Bai Qi was speechless. She could only slap her thigh and sigh, "The cold wind in Luanzhou is biting and piercing. How could a delicate woman like Wen Yin endure such torment?"
Bai Yujing said calmly, "The Peng family is powerful, so she won't suffer too much."
“But you’re being far too cold-hearted. Wenyin is your cousin, you’re blood-related. Her parents are gone, and you…”
Bai Yujing interrupted Bai Qishi, "Mother, if you still want to plead for her, then we can invite the old village chief to the ancestral hall for a public debate in front of the villagers. Or, do you want to send Wenyin to court?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Qi was speechless.
Even if the old village chief were to handle the mistakes Wenyin made, she might still be severely punished... She knew her son's personality all too well; sometimes he would be so insistent on his principles that he would even do some cold and ruthless things.
She sighed deeply, "Wenyin, this time, your aunt really can't help you."
Xie Wenyin burst into tears and tightly grasped Bai Qishi's hand.
"Aunt, if we don't go to Luanzhou, could we go to the Ji family in town, or any other family?"
Bai Qi slowly released her hand. "Wen Yin, I've already said, I can't do anything about it!"
Xie Wenyin asked incredulously, "Auntie, you once said you treated me like your own daughter. Was all of that a lie? If I really were your daughter, would you be so heartless?"
Bai Qi was filled with bitterness and torment, but faced with her son's firm determination, she found herself helpless.
Faced with Xie Wenyin's heartbroken expression, she couldn't bear it and turned her face away helplessly.
Xie Wenyin was emotionally devastated and roared angrily, "Liars! You are all hypocrites who say one thing and mean another. You all claim to treat me as family, but in reality, you only do that because I am obedient and well-behaved. Now that I have made the slightest mistake, you want to abandon me!"
"Snap!" A crisp sound.
Bai Qi slapped her hard across the face.
"Wenyin, are you possessed?!"
Bai Qishi was filled with anger and pain, as if her heart was being torn apart.
"Before you even stepped into the Bai family, your biological parents were cold and heartless towards you, often beating and scolding you. But think back to how I've treated you in the Bai family all these years. When have I ever been the slightest bit harsh on you? Every precious item in the house has been prioritized for your needs."
"I treated you with all my heart and showed you the utmost care, and all I got in return was such an ungrateful attitude from you!"
Bai Qi coughed a few times, panting heavily, and said, "Yang is right. If you can treat Jiang Huaiyu like this today, you'll probably not hesitate to poison me if I ever do anything to displease you in the future!"
"I won't do that!"
Xie Wenying shook her head violently, "Auntie, you are the closest person to me, how could I treat you like this?"
Bai Qi's face showed disappointment and pain. "Yu Jing is your cousin, and also your family, but you drugged him!"
“That situation is different, Aunt. You said it yourself, that you would betroth me to Cousin Yujing!”
Bai Qi sighed, "I did say that, and after it happened, I tried my best to help you achieve your wish, but Yujing was unwilling. What could I do?"
Xie Wenyin suddenly pointed at Jiang Huaiyu.
“Aunt, you’ve always said that since Jiang Huaiyu came to the Bai family, Cousin Yujing no longer listens to you like before. You dislike her a lot, right? As long as she’s gone, we can go back to our harmonious life. I’m doing this for the good of the family!”
Bai Qi looked shocked and stared at Xie Wenyin for a long time before slowly speaking.
“Whether I like Jiang Huaiyu or not, she is the Bai family’s lawfully wedded daughter-in-law.” She glanced at Jiang Huaiyu, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. “In the past, I did try to make things difficult for her, but no matter what, I never had the thought of harming her life.”
Yang said disdainfully, "Wenyin, you always say you're doing this for the good of the Bai family, but have you ever thought about what would have happened if your second brother hadn't discovered this in time, and it had been found out by outsiders? You would have been punished by law. How would we have the face to show our faces when we leave the Bai family's gate?"
Although Xie Wenying's surname is Xie, she was actually raised by the Bai family from a young age and has always been regarded as an indispensable member of the Bai family. If this matter were to spread throughout the village, where would the Bai family's reputation be placed?
Bai Qishi had not originally considered this matter, but after Yang Shi's prompting, her expression immediately became serious.
Human faces and tree bark, all have their own significance.
She is quite old, and what she cherishes most is her dignity.
Bai Qishi glanced at Xie Wenyin with a deep look in her eyes and sighed, "Since things have come to this, let's do as Yujing says."
"Auntie..." Xie Wenying's eyes revealed a pleading look.
Bai Qi turned her head away, unwilling to look at her anymore. "Although Luanzhou is located in a remote area, the Peng family is very wealthy. I don't think you will suffer. I can rest assured that you will marry into the Peng family."
"I'm having a headache. You can decide the rest yourselves."
She left the room with this concluding remark.
Xie Wenying watched her retreating figure, the last glimmer of hope in her eyes instantly extinguished. Even her aunt no longer supported her; it seemed she had nowhere else to turn.
Her gaze swept over Yang Shi and Jiang Huaiyu in turn, finally settling on Bai Yujing.
“Cousin Yujing, you are no longer the person you used to be.”
Bai Yujing refused to meet her gaze any longer, saying, "It's you who has changed."
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