Chapter 52 "Is what my sister-in-law said about you and me..."
Before long, the entourage arrived.
The Prince's Palace has officials, all of whom are talented individuals recruited over the years. After Ling Xun took office, he also arranged his own people. However, he does not appoint people based on nepotism, but rather selects people based on their talents. As long as they are loyal, he does not care whether they are people left behind by Ling Ji'an or Ling Zheng.
Ling Xun quickly made the arrangements. He was worried about the affairs of the Prince's Mansion and had no heart to inspect the area. He needed to rush back to Chang'an immediately.
He doesn't care about whether it will lead to more speculation.
But the inspection had to continue, so Ling Xun personally selected a few people to continue.
The next day, he set off back to Chang'an.
A few days after he left, Ling Xun received a letter from Bai Xue Rou.
The letter was written in plain language, describing everyday trivialities. In the past, he would have been delighted to read it, as if the person in his heart was right in front of him. But this time, he read it over and over, only to find that Bai Xuerou did not mention a single word about the down-on-his-luck scholar she had taken into her mansion.
Ling Xun was suddenly bewitched, his mind preoccupied with why his sister-in-law hadn't mentioned it.
When did they begin to have a secret? Or does the sister-in-law not care, or is she just trying to keep it from him?
Ling Xun pondered for a long time before finally picking up his pen to reply.
Finally, he paused slightly, indicating that he had returned to the city and would soon return to Chang'an.
Before we knew it, half of the winter month had passed.
After reading the letter, Bai Xuerou's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“Nonsense,” she said.
Bai Xuerou has already ordered a crackdown on the rumors. Since it concerns the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, few people dare to speak recklessly in the first place, and even fewer dare to do so now.
Her directness and straightforwardness made her seem more at ease, which dispelled many people's speculations.
If Ling Xun were to abandon his inspection tour and return to Chang'an for such a trivial matter, wouldn't that only fuel more speculation among those people?
Ling Xun shouldn't have such an immature personality.
But then he came back.
All the previous worries churned in her heart again, and Bai Xue Rou felt only agitated and confused, but she had to force herself to have everyone properly tidy up the entire mansion in preparation for Ling Xun's return.
After making the arrangements, she sat in the room, frowning and massaging her brow for a long time without being able to relax.
Her actions were indeed intended to subtly and further dispel Ling Xun's thoughts.
But Ling Xun's reaction was unexpectedly intense.
Ling Xun, what exactly are you trying to do?
Bai Xuerou knew that Ling Xun's return to the capital this time would likely bring even more unexpected changes.
What should she do?
Because of this incident, Bai Xuerou, who usually invites Zhu Ji over for a short chat in the afternoon, did not do so today.
On the other side, Zhu Jijiu and the others had not yet arrived, and only learned from the servants that the Prince of Zhenbei was going back to Chang'an.
The Prince's mansion had many retainers, but they all looked down on Zhu Ji, a newcomer who had only entered the palace because of Bai Xuerou. Now that they knew the news, their gazes towards him were more like those of someone watching a spectacle.
Zhu Ji remained expressionless. He had already planned what he would face when he decided to approach Bai Xue Rou.
Bai Xuerou's gentleness and beauty made him even more willing.
He didn't suffer a loss; in fact, you could say he gained an advantage. In this situation, what does it matter if he's ridiculed?
However, Ling Xun's return to Chang'an was somewhat beyond Zhu Ji's expectations. After returning to his room, he seemed to be deep in thought.
He has finished inspecting the north, and now it's time for the east. According to his budget, this trip will take at least two months, and he won't be able to return until the end of the year.
But the Prince of Zhenbei has now returned.
Is it because of Madam Bai's affair with male lovers? Do you disagree?
However, based on Zhu Ji's observation and speculation about Bai Xuerou, the other party was not a careless person and would not do things without certainty.
The fact that she sought him out means that the Prince of Zhenbei must have agreed.
