Bai Jingchu repeatedly apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Sister, I didn’t mean to—I just couldn’t hold back for a moment. Let me wipe it off for you.”
She pulled out a crumpled handkerchief and began dabbing at Bai Jingshu’s face.
Bai Jingshu dodged in disgust, “Don’t touch me!”
Jingchu responded with a sharp slap across her face, pressing the cloth roughly and wiping without restraint.
Bai Jingshu’s face twisted with rage, “Get away from me!”
Pushed aside by Jingshu, Jingchu deliberately provoked her, “Are you angry already, Sister? This is my courtyard—if anyone should leave, it’s you.”
“This is the Bai residence! It’s not your home. Why are you still shamelessly clinging here?”
Bai Jingchu bit her lower lip, “But… I have nowhere else to go.”
“What if I told you where your home is? Would you leave then?”
A surge of excitement filled Jingchu’s heart, and she nodded firmly, “Of course I’d go find my father and mother. They must be missing me too. Do you know where they are?”
“Of course,” Bai Jingshu replied with a sinister smile, “But it’s a pity—your parents were short-lived and have long since turned to dust. Even if you wanted to see them, I’m afraid you can’t.”
Jingchu shook her head, “I don’t believe you. You’re lying to me on purpose.”
“I’m not lying,” Bai Jingshu said seriously. “They died of dysentery. On their deathbeds, their consciences stirred, and they sent a letter to the nunnery explaining how they secretly switched the two of us back then.
They said your mother had a difficult labor, and you were born on the verge of death. Your father carried you everywhere, seeking medical help to save your life.
But your family was destitute, with no money. Seeing no way out, they caught sight of the wealthy Bai family and were overcome with greed.
Your father used his trained golden eagle to snatch me away, swapped our swaddling clothes, sent you into the Bai family to enjoy a life of luxury in my place, and abandoned me at the nunnery’s doorstep before fleeing far away.”
Bai Jingchu listened in stunned silence as Bai Jingshu recounted the past.
Bai Jingshu continued with venomous hatred, “It’s because of you that I ended up in the nunnery all these years, suffering so much. Truly, retribution is just—your parents are both dead! And you’ve lost your wits! You all got what you deserved!”
Jingchu had already heard fragments about her origins from Lady Bai Chen, and now, with Jingshu’s confirmation that her birth parents were no longer alive, grief and pain overwhelmed her. Tears began to fall uncontrollably.
“I don’t believe it. Why didn’t my father and mother write to me before they died?”
If they felt guilty enough to let Bai Jingshu return to the Bai family and reclaim her heritage, how could they not have considered her situation? Why leave her without a single word?
Surely, in their hearts, Bai Jingshu couldn’t be more important than their own flesh and blood!
Bai Jingshu faltered, “How should I know? Go ask your parents.”
“Then where is the letter my father wrote to you?”
“I tore it up.”
Disappointment was evident on Jingchu’s face, “Then where can I find them?”
“They’re underground. If you die, you can see them and be reunited.” Bai Jingshu urged maliciously, “If I were you, I’d go find them.”
Mama Li, who had been standing by, finally couldn’t hold back, “Miss Jingshu, how can you encourage our young lady like that? What if she really…”
“Shut up!” Bai Jingshu shot her a cold glare. “When your masters are speaking, what right does a servant like you have to interrupt?”
Mama Li immediately fell silent.
Jingchu said sadly, “Then, sister, do you know where my home is? Please tell me, I want to go back.”
Bai Jingshu sensed an opportunity. As long as she could drive this fool out of the Bai residence, she would never be able to return.
“The messenger said they live in a place called Songyuan Town or something like that.”
“Songyuan Town? Where is that?”
“It’s quite far from the capital—about four or five hundred li away.”
“What are my parents’ names?”
“Your father is named Li San. I don’t know your mother’s name.”
Bai Jingchu blinked. “Then swear you’re not lying, or may you be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.”
