The Qi King's maternal clan is also powerful. If Wan'er were to marry into that clan, the Bai family would still be subordinate to the Wei family. Moreover, there's that incident... Never mind, supporting the Crown Prince is the best option right now. Having made up his mind, Bai Linan no longer hesitated.
"Let's choose the Crown Prince. Wan'er, you need to keep a close eye on him. There are many eyeing the position of Crown Princess. Until the marriage is finalized, we must not let our guard down."
Bai Chuwan smiled and said, "It's my father."
As night fell, Bai Chuxiao was sitting at her desk when Lanxiang suddenly announced that Aunt Zhao had arrived.
As soon as Aunt Zhao entered, she knelt on the ground and respectfully said, "This servant greets the eldest young lady."
Bai Chuxiao asked, puzzled, "Auntie, there's no need for such formalities. Is there something you need so late?" Aunt Zhao was a concubine who had entered the household when her mother was still alive. However, whether it was when her mother was still alive or now that she had just returned, this concubine had always been very respectful, so she naturally wouldn't make things difficult for her.
Aunt Zhao glanced at the maids inside the room, hesitating slightly. Seeing this, Bai Chuxiao gestured for Qing Shuang to close the door and stand guard outside.
Then he said calmly, "Auntie, please speak freely. These four maids are all trustworthy."
Aunt Zhao then slowly began, "Actually, there's something about the First Madam that I've been unsure whether I should tell the Eldest Miss. However, seeing how fearless the Eldest Miss is since returning home, I've thought about it a lot these past few days and still feel I should tell her."
With a hint of fear in her eyes, she asked, "Young Miss, do you know how the First Madam passed away?"
"I was still young then. I only heard later that my mother was suffering from pregnancy-related anxiety, and then my father suddenly brought back Xie, who was also pregnant, saying that he wanted to make her his second wife. This really angered my mother, causing her to have a difficult childbirth after giving birth to me."
Bai Chuxiao also had doubts about this matter, so she continued to ask, "Could it be that Auntie knows something fishy about this?"
"The First Madam comes from a family of military generals, has a cheerful personality, and is much healthier than us. Back then, she was indeed angry about the Master's decision to elevate a concubine, but it shouldn't have caused her to fall ill and never recover."
Bai Chuxiao gestured for her to continue, and Aunt Zhao then spoke in a low voice.
"One evening I went to visit the First Madam, and saw a little maid sneaking around under a tree, dumping medicine dregs. I found it strange, but I dared not alert her. I only told the First Madam quietly the next day. Later, after investigation, we found that this medicine was actually a drug that would weaken people. If you took too much, it would kill both you and your unborn child."
Bai Chuxiao frowned. "Mother, did you find out who administered the drug? Since you discovered it beforehand, why..."
Aunt Zhao then continued, "At that time, we only suspected it was Xie's doing. Although she stopped taking the medicine, she had already taken quite a bit, and the First Madam's health was ultimately weak, but fortunately she still made it to the day of delivery."
He paused, then continued, "But that day, the master actually ordered us not to go to the First Madam's courtyard, and even replaced the midwife that the First Madam had arranged beforehand. I was worried and wanted to sneak over to check, but on the way I saw two guards holding down two new midwives, and the two old women's mouths were also gagged. Seeing that things were not good, I hurriedly rushed to the Madam's courtyard."
Then, with even more fear in his voice, he continued, "It was late at night when I heard you crying from afar. I went closer and peeked out, and there you were, standing in the courtyard, holding you in his arms. He was still choking you with one hand, muttering something about why we couldn't die together. I was so scared that I covered my mouth and dared not make a sound, but then I saw him sigh and finally let go of you, carrying you into the house."
"After returning home, I fell ill from fright. The doctor found out I was pregnant. For the sake of the child, I kept it a secret and dared not reveal a word. Afterwards, your father, on the grounds that the maids had not taken good care of you, had all the maids around your mother executed. I also asked my family to send people to investigate the whereabouts of the two midwives, and they were both dead..."
Bai Chuxiao was also deeply disturbed after hearing this. She clenched her hands, and after a while, she calmed down and asked, "Why did you tell me all this, Aunt?"
Aunt Zhao knelt on the ground again, saying, "The First Madam treated me very well back then, so out of consideration for her, I should tell the Eldest Miss."
Then she touched her belly and said with a faint smile, "I didn't expect that I would be pregnant again. I secretly asked the doctor, and it's highly likely that this baby will be a boy. Knowing the Second Madam's temperament, she will absolutely not tolerate me. I beg you, Miss, to help me."
"Even if the Xie family is in dire straits, they still have the Marquis of Wenxin behind them. My second sister is almost married to the Crown Prince. Why would you think I can help you, Aunt?" Bai Chuxiao asked calmly.
“This servant doesn’t think the Second Miss is capable of achieving anything. The Eldest Miss is also engaged to the Prince of Yan, and her own style of doing things is much better than that of Madam Xie and the Second Miss. This servant naturally believes her. Besides, the other day my nephew actually sent word that he wants Yun’er and me to associate more with you, Eldest Miss, and that he is willing to support me. Although I don’t know if the Eldest Miss and my nephew have any relationship, I think it must be because of the Eldest Miss that my nephew contacted me,” Aunt Zhao said slowly.
Bai Chuxiao chuckled upon hearing this, "There's only so much I can do about the child in your womb. How can I help you, Auntie?"
Aunt Zhao smiled kindly. "At my age, I really didn't expect to have a child. All I ask for is for Yun'er and the baby in her womb to be safe and sound. I want to take Yun'er to live with me at the villa in Jiangnan."
“The literary scene in Jiangnan is thriving, and the Zhao family owns quite a few businesses there. The Xie family's influence can't extend that far. It's a good place, but have you asked Yun'er's opinion? Yun'er isn't getting any younger…” Bai Chuxiao said with a faint smile.
“How could I not know what Yun’er is thinking? But our status is ultimately too low. Why should we get involved in this mess in the capital? She’s still young and doesn’t understand these things. It’s better for her to find a respectable family to be her wife than to be a concubine for a high-ranking official in the capital,” Aunt Zhao said worriedly.
"In that case, I will send a message to Brother Sifang. Auntie, make a scene tomorrow, and the Zhao family will help you go to Jiangnan. Once you're in Jiangnan, your future will be up to you. Just don't keep Yun'er under your thumb anymore. It's not a bad thing for a woman to have a skill."
Aunt Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this. She was merely a concubine's daughter, and the Zhao family usually wouldn't care about her life or death. With the eldest young lady's words, her nephew, who would become the head of the family, would surely help her, and her life in Jiangnan wouldn't be so difficult. "Thank you, eldest young lady. Please be careful in the future."
"Alright, I also wish Aunt a safe delivery of her younger brother. She can always look for another opportunity to come back later."
Aunt Zhao expressed her gratitude again and left. After she left, Bai Chuxiao's face turned cold.
Lanxiang stepped forward and said, "Miss, what should we do about the Madam's matter? I didn't expect the Master to get involved as well."
Qingzhu was also furious, "I thought it was just Xie Shi causing trouble, but the master and the first wife are husband and wife, how could he treat the first wife and young lady like this?"
Lanxin was not a servant of the Bai or Murong families, and she found it very strange when she first heard about this. So she asked, "I don't understand. Even if Master Bai likes Madam Xie very much and wants to take her as a concubine, he wouldn't be so cruel as to want his first wife and daughter to die, would he? Could there be something going on here..."
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