Chapter 314: Confessing One's Guilt

The night had completely fallen.

Lanterns were hung under the eaves at every intersection of the Bai Mansion.

The night wind blew, causing them to sway back and forth.

Hua'er carried a lantern, walking in front.

The dim yellow light, along with the frost-like moonlight, illuminated the path ahead.

Bai Qingtong frowned in thought, following behind.

The mistress and the servant did not return to their own small courtyard, but instead came to the front hall.

Inside the hall, the light was bright, and a warm stove was burning.

Bai Ming, his wife, and Bai Daxiaojie were talking there at this moment.

When Bai Qingtong entered the room, the gazes of all three turned toward her.

Bai Qingtong lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Father, Mother, I believe Brother-in-law... he will not leave our Bai Family."

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Chu Meixiang looked at her and said, "I just heard from Suzhen that he has already admitted he wants to marry you?"

Two blushes appeared on Bai Qingtong's face, and she said, "Brother-in-law did say that, but I feel he only feels sorry for me and wants to take responsibility for me; he doesn't truly want to marry me."

Chu Meixiang frowned and said, "Is there a difference?"

"Of course there is."

Bai Qingtong bit her lip and said with a firm attitude, "Mother, I don't want this. We cannot force Brother-in-law like this, and I will not agree to it."

At this time, Bai Ming said in a deep voice, "Things have reached this point, what else is there to hesitate about? This matter has already spread outside the mansion; whether it is true or false is no longer important. Besides marrying him, do you have any other choice?"

He then added in a deep voice, "Qingtong, you must consider the entire family. Since he took the initiative to suggest that Meixue divorce him, it is clear he already has the intention to leave. At a time like this, we can only rely on you. You should know better than anyone his importance to my Bai Family, especially at this time."

Speaking of this, he could not help but heave a long sigh and said, "Nowadays, all countries are plunged into chaos, and even Great Yan is in jeopardy. Only our Liang still preserves its strength, and all parties are scrambling to win us over. That person in the palace now holds great power and has already gained momentum; the court officials see it clearly, but none dare to speak, clearly having already submitted..."

"Although our Bai Family has also shown submission, that person clearly still has doubts. After all, your older brother is currently still in Yujing, serving Great Yan."

"Look at the other families; those that have perished have perished, those that have been wiped out have been wiped out. Of the former Four Great Families, only our Bai Family remains..."

"The survival of my Bai Family rests on the whim of that person, and right now, he is the only one who can protect our Bai Family..."

Bai Qingtong kept her head lowered, listening silently.

After he finished speaking, Chu Meixiang gave a bitter smile and said, "Qingtong, did you think Mother's fainting this morning was faked? Mother truly did not know you and he had already developed to this extent—not returning for the night, and then crawling out from under his bed in the morning with so many people watching... At the time, Mother was truly angry, ashamed, and shocked..."

"He is merely a Matrilocal Son-in-law; if it weren't for our Bai Family back then... never mind, Mother doesn't dare to speak of him that way now..."

"Today, your father and I discussed it for a long time and felt that since the matter is already a fait accompli, let it take its course. Anyway, we are all family; the fat water doesn't flow into outsiders' fields. It just so happens you don't have to marry into another family; this is quite good..."

"As for the gossip of the people in the mansion and the jokes of those outside, we will just pretend we didn't hear them."

Bai Ming snorted coldly and said, "What is there to joke about? Where is there no such thing as sisters marrying the same husband? As long as that brat has strength in the future, who would dare to gossip again?"

Chu Meixiang suddenly looked at him and said, "Old Master, when my younger sister came to stay at the mansion back then, did you also..."

"Talk about serious matters!"

Bai Ming suddenly glared at her.

At this time, Bai Daxiaojie, who had been standing to the side without speaking, suddenly said, "Are you all being a bit self-indulgent?"

The gazes of the three turned to her in confusion.

"How are we being self-indulgent?"

Chu Meixiang asked.

Bai Meixue said expressionlessly, "From beginning to end, he never said he wanted to marry both sisters."

