Bai Yinan's study was in a complete mess. The bookshelves made of willow wood, which were once fully stocked with scrolls, now had their contents scattered all over the floor. The bamboo slips of the trampled scrolls were flying everywhere. At a glance, there was hardly a stable place to step on.
Bai Zheng picked up the scroll that had fallen closest to the door and gently dusted off the footprints on it.
Bai Nianjin clenched her fists tightly. "Sister, how can we save Father?"
Bai Zheng stepped into the study. While tidying up the bamboo slips on the ground, she replied, "Since it's a case of embezzlement, we either need to produce enough evidence to prove that Father is innocent, or find out who the real embezzler is."
Bai Nianjin frowned, carefully pondering which of these two paths would be easier to take.
"If we talk about evidence, Father has always been honest and dedicated to his duties. The food, clothing, and daily necessities of everyone in this mansion are all evidence!" Bai Nianjin took the scroll handed over by Bai Zheng, but her brows showed no sign of relaxation. "However, if someone with ulterior motives claims that Father is just putting on a show for outsiders, we won't be able to defend ourselves no matter how hard we try."
"You're right," Bai Zheng agreed.
"But if we talk about finding the real embezzler..." Bai Nianjin looked helpless. "I've sent people to investigate, but there's no clue at all."
"Uncle Fu, has anyone come to the mansion in the past few days?" Bai Zheng turned to Bai Fu and asked.
Bai Fu only felt that the Third Miss now spoke and acted more neatly and efficiently than before. This was a completely different appearance from the previous Third Miss, which made people involuntarily respect her.
He carefully recalled for a moment, then bowed and replied, "Back to Third Miss, since you went missing, the mansion has been closed to guests. Master and Young Master would go out to look for you whenever they had free time, so they had no intention of entertaining guests. Except for the Second Miss who came to visit Madam, no one else has been to the mansion."
Hearing the name Bai Di, Bai Zheng suddenly remembered that before she fell off the cliff, the reason she had been bullied and run out of the banquet alone that day was precisely because she had told Chu Feng that Bai Di had feelings for the Third Prince, Feng Jingxuan. This had greatly angered both Chu Feng and Bai Di.
Chu Feng was angry because he thought Bai Zheng was slandering the woman he loved, while Bai Di was guilty because Bai Zheng had seen Feng Jingxuan coming out of her boudoir with her own eyes that day.
Feng Jingxuan? Bai Di?
It seemed that no matter what, she had to go to the General's Mansion.
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng looked up. With her bright eyes fixed on Bai Nianjin, she said, "Do you still remember what was written in that letter that was found? Can you write it down for me to see?"
"I... I didn't get a chance to see it."
"Then just make one up in Father's tone," Bai Zheng said calmly, as if she was just saying something as casual as "Just make up a story to amuse Nianming."
Bai Nianjin was stunned for a moment. Although she didn't understand her sister's intention, she obediently started to make one up right away.
Bai Zheng wasn't idle either. In fact, she was quite anxious. To save her father, this was like the golden eight - hour period. The sooner they took action, the more hope there would be.
She quickly rummaged through a few family letters and handed them to Bai Nianjin. "Imitate Uncle's handwriting as fast as you can. It doesn't have to be exactly the same. As long as it looks convincing at first glance."
On the other hand, Bai Di, who was sitting in the carriage on her way back, was obviously extremely angry. She bit her lips tightly all the way, and there was a terrifying glint in her eyes. Zisu, who was sitting beside her, was so scared that she didn't even dare to breathe loudly. This was the first time she had seen her young lady show such an expression.
Yes, this young lady of hers, who always considered herself superior, had never suffered such humiliation before.
That Third Miss had seemed like a completely different person today. She was eloquent and unyielding, which had made the Second Miss a laughingstock. For a young lady in the boudoir, reputation was more important than life itself. How could the Second Miss bear such an injustice of being accused of having an improper relationship with a man?
As soon as she entered the General's Mansion, Bai Di ran crying towards the Hall of Hundred Blessings where the Old Lady He lived. "Grandma... Grandma..."
Old Lady He was hard of hearing, but it was Lady Zhao, Bai's eldest wife who accompanied her in chatting, who heard her daughter's cries first. She had just stood up when she saw Bai Di running in a hurry. Bai Di rushed into the room and threw herself into Old Lady He's arms.
Old Lady He had always doted on her grandchildren. Seeing her granddaughter crying as soon as she came in today, she was extremely heart - broken. Immediately, she asked repeatedly, "Di'er, what's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell Grandma quickly!"
Lady Zhao also anxiously stepped forward and patted her daughter on the back. "Yes, Di'er, what's going on?"
Only then did Bai Di gradually stop sobbing. With her tear - filled eyes, she looked up at Old Lady He pitifully. "Grandma, Zheng'er is back."
Hearing the name Bai Zheng, a look of disdain flashed across Lady Zhao's face.
It was said that General Bai and his wife, Old Lady He, had always been deeply in love. He had never taken a concubine, and they had two sons and two daughters.
Leaving aside the two married daughters, the eldest son, Bai Yizhang, was decisive in character. He had followed his father on the battlefield since childhood and had accumulated a lot of military achievements. Naturally, he had inherited the general's title and the General's Mansion. He was now the highly respected General Bai.
The second son, Bai Yinan, didn't seem like a general's son at all. Instead, he seemed to come from a scholarly family. He had never liked wielding swords and guns since childhood but only loved to study poetry and books. His character was rather indecisive. After the old general's death, he had set up his own family and got a position as a third - rank official in the Ministry of Revenue.
Because of his character, he had the worst situation among his siblings. As a result, he was not liked by Old Lady He at all. Even Bai Zheng and the other grandchildren often suffered cold treatment from their grandmother.
Therefore, Lady Zhao always showed a bit of disdain when she heard the names of Bai Yinan's family. She just replied, "Oh, so Zheng'er is back. Then why are you crying?"