Chapter 54: Character_1

Hearing the name King Liang, Bai Qingyan’s pupils suddenly contracted, and a chilling aura instantly spread.

Before she could ask, Bai Jinzhi anxiously lifted the curtain and, unable to suppress her temper, asked, “What’s the maid from King Liang’s residence causing a ruckus at our mansion for?”

Bai Jinzhi was seriously furious. The other day, such a commotion was made at the Duke’s mansion, selling off thirty-nine people from five households altogether, just because King Liang had bribed the gatekeeper’s wife, who daily colluded with Chun Yan by Eldest Young Lady’s side. And now, a maid from King Liang’s residence dared to come openly.

“The maid from King Liang’s residence said she wanted to plead with Miss Bai, asking Miss Bai to spare her life. Steward Hao sent some grannies and stewards to inquire, but the girl insisted on not speaking without seeing Miss Bai and refused to enter the mansion. She’s kneeling and crying at the gate of our Duke’s mansion! Now there’s a big crowd gathered at our gate.”

With a cold face, Bai Qingyan asked, “When did this happen? Did it alarm my mother?”

“A quarter of an hour ago. Steward Hao did not dare to alarm Madam.” The servant from the Duke’s mansion quickly replied.

“Go back and tell Steward Hao not to alarm my mother. Since she’s here for me, we’ll return respectfully through the front gate. I also want to ask her—how this maid from King Liang’s residence needs me to spare her life.”

After finishing, she lowered the curtain, her face heavy with contemplation.

Bai Jintong, always perceptive, quickly sensed something unusual: “From King Liang’s residence? Eldest Young Lady, King Liang’s mansion first bribed Chun Yan by your side to spy on your secrets. Then they sent this maid. I guess… they want to use your reputation as leverage! Eldest Young Lady, do you have any idea?”

She pursed her lips, looking at Bai Jintong without speaking. The other day, the Duke’s mansion had just made a grand example of itself, and she thought she was being overly cautious about King Liang using underhanded methods. She didn’t expect that in just four days, King Liang would impatiently send someone.

She truly overestimated King Liang’s character.

“What’s to fear from a mere maid?! If she dares to misbehave… see if I don’t whip her to death! Eldest Young Lady, you just return to the mansion, and I’ll ensure she can’t utter a single word!” Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, gripping the whip at her waist.

“It’s better to let it flow than to block it. Let’s see what the maid has to say first, then think of a countermeasure…” She looked up, smiling at Bai Jinzhi. “Fourth Sister, stand among the crowd and keep a sharp eye. Make sure that girl doesn’t harm herself in front of me.”

“Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady!” Bai Jinzhi patted her chest in assurance.

Bai Qingyan’s words made Bai Jintong understand the meaning immediately: “Right, we can’t let her create a scene of a loyal servant from King Liang’s mansion begging Eldest Young Lady to meet King Liang. People might think our Eldest Young Lady indeed had an affair with King Liang.”

Bai Jinzhi nodded, feeling more solemn.

“Eldest Young Lady, what about me?”

“And me! And me!” Seeing the eager faces of Little Five and Little Six waiting for her orders, she couldn’t help but smile softly. She touched the foreheads of the two children with warmth in her eyes: “You two… return to the mansion with the carriage, go and play with your Seventh Sister. Don’t get involved, or the two ponies I prepared for your birthdays will be gone!”

She didn’t want her young sisters to witness such filth. Their world should be clean, and she was willing to safeguard it with all her might.

Upon hearing that Bai Qingyan was giving them Blood Sweat Ponies, their clear eyes instantly brightened. Ecstatically, they promised not to watch the commotion.

Before getting off the carriage, Bai Qingyan saw Hongqiao kneeling properly at the gate of the Duke’s mansion, and she narrowed her eyes.

In her previous life, Bai Qingyan had seen Hongqiao in King Liang’s residence. This maid was very loyal to King Liang. Later, King Liang went to Pingshan to suppress bandits, and Hongqiao sacrificed herself to the bandit leader, helping King Liang eliminate the bandits in one swoop. But Hongqiao ultimately died in Pingshan.

It was commendable that King Liang thought highly enough of her to send someone as trusted as Hongqiao.

Seeing the elegantly decorated carriage slowly stop at the front gate, Hongqiao’s hands tightened at her sides.

Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan off the carriage, with Bai Jintong following closely behind.

“Miss Bai has arrived…” The crowd murmured.

Ignoring Hongqiao, who was kneeling on the ground, Bai Qingyan walked straight up the high steps of the Duke’s mansion. Hongqiao, in a panic, inched forward on her knees, quickly calling out, “Miss Bai, I am a maid from King Liang’s mansion, Hongqiao! I know Miss Bai is angry with His Highness because of my shameless service to him, so you cut off ties with His Highness! You refused to accept the Jade Pendant from His Highness… even when he was gravely injured and came to see you personally, you didn’t meet him!”

Bai Jintong’s eyes widened, about to speak up, but she was stopped by Bai Qingyan, who turned and held her hand.

Hongqiao cried even more pitifully, “Miss Bai… I am just a lowly maid. Though I admire His Highness, I only hope to serve by his side. I have no other extravagant hopes! His Highness’s heart is only for Miss Bai. How can Miss Bai harm your relationship with His Highness over a humble, disgraceful maid like me? Because you refused to meet him, His Highness, overwhelmed with anger, coughed up blood upon returning. I am truly helpless, begging Miss Bai to save His Highness! Today, I swear by my life… I will no longer obstruct you and His Highness. I only ask Miss Bai to forgive him!”

Finishing, Hongqiao pulled out the hairpin from her head and aimed it at her heart.

From the crowd, Bai Jinzhi was quick to act. The whip’s cracking sound filled the air, precisely striking Hongqiao’s wrist, sending the hairpin flying far away! Bai Jinzhi then controlled Hongqiao.

Rage flared up in Bai Qingyan’s heart, her eyes revealing a fierce coldness.

For King Liang, this Hongqiao was willing to sacrifice everything. Not only was she eloquent, but she also tried to establish that she and King Liang had an affair.

“What a vicious tactic!” Bai Jintong gritted her teeth. If it weren’t for Eldest Young Lady being prepared and instructing Bai Jinzhi to watch from the crowd, if Hongqiao had really died in front of the Duke’s mansion, even a thousand explanations from Eldest Young Lady wouldn’t have cleared her name.

“Miss Bai, His Highness cannot be without you! This foolish maid didn’t know what else to do! A worthless life like mine can only plead with death for Miss Bai to ease her anger! Please forgive His Highness!” Hongqiao cried hysterically.

The onlookers murmured, as if uncovering a shocking secret.

This seemingly upright Miss Bai appeared to have an affair with King Liang.

Hongqiao’s words turned Chun Tao’s face livid with anger. Publicly, this maid implied that their Miss Bai had an affair with King Liang! Chun Tao couldn’t help but resent Chun Yan even more: “Say another word, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

“Let her speak. If she doesn’t, how would I know what’s going on…” Bai Qingyan glanced at the old woman at the door, calmly smiling, “Bring me a chair.”@@novelbin@@

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