Chapter 15: Witness Testimony_1

Doctor Hong also finished examining Bai Jinxiu. He stroked his goatee and glanced at Bai Qingyan; when he saw Bai Qingyan nod slightly at him, he lowered his eyes and said, “Second Miss first sustained a head injury, then fell into the water! The cold water entered her lungs, and her high fever won’t subside. I’m afraid…”

Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, felt her legs go weak. If Qingshu hadn’t held her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Bai Qingyan approached with a solemn face and bowed to Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. “Second Sister is in grave danger. Do you wish to stay here to take care of her until she recovers, or do you want to take her back to the Duke’s Manor for treatment? Aunt, you must decide!”

Nanny Wu’s eyes widened. A married woman leaving her husband’s house without permission was absolutely forbidden! If Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, took Bai Jinxiu away, it might sever ties between the two families. “Second Madam, you mustn’t! The Young Madam has just married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household. If you take her back, how will people view the Marquis’s family? They will think the two families are cutting off relations! Even the Eldest Princess wouldn’t agree to this, right, Nanny Jiang?!”

“My daughter has just married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household and now her life is at risk! I don’t care what anyone thinks of the Marquis’s family!” Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, clutched her chest and turned to Nanny Jiang. “Nanny! Please inform Mother… Jinxiu was hit on the head and pushed into the lake. All her maids were sold off, and she doesn’t even have someone to attend to her. I must take her back to the manor for care! If Mother doesn’t agree… I’ll take Jinxiu back to my parent’s house!”

Nanny Jiang bowed to Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. “This old servant will report to the Eldest Princess immediately. Please don’t worry, Second Madam. The Eldest Princess has always doted on the Second Miss and would never prioritize any relationship over her granddaughter’s life!”

These words struck Nanny Wu like a thunderbolt, almost making her kneel. She never expected Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, to disregard the reputation of both families to protect her daughter, without considering Bai Jinxiu’s future in the Marquis’s household.

“Qingshu, you’re quick. Accompany Nanny Jiang.”

After giving the order, Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, moved to the bedside, grasping her daughter’s hand and crying uncontrollably.

Qingshu, whose eyes had been red at the sight of Bai Jinxiu’s condition, immediately complied and helped Nanny Jiang out swiftly.

“Nanny Jiang! Nanny Jiang, you mustn’t!”

Nanny Jiang ignored her.

Unable to stop Nanny Jiang, Nanny Wu hurriedly knelt before Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. “Second Madam! You mustn’t stir up trouble with the Eldest Princess!”

At this moment, Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, was holding her daughter’s hand, staring at her pale face and unconscious state, already crying to the point of being heedless of anything else.

Chun Yan ran in, covering her mouth, and whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear, “The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s guards have gone to the inner courtyard! Miss Bai… what if Fourth Miss suffers?”

“Jinzhao, Jinhua, stay here with Aunt.” Bai Qingyan, exuding an aura of danger, stood in place as Chun Tao draped a white fox fur cloak over her.

She glanced at Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, who was crying by Bai Jinxiu’s bedside and said slowly, “I’ll go and take a look. Fourth Sister is impulsive… I hope she doesn’t end up injuring the Marchioness.”

Seeing that she couldn’t stop Nanny Jiang, Nanny Wu decided to quickly report to the Marchioness. Her eyes flickered as she scrambled up from the ground. “This old servant will lead the way for Miss Bai! I will lead the way!”

Supported by Chun Tao, Bai Qingyan left the newlywed’s room and walked briskly towards the Marchioness’s courtyard. Nanny Wu tried to get close to Bai Qingyan, but Chun Yan rudely swatted her away with a handkerchief.

Knowing that Bai Qingyan was raised by the Eldest Princess and held considerable sway with her, Nanny Wu cautiously spoke to Bai Qingyan with a pleading face. “Miss Bai, this matter really can’t be blamed on our two young misses. Originally, the Princely Heir was betrothed to you, but then the Young Madam married in, and our two young misses only had a few words with her.”

Bai Qingyan paused and turned to look at Nanny Wu with a half-smile.

No wonder in her previous life, after the First Young Female of the Ministry of Personnel’s Chief of Staff’s family passed away in resentment, the Chief of Staff’s wife managed to bring down Mrs. Jiang with severe measures. Even the close maid of the main mistress of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household revealed itself to be such an incompetent and disgraceful figure. The decline of the Marquis’s household was apparent.

“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart! Do you want to blame our Miss Bai for what your two young misses did?!” Chun Yan fumed.

“Chun Tao, tie her up and hand her over to Second Madam! Tell Second Madam that this maid just claimed… that the two young misses from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household argued and hurt our Second Miss!” Bai Qingyan glanced at Nanny Wu before continuing forward. “She’s the close maid of the Marchioness. If this matter goes to court, this maid can be a witness.”

Hearing the word court, Nanny Wu’s face turned pale, and her legs went weak as she knelt immediately. “Miss Bai! I am the close maid of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household. You can’t tie me up! I didn’t say that our young misses hurt anyone! If I tarnish our young misses’ reputations, I couldn’t make up for it even with my life!”

Bai Qingyan ignored her.

Before the group even got close, Bai Qingyan heard the cries of maids and saw a disheveled maid leading a group of guards rushing into the Marchioness’s courtyard.

Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on Chun Tao’s hand, who quickened her pace in understanding.

“Hand over the wretches who injured my Second Sister!”

Bai Jinzhi wielded a long whip, cracking it in the courtyard filled with broken branches and snow.

The maids and servants bore whip marks from Bai Jinzhi, who, fearing her status, didn’t retaliate and could only tremble and loudly beg Fourth Miss Bai for mercy.

The young guard leading the Marquis’s household’s security took three quick strides forward, seizing Bai Jinzhi’s whip. His face was stern as he stared at her.

“Please restrain yourself, Fourth Miss Bai. This is the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s household, not your Duke’s Manor! Such insolence will not be tolerated here!”

Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, trying to pull back the whip, but found she couldn’t move it despite using all her strength.@@novelbin@@

Taken aback by her first loss, Bai Jinzhi widened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and braced herself. Yet, she still couldn’t pull the whip free.

“Fourth Sister…”

Bai Qingyan called out, prompting the guard to release the whip in Bai Jinzhi’s hand.

Retrieving her whip, Bai Jinzhi gave the guard a deep look and walked over to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest Sister…”

The young guard watched Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi walk toward the main room under the shelter of a group of maids and tutored attendants. He then turned to his fellow guards. “Stand guard here. Ensure that Fourth Miss Bai doesn’t hurt anyone again.”

Inside, Marchioness Jiang clutched her two daughters tightly, shivering in a corner.