Chapter 151
Chapter 151: Bai Ci Rong Gets Beaten
The banquet at the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor had begun grandly and ended perfectly, with host and guests all delighted.
However, just after the banquet dispersed, Madam Wang slapped Bai Ci Rong across the face.
Bai Ci Rong’s legs went weak and she fell to the ground: “Madam, why did you hit me?”
Madam Wang could not even be bothered to look at her. She only said to the maidservant: “Go invite the Lord Marquis.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning had also been at the banquet today.
But when the incident happened, he had not gone over to see. He had only heard a few words from the servants.
At that moment, he was seeing guests off, escorting two honored guests to the door.
Before he returned to the inner courtyard, the Madam’s maidservant hurriedly ran over to find him: “Madam has hit Fifth Miss.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning rubbed his forehead and went into the inner courtyard.
Earlier, Luo Xuan had said that Luo Wan was in trouble, and Luo Ning had hurriedly said some vague words, drawing everyone over to watch the commotion.
When they reached the small courtyard, Luo Wan and Bai Ci Rong were grappling in the yard.
Bai Ci Rong’s outer jacket had been pulled right off. To say her clothes were in disarray was not wrong at all.
The Luo family’s Second Madam asked what was going on.
Luo Wan said: “Elder Sister received the ‘Qingque Art of War’ diagram from the ‘Four Marvels’ formation diagram, given by the Prince. I had never seen it before, so I curiously took it to look at.
“On the way, I ran into Yu Zhuo. He heard Second Sister and me talking about the Qingque Art of War diagram and actually asked about it in curiosity. After that, my Art of War diagram was gone.
“I was frantic. It is a treasure. I followed all the way over here and found the two of them sneaking about in the room. Maybe they were hiding my formation diagram!”
Spoken this way, Luo Wan sounded like a naive, spoiled little daughter.
She had mentioned two especially attention-grabbing points:
First, the formation diagram of incomparable value.
Second, that Bai Ci Rong and Yu Zhuo had just been in the room together.
Regardless of the formation diagram, with Bai Ci Rong’s outer jacket off at that moment, seen by the guests, and with Luo Wan saying all this, how could people not start imagining things?
Later, when they searched, they actually found the formation diagram by the back window of the small courtyard.
This matter stirred up quite a bit of gossip.
“…It is not that big a matter. Why get angry?” the Marquis of Jian Ning said.
“You still call this ‘not a big matter’?” Madam Wang asked angrily.
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “We have already been as benevolent and righteous as we can. From now on, this adopted daughter will be handed back to Bai Yu Lin. How he deals with her is his business. To the outside, we will just say that Fifth Miss is being kept in the inner quarters.”
After Bai Ci Rong’s disgrace today, people would certainly talk. The Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor would not send her into the palace anymore.
The Marquis of Jian Ning had taken Bai Yu Lin and Qiu Shi Dong’s money and would not return it. After all, it was Bai Ci Rong herself who had made a mistake, not the Marquis Manor going back on its word.
For the Marquis of Jian Ning’s manor, this was not much of a loss.
Besides, they had received countless gifts for this hairpin ceremony.
The Marquis of Jian Ning was not very angry, because Bai Ci Rong’s loss of face was limited. She had not been caught entwined with Yu Zhuo in a room.
“…Even if she is shut away in the inner quarters, she is still carrying the title of our Marquis Manor’s young lady, and I am embarrassed alongside her,” Madam Wang was still dissatisfied.
Bai Ci Rong began to cry: “Lord Marquis, Madam, you cannot treat me like this. I did nothing wrong.”
“Everyone heard you and Yu Zhuo in the room.”
“I, I only…” Bai Ci Rong was at a loss for words. “I want to see my father!”
Madam Wang flicked her sleeve and said to the Marquis of Jian Ning: “Lord Marquis, you decide. I will not involve myself in this matter. Only remember one thing: for the sake of the Marquis Manor’s reputation, do not do something foolish.”
She turned and left.
The Marquis of Jian Ning looked at Bai Ci Rong, also angry at her failure to live up to expectations.
Soon, Bai Yu Lin and Qiu Shi Dong came in.
Bai Ci Rong was crying pitifully, tears all over her face.
Bai Yu Lin had already heard about the matter and was a bit uneasy: “Lord Marquis, this does not count as such a serious affair, does it? The two of them already knew each other and just spoke a few words together…”
“With the words ‘in a room together’ and ‘seen with disheveled clothing’, I cannot give a clear explanation to Your Majesty and the Censorate,” the Marquis of Jian Ning said. “Take her back with you. She must not show her face in the capital city. We will not confine her. To the outside, we will say that Fifth Miss is ill and resting in seclusion.”
