The last four words were bitten out with extra force by Bai Zheng, falling one by one into Bai Shou's heart.
Bai Shou was startled. His eyes rolled a few times. "Miss Third, please wait a moment." Then he returned to the study.
Before long, Bai Shou opened the door and made a gesture of invitation to Bai Zheng. "Miss Third, please come in."
Bai Zheng nodded, motioning for Zhu Ling to stay outside. Then she stepped into the study.
The layout of the study in the General's Mansion was similar to that in the Bai Mansion. However, most of the books on the bookshelves were military ones, and on the side wall hung a map. Below the map was enshrined the Cloud - Floating Sword, the former sword of the old general Bai Qiying.
When Bai Qiying was still alive, Bai Zheng often came here to play. But now things had changed, and the brother - sister bond had come to such an end.
Bai Zheng stopped her wandering thoughts and walked straight to the desk. A middle - aged man was sitting on the chair in the middle. His thick black hair was tied up, with hardly a single white hair in sight. His eyebrows slanted upwards, and his features were as sharp and distinct as if carved by a knife. He looked somewhat similar to Bai Yinan.
"Zheng'er pays respects to Uncle."
Bai Yizhang raised his eyes, and an imposing manner that commanded respect without anger spread out. "What are you here for?"
Bai Zheng hung her head. "Zheng'er wants to plead with Uncle to save Father and intercede with His Majesty on Father's behalf."
"I know about your father's matter, but I'm also powerless. Moreover, the treasury of the Great Zhou is empty at present. Your father embezzled 200,000 taels of silver at this critical moment. He is asking for his own death." Bai Yizhang said indifferently, as if he was not talking about his own younger brother but a complete stranger and criminal.
Bai Zheng's body trembled slightly, as if she were crying. "Uncle, you know that Father has always been dedicated to his duties and timid. How could he dare to embezzle silver! It's just a letter. It can't be counted! As long as Uncle intercedes with His Majesty, for the sake of the General's Mansion and Grandpa, Father, Father will be fine..."
Bai Yizhang frowned and looked at Bai Shou impatiently. The killing aura of this battle - hardened man shocked Bai Shou greatly. This Third Miss had just said that she was not here to plead but to save the General's Mansion. In the end, she had deceived him.
"Uncle... Zheng'er is begging Uncle... You must save Father. It's just a letter. It can't be counted..."
Finally, Bai Yizhang couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted Bai Zheng's sobbing plea. "That letter is irrefutable evidence! Your father is asking for his own death. Even if we sacrifice the entire General's Mansion, we can't save him. Go back quickly!"
Hearing this, Bai Shou quickly stepped forward to support Bai Zheng and secretly pulled her out.
Bai Zheng looked on the verge of collapse. While struggling to break free from Bai Shou and trying to move forward to grab Bai Yizhang's robe, she sobbed, "It's just a letter. Anyone can write it!"
Bai Yizhang dodged Bai Zheng's hand and blurted out impatiently, "Your father's handwriting is clearly on it. Who else could have written it?"
Bai Zheng fell silent instantly. Finally, she raised her head. Only then did Bai Yizhang see clearly that there wasn't a single tear on Bai Zheng's face at the moment. Her eyes were clear and bright, which made Bai Yizhang feel creepy.
The corners of her lips curled up slightly, and her tone was as cold as water. "Since that letter was found in Father's study and taken away by the officers and soldiers of the Supreme Court of Judicature, even the people in our mansion haven't seen its content. How is Uncle so sure that there is Father's handwriting on it? Is Uncle so powerful that he can reach into the Supreme Court of Judicature, or was that letter actually written by Uncle himself!"
Only then did Bai Yizhang realize that he had slipped up. But after all, he was an experienced official in the officialdom. His expression remained unchanged. "What are you talking nonsense about! It's easy to imagine that without your father's handwriting, how could a third - rank assistant minister be arrested by the Supreme Court of Judicature just because of a letter?"
Bai Zheng stood up and dusted off her clothes. "Uncle is really good at clearing himself. But after all, Father and you are both descendants of Grandpa. Everyone in the world knows that Father is as timid as a mouse and has always been in awe of you, big brother. You tell me, if the crime of embezzlement falls on Father, can the General's Mansion stay out of it?"
"Are you threatening me?" Bai Yizhang roared.
"How dare Zheng'er." Although she said she didn't dare, Bai Zheng's slender body stood upright.
"After all, we are blood siblings. Zheng'er naturally firmly believes that in this court, anyone may harm Father, but only the General's Mansion won't. Not only won't it, but it should also try its best to save Father when he is in trouble. Otherwise... Do you think His Majesty will believe that a mere third - rank assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue was tempted by profit to embezzle, or will he believe more that a general with 400,000 troops has a hint of disloyalty?"
Bai Yizhang suddenly stood up. The sudden movement made the table move three feet away. Bai Zheng nimbly dodged to the side and looked up into Bai Yizhang's slightly red eyes. "Our General's Mansion has always fought for His Majesty and the Great Zhou. Do you think you can involve me because of this matter? Can you make His Majesty suspicious of me?"
Bai Zheng smiled faintly. This smile made Bai Yizhang feel a strong sense of uneasiness.
"What if Zheng'er has solid evidence?"