At that time, he thought he could give her a better life, but he never expected to lose her trust.
Bai Yujing gazed at the sky, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. He recalled how he had been forced to leave Jiang Huaiyu and enter officialdom for the sake of his family's interests. At that time, he thought he could give her a better life, but he never expected to lose her trust.
"Has she changed, or have I changed?" Bai Yujing wondered to herself, her eyes filled with endless doubt.
As the carriage receded into the distance, Bai Yujing's sense of loss grew stronger. He suddenly realized that he actually envied Ling Mo. He could stay by Jiang Huaiyu's side, while he couldn't stop her from being followed by another man.
"Ha, how ridiculous I am." Bai Yujing laughed self-deprecatingly, a resolute glint in his eyes. He decided to stop dwelling on the past and instead face his life anew.
Ling Mo accompanied Jiang Huaiyu to Wanfu County, where the two bid each other a reluctant farewell at the city gate. Ling Mo looked at Jiang Huaiyu and smiled, "Huaiyu, take care. I will be waiting for you at the academy, and I hope to see you soon."
A hint of gratitude flashed in Jiang Huaiyu's eyes, and she nodded gently: "Brother Mo, thank you for accompanying me all the way. I will definitely go to the academy to find you."
After saying this, the two parted ways, and Jiang Huaiyu returned to the Bai family with a heavy heart.
Stepping through the Bai family's gate, Jiang Huaiyu immediately felt a chill. Her mother-in-law, Bai Qi, sat in the center of the main room, her face ashen, her eyes filled with anger. Her elder sister-in-law, Yang, stood to the side, her expression complex.
"Mother, I'm back," Jiang Huaiyu whispered.
Bai Qi glared at Jiang Huaiyu, her tone icy: "You still know how to come back? Where have you been all this time? You've disgraced the entire family!"
Jiang Huaiyu bit her lower lip and lowered her head, saying, "Mother, I'm sorry for making you worry."
Bai Qi snorted coldly: "Worried? I'm absolutely furious! You haven't come home or written a letter all this time, making us think you've disappeared. Turns out you've run off to the capital and caused all this trouble!"
Madam Yang couldn't help but speak up: "Mother, Huaiyu was also tricked into going. Those people weren't her family members; she was forced to go."
Bai Qi glared at Yang: "Shut up! Did I talk to you?"
Yang blushed and shut her mouth.
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Madam Yang with gratitude in her heart. She took a deep breath and said to Madam Bai Qi, "Mother, I know I was wrong. But I'm back now, and I will find a way to make up for my mistakes."
Bai Qi sneered: "Make amends? Do you think you can make amends by saying a few nice words?"
Jiang Huaiyu frowned; she knew Bai Qishi was still angry. She said slowly, "Mother, I know I've disappointed you. But I promise I will be filial to you from now on and will never make you angry again."
Bai Qi looked at Jiang Huaiyu, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. But she quickly hardened her expression: "Do you think you can appease me with a few nice words? You must pay the price for your actions!"
Jiang Huaiyu was stunned; she hadn't expected Bai Qishi to treat her like this. She bit her lower lip and whispered, "Mother, I'm willing to accept the punishment."
Bai Qi snorted: "Fine, since you put it that way, then you shall kneel in the ancestral hall for half a month as punishment."
Jiang Huaiyu's heart tightened, but she still nodded: "Yes, Mother."
Madam Yang couldn't help but say, "Mother, Huaiyu has just returned and her health hasn't fully recovered. Making her kneel in the ancestral hall for half a month might be too much for her."
Bai Qi glared at Yang: "Are you thinking of me, or are you trying to excuse her?"
Yang lowered her head and said nothing more.
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Yang Shi and felt guilty.
Seeing Jiang Huaiyu return home safely, Madam Yang was very relieved. She let out a long sigh, and her previously tense brows gradually relaxed. She hurriedly stepped forward, gently patted Jiang Huaiyu's shoulder, and said, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. She looked at Madam Yang and said softly, "Sister-in-law, I'm afraid my return this time will cause unrest in the family."
Madam Yang was taken aback, but then she understood what Jiang Huaiyu meant. She nodded slightly and said softly, "I know, but no matter what, you are a member of the Bai family, and we will not let you face this alone."
As they were talking, Madam Bai Qi walked in. When she saw Jiang Huaiyu, her face immediately darkened. She looked at Jiang Huaiyu coldly and said, "You're finally back. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Jiang Huaiyu frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. She knew Bai Qishi harbored prejudice against her, but she didn't want to argue with her at this moment. She smiled and said, "Mother, I'm back. I'm sorry to have worried you."
Bai Qi snorted coldly, glared at Jiang Huaiyu, and said, "You still know how to come back? Your behavior has made our Bai family lose all face."
Seeing this, Madam Yang quickly stepped forward to advise, "Mother, Huaiyu has just returned. Let her rest for a while. As for her matter, we'll talk about it later."
Bai Qi glared at Yang, her tone icy: "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to speak up for her?"
Madam Yang smiled slightly and said, "Mother, I just feel that Huaiyu has just returned, and we should give her a warm home. As for her affairs, we will naturally investigate them thoroughly."
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Madam Yang with gratitude, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
In this family, only Yang truly cared about her.
Seeing Yang's protectiveness towards Jiang Huaiyu, Bai Qishi became even angrier. She glared at Jiang Huaiyu and said, "Listen to me, if you dare to do anything that damages the Bai family's reputation again, I will never let you off."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled gently and said, "Mother, I understand. I will be careful with my behavior and not let you down."
Bai Qi snorted and turned to leave. Yang watched her retreating figure and said softly, "Huaiyu, don't worry, I will help you resolve this matter."
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Yang Shi gratefully and said, "Sister-in-law, thank you. I know you've been helping me all along."
Madam Yang smiled and said, "We are sisters, helping you is what I should do."
However, Bai Qishi did not let Jiang Huaiyu off the hook. She often found opportunities to nitpick at Jiang Huaiyu's faults, making Jiang Huaiyu's life increasingly difficult.
One day, Madam Yang returned home, looking anxious, and said to Jiang Huaiyu, "Huaiyu, something terrible has happened, Mother..."
Jiang Huaiyu's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with Mother?"
Madam Yang sighed and said, "My mother went to tell the clan chief that you want to go back to your parents' home and asked the clan chief to make the decision."
Jiang Huaiyu's expression changed; she knew what this meant. The Bai family had strict rules, and if the patriarch found out about this, she would never have another chance to return to the Bai family.
Looking at Jiang Huaiyu, a resolute glint flashed in Yang's eyes: "Huaiyu, don't worry, I will find a way to help you get through this difficult time."
Jiang Huaiyu looked at Yang Shi with gratitude. She knew that in this family, only Yang Shi truly cared about her. She smiled slightly and said, "Sister-in-law, thank you. No matter what, I will persevere."
Madam Yang gently patted Jiang Huaiyu's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I will get through this difficult time with you."
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