The room suddenly went quiet for a moment.

Chu Meixiang said, "That brat is too embarrassed to say it, and too embarrassed to agree. He is a scholar and has self-awareness. He knows he is a Matrilocal Son-in-law and knows it was our Bai Family that sheltered him back then, protecting him and his sister and brother-in-law, so he doesn't dare to open his mouth wide. Scholars, after all, must uphold the etiquette of a gentleman. A mere Matrilocal Son-in-law, marrying the older sister and then the younger sister—and the younger sister was someone he secretly hooked up with—it doesn't sound very good."

Bai Qingtong, blushing on the side, said weakly, "Mother, Brother-in-law didn't secretly hook up with me..."

Chu Meixiang glared: "Then you secretly hooked up with him?"

Bai Qingtong said, "I didn't either..."

At this time, Bai Daxiaojie said coldly, "It seems you secretly hooked up with each other."

"Sister..."

"Enough, talk about serious matters."

Bai Ming interrupted them and said, "Meixue, your mother is right. That brat is likely pretending and acting coy on purpose, while in his heart he is already overjoyed. We just need to prepare the wedding for him. Now that things have reached this point, he has no right to refuse."

Chu Meixiang said, "Later I will go to Su Guo Fu to have a word with his sister and brother-in-law."

Bai Ming nodded and said, "It is right to go and have a word with them. The eldest sister is like a mother; his sister and brother-in-law raised him from a young age. With such a thing happening, it is not appropriate for us to come forward to speak; his sister and brother-in-law are the most suitable candidates."

At this time, Bai Daxiaojie suddenly spoke: "Are you not going to ask if I am willing?"

The gazes of the three looked at her together.

Chu Meixiang then asked, "Suzhen, are you willing? Are you willing to serve... to let that brat serve you both together with your sister?"

"Not willing."

Bai Daxiaojie said coldly.

Chu Meixiang was stunned and asked in confusion, "Why not willing? Qingtong is your own sister; isn't it good for you to be together and never separated?" Bai Daxiaojie said coldly, "It is precisely because Qingtong is my sister that I am not willing. Do you know that he already has many women outside? If not a hundred, then eighty. Are you willing to let Qingtong marry such a lecher?"

Bai Qingtong said weakly, "Sister, there aren't that many... In Daguanyuan, including those maidservants, there are only twenty-something in total..."

Bai Daxiaojie looked at her and said, "What about Chujian Bookstore and Bao'an Hall? And the Outer City, West Lake Academy. Back then, there were even two women who came to the Bai Mansion. I estimate that all the female students at West Lake Academy, including the female teachers, have a relationship with him."

Bai Qingtong: "..."

Chu Meixiang was left speechless: "That brat... is he really that capable?"

Bai Daxiaojie suddenly added, "And the palace."

"The palace?"

Once these words were spoken, all three were startled.

Bai Ming's expression changed; he hurriedly glanced outside the door and whispered, "Meixue, you must not speak nonsense!"

"Hmph!"

Bai Daxiaojie let out a huff and said nothing more.

Fearing she might say something else rebellious, Bai Ming immediately said, "This matter is decided as such. The fate of the entire family rests in your hands. Only by holding onto him tightly can our Bai Family have any hope of continued prosperity and survival."

Just then, a maidservant suddenly reported from outside, "Master, Mistress, Young Master Luo's elder sister and brother-in-law are here to see you. Also, Young Master Luo... he has been tied up with ropes by them, and he has thorns strapped to his back; he is outside as well."

The four people in the room immediately exchanged glances.

"Let his sister and brother-in-law come in first."

Bai Ming ordered in a deep voice, then whispered, "Do not reveal what was just discussed; let us see what they have to say."

Chu Meixiang nodded, deliberately keeping a stern face, appearing very angry.

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingtong immediately wanted to head out.

Bai Ming frowned and barked, "Qingtong, where are you going?"

Bai Qingtong stopped in her tracks and said weakly, "Father, I want to go see my brother-in-law..."

