Chapter 124
Chapter 124: A Dog Without A Home
Qiu Shi Dong believed that he had already seen all kinds of storms.
In the provinces, even the local prefects had to show him some respect when they saw him.
When he dealt with powerful nobles, each side took what they needed: they wanted real silver, and Qiu Shi Dong wanted their backing and the title of Imperial Merchant.
He never thought it would all fall through.
The Marquis of Jian Ning had clearly taken so much of their silver!
Bai Yu Lin finally spoke up from the side: “Lord Marquis, this… can we still turn it around? We cannot wait another four years.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning’s face sank.
Bai Yu Lin asked again: “Lord Marquis, we just need this title. It is only an empty name, just to add some shine. Now that the list has just been set, if the Dou family falls, will we have a chance?”
The Marquis of Jian Ning’s face grew even darker: “Foolish! How could anyone on that list not have someone behind them? This list was copied out and handed to me directly by the recording eunuch. It is not the one I submitted at all.”
There were people behind them, and they were more powerful than the Marquis of Jian Ning.
Bai Yu Lin was still unwilling to give up and said: “Lord Marquis, you are a great noble, and you see farther than we do. How can we turn this around? Can we make the Dou family commit some kind of mistake?”
The Marquis of Jian Ning burst out in anger: “You are still talking about the Dou family? No matter what they do, the people behind them will put the blame on us.”
In short, they had their connections, and Madam Dou had hers.
The Emperor had already scolded the Marquis of Jian Ning. Would he really stir up trouble for the sake of two merchants?
Of course not.
But in the end, he had taken their money.
If they did not give the money to him, they could give it to his enemies and still attack him just the same.
For example, Madam Cui.
When the Marquis of Jian Ning thought of this, he calmed down a little.
He looked at Qiu Shi Dong, who had stayed silent all this time, and softened his tone: “There is no hope of becoming Imperial Merchant this year. But I can greet the local authorities and give you a few more salt permits.”
Qiu Shi Dong gave a bitter smile.
The number of salt permits was fixed, and the profits were already divided.
If he got more, others would get less. They would not dare make trouble for the government office, but they could still come after Qiu Shi Dong.
Those who dealt in smuggled salt had only desperate men under them. Which of them could Qiu Shi Dong afford to offend?
This favor was as good as nothing.
Qiu Shi Dong cupped his hands in a bow and said: “Lord Marquis, I have no wish apart from the Imperial Merchant title. Since this cannot be done, then please put more effort into sending my niece into the palace.”
He stepped aside to give way to Bai Ci Rong.
The Marquis of Jian Ning glanced at him.
That look was full of meaning.
Bai Yu Lin hurried to speak: “Yes, my little girl will rely on you for everything, Lord Marquis.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “Go back for now. In a few days, I will send someone to bring your daughter here.”
He finally sent the two of them away.
The Marquis of Jian Ning then discussed the matter with his wife.
Madam Wang said: “I have already met that Miss Bai. She once had a name as a talented young lady, but later people said it was all fake. Grand Princess Jia Hong dislikes her very much, and her reputation is poor.”
When Grand Princess Jia Hong and Madam Pei were mentioned, the Marquis of Jian Ning gave a cold snort.
He looked very disdainful.
Madam Wang went on: “…But that young lady really is very beautiful. No man would dislike her. She is also quick and pleasing. If she could stay by His Majesty’s side, she could speak for us on the pillow. A merchant’s daughter is easy to handle. I have been searching for the right candidate lately. The two girls we sent into the palace before did not gain any favor. They are clearly beautiful, yet His Majesty will not even look at them.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “I do not recall a girl of this type ever gaining favor in the Imperial Palace.”
Madam Wang said: “That Miss Bai looks very much like our eldest young miss. Back when they were choosing a Crown Princess, His Majesty almost picked her. It was the Empress Dowager who blocked it. All these years, His Majesty has favored the Noble Consort, and because of that, Consort Li and the others also enjoyed favor. But from the looks of it, His Majesty is tired of that ‘dish’ now. This Miss Bai looks somewhat like our eldest young miss. Maybe this is her good fate. Let us gamble on her luck.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning had also met Bai Ci Rong.
