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

Chapter 263 He's Here (Part 1)

Ruixin looked bewildered, and Fengniang shook her head gently. She had been delivering meals to Lord Cui as usual these days. Lord Cui and Master Luo were still hurting each other as always, but he seemed to vaguely sense that something was wrong with the Lin family.

But what kind of person is Lord Cui? Feng Niang couldn't figure him out! So she dared not say what Lord Cui's attitude was.

Bai Wanqing nodded slightly. "Very well, Fengniang, lunch is ready. I'll go and deliver it to Lord Cui."

"Yes, Madam!" Fengniang turned around to prepare the meal.

Bai Wanqing then said to Ruixin, "Ruixin, my mother-in-law and father-in-law have already packed up all of the Lin family's belongings and brought them to our house."

"Find an opportunity now and send them all to the village in the suburbs."

"Also, prepare more carriages, just in case."

Ruixin knew this was dangerous, but she never expected it would come to the point of having to flee.

"Miss, don't worry, I'll make all the arrangements. Wherever you go, Ruixin will be with you."

Looking at Ruixin's expression, Bai Wanqing said seriously, "Ruixin, you've been by my side for almost twenty years."

“She’s no longer the little girl following behind me; it’s time for her to stand on her own.”

Ruixin was completely confused. "Miss, why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"Could it be that Ruixin did something wrong?"

Ruixin suddenly felt a little panicked, "Miss, you can't send Ruixin away! If Ruixin does anything wrong, Ruixin will definitely learn from it."

"In short, Ruixin cannot leave Miss."

As she spoke, the girl grabbed Ruixin's arm and burst into tears.

Bai Wanqing gently patted Ruixin's hand, "Silly girl, when did I say I was going to kick you out?"

"But I have a more important task for you. You should know that in this world, besides my father and Furong, you are the person I trust the most."

"Ruixin, you absolutely must complete this mission for me!"

Upon hearing that she was to be given an important task, Ruixin quickly wiped away the tears on her face. Although she was still confused, she confidently said, "Miss, don't worry!"

"No matter what the mission is, Ruixin will do everything in her power to complete it."

Bai Wanqing smiled slightly, "Silly girl, how could I possibly take your life!"

Bai Wanqing coaxed Ruixin, and Ruixin went to the estate to deliver the things as she had instructed.

At this moment, Fengniang brought in the prepared meal, saying, "Madam, the meal is ready."

Bai Wanqing hummed in agreement, took the food box, and headed straight for the courtyard of Master Luo and Marquis Zhaonan.

"Grandmaster! Lord Marquis!"

“Wanqing returned too late yesterday and did not come to pay her respects to the two elders. It was Wanqing’s fault for being negligent.”

Master Luo waved his hand dismissively, then sniffed and leaned closer.

"The food smells so good today!"

"It seems that Fengniang has finally recovered her mood. Qing'er, you don't know that Fengniang was like she was out of her mind the other day. The food she cooked was subpar, subpar!"

"It's so much better when you're at home!" With that, Master Luo happily took out all the food from the food box and prepared to eat.

Lord Cui also greeted Bai Wanqing with a smile, "Madam Lin, you don't need to be so polite."

“I have been troubling your family here these past few days, and I am already very grateful that you have not found me unpleasant.”

"I originally wanted to talk to you about something today, but since you're here, I'll just tell you directly."

Bai Wanqing bowed slightly, "You're too kind, Lord Marquis. Please speak freely."

Lord Cui glanced at Physician Luo, who was enjoying her meal, and seeing that Physician Luo didn't seem to care about what was happening here, he smiled and said, "Madam Lin, after all this time, my health is much better than when I first arrived."

"Originally, I wanted to stay in Huaizhou City for a few more days to completely eliminate the remaining toxins from my body."

"Unfortunately, a message came from my home in Kyoto saying that there was an urgent matter that required my return."

"Therefore, I have a request that is against my wishes."

Bai Wanqing already understood the Marquis's attitude, and said with a faint smile, "Please speak, Marquis."

"Could I borrow Doctor Luo for a moment and have him accompany me to the capital? Don't worry, once things are settled, I will definitely return Doctor Luo safe and sound."

Bai Wanqing originally wanted Master Luo to leave the Lin family, but now Lord Cui has given her such an excuse.
Since the Zhaonan Marquis's mansion doesn't want to get involved in this mess, Bai Wanqing won't force them.

“Of course I have no problem! But in the end, we still have to ask Master Luo himself what he thinks.”

Lord Cui turned around and bowed slightly. "Dr. Luo, what is your opinion?"

"Great! Of course it's great."

"Qing girl, then I'll go for a stroll with this old man Cui!"

"Don't worry, I'll be back in a while!" Master Luo said with a smile.

"Alright, Grandmaster, I'll have Fengniang prepare some things for your journey."

Lord Cui shook his head and said, "Madam Lin, there's no need to trouble yourself. The people from the Zhaonan Marquis's residence have already arrived. They've almost finished packing and are ready to set off at any time."

Bai Wanqing nodded.

Lord Cui seemed to be in a hurry. He had barely greeted Bai Wanqing when people from the Zhaonan Marquis's residence were already waiting at the back door.

At this moment, Cui and Lin Feiyun also knew about it and came out to see him off.

Bai Wanqing glanced at her grandmaster, who was already seated in the carriage and looking around, and instructed him, "Grandmaster, this capital city is not as good as Huaizhou City."

"There are too many powerful and influential people inside, so you can't be as willful as you are here."

Master Luo rolled his eyes and gently flicked Bai Wanqing's forehead. "Qing'er, you're just like your mother. You seem cold and indifferent on ordinary days, but you're actually quite talkative."

