Chapter 885 - 887: Two Hundred Soldiers Backing You Up_1
Bai Ruozhu had suggested that those who insulted her apologize, and some judges initially thought she was asking for too much. However, after hearing what Elder Wei had said, they suddenly understood, and couldn’t help but sigh, realizing they had been somewhat prejudiced.
Bai Ruozhu’s demand for a public apology from her accusers was to clear the air once and for all; once they apologized, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against anyone. Otherwise, if she continued to bear a grudge after they had apologized publicly, wouldn’t she be slapping her own face?
Additionally, it served as a warning to those people to take responsibility for their words and to restore some justice for herself.
Of course, Bai Ruozhu also felt that the others were merely being played by Xu Panrui, Sun Lin, and the rest, and it wasn’t worth harboring resentment against them afterward. It would be better to just let them apologize.
Someone in the VIP seats stood up and said, "Miss Bai, I believed rumors and insulted you. I apologize to you, please forgive me."
Bai Ruozhu actually admired this person’s straightforwardness, nodded, and said, "Alright, I don’t blame you."
The person let out a huge sigh of relief, their guilt for rashly insulting someone earlier diminishing greatly.
"Miss Bai, I shouldn’t have insulted you either, I’m sorry!" Another person stood up as well.
Following the first and second, soon a third, a fourth, and many others stood up to apologize, and Bai Ruozhu nodded and forgave everyone in turn.
When no one else stood up, Bai Ruozhu pointed to a spot in the VIP seats and said, "Xu Panrui, Su Bilan, you both insulted me just now, and that gentleman wearing a hat, and that lady in the pink dress over there, you all did too."
As she spoke, she pointed out several people, and then smiled and said, "I have an exceptionally good memory, so I remember everyone who was just involved."
Elder Wei and the others showed expressions of surprise—was this a photographic memory? What a waste that she’s not a man; if she were, she would certainly be a talent like Tang Feng.
Suddenly, there was commotion from behind the VIP seats, and a large group of soldiers rushed in. Jiang Yichun appeared on horseback, like a heavenly general descended from the skies, with a host of celestial soldiers suddenly manifesting.
The officials in charge of security were greatly alarmed and asked, "Who are you? How dare you barge into the testing ground?"
Jiang Yichun’s expression was so cold it could almost freeze, and his following words were even colder and more piercing.
"I’ve heard that someone has been framing my wife, tarnishing her reputation, and I would like to see who has such audacity!"
Jiang Yichun brought with him two hundred soldiers to Jiangnan; previously, some had stayed behind to recover from injuries, but they had now regrouped with Jiang Yichun in Xuanlang City. He had just received a secret message from the morning breeze, and at his command had brought people to support Bai Ruozhu.
Too bad the situation had already been stabilized by Bai Ruozhu; hence, she simply rolled her eyes at him, where had he been all this time?
The soldiers all greatly admired Bai Ruozhu, from the seasickness medicine at the start to later providing them with poison antidotes and treating their wounds without ever complaining about the dirt or fatigue. Why should such a fine lady be wrongly accused by these wicked people? Therefore, on their way there, everyone was extremely indignant.
Someone spontaneously shouted, "Insulting the lady is an insult to our Northwest Main Camp, and we must seek justice for her!"
Others joined in, chanting over and over again, startling the people in the VIP Seats.
Initially, when they heard of Bai Ruozhu’s "disgrace," they were very indignant and dared to publicly scold Bai Ruozhu because they heard she had no status, but unexpectedly, her husband turned out to be a commander in the Northwest military camp, and he brought so many with him.
Who doesn’t know that soldiers, when they get tough, do not regard their own lives? If they knew these soldiers were ready to fight to the death with everyone, who would have just insulted Bai Ruozhu?
Bai Ruozhu felt a warmth in her heart at this sight, for although these men were crude, they knew gratitude and sincerely respected her from the bottom of their hearts.
She raised her hand, and the crowd ceased their chanting, demonstrating in neat unison the respect the soldiers had for Bai Ruozhu.
"Thank you all for standing up for me. I, Bai Ruozhu, will remember this favor!" Bai Ruozhu said, gracefully bowing her fist towards the crowd as men do.
"The matter has been clarified just now, and those who wronged me have apologized. I have said that I would forgive them. There are still a few who refuse to apologize. If they are willing to apologize, let’s put this matter to rest. Please give me face and stop troubling them," Bai Ruozhu added.
Jiang Yichun glanced over the audience and asked coldly, "Who else has not apologized?"
Xu Panrui shivered unconsciously. How could this be? Does Bai Ruozhu’s husband not harbor any doubts about her, not caring about his own face being lost?
Old Wei looked at those fierce soldiers from the Northwest Main Camp and felt fortunate that he hadn’t stopped Bai Ruozhu from demanding an apology earlier. Otherwise, these agitated soldiers would have been unpredictable. Thinking this way, he suddenly felt that Bai Ruozhu was far-sighted, having earlier resolved the situation and kept it within the most stable bounds.
By this time, several others were already quivering in fear. Even if they were young and naive, they knew some soldiers dared to risk their lives in fights, regardless of who you were. A fight was a fight; after all, they risked their heads for a living and didn’t care about the consequences of incidents.
Seeing the two hundred enraged soldiers, how could they not be afraid? And what place is the Northwest Main Camp? It is the most famous and powerful main camp in Danliang Country, where soldiers have to defend against the fierce Turkic Country and those mysterious Barbarian Tribes. The camp is filled with Danliang’s bravest and most skilled warriors.
The remaining few stepped forward to apologize, and Bai Ruozhu, quite magnanimously, forgave them. Only Xu Panrui and Su Weilan were left.
"Panrui, we, we shouldn’t provoke them anymore," Su Weilan said, fear making her speech falter.
But Xu Panrui turned her head toward Jiang Yichun and said loudly, "Can the soldiers from the Northwest Main Camp come to Jiangnan and act so domineering without fear of being reported? They say flies do not sting a seamless egg, so why is it that nobody misunderstands others but only Bai Ruozhu? The bottom line is, it’s her own misconduct that caused others’ misunderstandings."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but sneer, "Some people have been making trouble for me all the time, spreading rumors and framing me behind my back, and now it’s my fault for causing misunderstandings? Saying such things without fearing to sprain your tongue."
Jiang Yichun gave Xu Panrui a cold look, an expression so intense it was as if he wished to cut her to pieces.
"Who will report this officer? Could it be the Governor of Jiangnan Water Transport? He, as the Governor, lets his daughter disrespect and insult the Northland during the Eight Academy Competition, deliberately dividing North and South, does he wish for Danliang Country to be governed by dividing the territory?"
Wow, the crowd was in an uproar—such words were a grievous accusation!