Madam Bai Chen chimed in, “Exactly. Although she’s not my own flesh and blood, the entire Bai family has treated her like a precious jewel for over a decade.”
The Marquess’s wife didn’t respond, but a mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Madam Bai Chen cautiously observed her expression and continued, “As you know, the girl isn’t very bright. I couldn’t bear to marry her off to some distant family, so I thought it best for her to enter the Marquess’s household alongside Jing Shu. That way, she’d have someone to look after her. That’s why we sent her for the trial marriage.”
The Marquess’s wife picked up her teacup, idly stirring the foam on the surface while pondering the hidden meaning in Madam Bai Chen’s words. She replied indifferently, “Is that so?”
Madam Bai Chen shifted her tone, mustering her courage. “It’s just a pity the girl has no luck. After returning home, she fell ill.”
The teacup in the Marquess’s wife’s hand clinked sharply. She raised an eyebrow and demanded, “What do you mean by that?”
Madam Bai Chen lowered her head, pretending to wipe away tears. “Her second uncle says the illness is difficult to cure. My Jing Chu simply doesn’t have the fortune for this.”
The Marquess’s wife slammed her teacup onto the table with a loud thud. “Nonsense! That day, when your Bai family pulled this stunt, I personally questioned my son! He told me himself it was all baseless rumors! I only agreed to take your girl because I feared rejecting your family would be misinterpreted. Now we must get to the bottom of where she contracted this filthy disease. After all, your girl served at Eunuch Chen’s residence for three years.”
Madam Bai Chen remained unruffled. She signaled to Mama Rong beside her, who produced a handkerchief and respectfully placed it by the Marquess’s wife’s hand.
Madam Bai Chen spoke leisurely, “When the girl was sent to your esteemed household, she was pure and untouched. The matrons in my residence examined her—her maidenhead was intact, and this handkerchief bears the bloodstains as proof.”
The Marquess’s wife was furious. “This is utterly impossible! Your Bai family is slandering us!”
“After Jing Chu returned home, I questioned her myself. There’s no mistake, and it cannot be concealed,” Madam Bai Chen insisted, though she had to brace herself.
The Marquess’s wife slapped the table and stood up, turning to confront Bai Jing Chu. “What do you have to say?”
Bai Jing Chu’s heart was in turmoil.
If she told the truth, she feared Madam Bai Chen would change her mind and call off the annulment.
If she lied, the Marquess’s wife would certainly not let her off.
She shrank back, dragging Chi Yan Qing into the mess. “The heir gave me silver to buy pastries and told me not to tell the truth.”
“Speak!” the Marquess’s wife commanded.
Bai Jing Chu pouted. “He’s so fierce—he might bite me. You should ask him yourself.”
Madam Bai Chen said calmly, “We never wished for such a thing to happen. Being able to form a marriage alliance with the Marquess’s household is a tremendous blessing for my Jing Shu.”
The Marquess’s wife was so enraged her chest heaved. “Very well, I’ll ask him! If I find out you’ve been secretly defaming my son’s reputation, I’ll make your Bai family pay! Someone, summon the heir!”
A servant acknowledged the order and hurried off, returning shortly to report, “Madam, the heir went to the yamen early this morning and likely won’t return until evening.”
“Go to the yamen! Drag that unfilial son back! Tell him his mother is on her deathbed!”
Bai Jing Chu, standing behind them, nearly lost her composure and let out a stifled chuckle.
It seems this mother is truly on the verge of being angered to death. Her nostrils are flared wide, like an enraged donkey.
However, this Marchioness appears to be somewhat simple-minded.
The visitors haven’t come to demand an explanation or to scold your son—they’re here to call off the engagement! To call off the engagement!
Could it be that you’re unwilling?
Why rush to distance yourself instead of settling the matter first and dealing with the consequences later?
What if Chi Yanqing flatly denies it, and Lady Bai Chen wavers? Then the engagement definitely won’t be called off!
No, I must remind her.
