Chapter 120
Chapter 120: Their Beautiful Dream
Compared to Luo Chong Ye, Luo Ning understood her mother much better.
When he gave that unclear smile, Madam Bai’s heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay calm as she said: “Lord Marquis, why are you laughing?”
He said: “Go on. Why would A’Ning try to stir things up?”
Madam Bai said: “Her maiden home is too much of a burden. She cannot wait for the Cui family to accept her as their adopted daughter so she can climb up the social ladder and marry into Prince Yong’s manor. You do not know this yet, do you? Miss Cui especially came to visit her last time. They were likely talking about big matters like this.”
Luo Chong Ye said: “Everyone knows what her status and background are.”
Madam Bai said: “What does that matter? Many of the ladies in the Imperial Palace were born low and were taken in as adopted daughters by noble clans. Do they not still call themselves young ladies of prestigious clans? All they want is an empty name. A’Ning cannot wait for the family to fall apart. She even misleads people on purpose, saying she is not your daughter, hoping you will drive her away so she can get free.”
When Luo Chong Ye thought over her words carefully, they seemed very reasonable, yet also complete nonsense.
It was because Madam Bai had made an assumption first. She assumed that Luo Ning wanted to break away from the Luo family, then explained everything based on that assumption. If one was not careful, one would be led astray by her and feel that what she said made sense.
Why would Luo Ning cut ties with the Luo family and go be Madam Cui’s adopted daughter? The Luo family had a proper Marquis Manor. She was the young lady of the Marquis Manor. Why would she give that up to be an adopted daughter?
If the assumption did not hold, what Madam Bai said was laughable.
Thinking back a little, Luo Chong Ye realized that every time Madam Bai argued her way out, she used this same trick, which was why he was always persuaded in the end.
Luckily, Luo Ning had told him in advance that Madam Bai would definitely make a fuss over “Luo Ning’s blood ties with the Luo family” so she could cover up the problems with Luo Yin and Bai Ci Rong.
Luo Chong Ye asked: “You are saying A’Ning framed you?”
Madam Bai said: “Of course.”
Luo Chong Ye said: “But A’Ning did not say anything.”
Madam Bai said: “…She hinted at it.”
Luo Chong Ye asked: “Even if you were once engaged, what does that have to do with anything? Just like we said back at the Thirty-li Post Station, that was something from more than twenty years ago. How could that count as a hint? What exactly did she hint at?”
For a moment, Madam Bai was at a loss for words. She said: “Lord Marquis, th-this is not how it was…”
Luo Chong Ye said: “A’Ning also said your niece looks like that Qiu fellow. What does it have to do with you who your niece looks like?”
Madam Bai could not help it as her expression changed. She bit her lip without thinking, and her fingers clenched together tightly.
Luo Chong Ye went on asking: “Tell me, why do you think A’Ning framed you? You claimed to be sick and would not leave the house, yet you still went to the Thirty-li Post Station. Was that also A’Ning’s fault? Did I ever tell you that you were not allowed to go see our son off?”
Madam Bai lifted her eyes and stared at him in shock.
He had always had a hot temper. After just a few words, his anger would be stirred and all he knew was how to lose his temper. The speech she had prepared beforehand was meant to poke at him with every word: your daughter looks down on your status and position. The meaning was clear without being said outright. Luo Chong Ye would understand and would surely fly into a rage.
He had always been stubborn and slow to think, which was why he could be played with so easily. Because of that, he had not earned any future in all these years and had to rely on his daughter to receive his noble rank. He was reckless and foolish. She thought to herself: [How did this fool suddenly become sharp?]
Madam Bai suddenly let tears fall as she said: “Lord Marquis, you still suspect me?”
Luo Chong Ye looked at her. When she could argue, she had a thousand excuses. When she could no longer argue, she started to cry. She would talk about how much she had suffered for the Luo family and for Luo Chong Ye, bearing him children and managing the inner residence.
Luo Chong Ye stood up and said: “Madam Bai, not only do I suspect you, I am going to interrogate you. I will not let a single one of the people around you go.”
Tears were still on Madam Bai’s cheeks, but her expression twisted with rage as she shouted: “You dare! My brother is still in Shengjing. If you beat my people and force a confession out of them, my brother will go to file a complaint before the throne. We will drag each other down. My brother has already built a path into the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor. With the Wang family to rely on, we are not afraid of you covering the sky with one hand. Luo Chong Ye, if you have the guts, send my people to the government office and let them be interrogated there. If you use private torture, any evidence you get will be fake. What servants can stand up to their master’s questioning?”
