Chapter 160 Bai Su
Mu Xi gave Mu Xun a reassuring look, then followed Bai Su into the house.
Upon entering the room, Mu Xi first had the disordered tables and chairs tidied up, and then ordered breakfast and tea, making arrangements for the people outside.
Bai Su consistently refused to give Mu Xi a second glance, but fulfilled all of her requests.
After Mu Xi finished eating her porridge, Bai Su, tired from pacing around the room, pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. He sighed, "Alas... the Southern Border is already riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse. Only you spoiled brats can still indulge in debauchery and eat porridge with a clear conscience."
"Then tell me about the situation in the southern border first, so I can understand as well." Although they had only met once, Mu Xi could sense that Bai Su was not a bad person, and even cared about the suffering of the people.
Bai Su made no attempt to hide his disdain, but not knowing where to begin, he just said whatever came to mind: "Alas... the pirates are rampant, as if they were in an empty land. This is an old problem in the southern border. The people of the southern border live under the pirates' blades every day. To expect Zhu Mingjun, who only knows how to indulge in a life of debauchery and flirts with the pirates, is just wishful thinking."
"If Zhu Mingjun isn't suitable, what about General Dai Rong, the General Who Guards the South?" Mu Xi asked while eating her porridge. "As far as I know, Zhu Mingjun doesn't have any real power; he's indeed a good-for-nothing. But hasn't real power always been in your husband's hands?"
“Husband? Hmph… Yes, Dai Rong is indeed my husband…” Bai Su’s voice suddenly dropped, filled with unspeakable pain and disappointment, “He inherited this title of General of the South from his father-in-law, but what happened after he took it over? Heh…”
Mu Xi had a gut feeling that there was some big gossip, so she put down her chopsticks and said, "Is he incompetent? I think you are a heroine among women. If you have married the wrong person, then you are indeed unlucky. Why don't you tell me about it?"
Bai Su hesitated.
Mu Xi turned to face Bai Su, and to show her sincerity, she tore off her hair bun and pearl flowers: "I'm already a prisoner, so you can tell me even the biggest secrets you have. At worst, I'll just kill you to silence you, right?"
Since Bai Su had decided to talk privately inside, he was well-prepared. Seeing that Mu Xi's actions showed some sincerity, he simply said, "To put it simply, he's useless. I had no choice but to put him under house arrest. Now, the military power in the southern border is in my hands."
"Ah..." Mu Xi hadn't expected this "melon" to be so big; a melon patch certainly couldn't contain it all. "Did you imprison your husband?"
Bai Su showed no regret, but rather a sense of bewilderment: "Since things have come to this point, I'm not afraid of being laughed at by you, Your Highness."
"I won't laugh, absolutely not," Mu Xi sincerely assured him.
Bai Su sighed heavily again: "Alas... Dai Rong... When I first married him, he was a kind and honest person. Although he was somewhat indecisive and had the temperament of a young master, he was, after all, from a military family and had a loyal heart, so he was alright. But after my father-in-law passed away, he inherited the title of General of Zhennan, and befriended Zhu Mingjun, everything changed."
"How did it change?" Mu Xi instinctively knew that she was about to get to the heart of the matter.
Bai Su said with some disdain, "It's all because of Zhu Mingjun... He led Dai Rong astray. Zhu Mingjun was arrogant, extravagant, and licentious, indulging in wine and women, and had a particular fondness for male homosexuality... As a result, somehow... Dai Rong gradually followed suit..."
"Oh..." Mu Xi could imagine it, "And then?"
"And then?" Bai Su gritted his teeth, seemingly remembering something. "What else could there be? Zhu Mingjun has always secretly colluded with pirates, condoned his subordinates' corruption, secretly traded with pirates, and stood by while they plundered merchant ships and slaughtered villages. He even... even..."
"Even what?" Mu Xi asked immediately.
Bai Su changed the subject: "It's fortunate that my Bai family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, guarding the southern border. Although I, Bai Su, am a woman, I know that the words 'protecting the border and ensuring the safety of the people' weigh a thousand pounds. Dai Rong is mediocre and incapable of great responsibility. For many years, he has accomplished nothing in coastal defense. Since he started associating with Zhu Mingjun, he has completely abandoned the task, letting coastal defense fall apart. I have watched him sink deeper and deeper over the years. I have tried to persuade him, I have argued with him, but alas..."
"Sigh, this can't be explained just by talking." Mu Xi roughly understood.
An incompetent general meets a deranged playboy, and the two hit it off immediately, resulting in the fall of the southern border.
Bai Su continued muttering to himself, "I watched, I endured, I endured, I watched... I thought that if I kept turning a blind eye, I would eventually become numb. But I can't bear to watch him lead thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians from the Southern Border to fill that bottomless abyss, and I can't let him later accuse my Bai family of 'treason' and all the soldiers of the Southern Border..."
"Ah... if it's really as you say, then you did the right thing." Bai Su didn't look at Mu Xi, but Mu Xi kept staring at Bai Su.
Bai Su was around forty years old, with a square face and almond-shaped eyes. His appearance was neither particularly handsome nor ugly, but he was strong and heroic, the kind of person who exuded righteousness.
Mu Xi had always been rather thin and slender in both her lives, and she had always admired such a heroine. Hearing about her hardships, she felt even more admiration for her.
Bai Su ignored Mu Xi's words, lost in his own memories: "I had no choice but to imprison him. After all, we were husband and wife, and we have two children. But what about me? I've been supporting several hundred private soldiers, and my income is already insufficient. I can't manage on my own. I only wanted to do my part for the people of the Southern Border, to be worthy of my ancestors, and to honor the skills I've honed over the years. But alas, I am just a woman. If I were a man, I wouldn't have had to marry Dai Rong. If I were a man, I could have fought on the battlefield like my brothers. I've never been inferior to them, whether in military strategy or martial arts. But in the end, it's because I'm a woman..."
Bai Su's voice was tragic but not mournful, echoing in the quiet little house.
Mu Xi listened quietly, each word like a heavy hammer blow to her heart.
Bai Su's feelings were exactly the same as hers.
In fact, Bai Su was even more capable than her.
Bai Su's solitary resilience is unparalleled; even in dire straits, she remains compassionate towards the common people. Her courage and bravery in imprisoning her husband and bearing the brunt of public condemnation are truly admirable…
These are all things she cannot do.
It's laughable that she once disguised herself as a man, assuming the identity of a prince, and felt sorry for herself as she walked on thin ice in the Jun family mansion.
Compared to Bai Su, he is nothing.
“Madam Dai, I understand your predicament…” Mu Xi wanted to express her understanding.
"Don't call me Mrs. Dai... From the moment I made this decision, I'm afraid there's no turning back." Bai Su turned her head sharply, her gaze resolute.
"Ah... General Bai..." Mu Xi also felt that Bai Su's words made sense, and found a better way to address him.
Upon hearing this title, Bai Su's eyes suddenly lit up, but he then gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Is the Crown Prince calling me General an insult, or am I just under someone else's roof?"
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