Xiao Tingyi naturally knew it wasn't her fault, he only regretted not having settled their status sooner.
If outsiders knew she was the future Princess of Ding, he wanted to see how many dared to pounce on her so recklessly.
"Don't worry, in at most half a month, the news that you are the future Princess of Ding will surely spread far and wide, cutting off those people's hopes."
This included, but was not limited to, Yin Canwen of Xibei Liangzhou, and Chi Zimo of Jinling City.
Seeing him act so petulant and exasperated, Feng Jinyao found it even more amusing.
Being cherished was truly a good thing.
Feng Jinyao lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, looking at the scenery flashing by outside, and her lips curved upwards again.
Seeing this, Xiao Tingyi, who had been furious moments ago, immediately softened.
He leaned over to look at the beautiful scenery outside with her.
Shen shi and Bai Sihan's carriage had already sped up as much as possible, but they still missed the ceremony of adoption.
By the time the two of them arrived at the Bai family's gate, it was already noon the next day.
"It's only because our news arrived too late. We originally thought it would be enough to arrive the day before Bai Siruo's wedding, but who knew that this matter with Qiao Shanwei would happen. That brat is truly good at hiding his abilities. He tricked me earlier, acting meek and submissive, and now he's suddenly become part of the eldest branch. Won't the Bai family be his for the taking in the future! Bah, does he even deserve it!"
Mentioning Bai Shanwei, Shen shi gritted her teeth in hatred.
In her opinion, how could a wild child who wasn't even a marquis's son by marriage be qualified to inherit the Bai family's next generation over Bai Sihan!
He should have stayed in the old house forever, just like his mother, and lived a lonely and miserable life, that was the fate he deserved.
What was he doing running to the Bai family now?
Her dislike for Bai Shanwei, for the eldest branch, and even for her father-in-law, Prime Minister Bai, was evident.
Bai Sihan wanted to say a few words, but she had been scolded so badly along the way.
It wasn't that she couldn't seize opportunities, but that she didn't have the ability to win a man's heart.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been met with a cold shoulder in Dongdu City and then faced such a situation back in Qiongzhou.
After looking at potential sons-in-law for several months, Shen shi was not satisfied with any of them.
It wasn't that she picked on their family background, but that she felt they had no future. Especially when she received the invitation to Bai Siruo's wedding, her emotions intensified, and she found fault with everyone.
Bai Sihan had endured a lot of criticism along the way.
Taking a deep breath, she followed her mother into the Bai mansion, which was both familiar and strange. She never expected the situation that awaited them.
As soon as Shen shi entered, she inquired about where Bai Shanwei lived and angrily headed towards Changqing Courtyard.
The maids and servants below immediately ran to inform the First Madam, Lin shi. Coincidentally, Princess Wenyi and Bai Siruo were in her room, chatting merrily.
"They're here so soon?"
"Yes, First Madam, please go and see. This servant sees that Third Madam is going to trouble Young Master."
Now, everyone in the Bai mansion addressed Bai Shanwei as Young Master, and they were generally respectful. They didn't know much about his background and didn't understand why Third Madam was going to find trouble with Young Master as soon as she returned.
Hearing this, Lin shi's expression turned grim.
"Hmph, that crazy woman Shen shi, it was bad enough that she made a scene in the mansion before for Sihan's matter, and now she dares to come and trouble Siming. She completely disregards me. Since she wants to cause trouble, I'll let her experience the taste of family rules and laws again!"
After saying this, Lin shi pursed her lips and gave a look to the Lin Mama beside her. That person had already gone to the ancestral hall for the family laws.
She then gathered twenty or so servants from other courtyards and servants outside the courtyard, all of whom looked strong and tough.
Then, Lin shi suppressed her anger and said to Princess Wenyi and Bai Siruo.
"Please sit for a while. In two days, it will be Siruo's auspicious day. Don't be disturbed. I'll go and see what's happening."
"Eldest sister-in-law, be careful."
"Eldest aunt..."
"Don't worry, I can manage such a large mansion, am I afraid of a Shen shi?"
With that, she led her people and rushed to Changqing Courtyard.
Before she even entered the courtyard, she heard Shen shi "cursing like a shrew."
"You slut, you truly are the offspring of a slut. Your mother shamelessly seduced Third Master, and without any status, you dared to flaunt yourself everywhere with a belly. And you, you ran all the way to the southwest and returned as some reincarnated spirit child? Bah, go and look at yourself in the mirror! Truly disgusting."
"I can see it now, you and the eldest branch are equally vile. Thinking that because they have no sons and you have no parents, you'll get together and try to control the entire Bai family. Not possible! I'll go out now and spread the word about your background, let the whole world see that the reincarnated spirit child they talk about is actually an illegitimate child who can't see the light of day!!"
As she spoke, her emotions ran higher. Lin shi, listening from outside, was furious and was about to enter to help Bai Shanwei when she heard a splash, followed by Shen shi's scream.
"What are you doing! How dare you splash water on me!"
"Oh, I didn't see clearly. I thought it was a dog barking everywhere."
"You! How dare you insult me like this!"
"Insult you? No, I was splashing a dog."
This exchange made Lin shi, who was furious outside, unable to help but chuckle. She knew that Siming was kind, but not to the point of being bullied. Especially since he had been adopted by the eldest branch, if he were bullied, the eldest branch would lose face.
So, after calming her emotions, she entered the courtyard with her people.
At a glance, she saw Shen shi, who had fallen to the ground, completely drenched, cursing with her nose and eyes askew.
Beside her, Bai Sihan frowned, twisting a handkerchief, neither daring to step forward to comfort her mother nor daring to interact too much with this brother with whom she shared blood.
"Siming, why is there such a commotion in the courtyard?"
"Mother? Why have you come?"
"I heard from the servants that your Third Uncle's wife has returned. I was planning to take people to see if the courtyard they were staying in needed tidying up, but I didn't expect that as soon as I arrived here, I heard a disturbance inside, so I came to take a look."
"Oh? Third Uncle's wife? Does Mother mean this one?"
Bai Shanwei had an expression of surprise, as if he had never seen Shen shi before. He could lie without batting an eyelid, which showed the depth of his scheming.
Lin shi naturally understood the inside story, but Shen shi was a fool.
The higher Bai Shanwei's status, the more beneficial it was for the Bai family. But she harbored other intentions, wishing she could bring Bai Shanwei down and crush him.
But she didn't consider that Bai Shanwei now had the Emperor's favor. His insults were spoken so casually, and this mudslinging was done without any problem!