Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Sighs

Bai Ying was truly filled with emotion. Given their backgrounds, princes and heirs of marquis households were not families they could marry into.

She had climbed up by clinging to Empress Jiang, who had lifted her to a high position with a single gesture.

But what about Bai Li?

Because of the extermination of their clan? A pitiful orphan? A monster who was originally said to have caused her mother’s death, bringing bad luck to anyone who saw her, had become the wife of the Marquis of Dongyang’s heir and was being cherished and protected…

“Indeed.” Bai Ying murmured, “The extermination of our clan wasn’t a bad thing, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise.”

Zhang Ze frowned, “Your Ladyship, be careful what you say.”

He glanced around the hall. Wang Degui and several palace maids were all bowing their heads quietly.

The people around Bai Ying had also been screened by him, so he wasn’t afraid of them overhearing.

It was just that some thoughts were better left unsaid. If too much was said, it would inevitably be revealed.

“It’s not time for Your Ladyship to be complacent.” Zhang Ze said coldly.

These words were truly unpleasant. Bai Ying’s face stiffened slightly, but she quickly regained her gentle composure.

“Thank you for the reminder, Inspector.” She expressed her gratitude sincerely.

Zhang Ze didn’t say anything more and continued to ask Bai Ying about what had happened.

Bai Ying recounted in detail Zhou Jingyun’s coming to inform her and his words about pledging his allegiance to her.

Finally, she spoke of the palace banquet, “I wanted to confirm if it was my sister, and of course, I also wanted to keep her there until you returned to handle the situation, but I didn’t expect…”

Zhou Jingyun had actually thrown the person down from the building himself.

Bai Ying pressed her hand against her chest. This scene had made it difficult for her to sleep soundly for days.

“Are you sure she’s really dead?” Zhang Ze asked, “These remnants of Empress Jiang’s faction possess devious techniques. Your Ladyship’s multiple encounters with Empress Jiang’s ghost must be their doing.”

He let out a cold laugh as he spoke.

“You’re right, my sister is indeed a monster.”

Recalling the few times they had met, even if he had doubts before going, they would vanish upon seeing her, or he would simply forget. Now that he thought back, he had no impression of her appearance.

Those wandering ritual specialists had said this was the result of being under a spell.

Moreover, she was an even more formidable monster than she was as a child. Bai Ying thought, this was also her fault. Actually, she had suspected it from the beginning, but the appearance of Empress Jiang’s ghost in the imperial city was too fitting and plausible. Her sister was simply not worth mentioning. She had underestimated her, until that night at the palace banquet.

Those few days, she kept replaying the events in her mind and recalled a few hazy memories of seeing Empress Jiang’s ghost.

But it was clear that it was Bai Li’s doing.

“But no matter how powerful her techniques, they are nothing but black magic.” Bai Ying said, “With the Imperial Bell, the Three Purities Bell, and being within the imperial city, in the end, she brought it upon herself, suffering backlash and bleeding profusely.”

She looked at Zhang Ze.

“Before Zhou Jingyun threw her down, I saw that she was already failing.”

“We all saw her corpse, and the imperial physicians also examined it. It’s absolutely certain.”

“Xuanyangzi also came that day and said everything was normal.”

Zhang Ze frowned and said, “I’m still not at ease. I need to see the body with my own eyes.”

Bai Ying shook her head as she looked at him, “That wouldn’t be good.”

Not good? Zhang Ze looked at Bai Ying with a sullen expression, “Not good for Zhou Jingyun?”

Would exhuming the body damage Zhou Jingyun’s reputation?

Was this what Zhou Jingyun meant when he asked him to inquire with Consort Bai? Would Consort Bai protect him?

Bai Ying smiled, “I mean it’s unnecessary.”

Zhang Ze said coldly, “So, Your Ladyship believes Zhou Jingyun’s words?”

Believed that he was deceived by Zhuang Feizi and Bai Li?

Believed that he was willing to pledge his entire fortune to Consort Bai?

Bai Ying smiled and said, “Whether I believe him or not is actually unimportant. It’s Zhou Jingyun who has no other choice.”

