As she reached the courtyard gate, she suddenly remembered, "Didn't Si Ru go out with her? Why hasn't she returned? Could she have had an accident too?" She anxiously grabbed Lin Mama, who was nearby, and said, "Quick, send someone to look for her and tell her to come back quickly. Don't provoke that Eldest Princess, or she'll be the one to suffer!"
Lin Mama was also worried and immediately nodded, instructing people to search outside.
At this moment, Bai Si Ru, who was happily at the Feng residence, had no idea that something had happened at the Bai family.
When the Bai mansion's servants found their way to the Feng family, Bai Si Ru was already a bit tipsy. Upon hearing about Bai Si Han being beaten, she was so startled that her drunkenness vanished.
"Is she alright?"
"When the Second Miss was carried back, she was covered in blood. I don't know how she is now. The First Madam sent us to find you and hurry back."
"Let's go, let's go," Bai Si Ru said, about to leave. She suddenly remembered the people behind her, and with an apologetic smile, said, "There's an urgent matter at home, so I'll leave first. Let's gather again another day."
Xiao Mu Qian was worried that she would be reprimanded by her elders if she went home in this state. After thinking for a moment, he followed her, saying, "I'll take you home."
His firm tone made it impossible for Bai Si Ru to refuse, so she could only let him have his way.
After they left, the gathering naturally had to disperse. Su Cheng volunteered to escort Xu Ming Yue home, but was intimidated by Feng Er's gaze, as if he had done something wrong. In the end, he could only pretend to be drunk and stay overnight at the Feng family, and was "helped" away by Yin Can Wen.
Thus, the good deed of escorting Xu Ming Yue home fell upon Feng Er.
Feng Jin Yao stared at her second brother for a while before admonishing him, "There's a lot of gossip outside. After you've seen Sister Xu home, come back quickly. I have something to tell you."
Feng Er felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by her. On the other hand, Xu Ming Yue was open and honest, not allowing anyone to look down on her.
"Sister Xu, be careful on your journey. We'll meet again another day."
"Mm."
After Feng Er and Xu Ming Yue's departing figures gradually disappeared, the smile on Feng Jin Yao's lips finally receded. The beating of the Bai family's daughter was unexpected, but given the Eldest Princess of Chang Lin's temperament, Bai Si Han must have ruined her good deed, which is why she acted this way.
It seemed the Wen family was about to have a "joyful occasion."
The moon hung high, and the liveliness of the streets gradually subsided, leaving only tens of thousands of lanterns still faintly illuminating the night sky.
Bai Mansion.
At this moment, the courtyard of the third branch was filled with people. It was the first time Prime Minister Bai had stepped into this courtyard, and he never expected it to be for such a reason.
The incident happened at Chang Chun Tower, and it had already spread like wildfire. As for the accusations of disrespecting royalty and offending a princess, they were merely one-sided.
Prime Minister Bai had long heard of the Eldest Princess's reputation. The reason he hadn't impeached her was that he knew it would be useless. How could a princess who held the Emperor's secrets be brought down? Unless she touched upon the Emperor's core interests, everything else was futile.
"How is Si Han?"
After all, she was his granddaughter, and now that her life was hanging by a thread, he had to inquire.
"Four or five doctors have examined her, and they all say it's very dangerous. If she can get through these two or three days, she might live."
The doctors treating her were all renowned physicians in Dongdu City, and their conclusions were similar. It seemed that whether Bai Si Han could survive this ordeal depended on herself.
In the inner room, Madam Shen was crying uncontrollably, her words filled with curses. She dared not confront the princess, and with her father-in-law present outside, she took out her anger on Dong Qing, who had been with Bai Si Han.
"You wretched girl, how could you not die when your mistress was beaten like this?"
Dong Qing's eyes were swollen like walnuts from crying, her cheeks were covered in slap marks, and her lips were bleeding, yet Madam Shen still wouldn't let her go.
As a mere maid, how could she stop the fierce guards of the princess's mansion?
Unfortunately, no matter how much she said, facing Madam Shen's fury, she could only lower her head and endure the beating and scolding without daring to retort.
Princess Wen Yi couldn't stand it any longer and asked the嬷嬷 beside her to take Dong Qing away. The Bai family had no custom of arbitrarily beating servants, and besides, this was not Dong Qing's fault. Why should she bear it all alone?
Madam Shen's anger had not yet subsided, so how could she let Dong Qing leave? During the struggle, even the嬷嬷 beside Princess Wen Yi was hit by her a few times. Prime Minister Bai, hearing the voices of the women inside, who had not been angered for many years, fiercely threw a cup to the ground, splashing the scalding tea everywhere.
Madam Lin, who was about to enter the room, was startled and then heard the commotion inside.
Her expression sank to the bottom of a pot, and she loudly reprimanded, "Are you all deaf? The family is fighting like this, why aren't you quick to pull them apart!"
As soon as she spoke, the servants nearby dared to move. More than a dozen people pulled Madam Shen, while others went to pull Dong Qing and the嬷嬷. The two sides were quickly separated, and Dong Qing's hair was pulled out in several clumps, making it painful to look at.
"Help her down and apply medicine."
Princess Wen Yi glanced at the嬷嬷. Although she was not injured, her complexion was not good. She said, "嬷嬷, you should go and rest too."
"Your old servant obeys."
Inside the room, only Madam Shen was still muttering curses. Bai San Lang, sitting in a fauteuil, clutched the armrest of the chair tightly, his veins bulging. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he got up, entered the inner room, and knocked the frenzied Madam Shen to the ground.
A crisp slap finally silenced her.
"If you speak out of line again, I will divorce you. Han'er needs to rest, and you should tidy yourself up too."
His words were cold, with no hint of comfort, but rather a disdain for her appearance, which had embarrassed him in front of his father, sister-in-law, and sister-in-law.
Madam Shen covered her cheek. She didn't need to look to know it must be swollen high. Bai San Lang's strength was so great that she felt dizzy. Looking at her husband in this state, Madam Shen's immense resentment subsided at once.
She turned to look at Bai Si Han, who showed no reaction, and rushed over to start weeping. At this moment, only a mother's heart remained, with no trace of her previous arrogance and shrewishness.
"Sister-in-law, please forgive me."
"Third brother... you should offer more comfort. Sister-in-law has also had a difficult time."
Lin Shi couldn't articulate her feelings at the moment. She and her husband had always been loving, and although they occasionally bickered, it was just part of their marital fun. She saw that her fourth brother and sister-in-law were the same, as were her eldest brother and sister-in-law. However, she never expected her third brother to be such a person.
Madam Shen was vulgar, unbearable, snobbish, and eager to climb the social ladder, but her feelings for Bai Si Han were genuine.
On the other hand, this third brother, his daughter was in trouble, yet he showed no anxiety or anger, nor did he seek revenge. He only took his anger out on his wife and cared only about his own reputation. It was truly pathetic.
For the first time, she looked at Madam Shen with an indescribable pity.
By the time Bai Si Ru entered, she had sobered up. She had heard a lot from the servant on the way, and her complexion was not good. Upon seeing Prime Minister Bai, she immediately knelt down.