Furthermore, if the Prince of Zhenbei were truly displeased, he could have simply sent someone back to inform him; there was no need for him to personally return.
Is it for show?
It seems unnecessary.
After pondering for a long time, Zhu Ji couldn't help but consider the worst-case scenario.
Perhaps the rumor wasn't entirely false.
"Hiss—" Zhu Ji gasped, feeling his legs go weak. He took a few steps back and sat on the stool, pinching his brow. He realized things were going to get complicated.
God knows, ever since hearing that rumor, Zhu Ji has always felt that someone was making wild guesses and deliberately slandering the Prince of Zhenbei and his sister-in-law.
Now, after thinking it over, it actually seems quite possible?
Then his situation is not very good.
Madam Bai, you've really put me in a difficult position.
Zhu Ji is bold, not stupid.
If the Prince of Zhenbei remembers him, how can he expect to have a good future?
Bai Xuerou didn't sleep well that day, and felt dizzy when she woke up in the morning. She went out for some fresh air to try and clear her head, but ended up catching a cold.
The entire household immediately tensed up and summoned the family physician to prescribe medicine for her.
Bai Xuerou felt a little dizzy, but she wasn't feeling too bad. However, she was worried that she might be seriously ill, so she drank the medicine as soon as it was brought to her.
She took a nap and woke up feeling a little better. Her second dose of medicine had already been brought to her.
After taking the medicine, I felt sleepy again, and I felt drowsy for the next few days.
To Bai Xuerou's surprise, Zhu Ji did not insist on coming to find her. She thought that after learning that Ling Xun had returned to Chang'an, Zhu Ji would want to ask her for an explanation.
As the saying goes, recovery from illness is like pulling silk from a cocoon. Bai Xuerou had been taking good care of herself and hadn't been sick for a long time. But this time, she suddenly became quite ill.
After several days of continuous discomfort, things finally started to improve.
Ling Xun has also returned.
He had already received the letter that Bai Xuerou was ill, so he did not send anyone back to the manor to report in advance, so as not to trouble Bai Xuerou to come out and greet him. Therefore, by the time Bai Xuerou received the letter, he had already entered the manor.
She had just finished dressing when she arrived at the gate of the courtyard.
Even so, Bai Xuerou still went out to greet him and met Ling Xun in the courtyard.
"Why did you come out, sister-in-law? Come in quickly." Ling Xun noticed that she looked much thinner and immediately said, "I didn't want anyone to report this because I didn't want you to be tired. Since you're not feeling well, you should rest properly."
"It's almost healed," Bai Xuerou said with a smile, but she was just worried and wanted to rest for a few more days.
Ling Xun simply told her to go back quickly, and only breathed a sigh of relief after she returned to her room and sat down.
The room was warm and cozy from the underfloor heating. Bai Xuerou let out a soft breath and looked at Ling Xun, wanting to say something, but when she met his somewhat solemn expression, she suddenly fell silent.
After only a short time apart, Ling Xun seemed to have lost some weight, and her facial features had become even more sharp. She was still beautiful, but no one would mistake her for a woman. Like a legendary sword, her beauty was overwhelming.
He gazed at her, his amber eyes swirling with emotions, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet remained silent.
"You must be tired from your journey. After you finish your meal, go and get some rest," Bai Xuerou said after a subtle pause.
Ling Xun looked at her, but instead asked, "Sister-in-law, aren't you going to ask me why I gave up the inspection and came back?"
Bai Xuerou paused.
She had been avoiding talking about these things, but Ling Xun clearly didn't think so.
For a moment, she was almost terrified, worried that Ling Xun would say things she didn't want to hear.
Bai Xuerou forced a smile and said, "You have your reasons for doing things. You're an adult now."
She remained gentle, considerate, and nonchalant, as if the things that had tormented him these past few days, causing him unbearable suffering every day, had never happened, or as if she were unaware of them.
