Chapter 23: Dowries and Interests
“Xiangxue, why did you come to Prime Minister’s mansion?” Bai Aoxue ate the porridge leisurely and said.
Xiangxue, who was still thinking about it, immediately came to herself after hearing Bai Aoxue ’s words.
She stared at the ground with vigilance:” I was sold here by my father the year before. He owed gambling debt and couldn’t repay it. Xiangxue was fortunate enough to be appreciated by steward and paid debt for my father. Later on, I was assigned to become a maidservant of Concubine Su.”
Bai Aoxue listened to Xiangxue’s words, finding no doubtful points in her story. Although she seemed to believe her, she still had doubts.
Who was he, trying so hard to put Xiangxue into the mansion?
Bai Aoxue ’s primary concern was that person’s thought. He must have placed Xiangxue aside Su Qianqian since he noticed her special position in Bai Qiwei ’s heart. And he required more information from her.
But if Su Qianqian had the information that he needed, why would he change object to her? It was also where Bai Aoxue was most confused.
“Oh, since you are fine at Su Qianqian’s, why do you want to trust me and become my servant? You know what my life was like.” Bai Aoxue stared at Xiangxue.
“I know that I can live better with Concubine Su. I will not be bullied by other maidservants. However, every time I look at Concubine Su’s behavior, I am afraid that one day the tortured one will be me. Miss, it was you who gave me hope. I do not need to worry about my safety with you.” After listening to Bai Aoxue ‘s words, Xiangxue immediately raised her head and said with a burning heart.
After listening to Xiangxue, Bai Aoxue couldn’t help smiling: “How can you figure out that I am not a vicious person? After all, when I kill people… you are there.”
After listening to Bai Aoxue ’s words, she shook her head firmly: “I believe in myself and have faith in you! All the people you killed deserve to die Cuiyu was always appreciated by Concubine Su, suppressing other maids. And that guard was also a goat, using his force to take advantage of us. They were not good people. You didn’t make mistakes.”
Bai Aoxue was surprised by the words of Xiangxue. She didn’t expect that there was such a story behind them.
“And I know that you are actually kind. And you will definitely treat others better if they do you a favor. These people are suffering from their own mistakes!” Xiangxue did not wait for Bai Aoxue to speak.
“You really know me, but you are still wrong. I am arrogant, and I don’t care about right or wrong, good or bad. My killing depends on mood and interests.” Looking at the scenery outside the window, Bai Aoxue said softly and casually.
Bai Aoxue of the preceding world was like this. She has never been restrained in her life. Even if she was a member of a mercenary group, no one dared to force her to do anything.
When she was happy, she was a magical doctor; when she was mad, she would kill thousands of people just in the blink of an eye.
This was Bai Aoxue and no one can see through her. She was just like an erratic cloud, and like the unpredictable weather.
Xiangxue was shocked. Although she knew that Bai Aoxue has changed a lot, she did not know that she had such a strong aura.
She controlled everything in her hands, just like that person.
“I understand, but I still want to follow you, Miss.” Xiangxue looked at Bai Aoxue , firmly and modesty and decent. Bai Aoxue appreciated that look.
Bai Aoxue looked at determined Xiangxue, as if she has seen herself in her youth. In order to become a strong person, in order not to be bullied, in order to keep away from hungry and cold weather, she was determined to embark on the road of a Hell Shura.
The wind outside the window gently crossed her cheeks. Bai Aoxue nodded slightly: “You could follow me in the future. As long as I am still alive, I will not let you be bullied.”
Xiangxue listened to Bai Aoxue ’s words. Excitedly, she was about to say something, but found Bai Aoxue looking at her with deep and dark eyes: “The premise is that I don’t want to be betrayed. Once you betray me, you deserve nothing but death.”
Excitement of Xiangxue, after she heard the words of Bai Aoxue , was suddenly collapsed. Curbing her restlessness, she said: “You may rest assured, Xiangxue will not betray you.”
“Well, you can leave now. Find some servants to clean the room opposite Mumian’s. That is your room during these days in Prime Minister’s mansion.” Bai Aoxue waved at Xiangxue.
Xiangxue shrewdly noticed that sentence—”during these days in Prime Minister’s mansion.” An inexplicable light flashed away from her eyes.
“Miss please takes a rest. If you need anything, just let me know. Please forgive my retreat.” After presenting respect, Xiangxue turned and retreated.
As cunning as Bai Aoxue , how can she miss the change of Xiangxue. She just deliberately said those things to Xiangxue.
And she probably knew who the person behind Xiangxue was.
However, Bai Aoxue wasn’t sure of her own conjecture. Everything needed to be proved by Xiangxue’s action.
“Xiangxue, wait a minute.” Some old things suddenly occurred to Bai Aoxue . She hurriedly stopped Xiangxue.
Xiangxue, who was originally planning to retreat, heard Bai Aoxue ’s stop. There was a pause of her heartbeat. She was afraid that Bai Aoxue has found something.
Xiangxue turned tremblingly and approached Bai Aoxue : “Miss, do you have any orders?”
Bai Aoxue saw through Xiangxue’s fear but didn’t point it out.
She slowly said: “I still remembered that my mother brought many dowries when she got married. She passed those things to me later on, only to say that I would take them as dowries when I find my husband. Now I realized that those things may have been annexed.”
Listening to Bai Aoxue ’s affirmative question, Xiangxue hurriedly said: “Miss, I heard from Concubine Su earlier that all the expenditures of Prime Minister’s mansion in the past few years were managed by her. After the death of my lady, those things left for you were taken up by Concubine Su.”
