Chapter 137 "The Bai family is not worthy."
Pei Jingxu's eyes widened as if he heard something more shocking than the thunder outside, and the smile on his face froze a little.
Beside her, Bai Shutong's lips curled up into a smile. She glanced at Pei Jingxu with a half-smile, her eyes full of indifference and contempt.
——It was as if this imperial decree was too easy for her, and she didn't want to fight for it.
When the guests heard Rong Xuanzhou's words, they all looked at each other and talked among themselves.
"W-What's going on?"
"Oh, can't you see that? General Xuanzhou would rather use all his military merits to buy an imperial decree for Madam Bai than ask for one for his own wife!"
"I think this Pei family might really be as the rumors say, stupid, ignorant, and arrogant!"
"Hey, I heard from others that this Pei family seemed to have been to the Baiyujing, a pleasure boat!"
"Oh my, so she must have been... already..."
"Shh—don't say that!"
"Actually, if you think about it carefully, Madam Bai treated soldiers and generals on the battlefield, performed many meritorious deeds, and even cured a plague. On the other hand, this Pei is mediocre and only cares about the affairs of the harem. Apart from her good looks, she really has nothing to show for it!"
"Who says it's not true? Pei was dressed so solemnly today. Isn't this just bringing shame upon herself?"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
“…”
The sound of stringed instruments was mixed with the discussions and ridicule of the crowd.
Pei Jingxu widened his eyes and looked at Rong Xuanzhou, who was kneeling in front of the hall, in astonishment, with shock and confusion in his eyes.
The heroine Bai Shutong on the side effortlessly became the center of attention and easily slapped the face of the "vicious female supporting role" who was dressed up.
What a great show!
"Boom—"
Another thunder sounded!
This time, Pei Jingxu couldn't even keep the smile on his face, feeling helpless and flustered.
In the Mingtang, the emperor raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard Rong Xuanzhou say this, and seemed to be a little surprised.
"Bai Shutong? But when you returned to the capital to report on your work, you kept mentioning the Bai family to me?"
"That's right." Rong Xuanzhou replied softly.
Seeing this, Bai Shutong, who was standing by, also slowly stood up and bowed to the official in the hall, neither humble nor arrogant: "I, Bai Shutong, greet your majesty."
The emperor's eyes flashed with meaning, and he smiled: "Other common people would be terrified when they first met me, but this Madam Bai is calm and composed, and has perfect etiquette."
Bai Shutong heard this and said slowly, "Although I am a commoner, I also know that one should be neither arrogant nor indulgent, impartial, and fearless. Therefore, when I saw Your Majesty, I did not feel afraid, but only felt the majestic power of Your Majesty."
A few words had the official laughing out loud. He lowered his eyes to look at Rong Xuanzhou, his emotion unclear. "I never thought General Xuanzhou would be willing to use all his merits to ask for an imperial decree for Madam Bai."
After a pause, he said in a slightly depressed tone, "Then what do you think of your wife, Pei?"
Rong Xuanzhou, still kneeling on the ground, straightened up and said, "Ms. Pei is arrogant and foolish. Although she is my wife, her contribution to Yunlan is far less than Bai Shutong's. Therefore, I am willing to seek an imperial edict for Mrs. Bai!"
When the emperor heard this, there was no emotion on his face.
He twirled his beard slightly, first looked at Bai Shutong, then looked at Pei Jingxu beside him.
Pei Jingxu had tears in her eyes and she wiped them away in panic.
In contrast, the white tung tree has a dignified appearance and is tenacious.
It is indeed more grand.
"Sir, Pei is your daughter-in-law. What do you think?"
The emperor threw the question to Rong Boyao who was sitting at the table.
Upon hearing this, Rong Baimao rose slightly and bowed to the emperor. "Your Majesty, please understand that although Pei is your daughter-in-law, I believe that we should not let the honor of our family chill the hearts of the soldiers on the border."
"Therefore, I, the old minister, also feel that it is most appropriate to give the imperial title to Madam Bai."
