Chapter 99 The Great Secret
"This is too outrageous! No matter what, they can't treat you like this when you're pregnant!" Shi Liu was filled with righteous indignation and said, "Let's go! I'll take you to see my master and let her make the decision for you!"
Cuilan shook her head. "Forget it. It's New Year's Day. I don't want to upset the master. I'll stay here for one night. I'll go back to the mansion tomorrow morning to ask the eldest young master and the eldest young mistress to make the decision for me! At worst, I'll divorce that loser Su Chuan!"
Shi Liu was shocked. "You can be angry, but you can't say nonsense! After all, there is a child in your belly. Even if you don't consider yourself, you have to think about the child. You can't just give up the child."
"That's impossible! This is my baby. You're dreaming if I don't want to give him up for those bastards from the Su family!" Cuilan clenched her fists in anger.
He seemed to be disgusted with others involving his child with the Su family.
Shi Liu felt completely baffled, and thinking that pregnant women might just have a fickle temper, she stopped talking about it.
She had to get up early tomorrow to serve her master, so she and Cuilan, who was full of anger, went to bed early.
Cuilan tossed and turned all night and was already angry. Moreover, she couldn't sleep well in the new place. She had nightmares and talked in her sleep the whole night, which woke up Shiliu.
Shi Liu was tossing and turning in restlessness when he suddenly heard Cui Lan talking in her sleep. He was so startled that he sat up with a thud and could no longer fall asleep.
The next day, Shi Liu got up before dawn and went to Bai's yard while Cui Lan was still asleep.
Bai and Ma Xingteng hadn't gotten up yet, but she couldn't wait any longer, so she had to knock on the door.
"What's the matter?" Bai let Shi Liu in with an unhappy look on her face.
Shi Liu glanced at Ma Xingteng, who was lying motionless with his back to them, and said in a low voice, "Madam, Cuilan came to me last night. She married Su Chuan and was pregnant. She said that she was driven out of the house by her mother-in-law and had nowhere to go.
I took her in for one night, and Cuilan talked in her sleep, and I heard some things I shouldn’t have heard.”
Shi Liu glanced at Ma Xingteng and didn't dare to continue speaking.
Bai followed her gaze and turned back quickly, very calmly, "Just tell me what's going on."
She wanted to see what serious incident had happened that could make her personal maid act so recklessly.
Shi Liu clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and finally said, "The baby in Cuilan's belly is not Su Chuan's, but the eldest young master's."
Bai's brows knitted tightly, and she slowly sat down, lost in thought, "Does my sister-in-law know about this?"
Shi Liu shook her head nervously, "I don't know. I just heard it by chance last night. If this is true, it's no small matter! After all, the child is the blood of the Bai family. He can't recognize a servant as his father! But if the matter gets out, not to mention how furious the eldest young lady will be, I'm afraid the Bai family will become another laughing stock.
Also, Cuilan was wronged at the Su family in Dongmen Village last night, and she kept saying that she was going back to complain to the eldest young master and the eldest young mistress. If we neglect her, I'm afraid she will tell us about it later."
The master and servant didn't care whether it was funny or not. They cared more about their own interests.
Bai was originally a concubine's daughter. If it weren't for her concubine's favor, she would never have married Ma Xingteng. Now that he has the leverage over Young Master Bai, he naturally has to think about how to maximize his benefits.
After thinking for a while, she calmly ordered: "Wait for Cuilan to wake up, prepare a table of delicious food for her, and arrange a carriage to send her away. Also, take two taels of silver from me and give it to her. Don't say it's from me, just say it's a token of your appreciation. As for other things, just pretend you don't know."
Shi Liu didn't understand Bai's intention, but that didn't stop her from being obedient.
When she returned to the yard again, Cuilan had already woken up. Seeing Shiliu coming back from outside, her first reaction was to ask, "Where have you been so early in the morning? Did you go to see Suchuan's family?"
"How could that be!" Shi Liu showed a kind smile and walked over quickly. "Today is the first day of the new year. My young lady is the head of the family for the first time. She has to be cautious about everything. Shouldn't I go and take care of things early?
By the way, I'll ask the kitchen to prepare some hot food, and I'll ask the driver to take you back to the county after breakfast."
Cuilan was quite satisfied with Shiliu's arrangement, but she was more concerned about the Bai family's power. "Your young lady's parents-in-law are still alive, and the Ma family hasn't split up yet, so how come Miss Rong is the head of the family?"
“It’s a long story.”
Shi Liu said a few vague words, then took out two taels of silver and gave it to her, saying earnestly: "I feel bad that you are being treated like this by your in-laws even though you are pregnant. After all, we are from the same mansion. Take this little money first, and use it for emergencies on the way. When you arrive in the county, ask someone to pass on a message to me, so that I can feel more at ease."
Cuilan was somewhat shocked when she received the two taels of silver, but she was slightly touched. "I didn't expect you to help me so much. The people in the Su family treated me worse than you did!"
Shi Liu smiled more kindly, "We are all sisters, you are welcome."
After Shi Liu sent Cui Lan away, he immediately went to report to Bai.
Mrs. Bai was drinking tea with Ma Xingteng. Upon hearing this, she nodded slightly and looked at her husband beside her, "Do you think this is inappropriate?"
"Why do you say that?" Ma Xingteng raised his eyebrows.
Bai sighed and casually brushed Ma Xingteng's injured leg. "Although I am in charge of the affairs of the inner house now, I am still the daughter-in-law after all. If the mother-in-law makes things difficult for me, it will be difficult for me to deal with it. My father-in-law seems to be biased towards my brother-in-law now, so we naturally have to make plans as soon as possible.
The name of the Bai family sounds good to others, but I am only a concubine's daughter after all. My stepmother doesn't like me, and my father doesn't care about the affairs of the women in the inner house. I can't ask for anything. If I can get hold of something that can be used against my eldest brother, I can use it when I really have to. Don't blame me."
Ma Xingteng silently held Bai's hand tightly, with a touching look on his face, "Madam, you did everything for our family, how can I blame you? If you hadn't not notified the Bai family and my father-in-law hadn't sent someone to visit and put pressure on me before I got injured, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to live in peace until now."
Bai heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, "My husband, if you can understand my painstaking efforts, then I have nothing else to ask for."
Cuilan returned to Baifu in the county town after noon under the escort of the coachman.
As soon as she entered the door, she went to Qiufeng Courtyard pitifully. Seeing Young Master Bai and Young Madam together, her face froze. She took a deep breath to suppress the jealousy in her heart, lowered her head and walked in, "This servant greets Young Master and Young Madam."
"Cui Lan? Didn't you go back to the countryside with Su Chuan's family to celebrate the New Year? Why are you back so soon?" Zhu put down the teacup in surprise.
Cuilan immediately burst into tears and knelt down with a plop, "Madam, you have to make the decision for me!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
