to consider. Don’t worry, I found a matchmaker with a good reputation in the city, she won’t introduce you to just anyone," Bai Ruozhu deliberately said.
As expected, Guizhi’s face changed dramatically. Normally, she would have been embarrassed and stopped Bai Ruozhu’s whims, but now, she forgot all shyness, and her face showed only urgency.
"Ruozhu, I don’t want to marry, stop looking for me," Guizhi blurted out anxiously.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t wish to beat around the bush and asked directly, "Do you already have someone in mind? Why not tell me, and I’ll help you see if he’s suitable."
She knew for certain that it was not her second brother, because Guizhi had completely let go of him before.
Guizhi thought for a moment and bit her teeth as she said, "We have the best relationship, and it’s all thanks to you that I am where I am today. I shouldn’t keep secrets from you; it’s Qin Kaichang."
Bai Ruozhu thought of two people, Wa San and Qin Kaichang, and indeed her guess was correct.
"His family isn’t in Beiyu City, and furthermore, he wants to, wants to succeed in the examination before coming to our house to propose," Guizhi said with a flushed face, stammering.
Bai Ruozhu could roughly understand Qin Kaichang’s intentions. He was afraid that proposing now would belittle Guizhi, and furthermore, the Bai Family’s circumstances, now much better than the poor boy Qin Kaichang’s family, if he rashly proposes, he also fears the Bai Family would disagree, even that others might misunderstand him as being interested in the Bai Family’s wealth and only using Guizhi.
But Guizhi was no longer young, and when Qin Kaichang spoke of "succeeding," it wasn’t just about passing the examination to become a scholar; he had to wait until he passed the Imperial Examination, which would be next year.
Of course, by then Guizhi would be only eighteen, which wouldn’t be considered old for a miss, but is securing a spot on the honor roll that easy? If Qin Kaichang did not succeed, then it would be another three years before he could try again. By then, would he marry Guizhi first, or for pride’s sake, strive for another three years? Could Guizhi wait that long?
"Guizhi, you have to think this through. Succeeding isn’t easy, not even my second brother is sure, and you know he was first place at the end of the year. You might have to wait more than a year, and even, excuse my bluntness, but if he succeeds, in the Capital City, a whole new environment, is it really impossible he’ll meet someone new?" Bai Ruozhu said after some thought, tactfully.
After all, Guizhi was just an adopted daughter of the Bai Family, and outsiders also knew of her status. Furthermore, Guizhi hadn’t had much schooling, learning to write and keep accounts later on just for business purposes. And Qin Kaichang was a scholar who would become an official once he succeeded; a civil officer at that. Scholars love to indulge in refined tastes, and Guizhi had no skills in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Would Qin Kaichang not disdain her in the future?
The blush on Fang Guizhi’s face faded somewhat, and it seemed she had regained her composure. She set shyness aside and said, "I’ve also thought about this. I told him we would wait for two years, and if it doesn’t work out, then we’re just not fated."
Hearing her say this, Bai Ruozhu knew she had thought things through and that she had said all she needed to. Saying more would be of no benefit; she only hoped that Guizhi would have better luck with this match.
Soon the day of the Meng Family banquet arrived, and Bai Ruozhu dressed anew to attend. As she arrived at the entrance, she saw Meng Qiu, the steward, already waiting there.
"Miss Bai, this way, please—the old Madame asked you to go to the Carefree Residence first and to make your appearance with her," Meng Qiu said.
"All right, I’ll come with you," Bai Ruozhu nodded and replied.
Meng Qiu led Bai Ruozhu to Carefree Residence where she found that Meng Jinse and Meng Jinxia were already there. Meng Jinse, with her exceptionally beautiful appearance, would have looked stunning in bright colors, yet she had deliberately chosen a more subdued outfit for today. She smiled at Bai Ruozhu and said, "Sister Ruozhu, you’ve come."
Meng Jinxia was dressed even more simply, and with her heart disease, her complexion was slightly pale, giving her the appearance of a fragile beauty.
Bai Ruozhu realized then that the two older misses of the Meng Family intended to serve as her foils today.