Bai yiniang slowly lifted her head, as if only now realising how many people had come.
She saw no one else.
In her eyes, there was only Xie shi.
“Give me back my child!”
A piercing scream tore from Bai yiniang’s throat. She suddenly grabbed at Xie shi’s dress and struck toward her.
“Give me back my child! Give me back my child!”
“Impudent! Bai shi, let go!”
The scene quickly descended into chaos.
Gu Lin sobbed as she held the twelfth young master, who had been dead for some time. The maids rushed forward to pull Bai yiniang away.
Bai yiniang’s strength was immense; several maids could not pull her back.
Xie shi was yanked and pulled, completely humiliated. Her dress tore with a loud rip!
Fury boiled within her.
Smack!
A hard slap landed across Bai yiniang’s cheek. Four finger marks immediately imprinted on her face.
Bai yiniang froze for a moment, then grew even more frenzied and lunged at Xie shi.
“Taitai! I have no grudge against you! Why have you harmed my child? Give me back my child! Give me back my child!”
“Nonsense! Impudent! Clearly, it was your negligence that killed the child, yet you dare blame me. You must be out of your mind! Quickly, someone pull Bai shi away!”
“Give me back my child! Give me back my child!”
Bai yiniang wailed and sobbed.
The maids and servants struggled to restrain her.
“Stop!”
Gu daren entered Xiangsi Yuan with the steward and a couple of attendants.
“As soon as I returned, I heard that Xiangsi Yuan has been thrown into chaos. What happened? Someone explain.”
“Laoye, you must act for twelfth brother! Taitai caused his death, please, deliver justice!”
This time, Bai shi released Xie shi on her own and crawled to Gu daren.
She looked at him with pleading eyes. “Laoye! Twelfth brother died tragically. You must avenge him!”
Gu daren’s face darkened. “What exactly happened? What’s wrong with twelfth brother?”
Bai yiniang sobbed as she spoke. “Twelfth brother is gone, all because of taitai! Yesterday, he had just started to recover, but after taitai visited, by evening his condition worsened. Today… wail… my child! His mother will never forgive the culprit!”
“Absurd!” Xie shi trembled with anger. “I am heartbroken at his death, too. But Bai shi, you have no right to blame me. I tell you, this is impossible. Your negligence killed twelfth brother, not me!”
Gu daren looked steadily at Xie shi. “You visited Xiangsi Yuan yesterday?”
Xie shi’s face remained calm. “Yes, I came, but stayed less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before leaving. When I arrived, twelfth brother was already asleep. I only looked at him from a distance.”
“You lie!” Bai shi shouted. “You insisted on entering the bedroom when I said he was asleep! You even touched him! You killed my child! Give me back my child!”
“Preposterous!”
If Gu daren had not been there, Xie shi might have struck this wretched woman dead.
“I merely touched him briefly! How could the child die from that?”
“Who knows what you had on your hands? Maybe you poisoned him! It’s you who killed my child! Laoye, please act for twelfth brother. He must not have died in vain!”
Xie shi was furious. “Nonsense! By all evidence, you killed him through negligence! When I came yesterday, you were already haggard and unwell, yet you insisted on caring for him yourself. Your illness passed to twelfth brother, killing your own son!”
“I did not! I am perfectly healthy!”
“Clearly, you are ill!”
“Enough! All of you, quiet down!”
Gu daren’s face was grim as his anger flared.
“I will investigate twelfth brother’s death thoroughly. Anyone unrelated, leave at once. Dasao, this is a domestic matter of our second branch. Please excuse yourself.”
Zhang shi nodded. “Handle it quickly and bury the child soon. Tomorrow is the hou fu’s wedding day… who could have expected this?”
With that, she left first.
Gu Zhen whispered, “We should leave too.”
The young ladies departed in order, leaving Gu Jiu last.
She looked back at the maid Cui Liu.
Cui Liu’s eyes were red. “Er guniang, do you need anything else?”
Gu Jiu shook her head, saying meaningfully, “Do not let your heart grow too large.”
Cui Liu was confused. “Nubi doesn’t understand, er guniang.”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Bai shi will understand. I’m leaving now.”
Cui Liu watched her go, uneasy.
Er guniang said not to let your heart grow too large… did she mean Bai yiniang?
Instinctively, Cui Liu glanced toward the bedroom. Bai yiniang was crying bitterly.
Gu Lin still held twelfth brother’s body, tears streaming.
Impossible! That was Bai shi’s own son, her entire hope!
Er guniang must be talking nonsense.
Yes, she must be talking nonsense.
“Laoye, you must act for our child!”
Bai yiniang wept quietly, overwhelmed by grief.
Gu daren frowned. “Enough crying for now. Gu Quan, call two people from the yamen who can keep their mouths shut and hurry here.”
Gu Quan nodded. “Understood, I will handle it personally.”
He rushed off.
