The Duke of Zhenguo, along with several elder ministers, impeached the emperor in court, demanding a thorough investigation of the case and a clearing of the Prime Minister's name. A few old men, in their desperation, banged their heads against pillars.
The emperor merely instructed, in a perfunctory manner, that they be carried away and return to court after recovering from their injuries. It was always a case of one emperor, one court; replacing these individuals would allow his own people to take their positions.
Enraged, the Duke of Zhenguo immediately removed his official hat and strode out of the Hall of Political Deliberation. Upon returning home, he instructed his wife to pack their belongings, stating his intention to resign and return to his hometown.
The original host's health was already poor, and she had experienced the early demise of her husband. Now, with her maiden family suffering such a drastic change, she passed away within a few months.
The Duke and Duchess of Zhenguo, along with their loyal servants, returned to the countryside. They lived out their years peacefully, but no one could truly feel at ease.
The Duke of Zhenguo remained tormented by his failure to save his old friend. His son and daughter-in-law preceded him in death, and his later years were spent in great distress.
Only after the original host's death did she learn the complete truth: the tragic end of their family was entirely due to her half-sister.
She saw her own blissful previous life, cherished by her husband and blessed with children. She couldn't understand why her half-sister, upon rebirth, would seek to destroy everything she had. She questioned if the people of the Prime Minister's mansion had ever wronged or mistreated this sister.
She and Xu Zisheng were childhood sweethearts, their families having known each other well for generations. Thus, Xu Zisheng had known Bai Jingshu since she was a mere toddler.
In their childhood, whatever delicacies Xu Zisheng had, he would bring half of it to the Prime Minister's mansion to share with her, pinching her cheeks playfully, only to be chased around the courtyard by her brother.
She, not understanding anything, would cheer him on from the side. When she saw Xu Zisheng being beaten, she would, with a heartache, step forward to intervene with her brother. Annoyed, she’d forbid him from pinching her cheeks anymore, lest he get beaten.
"I'd rather Big Brother Bai hit me every day than never be able to pinch pretty little Shu's cute cheeks again."
Bai Jingshu, blushing, lowered her head. "You... you're so indecent."
Big Brother Bai: "Little radish, your skin is itching, isn't it? Who said she's yours? Shu is a lady of the Bai family. You're ruining her reputation. I'll ask the Duke of Zhenguo to teach you a good lesson later."
"Who said she isn't mine? She will be mine in the future. When Shu grows up, I'll have my father propose to her. Shu, you must be my bride. Okay?"
"You stinking brat, scram! Get out! I won't let you come to my house to play anymore."
"Brother, please stop hitting him. What if you injure him?"
"You, you truly are a little fool."
...
As she grew older and the separation between men and women became more pronounced, she saw Xu Zisheng less often. That fellow would climb over the wall to bring her delicious things and fun toys.
Each time, he would be caught by the Duke of Zhenguo and soundly beaten, yet he never learned his lesson.
Whenever she went out, Xu Zisheng would follow behind her, claiming it was a chance encounter if they were discovered. He would then cheekily join their group. Thinking of this made her unable to suppress her sorrow.
Her dear Zisheng brother had died in the prime of his life, meeting such a miserable end. She touched her lower abdomen, a sharp pain stabbing at her heart.
Though her health was poor, the child from her previous life had been successfully born, and she had conceived again without issue. How could she have lost the child due to distress? She hated him, hated him so much.
Shui Wa: "The original host's wish was to protect the Prime Minister's mansion and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, shatter Bai Rantang's dream of becoming empress, and make the couple pay for everything they did."
Jun Jiuli: "Understood. Why would Bai Rantang go after her own maternal family? Her maternal family was her greatest support. Once her precognitive ability expired, wouldn't the emperor have her killed?"
"Perhaps it's hatred, hatred for her tragic past life where the Prime Minister's mansion offered no aid."
"Then why didn't the Prime Minister's mansion offer aid? Melon-eating jpg."
"Prime Minister Bai had arranged for her to meet the concubine-born son of General Xue. This marriage was considered a good match. However, Bai Rantang was exceptionally arrogant. Having seen men like Big Brother Bai and Xu Zisheng, she looked down on his concubine-born status."
"Furthermore, she believed this son of the Xue family must be either utterly incompetent or prone to violence and lacking in literary talent. Otherwise, the Prime Minister wouldn't have introduced him. In her mind, Prime Minister Bai was extremely biased."
"In reality, she received all the privileges befitting a young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion. The original host's mother had never mistreated her. Her concubine was the foot-washing maid of the original host's mother. Taking advantage of the original host's mother's pregnancy, she slept with Prime Minister Bai. She was to be beaten to death, but the Old Madam Bai stopped it."
"Ten months later, Bai Rantang was born. When Bai Rantang was five years old, her concubine mother died of illness. Prime Minister Bai, already not fond of her, had never set foot in their courtyard. Bai Rantang, constantly hearing her mother complain, developed resentment towards Prime Minister Bai."
"She herself went out to two temple fairs and selected her own husband. In her mind, he was a talented scholar who would definitely pass the imperial examinations that spring. So, she packed her belongings and eloped with that man."
"When the Prime Minister asked her initially, she had agreed to the marriage with General Xue's family. On the day of the wedding, she ran away, bringing immense shame to the Prime Minister's mansion."
"A lady of high status engaging in elopement with a commoner. Her two elder cousins, already married, also lost face in their husbands' families because of this."
Prime Minister Bai personally led men to capture her. She adamantly told Prime Minister Bai, "I will only marry A Xiang in this life. The boorish martial man you found, if you want to marry him, go marry him yourself."
Prime Minister Bai was clearly furious. "You still look down on others, and you don't even see what you're like. Although Young Master Xue Er is of concubine birth, he already possesses the title of Xiucai. With your father in the position of Prime Minister, can I shortchange his future?"
"Hmph, if he's so good, why didn't you let Eldest Sister marry him? I know you look down on my mother and dislike me, but I am also your own daughter. How can you push me into a fiery pit?"
"Fine, you're very good. You dare to drag your嫡姐 into this. In what way are you comparable to her? If that's the case, then from this day forward, you are no longer the fourth young lady of my Prime Minister's mansion." The Prime Minister, upon returning, had her removed from the clan registry.
Unexpectedly, her intended husband was all a pretense. Not only was he not a Xiucai, but not even a Tongsheng. Those poems were also learned from others.
He specifically preyed on naive young ladies like Bai Rantang. The Bai family was powerful, and Prime Minister Bai was shrewd. Therefore, his initial target was wealth, not fame or a career.
These noble families were deeply interconnected, with many having hidden relationships. Thus, that man dared not linger in the capital. After leaving the city, he drugged Bai Rantang with a potent aphrodisiac and took her back to his hometown in Kangzhou.
By the time Bai Rantang learned the truth, she could no longer escape. Her money was seized by that family, and that night, she consummated her marriage with the man.
His family also had a 60-year-old mother whom she had to care for and serve. For the past 15 years, she had never endured such hardship. She couldn't do anything properly and was severely worn down.
Every day, she resented her own blindness and resented Prime Minister Bai for not stopping her more forcefully. After suffering for several years, she seemed to have aged decades.
She found an opportunity and escaped. It was then that she witnessed the original host's return to her maiden home. Hence, her jealousy and extreme imbalance led her to not want the original host to have a good life.