Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 723 - 676: The Matter is of Great Importance
As soon as Baili Huang entered the mansion, he saw the maid next to his wife waiting at the gate with a lantern.
Her expression was very anxious.
"Second Master, you’re finally back. Second Madam has been waiting for you. Please go back quickly." The maid clearly breathed a sigh of relief.
Baili Huang frowned slightly, "Why so urgent? What exactly happened?"
The maid said, "I can’t say for sure, Madam has been looking at several letters. Perhaps something has happened?"
Looking at several letters?
Baili Huang furrowed his brow even more and went directly to the main room to see Second Madam Baili without changing his clothes.
Second Madam Baili dismissed the maid and pulled Baili Huang into the bedroom, "Husband, let’s talk inside."
Her expression was serious, leaving Baili Huang even more puzzled, "What exactly happened, Madam?"
"You should first look at these letters. The matter is quite serious!" Second Madam Baili took a key from her pocket, unlocked a small drawer, and took out five letters to hand to Baili Huang.
Baili Huang looked at her doubtfully, walked to the chair, sat down, and began to read.
Second Madam Baili poured a cup of tea, placed it by the table, and sat down opposite him. "The letters were brought back by Guoguo; that child is truly our lucky star."
While Baili Huang read the letters, she recounted how Guoguo had obtained them.
Baili Huang looked up at her, his expression growing more grim.
"Madam Xue? Xue Family? Yu Wen Zan?" Baili Huang put away the letters, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I’ve met Yu Wen Zan once; he is the legitimate younger son of Marquis Zhongyi, now serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Why would he want to harm us?"
Second Madam Baili said, "Husband, I don’t understand either. Li San Niang and her husband have also read the letters. They are commoners and don’t understand official matters, but they advised me to ask you to return to the mansion quickly for discussion."
Baili Huang opened the letters again and carefully read them from start to finish, "I will discuss this with my father. He is familiar with court matters and might know the reason behind this."
"Husband!" Second Madam Baili grabbed Baili Huang’s arm, "Yu Wen Zan and Xue Family intend to harm our Baili Mansion, using our sister-in-law’s influence. Ruirui disappeared, and we both got sick in succession; the reason behind this cannot be simple."
Baili Huang squinted, "Our sister-in-law?"
"Our sister-in-law and Xue Family are close friends. Ever since our sister-in-law began associating with Xue Family, both you and I fell ill. If there is no connection, I willingly accept punishment!" Second Madam Baili gritted her teeth and sneered.
Baili Huang held Second Madam Baili’s hand, comforting her, "Rest assured, Madam. I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter. I won’t let our family suffer unjustly!"
The matter was significant. Baili Huang was young and couldn’t see the nuances within, so after comforting his own wife, he immediately went to find Old Master Baili.
The old master was almost seventy years old. From serving as Envoy at thirty, he retired a few years ago, burdened with illnesses from years of hard work.
Now he cared for nothing, just spent his days in the mansion looking after cats, walking dogs, and playing with grandchildren.
But he had served for many years and frequently visited the Capital, familiar with court affairs and had connections with head families in the Capital.
For example, he had met Prince Luling a few times.
During the second watch, Old Master Baili had already retired to bed. Hearing from a servant that Baili Huang had urgent matters to discuss with him, he got up and put on his clothes, "Let him come in quickly."
The servant carried a candlestick and invited Baili Huang into the bedroom.
Baili Huang took the candlestick from the servant’s hand, "You can rest now; I can handle this."
"Yes, Second Master." The servant closed the door and left.
Old Madam Baili was also awakened, yawning on the side of the bed, "What’s the matter, Erlang? Why are you in such a hurry to see your father?"
"Father, Mother, I apologize for disturbing you both. It really shouldn’t have happened, but the matter is too serious." Baili Huang handed those five letters to Old Master Baili.
He placed the candlestick on the bedside table, making the candle brighter for the old master to read the letters.
Old Master Baili quickly finished reading the letters, greatly shocked, "The Yu Wen Family of Marquis Zhongyi? Where did these letters come from?"
Baili Huang repeated what Li Yuzhu had told Second Madam Baili. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
He then asked, "Father, do we have a grudge with the Yu Wen Family?"
Old Master Baili looked at the candle flame, pondering, "A grudge? What kind of grudge? Our Baili Clan has been Northern Liangzhou people for generations, while Marquis Zhongyi’s ancestors are from Jiao State. We are far apart. The Yuwen Clan later settled in the Capital due to their merits following the Grand Ancestor, always pursuing literary affairs, while our Baili Clan has been military officers guarding the borders. What enmity could we have with them?"
"Then why does Yu Wen Zan want to harm our family?" Baili Huang asked again, "Father, could there be another reason?"
Old Master Baili squinted, stroking his beard in deep thought.
At this point, Old Madam Baili suddenly sneered, "If we talk about past grievances, there was one incident worth mentioning."
Baili Huang promptly turned to Old Madam Baili, "Mother, please tell us."
Old Madam Baili spoke of past events, "About the year before last, Prince Luling offended the Emperor, and the Emperor wanted to punish Prince Luling. Yu Wenbo of Marquis Zhongyi listed various faults of Prince Luling, which the Emperor used as a basis to punish him. At that time, your father happened to be in the Capital and objected to Yu Wenbo’s petitions. They argued in the Imperial Study Room, and the Emperor, considering your father’s opinion, did not punish Prince Luling at that time. Unfortunately, later, after your father left the Capital, Prince Luling was still punished."
"That lad Yu Wenbo’s impeachment of Prince Luling was full of baseless accusations. Why shouldn’t I have criticized? Prince Luling helped our family once, and gratitude should be remembered." Old Master Baili huffed, blowing his beard.
"It must be this matter that’s offended Marquis Zhongyi, causing him to let his son come and avenge against our family?" Old Madam Baili shook her head, "Their sinister, narrow-minded nature will surely face retribution!"
Baili Huang thought of another matter his wife had mentioned, "Father, Mother, Yu Wen Zan dispatched a woman to plot against our family. That woman is close to our elder sister-in-law, and since she came to Liangzhou City, Ruirui’s mother began to fall ill."
Being family, he did not explicitly state it.
Whether right or wrong, he let his parents decide.
Old Madam Baili’s eyes widened, "What?"
"Madam Xue, who frequently sends invitations to our elder sister-in-law, is Yu Wen Zan’s agent. Her surname is Xue, and she is from the Capital." Baili Huang continued, "These letters were obtained from her residence."
"That Ms. Wu! What’s she doing? Helping outsiders?" Old Master Baili angrily beat the bed.
As it was late at night, interrogating Ms. Wu immediately would certainly disturb the family’s peace. Baili Huang persuaded his parents to rest early and address the issue in the morning.
He initially intended only to ask his father about the Baili Mansion’s feud with Marquis Zhongyi but ended up asking an additional question about Ms. Wu, angering his parents, leaving Baili Huang feeling quite guilty in his heart.