Bai Jingchu timidly asked Lady Bai Chen, “Mother, did I say something wrong? Will the Marchioness take her anger out on Sister and abandon her because of it?”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but both women heard it clearly.
The Marchioness blinked, finally snapping out of her fury. She patted her chest to calm her breathing and compose herself.
“My son is truly troublesome. He’s been unruly for quite some time now. I apologize for the embarrassment, Lady Bai.”
Lady Bai Chen dared not be presumptuous and replied respectfully, “Men, after all, often have multiple wives and concubines. A little flirtatiousness is nothing to worry about. It’s just that my Jingchu is virtuous, mild-tempered, and soft-hearted. I fear she won’t be able to rein in Young Master Yan’s wild nature.”
The Marchioness narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by that, Lady Bai? Are you suggesting calling off the engagement?”
“Our Bai family is truly overstepping with this marriage. I imagine you are not entirely satisfied with it either.”
The Marchioness couldn’t have asked for more. “Does Lady Bai’s statement represent the wishes of your family’s patriarch?”
“In matters of marriage, it is the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words that count.”
“Good. Since Lady Bai has such self-awareness, I trust your word is as good as a nail struck into wood. Do not go back on it.”
Lady Bai Chen’s anxious heart finally settled, though her back was already drenched in cold sweat from the tension. “Please forgive my offense, Marchioness. As you know, my Jingchu was lost for sixteen years and has only just returned…”
“Spare me the details,” the Marchioness interrupted bluntly. “Your daughter may be a treasure, but my son is no weed. The engagement can be called off, but we must be clear about the reasons.”
Lady Bai Chen stammered, “It’s true that my daughter Jingchu broke out in red rashes all over her body—on her arms, chest, everywhere. The symptoms are already apparent. I’m not making this up. If you don’t believe me, you may send a matron to examine her.”
The Marchioness cast a disgusted glance at Bai Jingchu.
With a signal from her, a matron immediately stepped forward. “Miss Jingchu, please follow me to the inner chamber.”
Bai Jingchu shrank back and murmured softly, “I don’t want to be examined. I’m not sick. It’s just that the clothes I wore yesterday were itchy.”
Ignoring her protests, the matron grabbed her hand. Jingchu abruptly pushed up her sleeve, revealing smooth, unblemished skin without a single mark.
“See? I’m really not sick. The rash went away on its own after I changed my clothes.”
Lady Bai Chen was startled. “You…”
The Marchioness sneered. The matron then unceremoniously tugged open the collar of Bai Jingchu’s dress.
Her skin was as fine as porcelain, flawless and unmarked.
“Lady Bai, is this what you call ‘covered in red rashes’?”
Lady Bai Chen was even more astonished. “How is this possible? I saw clearly yesterday—she was covered in rashes!”
“Second Uncle said someone had sprinkled pokeweed nettle powder on my dress again. I washed with the same medicinal broth as last time, and it cleared up.”
The word “again” was particularly thought-provoking.
Madam Bai Chen knew perfectly well in her heart but still asked guiltily, “Then why didn’t you say so yesterday?”
“Nanny Li did tell you, but you wouldn’t believe her. Sister Jingshu said they were making excuses and even threatened to have them beaten to death,” Bai Jingchu defended herself, her voice full of grievance.
The Marchioness, who had been listening nearby, immediately grasped the situation. “Well, well! So your family went to such lengths to break off the engagement, resorting to these underhanded methods to tarnish my son’s reputation.”
“Let me make this clear to you, Madam Bai Chen. This is the Marquis’ residence, and my son is the legitimate heir. Such actions from your family could land you in court!”
Terrified, Madam Bai Chen’s knees gave way, and she immediately knelt before the Marchioness.
Her earlier courage to come and demand the annulment had been built on what she thought was solid reasoning, but the Marchioness’s words shattered her confidence instantly.
“Please calm your anger, My Lady. I admit my fault—I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions without verifying the facts.”
“Spare you?” The Marchioness sneered. “Then first tell me, who put the pokeweed powder on this girl’s skirt? Was it a mere prank, or was there ulterior motive behind it?”