After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 245 No One Can Escape (Part Two)
Bai Qinglian, who was kneeling on the ground, had her eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, lit up again. It was truly a blessing from heaven that she hadn't been abandoned!

Bai Wanqing was genuinely surprised by her father's arrival and frowned slightly.

Bai Qinglian curled the corners of her lips, her eyes fixed on Bai Wanqing with utter mockery. Her gaze clearly said, "So what if my parents disliked me before? They certainly won't watch their daughter be imprisoned now."

Big sister, in the end you still lost to me!

Bai Wanqing understood the meaning in Bai Qinglian's eyes. Yes! It had happened many times already. If it weren't for Chen Shi and her father's repeated indulgence of Bai Qinglian, she wouldn't have become so arrogant as she is today.

Bai Wanqing took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes, unaware of Bai Qinglian's smug smile.

At this moment, Hai Chengming felt a headache coming on. The case had already been thoroughly investigated, but if Bai Wanqing was persuaded by the Bai family's master and mistress to overturn the case, it would be putting him in a difficult position.

He was even more indignant when he saw Bai Wanqing close her eyes helplessly.

But there was nothing he could do; his life was now in someone else's hands!
"Please invite Master Bai and Madam Bai into the hall."

Meng Zhan accepted the order, lowered his head, and went out to welcome Master Bai and his wife in.

Since Bai Wanqing and Meng Zhan divorced, Bai Chenming had never seen that bastard again. Now, seeing him working in the government office looking all respectable, Bai Chenming felt a surge of emotions, and his gaze towards Meng Zhan was filled with disgust.

Meng Zhan pretended not to see anything and gently invited Bai Chenming.

Bai Chenming merely snorted coldly, not even glancing at Meng Zhan. Meng Zhan felt somewhat embarrassed and could only look at Chen Shi again.

At this moment, Madam Chen was preoccupied with Furong and Qinglian, and could hardly see him.

And so, the Bai family patriarch and madam hurriedly passed by Lord Meng as if they hadn't even seen him.

Madam Xiao and Master Xiao saw everything. Madam Xiao scoffed inwardly, "As expected of someone from a small town, they don't know any manners at all."

Bai Chenming and Madam Chen entered the hall and immediately saw Bai Qinglian kneeling on the ground, sobbing in anguish.

Chen felt her heart clench. To her, Bai Qinglian was wrong, but she was still a piece of her own flesh and blood, and no matter what, she could not bear to part with her!
"Lord Hai!" Bai Chenming led Chen Shi to kneel before Hai Chengming.

Hai Chengming quickly told the two to dispense with the formalities.

Bai Chenming looked at his eldest daughter, Bai Wanqing, who stood there straight with a firm gaze, showing no intention of backing down.

"What exactly happened to Qing'er?"

"What happened? How did it escalate to the courtroom? Isn't this just causing trouble for Lord Hai?"

Upon hearing this, the Xiao family members' tense expressions finally relaxed, except for Lord Hai, whose eyes almost welled up with tears.

That's right! That's right! It could have been handled as a household matter, but you insisted on making a scene at the government office, which really put him in a difficult position.

In all his years as an official, he had never been in such a predicament; it was as if he could live or die in an instant.

"Yes, Madam Lin, it's just a small matter. Since your father has already spoken, it's not a big deal."

"Why don't we withdraw the lawsuit now, and then go back and discuss how to resolve this?" Madam Xiao said, seizing the opportunity.

Bai Wanqing gently shook her head. "Father, this is no small matter."

Bai Chenming was slightly taken aback. "How can it not be a small matter? Isn't it just that your third sister came to Huaizhou City and caused trouble?"

"I would have taken the person back; why did it have to come to this?"

"Yes! Big sister! Your current outburst is only making a fool of ourselves and disgracing the Bai family."

"It's time to rein it in." Bai Qinglian straightened her back, but tears still clung to the corners of her eyes. She didn't look like she had done anything wrong; instead, she seemed to have been framed, which made her all the more pitiful.

