Chapter 863 - 865: Mother Didn’t Do It on Purpose_1
"Oh no, it’s not ’easy to bully,’ it’s ’too easy to bully.’ So, if Wang Tianyou doesn’t want to go to the Government Office and suffer a beating, he should apologize to me and my husband in public and also apologize to Director Zhang. To even dare to deceive the director, you really are too bold," Bai Ruozhu said, laughing. But that smile, in Wang Tianyou’s eyes, seemed filled with nothing but sarcasm.
Originally, Zhang Xiuquan felt that he couldn’t save face after being tricked by his student, but Bai Ruozhu’s words indirectly provided him with a way out. As a result, he no longer felt the same animosity towards Bai Ruozhu as before.
"You’re trying to sow discord between me and Director Zhang!" Wang Tianyou shouted angrily.
"Really? Did I say anything false? How does speaking the truth equate to sowing discord? If you need to blame anyone, blame yourself for lying and deceiving your teachers, stirring up trouble between Chang’an Academy and Beiyu Academy," Bai Ruozhu retorted.
"You venomous woman, what did I say that was untrue? Back then, Jiang Yichun’s father indeed forced himself on his own father’s concubine and was consequently expelled from the Jiang Residence. He is no better..." Wang Tianyou, in his anger, spoke without thinking, but before he could finish, there was a series of resounding slaps, leaving everyone stupefied. By the time they came to their senses, they realized that Bai Ruozhu had turned Wang Tianyou’s face into that of a swollen pig.
Zhang Xiuquan wanted to intervene, but he sighed instead and said, "Young people are too impulsive, and you should speak more kindly. Is it right for you to comment on other people’s family affairs indiscriminately?"
After speaking, Zhang Xiuquan felt that he really couldn’t save face and promptly left with a flick of his sleeve. Ding Guangji and the others also felt that this incident had dragged the scandals of the Jiang Family from the past, so they quickly bid farewell and left, with not a single one caring about whether Wang Tianyou lived or died.
Cold Light flashed in Bai Ruozhu’s eyes. If the Eight Academy Competition didn’t start tomorrow, and it wouldn’t be wise to kill a participant, she really would have put Wang Tianyou to death. No need to rush, there will be plenty of opportunities later. Acting now would only expose her abilities prematurely.
"Kneel down and apologize!" Bai Ruozhu flicked her hand, then turned to the nearby Chenfeng and said, "It’s quite tiring to hit, you take over. Beat him until he admits his mistake."
Chenfeng had more insight than Muyu and knew that Bai Ruozhu didn’t really want to kill Wang Tianyou. The two slaps were loud and painful, but he hadn’t used inner strength, thus sparing Wang Tianyou’s life.
Wang Tianyou screamed pitifully, like a pig being slaughtered. In the end, he was all bark and no bite. After barely a few hits, he caved in, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy incessantly, though his face was so swollen that his words were unclear.
"What was that? You’re mumbling so much I can’t understand a thing, keep hitting," Bai Ruozhu commanded lazily, finding a chair to sit on.
Chenfeng delivered two more slaps, and Wang Tianyou, desperate, kept shouting, "I’m wrong, I’m wrong, I won’t talk nonsense anymore!"
"Good to know you realize your mistake, now get lost, and be smarter in the future!" Bai Ruozhu gave Chenfeng a look, indicating he could let Wang Tianyou go.
Wang Tianyou ran out of the yard, tumbling and crawling. It wasn’t until he was outside the yard that he shouted, "Bai Ruozhu, just you wait, the Wang Family won’t let this slide! And the Beiyu Academy had better brace itself for a beating from us!" After finishing his threat, he ran away as fast as he could.
Muyu immediately jumped up, ready to chase and bring him back, but Bai Ruozhu glared at him and said, "Forget it, don’t bother with him once he’s left this yard."
Muyu shrank back, thinking, ’That’s it, I’ve been glared at by the lady. Am I going to be in for a rough time?’
Because of Wang Tianyou’s words, all the students of Beiyu Academy were enraged. They stretched their necks, each declaring they must teach Chang’an Academy a lesson.
Headmaster Wen sneaked a glance at Bai Ruozhu with a trace of a smile in his eyes. He knew that Bai Ruozhu deliberately didn’t capture Wang Tianyou, to bolster the spirit of the delegation thanks to Wang Tianyou’s words.
The many ambushes on the road took a toll, and with two less people, the morale of the delegation was somewhat low, yet the big competition was to start tomorrow, it was time to boost everyone’s spirits.
Just as Chancellor Wen was about to speak, he saw Bai Ruozhu jump up, rolling up her sleeves and saying, "So what if they are from the Capital? Who can say for sure that we won’t be the first to enter the Imperial Academy. You all need to give it your best, we must show them what we’re made of, win first place, and bring honor to Beiyu!"
Muyu, being simple-minded and easily stirred, also waved her fist, saying, "Right, we will win first place and bring honor to Beiyu!"
Soon the people of the delegation were also clenching their fists, their eyes sparkling as they shouted, "We will win first place and bring honor to Beiyu!"
Seeing that the mood was lifted, Bai Ruozhu bowed to those in the room, saying, "Today I have to thank everyone for your help. I don’t have much else to offer, but if anyone experiences headache or fever, feel free to come to me for treatment."
"Madame Jiang, you are too kind. If it weren’t for your help, we would have suffered so much more on this journey," said Liu Jianzhou gratefully, having experienced seasickness for the first time and finding it truly dreadful.
Others echoed in agreement, and Mr. Zhang bowed to Bai Ruozhu, adding, "Indeed, without Madame Jiang’s help, this old man wouldn’t be able to stand here talking."
Bai Ruozhu smiled sheepishly, "Helping everyone is only right. I’m truly sorry for the delay caused by my issues today. I should take my leave now. Keep your spirits up, win first place, bring honor to Beiyu!"
As she spoke, she was still chanting the slogan while heading out.
Chancellor Wen smiled gratefully at her, thinking that this Madame Jiang, unconcerned with trivial formalities, was indeed a delightful person.
Suppressing his laughter, Jiang Yichun followed out with his son in his arms. Bai Ruozhu turned to see her son also waving his little fists, babbling along. Dengdeng couldn’t yet speak and couldn’t chant her slogan, but his imitation of her was quite accurate, amusing Bai Ruozhu greatly.
Dengdeng’s expression was so earnest, yet when he saw his mother laughing at him, he laughed shyly too. Bai Ruozhu laughed so hard she bent over backwards. Reaching out to pinch his little cheek, she said, "Son, why are you so cute?"
Suddenly, Jiang Yichun slapped Bai Ruozhu’s hand away with a smack, saying sternly, "Be gentle when pinching. The elders say that pinching a child’s face can make them drool."
Bai Ruozhu pouted. Well, this darn man even hits her for his son’s sake—that’s domestic violence!
Just as Bai Ruozhu was about to make a big deal out of it, Jiang Yichun started to chuckle, which resulted in a clear and transparent liquid rolling down from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin onto his clothes.
"See? You really made him drool by pinching!" Jiang Yichun glared at Bai Ruozhu and took a handkerchief to wipe the drool from his son’s mouth. He was the very model of a doting, attentive father.
Bai Ruozhu shrank her neck, muttering, "Don’t all young kids drool? It’s not like they never drool. Besides, I wasn’t even pressing that hard."
She received another glare from the child’s father, causing her to shrink her neck even more and hold her tongue.
Could it be that she really pinched too hard? She looked at her son apologetically. Oh child, your mother didn’t mean it.