Gu daren sat in the main seat, waved his hand, and had all the maids and servants dismissed.
Gu Lin was also asked to leave.
The body of the twelfth young master was placed on the bed, still wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The servants stood guard at the door, not allowing anyone to approach.
Inside the room, there were only Bai yiniang and Xie shi.
Bai yiniang was crying, pitifully, evoking sympathy.
Xie shi stared at her, eyes full of disdain. That wretch, always playing the victim to gain sympathy.
She said to Gu daren, “Laoye, you must believe that I am innocent. The death of twelfth brother has nothing to do with me. At dawn, when the child suddenly ran a fever, I immediately had someone fetch the doctor; no time was wasted.
“If I had truly harboured ill intent, I could have pretended to be asleep and delayed calling the doctor. Bai yiniang simply lost her mind and attacks anyone she can.”
Crying, Bai yiniang said, “Taitai, if you hate me, take it out on me. But why harm an innocent child? That was my treasure, my very life! Now that my child is gone, half my life has gone with him. Heaven above, what am I to do for the rest of my days?”
“Rubbish! Bai shi, if you slander me again, I’ll tear your mouth apart!” Xie shi’s anger flared.
“Enough! I told you both to shut up! Can’t you hear me?”
Xie shi felt wronged. “Laoye, you don’t believe me either?”
Gu daren snorted coldly. “How the twelfth young master died, I will investigate thoroughly. For now, both of you, shut your mouths.”
Xie shi began to cry, feeling wronged, heartbroken, and furious.
The death of Xie Mao was a huge blow to Xie shi. She hadn’t yet recovered from it when Bai yiniang twisted the truth, and Gu daren seemed to believe Bai over her. This string of events made her chest ache and her whole body uncomfortable.
She clutched her chest, sitting in the chair, breathing heavily.
Gu daren frowned, dissatisfied with Xie shi.
Xie shi cleared her throat. “I am innocent. Even if I die, I swear this is true.”
Bai yiniang lowered her head, crying, eyes flashing with hatred and grim satisfaction.
Gu daren remained expressionless, giving no reply.
Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Yuan, instructing Xiao Cui to watch for news from Xiangsi Yuan.
Xiao Cui obeyed.
Qing Mei quietly asked, “Guniang, could there really be something suspicious about the twelfth young master’s death?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “Nothing suspicious.”
The suspicious person was Bai yiniang.
“What about what you told Cui Liu?”
Gu Jiu gave a soft laugh. “I just said it casually, nothing more.”
Qing Mei thought, guniang was teasing again.
Gu Jiu gazed out the window, uncertain if her own judgment was correct.
If she was right, twelfth brother’s death had nothing to do with Xie shi, but directly involved Bai yiniang.
Bai yiniang’s heart was cruel enough; her son had just died, and she was already scheming against Xie shi.
If she was wrong, then she had misjudged Bai yiniang. Bai might only be grieving, seeking to vent, with Xie shi as the easiest target.
Gu Jiu patiently waited for news from Xiangsi Yuan.
Gu Quan secretly hired two coroner officials from the yamen to examine the body privately.
The coroners concluded their examination.
Gu Quan asked, “Are you certain?”
Both coroners nodded. “Certain. We would not deceive Steward Gu.”
Gu Quan gritted his teeth. “Good. Keep this matter to yourselves. Don’t speak of it to anyone.”
“Steward Gu, rest assured. We know the rules.”
Gu Quan handed each of them a white envelope and sent them out of the mansion.
Then Gu Quan went to see Gu daren.
“Laoye, there’s a result.”
Gu daren, expressionless, asked, “And?”
He had many children. He had indeed been pleased when the twelfth young master was born.
But the child was sick on and off, and Gu daren grew impatient quickly, losing any attachment. He had only seen the child twice since birth.
Still, since Bai yiniang claimed the child had been harmed, he needed to investigate carefully.
No one in his household was allowed to dare harm his offspring. This was not about feelings; it was a matter of principle for the head of the family.
Gu Quan whispered, “The child died from illness. It seems an allergic reaction worsened his condition.”
“Allergic?” Gu daren was surprised.
Gu Quan nodded.
Gu daren asked, “Do you know when the allergy began?”
Gu Quan shook his head. “It cannot be determined.”
Gu daren frowned. Without that, the matter couldn’t be clarified.
He waved his hand, and Gu Quan bowed and left.
Gu daren returned to the room. Xie shi and Bai yiniang both looked up at him.
“Laoye, is there a result?” Xie shi asked.
Bai yiniang was still sobbing. “Please decide for my son, laoye!”
Gu daren’s face was stern. “The child died due to severe illness. No one is responsible. This matter ends here.”
Wah!
Bai yiniang cried out loudly, “My poor child!”
Xie shi breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew laoye would vindicate me.”
