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

Chapter 59 The Zhang Family's Compromise
Bai Qinglian's expression tightened, and she glared angrily at Zhang Changyun. She now deeply regretted choosing to cooperate with such a person. Not only did he have no sense of responsibility, but his cowardly behavior was also unlike that of a man.

Seeing Bai Qinglian's panic, Zhang Changyun straightened his back slightly.

Master Zhang was impatient. "Yun'er, quickly explain yourself. What evidence do you have?"

Zhang Changyun raised his chin. "That human trafficker, Li San, was introduced to me by Xia Yu, Bai Qinglian's maid. As long as we find Li San, he will definitely know Xia Yu."

"What?" Bai Chenming could hardly believe it. Not only did he instigate it, but he actually participated in it. He glared angrily at Bai Qinglian, who was also in shock. Then she turned her head and glanced at Xia Yu.

"Xia Yu, is what Young Master Zhang said true?" Bai Qinglian questioned Xia Yu.

Xia Yu was already trembling with fear. She looked up at Bai Qinglian, gritted her teeth and said, "It was this servant. This servant was momentarily bewitched and jealous that the Second Miss had married into a good family. It has nothing to do with my young lady. It was all my own doing."

Bai Qinglian slapped Xia Yu across the face. "You wretched servant, you're so foolish! You actually conspired with outsiders to harm my own sister. How can I tolerate you here?"

Zhang Changyun watched as the master and servant in front of him worked together to completely absolve Bai Qinglian of her guilt, and he felt a burning hatred in his heart.

At this moment, Madam Chen spoke up, "Now that the matter has been clarified, it was our Bai family's servants who caused the problem. We can't keep these servants anymore, sir. We should report them to the authorities or sell them off."

The Zhang couple were surprised by how quickly Chen's face changed. Looking at their good-for-nothing son and then at Xia Yu, who had been abandoned by the Bai family, they hardened their hearts and said, "Master Bai, Madam Bai, this is all Yun'er's fault. As long as you don't send him to the authorities, our Zhang family is willing to leave Huai'an County immediately and never appear in front of your Bai family again."

"Therefore, the young lady of the Bai family will not be harmed again."

Bai Chenming was astonished by Zhang's decisiveness. He hadn't expected the Zhang couple to be so resolute. Their restaurant in Huai'an County represented the hard work of three generations of the Zhang family; how could they so easily abandon it for Zhang Changyun?
Mr. Zhang jumped up in a panic, shouting, "Mrs. Zhang, what are you saying? How can we leave here? If we leave here, the roots of our Zhang family will be severed. How can we face our ancestors?"

Madam Zhang turned to Master Zhang and asked, "What brilliant idea do you have, sir? To send our son directly to the county government office, put him in jail, and then preserve the Zhang family's foundation? Will it even work?"

Frustrated, Master Zhang slapped his thigh hard and slapped Zhang Changyun across the face. Zhang Changyun was instantly stunned. "You unfilial son! You really are an unfilial son!"

Bai Chen knew Zhang's character well. Since Zhang had said those words, she would surely keep her promise. Once Zhang Changyun left Huai'an County, he would no longer harm the Bai family. "Alright! Let's do it that way then."

Bai's father did not exterminate the Zhang family because he knew from Xia Yu's eyes that this matter was inextricably linked to his daughter.

After everything was agreed upon, the Bai family released Zhang Changyun, allowing the Zhang couple to take him back.

Xia Yu was arranged by Chen to be sold off. Bai Chenming looked at Bai Qinglian with a gloomy face, "Don't think that just because Xia Yu is taking the blame for you, others won't know that it was you who did it!"

Bai Qinglian was stunned by her father's words. "Father, it really wasn't me."

Bai Chenming looked disappointed. "Whether it was you or not, you know in your heart. Do you think no one in our mansion knew that you secretly met with Zhang Changyun?" Bai Chenming did not know at first. Just now, when Xia Yu admitted everything, Uncle Liu had already found out that Zhang Changyun had come to the Bai family many times and asked the Third Miss for a lot of money. Zhang Changyun was not lying.

Bai Qinglian pursed her lips, not daring to refute any further.

"Go! Kneel in the ancestral hall! You can only come out when you realize what you did wrong!" Bai Chenming shouted angrily.

"And you," Bai Chenming turned and glared at Chen Shi, "Don't secretly send her things. The fact that she can do something like this to hurt her own sister is largely due to your usual indulgence."

"If she does something like this again, don't blame me for being ruthless as her father and cutting ties with her!"

"When the time comes, let her go to the Huang family if she can. If the Huang family doesn't want her anymore, she can go wherever she wants!"

Bai Chenming was truly enraged. This man, who had never uttered harsh words before, actually wanted to sever ties with Bai Qinglian. Bai Qinglian was genuinely frightened, and Madam Chen dared not utter another word. She could only pull Qinglian away.

Bai Chenming rubbed his forehead and slumped into a chair, exhausted. Bai Wanqing asked her father with concern, "Father, are you alright?"

Bai Chenming slowly shook his head. "It's alright! I'm fine. Qinglian didn't raise you well, and it's my fault as her father. Tell your father, did she collude with Master Huang to harm you?"

Bai Wanqing did not answer, but simply nodded slightly.

Bai Chenming laughed, a bitter laugh. "I never imagined our Bai family would raise such a vicious daughter."

But no matter what, she is still a daughter of the Bai family, and Bai Chenming will not really kick her out.

At this moment, Bai Qinglian was already kneeling in the ancestral hall. She was twisting her clothes tightly, resenting everyone in the Bai family, especially her father. He protected every daughter, but he never protected her. Why?
When Bai Qinglian looked up again, her eyes were filled with resentment.

