Chapter 25: Should We Go to Bai Chengxuan’s Family Banquet?

The Old Madam merely chuckled.

“How is that talking back? Little Nine finally seems more alive. I couldn’t be happier!”

Wu Xiaoya choked on her words. “But she’s so arrogant…”

The Old Madam waved dismissively. Beneath her kindly tone was the unmistakable pride of someone from a powerful family.

“So what if she’s arrogant? She is Little Nine’s wife and the Ninth Madam of the Bai family. Forget Yangcheng. Even after she returns to the Imperial Capital, if she wants to throw her weight around, everyone else will simply have to endure it.”

Wu Xiaoya fell silent, consumed by jealousy and resentment.

She knew the Old Madam was right.

Yun Manxia had followed them out, hoping to say a few words to the Old Madam, and happened to overhear their conversation.

When she saw Wu Xiaoya’s expression, she nearly laughed aloud. The corners of her lips lifted in a secret smirk.

What was the point of all those petty schemes?

Something that did not belong to you would never become yours.

Ambition was not a bad thing, but if someone lacked the ability to match it and still insisted on making a spectacle of herself, she would only end up looking like a clown.

Wu Xiaoya happened to glance back and saw her. Her expression changed instantly.

Yun Manxia smiled at her, though there was no warmth in her eyes.

“Grandma!” she called brightly.

The Old Madam turned around. Her tone was noticeably warmer than before.

“Why did you come out?”

Yun Manxia was carrying a packet of medicine.

“Ninth Master isn’t able to see you out himself, so he asked me to come in his place.”

She handed over the medicine.

“I heard that you have trouble with your legs. An elder in my family prepared this medicine. Soak your feet in it every night, and it should help.”

In truth, Yun Manxia had prepared the medicine herself.

She had thought about the Old Madam’s leg problems a few days ago and secretly made it especially for her.

However, if she claimed she had prepared it herself, the Old Madam probably would not believe her and might never use it. That was why Yun Manxia vaguely credited an elder in her family instead.

Everyone knew her mother had been a miracle doctor. It should not seem strange for her to have another elder skilled in medicine, right?

The Old Madam was surprised, but she still asked someone to accept the medicine.

“That was thoughtful of you,” she said warmly.

Yun Manxia watched the Old Madam leave.

When she turned around, Wu Xiaoya was already gone. Yun Manxia paid it no mind and headed back inside.

Then she heard the faint sound of an argument.

Her ears perked up. She changed direction and quietly followed the voices.

Beneath a wall covered in blooming bougainvillea, Xiaomei and Wu Xiaoya were locked in a heated confrontation.

Xiaomei kept her voice low.

“They said that if I don’t compensate them, I’ll go to prison! Xiaoya, don’t treat me like an idiot. You said those things to me yesterday on purpose! If you hadn’t deliberately provoked me, I never would’ve done something so reckless!”

“And you were the one who told me to steal those flowers for you!”

“Xiaomei, you need to be reasonable,” Wu Xiaoya replied coldly. “You were the one who deliberately smashed the jade Guanyin and tried to frame Yun Manxia. From beginning to end, that was entirely your own doing. What does it have to do with me?”

“So you really won’t pay the five hundred thousand?”

Xiaomei’s voice sharpened.

“Then don’t blame me for going to Ninth Master! Why don’t you guess whether he’ll also believe this has nothing to do with you?”

“You—!”

Wu Xiaoya was about to continue when she suddenly spotted Yun Manxia.

Yun Manxia stood behind two flowering vines that partially concealed her figure. With her arms crossed, she watched them leisurely.

Neither of them knew how long she had been there.

Wu Xiaoya’s expression changed dramatically.

Yun Manxia gave a mocking laugh.

She had known Wu Xiaoya was behind this!

Her gaze swept across the two women. Too lazy to waste words on them, she spoke directly to Wu Xiaoya.

“I recorded your entire conversation. I suggest you behave yourself from now on. Otherwise, I won’t mind giving the recording to Ninth Master.”

With that, she turned and walked away gracefully.

“Xiaoya, you need to pay at least four hundred thousand of that five hundred thousand,” Xiaomei immediately demanded. “Otherwise, I’ll tell Ninth Master everything too!”

Wu Xiaoya’s expression became exceptionally ugly.

Meanwhile, Yun Manxia walked back with a light spring in her step.