"Father! Bai Qinglian's life is precious! But isn't Furong's life precious too?"

"Father, are you sure you want to indulge my third sister again after what happened today?"

Bai Wanqing had always respected her father and had never spoken to Bai Chenming like this before. Bai Chenming was completely shocked and suddenly realized that something was wrong.

He looked around and realized that there was not only his Bai family's daughter in the courtroom, but also another family. Right, this family had just been trying to persuade his eldest daughter to drop the case.

What exactly is going on? Bai Chenming then asked, "What does this have to do with Furong?"

Bai Wanqing sighed softly and calmly recounted Bai Qinglian's actions.

Bai Chenming trembled all over as he listened, while Chen Shi covered her mouth tightly, tears streaming down her face.

She couldn't understand how Qinglian could be so heartless towards her own sister, since they had always had a good relationship since childhood.

What terrible things did she do to deserve that her own daughter would harm her own sister?

"Lian'er! Is everything your eldest sister said true?" Madam Chen's voice was very soft, and no one except those in the courtroom could hear it.

Bai Qinglian shook her head violently. She crawled over and hugged Chen's leg, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Mother, I didn't mean to."

"Mother, do you know what kind of life your daughter lived in the Huang family?"

"My daughter had nowhere else to turn, so she came to Huaizhou City to seek refuge with her second sister."

"Mother, it was all the Xiao family who instigated me to do it. I was confused for a moment."

Bai Qinglian's repeated accusations did not soften Chen's heart; instead, they made the Xiao family's hearts race once more.

Xiao Fang could no longer contain himself and roared at Bai Qinglian, who was crying her eyes out, "I encouraged you? Why would I encourage you!"

"If you hadn't said that your second sister was an idiot and also very pretty, would I have gone after her?"

"This is all your wicked scheme, you viper! How can you blame it all on me?"

Even now, even if Bai Wanqing stops listing evidence, Bai Chenming and Chen Shi already know the truth.

This was probably really done by Bai Qinglian.

Chen forcefully pulled her leg away from Bai Qinglian's embrace. Bai Qinglian felt her body jolted forward, and then she looked up at her mother in disbelief.

"Mother, what do you mean? Are you really going to watch your daughter die?"

"Mother, didn't you used to love Lian'er the most? Now they've conspired to frame your daughter. Do you really not care about your daughter's life or death at all?"

Bai Qinglian spoke with such sorrow that Chen felt as if her heart was about to break.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she hugged Bai Qinglian tightly, and the mother and daughter burst into tears.

The Xiao family was naturally pleased with this situation; if Bai Qinglian was alright, then their Fang'er would certainly be alright as well. Bai Wanqing looked directly at her father, Bai Chenming, who understood the meaning in his daughter's eyes, but making this decision was not easy for him as a father.

Hai Chengming didn't seem inclined to urge them, since it would be best if they could resolve it themselves.

The courtroom fell silent for a moment, with only the cries of Madam Chen and Bai Qinglian remaining.

After a long while, just when everyone thought the excitement of the day was over, Bai Chenming finally spoke.

"Lord Hai, my daughter is ruthless and cruel, harming her own siblings. I beg you to punish her fairly."

Bai Chenming's voice boomed in the courtroom.

Chen's cries grew even more piercing, but she didn't say a word, because she knew in her heart that Bai Wanqing would not let Bai Qinglian off this time.

This time, Bai Chenming will also be determined to give up Bai Qinglian.

And what about herself? If Lian'er continues like this, her younger brother might be the next one to be persecuted.

How could she gamble!

Madam Xiao was shocked that the Bai family would abandon Bai Qinglian at this time, and hurriedly said, "Master Bai, Qinglian is also your own daughter! Are you really willing to give her up?"

Bai Chenming cried out in anguish, "I'm willing to give it up!"

Madam Xiao wanted to say more, but Master Xiao stopped her. He knew that the Bai family had made up their minds, and there was no use in Madam Xiao being unwilling at this moment.

Upon hearing her father's words, Bai Qinglian's tears vanished as if by magic.

