Chapter 2786: Chapter 2787: Tagalong
Bai Ruozhu actually couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at those words. In the past, she might have been afraid, might even have wanted to kill Madam Ma, but now, whether it was the Ma Family or Madam Ma, plotting against Second Brother was far too difficult.
"Lord Bai, you should be more careful." Madam Tong reminded her in a low voice.
Bai Ruozhu inclined her head slightly. As she watched Madam Ma’s retreating figure, someone suddenly stepped out from the side—it was her second sister-in-law, Si Yihuan.
"Ruozhu, we’re waiting for you to take your seat." Si Yihuan called out warmly.
Unexpectedly, Madam Ma clutched her head and collapsed to the ground. "My head hurts so much—Bai Ruozhu, did you poison me?"
Bai Ruozhu shrugged. "You can just get a doctor to check."
Si Yihuan showed a surprised expression, went over to help Madam Ma up, and said enthusiastically, "What’s wrong, Madam Ma? I’ll go invite an Imperial Doctor for you?"
Bai Ruozhu almost burst out laughing. She hadn’t used poison on Madam Ma at all; it wasn’t time to deal with the Ma Family yet.
But Si Yihuan had clearly heard what Madam Ma said and had directly launched a Divine Sense Attack at her, so Madam Ma’s head felt like it was splitting, and she actually thought she had been poisoned.
Bai Ruozhu’s lips curled high. After more than a year apart, even Second Sister-in-law had become this formidable. She really didn’t need to worry anymore.
"Go away, I don’t need your fake help." Madam Ma angrily shook off Si Yihuan’s hand. Si Yihuan didn’t mind, moved to the side, and said, "Then I won’t meddle in other people’s business."
Her eyes widened slightly, then she walked over and took Bai Ruozhu’s arm. "Come on, time to sit down. What are you running around for?"
Bai Ruozhu’s smile deepened. Her second sister-in-law had just attacked Madam Ma again.
"My head..." Madam Ma was in such pain she rolled on the ground, losing all semblance of composure. Her hairpin fell out, her bun came undone, and her titled wife’s official robes were covered in dust.
Si Yihuan smiled at Madam An. "She told us not to interfere, so we’ll be going first."
Madam Tong looked a bit worried and quickly followed after them. Seeing that she didn’t get close to the Ma Family at all, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help feeling a bit more favorable toward her.
"You should take your seat too. I won’t stoop to arguing with a child." Bai Ruozhu said quietly.
That was meant to reassure Madam Tong. She let out a big sigh of relief and smiled. "Lord Bai is magnanimous. I’ll make sure to teach my daughter properly."
Watching Madam Tong sit down, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help thinking of that overly clever but ill-intentioned Tong Qian. She wondered if that girl could still be straightened out.
"Second Sister-in-law, you’re amazing." Bai Ruozhu secretly gave Si Yihuan a thumbs up.
Si Yihuan smiled a little shyly. "I can’t compare to your second brother, but I’ve been working hard at training. I can’t let him get too far ahead of me."
"You’re already amazing. You could absolutely rule the Capital City by now." Bai Ruozhu said in a low voice.
Si Yihuan giggled. "That’s going too far. It’s pretty exhausting—I don’t want to bully people for no reason when I’ve got nothing better to do."
That was exactly what set her second sister-in-law apart. Even though she wanted to be a lazy rice worm of a Foodie, she never wanted to muddle along uselessly and let the gap between her and her husband grow wider. Only by constantly improving herself could she always stand by his side, be the kapok tree that stands with him through wind and rain, instead of a dodder vine clinging to him.
On the other hand, even now that Si Yihuan had the ability to launch a Divine Sense Attack, she wouldn’t use her power to bully others. It wasn’t because some moral code was restraining her; she just didn’t like stirring up trouble.
Because Consort Le had gone to rest, the banquet for the titled ladies was presided over by a concubine from the Palace. Bai Ruozhu had practically no impression of her, but seeing the lines at the corners of the woman’s eyes, she figured the concubine must be somewhat older and of fairly high rank in the current Harem.
Only, that concubine’s expression carried some loneliness. She had probably already realized who the Emperor truly cared about, and couldn’t help feeling a bit desolate.
The Fusang Delegation also attended the banquet. Princess Ya’an brought Yaxi over when she found an opportunity to get close to Bai Ruozhu.
"Sister Ruozhu, I want to travel around with you for a bit." Princess Ya’an said.
"No, no way. You have to stay in the Capital City. You’re here on a mission to Danliang Country—how can you just run off with me?" Bai Ruozhu refused at once.
"We’re here to see the Zhongyuan anyway. Staying in the Capital City the whole time is so boring. My mother concubine specifically told me to follow you." Princess Ya’an laughed.
Yaxi thought about it and added, "My parents have to stay in the Capital City, otherwise I’d want to go wandering with you too."
"Tang Feng won’t leave the Capital, so you’d better not run around." Bai Ruozhu said quietly. Yaxi blushed all the way down her neck, while Princess Ya’an suddenly understood and started laughing softly as well.
When the banquet ended, everyone left the Palace together.
On the officials’ side, because the Emperor was present, their banquet ended half an hour later. Tang Yin was in high spirits today, drank a few extra cups, and even sang a song in public, letting quite a few ministers feast their ears.
After the banquet, the Prince of Fusang also hurried to the Bai Residence, using the excuse of picking up his younger sister. But Jiang Yichun was very displeased with him, whipped his horse, and had his people leave the prince far behind.
"I really don’t understand why he dislikes me so much." The prince touched his own face and quietly asked his servant, "Do I look that annoying?"
"How could that be? Your Highness is wise and mighty, and very handsome. Many girls in Kyoto want to marry you." The servant hastily flattered him.
The Prince of Fusang nodded. "It’s probably because I’m too handsome and Jiang Yichun feels threatened, so he won’t let me get near Bai Ruozhu."
The servant’s lips twitched. Your Highness, you are good-looking, but that’s normal good-looking. Lord Jiang is demon-level handsome. You can’t compare. What crisis could he possibly feel?
Of course, the servant only dared think these words in his heart and would never say them out loud.
The Prince of Fusang arrived at the Bai Family and soon saw Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun, who had returned home faster and was now standing at Bai Ruozhu’s side.
"Lord Bai, can you take Ya’an and me with you when you go to the Jiuli Clan? We want to broaden our horizons." The Prince of Fusang said.
"No!" Jiang Yichun practically shouted, "The Jiuli Clan is not a place outsiders can easily enter. You’re members of the Fusang Royal Family—how can you come on a diplomatic mission and then suddenly leave the Capital? What will the Emperor think?"
Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. This wasn’t about what the Emperor would think; it was about how you were overreacting.
"I’ll report the situation to the Danliang Emperor. I plan to stay in the Zhongyuan for two years anyway, and I can come back here again." The Prince of Fusang said.
Jiang Yichun’s face suddenly went cold and he struck out. The Prince of Fusang hurried to defend himself, but he was no match for Jiang Yichun. After just a few moves, he was thrown out of the Main Hall, landing on the stone path outside.
"Brother!" Princess Ya’an rushed out to help him up.
Bai Ruozhu tugged on Jiang Yichun’s sleeve. "That’s enough. Give him a bit of face."
With a frosty expression, Jiang Yichun said, "Our journey will be full of dangers. Your strength is too weak—you can’t even take three moves from me. We’d have to split our attention to protect you, and we don’t have the time! Don’t you have your own business to attend to? Why are you clinging along like a little tail?"
