The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 49

Wei Ziwan’s eyes darkened slightly: “My husband is right, let’s first figure out what exactly you’re involved in.”

Bai Zhi nodded. Although she didn’t know what the people from Lingjue Mountain Manor were plotting, or even that Song Village was not simple, the only thing certain was that all of this should be related to her, or rather, to her origins.

Not long after, a middle-aged woman came to the courtyard, saying that she was sent by the old clan leader to take care of their daily needs. Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan exchanged glances and had no objections.

Now, what they needed to focus on was the truth of the matter. As for everything in Song Village, they had to quickly understand and accept it.

Fortunately, this woman was very dutiful. Apart from cleaning the courtyard, she cooked on time and never entered the bedrooms. She spoke little and would leave on her own when it got dark.

As the night deepened, occasional lights were still on in Song Village.

Outside the village, in the mountain forest, a man’s figure watched for a long time before returning to the small inn at the foot of the mountain.

He glanced at the window he had deliberately left open before leaving, quickly pushed the door open, and lit a lamp.

The birdcage under the table, which had been empty, was no longer empty.

The slate-gray homing pigeon he had released yesterday had returned and was squatting in the familiar cage. Some of the corn kernels and water inside had been consumed.

The man walked over, picked up the pigeon, and took off a thin paper tube. He held it up to the lamp and read the words on it: “Leave no survivors.”

Hundreds of miles away at Lingjue Mountain Manor, Bai Luo glanced at the wedding dress on the bed and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Bai Shu, that old fox, was smart for a lifetime but muddled for a moment. He would never expect that while the mantis stalks the cicada, there’s a oriole behind—her. That person must not live.

As for Bai Li, well, he can marry her, but whether he can have offspring is not up to that father and son.

On a winter morning, the day broke late.

Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan had just finished breakfast when the so-called competition arrived.

The old clan leader indeed didn’t manage much. It was said that he had already returned to Qingshi Temple. The one who came to find them was Elder Gong, one of the five elders, responsible for village housing construction and making furniture, farm tools, and other miscellaneous tasks.

Elder Gong looked like a simple old farmer, with a kind face and a humble demeanor: “The first competition is about how to handle this year’s autumn harvest.”

According to him, Song Village had a good harvest this year. Apart from keeping enough seeds for next year and food for the villagers, there was still a surplus. The elders thought of selling the surplus to increase each household’s income.

Coincidentally, Bai Zhi and Zhou □ were to compete, so they decided to leave this matter to the two young people to see who could bring more benefits to the villagers.

Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan followed Elder Gong to the warehouse to see the grain to be sold. The quantity was staggering.

Elder Gong, seeing their surprised expressions, still smiled and said, “Our village has two warehouses, and the amount of grain in each is the same. Zhou □ has the same amount.”

“Thank you for your trouble. Please give us some time to think.” Bai Zhi slightly stepped aside to make way.

Elder Gong tactfully took his leave.

Bai Zhi then looked at Wei Ziwan and said, “Something’s not right. This village doesn’t have much farmland. Where did all this surplus grain come from?”

Elder Gong didn’t seem to hide anything, more direct than the people from Lingjue Mountain Manor, as if he wasn’t afraid they would find something amiss, or perhaps he was waiting for her to discover the problem.

Wei Ziwan looked at the full warehouse of grain and suddenly smiled slightly: “Husband, do you want to go outside the village and take a look?”

The implication was clear—to see if these people would, like Lingjue Mountain Manor, send someone to watch them, or even trap them in the village.

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, her eyes brightening: “Let’s go, let’s go out and take a look now.”

The two walked towards the village entrance but were stopped by Zhou □.

She waved to two men who looked like guards, called them over, and said to Bai Zhi, “The old clan leader has instructed that we must ensure your safety. Please don’t misunderstand. You can go wherever you want, and they are only here to protect you.”

Bai Zhi looked at Zhou □ and said casually, “Thank you, Miss Zhou. What if we decide not to return to Song Village in the future?”

Is there any difference between this and the people from Lingjue Mountain Manor?

