Chapter 2807: Chapter 3808: Madam Meng’s Worries
Bai Ruozhu actually sympathized with Ayan’s experiences. She also felt some fondness for her now, but when she thought of how they had killed her and Xuan Gui’s son, she couldn’t quite feel at ease.
"Yes, I’ll be staying for quite a while." Bai Ruozhu answered with a smile.
Meng Liangshen had broken into a bit of a sweat. He went to change into dry clothes, then invited them to the study room to talk.
"You’ve heard about the Turkic people invading, haven’t you?" Meng Liangshen had guessed their purpose.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t waste time and directly laid out her own suspicions.
Ayan listened and couldn’t help covering her mouth. "You’re saying they plotted to lure the Turkic people into invading, then bribed the guards so the Turkic people could easily break through the City Gate, and then arranged for his conveniently nearby nephew to go in and ’suppress’ them, all just for a bit of Military Merits?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded. "Those people only care about their own profit. They don’t care in the least whether the common people live or die."
Meng Liangshen slapped his palm down on the table. "I will never let them succeed. I’ll immediately dispatch troops to prepare an ambush. I won’t let Ma Xingguo take advantage of this!"
"Adoptive Father, that really isn’t proper. Your military force needs to be kept for defending the City; it truly isn’t suitable to divide it. If the other side has something up their sleeve and really does break through the City Gate, we’ll become sinners for all eternity." Bai Ruozhu lowered her voice a bit. "Besides, your status is already high enough now; it’s not fitting for you to go after more Military Merits."
Meng Liangshen fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "The taller the tree, the more it catches the wind. It really isn’t suitable anymore. But I just can’t swallow this anger. They’re too lacking in conscience—this is trading how many common people’s lives for it!"
"Ma Xingguo won’t get off cheaply, so I propose we let the Commerce Association organize folk volunteers to go. What do you think?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
"Good, that’s a good idea!" Meng Liangshen’s eyes lit up. "But is the Commerce Association not afraid of offending Ma Tongfang?"
"There will always be some people who are afraid of him, but there will also always be some people who aren’t. There are many righteous men in this world who do not fear death; they will definitely stand up to resist the Turkic people." Bai Ruozhu said.
Meng Liangshen sighed. "It’s just a pity there’s no evidence for this matter, so we can’t submit a memorial to impeach Ma Tongfang."
"I’ll arrange for people to investigate. It’s just that Ma Tongfang is a cautious man and has most likely already destroyed the evidence. But looking into it might still yield some results. At the very least, we have to severely punish those dog officers who harmed the common people." Jiang Yichun said.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at him. Was Achun planning to mobilize the faction behind Upstairs Upstairs?
"This matter will be hard work for you. If you need help, just tell me." Meng Liangshen pinched the bridge of his nose. When would this world ever know peace?
The four of them discussed some details again, and when they were done, Meng Liangshen kept the two of them for dinner.
Bai Ruozhu also wanted to see Old Madam Meng and Meng Jinse and the others, so she agreed.
"Jianqi, arrange for people to go scout both sides’ situation first. And also, contact my master through the Commerce Association." she said.
"Yes, Master." Jianqi left ahead of them.
Jiang Yichun thought for a moment and said, "I won’t stay for the meal; I’ll go get busy first."
"Be extra careful. Things over there are a bit unreliable." She didn’t quite approve of Jiang Yichun continuing to stay in Upstairs Upstairs, but Jiang Yichun had said it wasn’t something he could just walk away from at will.
"Don’t worry, I’ll resolve these matters as soon as possible." he said.
"All right."
Once Jiang Yichun left, Bai Ruozhu went to see Old Madam Meng. Old Madam Meng’s Nanny Lu had already come to meet her halfway. Knowing that Bai Ruozhu had to discuss serious business with Meng Liangshen, she had been anxious to see Bai Ruozhu, but didn’t dare to have the servants go urge her.
"The Old Madam has been thinking about you and the little young masters. When will Lord Bai bring the little young masters to visit the Old Madam?" Nanny Lu said.
"All right, I’ll bring them over in a couple of days." Bai Ruozhu replied with a smile. "How has Grandmother been lately?"
Nanny Lu frowned and shook her head slightly. "Her body is fine, but she’s always fretting and sighing. I’m just afraid she’ll fall ill from worry."
"Is it because of Jinse?" Bai Ruozhu lowered her voice to ask.
"The Eldest Young Lady seems to be fine in every respect, always smiling, but the Old Madam says she’s suffering inside, gritting her teeth and holding on because she’s afraid her family will be sad." Nanny Lu dabbed at the corner of her mouth as she spoke. "I watched the Eldest Young Lady grow up, I know her temperament well, and I can’t help feeling sad too."
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help sighing. Meng Jinse’s heart knot wasn’t something she could simply decide to let go of.
"I’ll be staying for quite a while this time. I’ll come keep her company whenever I’m free." she said.
Nanny Lu’s face showed delight. "That would be wonderful."
As expected, when she saw Old Madam Meng, the old lady started complaining. "Why didn’t you bring the children along? You go handle your serious business, I’ll help you look after the children."
Bai Ruozhu laughed. "Those three are terribly mischievous, they can overturn the sky. Even I get headaches from them."
Old Madam Meng burst out laughing. "I wish I had that kind of headache and worry. Bring them next time."
"All right." Bai Ruozhu agreed.
Old Madam Meng asked about Lin Pinger and the others, then suddenly dismissed the attendants at her side, leaving only Nanny Lu.
That meant she had something she wanted to say to Bai Ruozhu.
"Girl, be honest with me—what is that Ayan’s background, really?" Old Madam Meng asked somewhat nervous.
Bai Ruozhu’s heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "What’s wrong, Grandmother? Did Ayan make you angry?"
"I find her a bit uncanny. If she weren’t someone you brought back, I’d have driven her out long ago." Old Madam Meng said.
"She’s a good Elder, and she’s even saved our lives." Bai Ruozhu could only say it like that.
Old Madam Meng frowned. "I’ve always wanted to find Liangshen a second wife, but he absolutely refused. Yet it’s different when it comes to this Ayan. That Ayan is no longer young, and she’s not so youthful in appearance either. How on earth did she bewitch Liangshen?"
The corner of Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. People always said daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law were enemies since ancient times. Even as easygoing as Old Madam Meng was, she still had it in her to be a vicious Mother-in-law.
"Don’t think I’m being mean. Some time ago, someone in the Residence grew jealous of how close she and Liangshen were and secretly tried to trip her up. In the end, nothing happened to her, but that person fell ill for half a month instead." Old Madam Meng went on.
Bai Ruozhu thought to herself that with Ayan’s Skill, she absolutely could have killed the other party without anyone ever knowing, yet she only made them sick for half a month. That showed she was still kind at heart.
"If she only knew to bow and scrape and let herself be bullied and harmed, wouldn’t you be even less at ease?" Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
Old Madam Meng was stunned for a moment, then after a long while, she nodded. "That’s true. But her background is unknown. I really can’t feel at ease."
"I don’t know if Grandmother has ever heard of a ’fated bond from a previous life’?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
"You mean between her and Liangshen? How, how do you know?" Old Madam Meng was even more shocked.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t say too much, afraid of frightening Old Madam Meng, so after thinking for a moment she put it in more euphemistic terms.
"She’s a Yin Yang Master from Fusang, similar to our exorcist Daoists over here. We once encountered danger and fell into an ancient Undersea Palace. While searching for an exit, we triggered a certain Treasure there..."
