Chapter 81 Nothing but a Trouble Maker

Chapter 81: A Real Troublemaker

Xi Jiaojiao and Yinxing walked together for a stretch. She gritted her teeth and handed Yinxing another five-tael silver ingot. "Honey, please put in a good word for me with the lady whenever you can. And keep me posted on anything that comes up. If things work out for me, I won't forget your kindness."

Yinxing pocketed the silver. "Don't worry, Concubine Jiao. Compared to that new vixen, I'm naturally on your side."

That finally put Xi Jiaojiao at ease. Turning to see Lv Zhi biting her lower lip, looking a little put out, she pulled out another silver ingot and pressed it into Lv Zhi's hand.

"Look at you—you grew up with me. What's the bond between us? We might as well call it sisterhood. Don't get all huffy."

Lv Zhi finally broke into a smile. "Thank you, Concubine. It's not about the money. I'm really worried about you."

Bai Zhining, for her part, had already prepared herself and sent her little maid to summon Yang Xingxian.

Yinxing had just brought Bai Zhining to Jifu Hall when Lady Wu had barely gotten two questions out before Yang Xingxian rushed in, worried his mom might give Bai Zhining a hard time.

Lady Wu grew even more displeased and snapped, "You're about to sit for the imperial exams, yet you're still hanging around the women's quarters? Xi Jiaojiao was right—this is a vixen who's cast a spell on a grown man so he won't even crack a book. That alone is reason enough to get rid of her. Somebody, throw her out."

The Yang sisters just happened to show up and caught the whole scene, whispering to each other.

"This Bai woman is indeed pretty—no wonder she's got eldest brother wrapped around her finger."

"Women who throw themselves at men to be concubines are bound to be pretty. But that's all they've got—just a pretty face."

Bai Zhining was absolutely humiliated. The woman in front of her was her mother-in-law in her past life, who had always been so good to her.

She'd used Xi Qianyue's money to butter up this mother-in-law and the two sisters-in-law.

And now they were humiliating her right in front of her face.

She wanted to storm out in a huff, but she knew damn well she'd already sold herself to Sixth Young Master Qi.

The second she walked out that door, she might get dragged right back to the estate.

She shuddered at the thought. She had to stick it out here and bide her time.

A dozen thoughts raced through Bai Zhining's head, but she put on a determined look. "Ma'am, you've got the wrong idea. Please, just hear me out."

Lady Wu let out a cold snort. Everyone came in with their "please hear me out"—was she just here to "hear people out" all day?

"I come from a decent family, and I'm pure and chaste. It was Young Master Yang who took a fancy to me. I knew he was already married, and I wanted nothing to do with it..."

Yang Xingxian interjected at the right moment: "Zhining, my feelings for you are as clear as day. I know I'm divorced and I've got a concubine in the house—I'm not good enough for you—but my feelings for you are real."

Bai Zhining smirked inwardly. This was the way to play it.

Before she could enjoy her little victory, Yang Luo sneered, "A woman of good family, pure and chaste, would just show up at a man's door? Would crash at some guy's place and not go home? I'd love to know what kind of 'good family' that is."

"I'm telling you, this woman's background is shady—she's not some runaway slave or a concubine who bolted, is she? Would a proper lady like my sister and me ever spend the night out?"

No sooner had Yang Yao finished than Lady Wu jabbed a finger at her forehead. "A young lady like you, talking such nonsense! If you ever dare spend a night out, don't even bother coming back—you'll be kicked out of the clan."

Yang Xingxian stammered, "Don't talk about Zhining like that. She truly is a pure woman from a good family, living in Mao'er Hutong in the capital. It's only because her mother is ill that she reluctantly agreed to be my..."

He trailed off, trying to figure out how to put it.

Bai Zhining said coolly, "I'd never agree to be anyone's concubine. I'll leave the estate shortly. Sorry for putting you out for a day—please forgive the intrusion."

Yang Xingxian panicked. He wanted Xi Jiaojiao's money, but she'd gotten smart and wouldn't cough it up without seeing results.

Xi Jiaojiao wanted to become the legitimate wife, so Bai Zhining naturally had to be the concubine.

He couldn't bear to let her go either.

If only Bai Zhining had money, everything would work out perfectly...

"Someone, escort this 'pure woman of good family' out."

Lady Wu couldn't be bothered to listen to any more. Her son's exams were what mattered. A vixen was just a vixen—get rid of her.

Bai Zhining lifted her chin a little, like she was enduring the injustice but holding on to her pride.

Yang Xingxian hastily stopped them: "Stop! Are you all out of your minds? Mother, I'll obey you in everything else, but this one thing—please indulge me just this once. Miss Bai is the one I hold dearest in my heart. Now that Xi Qianyue has finally left the household, just let me live in peace."

Lady Wu thought to herself, this is bad—the vixen has bewitched her son to this extent.

She slammed the table and barked, "This woman's tricks are endless, and she's charmed you to such a degree!"

"Mother, if you don't indulge me this once, it will affect my mood, and that will affect my exams..."

Lady Wu hesitated. She had indeed wanted to send this Bai vixen packing with swift force.

But seeing her son like this gave her pause.

"You're bewitched by this woman and still talk about exams? A man seduced by a woman could never rank..."

Lady Wu nearly said "could never rank on the list," but caught herself just in time.

Bad luck, bad luck! She quickly offered a silent prayer to the Bodhisattva.

"I say it's precisely because of this woman that you've lost all focus on your studies."

Yang Xingxian immediately put on a solemn face and vowed, "Mother, I truly can pass the exams—trust me. Miss Bai hasn't seduced me at all; in fact, she's been rejecting me. Now that I have this chance, you wouldn't make your son live the rest of his life in misery, would you?"

"Eldest brother, you speak as if you're the world's greatest romantic. How long has it been since my good sister-in-law left? And how long has your precious Concubine Jiao been in the house? How are you suddenly a paragon of devotion?"

Yang Luo stabbed mercilessly at Yang Xingxian's heart, and even Bai Zhining looked at him in surprise.

This life was truly different from the last.

Yang Xingxian didn't seem to reject other women as much.

And he wasn't as fixated on her?

Yang Xingxian pointed at Yang Luo, furious: "Xi Shi was perfectly fine in this household—it's your meddling that caused this mess, and now you're making snide remarks? It seems you can't stay any longer—I'll have to marry you off soon. You're nothing but a troublemaker in this house. You won't be satisfied until you've stirred up every one of my affairs."

Only then did Yang Luo feel a flicker of fear. She had only been indulging her tongue for the fun of it, but seeing her eldest brother truly angry, she dared not say another word.

If she provoked him too far and he married her off carelessly, what would she do?