Perhaps there is. Lingjue Mountain Manor always hides in the shadows, in the dark.

While the people of Song Village are open and honest, it’s a clear strategy.

Zhou □ looked at her deeply, her expression cooling slightly: “They will listen to Mr. Bai. If you decide to leave and don’t want protection, you can tell them not to follow. It’s up to you.”

With that, she turned and left without looking back.

The two guards stood to the side, seemingly as Zhou □ had said, ready to follow if told, and not if not.

Bai Zhi looked at Wei Ziwan: “What do you think, Wanwan?”

Wei Ziwan looked at Zhou □’s retreating figure, then turned her gaze to the two guards: “Since it’s the old clan leader’s kindness, how can we not appreciate it? Thank you, both.”

The two guards clasped their fists in acknowledgment and followed them at a distance.

Outside the village was a long, narrow, and muddy path, just like when they came.

Bai Zhi frowned: “If we sell all that grain, transporting it out will be a big problem.”

This path was too narrow for carriages, and even ox carts would have difficulty. So, finding a way to transport the grain out was crucial.

Wei Ziwan nodded slightly and smiled lightly: “Husband, have you decided to stay?”

From the sound of it, did she want to win the competition?

Bai Zhi seemed to think of something, a smile also appearing on her face: “I think Zhou □’s words are true. If we tell the guards to go back now, they probably would.”

One experience with Lingjue Mountain Manor was enough; she certainly didn’t want to go through it again.

Right now, Song Village gave her a very amiable feeling, as if she could find out what she wanted just by asking.

Bai Zhi suppressed the excitement in her heart. This matter couldn’t be rushed; she had to stay calm.

She had a strong premonition that as long as she remained patient, these people would eventually break first, and then she wouldn’t be so reactive.

Wei Ziwan glanced at the two men behind them and agreed: “I share my husband’s view. We can stay in Song Village for a while and explore the true and false.”

Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, just like normal conversation, as if they didn’t mind the two guards hearing them.

After walking out of this path, they reached a sparse forest, still at the foot of Qingshi Mountain. Fortunately, the road widened, and further ahead was the official road leading to the capital.

The two stopped before the official road.

Bai Zhi touched her chest and said gently, “Manager Xi prepared identity documents for us, so entering the city shouldn’t be a problem. But are we going into the city today?”

Wei Ziwan raised an eyebrow at this. The capital? She didn’t like that place.

“Let’s go back. I didn’t bring any money. We’ll prepare better next time.”

At least they should buy a veil hat. Bai Zhi, being in the depths of the cold palace, wasn’t seen much, but when she first arrived in Baiyue, many people saw her, especially the sons of high-ranking officials and nobles, some of whom visited multiple times.

At that time, the emperor of Baiyue seemed to want to humiliate her, the enemy country’s princess. When she entered the city, not only did he not send ministers to welcome her, but he also didn’t put much effort into arranging her residence.

Bai Zhi suddenly thought of something: “You’re right. Although not many people saw our faces when we left the capital, it’s better to be cautious. Let’s prepare two hats first.”

Wei Ziwan nodded slowly. They had only left the capital a few months ago. If they were accidentally recognized, it would be troublesome.

She glanced at the two guards behind them. They remained expressionless, but their eyes were clearly vigilant of their surroundings, as if they knew their origins, or perhaps they simply didn’t care about their conversation.

“Why don’t we go back and ask Sister Zhou to find two hats for us, and go into the city tomorrow to take a look.”

Bai Zhi’s face turned cold. Sister Zhou? That Zhou □.

Originally, she only found Zhou □ easy to get along with, but now, thinking of how this person and Zhou □ called each other sisters so easily, she felt uncomfortable.

She looked away and said indifferently, “Ask someone else to buy them. Don’t always trouble Miss Zhou.”

Wei Ziwan looked at her in surprise. Troubling Zhou □ was trouble, but troubling others wasn’t?

This person was really difficult.

Bai Zhi turned back with a cold face, and the two fell silent.

Everything in the village was as usual, as if their departure hadn’t affected anything.