“No, I do not want to go back,” Bai Ci Rong cried. “I cannot waste my best years.”
Qiu Shi Dong frowned slightly.
After a moment, he said to Bai Yu Lin: “Take our niece down to rest for a while. I will speak with the Lord Marquis.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning did not mind talking with Qiu Shi Dong.
This man was clever, sharp, and bold, unlike Bai Yu Lin, who was timid and annoying.
“…Lord Marquis, A’Rong is still of use,” Qiu Shi Dong said.
The Marquis of Jian Ning waved his hand: “Do not bring this up again. It was a perfectly good banquet, yet instead of sitting on the high platform she ran down to secretly meet a man. That is her fault.”
“It is all her fault, and no one else’s,” Qiu Shi Dong said. “But Lord Marquis, think about what kind of person Your Majesty is.”
The Marquis of Jian Ning picked up his tea to moisten his throat: “What about Your Majesty?”
“I have heard that in the past, the late emperor disliked Your Majesty. Some court officials followed the wind and also slandered him. This is a sore spot in Your Majesty’s heart,” Qiu Shi Dong said.
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “That is indeed so.”
“Then we can make an issue out of ‘slander’,” Qiu Shi Dong said. “Keep A’Rong for another year or so. Once today’s matter has passed, say that she was slandered and forced to be kept in the inner quarters.
“Her looks are extraordinary. Lord Marquis, it will be hard to find a woman more outstanding than she is. Such beauty is rare to begin with. She is also clever and has no one to rely on besides the Marquis Manor.
“If she bears the labels of ‘persecuted’ and ‘slandered’, would Your Majesty not feel even more pity when he sees her?”
The Marquis of Jian Ning fell silent.
Qiu Shi Dong really was a smooth talker. He had even come up with such a tricky plan.
“This is too risky.”
“Lord Marquis, for a hundred years the Marquis Manor has never stopped forming alliances with the imperial clan. There has always been a Wang family consort in the Imperial Palace. At this time, one is missing,” Qiu Shi Dong said.
The Marquis of Jian Ning looked at him again.
This man was truly perceptive. He knew everything.
He was very clear on the Wang family’s weak spot.
“Lord Marquis, keeping such a pitiful, delicate girl costs you nothing. If this gamble pays off, you will not have failed your ancestors, and the family estate will not wither in your hands,” Qiu Shi Dong added.
The Marquis of Jian Ning said: “This matter needs to be considered at length.”
He added: “A’Rong will stay for now. It is getting late. You can come to fetch her in a few days.”
Letting her stay for now meant he had been moved by Qiu Shi Dong’s words.
Qiu Shi Dong bowed: “Thank you, Lord Marquis.”
For the time being, Bai Ci Rong did not have to leave.
Qiu Shi Dong carefully instructed her: “Endure and calm yourself. Rest well for a year or so. Hone your zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, along with your singing, dancing, and needlework.”
He looked at her again and said: “A’Rong, you are not entirely wronged today. Do not tell me you did nothing at all.”
“I…”
“What did you do?” Qiu Shi Dong asked again. “If you will not be honest, then come back to Huzhou with me, find some local gentry to marry, and spend your whole life looking up to Luo Ning.”
Bai Ci Rong shuddered hard and knelt down to Qiu Shi Dong.
“Father, I will not. You said you would help me to wealth and honor,” she said.
When she came from Huzhou, she had not thought of any of this.
At that time, she had only wanted to stay by her mother’s side and accompany her for a few years.
But the Marquis Manor had enlarged her appetite.
Before she could get into a position of power, Luo Ning returned and targeted her everywhere, beating her down until she was like a drenched chicken.
In truth, if Luo Ning could only give way a little and give her thirty percent of the benefits, she and Luo Ning could have gotten along, and they would both have been fine.
But Luo Ning refused. She was overbearing and selfish. She insisted on destroying Bai Ci Rong.
Time and again, Bai Ci Rong tried to fight back against her, and every time she failed.
Becoming the Wang family’s adopted daughter and entering the palace was her only chance. As for Luo Ning, she was going to become Princess Consort Yong.
For the rest of her life, whenever Bai Ci Rong thought of her, there would be a thorn in her heart, leaving her restless day and night. She had no way to return to Huzhou. She had to attain wealth and status.
She wanted to trample Luo Ning under her feet.
“Then tell me the truth,” Qiu Shi Dong said.