Chu Meixiang immediately glared at her and scolded, "Isn't it just that the brat has been tied up? Look at how anxious you are! If anyone should be anxious, it's your sister. You are just a sister-in-law, what right do you have to be anxious? And to be this anxious in front of your sister, your father, and me—you don't hold the three of us in any regard, do you?"

Bai Qingtong said aggrievedly, "Mother, you misunderstood me. I just wanted to go see the sorry state my brother-in-law is in now. My brother-in-law is always so arrogant and imposing outside, fearing no one, but now he is suddenly tied up and acting so docile. It's funny just thinking about it; I wanted to go and mock him."

Bai Daxiaojie also stood up from her chair: "Together."

Chu Meixiang: "..."

Bai Ming immediately barked, "Nonsense! Everyone stay here and do not move!"

The two sisters immediately quieted down.

At this moment, a somewhat stumbling sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

Then, Li Zhengshan helped the red-eyed Luo Jiaorong walk in from outside, her face full of shame. As soon as they entered, both of them fell to their knees with a "thud."

Luo Jiaorong slapped herself twice and cried, "Great Master, Great Mistress, an elder sister is like a mother; it is my fault for not disciplining him strictly. I have already brought that little bastard here tied up. Whether you want to beat him or kill him, the two of you may do as you please!"

Li Zhengshan also kowtowed and said, "An elder brother is like a father. Zijun has violated the law and propriety, lost his moral standing, and committed such a scandalous and shameless act. It is all because I failed to teach him well; it is Zhengshan's fault. If the two of you want to beat or kill someone, just take it out on Zhengshan. I only beg you to spare Zijun's life and give these siblings a way to survive..."

It was not that the two were being overly dramatic; the reality was truly such.

In any dynasty, a Matrilocal Son-in-law who dared to commit the act of seducing his sister-in-law would be beaten to death.

They were mere commoners who had come to the Duke's mansion in desperation seeking shelter. Not only did the family not despise them, but they even took their younger brother as a son-in-law and never treated them as servants; this was a kindness as heavy as a mountain. In the end, their brother had committed such an ungrateful and scandalous act. How could they not be ashamed, heartbroken, and terrified?

This was the dignified Duke's mansion!

They had been upright their whole lives and always repaid kindness; how could they bear such a blow?

Hearing this bolt from the blue, along with everyone's gossip, it was as if the sky had collapsed.

Luo Jiaorong suddenly kowtowed to Bai Daxiaojie again, crying, "Daxiaojie, that little bastard is kneeling outside. You can punish him however you like. If he dares to frown or make a sound, I will personally go and beat him to death!"

The four people in the room looked at each other.

At this time, Luo Zijun suddenly said from outside, "Sister, Brother-in-law, please get up. This matter is my fault alone; it has nothing to do with you. I..."

"Shut up! You little bastard, you still dare to speak!"

Luo Jiaorong shouted loudly, then turned to Li Zhengshan at her side and raged, "Go take the thorns on his back and whip him! Whip him until Daxiaojie is satisfied!"

Li Zhengshan hesitated and said, "You go..."

Luo Jiaorong glared and said, "Didn't you just say that an elder brother is like a father! You go! You have the strength! Whip him hard for me!"

Li Zhengshan said weakly, "Didn't you just say that an elder sister is like a mother..."

Luo Jiaorong was furious: "Li Zhengshan, are you looking for a whipping too?"

Li Zhengshan shrank his neck, not daring to make another sound, nor daring to stand up.

Seeing that she could not rely on him, Luo Jiaorong had to stand up herself and raged, "Fine, I will whip him! If I don't whip that ungrateful little bastard until he submits today, I'll take his surname!"

Li Zhengshan: "..."

Luo Jiaorong was about to storm out in a rage when Bai Daxiaojie suddenly produced a small leather whip covered in barbs from somewhere and said, "Use this to whip him; it will be more painful."

Inside and outside the room, there was a sudden silence.

(End of chapter)