Bai Qi slowly sipped her tea, the anger on her face gradually dissipating and turning into calm.
"Now that she has entered the Bai family, the future is still long. I will definitely make her willing and submissive!"
After saying this, she held Xie Wenyin's soft hand tightly, and suddenly, a soft sigh escaped her lips like a willow swaying in the wind.
"Wenyin, you have always been the most considerate of me. Although we are related as aunt and niece, our feelings for each other are even stronger than those between a mother and daughter. Today is a day of great joy for Yujing, how could I not know the bitterness and helplessness in your heart?"
"aunt……"
Tears welled up in Xie Wenyin's eyes instantly.
Madam Bai gently patted the back of her hand, "You lost both your parents at a young age and entered the Bai family when you were nine. I watched you grow up with my own eyes. In my heart, you and Yujing were a match made in heaven. I originally looked forward to spending the rest of my life with you after he passed the imperial examination. But unexpectedly, the Jiang family appeared out of nowhere. The Jiang family is very powerful. For the sake of Yujing's future, we had to back down, which made you suffer..."
Xie Wenyin's eyes flushed slightly. "It's my bad luck that I'm not good enough for Cousin Yujing."
Bai Qishi couldn't bear it, so she immediately hugged her tightly and gently comforted her.
"Wenyin, give your aunt a clear answer. Yujing is now married and has a career. Do you still have feelings for him?"
Xie Wenyin nodded with tears in her eyes, "Auntie, you know that I have been in love with Cousin Yujing since I was a child."
Bai Qi understood her meaning, and after a moment of silence, said, "Now that Yujing has not yet passed the imperial examination, we dare not easily offend the Jiang family. But if he has a successful career in the future... then we will no longer need to worry. Once Yujing holds an important position and has a prominent status, how can he protect only one person for his entire life?"
"Wenyin, if you are willing, I will definitely arrange for Yujing to take you as a concubine. What do you think?"
Xie Wenyin looked up in surprise, her eyes still wet with tears. "Auntie, is what you're saying true?"
“Of course it’s the truth. I’ve thought it over carefully. I’ll always be worried if you marry someone else. As for that Jiang woman, if she were a true descendant of the Jiang family, I might look at her with respect. But she’s just an adopted daughter, and her personality is too arrogant. I really can’t stand her, so there’s no need to show her any mercy.”
"Auntie, I do!"
Xie Wenyin smiled through her tears, then broke into a smile.
Madam Bai nodded slightly, "But you must keep this a secret. You must not let that adopted daughter of the Jiang family find out, and you can't even tell Yu Jing. He is stubborn by nature, and if he finds out, he might cause some trouble. I will make plans for you slowly after he passes the imperial examination."
"Wenyin is grateful to her aunt!"
"Good child, sleep with me tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will definitely set some rules for that Jiang family and make her understand that this is the Bai family, not the Jiang family where she can do whatever she wants!"
"Okay!" Xie Wenying replied crisply.
...
Meanwhile, Bai Yujing returned to his bedroom and found that Jiang Huaiyu had not yet gone to bed. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is my wife waiting for my return?"
Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly.
Bai Yujing gently removed his outer garment, sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, and said in a gentle and refined manner, "It's late, let's get some rest."
Jiang Huaiyu hesitated for a moment, then finally whispered, "Thank you for your consideration."
Upon hearing this, Bai Yujing smiled tolerantly. "My dear wife, there's no need to be so polite. Now that you've become my partner, I should fulfill my duties as a husband. You've done nothing wrong; it's my mother's behavior that was indeed inappropriate."
The two were newly married and did not yet have a deep emotional bond, so Jiang Huaiyu was not surprised by this response.
Although his help was only out of a sense of responsibility, it was enough to make her feel gratified; at least, her husband was a reasonable person.
The next morning.
When Bai Qi woke up, Xie Wenyin had styled her hair.
Before dawn, Xie Wenyin yawned repeatedly and asked with some confusion, "Aunt, don't you usually get up around 7 AM? Why are you up so early today, at 5 AM?"
Bai Qi smiled gently and replied, "Today the new bride is to serve tea, so I'll go early. If Jiang is late, I can punish her with a legitimate reason. Even if Yu Jing finds out, he won't be able to say anything."
Upon hearing this, Xie Wenyin's eyebrows also showed a hint of arrogance.
"My aunt is indeed incredibly wise."
Amidst laughter and chatter, the two gently pushed open the door, only to be startled by a blurry figure suddenly appearing in the dim light outside. It was still dark.
"Who is it?!"
Bai Qi took a step back in alarm, almost knocking Xie Wenyin to the ground.
She pressed her hand tightly against her chest, which was pounding wildly with fear, and finally recognized the figure—it was the adopted daughter of the Jiang family!
Bai Qi's face was as dark as a storm cloud, and her tone was full of anger: "What kind of bewitching drug did you take? Are you trying to scare me to death by waiting in front of my door so early in the morning?"
Jiang Huaiyu quickly stepped forward to help her up, her voice gentle: "Mother-in-law, please forgive me. How could your daughter-in-law have such disrespectful thoughts?"
Bai Qishi pushed her away, "Then why aren't you resting in your bed? Why are you standing here so quietly?"
Jiang Huaiyu smiled gently and said in a calm tone, "Does Mother-in-law still remember? Today is the day your daughter-in-law serves you tea, so I came early to personally help you get up."
Bai Qi was stunned for a moment, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
When did you arrive?
"My daughter-in-law has been waiting here for half an hour."
Half an hour?
Was Jiang Huaiyu already waiting here before she was fully awake?
Night had not yet completely fallen, and the sky was still pitch black!
Bai Qi was speechless for a moment, as the other party was already waiting outside the door, and her plan was now impossible to implement.
With a hint of helplessness, she glanced lightly at Xie Wenyin.
Despite Jiang's impeccable behavior and even her respectful treatment of her mother-in-law, a vague sense of unease lingered in her heart.
Jiang Huaiyu came in carrying a bowl of pre-prepared water for washing her face. "Mother-in-law, please let me wash your face."
Her smile was warm and kind, but Bai Qi couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.
"No need, I can do it myself."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu stood silently to the side, patiently waiting.
Xie Wenying hadn't expected her to be so compliant, and couldn't help but scoff, curling her lips as she said, "Second cousin-in-law is truly virtuous, but our village customs are not like that. If one only does superficial things to please others all day long, how can one properly handle the heavy affairs at home and outside?"
Jiang Huaiyu frowned, his face full of displeasure as he gently shook his head.
"How can this be merely a formality? Paying respects to one's parents morning and evening is the fundamental rule for a daughter-in-law."
Bai Qishi gave her a rare kind smile, "You really know your manners."
To be honest, it's no wonder people say that the female head of a wealthy family has prestige; such treatment is indeed enviable.
“These are all things that a daughter-in-law should do.”
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