She stared blankly at her father standing in front of her. She remembered that when she was a child, whenever her father stood in front of her, it was to help her deal with the children and servants who bullied her.

Why now? Why must she be pushed out like this?

Bai Qinglian's gaze gradually shifted from Bai Chenming to Bai Wanqing.

That's right, it's all because of her! She's the one who started it all!

Bai Qinglian suddenly raised her hand, took a silver hairpin from her hair, and pounced on Bai Wanqing with great speed.

Bai Wanqing didn't notice at first, but when she looked up again, she saw a sharp hairpin piercing straight into her eyes.

Madam Chen and Madam Xiao were shocked to discover that Bai Qinglian was so ruthless, daring to injure someone in court.

When Bai Chenming realized what was happening, his heart was in his throat. He was about to reach out to stop them, but it was too late.

Bai Qinglian's hairpin pierced her flesh, but only into her face. The officers then restrained her, rendering her unable to move.

Bai Wanqing had a scratch on her hand, but it was Meng Zhan who blocked Bai Qinglian's attack for her.

Bai Qinglian licked the blood flowing from her face and laughed maniacally.

"Meng Zhan, shouldn't you be the one who least wants Bai Wanqing to have a good life?"

"If she goes blind or dies, you'll have a chance to get ahead. Are you crazy to help her now?"

Bai Qinglian's repeated accusations left many who were unaware of the situation stunned.

They only learned today that Meng Zhan was actually Madam Lin's ex-husband.
Mrs. Lin remarried!

Meng Zhan ignored her. He turned around and looked at Bai Wanqing's injuries, asking, "Are you alright?"

Bai Wanqing shook her head slightly, avoiding Meng Zhan's eyes, "I'm fine!"

"Thank you very much, Lord Meng."

"As long as you're okay."

Lord Hai was also startled by Bai Qinglian's actions. What if something really happened to Bai Wanqing while she was here? How could he explain it to Lin Yunche?
Now that things have come to this, Hai Chengming no longer wants to play along with this farce.

"Listen up, everyone below."

"Bai Qinglian is vicious and plotted to harm her own sisters. She should be imprisoned for ten years according to the law."

Good heavens! Ten years—a woman's youth lasts only a few years; once it's wasted, it's gone.

Moreover, everyone knows that being imprisoned in this prison means you'll likely be sent to the mines!

Everyone knows what a mine is like; going there is worse than death.
The Bai family doesn't object either?
In fact, apart from Bai Qinglian, no one else objected.

"Xiao Fang, having been misled by Bai Qinglian, unintentionally helped harm people. He is to be punished with thirty strokes of the cane, to be carried out immediately."

Madam Xiao felt sorry for her son and wanted to plead for him, but when Mr. Xiao saw that the Bai family did not object, he immediately agreed on behalf of his son.

Madam Xiao angrily scolded her husband in a low voice, "Master, have you gone mad? Thirty strokes of the cane can kill someone!"

Master Xiao said coldly, "Thirty strokes of the cane is already a mercy. If we discuss it further, I'm afraid he will be exiled to the northern border."

Madam Xiao trembled and said, "He wouldn't dare! Doesn't he even know who's behind us?"

Master Xiao sighed, "Do you think Lord Hai is afraid?"

“A woman is a woman. Lord Hai clearly chose the Bai family just now.”

"If you don't listen to me, you won't be able to save your son. You'll have to deal with it yourself!"

Master Xiao's words were very firm, and Madam Xiao dared not utter another word.

Fortunately, Lord Hai remembered the Xiao family's background and showed mercy when beating Xiao Fang, at least saving his life.

As for Bai Qinglian, she was sent to prison that very night and transferred to the mine the next day.

Bai Chenming and Madam Chen sat solemnly in the Lin family home, while Bai Wanqing stood before them, pleading for forgiveness.

"Father, Mother! This time, I acted on my own initiative, bringing shame to the Bai family and causing you both distress!"

"I beg my father and mother to punish me."

As she spoke, Bai Wanqing knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

(End of this chapter)