"Don't worry! Your grandmaster was famous at a young age, and I know exactly what I should and shouldn't do!"

"At the very least, the person behind me can't just watch me die!"

"If that's the case, I can take someone down with me!" As he spoke, Master Luo produced a small medicine bottle from somewhere. Bai Wanqing was very familiar with this medicine bottle; it was the poison she had refined before.

"Alright! Then take care on your journey, Master! Lord Marquis, I entrust my master to you."

Lord Cui nodded, then waved his hand, and the Zhaonan Marquis's carriage procession left Huaizhou City in a grand procession.

The news quickly spread throughout the Huaizhou government office. Hai Chengming was shocked upon hearing it, and a strong sense of fear gripped his entire body.

"This Mrs. Lin! Isn't she usually very shrewd?"

"How could anyone be so stupid as to give away the sacred Buddha that's already in their home?"

"We must keep this Marquis of Zhaonan here, no matter what, by whatever means necessary!"

"Now that's settled! Who in Huaizhou City can imprison His Highness the Prince of Huai?"

"He's dead! Dead! He's definitely going to die!"

Hai Chengming, disregarding his duty at the government office, hurriedly returned to the Hai family home and told Hai Shengyang to prepare to pack his things.

"Father, didn't you say we can't leave Huaizhou right now?"

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave again this time?"

Hai Chengming's face turned ashen. "If we don't leave now, our Hai family is doomed!"

"Of course, he probably won't survive now!"

"Hurry up! Pack your things, we need to leave tonight!"

Hai Shengyang had never seen her father so impatient before, which made her realize that the Hai family was probably in real trouble.

She didn't dare ask any more questions and immediately began packing her things with the Hai family's servants.

Looking at the bustling, chaotic courtyard, Hai Chengming sighed inwardly, never expecting that the end of the Hai family would come so soon.

On the other side, after seeing off Marquis Zhaonan and Master Luo, Bai Wanqing followed Madam Cui back to her room.

"Mother, Lord Cui's attitude is clear: Grandmaster Luo is getting old, so..."

"Wanqing, you don't need to explain, I understand."

"Marquis Zhaonan holds considerable military power and, like the Lin family, has always guarded a border region."

"He understands best that the emperor's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, and it is perfectly reasonable for him to want to avoid suspicion."

"As for Doctor Luo, this matter has nothing to do with him, so why should we drag him into this quagmire?"

"Wanqing, you did the right thing!"

"Thank you, mother!"

"But with Prince Huai's arrival imminent, we must first devise a plan to deal with it. Your father and I have already discussed it, and we are prepared to fight Prince Huai to the death."

“Your father should have already set off for Linjia Village by now.”

“Since it’s a matter for the Lin family, it should be resolved by the Lin family,” Cui said resolutely.

Bai Wanqing, however, had a different view: "Mother, it's not time for us to risk our lives yet."

"Not risk your life?" Cui asked in confusion. "Wanqing, that's the Prince of Huai!"

"What other good ideas do we have?"

Bai Wanqing slowly raised her head and looked at the sky outside the door. "Perhaps there is another way to stall for time."

After returning from Cui's room, Bai Wanqing summoned Fengniang.

"Fengniang, give this letter to Lord Hai and make sure he receives it personally."

"Yes!"

Fengniang took the letter and left, but she froze when she arrived at the Hai family's house.

The Hai family's door is usually closed, so why is it open today?

Fengniang quickly stepped forward, and just as she was about to knock on the door, she found that there was no one in the courtyard, and even the gatekeeper who usually guarded the gate had moved out.

"Oh no!" Feng Niang slapped her thigh and ran back immediately.

"Madam, something terrible has happened! The entire Hai family has run away!" Feng Niang described the scene she witnessed at the Hai family's residence, panting heavily.

Bai Wanqing's expression was solemn. She hadn't expected that Lord Hai would run away so quickly.

Without Lord Hai, who else could bring someone out of death row for her?
Bi Yi? Bai Wanqing shook her head. No! Although Bi Yi's relationship with her husband is slightly closer, that's only relative to others.

If you asked him to take the risk of doing something like that, he probably wouldn't agree.

Besides Bi Yi, there's Meng Zhan.

Thinking of Meng Zhan, Bai Wanqing felt it was even more unlikely!

"Madam, why don't we go and ask Madam Meng for help?"

"After all, we saved Madam Meng's life. Now, at this critical juncture, perhaps Madam Meng will be willing to help us!"

Bai Wanqing shook her head slightly, "It's better for me to go myself than for Feifei to beg Meng Zhan."

Standing to the side, Ruixin asked sadly, "Madam, is there no other way?"

"Young Master Meng, no, how did Lord Meng treat you before? He doesn't seem like he'd help us!"

"Yes, madam! Why should we invite humiliation upon ourselves?"

Bai Wanqing took out her mother's handwritten notes and looked at a prescription on them.

“Meng Zhan has always been filial, and I have no other choice but to take a gamble now. There is no other way out.”

Ruixin and Fengniang both looked at Bai Wanqing with heartache. Fengniang might not know the truth, but Ruixin knew it best.

Her mistress was extremely proud and never considered bowing down to the Meng family, even when she was desperate.

Now that you've done this, Miss, you probably really have nowhere left to retreat.

"Miss."

"No need to say anything more, just give me a trench coat, we're going now!"

Ruixin had no choice but to find a cloak for Bai Wanqing. Fengniang was worried about Wanqing's safety and insisted on going with her. However, as soon as the three of them stepped out of the house, a male voice came from above.

"Death row inmates don't have that air of wealth and privilege!"

"It has to be me, right?"

(End of this chapter)