Luo Chong Ye froze. Of course he could not report this to the authorities. Even if he did not think of Luo Ning’s reputation, he still had his own face to consider.
Madam Bai said angrily: “I am not afraid to tell you, my brother’s business venture with his partners is about to be chosen as an Imperial Merchant. Luo Chong Ye, I, Madam Bai, am not someone you can beat or kill as you please. If you kill your wife over something that does not even exist, you will land in prison.”
When she could no longer argue, she turned to threats.
Luo Chong Ye clenched his teeth hard and said: “Do you think I have no way to deal with you?”
Madam Bai said: “I am innocent, so why are you fighting me to the death? It is that heartless daughter who wants to murder her own kin. She will not even spare her own brother. For the sake of her future, she has lost all humanity. We are enjoying the benefits she brought us, and she cannot accept it. She has already become twisted.”
Luo Chong Ye said: “…”
Only after he walked out of the courtyard did he realize that he had once again let Madam Bai’s last words get to him. It was because Luo Ning truly did hold a grudge over the noble rank. She had asked him several times to go give it up himself.
But that was not right! Now, everything Madam Bai said had to be taken in reverse. She was not innocent.
After leaving, Luo Chong Ye told an old maidservant to open the Chuihua Gate, then went to sleep in the outer study.
After he left, Madam Bai looked at Nanny Zhen.
Nanny Zhen promised her: “Madam, this old servant will not say even half a word.”
Madam Bai said: “I believe you. You must take care of yourself. If anything happens to you at a time like this, it will be even harder for me to explain.”
Nanny Zhen agreed.
Leaning against the neck bolster, Madam Bai said: “I am only waiting for the Imperial Merchant matter to be settled. Once we have the Imperial Merchant status and I give Luo Chong Ye some more money, that man will not care about anything.”
Luo Chong Ye was far too easy to control. Now that he had his noble rank, he wanted more money and more women. As long as she could keep him pressed down for now and stop him from going mad, Madam Bai could plan how to get rid of him and remove this threat forever. She wondered silently: [When will the Imperial Merchant list be decided? One month should be enough, right?]
In the inn, Bai Ci Rong, Bai Yu Lin, and Qiu Shi Dong were also awake late into the night. The three of them went over the lies they had woven before, again and again, correcting each other’s mistakes to make sure nothing could go wrong.
Bai Ci Rong said: “Father, we should still bring Mother out. I am really afraid the Luo family will harm her.”
Qiu Shi Dong said: “At this critical moment, I am afraid we cannot.”
He added: “The Luo family would not dare do anything. They have no proof at all.”
Luo Yin was already dead. Without him, they lacked a witness. But without him, it was also possible to change the story about the resemblance.
In truth, Luo Yin had not looked that much like Qiu Shi Dong. He had been gone for so long that they could no longer compare them side by side. There was some resemblance, but now it was hard to say clearly.
Bai Ci Rong said: “Father, I will only feel at ease once the Imperial Merchant title is settled. What is the Luo family compared to that?” She held the greatest hope for this matter and asked: “Father, there should be no mistake this time, right?”
Qiu Shi Dong said: “It is as good as done. Your Majesty usually will not bother with it. The Ministry of Revenue will submit the list, and the record-keeping eunuch will stamp and approve it. Memorials for such small matters will not even reach the Emperor’s desk.”
Bai Ci Rong felt much more at ease. She let out a long breath.
Qiu Shi Dong went on: “Father also has another good piece of news for you. The Wang family is willing to take you in as their adopted daughter and send you into the palace.”
Bai Ci Rong was overjoyed and said: “It really worked?”
Qiu Shi Dong said: “Last time, you met the Marquis of Jian Ning. He said your looks are outstanding and that you are sure to win. In the past, the Emperor favored the Noble Consort, and later he doted on Consort Li. But recently he has cooled off toward Consort Li and is lacking something new. Your looks and temperament are different from Consort Li’s. Maybe Your Majesty will become obsessed with what he has not seen before.”
Bai Ci Rong was filled with joy and said: “Father, I have been waiting for this day. Once I rise to power, I will definitely wipe out the Luo family and Luo Ning in one net. She will never become Princess Consort Yong!”