After listening to Xiangxue’s words, Bai Aoxue was quite indignant. She didn’t expect Su Qianqian to be such a woman. Bai Aoxue ’s mother has been very kind to her. While once she died, Su Qianqian could not wait to occupy her property.
“Hum! They are so nice that they are not afraid of being overstuffed! Xiangxue, you need to help me inquiring more about how much property my mother left me has taken up by Concubine Su in the past few years. I need accurate news before dinner.” Bai Aoxue listened to Xiangxue’s words and snorted.
“I know, Miss. I am going to inquire now, and I would come back before dinner.” Hearing that Bai Aoxue intended to let her do other things, Xiangxue’s long hanging heart calmed down.
Bai Aoxue looked at the figure that gradually faded away and then returned to her seat.
She made plans about how to take back her own things and sighed within herself. It seemed that there was another tough battle waiting for her.
“Miss, where did Xiangxue go?” Mumian went inside the room and saw Bai Aoxue , who was sitting in a daze on a stool, but did not see Xiangxue serving.
“Mumian, you’re right on time, can you remember where the property my mother left me are?” Bai Aoxue saw Mumian coming in, so she asked a question.
“Miss, you finally remembered those dowries. Concubine Su and other concubines robbed them after my lady passed away. At that time, I suggested you go argue with my lord. But you said that money is merely worldly possession. It is harmful to keep them aside. They can have them if they wanted. Even dowries that my lady left you were occupied by Concubine Su.” Mumian complained.
Bai Aoxue gripped by a desire to laugh when she saw Mumian’s look which seemed as she was saying “you are so stupid, Miss”.
After listening to Mumian, Bai Aoxue smiled awkwardly and said: “Mumian, you should not blame me anymore. I may not understand it in past, but now I know the impermanence of the world. Moreover, money is indispensable after we leave here. Now I, your Miss, have figured it out. Don’t complain anymore.”
Mumian heard the words of Bai Aoxue , then changed the previous sorrowful appearance: “Miss, I remembered that my lady left you a lot of jewelry before she passed away, which was taken up by those concubines. There is a Mo pavilion visited by many men of letters before. After being monopolized by Concubine Su, it was changed into a shop of antique. Mo pavilion used to be stored with valuable paintings.”
After pausing for a while, Mumian continued: “There is also a rice shop which is located in the center of the Imperial City. The business is quite good. I heard that General gave it to my lady when she got married. Now Concubine Su took advantage of it ” Mumian talked about these, and her even hated Su Qianqian more.
Bai Aoxue was also amazed. It turned out that Bai Aoxue ’s mother has left so many good things for her, but that Bai Aoxue could not cherish them.
“I have let Xiangxue to collect news. Tomorrow, we will go to find father and get these things back. They are mine and no one could take them away from me!” Bai Aoxue said calmly.
Looking at the appearance of the Mumian and also knowing what she was thinking about, Bai Aoxue answered Mumian immediately.
Mumian, standing aside, almost jumped up with joy after listening to Bai Aoxue ’s words. She shouted: “Miss, my lady will be more gratified when she sees it in heaven.”
When she heard Mumian’s words, Bai Aoxue squeezed a bitter smile. She wasn’t as kind as Mumian thought. She took back the property just for her future.
Once she left here, Bai Qiwei may probably sever their relationship. If there was no source of income, how can she and Mumian live? Dowries left by Bai Aoxue ’s mother were enough for her to have a place to live in this world and then started her own business gradually.
She just hoped that real Bai Aoxue and her mother would not blame her for her selfishness.
Once she left the mansion, she would take revenge for them thoroughly. When she paid them back, she was herself all over again—the real Bai Aoxue .
Thinking of this, Bai Aoxue no longer felt guilty. She was grateful for the second chance of life, for fate and for Bai Aoxue .
But it did not mean that she had to live for Bai Aoxue and everything she bore.
She was the Hell Shura Bai Aoxue . Bloodthirsty, cruelty and coldness were her labels. No matter which era she lived in, she can live as she wished. No one can control her thoughts.
“Well, Mumian, go to take a break. Xiangxue would come back a moment later. You can bring her over. By the way, prepare brushes, ink and paper for me.” Bai Aoxue gently rubbed Mumian’s head and smiled.
Mumian heard the words of Bai Aoxue and went out happily. She gradually found that Bai Aoxue fell into the pond was a good thing.
If it could made Bai Aoxue figure out so many things, if there would be such a good thing, perhaps Mumian herself, instead of Bai Suxue would push her Miss into the pond for several times.
If Bai Aoxue knew Mumian’s idea at this time, she would definitely roll her eyes. If Bai Aoxue was not dead even though she fell into the pond, she would not be able to incarnate into Bai Aoxue ’s body.
After reading a few historical records of the Great Continent for an afternoon, Bai Aoxue toughly understood the military situation of this era. The present continent was a pattern of tripartite confrontation.
They were Chengxi, Nanyue, and Mobei. In these three countries, Chengxi and Mobei never stopped colliding with each other, and Nanyue has remained neutral.
The return of Zhaojue Ye also both indicated the victory and peaceful of Chengxi and the intention of Mobei to retreat his army from Chengxi.
However, the Emperor of Chengxi has always been ambitious. Although this time he intended to reconcile with Mobei, it did not mean that he would not secretly attack Mobei.
Nanyue, however, was a sly fox. Probably Nanyue’s real intention was to benefit from their war.
Of course, Bai Aoxue did not care about this. What she cared more now was how to get back her own property. And how can she gain more benefit from the cooperation with Nightmare without being implicated.