This angry rebuke made Bai Yinan tremble. His legs went weak and he was about to kneel, but Bai Zheng casually supported his elbow as if by accident, which allowed him to regain his senses.
Bai Zheng lowered her eyes. Her long bangs covered her face, making it hard to see her expression at the moment. "Grandmother, please calm down. I wonder what mistake I've made?"
Mrs. He raised her eyebrows. "What mistake? You broke off the engagement with the Prime Minister's Mansion without regarding the order of your parents, and you slandered your second elder sister in public without considering sisterly affection. I really don't know when our Bai Family has raised such an ungrateful girl like you!"
"I heard that Miss Bai berated my son for being heartless and unjust the other day, and slandered him for having improper relations with a woman. I wonder how Minister Bai usually educates his children, allowing his daughter to be so presumptuous!" Prime Minister Chu's indifferent eyes swept across Bai Zheng and then coldly stared at Bai Yinan.
Actually, when Prime Minister Chu heard about this matter that day, he was quite happy to break off the engagement with the daughter of a mere third - rank minister's family.
But as the corruption case was gradually being settled, a rumor began to spread widely, saying that the young master of the Prime Minister's Mansion was dissolute and immoral and deserved to be dumped.
Where could he put his old face?
Hearing the four words "improper relations", Mrs. He remembered Bai Di's dejected look in recent days. She felt heart - ache immediately and pointed at Bai Zheng. "Wretch! It's a pity that Di'er had been praying for your safety in the temple some days ago. Who would have thought that her own cousin would slander her like this!"
"Mother, please calm down. Zheng'er has always respected her elder sisters. How could she frame Di'er? As for this marriage... Prime Minister Chu, you and I, as fathers, should know Zheng'er's feelings for Young Master Chu. If Zheng'er hadn't been really heart - broken this time, how could she have broken off the engagement..."
Bai Yinan was always a filial son. Seeing his mother getting extremely angry this time, he was a bit at a loss. Fortunately, his years of official experience and his eagerness to protect his daughter made him not lose his composure.
"Minister Bai means to confirm that the Chu Family is heartless and unjust? This marriage was arranged by General Bai and the late prime minister when they were alive. Now your Bai Family suddenly breaks off the engagement. People who don't know might think that there's something wrong with me, her uncle, that makes Miss Bai look down on me!" Feng Jingye said coldly.
Seeing that Bai Zheng kept her head down and said nothing, and Bai Yinan was rendered speechless, Feng Jingyi felt sorry for them. He coughed softly to try to ease the situation.
"Since ancient times, a woman's mind has been the most difficult to fathom. I heard that Miss Bai has admired Young Master Chu Feng for a long time. I think the matter of breaking off the engagement was just Miss Bai's impulsive words. How could she really be willing to break it off?"
Bai Zheng twitched the corner of her mouth. This Feng Jingyi was really as kind - hearted as the rumor said, one of the nine princes of Feng Linche.
However, if he knew that it was herself who had tricked him before, he wouldn't be so kind - hearted to ease the situation today.
She gave a cold smile and then spoke.
"Zheng'er did admire Brother Chu Feng before. But after experiencing so much, Zheng'er was already disheartened. When the servant girl Xin of the Prime Minister's Mansion insulted Zheng'er for being talentless and unworthy of Young Master Chu the other day, Zheng'er suddenly realized that if she still clung to this marriage, it would be of no benefit to anyone.
By then, not only the Bai Mansion but also the General's Mansion might be laughed at by the whole Yongding. People would only say that after Zheng'er lost her grandfather, her uncle didn't care about her and her grandmother didn't love her. She even allowed the servants of the Prime Minister's Mansion to bully her and didn't even dare to say a word about breaking off the engagement."
Bai Zheng looked aggrieved and helpless as she spoke, sounding quite magnanimous.
But if you thought carefully about what she said, it was clearly saying that the Prime Minister's Mansion had gone too far. Even a mere servant girl dared to talk nonsense to her, not putting the Bai Mansion or even the General's Mansion in their eyes at all.
At this time, if Mrs. He still stood on the side of the Prime Minister's Mansion to blame Bai Zheng, wouldn't it just confirm Bai Zheng's words of "uncle doesn't care, grandmother doesn't love"?
Feng Jingye's face turned green and then pale, while Prime Minister Chu's face was so dark that it seemed to squeeze out ink.
Mrs. He was so angry that her hands were trembling. "Are you blaming your uncle and me, your grandmother, for not protecting you well and instead siding with outsiders to bully you?"
"Zheng'er wouldn't dare. Zheng'er only blames herself for having a bad fortune and not being able to enjoy the good marriage arranged by her grandfather." Bai Zheng sighed as she said.
Feng Jingyi slightly twitched the corner of his mouth. It seemed that he didn't need to worry. This girl didn't seem to be easily bullied.
Feng Jingye focused his eyes and carefully sized up the woman in a light yellow dress with a green jade hairpin in her hair.
He originally thought that she was just a little girl. A few words of intimidation would surely make her beg for mercy. Then it would be natural for the Bai Family to betroth the eldest daughter Bai Sheng or the second daughter Bai Di instead to make amends.
The Chu Family would gain both fame and fortune, and his position as the crown prince would be more stable.
Unexpectedly, he had met a tough nut to crack.
He coldly looked at Bai Yinan. "Minister Bai just came out of the Supreme Court. Have you forgotten the days of fear inside?
Miss Bai is ignorant and doesn't know what it means for your Bai Mansion to break off the marriage with the Chu Family. Does Minister Bai also want to make a scene with her?"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince has been running around for my father's unjust case. Zheng'er is grateful. But regarding the matter of breaking off the engagement, Zheng'er has made up her mind."
She would never forget that since Bai Yinan had an accident, the Prime Minister's Mansion was the first to jump out and shout about breaking off the engagement and step on the Bai Mansion.
Seeing that Bai Zheng was neither soft nor hard, Prime Minister Chu angrily said coldly, "Although this case has been settled, the missing 200,000 taels of silver have not been found yet..." Then he turned to look at Feng Jingye.
Feng Jingye understood and continued, "Yes. Since I, the crown prince, have found out that this case was done by spies from the Western Liang, I can surely find out where the 200,000 taels of silver went. If it is finally traced back to Minister Bai... Since Miss Bai is so determined to break off the engagement today, don't blame me, the crown prince, for not caring about the old in - law relationship!"
Bai Zheng gritted her teeth. Feng Jingye's threat was undisguised.
The emperor, Feng Linche, was extremely angry about the loss of the 200,000 taels of silver. This was what Feng Jingye was most worried about at present.
Although the flood in the southern town had receded, a large amount of silver was still needed to repair the disaster - stricken area and comfort the victims. But now, the national treasury of the Great Zhou might not be able to afford this sum of money.
How about...
Bai Zheng had an idea. She looked up and said, "If Zheng'er can help Your Highness the Crown Prince relieve his worries, I wonder if Your Highness can agree to Zheng'er's request to break off the engagement?"