Bai Junchen was surprisingly also present.
Wang Zijing felt a flicker of confusion. Aside from Bai Junya, the person directly involved, Bai Junchen was the only other young lady there. Could this matter have something to do with her?
Bai Junchen had naturally been summoned by Bai Junya. Having suffered such a great injustice, there was no reason for her to keep it a secret. She suppressed her grief and indignation, and clearly recounted the entire incident from beginning to end.
It turned out that this was Bai Junchen's first time attempting such a deed, and she was understandably nervous. Half of the powder was sprinkled on Bai Junya's nose and mouth, while the other half fell on the ground. Consequently, the drug's effect was not as potent.
After Zhi Zi moved Bai Junya under the tree, the evening breeze blew, and she vaguely regained consciousness. However, her head remained heavy and muddled. She struggled to find someone, but accidentally fell into the lake. Prince Jing happened to be passing by the lake and went in to rescue her.
Upon hearing this, Bai Jiadaye immediately raised his hand and slapped Bai Junchen. "Beast! Look at the good deed you've done!"
Bai Junchen's stepmother, Madam Luo, also scolded, "You black-hearted, wicked thing! Junya is your sister, why would you do such a thing?"
The slap from Bai Da was extremely heavy. Half of Bai Junchen's face immediately swelled, and she stumbled, nearly falling. She clutched her face and looked up at Bai Da and Madam Luo with resentment. "What do you think? Why do you think I did this?"
Bai Junya was stunned. She hadn't expected Bai Junchen to admit it so readily.
"You were going to marry me off to an old man, couldn't I at least drag someone down with me?" Bai Junchen had completely fallen out with her parents. Ever since Madam Luo entered the household, she had been cautious and lived a life of constant frustration. Shouting these words now, she felt an indescribable sense of relief.
Originally, she had intended to drug Bai Junya and lure Master Cheng over. Master Cheng was notoriously lecherous; if he were to have an illicit affair with Bai Junya, then Bai Junchen wouldn't have to marry him.
The Wang family had never heard of Bai Junchen's arranged marriage before. Upon hearing this, they looked at Bai Da in surprise.
Bai Da's face flushed with embarrassment. Madam Luo then said, "We were all for your own good. Although the Minister of Personnel is old, once you marry into the family, you'll be in charge of the household, and there's no mother-in-law to serve..."
Bai Junchen interrupted her with a cold laugh. "If it's so good, why don't you marry your two daughters off?"
Madam Luo was speechless, having been cornered.
Madam Zhong couldn't help but say, "What does your dissatisfaction with your marriage have to do with Sister Ya? She's always been so good to you, has she ever wronged you in any way?"
"I'm just jealous of her!" Bai Junchen, disregarding everything, blurted out all the words she had never dared to speak before. "We both have stepmothers, so why are you so good to her? But my stepmother is always harsh to me, and she whispers in Father's ear, wanting to marry me off to a decrepit old man?"
"Eldest Brother failed the imperial examination, and you all blame me, saying I lost the Jade Spider and brought bad luck! Hahaha, how ridiculous! That woman used this opportunity to instigate Father to beat me, lock me in the woodshed, and starve me for three days..."
"People always say that with a new mother comes a new father, and it's absolutely true. Father, do you remember my mother? You let this woman treat me like this, don't you feel any guilt towards my mother?"
Bai Junchen had given up all pretense. She had considered denying it, as Bai Junya had no proof. But after all the argument, she would still have to marry that old man. The thought filled her with despair, making everything seem meaningless.
Bai Da, hearing this, flew into a rage and raised his hand to strike her again. Bai Er stopped him. "Eldest Brother, no matter how angry you are, you can't hit the child!"
"You dare to interfere with me!"
Seeing that the two Bai brothers were about to quarrel, Wang Da impatiently banged heavily on the table. "If you want to argue, go home and argue. Don't cause a scene in my Wang family. My son's great day is not for you to put on a show!"