Bai Jingshu choked. “Why should I swear? Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”
“Hmph, I knew you were lying to me.”
“Who’s lying to you?” Bai Jingshu grew anxious. “If you don’t believe me, go ask Mother. She also saw the letter and can confirm what I said is true.”
“Then I’ll wait for Grandfather to return. Grandfather would never lie to me.”
Bai Jingshu finally lost her patience, furious. “I think you just don’t want to leave. You can’t bear to part with the wealth of the Bai residence.”
Bai Jingchu nodded. “Yes, if I leave, I won’t get to eat Zhenxiu Zhai’s pastries anymore.”
“Idiot! How dare you mock me!”
“I’m not boiling water—how could I mock you?”
Bai Jingshu glared at her angrily but had no recourse. She finally stormed off in a huff.
Mama Li hurried forward to console her. “Miss, don’t listen to the eldest young lady’s nonsense. Songyuan Town, Li San—it’s all likely made up to deceive you. Once the old master returns, she can shift the blame onto you.”
Bai Jingchu, of course, knew this. From the moment Bai Jingshu had readily revealed everything, she had been suspicious.
Three years ago, she had persistently questioned Bai Jingshu about how she had learned of her origins, but Bai Jingshu had remained tight-lipped, evading the topic and even resorting to extreme measures to eliminate her.
If Bai Jingshu was so eager for her to leave the Bai residence now, she should have told the truth long ago.
The only difference from three years ago was that she was now considered a fool, with no one to rely on. Bai Jingshu was convinced she no longer had the ability to travel hundreds of li to investigate her origins.
Therefore, Bai Jingshu’s words must conceal something sinister.
Yet, Bai Jingshu had been so confident earlier, urging her to seek confirmation from Bai Chen-shi, which meant she had given the same account to the Bai family.
Children often inherit their parents’ appearances. Bai Jing’an and Bai Jingtai resembled their respective mothers, while Bai Jinghao took after the Second Master of the Bai family.
As for Bai Jingshu, just as Xuecha had said, she bore no resemblance to anyone in the Bai family.
Had Grandfather never harbored the slightest doubt about this suddenly appearing granddaughter?
And why was Bai Chen-shi so certain she was the daughter who had been missing for sixteen years?
It seemed Bai Jingshu was hiding something.
She ought to send someone to investigate her background.
Chenmo Courtyard.
Second Uncle Bai drank one cup of bitter wine after another.
Second Aunt Bai urged him impatiently from the side. “Say something! You’re as silent as a gourd with its mouth sawn off—it’s maddening!”
Bai Jinghao sat below, nervously twisting the sash of her skirt with her fingertips, occasionally stealing glances at her sister-in-law, Xue-shi, beside her.
Bai Jingtai’s wife was the daughter of a medicinal merchant, a family with connections reaching up to the imperial court and down to the bustling markets—a wealthy and influential clan that straddled the line between commerce and officialdom.
As a merchant family serving the imperial household, her maternal relatives were immensely wealthy, and her dowry was substantial. She was exceedingly generous with her spending in the household, making her a favorite among the servants, who often flocked to her for rewards.
Nothing in the household escaped her notice.
It was she who, upon learning that a matchmaker from the Lin family had come to propose a marriage alliance, hurried to Bai Ersao with the news.
Bai Ershu slammed his wine cup down heavily. “What do you expect me to say? Should I shamelessly go to my elder sister-in-law and ask her to offer the Lin family’s proposal to Jinghao? The difference in social status is too vast—it might not be a good match.”
“So Bai Jingzhu can marry into a marquis’s household, but our Jinghao isn’t worthy of a first-rank official’s family? In what way is our Jinghao inferior to Bai Jingzhu?”
“Besides, when the Lin family took the initiative to seek an alliance with the Bai family, was it because they admired our social standing? No, it was for our medical expertise! You played a crucial role in saving the life of the Lin family’s young concubine, so why should all the credit go to Bai Jing’an?”