But now, seeing his father in such a state with his own eyes, he felt a suffocating feeling lingering in his chest.
"Brother, you've fought battles everywhere to defend our country. You're brave and fearless of death. That scar on your forehead is the best proof. But now, when it comes to protecting our own family, why are you shrinking back and refusing to help!" Bai Sheng's scolding from last night still echoed in his ears.
At that time, Bai Sheng not only told him the ins and outs of all the events in detail but also asked him to help and jointly scheme against Bai Zheng. He had flatly refused on the spot.
At that time, he firmly believed that Bai Zheng was impossible to do such a thing. Even if she did, it was the General's Mansion that had let down the Bai Mansion first. Bai Zheng's counterattack was just to protect her own father and the Bai Mansion, which was only natural.
But now, when he really saw his once - invincible and majestic general father in the battlefield turn into an invalid who couldn't even get up in bed, his heart was suddenly clenched, and the pain was intense.
"Dad, your son is unfilial..." Bai Nianyin, who never shed tears easily, had a moist feeling in his eyes for the first time. He clenched his fists tightly, and his whole body trembled slightly with excitement. "Your son came too late and failed to protect you and sister well..."
"It's not your fault." Bai Yizhang opened his eyes slightly. After lying in bed for so long, he had gradually accepted the fact that he was paralyzed. It was just that he was a bit disturbed when he first heard that his son had returned yesterday, so he refused to see him.
Now, after a night, he had calmed down a lot.
He looked at the high - spirited son in front of him, just like himself in the past.
Yes, he didn't need to worry unfoundedly. He still had a promising son who could make contributions and revitalize the General's Mansion.
Thinking of this, he nodded approvingly and said, "Nianyin, from now on, you'll be the only hope of the General's Mansion. As long as you lead the troops well and make achievements on the battlefield, the General's Mansion will never fall, and there will always be a day when it can regain its former glory."
"I will." Bai Nianyin endured the pain in his heart and nodded. "As long as I avenge Dad, I'll go back to the battlefield immediately! I'll go to the Bai Mansion now and ask Zheng'er. We're all flesh and blood relatives. Why is she so cruel and hurt Dad and Di'er like this!"
After saying that, he stood up and was about to leave in a hurry.
"Stop right there! Who told you to go find her? Who told you to avenge me!" Bai Yizhang suddenly raised his voice excitedly and shouted.
His eyes suddenly widened. Looking at Bai Nianyin, who had stopped in his tracks because of his scolding, he said anxiously, "You can't fight against that woman! She's a crazy woman with unfathomable schemes. You only know how to fight on the battlefield. How can you defend against the cold arrows she shoots in the back!"
Old Lady He also spat on the ground angrily: "If I had known that girl was so heartless, I should have drowned her when she was born!"
Bai Sheng was sitting quietly on one side. Looking at Bai Nianyin standing there, unwilling and helpless, she suddenly smiled faintly and whispered, "If brother wants to avenge Dad, I'll discuss it with you in the long run. If brother rushes to the Bai Mansion to find her like this, it may not be useful."
"Discuss in the long run? You..." Bai Nianyin looked at his sister Bai Sheng, who had been lowering her head all the time, with her bangs covering her face so that he couldn't see her expression clearly. He always felt a chill in his heart.
He really wanted to say that if discussing in the long run meant using underhanded means to deal with Bai Zheng, how was it different from a despicable villain?
He had always lived a straightforward life and despised such villainous deeds the most.
But when he looked at his father's state, he felt extremely heart - broken.
Besides discussing in the long run, how could he avenge his father?
Should he really go to the Bai Mansion and make a scene, sacrificing his own future?
For the first time, Bai Nianyin, who was always firm - minded, had doubts.
Just then, Bai Shou suddenly ran in out of breath and said, "General, the second young lady is here to see you!"
Bai Di?
"What does she want? How dare she come here!" Old Lady He immediately stood up and cursed at the door.
Everyone's eyes turned to the door. When they saw the person coming in, they were all stunned.
"Di, Di'er?" Bai Nianyin looked at the woman in front of him, wearing a sky - blue silk cocoon dress, with a light veil covering her face and long, thick bangs covering her forehead, only showing a pair of blood - shot eyes. He felt that she was extremely strange.
Was this still the lively and cheerful sister in his memory who couldn't wait to show her beauty to the whole world?
She had just gotten married. Logically, she should be wearing the new clothes prepared by the mansion as a dowry. But this sky - blue silk cocoon dress was the one he had seen Bai Di wear last year.
Moreover, Bai Nianyin had hardly ever seen Bai Di cover her face with a light veil. But on such a hot day and in the room, she still covered her face with the veil and didn't show any intention of taking it off even when she saw him.
It seemed that she was deliberately covering something.
He was also a little surprised to see Bai Di like this.
At first, when Bai Di and Bai Yizhang were carried back to the General's Mansion together, she had also looked at her injured granddaughter with heartache and worry.
But soon, after knowing the reason for her son's accident and the news that Bai Yizhang was paralyzed, her attitude towards Bai Di completely changed.
No matter how much pain her granddaughter was in, after all, she was just a granddaughter. Once she got married, she would have nothing to do with her. Moreover, this granddaughter was no longer the official third prince's concubine. Instead, she had been bestowed by Feng Linche to Chen Jianzhi, the second young master of the Duke Chen's Mansion.
What kind of person was Chen Jianzhi? A playboy who was idle and unmotivated, even despised by Duke Chen himself.
Bai Di actually had an affair with him and was now going to marry him? This granddaughter was better off if she had never been raised by her!
But her son was different.
In her life, she had only two sons. Her younger son, Bai Yinan, was useless. He only knew how to write and paint all day long. Although he had the shadow of Bai Qiying's title, after so many years, he had only managed to get a third - rank official position as a secretary.
In her life, the only person she could count on was her eldest son, Bai Yizhang.
But now, her only support in this life had been paralyzed by Bai Di! Who could she rely on for the rest of her life?
Thinking of this, her eyes towards Bai Di became colder and colder: "Who told you to come here? A married woman is like spilled water. Do you think the General's Mansion is a place you can come back to whenever you want? You come into the room without announcing yourself first. Have all these years of rules been taught to you in vain?"
When Bai Di saw Bai Nianyin, her heart was full of grievances. She was just about to cry to him, but when she heard her grandmother's words, her eyes instantly dimmed. She lowered her head meekly and said, "Grandmother, please calm down. It's Di'er's fault. Di'er knows her mistake..."