Turmoil (Revision)
Seeing that his mistress could no longer conceal her anger, Fu Lian could no longer restrain himself. Before Bai Shi could speak again, Fu Lian said:
"Second Master, your words are somewhat biased. Everyone in the Dou family knows that the Old Madam cares about you the most. Not only does she provide you with all your food, clothing, and daily necessities first, but she is also always worried about your safety. Back when you were still at the martial arts training ground, the Madam would go to the training ground to see you every other day. She would not leave until she saw with her own eyes that you were healthy and doing your job properly. Even our eldest master has never seen the Madam care like this."
"...But you, you've angered Madam time and time again. Not only did you drop out of the martial arts school, but you also turned down the position Master recommended for you, and you constantly do things that make Master and Madam lose face. To be honest, even I, your servant, feel sorry for Madam every day I see it all!"
Fu Lian spoke earnestly and at length, while Dou Yanxun remained silent. After a long while, he looked up at Fu Lian, merely raising his eyebrows and saying:
"Are you done talking?"
Despite her smiling expression, Fu Lian was inexplicably startled.
She usually stayed by Bai's side and never paid any attention to this good-for-nothing illegitimate son of the mansion. She was only polite to him outwardly because he was her master.
Seeing that Madam Bai was so angry with him today, I couldn't help but say a few more words. However, this illegitimate son, as always, remained completely indifferent. If it were just that, it would be fine...
For some reason, from her perspective, the faint smile on Dou Yanxun's lips looked like mockery, and the contempt in it seemed impossible to hide.
The Second Master, who was always a womanizer and unrestrained, had never had such a sharp look on his face before.
Before she could think too much about it, she saw Dou Yanxun's lips curl up slightly as he turned to look at Bai Shi, who was sitting high above.
The words, however, were like a cloud tinged with a speck of dust, floating gently in the air, swirling around but never quite settling down.
"The dragon has nine sons, each different. My eldest brother naturally has the demeanor to seize the throne from the dragon, and I am comforted for him. But in the end, how can one force someone to do something against their will, compelling the lion to become a dragon or a phoenix overnight?"
Dou Huaisheng, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally finished tasting the tea and put the teacup down heavily.
The sound of the placement, which was originally extremely faint, now sounded particularly abrupt in the tranquil hall.
However, after a moment's hesitation, Dou Huaisheng's brows were filled with displeasure. His gaze swept over Bai Shi beside him and the two people kneeling below the hall. Finally, he broke the tense atmosphere and looked at Bai Shi in a slow voice.
"You just said—that the maid was found drowned in the well by the cleaning servants early this morning?"
Upon hearing this, Bai slowly nodded, her eyes filled with regret mixed with a hint of anger.
“Such a thing has never happened in our household before. I have already sent someone to invite a doctor, and he is examining the body right now. The servant did not seem to have any unusual words. He only said that he was cleaning and on duty as usual when he found the body. I have questioned him carefully, and he does not seem to have anything wrong with him.”
Upon hearing this, Dou Huaisheng pondered for a moment but remained silent. He then looked at his illegitimate son kneeling on the ground and began to rebuke him:
"Since they are someone close to you, and now that something has suddenly happened to them, it is your fault for not disciplining them properly. There is no doubt about that. Can you take that to heart?"
Dou Yanxun nodded gently. "I understand, son."
Dou Huaisheng's expression softened slightly as he said:
“Your mother was just thinking of you. She may have seemed a little anxious, but her concern and care were genuine. As her son, you should be understanding and not think of her in any other way.”
Dou Huaisheng usually handled government affairs, including astronomical and legal matters, and was often summoned to the palace to meet the emperor, so it was rare for him to be so leisurely in his residence. Usually, all the affairs in the residence were handled by Bai Shi, and he never interfered in them.
Today, however, he was unusually stern towards Dou Yanxun, unlike his usual demeanor.
Bai still harbored a thorn in her side, but seeing that Dou Huaisheng seemed to be trying to appease her and then put the matter aside, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
Jiaohan and Jiaorui used to be maids serving me. Although they were later sent to another courtyard, they were both respectable and well-dignified. How could they die so mysteriously?
She absolutely has to get an explanation today.
Bai was gently fiddling with the pearl bracelet in her hand, one pearl at a time, pondering how to begin, when she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from the entrance of the main hall.
It was Dou Yanzhou, the eldest son, dressed in brocade robes and with a handsome face, who strode in, followed by several servants.
"Father, Mother." Dou Yanzhou was always very polite. Although he had rushed over, he still respectfully greeted his parents briefly before standing down in the hall.
"Why did you come here all of a sudden?"
When Bai saw Dou Yanzhou arrive, his previously tense expression relaxed slightly, and he asked in a deep voice.
"Mother, I had nothing to do at home today, so I set up a hot pot to enjoy the autumn scenery when I heard that my second brother had an accident. I was worried about you, Father and Mother, so I rushed over."
A young maidservant quickly stepped forward to offer him a chair. Dou Yanzhou lifted his long robe and sat down, glancing discreetly at Dou Yanxun, who was soaking wet, before smiling and saying:
"Second brother was completely drunk yesterday, but after what happened, is he sober now?"
He then looked at the little maid standing in the distance, his eyes smiling, and said:
“Nowadays, you are becoming more and more lax in your duties. Second Master has caught a cold. Be careful with your salaries.”
