Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 42

Chapter 42: No Questions Asked

“Why didn’t you say anything when you came back?!”

The Madam of Dongyang’s voice echoed in the room, starting with a reprimand.

“Why didn’t the people outside say anything either?”

Zhou Jingyun’s voice was laced with a smile: “I told them not to announce it, I wanted to surprise Mother.”

Hearing the word “surprise,” the Madam of Dongyang started crying again: “You unfilial child, you still remember to come back! It’s been years, do you still have this family, your parents in your heart and mind?”

Zhou Jingyun knelt down, supporting the Madam of Dongyang’s arm: “Your son is unfilial.”

The Madam of Ding’an stepped forward to console her: “It’s good that he’s back. Jingyun hasn’t had it easy these past few years outside, he was forced to—”

At this point, she also covered her face and started crying.

The Madam of Dongyang stopped crying and hurriedly comforted her.

Zhou Jingyun bowed solemnly to the Madam of Ding’an: “Jingyun greets Mother-in-law.”

This address of “Mother-in-law” made the Madam of Ding’an both happy and cry even harder. The maids standing nearby all came forward to console her. The Madam of Ding’an then personally helped Zhou Jingyun up, and together with the Madam of Dongyang, they scrutinized him, sighing, “You’ve lost weight.”

Lu Jin had also stood up from the floor and now stepped forward to curtsy.

“Brother-in-law,” she said, her voice choked with tears as she spoke.

Zhou Jingyun glanced at her, nodded, and said, “Let’s sit down and talk if there’s anything.”

Lu Jin looked at him with reddened eyes, then forcefully held back her tears. A beauty with tears in her eyes, she was both charming and pitiful.

Mama Xu led the maids and servants, carrying basins of water, embroidered handkerchiefs, and cosmetic boxes, to help the ladies who had been crying tidy themselves up. The room was bustling and chaotic, but the atmosphere was more cheerful than before.

It was only then that Zhou Jingyun looked at Zhuang Li, who was standing quietly to the side.

Zhuang Li’s gaze met his. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Zhuang Li lowered her head and curtsied.

Zhou Jingyun walked over.

“Madam has returned to Bozhou with Master,” he said softly. “I personally escorted them halfway. Someone from Bozhou came to meet them, and I’ve arranged for the post stations along the way to take care of them.”

Zhuang Li curtsied again: “Young Master is always so reliable.”

Zhou Jingyun paused for a moment and asked, “Have you been alright here these days?”

Before Zhuang Li could answer, the Madam of Dongyang spoke up.

Although the three ladies were surrounded by maids attending to their faces, their eyes were all on Zhou Jingyun. When they saw Zhou Jingyun walk up to Zhuang Li, the two of them exchanged words, their eyes meeting with warmth and tenderness—

Lu Jin had just finished wiping her face when tears couldn’t help but slide down again. While wiping them away with a handkerchief, she turned to the Madam of Ding’an, her voice thick with a nasal tone: “Aunt, Brother-in-law is back. Let’s go back first. Let’s not spoil his reunion.”

The Madam of Ding’an was also looking at them, the powder the maid was applying to her face couldn’t hide the ugliness of her expression. Back then, her daughter and the young master were just like this. Now the old love was nothing but bones, while the new love was smiling like a flower. Her heart was filled with a mix of bitterness, pain, and hatred.

She didn’t want to look, she didn’t want to leave, she just wanted to shout and break up this unbearable scene!

Fortunately, before she could lose her composure, the Madam of Dongyang spoke first.

“Jingyun, come here,” she said, frowning.

Zhou Jingyun nodded at Zhuang Li. Zhuang Li nodded back, watching as Zhou Jingyun walked towards the Madam of Dongyang.

The maids and servants packed up the copper basins, embroidered handkerchiefs, and cosmetic boxes and retreated.

The Madam of Dongyang invited the Madam of Ding’an to sit, then had Lu Jin sit beside her, and finally looked at Zhou Jingyun: “You came back just in time. We’ve encountered some trouble at home.”

She glanced at Zhuang Li, who was standing to the side.

“She—”

“Mother, is it about Li Shilang?” Zhou Jingyun interrupted her. “I heard about it on the road. It’s gotten quite messy with the Shangguan family, the Taiyuan Wang clan, and the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s family. What, is our family involved now too?”

The Madam of Ding’an hurriedly said: “It’s our Wenjie. Wenjie went to visit out of kindness, but ended up being framed by the Li family. Speaking of which, this is also…”

“Madam, there’s no need to explain,” Zhou Jingyun interrupted her again, his voice firm. “The matters of the Ding’an Residence are the matters of the Dongyang Residence. I’ll go to the Grand General Li’s Residence right now.”