"Firstly, it can demonstrate your majesty's benevolence. Even common people can be respected as long as they serve the country and the people. Secondly, it can greatly boost the morale of the soldiers at the border, and make them devote their whole hearts and minds to Yunlan."
The emperor smiled nonchalantly upon hearing this: "Your Excellency, the Minister is truly upright and impartial. You have a point."
In the previous life, when the story reached this point, the emperor raised his hand slightly and approved Rong Xuanzhou's request for reward.
But this time, the emperor's gaze fell on the powerful minister, Shaofu, who was sitting in the guest seat.
"Master Shaofu, what do you think?"
Rong Jianxue held half a glass of wine in his hand.
Hearing the emperor's question, he slowly stood up and nodded slightly.
Wearing an official robe, a man looks even more cool and handsome, unparalleled in the world.
His brows were expressionless. He first lowered his eyes to glance at Rong Xuanzhou who was kneeling on the ground, and then glanced at Bai Shutong who was standing beside him.
Finally, he slowly said: "Bai is not worthy."
In an instant, everyone present was shocked.
——Why do Master Shaofu and his younger brother, General Xuanzhou, seem to be at odds with each other tonight?
How dare you "ridicule" the Bai family in public like this?
As soon as these words were spoken, Rong Xuanzhou's eyelids twitched, and he suddenly looked at his elder brother with confusion and puzzlement in his eyes.
Bai Shutong's expression instantly turned cold. Although he still had a decent smile on his face, it looked too fake.
"Jianxue, what nonsense are you talking about!" Rong Baimao stopped him in a low voice.
Rong Jianxue ignored him and continued to stand there straight and straight.
Pei Jingxu was also stunned. He never expected Rong Jianxue to say it so "frankly"!
"Oh?" The emperor's eyes grew more interested. "Why is Bai not worthy?"
Rong Jianxue's tone remained unchanged: "I have investigated the Bai family's deeds on the battlefield and found that those praises have been embellished and there are some false rumors."
"Mrs. Bai did provide medical treatment for the soldiers at the border, but she was not the only doctor accompanying the border. She alone could not save the 10,000 cavalrymen of the Tiger Guard Battalion."
"It is said that during the plague in the army, the Bai family created an antidote that saved countless soldiers. However, my humble investigation revealed that the plague originated from a species of wild rabbits at the border."
"According to my investigation, wild rabbits are extremely rare and would not have caused a plague of this magnitude. It was the Bai family who claimed that their blood was an excellent medicine for warding off the cold, which led the soldiers to hunt them en masse, ultimately infecting them with the plague."
At this point, Rong Jianxue snorted lightly, his tone indifferent: "It's not a good deed to save yourself from the trouble you've caused yourself."
With every word Rong Jianxue spoke, Bai Shutong's expression became uglier. In the end, Bai Shutong pursed his thin lips and looked cold.
"If such a doctor could be granted an imperial title, it would be a joke to Yunlan."
After hearing the last sentence, all the guests fell silent, not daring to say a word more.
--
“Wow—”
The rain is getting heavier.
After the banquet, Rong glared at Pei Jingxu, then left with a gloomy face as Rong Baimao turned away.
Rong Xuanzhou comforted Bai Shutong for a long time, and she finally stopped crying.
When they reached the palace gate, Rong Xuanzhou lowered his eyes and glanced at Pei Jingxu, his gaze cold and gloomy: "Go to the bedroom and wait for me."
It is obvious that he wants to settle the score later.
Pei Jingxu bit her lip slightly. She stood under the eaves of the palace gate, watching the guests around her disperse. The dripping rain showed no signs of stopping, as if it would continue forever.
Rong Xuanzhou and the others naturally did not want to wait for her, let alone share an umbrella with her.
So, it wasn't long before Pei Jingxu was left under the eaves.
Rong Jianxue opened the oil-paper umbrella, without even looking at her, and started to leave.
Pei Jingxu saw this and said softly, "Sir!"
The man stopped.
He stood in the wind and rain, and the thunder, lightning and rain could not get close to him.
Pei Jingxu bit her lips lightly and stammered, "Can I take Ah Xu home with me..."
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