Her hands were completely empty.

She had not even brought her phone outside, so how could she have recorded anything?

She had merely been bluffing to frighten Wu Xiaoya.

When Yun Manxia returned to the living room, Bai Hedu was still there. Lin Shen stood beside him, speaking quietly.

Her pace unconsciously quickened, and she ran toward them.

“You’re back?” Bai Hedu said.

He gestured for Lin Shen to pause and lifted his eyes toward her. Her delicate figure was reflected in his dark, unfathomable gaze as she hurried toward him.

“Mm!”

Yun Manxia’s lips curved into a soft smile.

She had not expected Bai Hedu to agree so readily when she casually mentioned giving the medicine to the Old Madam. He had not questioned her or said that his grandmother already had plenty of doctors and did not need her help.

Thinking about how he had defended her twice earlier, sweetness spread through her heart.

She sat beside him and deliberately asked, “Honey, were you afraid Grandma would misunderstand me, so you spoke up for me?”

Bai Hedu’s expression remained composed.

“You did nothing wrong. Naturally, Grandma shouldn’t be allowed to misunderstand you.”

Yun Manxia was deeply moved, but she still said, “Next time we’re in front of Grandma, you shouldn’t defend me like that. Otherwise, she might think you’ve forgotten her now that you have a wife.”

She coughed awkwardly before continuing.

“You and Grandma are so close. I don’t want any rift to form between you because of me. I can handle things myself!”

In her previous life, she had behaved terribly. Bai Hedu had repeatedly hurt the Old Madam’s feelings in order to protect her.

The memory filled Yun Manxia with guilt.

When Bai Hedu first heard her say that he should not defend her again, he thought she was upset.

Then he heard the rest of her explanation.

After a brief moment of surprise, he said, “It’s fine. Grandma isn’t that petty.”

Even his voice sounded warmer than usual.

Lin Shen could not help marveling inwardly.

What kind of perfect sweetheart was their new Madam?

No wonder Ninth Master treated only her differently.

The previous women had never shown Bai Hedu any concern, much less considered his feelings. They had been terrified every time they spoke to him.

Who could possibly like that?

Wu Xiaoya walked inside and saw Yun Manxia sitting close to Ninth Master as they spoke.

For Bai Hedu, that distance was practically intimate. Yet he did not show the slightest trace of annoyance. If one looked carefully, there was even a faint indulgence in his expression.

Jealousy surged through Wu Xiaoya, accompanied by growing panic.

Damn Yun Manxia!

What was she saying to Ninth Master?

She had even glanced in Wu Xiaoya’s direction a moment ago.

Would Yun Manxia really keep her promise and refrain from playing the recording for him?

Wu Xiaoya’s gaze darkened.

No. She could not trust that woman.

She had to destroy the recording. She also had to find a way to deal with the four hundred thousand Xiaomei was demanding.

Gritting her teeth, Wu Xiaoya quietly returned to her room.

Yun Manxia had no idea that one casual glance had caused Wu Xiaoya to imagine so much.

She had not mentioned Wu Xiaoya at all.

Instead, she was discussing something else with Bai Hedu—the banquet being held by the Yangcheng branch of the Bai family later that week.

The Bai family was divided between the main family in the Imperial Capital and several collateral branches in Yangcheng.

Bai Hedu was the sole heir of the main family, while Bai Chengxuan’s family was merely one of the many branches based in Yangcheng.

This banquet was being hosted by Bai Chengxuan’s family.

That morning, Yun Yiyi had deliberately sent Yun Manxia a message insisting that she attend.

Yun Manxia had no idea what she was plotting.

Unexpectedly, Bai Hedu also brought up the banquet.

He gave a slight nod. His handsome face remained composed, and his voice was indifferent.

“They heard about my marriage and invited me to attend with my new wife. The host is Bai Jiangong, my eldest uncle’s illegitimate son. His son, Bai Chengxuan, is apparently also a student at A University. Perhaps you know him.”

Bai Chengxuan?

The sudden mention of that name made Yun Manxia’s heart skip a beat.

Meeting Bai Hedu’s unfathomable gaze, she grew uneasy.

For a moment, she could not tell how much he knew about her history with Bai Chengxuan—or whether he was testing her now.

Bai Hedu watched her closely.

“Do you want to go?”