"Zheng'er!" Bai Nianyin frowned.
But Bai Zheng ignored the dissuasion and nodded directly, saying, "It was I who said so."
Bai Di pushed aside Bai Nianyin, who was still about to say something, walked up to Bai Zheng, took her hand and knelt down in front of Feng Linche on the upper seat. "Your Majesty is here. If you go back on your word, it's an act of deceiving the emperor!"
Bai Zheng gave a faint smile. "It's a deal."
Feng Linyuan watched this scene with a gentle smile on his face all the time, his eyes and eyebrows soft.
Seeing this, Feng Linhuai couldn't help frowning. He walked up to Feng Linyuan, nudged him with his elbow and whispered.
"A Yuan, even if your little wife is innocent, that woman obviously came prepared. Your wife's dowries are all rare things. Aren't you heart - broken to let her take them away?"
"She won't take them away." Feng Linyuan said so, his eyes still fixed on Bai Zheng's straight kneeling figure.
Just then, Bai Zheng asked crisply, "So, Second Sister, what if there's no tufu in that skin - whitening cream?"
"It's impossible there isn't!" Bai Di said in an unquestionable tone.
Bai Zheng laughed. She was too lazy to argue with her on this issue and just said, "Second Sister, now we're making a bet. Since I've stated my stake, shouldn't Second Sister also offer yours?"
Bai Di frowned. Bai Zheng's words made sense.
Since it was a bet, both sides should put up their own stakes.
Bai Zheng had put up all her dowries, but she, Bai Di, was now just an outcast abandoned by the General's Mansion and looked down upon by the Duke Chen's Mansion.
What could she take out to match Bai Zheng's grand dowry?
"Although Zheng'er's dowries are not very outstanding, there are at least a few manors, shops and farmlands to support the scene.
Second Sister comes from the prestigious General's Mansion. Presumably, your dowry at that time must have been much more sumptuous than Zheng'er's.
How about Second Sister taking out an equal amount of shops and farmlands?"
Bai Zheng asked with a smile.
As soon as she said this, a look of disdain appeared on the faces of several people present.
Even though Bai Di's wedding was in a hurry and low - key, there were still people in Yongding City who saw the situation when she got married.
Her dowry at that time was no more than thirty - four loads at most. The quantity was small and inauspicious, and the total value of the shops and farmlands was not even as much as the first load of Bai Zheng's dowry.
Using such a small dowry as a stake was no different from trying to get something for nothing.
Bai Di bit her lip and lowered her head. Her hands tightly grasped the sleeves of her dress. But she couldn't say a word.
Zisu timidly said, "Madam Hou, you have a lot of dowries and a grand style. Our madam is not as fortunate as you. She can't take out so many manors to bet with you!"
Seeing Bai Di's embarrassed and pale face, Bai Zheng smiled slightly.
"In that case, we won't bet on this. If I lose, Second Sister can still take all my dowries. If Second Sister loses, I won't ask for your dowry either."
"Really?" Bai Di suddenly looked up, unable to hide her excitement as she stared at Bai Zheng.
There was a cold smile on Bai Zheng's lips. "Naturally."
"Then what do you want?" Looking at her smile, Bai Di had a bad feeling.
Just then, Bai Zheng slightly opened her lips and said lightly.
"Does Second Sister still remember that on the day when Father was just released from prison, I was called to the General's Mansion by Grandmother and the Prime Minister, and was forced to make a bet with the Prime Minister.
At that time, the Prime Minister said that if I lost, I would have to kneel three times and kowtow nine times all the way from the West City Gate to the East City Gate, shouting 'Bai Zheng has no discernment and wronged Chu Feng' each time I knelt."
When Bai Zheng said this, her eyes fell on the Prime Minister Chu not far away. He had just regained a bit of consciousness after being rescued by several imperial doctors for a long time.
Bai Di's heart sank suddenly.
That day... it was she who informed the old madam He of the Bai family, which led to that bet.
Feng Linyuan's eyes ached. There was already a trace of killing intent in his eyes when he looked at Prime Minister Chu. How dare he force his Zheng'er to make such a bet! He really deserved to die...
But Bai Zheng's expression remained calm all the time, showing no joy or anger. She just continued,
"Grandfather once said that the children of the Bai family can have their heads cut off and shed their blood, but their spines must not bend. At that time, Zheng'er dared to accept this bet with the Prime Minister with the determination that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated.
Today, I'm sure Second Sister is willing too, right?"
"What do you mean!" Bai Di's face immediately turned pale. "You want me to kneel three times and kowtow nine times all the way from the West City Gate to the East City Gate if I lose?!"
Bai Zheng smiled sweetly, but her words were merciless. "Not only that. Each time Second Sister kneels, she should remember to shout 'Bai Di is guilty of framing Bai Zheng'."
"You're dreaming!"
Bai Di was so scared that she immediately got up. Her whole body began to tremble with excitement again. She pointed at Bai Zheng with her finger, and the tip of her finger began to turn from white to purple due to the backflow of blood.
"I'm your second sister! How could you treat me like this? Do you have any conscience at all! Bai Zheng, you're really vicious... You're so vicious. I just wanted your dowries, but you actually want to make it impossible for me to live in Yongding City!"
Bai Di shouted hoarsely.
"Only if Second Sister loses will she be unable to live in Yongding City." The smile on Bai Zheng's face remained unchanged, but she stared at Bai Di even more coldly. "So, will Second Sister lose this bet?"
Just this one sentence made Bai Di calm down instantly.
Yes, what was she afraid of? She would never lose.
There was clearly tufu in that skin - whitening cream!
In that case, why should she care what the bet Bai Zheng proposed was? It would never come true anyway!
"If Second Sister doesn't even believe herself, why did you point at Zheng'er just now and keep saying that Zheng'er was vicious and had ruined your appearance?" The mockery in Bai Zheng's smile became deeper and deeper.
Feng Linche's eyes were always fixed on Bai Zheng. This woman, who had once looked weak, incompetent and cautious in front of him, had now become sharp - edged, even a bit heartless and vicious.
Judging from her appearance, this was clearly the real her.
So, was the previous cowardice and incompetence all an act to deceive him?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help saying in a deep voice, "Madam Hou is so aggressive. She's really a powerful woman.
I'm afraid there's not a single person in my palace who has Madam Hou's capabilities.
It turns out that Madam Hou always pretended to be a soft - hearted bun before. You've been playing the pig to eat the tiger in front of me all this time?"
Feng Linyuan frowned. Just as he was about to speak for Bai Zheng, he saw Bai Zheng's eyes flash. She turned around and curtsied to Feng Linche. Her face was full of panic and grievance that she couldn't control.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was just so angry that I lost my composure in front of the palace.
Second Sister not only publicly humiliated and wronged me at my wedding banquet for no reason, but also wanted to take away all my dowries...
Now that I've married into the Marquis Dingyuan's Mansion, I represent the dignity of the Marquis Dingyuan's Mansion. Second Sister's humiliation of me is an insult to the Marquis Dingyuan.
I really can't swallow this anger!"