The Madam of Dongyang couldn’t help but stand up: “Going right now? Jingyun, the details of what happened…”

Zhou Jingyun shook his head: “The so-called details are just the Li family’s version of events, they can’t be taken seriously. I’ll go talk to the Grand General Li.” He smiled faintly. “We may not be as prestigious as the Shangguan or Wang clans, but guilt can only be determined with evidence. If the Grand General Li insists on framing us, we’re not afraid to take the case to His Majesty.”

After saying this, Zhou Jingyun bowed to the Madam of Ding’an, saying, “Please rest assured, Madam,” and turned to leave.

The Madam of Dongyang called out a few times but couldn’t stop him. She could only watch as her son, who had just entered the door, disappeared from sight again. Of course, she also saw Zhou Jingyun glance at Zhuang Li before he left.

The Madam of Dongyang sighed and said to the Madam of Ding’an, “Let him go, it’s what he should do.”

✿✿✿

The Madam of Ding’an couldn’t sit still: “I’ll go tell the Duke, let him go and see too.”

Lu Jin hesitated beside her, but the Madam of Ding’an snapped, “Don’t bother your godmother here, come back with me quickly.”

Lu Jin lowered her head, wiping her tears and replying, “Yes.”

The Madam of Dongyang hurriedly grabbed her arm: “Let her stay here. She can go back after this matter is resolved, otherwise neither you nor I will be at ease.”

The Madam of Ding’an sighed: “Yes, I don’t dare to let the Old Madam know either.” She bowed to the Madam of Dongyang. “I was anxious just now and spoke out of turn, please don’t be offended, sister. I was truly panicked when Wenjie got into trouble. I’ve already sent off a child with white hair once…”

The last time she sent off a child with white hair was her daughter-in-law. The Madam of Dongyang’s eyes reddened, and she held the Madam of Ding’an’s hand: “How could I blame you? I’m just as worried as you are.”

After sending off the Madam of Ding’an, she had Hongxing take Lu Jin to rest.

“Stay in your old room, get a good sleep, and no more overthinking.”

Lu Jin wiped her tears and followed Hongxing.

Only Zhuang Li was left in the room.

Zhuang Li stood quietly.

The Madam of Dongyang glanced at her.

What else could she say? Just as she opened her mouth, Zhou Jingyun interrupted her.

Her son wouldn’t allow anyone to mention a word about this wife.

Scold this wife? She’d tried two or three times already, but she couldn’t even get a word in edgewise in front of this daughter-in-law.

She took a deep breath.

“Alright, you can go down too. Don’t leave the house before this matter is resolved.”

Zhuang Li always obeyed without a word. She replied, “Yes, I’ll take my leave.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Chunhong and Chunxiang had been waiting outside the door. When they saw the two come back, they hurriedly took their things.

Zhuang Li’s face was a bit gloomy, she seemed unhappy.

Chunxiang asked in a rush, “How did it go? What happened? What was the Madam of Ding’an doing here?”

Zhuang Li said, “She came to accuse me, saying the gift I sent was an evil spirit that brought misfortune to their family.”

Chunhong and Chunxiang’s faces turned pale.

“Evil spirit” was the most taboo thing in the inner quarters. If someone was truly labeled as such, they would be driven out, locked up, burned to death—

Chun Yue, who was behind them, said, “Young Master is back.”

The two maids were surprised again.

Zhou Jingyun’s return was quiet, and they hadn’t dared to wander around, so they didn’t know.

Their expressions shifted from surprise to joy, then to even greater tension.

To say this in front of the young master, wouldn’t that mean being questioned by one more person? Sons were always more concerned with filial piety in front of their mothers, regardless of whether the wife was right or wrong, they would always admit fault first…

“It’s fine, Young Master doesn’t believe it,” Zhuang Li said. “He’s gone to see what’s going on.”

Chun Yue nodded repeatedly behind them. From tension to anger to anxiety, and then with the young master’s appearance, she felt like she was walking on clouds. Her emotions were fluctuating so much that she felt dazed, wondering if she was dreaming.

It wasn’t until she stepped into the courtyard and saw her familiar maid sisters that she came back to her senses.

Yes, it’s fine.

Although the young master didn’t say much to Zhuang Li at the time, he didn’t ask a single question. He didn’t ask Young Madam why she was called by Mother, he didn’t ask why everyone in the room was crying, he didn’t ask what she had done.

He didn’t listen to the Madam of Dongyang or the Madam of Ding’an either, he directly told them that he would handle this matter.

This silence, this lack of questioning, was more reassuring than a thousand words.