As soon as these words were spoken, praises rang out from the others.
The core team gathered around Marshal Xie Zhenning took another close look at the Young Marshal's wife.
They offered their advice to the Marshal.
"Marshal, Bai Baozhu has a strong influence. She is well-suited to be the Young Marshal's wife of our Northwest."
"She will be of great benefit not only in military and political circles, but also among the literati."
"Are you truly going to give up this daughter-in-law?"
This was an overt scheme.
Using the occasion of the Second Concubine's birthday banquet, Bai Baozhu had demonstrated her talents and influence to everyone.
While Xie Zhenning was hesitating, Xie Chengxiao had already stepped forward quickly and said:
"Father, I do not think so."
"Would you be willing to keep a ticking time bomb in your own backyard? No one knows when she might explode."
"A bomb wrapped in a sugar coating—I cannot afford to keep it!"
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Xie Manyu, having a straightforward temperament, couldn't hold back and was about to speak out.
The content of the article Bai Baozhu wrote was completely plagiarized from Bai Liuyue's ideas.
Before she could even open her mouth, she was dragged out of the room by Bai Liuyue.
"Ouch, what are you doing?" Xie Manyu glared, eyes wide.
"What were you trying to do just now?"
"Tell everyone the truth, of course," Xie Manyu couldn't help but say. "We all know very well that the content she wrote was clearly dictated by you."
Bai Liuyue asked, "Where is the evidence?"
Xie Manyu retorted, "I am your witness!"
Bai Liuyue shook her head and said:
"Today is the Second Concubine's birthday banquet. If you expose her on the spot, firstly, the Second Concubine will lose face, and secondly, it will negatively impact the Marshal's estate."
"As a witness, you have a biased stance, so others won't believe you. They will only believe what is written in black and white in the newspaper."
Xie Manyu was a little anxious and muttered softly:
"What biased stance? It's not like I'm in cahoots with you. I am standing on the side of justice and fairness."
"However..."
Her momentum gradually weakened as she added:
"You're not wrong. If this matter blows up, regardless of what the truth is, others will treat our Marshal's estate as a joke."
"But, are you willing to accept this? Your own intellectual achievements being plagiarized?"
Xie Manyu added another sentence, "I feel wronged on your behalf."
But Bai Liuyue slowly shook her head. "I don't feel wronged."
"Why?" she asked, puzzled.
"Do you think Bai Baozhu won?"
"Yes."
Xie Manyu looked around and saw that everyone present was praising Bai Baozhu's article for its substance and depth, offering endless compliments.
"No, she lost," Bai Liuyue said with absolute certainty.
This move seemed to make Marshal Xie see Bai Baozhu's influence, but wasn't it also a silent threat and a display of power?
Are you willing to give up an influential daughter-in-law like me?
Marshal Xie might hesitate, and his advisors might be tempted, but for Xie Chengxiao, this was a provocation.
Sure enough.
The day after the Second Concubine's birthday banquet.
Behind Marshal Xie's back, Xie Chengxiao directly published an announcement in the newspaper, publicly stating the fact that he and Bai Baozhu were already divorced.
The entire Northwest was in an uproar.
No one expected that all the joy of yesterday was merely an illusion. No wonder the Young Marshal and his wife did not attend together.
Meanwhile, the Bai siblings were still staying at the Marshal's estate.
Upon hearing the news, all the color drained from Bai Baozhu's face.
She couldn't help but shake her head and said:
"How could this be? Brother, why is all this different from what you predicted?"
Bai Baocheng was also dumbfounded.
Could it be that the Xie family was not the least bit tempted by his sister's talent and influence?
No one knew what Xie Chengxiao had discussed with Marshal Xie on the night of the banquet.
On the morning after the newspaper announcement, Marshal Xie tactfully expressed:
"Baocheng, have you enjoyed your time in the Northwest recently? Baozhu's health is not very good, and our Northwest has heavy winds and sand, which is not suitable for recuperation."
"It would be better to take her back to Jinzhong early, so I can also feel more at ease."
Bai Baocheng almost lost his grip on the chopsticks he was holding.
He couldn't help but shoot a sidelong glance at Bai Baozhu. Bai Baozhu bit her lip, suddenly stood up, and said:
"Marshal, actually, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"I want to take Liuyue back home first. My second aunt suddenly fell severely ill a few days ago and is hospitalized, but she hasn't been getting any better."
Bai Baozhu naturally thought that if she had to go back, she couldn't let this little cousin stay here either.
Bai Liuyue was somewhat surprised. "My mother is sick? Why didn't I know?"
Xie Manyu immediately made a decision. "Then after breakfast, let's make a phone call to Jinzhong."
A flash of panic crossed Bai Baozhu's face.
This was originally a lie she had made up, and she didn't expect it to be exposed so quickly.
After breakfast, Xie Manyu dialed the number for the second branch of the Bai family in Jinzhong. To everyone's surprise, the news was verified—Second Madam Bai was actually sick.
Hearing this news, Bai Baozhu couldn't help but heave a long sigh of relief.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Bai Baocheng, only to find that Bai Baocheng was also looking right at her.
Both siblings thought the other had arranged it, but it turned out neither of them did?
Could it be that their second aunt was truly sick?
Bai Liuyue glanced at the affection level displayed on the system's progress bar. After all this time, Xie Chengxiao's affection was only at 80%.
Perhaps being apart for a short while would yield better results.
She took the phone from Xie Manyu, confirmed that the person on the other end was their family's old servant, and couldn't help but nod.
"Alright, I understand. I will come back to see Mother first."
She hung up the phone.
Facing everyone's gaze, she expressed helplessly:
"Marshal, I'm afraid I really must go back. As for subsequent arrangements, I will follow Patriarch Bai's orders."
Xie Zhenning nodded and said, "Alright, then let Chengxiao escort you all back."
Pei Yu, who had been silent all along, waved his hand and said:
"Uncle, Cousin is so busy with a myriad of affairs every day, there's no need to trouble him! I can just escort Sister Liuyue back."
"It just so happens that I've stayed here for so long and need to return to Jinzhong anyway, otherwise my dad is going to beat me."
Xie Chengxiao pursed his lips, his gaze swiftly sweeping over Bai Liuyue, and said:
"It's no trouble, Father. I'll go over and meet with Patriarch Bai. What do you think?"
Marshal Xie nodded in agreement.
Returning today would be somewhat rushed, so they decided to set off tomorrow.
As Gu Qinghuai entered the Marshal's estate carrying his medical box, he saw the servants bustling in and out looking very busy, and couldn't help but ask:
"What's going on here?"
Pei Yu glanced at his own unhealed wound, let out an 'oh', and replied:
"We are returning to Jinzhong tomorrow. Oh right, there will be no need to trouble Dr. Gu to make another trip tomorrow."
In his heart, however, he grumbled: Even with changing the dressing every day, the wound isn't getting any better. This medical skill can't compare to the doctors in their Jinzhong at all.
While changing the dressing, Gu Qinghuai asked calmly:
"Besides Young Marshal Pei, who else is returning to Jinzhong?"
