Wu Caiwei lay back down as if nothing had happened, continuing to sleep.
Zheng Yiming was in unbearable pain, but such matters were not suitable for making a scene. He could only return to his courtyard as if nothing had happened, tossing and turning with pain all night.
Bai Jinxiu got up before dawn, intending to catch them in the act, escalate the situation, and make Bai Xue unable to hold her head up. In the end, she would obediently hand over the Bai family's assets, her shop, and the formulas to the Zheng family.
As soon as dawn broke, she gathered a group of wet nurses and maids and hurried towards Wu Caiwei's courtyard.
Although the maids and wet nurses did not know what had happened, they had to obey the madam's orders. As they approached the entrance to the cousin's courtyard, they felt something was amiss. The four gates were wide open, and there was not a single servant in the courtyard. They wondered what the madam was up to, but could only follow quickly.
Bai Jinxiu kicked open the door to Wu Caiwei's room and quickly went to the bed, pulling back the quilt.
Wu Caiwei was sleeping soundly and was very displeased at being disturbed from her dream. She frowned, opened her eyes, covered herself with the quilt, ignored Bai Jinxiu's shocked gaze, and asked in confusion, "Aunt, what's wrong? Why have you brought so many people?"
Bai Jinxiu immediately realized that things were not as she had imagined. She feigned concern and said, "I heard this morning that your courtyard gate was open, and I was worried. You are a young lady of marriageable age, and if anything happened to you, I would die a thousand deaths. I hurried to bring them to see you, so that I could help if there was any trouble."
"Then thank you very much, Aunt. Nothing has happened here, and I want to continue sleeping. Can Auntie take them out now?" Wu Caiwei saw her pretending to be ignorant and did not expose her.
"Oh, oh, alright." Bai Jinxiu was stunned for a moment and quickly agreed.
The maids and wet nurses were confused, thinking that the madam was quite concerned about Miss Bai.
Bai Jinxiu walked last, with one foot already out of the door. She couldn't help but look back and ask, "Did nothing special happen last night?"
"What does Auntie mean? Are you asking if any ruffians came in?" Wu Caiwei said casually.
"So, something did happen?" Bai Jinxiu immediately seized the opportunity, looking at her with questioning eyes.
"Oh, if you mean that, then yes. As soon as I lay down, a ruffian broke in. I was so scared that I didn't even see what he looked like before I used all my strength to beat him up and throw him out." Wu Caiwei's light words made Bai Jinxiu's body stiffen.
Without dwelling on it, she rushed to her son's courtyard, wanting to know how badly her son was injured.
When she saw Zheng Yiming, his face was already pale with pain, and he was trembling all over.
She quickly summoned a doctor, cursing Wu Caiwei fiercely in her heart for being so heavy-handed.
"This young master's injuries are quite serious and require good rest. I will write a prescription. Please send someone to my clinic to get the medicine, three times a day." Although the doctor was curious as to who had been so heavy-handed, those in his profession were most wary of prying into others' private affairs.
"Thank you very much, Doctor." Bai Jinxiu had the butler escort the doctor away and sent a wet nurse with her to the clinic to fetch the medicine.
When no one else was around, she dared to complain, "This Bai Xue is really something, to be so heavy-handed. Once she enters our Zheng family, I will make her pay for it with her blood."
"Mother, don't you see her ferocious appearance? She beat me up like this. Why do you still want me to marry her? If we live together in the future, will she vent her anger on me if anything displeases her? I want to live for a few more years and don't want to be beaten to death by her." If Zheng Yiming had any affection for Bai Xue before, it was because he thought Bai Xue was gentle and lovely. But now she was like a tigress, and the thought alone was terrifying.
"Don't you understand our family's situation? If we don't marry her, we'll have to return her family's assets. How can we afford that?" Bai Jinxiu didn't want to mistreat her son, but there was no other way.
"I'm scared just thinking about her now. Isn't there any other way?" Zheng Yiming trembled at the thought of her ferocity when she hit people.
"There is a way, but I'm afraid you won't be willing to do it." Bai Jinxiu said hesitantly.
"What way? Mother, please tell me." Zheng Yiming's eyes widened with anticipation when he heard there was a possibility.
Bai Jinxiu remained silent and made a throat-slitting gesture.
When Zheng Yiming saw this, his neck stiffened. After a moment's hesitation, he muttered in a low voice, "If there's really no other way, then so be it. But we must not leave any traces and let anyone see through it."
"Of course. We want money, but we can't sacrifice ourselves. This matter needs to be done quickly. To maintain the household expenses, I have already sold a lot of my dowry. My dowry is running out, and if I don't get more money soon, I'll have to sell our property." Bai Jinxiu was also worried. The master never bothered himself with these matters and had even asked her for money to gamble last night.
When she said she had no money, he didn't believe her. He searched the house and took all the remaining money, then went to gamble again.
The commotion yesterday was quite big, and Zheng Yiming had heard about it. He felt a headache thinking about his unreliable father. If it weren't for him, the family wouldn't be in this state. He couldn't help but resent his mother. He couldn't even control his father, and impatiently said, "Can't you try to persuade him? The family is already in this state, and he still gambles all day."
Bai Jinxiu also felt wronged. She knew everyone behind her back was laughing at her for not being able to control her husband, but she had tried to persuade him and spoken to him, but he just wouldn't listen. What else could she do?
"What can I do? If I say too much, I get beaten. As his only son, you are important in his heart. Why don't you try to persuade him?" Bai Jinxiu thought this idea was getting better and better, looking at him with eager eyes.
"I'd better not. You can't persuade him, and as a son, I can only obey my father." Zheng Yiming, thinking of his father's hot temper, might beat him up too if he said too much. He got cold feet when his mother suggested he do it.
"Then you rest well." Bai Jinxiu sighed and carefully instructed the maids and wet nurses to take good care of the young master before leaving quickly. She still had many things to deal with and could not stay here all the time. Su Dan Novel Network.
A few days later, Bai Jinxiu had someone summon Wu Caiwei. Looking at her, she said earnestly, "Time flies, and you've grown up. If your brother were still alive, seeing how well-behaved and beautiful his daughter is, how relieved he would be!"
Wu Caiwei watched her monologue silently.
"Old Mrs. Li, who visited our home last time, took a liking to you and wants to propose to our family. I haven't agreed immediately, as I want to get your opinion first. However, I must clarify beforehand that the young master of the Li family is good in everything, except for his health. He could die at any moment, so you must consider it carefully." Seeing Wu Caiwei's lack of cooperation, Bai Jinxiu got straight to the point.