Chapter 1802: Chapter 1802: No Suicidal Intent

Gai Yalai, in a fit of anger, raised her hand, intending to slap Bai Ruozhu, but the nanny beside her hurriedly rushed forward to grab her hand.

“Madam, please don’t act rashly; the young madam is pregnant,” the nanny, on the verge of tears, pleaded. She knew Gai Yalai was in the wrong, but she also understood Gai Yalai’s temper, having raised her from a child. Even when angry, could she really ignore her?

“Oh, you think you can hit people?” Lin Pinger’s fury surged. She rushed forward, glaring at Gai Yalai, and shouted, “This is my home. You dare to hit my daughter? Who do you think you are? You abandoned your husband and child back then to get remarried and now come flaunting your son’s status, trying to act like a mother-in-law. Do you even see if you’re worthy?”

The nanny quickly tried to calm the situation. “Madam Bai, our lady has been ill and has a bad temper. Please don’t take it to heart. She wouldn’t actually strike the young madam.”

“That’s your thought, not hers. She insulted my family at my doorstep. It’s already good enough that I haven’t kicked her out,” Lin Pinger said, looking at Bai Ruozhu. “Ruozhu, write a letter to Xiaojiang and tell him to send someone to take his mother away. He can’t just dump any old thing at my house. Is this son-in-law trying not to do his part?”

Bai Ruozhu felt a cold sweat trickling down. Alright, now her mother had a grudge against Achun; Gai Yalai truly knew how to stir hatred for her son.

“You think I want to stay in your run-down yard? If not for my son’s sake, I wouldn’t come to such a chaotic place. And your daughter, she’s nothing but a shrew and unfilial. When Achun returns, I’ll have him divorce her!” Gai Yalai shouted, her neck stubbornly upright.

Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you sure he’ll listen to you and divorce me? Having a mother like you is his misfortune. If you’ve never been happy with my family, then you’re welcome to leave and stay wherever pleases you.”

After speaking, she turned to apologize to Wang Sus. “Auntie, I’m sorry for the trouble we’ve caused you.”

Wang Sus wasn’t upset with the Bai Family at all. In fact, she felt a little embarrassed that they, Bai Ruozhu and Lin Pinger, had defended them against Gai Yalai. But more than anything, she was grateful to the Bai Family.

“Oh, nonsense. Every family has their troubles, and it’s not like she’s from your Bai Family anyway. We just treat it as running into a mad dog biting people,” Wang Sus said.

“You…” Gai Yalai was so angry that her hand trembled as she pointed at Wang Sus. Unfortunately, Wang Sus didn’t want to argue any further, so after saying a goodbye to Bai Ruozhu and her mother, she took her family and left in the horse carriage.

Bai Ruozhu and Lin Pinger also turned back to the residence and had the servants sternly close the main gate.

“Young Madam…” the nanny anxiously called out, but then felt too embarrassed to address Bai Ruozhu and let her shoulders hunch in defeat. She turned to Gai Yalai with a sigh, “Madam, what is the point of all this?”

“What about me? Shouldn’t I, as a mother-in-law, have to watch her mood? Just wait until Achun gets back, and I’ll have him divorce her!” Gai Yalai said as she turned to leave. The horse carriage that brought them had already gone, and there wasn’t one readily available, so she angrily walked towards the Main Street on her own. She had silver in hand, and at worst, could stay in an inn.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her neck, and her whole body collapsed to the ground. Before losing consciousness, she could only see the crescent moon in the sky.

…

Lin Pinger went home and ranted over a cup of tea. Since she was pregnant, her temper had also been volatile, and she said to Bai Ruozhu, “Tell Xiaojiang to take his mother away; our home does not welcome her. If Xiaojiang chooses to side with that wreck of a mother over us, then you should divorce him!”

Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched. Why did everyone like to say “divorce” so much?

In the end, it took Bai Yihong, Bai Zehao, and Bai Zepei taking turns to persuade her for the better part of the day to finally calm Lin Pinger’s anger.

The next day, Bai Ruozhu and Gao Zhou went to the Palace, and on the way, out of boredom, they talked about the matter.

“My husband’s mother is quite the troublemaker, but I don’t know why her illness seems to have inexplicably improved,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Gao Zhou snorted coldly, “That woman really got off easy. It would be best if she were dead.”

Bai Ruozhu glanced at Gao Zhou in surprise. Was there really such animosity toward Gai Yalai? Why such anger?

Wasn’t it just because of the incident with helping Yu Chenghua on that horse carriage? It felt like a huge grudge.

But Gao Zhou quickly adjusted his demeanor and changed the subject.

The situation with Consort Le had improved significantly, and after seeing this, Bai Ruozhu invited Gao Zhou to visit Ji Ziyan with her. Gao Zhou sighed but agreed.

Ji Ziyan’s living quarters were small, and he only had an old servant, who seemed to have been with the Ji Family for many years.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and told Min Xiang, “Arrange for a young servant to take care of him for a while when we get back, so the old man won’t be overworked.”

Because Ji Ziyan couldn’t move, it was inconvenient for him to handle certain needs, and things like turning over and washing were strenuous for the old servant.

Suddenly, from inside, Ji Ziyan shouted loudly, “I don’t need anyone’s pity. Just leave.”

Bai Ruozhu entered the room and looked at the unshaven, very haggard Ji Ziyan. “It’s your business to be stubborn, but do you want your family’s old servant to fall ill from taking care of you? I don’t have the habit of pitying anyone. It’s more about respecting the elderly and showing concern for that old man. You don’t need to overthink it.”

Ji Ziyan opened his mouth but then closed it again, and simply shut his eyes, displaying a reluctance to speak.

Bai Ruozhu ignored him and, along with Gao Zhou, began examining him. They discussed his condition openly, including the possibility of lifelong paralysis and loss of sensation below his chest. Though Ji Ziyan kept his eyes closed, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Obviously, he cared about whether he would be paralyzed, suggesting he wasn’t completely defeated. Perhaps it was just an accident after he got drunk.

“You don’t need to worry too much. We will do our best to cure you, as long as you’re willing to cooperate,” Bai Ruozhu said to Ji Ziyan before leaving.

Ji Ziyan, eyes still shut, took a long time to respond with a soft “hmm,” indicating his willingness to undergo treatment.

Bai Ruozhu sighed with relief and left the Ji residence with Gao Zhou.

Just as they stepped out, they spotted two officers approaching. Leading them was Wang Ruizhi, the head detective of Beiyu City. Bai Ruozhu hadn’t interacted much with him but had seen him several times at Meng Liangshen’s place.

“Master Bai, Medical Saint, are you here treating Ji Ziyan?” Wang Ruizhi greeted them warmly.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, “Is Head Detective Wang here to investigate a case?”

She thought he was here to investigate Zhou Jue’s appearance in Beiyu City that day, but wasn’t it the Jinwu Guard’s responsibility?

Wang Ruizhi smiled somewhat awkwardly and leaned in to Bai Ruozhu, “Someone presented a complaint at the Government Office, accusing that Guest-Welcoming almost killed someone and also claimed Master Bai used authority to hide the injured…”