The young maid had been hesitant because of the tense atmosphere in the hall, knowing that she couldn't afford to offend any of the masters. Now that the atmosphere had finally warmed up a bit and Dou Yanzhou was speaking kindly, she hurriedly went to fetch a thick blanket and carefully draped it over Dou Yanxun.
Bai sighed softly before saying:
"It's not that your mother wants to be harsh on your younger brother, but do you know that the maid named Jiaorui from the other courtyard was found dead in the well in the backyard this morning?"
Dou Yanzhou's brow twitched slightly upon hearing this, but he remained composed and said:
"Mother, please calm down. My brother may have been negligent, but since she is already dead, there's no point in blaming him. I think it's just that the girl didn't see the road clearly at night and that's why she fell and died. So, I'll take good care of the funeral arrangements."
Bai's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained dissatisfied.
"Accidental fall? A perfectly healthy girl, not some child who doesn't know any better, who has been in the manor for so long without incident, how could she suddenly fall and drown in the well? I said before that this matter should be thoroughly investigated to give the Dou family an explanation. Yi Huai is usually unreliable, and now this has happened again, shouldn't he be severely punished?"
Dou Yanzhou's gaze shifted, sweeping over the kneeling Dou Yanxun, and he sighed helplessly as he said to Madam Bai:
“Mother, my second brother is usually mischievous and undisciplined. Although he was negligent in this matter, the punishment is too severe and will only make him a laughing stock. Making a big fuss about this before the matter is investigated will only arouse suspicion among everyone in the household.”
Before she could finish speaking, a servant appeared at the door, looking nervous. He hesitated for a moment but quickly walked in, whispered a few words in Bai's ear, and then hurriedly left.
Bai's expression grew increasingly grim.
After a long while, she finally calmed herself down and sighed:
"Jiaorui's body has been examined, and it has been confirmed that she drowned. However, this girl was two or three months pregnant before she died."
Bai's gaze turned to Dou Yanxun, and he said with a somber expression:
"—But what a mess you've made?"
Upon hearing this, everyone stiffened and turned to look at the figure kneeling below the hall.
But his face, as pale as paper, remained remarkably calm.
Dou Yanxun pursed his lips under everyone's watchful eyes, his gaze full of frivolity, as if he were trying hard to recall something. After a long while, he whispered:
"We can't be too sure about this son..."
"You bastard!"
Bai's low growl was accompanied by the sound of beads flying and shattering. She slammed her hand hard on the armrest of the chair, and countless crystal-clear jade beads were immediately smashed and scattered in all directions!
Several young girls, standing some distance away, were unable to dodge in time and were accidentally injured in the face by the bead.
Bai was so angry that she could barely stand. She forced herself to stand up slowly and walked toward the thick whip used for family discipline not far away.
"It seems this rebellious son absolutely must be dealt with today!"
Dou Yanzhou, his eyes filled with helplessness, finally stood up and stepped forward to whisper his advice:
"Mother, why get so angry? You'll only hurt yourself."
Fu Lian hurriedly stepped forward to help Bai Shi up. Seeing that the situation was escalating and about to spiral out of control, Dou Yanzhou looked at his half-brother and couldn't help but say gently:
"Second brother, it was indeed your fault today. Now that she's gone, and she was just a maid anyway, we can handle it carefully. I'll pick a few more capable ones for you to send over later. Why make Mother unhappy over this?"
Dou Yanzhou gently supported Bai Shi while whispering comforting words in her ear:
"My second brother is now also a person who has been granted a marriage by imperial decree. Why should Mother make such a fuss over such a trivial matter? In my opinion, the drowning of Jiaorui may not necessarily be a bad thing..."
The voice gradually faded and became inaudible at the end.
Bai glanced at her eldest son, whose face was grave, and her thoughts instantly returned to normal.
Although Dou Yanxun was born out of wedlock, his marriage was personally approved by the person in the Changchun Palace of the Imperial Palace. Although they haven't discussed this matter with the Lin family yet, it seems to be a done deal and cannot be changed.
At this critical juncture, if word gets out that Dou Yanxun's personal maid is pregnant, what will the Lin family think? And what will the Empress think?
Isn't this a clear indication that the Dou family is disregarding the Empress's favor and trying to offend her?
Bai was immediately startled, and when she thought about it again, she was already covered in cold sweat.
She was so angry that she hadn't even thought of this!
This matter can only be left as it is now. If we were to investigate it further, it would have far-reaching consequences. If others were to use this as a pretext to stir up trouble and ruin the entire Dou family, that would be the last thing we could want.
Bai was a woman of deep thoughts. Although she regretted that her spy, whom she had planted for many years, had been eliminated, she could not delve any further into the matter. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but gasp, gripping her eldest son's hand with all her might before slowly turning around.
The person kneeling calmly in the distance, though soaked to the bone, still appeared indifferent to everything in the world.
She clearly hated that look the most.
No matter how much he is reprimanded, whipped, or insulted, it will not harm the arrogance deep in his heart.
She looks exactly like the person I used to hate the most.
So many years have passed, and she has been forcing herself not to recall that past event or think about the person she once loathed to the extreme.
—That face that looks almost exactly like Dou Yanxun's.
But even if she deliberately avoids recalling it, that past event, so many years ago, that cruel and blood-stained memory, still haunts her dreams from time to time.
She couldn't help but slowly narrow her eyes and clench her hands.
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