Chapter 55
Hongqiao’s heart pounded. She had long known Miss Bai’s formidable reputation. Initially planning to confess and then die, leaving Bai Qingyan no room for rebuttal, she was unexpectedly restrained. Her heart filled with panic.
Bai Qingyan sat leisurely on the chair brought by the housemaid, handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao, and instructed her to add a piece of charcoal. Only then did she speak slowly, “From what I hear, you intend to accuse me of having an affair with King Liang?”
Hongqiao’s heart pounded fiercely. She avoided Bai Qingyan’s words and continued to cry, “Miss Bai, His Highness can’t eat or sleep well because of you. He came personally four days ago despite his serious injury, but you still refused to see him! I’m afraid His Highness won’t survive if this continues!”
“Jintong, instruct the steward to visit King Liang’s mansion. If King Liang is not seriously ill, please have him come personally. His maid is causing a ruckus at the front gate of our Duke’s mansion. If King Liang is too ill to move, then I’ll have to trouble the Eldest Princess to visit and resolve the matter at King Liang’s gate!” She firmly directed Bai Jintong, then turned back to Hongqiao with a smile, maintaining an air of integrity, “This concerns my reputation. It must be clarified!”
Hongqiao was about to speak but was cut off by Bai Qingyan, “But since Miss Hongqiao said that King Liang came to our Bai Mansion four days ago, it seems his injury isn’t too severe, so he should be able to come.”
Bai Qingyan’s piercing eyes hid a sharp edge. Hongqiao shivered from her cold, bone-chilling smile, panicking completely.
King Liang had sent someone with Hongqiao. Realizing the situation wasn’t favorable, that person immediately rushed back to report to King Liang.
However, the steward from the Duke’s mansion arrived much faster than King Liang anticipated. Just as his man finished explaining the situation at the Duke’s mansion gate, they were informed that the Duke’s steward had arrived to invite him.
King Liang sat by the brazier with his eyes closed, furious at Hongqiao for not following the plan. She was too eager to use her life to falsely accuse Bai Qingyan of an affair, resulting in a blunder.
Though King Liang knew this was a display of Hongqiao’s loyalty to him, her haste had ruined everything.
Thinking about how Bai Qingyan had publicly dealt with her cousin, infuriating the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, and the incident at the palace banquet, King Liang felt uneasy about confronting Bai Qingyan now.
If only Du Zhiwei were here, he could advise on how to handle this! King Liang felt his wound tightening and his head aching terribly.
After calming down and thinking carefully, King Liang had Tongji help him change clothes.
He realized restoring his relationship with Bai Qingyan was more important than forcing her to be with him.
His reputation for being weak and incompetent was well-known. He didn’t fear appearing humble in front of Bai Qingyan. As long as he insisted that his feelings for her were genuine and claimed that Hongqiao had acted rashly without his knowledge, it would be fine.
Originally, King Liang didn’t want to be publicly associated with the Duke’s mansion, fearing future entanglements. But now… he had no choice. Making his affections for Bai Qingyan known might work. In the worst case, he could use his “weakness” to implore the emperor for a marriage decree, which Bai Qingyan would never dare defy!
As he donned his cloak, King Liang realized his excessive reliance on Du Zhiwei. Without him, it felt like having lost his wings. He needed to find another suitable advisor soon.
Quickly, the steward of King Liang’s mansion, Tongji, and Gao Sheng hurried to the gate of the Duke’s mansion.
Seeing the large crowd at the Duke’s gate, the steward hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan, “Miss Bai, I apologize. I am the steward of King Liang’s mansion. It’s my fault for not managing the household well, causing you trouble. I will take her back immediately!”
“Wait…” She looked at the steward with a smile, “Where is His Highness?”
“Our Highness vomited blood halfway in the carriage and has been sent back to the mansion! Surely Miss Bai doesn’t insist on His Highness coming to retrieve her? If something happens to His Highness, can Miss Bai bear the consequences?!” Tongji glared angrily at Bai Qingyan, resenting her stone heart.
She didn’t even glance at Tongji, a mere servant of King Liang, unworthy of her notice.
“If King Liang is too ill to come, then I’ll trouble you to convey my words to His Highness!” She stood up, holding her hand warmer, and looked down at the steward from her high position, “Four days ago, our Duke’s mansion dismissed thirty-nine servants. My personal maid, Chun Yan, was beaten with fifty strokes and still can’t get out of bed. No one knew why! Today, I’ll clarify at the gate of the Duke’s mansion…”
Her stare was fixed on Gao Sheng, King Liang’s trusted aide, with a stern expression, “Because His Highness bribed five of our Duke’s servants to spy on my secrets through my maid. Therefore, my mother broke the legs of those five and sold their entire families. Chun Yan… was spared because she grew up with me and once saved the life of my most valued maid.”
The steward from King Liang’s mansion was drenched in sweat. Tongji, feeling guilty, stood there nervously.
“This young lady said that King Liang sent me a jade pendant, which I didn’t accept, and came personally despite his serious injury, but I still didn’t meet him! Why?!” She raised her voice, her expression cold and serious, addressing the steward, “Though I am a woman, I have studied the classics since childhood and understand propriety, righteousness, and integrity! Everything should be done transparently and rightly! If His Highness has feelings for me, he should have sent elders to inquire about my engagement status, and if I were not engaged, then sent a matchmaker! At that time, obeying my parents’ and matchmaker’s words, I, Bai Qingyan, would have had no objections! That would be respectful and honorable!”
“But look at what His Highness has done. Bribing our Bai family’s servants, secretly gathering information about me through my maid, repeatedly asking my maid to arrange meetings! To avoid embarrassing my grandmother and the Imperial Family, I have tolerated it repeatedly! I thought that by dismissing the servants and setting an example, as long as our Duke’s mansion, and I, Bai Qingyan, maintained self-respect, there would be nothing to fear! But I never imagined that His Highness would use such despicable and filthy means, ordering the maid to sacrifice her life to tarnish my reputation!”
“You…” Tongji was infuriated by Bai Qingyan’s words, “Miss Bai, you think too highly of yourself. His Highness is a prince of the current dynasty. He can have anyone! Why insist on you? His Highness didn’t mind your difficulty in having children, yet you pretend to be noble and aloof!”
“Tongji! Step back!” The steward from King Liang’s mansion turned pale.
“So, King Liang thinks my difficulty in having children means that if my reputation is ruined, I’ll have no choice but to enter his mansion?!” Her face darkened, her presence imposing, “Tell His Highness, the bones of the Bai family are unyielding! Bai Qingyan declares today that even if I marry a pig, a dog, or engage in a posthumous marriage in this life! I will never submit to a treacherous man with vile deeds!”