As she spoke, she stood up, and Wang Degui hurriedly helped her.

“He is the one who needs me, not the other way around. Does it really matter if his feelings for me are genuine or not?”

“Since he killed his wife to prove his loyalty and wants to be used by me, why shouldn’t I use him?”

“If he’s useful, use him. If he’s not, just kill him.”

She looked at Zhang Ze.

“As for whether my sister is truly dead or faking her death, it’s also unimportant.”

“Inspector, have you forgotten? Our Bai family is not truly part of Empress Jiang’s faction, and what you truly need to do is not to eliminate Empress Jiang’s faction.”

Zhang Ze looked at her without speaking.

Bai Ying, supported by Wang Degui, walked a few steps closer and looked at Zhang Ze, asking with a smile, “Zhang Ze, what is it that you truly want to do?”

Forced to answer directly, Zhang Ze’s expression didn’t turn ugly. He replied, “To deter the wicked, consolidate power, cultivate informants, and safeguard Your Ladyship.”

Bai Ying smiled, with a hint of melancholy, “Thank you, Inspector. It’s precisely because of this promise from you that I have found a glimmer of hope in this imperial city. Otherwise, I would have jumped into Lake Taiye back then, choosing a quick death over a lingering existence.”

Zhang Ze smiled, “This is also my lifeline. I’m a villain. His Majesty, the Emperor, is the rightful ruler. In times of chaos, he uses me as a blade to intimidate the officials. Once stability is restored, he’ll kill me to appease them. He doesn’t lack one official like me. Your Ladyship is different. As a woman, seeking a lifeline in this imperial city, you’ll need me more, and for a longer time.”

Bai Ying looked at him, “My future longevity is inseparable from you, Inspector.” She spoke with sincerity, “Please don’t blame me for acting on my own and accepting Zhou Jingyun’s support.”

Zhang Ze bowed, “It was I who was overthinking.” He looked up at Bai Ying again, “Your Ladyship is not an ordinary woman, you won’t be swayed by beauty.”

Bai Ying chuckled, raising her sleeve to cover her mouth, “However, Marquis Zhou’s heir is indeed handsome.”

She sighed softly as she spoke.

“My sister was able to marry such a man, she has no regrets in this life.”

She still remembered that night, Zhou Jingyun holding Bai Li in his arms, meticulously wiping away the bloodstains bit by bit, arranging her hair and jewelry, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He had also said that although Zhuang Feizi and Bai Li had deceived him, he had willingly married Bai Li.

And then he picked up the wife he had willingly married and threw her down from the building.

Bai Ying pressed her hand against her chest, still feeling the rapid heartbeat.

Love existed, but compared to one’s fortune and future, it was nothing.

Indeed, for those who had reached the status of princes and heirs of marquis households, love was the least important thing.

It was good this way. He had personally killed her sister. He had feelings for her sister, and he felt guilty towards her sister. Then he should properly compensate her, the elder sister.

Sister.

Actually, she hadn’t looked at her carefully that night.

✿✿✿

She looked a lot like her.

She didn’t look like she did as a child.

It felt like she had grown up in the blink of an eye.

When she left home, she kept looking back from the carriage. Her father didn’t come to see her off, but her sister did.

That thin and small child, who knows how long she had hidden by the roadside beforehand, then ran after the carriage, running and running…

Tears welled up in Bai Ying’s eyes.

“My sister died just like that…” She choked back a sob, covering her face with her hand, “She can’t, just die in vain like that…”

Zhang Ze looked at the weeping woman, neither comforting nor stopping her, only asking, “What does Your Ladyship want to do?”

Bai Ying raised her hand to wipe her tears, “I want to dispose of the Empress.”

Now, the Empress wasn’t even pretending to be virtuous anymore. Perhaps she was thinking that since she was about to give birth, there was no need to pretend.

Although this was a good thing, Bai Ying was also tired of waiting.

“My child is about to be born.” She lowered her head and caressed her abdomen, “Let him be born into a peaceful environment. It just so happens that a noble lady fell to her death, it’s a good opportunity.”

