Zhan Feiyu was settled in the Jinlong Guard. For her, it was merely a change of residence, and this place was even quieter. Even if someone foolish enough came, they wouldn't dare to venture onto this street.
However, this news spread through the capital like a drop of water falling into a pot of hot oil, causing all the noble families to be unsettled.
"Zhao Hui has returned from the Imperial Academy?" Madam Bai frowned and unpleasantly tossed the flower shears in her hand onto the table.
The maidservant attending in the room immediately stepped forward to help Madam Bai wash her hands. The maidservant who had gone to report followed behind Madam Bai and continued to answer, "Yes, the report from the front courtyard states that the third young master asked for a day's leave from his tutor, claiming to be unwell."
Sitting upright in her armchair, Madam Bai waved for the maidservant serving tea to withdraw. After a moment of silence, she slapped the table in anger, "Unwell? I'm afraid he heard that that lowly girl was taken away by the Jinlong Guard, so he specifically returned to inquire about the news."
Madam Bai's expression was gloomy and stern. Even with her exquisite makeup, she couldn't conceal the fatigue and annoyance in her eyes. Thinking of the discord with her younger son, and how her husband had even warned her that if she didn't restrain herself, he would let her die of illness.
The thought of this made Madam Bai wish she could cut Zhan Feiyu into a thousand pieces. This lowly woman truly clashed with her.
The maidservant cautiously glanced at the furious Madam Bai, deliberated for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "The third young master has a gentle and kind nature and has always remembered Miss Zhan's life-saving grace. However, now that she has entered the Jinlong Guard, let alone our Bai family, any family with some standing would not accept such a girl into their household."
"Who knows what kind of wild girl she is, crawling out from some forgotten corner. Hmph, to be so presumptuous even after arriving in the capital." Madam Bai's taut expression finally relaxed. Thinking of Zhan Feiyu's misfortune, a smile appeared on her face. "No need to worry about Zhao Hui. What news can a scholar who hasn't entered officialdom get? It's good for him to hit a wall. Then he'll know that I, his mother, wanted him to marry a princess for his own good."
Speaking of this, Madam Bai remembered her eldest and second sons who had been sent to distant posts. It was a pity that she couldn't make the decision back then to let her sons marry daughters-in-law from unsuitable families, who couldn't help Zhao Rong and Zhao He in their official careers at all, let alone those poor relatives who came to freeload and drag them down.
Madam Bai had previously hinted at her intentions, but Bai Zhaohui had vehemently opposed it, stating he would rather not marry than marry a princess. Madam Bai was furious.
What was the point of all her scheming? Yet her youngest son didn't understand her maternal love at all and was still concerned about that wild girl surnamed Zhan.
Now, it was good. This lowly girl had entered the Jinlong Guard. Whether she could walk out alive was uncertain. Even if she was unharmed, what kind of place was the Jinlong Guard? A group of heartless beasts who killed without blinking. Although that lowly girl was short and her features hadn't fully developed, she had some beauty. It was likely she was no longer a virgin. Such a slut, even if she used the life-saving grace as a threat, Zhao Hui would never marry her.
Wu'an Marquis Manor. If it weren't for the desire to seek justice for her tragically deceased son, Madam Du, who had been weeping for days, would likely not have been able to hold on. Upon hearing the news, Madam Du burst into laughter. Her bloodshot eyes were like those of a demon, sending shivers down one's spine.
"Haha, good, send someone to guard Jin Yu Street. When that slut's corpse is thrown out, bring it over. I want to make sure that even in death, this slut will atone for my son in the underworld!" Madam Du's hoarse voice was filled with bone-chilling hatred.
Originally, while the person was alive, Madam Du had intended to bury her alive as a sacrifice. But now that she had entered the Jinlong Guard, this slut, who was "available to any man," was not worthy of the You family's ancestral grave.
"Evil people will get their just deserts. Madam, quickly drink this ginseng soup." The嬷嬷 serving her quickly brought over the nourishing soup that had been kept warm on the stove.
Madam Du took the bowl and drank it down in one gulp. But as she thought of her tragically deceased son and then of that slut who had now entered their home, her face instantly twisted in ferocity. "The Marquis let that bastard live in Chunhui Garden?"
The 嬷嬷's hand trembled, almost dropping the empty bowl. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure, handed the bowl to the little maidservant behind her, and then carefully helped Madam Du rinse her mouth before replying, "Madam, you also said that he is merely a bastard. For years, the Marquis has sent him to live on the estate."
Although You Ba Wang was a lecherous, lawless dandy, he was filial to Madam Du. You Ba Wang had always known about the existence of his half-sister and knew that Madam Du had been saddened by it. Therefore, from a young age, You Ba Wang would act up. As long as this sister remained in the Marquis's manor, he would cause trouble, refuse to eat, and lock himself in his room. The most serious incident was when the five-year-old You Ba Wang climbed onto the roof.
Marquis You had only this one precious son. So after a few such incidents, he sent the illegitimate daughter to live on the estate. Years had passed, and only some old noble families still knew that the Wu'an Marquis Manor actually had a young lady. If she were to be officially recognized, she would at least be a county princess.
The 嬷嬷 sometimes thought that this illegitimate daughter was unlucky, to have been born into the Wu'an Marquis Manor. A dignified young lady of the Marquis's household lived on the estate worse than a maidservant.
It was estimated that when she reached the appropriate age, Madam would casually pick a family, provide a dowry of one or two hundred taels of silver, and marry her off. Her future life or death would have nothing to do with the Wu'an Marquis Manor.
But who would have thought that fate would play such tricks? The heir was harmed by someone. After the grief, the Marquis Manor had the steward bring her back from the estate. After all, the mourning hall still needed a young lady to keep vigil.
"Times are different now. Although I am in the inner courtyard, I am not foolish. I know what Princess Rui is planning." Madam Du sneered. Her own Hao Ran's bones had not yet cooled, and Princess Rui had already sent someone to deliver a letter to the Marquis. That bastard was still living in Chunhui Garden.