"I'll go out and take a look," the third concubine finally said, unable to rest easy.
After all, it was the Dragon Boat Festival today. If Old Master Bai made a scene at the gate and the General found out, it would be embarrassing.
"Look at what? If he's here, what else could he be here for besides asking for money?" Xiao Xiang was full of resentment. Furthermore, because of the incident at Gan Ye Temple, she grew even more disgusted with the Bai family!
This father and son duo, the Bai family, sold off all their daughters to satisfy their selfish desires.
The third concubine was considered one of the better off among the sold daughters.
A concubine in the Protector General's Mansion was more honored than the main wife in a humble household. Originally, Old Master Bai had sold her with a deed of sale, but the Bai family was shameless, showing up every other day to extort money. If they didn't get it, they would cause a ruckus.
But to maintain peace, the third concubine could only give them money again and again.
The Bai family tasted the sweetness and became even more audacious. At first, they were somewhat hesitant, but later they openly demanded money, even using the General's Mansion as a front to borrow money from others. If the creditors hadn't come to the door, the third concubine wouldn't have known that the Bai father and son owed so much gambling debt.
Later, when things escalated, the old madam personally intervened, chased away the creditors, and severed all ties with the Bai family. Only then did they get some peace.
"Today is a good day; it's not good to cause a scene. I'll go and send him away."
Xiao Man finished wrapping the zongzi she was holding, placed them in a basket, and said, "Qiu Tong, boil these wrapped zongzi, and bring two pots of the soaked realgar wine. We'll eat them when we get back."
"Yes, Miss."
"I'll accompany Auntie to see what's going on." Xiao Man stood up, washed and dried her hands, and walked towards the door.
Xiao Xiang also quickly got up and followed.
Old Master Bai sat at the gate of the General's Mansion, cursing loudly. Bi Yue was so embarrassed her face turned red, but she didn't know how to respond.
"Go and call that ungrateful bitch out. I'm her father. What, has she forgotten me now that she's married into the General's Mansion?" Old Master Bai stood up and called over the onlookers. "Everyone, come and judge! My daughter married into the General's Mansion and no longer recognizes me as her father. This young lady from the General's Mansion is also a slut, not only seducing my son but also keeping him confined in the mansion, seeking pleasure day and night, acting with utter impunity."
Old Master Bai came to the door today for two reasons: to get his son back and to extort some money incidentally.
He had been unlucky recently, losing a lot of money and borrowing a lot from the gambling house. Taking his son back was secondary; the main purpose was to get money.
Old Master Bai remembered that when Bai Shun went out, he had said he would marry a young lady from a prominent family as his wife, and then they would have endless money. Who knew that his son would never return after leaving.
"Old Master Bai, can we go inside and discuss whatever it is?" Seeing the crowd gathering, Bi Yue was so anxious that tears welled up. She was the third concubine's maid, and she knew about the Gan Ye Temple incident. Bai Shun had been beaten to death long ago, and his bones had probably turned to dust. They weren't afraid of this matter itself, but if it were exposed, the second young lady's lost chastity would be revealed!
"I'm not going in. I know you people. If I go in, will I come out alive?" Old Master Bai acted shamelessly. "Everyone, please judge! The General's Mansion is bullying people with its influence! The eldest young lady of the General's Mansion and my son were deeply in love and had a secret engagement. She lured my son away from home. Now I've come to ask for my son, and they want to kill me."
"Why is it the eldest young lady of the General's Mansion again?"
"You don't know, this eldest young lady of the General's Mansion has always been arrogant. In the capital, she's a bully. Those who have taken a beating from her are no less than a hundred. It doesn't matter if they are the son of a noble minister or the son of a commoner; if they anger her, they will inevitably be severely beaten."
"You... you stop talking nonsense!" Bi Yue's face turned ashen. This matter had nothing to do with the eldest young lady. Although their eldest young lady seemed amiable and easygoing now, she knew in her heart that she wasn't someone to be trifled with. If she angered the concubine and the second young lady because of Old Master Bai, it wouldn't be good.
"What, you dare to do shameful things but don't allow people to talk about it?" Old Master Bai had drunk a lot, and emboldened by the alcohol, he dared to say anything. "In this capital, who doesn't know that your eldest young lady is shameless? She previously seduced Young Master Liang, who was on his way to the imperial examinations, and now she's seducing my son. Bah, she's not even as good as a prostitute!"
As Xiao Man and her group came out, they heard Old Master Bai insult Xiao Man, saying she was worse than a prostitute. The third concubine turned pale with fright, wishing she could stuff Old Master Bai's mouth with horse dung for talking such nonsense at the gate of the General's Mansion!
"Guards, pull out his tongue!"
Before Xiao Man could speak, a cold reprimand was heard.
A purple sandalwood carriage stopped at the gate of the General's Mansion. Two guards immediately stepped forward, seized Old Master Bai, and were about to pull out his tongue. Old Master Bai lost control of his bladder on the spot, and the alcohol effect vanished.
"Wait." Xiao Man came out from the gate and walked to the carriage, bowing slightly. "Your subject, this humble woman, greets His Highness Prince Qin."
"Xiao Man, you were personally educated by the wet nurse of my manor. My wet nurse praised you for your orchid-like demeanor and fairy-like talent. Your character naturally wouldn't be poor. Yet, this person is here comparing you to a prostitute. This is not only an insult to you but also an insult to my wet nurse. To disgrace my wet nurse is to disgrace me. Xiao Man, do you still want to plead for him?"
"Your Highness, the pure will remain pure. If you pull out his tongue without thoroughly investigating, it will inevitably lead to gossip and may even tarnish the reputation of wet nurse Sheng and Your Highness. " Xiao Man's voice was gentle. "Please, Your Highness, postpone the punishment. Allow this humble woman to inquire about the cause and effect before handing him over to Your Highness for punishment. Would that be acceptable?"
"Why should I agree to you?" Nangong Yu played with the jade thumb ring in his hand. He had expected Xiao Man to go watch the dragon boat race, but who knew Xiao Man would stay indoors and not even attend the banquet. Bored, Nangong Yu decided to go to the palace. As he passed by the General's Mansion, he discovered a good show was unfolding here.
"Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. With such good weather and a good day, why let an irrelevant person ruin Your Highness's good mood?" Xiao Man carefully considered. "Your Highness only needs to wait a moment, and this humble woman will handle this matter."
"The weather is hot. The longer I stay in the carriage, the more uncomfortable I become."
Xiao Man was stunned for a moment, then tentatively said, "The mansion has prepared fine wine and zongzi. If Your Highness does not mind, please come in and wait, and try the zongzi I personally wrapped."
"That would be excellent." Nangong Yu's lips curved slightly, but his face remained expressionless as he dismounted. He strode towards the General's Mansion.
"Ying Xue, lead His Highness Prince Qin. Your Highness, please enter the mansion first. This humble woman will handle this matter as quickly as possible and give Your Highness an explanation."
Prince Qin snorted coldly and entered the General's Mansion with his men. Ying Xue cautiously led Prince Qin towards Shui Yue Xiao Zhu.