The winter sun was not glaring. The pale golden sunlight, with its comfortable warmth, lingered on Bai Zheng's rosy and translucent face.
In the blink of an eye, it was time to return to the mansion.
"Miss," Qing Zhi walked in with a fiery red fox fur cloak. "There's still some snow on the ground today. Although it has cleared up, it's even colder outside. You've just recovered, so don't catch a chill."
"Sister Qing Zhi, thank you all for taking care of me these days. I don't know how to repay you," Bai Zheng said, then bowed deeply. "I'll send the three thousand taels of silver to your mansion within ten days."
Qing Zhi quickly supported Bai Zheng's arm. "Your grandfather has some connections with our master. Please don't take our help to you to heart. As for the three thousand taels of silver, our master said you can take your time."
It would be best if you never paid it back, otherwise the master would never let you off.
Bai Zheng took the fiery red fox fur cloak, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
Putting on the cloak, she followed Qing Zhi out of the door and finally saw the whole picture of this mansion.
There was no plaque on the simple wooden door. The gray walls and black tiles were hidden in the lush - wooded valley. From a distance, it seemed no different from the farmhouses in other places. But obviously, the owner of this mansion was of great background.
Bai Zheng sat in the slowly rocking carriage. Outside, the bright sunlight gradually gave way to the setting sun, and the silence was replaced by the unique hustle and bustle of the marketplace.
According to her memory, she was almost home.
"Don't you dare talk nonsense! My sister isn't dead!" Just as she arrived at the door and hadn't got off the carriage yet, a clear young voice came into her ears. Wasn't that her second younger brother, Bai Nianming?
"She's been missing for so many days. If she isn't dead, why hasn't she come back? Could it be that she was kidnapped by bandits to be the wife of the bandit leader?" a cold and sarcastic voice rang out.
"What did you say! Who gave you the nerve to slander my miss's innocence!" The crisp voice came from Zhu Ling, Bai Zheng's personal maid. Obviously, she was extremely angry.
"Even if she isn't dead, our young master can't marry her! Do you think our Prime Minister's Mansion is for nothing? How could we marry a woman without innocence!"
"Master Chu..." a sorrowful female voice sounded, accompanied by uncontrollable sobs. It was her mother, Lin Shi.
"Zheng'er is a girl. If you break off the engagement, how can she face people in the future? Master Chu, Zheng'er is a good girl. She's been infatuated with you. Please take this into consideration..."
"Infatuated?" Lin Shi's mournful voice was interrupted sharply. "Your Third Miss Bai is well - known for being bad at all kinds of arts and not proficient in poetry. Infatuated? Our young master can't bear such infatuation. She even had the nerve to write love poems to our young master and slander her own cousin. Such a woman without virtue or talent, and now without innocence, has the nerve to ask our young master to marry her!"
There should have been few passers - by in the dim sky. Attracted by the increasingly sharp voices, those passing by, those nearby, and those about to close their stalls all stopped, and the whispering gradually increased.
Bai Zheng suddenly felt a pain in her heart. In the chaos, the tear - stained face of that young girl took her thoughts far away.
When she first learned about the engagement, the young girl in the bloom of youth regarded this unseen young master as her lifelong support. After seeing Chu Feng at an accidental gathering, she began to dream about her married life.
She learned to embroider, to cook, with great enthusiasm.
Unexpectedly, all her passion was wasted.
"Xin Nu, don't be rude," a hypocritical voice sounded.
A sneer appeared on Bai Zheng's lips. The Second Young Master Chu was really cunning. He only showed up to clean up after his subordinate had said all the unpleasant things.
"Madam Bai, please understand. My grandmother in the family is old. After hearing about this, she fell seriously ill and has been in bed ever since. As the eldest grandson, I'm responsible for the face of the Chu family. I really can't continue the engagement with Miss Bai."
"Master Chu..." Her mother's voice became more and more choked. Obviously, she was extremely sad.
Just as Bai Zheng was about to stand up, she suddenly heard a charming female voice nearby. "Aunt, hasn't Zheng'er come back yet?"
Hearing this, Bai Zheng sat down gently, clenching her fists. A surge of hatred welled up in her heart. She was all too familiar with this voice, or rather, it was very familiar in her memory.
It was Bai Di! Her good cousin, the second daughter of General Bai Yizhang of the Bai family.
"Di... Miss Bai." After the hasty neighing of the horse, Bai Di got out of the carriage. Chu Feng's surprised voice came. "You're here too. I'm just about to break off the engagement with Miss Bai."
Bai Di's gentle voice was tinged with grievance. "Master Chu, this... this isn't very appropriate. Although Zheng'er has a bit of a temper, she didn't hurt me that day. After all, she was just infatuated with you and spoke without thinking."
This addition of fuel to the fire was very timely. Not only was the calmness and even the guilt that Chu Feng had felt because of breaking off the engagement dispelled, but his disgust also flared up.
"Miss Bai, you're the only one in my heart. I know your grievances best. You don't need to speak up for her here. Miss Bai slandered you in front of me that day. Who knows what dirty things she has done behind our backs! Even if Bai Zheng is still innocent, I'm going to break off this engagement!"
"Exactly!" Xin Nu beside him quickly chimed in. "Compared with Miss Bai Di in terms of character, family background, and talent, Miss Bai Zheng is no match at all!"
"In terms of character?"
Bai Zheng finally couldn't stand the performance of this pair of lovers. "Although I, Bai Zheng, dare not compare my family background and talent with other ladies, my character has never been criticized. I wonder where the Prime Minister's Mansion gets such remarks?"