Madam Bai also felt that her maternal family was a disgrace. What angered her even more was that Prince Jing had just achieved the third rank in the imperial examination and was at the height of his popularity. Today alone, many ladies had subtly expressed their desire for a marriage alliance with her, yet she had not let slip any hint.
In her opinion, the third rank in the imperial examination was an immense honor; even a princess or a county princess would be worthy.
Among the eligible noble ladies in the capital, she had never considered her nieces from her maternal family!
But now, Prince Jing had saved Bai Junya and carried her back to the courtyard in full view of everyone. Physical contact had occurred. If the Bai family insisted on clinging to Prince Jing, she would have to acknowledge it even if she didn't want to!
At this point, she began to suspect that the Bai family had deliberately staged this scene to climb onto Prince Jing.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, the most pressing matter now is how to resolve the situation between Sister Ya and Brother Jing?" Madam Bai said patiently.
Wang Da and Old Madam Wang's expressions were extremely grim.
Bai Junya, with considerable backbone, immediately said, "I am very grateful for Eldest Cousin's life-saving grace today. Junya knows she is not worthy and will live a life of solitude, never blaming anyone."
Bai Junchen secretly chuckled. She had long known that the Wang family looked down on Bai Junya. With her reputation ruined, no good family would be willing to marry her.
Excellent. Neither of the sisters had a mother, one would marry an old man as a second wife, and the other would remain unmarried. How wonderful!
The Wang family breathed a sigh of relief. Madam Zhong, anxious and angry, said, "Have you thought it through?"
Just as Bai Junya was about to make another vow, she heard Prince Jing's clear voice say, "Zijing is willing to take responsibility."
Huh?!
Wang Qingyao had been standing outside the main courtyard and had not left. Although she couldn't hear what was being said inside, with her clairvoyance and by observing lip movements, she had guessed most of it. She had initially worried that Bai Junchen would not admit it easily, so she had brought Zhi Zi to wait by the door, in case a witness was needed, Zhi Zi could testify.
She hadn't expected Bai Junchen to admit it so readily, and for Prince Jing to be willing to take responsibility.
There was no longer any need for her to wait.
Upon returning to the Cold Fragrance Courtyard, Fang Yuan had already left. Yin Zhu told her that Xiao Yun had come, made a circuit, and then left.
"Did he leave a message?"
Yin Zhu shook her head. "He did feed Lightning a dried fish, and said he had gotten fat."
Wang Qingyao smiled.
Later, when the banquet began, the Bai family did not appear. Prince Jing, however, acted with great composure. Led by Wang Da, he went from table to table toasting. Zeng Huai's table was filled with fellow scholars who jokingly congratulated him on his double happiness.
Wang Da's expression was not good, but Prince Jing said, "At that time, I would like to invite everyone to drink wedding wine."
This statement was an admission, causing another round of discussion among the guests.
In the evening, after the guests had dispersed, Wang Da and Madam Bai quarreled again. The Bai family was Madam Bai's maternal family. Madam Bai knew she was in the wrong and was also extremely resentful!
After scolding Madam Bai, Wang Da went to sleep in the Chunlan and Xiahe Courtyard, which made Madam Bai seethe with anger again.
Wang Qinglin came to find Madam Bai and asked about Bai Junya's matter. Madam Bai told her everything and then said indignantly, "Your eldest brother is stubborn. Even if he doesn't admit it, what can be done? Sister Ya has already said..."
Madam Bai thought of it and felt a pang of heartache. Her son, with his limitless future, a son whom she could have married to a noble lady...
Wang Qinglin shared the same sentiment as Madam Bai. In this urgent situation, Prince Jing had saved someone, not a rogue?
She felt it was a great pity. Prince Jing had achieved the third rank in the imperial examination, and her own status had risen accordingly. If she had a noble lady as a sister-in-law, her marriage to Prince Ding'an would have been even more certain. What a pity, what a pity...