“Return my son, return my son!” Bai yiniang continued to pull at Xie shi, refusing to relent.
Slap!
In front of Gu daren, Xie shi slapped Bai yiniang across the face.
Watching Gu daren’s expression closely, Xie shi said, “Bai shi, are you questioning laoye’s judgment?
“Laoye has already said that the twelfth young master died of his illness and could not be cured. How long are you going to make a fuss about it?
“Tomorrow is the wedding day of the eldest daughter of the hou fu, and in a few days comes Gu Ban’s joyous occasion. Are you deliberately trying to make laoye uncomfortable and bring misfortune to the fu?
“In the past, laoye spoiled you too much, letting you develop this unruly temper. From now on, you will curb it under my authority.”
Bai yiniang held her cheek where she had been struck, tears welling in her eyes.
“Laoye, taitai, she…”
Bai yiniang had wanted to plead with Gu daren to make things right for her, but when she saw his look of disgust, she swallowed all her words.
Gu daren’s face was stern as he shouted, “All of you behave! If anyone deliberately stirs up trouble, my patience has limits. You’d better act accordingly.”
With that, Gu daren swept out of the room.
Bai daren sat on the floor, her expression shifting constantly.
Xie shi smiled with satisfaction, walked over, bent down, and whispered, “Bai shi, you wanted to make a move against me, but you only ended up hurting yourself. Your son is dead, truly, heaven has opened its eyes for me.”
Bai yiniang suddenly lifted her head, her gaze filled with venom as she stared at Xie shi.
Xie shi mocked, “Your son is gone, your health ruined, and even the beauty that laoye liked so much is gone. From now on, what do you have to challenge me with? And if you dare look at me with that gaze again, do you believe I won’t gouge your eyes out and make you a blind old woman?”
Bai yiniang laughed bitterly, “I believe it! There’s nothing taitai can’t do. Why don’t you just kill me now? My son is gone; there’s no point in my living.”
Xie shi snorted coldly and grasped Bai yiniang’s chin. “How could I bear to let you die? If you die, how will you ever feel what it’s like to live worse than death?”
Bai yiniang stared at Xie shi, her eyes full of hatred.
Xie shi laughed, “That’s the expression I want. Keep it. Bai shi, you must not disappoint me.”
Xie shi released Bai yiniang and left Xiangsi Yuan, triumphant.
Bai yiniang lay on the floor, her hatred nearly consuming her.
The maid Cui Liu helped her up. “Yiniang, are you alright?”
Bai yiniang shoved her away. “I’m finished. My son is gone, and laoye has abandoned me.”
“You haven’t reached the end of the road yet. Why speak like that?”
“Heh… look at the position I’m in now. Can I still win laoye’s heart back? Without laoye’s favour and without my son, what hope do I have? I might as well be dead.”
Cui Liu cried, “The boy died so tragically. Why won’t laoye look into this carefully?”
Bai yiniang sneered coldly. “He was just a son of a concubine. He died, so what? Laoye has so many sons. Why would he care about one newborn? It’s only my poor son I pity, and I cannot seek justice for him.”
Grief overwhelmed Bai yiniang, and Cui Liu kept trying to comfort her.
“Yiniang, stop crying, or you’ll ruin your health. Wu guniang is still counting on you.”
Bai yiniang gradually stopped crying and regained her composure.
“Where is twelfth brother?”
“The steward took him away.”
Bai yiniang silently shed tears. “I couldn’t even see my child one last time.”
Cui Liu wiped the corners of her eyes and helped Bai yiniang up. “Earlier, er guniang said something.”
“What did she say?”
“She said one’s heart cannot be too big. I didn’t fully understand, but she said you’d know what she meant.”
Bai yiniang was stunned. Could Gu Jiu have seen it? Impossible…
She asked calmly, “Did er guniang say anything else?”
Cui Liu shook her head. “Nothing else.”
Bai yiniang sat in her chair, silent for a long while, before instructing Cui Liu, “Bring a basin of hot water. Help me wash up. I’m going to see er guniang.”
Cui Liu froze. “Yiniang, is it appropriate to see er guniang at a time like this?”
Bai yiniang chuckled, “Now is the most appropriate time to see her.”
Cui Liu didn’t understand but obeyed, bringing hot water to help Bai yiniang wash.
Bai yiniang deliberately changed into a plain, simple outfit, with no makeup. Her eyes were swollen from crying for so long.
Looking at her haggard reflection in the mirror, she gave a self-mocking smile.
This appearance… no wonder laoye had grown to dislike her.
A man’s heart changes so quickly. In just a few months, she had been brought from the heights to the dust.
But she would not give up.
One day, she would rise again.
She would take revenge on Xie shi.
If not for Xie shi’s persecution and intimidation, her child wouldn’t have been born weak and sickly, nor would he have died so young.
For all of this, the culprit was Xie shi.
“Come, follow me to see er guniang.”
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