A man’s eyes were sharp when it came to women. Bai Ci Rong truly could hook a man’s soul. Her temperament was good, her manner gentle and soft, and she was even more sensible and tactful than many real noble-born young ladies.
She should have a bright future.
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “We will choose her, then. Give her a new name and have her registered under Fourth Master’s name as his daughter.”
Fourth Master of the Wang family had spent these last years traveling for pleasure, and his whereabouts were uncertain.
Since the Marquis of Jian Ning wanted to raise an adopted daughter, he would borrow the story of Fourth Master’s illegitimate daughter born outside and bring Bai Ci Rong back under that name.
Madam Wang agreed and went off to handle it.
At the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor, Bai Ci Rong and Madam Bai waited anxiously for news.
They had sent their trusted aide, Steward Nanny Zhen, to the Ministry of Revenue yamen to see what was happening.
But once Nanny Zhen left, she did not return for most of the day, and Madam Bai grew more and more uneasy.
Madam Bai asked: “There will not be any accident, will there?”
Bai Ci Rong said: “Impossible. Father said this matter would be as easy as taking something from a bag.”
Madam Bai took a deep breath.
At dusk, Nanny Zhen finally came back. Her face was full of sorrow, but she forced herself to look steady.
Madam Bai’s heart sank.
Since Nanny Zhen did not look happy, had something really gone wrong?
Nanny Zhen said: “…It is Madam Dou. Their family won it in Chengyan. I saw it myself and could not believe it, so I went to the inn to wait for Master of the House and ask him. Master of the House and the others did not return for a long time. This old servant waited until now. Master of the House said it was indeed an accident. The Imperial Merchant spot is gone.”
Madam Bai could not stand steady and fell straight backward.
How could this be?
How could it turn out like this?
Without the pressure of the Imperial Merchant position, Luo Chong Ye would soon feel that the ties between Bai Yu Lin and the Marquis of Jian Ning were not solid. He might start causing trouble.
Madam Bai had no strength to face him head on. She could only strike him hard when he did not expect it.
Bai Ci Rong and Nanny Zhen hurried to support her and called to her loudly, but Madam Bai felt as if she could not hear them.
Her mind was hazy, and her throat itched. When she gave a hard cough, something rushed up from her throat with a strong, bloody taste.
“Mother, do not scare me.”
Nanny Zhen brought over a bowl of water and said: “Madam, you can still be saved. Master of the House told you not to worry. Please calm down. Here, rinse your mouth.”
Madam Bai’s ears cleared a little.
In her panic, she had actually coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Seeing the handkerchief Bai Ci Rong had thrown on the ground, stained all over with blood, Madam Bai could not stop her tears from falling.
Madam Bai cried and said: “It must be Luo Ning. With her tricks, she turned the years of hard work and huge sums of money that Brother Yun and I put in into nothing. She deserves to die, she really deserves to die!”
Bai Ci Rong also felt bitter and said: “Mother, I told you we should have gotten rid of her earlier. If you had been cruel enough, this disaster would not have happened today.”
Nanny Zhen, who rarely agreed with her, nodded and said: “Yes, the eldest miss has gone too far, Madam. She is trying to dig up the Bai family’s ancestral grave and cut off our roots.”
Tears and snot streamed down Madam Bai’s face.
Nanny Zhen comforted her again: “But Master of the House said that the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor will acknowledge Miss A’Rong as their adopted daughter and send her into the palace at the end of the year.”
Madam Bai grabbed her hand and asked: “Are these words true?”
Nanny Zhen said: “The money was not spent for nothing. The Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor should do this much. Do not worry. Miss A’Rong’s good fortune has arrived.”
Bai Ci Rong said: “Mother, I want to help you get rid of Luo Ning before I leave. I am afraid you will not have anyone to help you. If I leave you, I fear you will be alone and without support.”
She went on: “I cannot wait until the end of the year. Tell Father to put pressure on the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor. They must send me into the palace within three months. I want to see His Majesty. I want boundless power.”
If they waited until Luo Ning’s grand wedding, it would all be too late.
Luo Ning had harmed them so badly. How could they swallow this?
Father and Uncle were both away and could not take revenge on Luo Ning. Only Bai Ci Rong could help her aunt.
She was determined to wipe out this scourge.
She would never let Luo Ning waste all the hard work and money of Qiu Shi Dong and Bai Yu Lin.