Chapter 24: Human Nature Is Evil_1

“Eldest Young Lady is the most amazing!” Fifth Miss ran up to Bai Qingyan, tugging on Bai Qingyan’s sleeve coquettishly, her eyes full of admiration. “When I grow up, I want to be as amazing as Eldest Young Lady.”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch the small bun on Fifth Miss’s head. Looking at her sister’s carefree, sweet smile, a warm current dispelled the chill from her body, making her feel warm all over.

“Eldest Young Lady, please sit!” Bai Jintong pressed Bai Qingyan onto the stool and then chased out Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi and Fifth and Sixth Misses, telling them to get some snacks from the kitchen for Bai Qingyan.

Bai Jinxiu had already heard this morning from Bai Jintong about what Bai Qingyan had said to Qin Lang last night. Her eyes turned slightly red, and she choked, “Eldest Young Lady…”

Knowing what Bai Jinxiu wanted to say, Bai Qingyan grasped Bai Jinxiu’s hand and gently patted it. She smiled softly at Bai Jinxiu and spoke slowly, “This morning, Qin Lang came to our house, asking Grandmother to request an audience with the Empress Dowager to relinquish his Princely Heir position. Although Qin Lang won’t have the title in the future, letting the world know that Mrs. Jiang is a cruel mother will give you an excuse to move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence and live your own life behind closed doors.”

Bai Jinxiu’s eyes grew hotter from Bai Qingyan’s words. She felt more and more ashamed for not living up to the expectations when Bai Qingyan had given her the family sword. She nodded with a choked voice, “I understand, Eldest Young Lady! Last night, I also said the same thing to the Princely Heir.”

Seeing Bai Jinxiu’s tears falling, Bai Qingyan’s heart ached, and her eyes reddened. She used a handkerchief to wipe Bai Jinxiu’s tears away. “When the time comes, I’ll have my mother and second aunt select some capable maids and servants for you. Without a domineering mother-in-law, everything will get better! Don’t be afraid… Our Duke of Zhen’s residence and Grandmother are always behind you. In this Dadu City, no one can bully a daughter of the Bai family.”

“I didn’t expect Qin Lang to be so courageous to make such a decision.” Bai Jintong sat next to Bai Qingyan, her eyes solemn. “Let’s hope that those two venomous snakes at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence, who have harmed Second Sister, will understand the power of our Duke of Zhen’s residence and never dare to provoke Second Sister again.”

“A rotten apple spoils the barrel. Ten years of rot still stinks. Nature once evil, can it change? Difficult as ascending to heaven.” Bai Qingyan extended her hands towards the fire, looking at Bai Jinxiu with a faint smile. “To make them behave, you must break their backbones with one strike, crush their supports! Let them know what pain and fear are, so that when they hear your Second Sister’s name, their legs will tremble. Only then… can your Second Sister find peace.”

“Support?! Eldest Young Lady, are you referring to Mrs. Jiang, the wife of the Marquis?” Bai Jintong’s eyes brightened.

Once Bai Qingyan made a move, it was never a child’s play to scare off the mother and daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence. The mother and daughter were good at behind-the-scenes schemes, like fleas; if not crushed, they would eventually rise and cause even more trouble for Bai Jinxiu.

She did not want to leave any future troubles for Bai Jinxiu, nor did she want Bai Jinxiu’s hands stained with such dirt. She decided to deal with Mrs. Jiang of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence thoroughly this time.

Bai Qingyan asked, “Where is the contract of the maidservant who came with you?”

“At the bottom layer of my jewelry box…” Bai Jinxiu knew Bai Qingyan would use it and signaled Bai Jintong to fetch it. “The property deeds and servant contracts bestowed by Grandmother and Mother for my dowry are all there. I originally planned to retrieve them when I return home.”

Bai Jintong got up and took the contract from the redwood inlaid jewelry box and handed it to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan picked out Mingyu’s contract and handed the rest back to Bai Jintong to keep. “Keep these contracts well; they will be useful in the future.”

“Mingyu, she is…” Bai Jinxiu clenched the brocade under her, “She…”

Not wanting Bai Jinxiu, whose body was injured, to be stressed, she gently held Bai Jinxiu’s hand and advised, “Your recovery is the priority. Don’t trouble yourself with these ungrateful things. Leave it to capable people to handle.”

Saying this, she turned and handed Mingyu’s contract to Chun Tao, with a double meaning in her words, “Tell your cousin that Mingyu is ungrateful. Although the Second Girl is kind-hearted, the heavens utterly reject traitors. If he handles this matter well, there will be a significant reward.”@@novelbin@@

This would also show the servants in the Duke of Zhen’s residence what the consequence of betrayal was.

Chun Tao acknowledged, received the contract with both hands, and left the Green Bamboo Pavilion.

·

That day, shortly after noon, the Eldest Princess brought Qin Lang back from the palace. The news that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage had requested to relinquish his title spread throughout Dadu City.

Madam Jiang of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence received the news and slumped into her chair, her legs weak as if they were made of mud, sweating profusely.

“Mother, isn’t this a good thing? Why does your face look so bad?” Second Miss Qin cheerfully tugged at Mrs. Jiang’s sleeve with a happy expression.

With Qin Lang relinquishing his title, their brother would be able to inherit it.

Mrs. Jiang had no strength left even to scold her daughter. She clutched her chest tightly, knowing that her reputation was ruined. Not only her reputation but also her children’s future… Who would dare marry a Qin family daughter or wed a Qin family son after this?

Anger overcame her. She slapped Second Miss Qin, causing her to fall to the ground.

Second Miss Qin covered her burning face with one hand, staring at Mrs. Jiang with teary eyes. “Mother?! Why did you hit me?!”

“Fool! If it weren’t for you and Bai Jinxiu quarreling and fighting, would things have escalated to this point?!”

After scolding her daughter, Mrs. Jiang forced herself to remain calm. As long as the Emperor’s decree had not been issued, there was still room for maneuver. It was too late to enter the palace today; tomorrow, she would beseech the Empress to ask the Emperor for mercy, to make a proper show as a good stepmother, declaring that only Qin Lang could be the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence. Perhaps then, the situation could be salvaged.

“Nanny Wu!” Mrs. Jiang called out. Seeing the sallow-faced Nanny Wu entering from outside, she hurriedly instructed, “Quickly send my calling card to the palace. I will enter the palace to meet the Empress Dowager tomorrow.”

After saluting Mrs. Jiang, Nanny Wu said, “Madam, there’s trouble! Steward Xu from the estate came with injuries… saying that today, someone from the Duke of Zhen’s residence, with a group of guards, stormed into your estate… and took Mingyu away with her contract!”

Mrs. Jiang fell back onto the chaise longue, almost losing consciousness.

“Madam! Madam!” Nanny Wu quickly supported her.

“Does the Duke of Zhen’s residence know everything? Do they know about us drowning those maids?” Mrs. Jiang clutched her chest, feeling breathless.

“Though it’s not a big deal for a wealthy family to dispose of a few servants, Mingyu knows the ins and outs of everything. If she tells it all to the Duke of Zhen’s residence, it would be hard to explain to the Eldest Princess…” Nanny Wu worriedly glanced at Second Miss Qin, who was crying profusely.

“Mother!” Just thinking of the Eldest Princess’s intimidating presence made Second Miss Qin’s legs weak. She cried, clutching Mrs. Jiang’s clothes, “What should we do?! If the Eldest Princess finds out, she definitely won’t let us go!”