Bai Chenming imprisoned Bai Qinglian for half a month, and apart from having servants bring her simple food, no one was allowed to approach the ancestral hall.

Bai Qinglian suffered greatly. In such cold weather, there was no warmth at all in the ancestral hall. Her body was frozen stiff several times. If she hadn't been smart enough to stand up and move around from time to time, she probably would have frozen to death in the ancestral hall.

Chen went to Bai Chenming several times to plead for her release, but Bai Chenming refused to release her. In the end, Chen fell seriously ill from the stress and pointed at Bai Chenming's nose, cursing, "If you really want to kill my daughter and me, just say so. There's no need to torture Lian'er like this."

In the end, Bai Chenming had no choice but to release Bai Qinglian. After being released, Bai Qinglian fell seriously ill and was practically half-dead. Lying on the bed, pale-faced, Bai Qinglian murmured, "Father, you are so cruel." As for Zhang Shi of the Zhang family, she really meant what she said. Upon returning, she sold off or disposed of the Zhang family's properties in Huai'an County as necessary, and in less than half a month, she left Huai'an County with her entire family.

Because of Zhang Changyun, the Zhang family suffered a lot of financial losses, so his life at home was no longer as comfortable as before. In particular, the eldest son of the Zhang family was furious with his good-for-nothing younger brother and secretly beat Zhang Changyun a lot. Zhang Changyun was full of regret and bitterness.

Furong, on the other hand, has recovered quite well in the past two weeks. When Bai Wanqing came to her courtyard to take her pulse, she was almost indistinguishable from a normal person.

"Furong, you're basically recovered now, and spring is almost here. Dress warmly and go for walks around the yard more often; it'll be good for your health," Bai Wanqing said gently.

Furong nodded obediently, but she didn't seem very energetic.

"What's wrong?" Bai Wanqing asked.

"Big sister, Young Master Lin hasn't come for quite some time now. Would you like to see him?" Furong asked, raising her little face.

Lin Yunche? Bai Wanqing's mind conjured up the image of that man's departing figure. Indeed, it had been half a month since their last parting when she hadn't heard anything from Lin Yunche.

Bai Wanqing gently shook her head and asked with a smile, "Furong didn't mean to ask if eldest sister missed Young Master Lin, did she? Rather, our Furong has already begun to miss Young Master Du, hasn't she?"

Furong blushed a little when her thoughts were exposed, but she did not deny it. "Furong was thinking that Young Master Du had not sent any food for three or four days, and Furong was a little worried."

Bai Wanqing gently patted Furong's arm, "Then how about you go to the clinic tomorrow, elder sister, and have someone inquire about it?"

Furong smiled shyly, pursing her lips, thinking about hearing news about Du Huan.

The next day, Bai Wanqing arrived at the clinic early in the morning and asked Manager Zhou to go to the Du family to inquire about Du Huan's whereabouts.

Just as Manager Zhou agreed, Bai Wanqing paused again and inquired about Lin Yunche's whereabouts from Manager Zhou.

"Has Young Master Lin come to our clinic to buy medicine recently?"

Shopkeeper Zhou thought for a moment, "Miss, you mean the future son-in-law? It's been a while since he's come."

"But can you also let me go to Linjia Village to inquire about it?"

Bai Wanqing quickly said, "No need, let's go to the Du family first!"

Hearing this conversation, Doctor Luo curled her lip and said, "Tsk tsk, that's just how girls are. Once they have a lover, they forget all about their master and their ambitions."

Bai Wanqing smiled guiltily and said, "Grandmaster, Wanqing will go cook you noodles now, and I'll add a big piece of braised beef for you today, how about that?"

Old Luo's expression changed instantly. "One piece isn't enough. I want two."

"Okay!" Bai Wanqing took the opportunity to escape to the kitchen, and Old Man Luo forgot his resentment from earlier.

An hour later, Bai Wanqing distributed the large pot of cooked noodles to the shop's staff, and the people that Manager Zhou had sent out also returned.

"Licorice, you should have a bowl of noodles too!" Bai Wanqing said, handing him the bowl.

Licorice was flattered and overwhelmed. How could a boss take care of his employee like this? "Miss, this is not right, this is not right."

Old Luo rolled his eyes at Gan Cao, "I didn't expect you to be so old-fashioned at such a young age. It's just a bowl of noodles. If you don't want to eat it, I will."

Gan Cao was reluctant to part with the noodles the young lady had given him, but dared not eat them because of his status. It was Bai Wanqing who spoke up, "Eat! Don't listen to Master Luo's threats. He's already eaten three bowls. He can't finish yours."

Gan Cao breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to pick up the bowl, but then felt that she should first report the information she had found out, and for a moment she froze.

"Let's talk while we eat!" Bai Wanqing said softly.

Gan Cao was still embarrassed and decided to report the important matter first. "Miss, I waited at the gate of the Du family for a long time today, but I didn't see Young Master Du. Fortunately, I know one of their servants. He told me that his young master angered Madam Du and has been locked up by her. She also said that she would send him back to Huaizhou in two days!"

Bai Wanqing frowned and asked, "Have you found out why?"

Gan Cao nodded awkwardly, "Because...because Madam Du once said that if Young Master Du sees Miss Bai again, she will send him back to Huaizhou."

Bai Wanqing sighed, "What's coming will come!" She then looked at Master Luo beside her. The old man Luo glanced at her and said, "Do whatever you want. My reputation is just so-so. Whether it's good or bad, I don't care!"

After saying that, Old Man Luo walked away with his hands behind his back. Bai Wanqing felt a warmth in her heart, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

(End of this chapter)