Zhang Ze pondered for a moment, then smiled, “Indeed, there happens to be someone clean and usable.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Zhou Jingyun didn’t wait for Zhang Ze at the cemetery, nor did he wait at the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence. It was three days later, on his way to the morning court session.

When Zhang Ze arrived, Zhou Jingyun was surrounded by several officials, offering their condolences, “Please accept our deepest sympathies,” “You’re still young, don’t dwell on it too much.”

“Yes, you’re still young, don’t request to be posted elsewhere out of grief.” A voice came, “How many nine years can one have in a lifetime?”

These words immediately reminded everyone that Zhou Jingyun had previously requested to be posted elsewhere after the death of his first wife, leaving for many years and only returning last year.

He had returned after marrying a new wife, but unexpectedly, his new wife had also died after just the New Year. This…

Lately, whether Zhou Jingyun was cursed to bring misfortune upon his wives was the hottest topic within the inner quarters.

They were all getting tired of hearing it. Zhou Jingyun, such a self-disciplined and proud person, was likely to retreat again.

Someone immediately pulled Zhou Jingyun aside, “Yes, yes, that’s right, don’t…”

The voice suddenly stopped abruptly because they saw that the speaker was Zhang Ze.

Although the words were right, it was not right to echo Zhang Ze.

The atmosphere turned cold for a moment.

Zhang Ze didn’t mind the others’ avoidance. He patted Zhou Jingyun’s shoulder.

“Marquis’s heir, help me check an account, so that I won’t be unable to find you when you’re gone.” He seemed to be joking.

At this time, it was not appropriate to joke about this matter at all.

The others looked displeased.

Zhou Jingyun’s expression remained calm. He took a step away from Zhang Ze and said indifferently, “There’s nowhere in this world that the Inspector can’t find someone. Please follow me.”

He walked ahead first.

Zhang Ze didn’t say anything more and followed leisurely.

Inside the government office, because the people from the Censorate were standing outside, the other officials all retreated.

“I never thought.” Zhang Ze sat down, no longer with the murderous intent he had at the cemetery, but his eyes held a cold mockery as he looked at Zhou Jingyun across from him, “That I would be sitting at the same table as the Marquis’s heir.”

He stroked the table, his words carrying a double meaning.

Zhou Jingyun said calmly, “Life is full of uncertainties.”

Zhang Ze looked at him, “It’s truly a pity, that face of yours, Marquis’s heir. Such a waste.”

“No.” Zhou Jingyun said, “Even sitting together with the Inspector, I’m still better looking than you.”

Was this also a double meaning?

Even if he had pledged his allegiance to the imperial consort like Zhang Ze, his reputation was still better than Zhang Ze’s?

Zhang Ze laughed, sizing up Zhou Jingyun, “So, you’re the epitome of a hypocrite.”

He leaned in slightly.

“Her Ladyship has a task for you.”

Zhou Jingyun’s expression remained calm, “Speak.”

Zhang Ze leaned closer and whispered a few words, then sat back, looking at Zhou Jingyun with a sardonic smile.

“Marquis Zhou’s heir, since you’ve become a dog, then bark a few times and let Her Ladyship hear.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“The Marquis’s heir is here.”

Gao Shi’er stood outside Hanliang Palace, watching Zhou Jingyun approach.

He no longer dared to make things difficult for Zhou Jingyun.

“His Majesty happens to be free. You can come in directly with me.”

Zhou Jingyun nodded.

Gao Shi’er walked towards the hall, about to step over the threshold, but he turned back to see Zhou Jingyun still standing in place.

“Marquis’s heir?” He was a bit puzzled and invited him again, “Please.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled at him, nodded, and lifted his foot to step forward.

Gao Shi’er stepped over the threshold.

“Your Majesty, the Marquis of Dongyang’s heir is here.”

“Jingyun is here, come quickly, I have a painting for you to see.”

“Eh? Jingyun, what are you doing? There’s no need for such a grand courtesy!”

“Get up quickly! Stop kowtowing!”