For a moment, Ling Xun felt a strong urge to speak out, but seeing the faint unease in Bai Xuerou's eyes, he ultimately held back.
After listening to Bai Xuerou's words, Ling Xun repeated meaningfully, "Yes, I'm an adult now."
Bai Xuerou's heart skipped a beat.
"I had almost finished my inspection, and I missed my sister-in-law, so I came back." Ling Xun changed the subject, then smiled and continued, "I heard that my sister-in-law has taken in a retainer?"
The question was direct, so Bai Xuerou responded, "I think he's quite intelligent and his storybooks are well-written, so I accepted him."
She felt a little flustered, so she talked more, mentioning several storybooks in a row, all of which she had mentioned to Ling Xun before. She laughed and said, "He wrote them all."
Ling Xun couldn't discern whether Zhu Ji was talented or not. His anger flared up, and he could only think that this person had won his sister-in-law's heart with just storybooks.
He exerted a great deal of effort to maintain his composure and said, "So it was him. In that case, I'll go and meet him."
"Now?" Bai Xuerou paused for a moment, then asked with a smile.
He's already seeing Zhu Ji as soon as he gets back. If word gets out, everyone will see how much Ling Xun cares, and the rumors will probably be even worse.
Ling Xun hummed in agreement, seemingly not finding anything amiss.
Bai Xuerou took a soft breath and advised, "You must know about the rumors in Chang'an. If you see him right after returning, it will only lead to more speculation. Why not tomorrow? He can't run away anyway."
"What rumors?" Bai Xuerou was thinking that this person was going to play dumb, but then she saw Ling Xun continue, saying, "Is what you're talking about, sister-in-law? Are you saying that we have an affair?"
Ling Xun spoke these words with remarkable composure, as if he truly had nothing to hide.
But his eyes were fixed on Bai Xuerou, staring at her as if he wanted to lock her inside.
Bai Xuerou was able to hold back at first, but after a moment she couldn't help but look away.
Ling Xun became increasingly undisguised...
This incident really bothered him...
She tried to calm her chaotic thoughts and replied, "Yes."
“Then it’s alright,” Ling Xun said. “The innocent will remain innocent.”
Bai Xuerou was immediately helpless; she had to be truly innocent.
Seeing that Ling Xun was about to resort to shamelessness, she was at a loss for what to do.
It's always a bit unsettling when a reasonable person suddenly stops talking to you.
Ling Xun had already told someone to call Zhu Ji over.
Bai Xuerou opened her mouth to stop him, but it was too late. She could only look at Ling Xun, wondering what he was up to.
She had previously thought that given Ling Xun's personality, he wouldn't do anything even if he knew about Zhu Ji's situation. Most importantly, she knew Ling Xun wouldn't anger her.
Yes, Bai Xuerou was so certain, not because of her confidence, but because of their long-term relationship.
It could even be described as taking advantage of being favored and becoming arrogant.
But looking at Ling Xun like this, she became somewhat uncertain.
Bai Xuerou lowered her eyes, thinking that no matter what, she had to protect Zhu Ji.
Before long, Zhu Ji arrived.
He was incredibly anxious. Anyone who had just learned that the owner of the mansion had returned and was then summoned would not be in a good mood.
Not to mention his unspeakable identity as a suspected lover of Snow White.
No matter how flustered he was inside, Zhu Ji kept a calm demeanor and remained carefree, greeting everyone without any mishaps.
He mentally prepared countless responses to the questioning and reprimands, but none of them came to mind.
Ling Xun asked him to sit down, examined his knowledge and his way of handling things, and then said, "Sister-in-law said that Young Master Zhu is talented, and it is indeed true. With such talent, it is a bit of a waste to just have him be a retainer in the mansion."
"General Liu in the south has recently recovered a lot of territory, and he is in dire need of education and discipline. I wonder if you would be interested in going there to serve as a local official?" Ling Xun asked.
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Author's note: Is this what you call the demeanor of a first wife and the methods of a first wife?
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