Bai Zhi thought of not going to Zhou □, but she wasn’t familiar with anyone else, so she ended up going to Elder Gong.

Elder Gong agreed readily and brought two hats that evening.

One was a gray men’s hat, and the other was a white women’s veil hat, both modest and ordinary, very suitable for them.

The next morning, the two came to the village entrance again, where Zhou □ stood as usual.

Bai Zhi greeted her and casually asked, “Miss Zhou, are you waiting for us on purpose?”

If no one had informed her in advance, Bai Zhi wouldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be such a coincidence every time.

Zhou □’s expression was much softer than the day before, with a slight smile: “Yes, I came to ask if you have any good ideas about the grain. Perhaps we can cooperate. What’s important is to benefit the villagers, right?”

She smiled lightly and even winked at Wei Ziwan beside her: “Sister Ziwan, even with the veil hat, your beauty is hard to hide.”

Wei Ziwan smiled and replied, “Sister Zhou, don’t tease me. You’re right; cooperation leads to mutual benefit.”

She could see that Zhou □ was different from that Bai Luo, the second young lady. Her expression and tone were sincere, and most importantly, she didn’t seem malicious.

In that case, whether the cooperation was genuine or not, it’s said that one shouldn’t hit a smiling face. Agreeing first and observing carefully wouldn’t affect anything.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhi’s face turned cold, and her tone was icy: “We will consider this matter carefully and give you an answer tomorrow.”

This outright rejected what Wei Ziwan had just said about cooperation and mutual benefit.

Zhou □’s expression subtly changed.

Wei Ziwan, seeing this, said softly, “My husband is right. We need to consider this carefully. I spoke out of turn just now.”

Bai Zhi’s lips twitched, but she didn’t speak. That wasn’t what she meant; Wei Ziwan’s words carried weight.

But her own words were hard to explain, so she simply kept a cold face and remained silent.

Zhou □ gave a meaningful chuckle towards Bai Zhi, then bid farewell only to Wei Ziwan before turning to leave.

Bai Zhi’s expression changed slightly. Seeing others at the village entrance, she held back and only spoke once they were outside the village: “Was she mocking me just now?”

What was that expression, that tone? Clearly, she was mocking her.

Wei Ziwan put away her smile, and her tone was no longer as gentle as before: “Sister Zhou is mocking me for overstepping my bounds, daring to make decisions on behalf of my husband.”

Bai Zhi glanced at the two guards behind her and lowered her voice: “Wanwan, don’t be angry. That’s not what I meant.”

Of course, she understood that agreeing to cooperate first and then slowly figuring things out was the right approach, but she just felt uncomfortable.

Wei Ziwan gave her a look: “Then what did you mean? It wasn’t appropriate to say in front of others, but now you can explain clearly.”

Bai Zhi immediately pursed her lips. She thought Wei Ziwan wasn’t angry, but it turned out her gentleness in front of others was just an act.

“It seems I did speak out of turn. Fine, here’s twenty taels of broken silver and a hundred taels of silver note. After exchanging it in the city, I’ll give you forty taels. We’ll be even, and from now on, we won’t interfere in each other’s affairs.”

Wei Ziwan spoke coldly, while speaking, she took out her money pouch and pulled out silver.

Bai Zhi looked at the silver being handed over, and quickly waved her hand in refusal: “I don’t want it. You should keep the silver.”

After speaking, she was momentarily stunned.

There was a time when she would have eagerly taken all the silver for herself, but now, to her surprise, she was refusing it!

“Back then, we agreed that I would decide matters concerning the silver, and you would decide everything else. Just now, I indeed overstepped my bounds. From now on, let’s each manage our own affairs.” Wei Ziwan sighed, still extending her hand and trying to stuff the silver into Bai Zhi’s hand.

This person clearly had something on her mind but refused to say it. Moreover, it seemed to be related to her, and perhaps also to Zhou □. If this wasn’t clarified, it would inevitably cause problems in their future interactions.

Bai Zhi glanced again at the two expressionless guards behind her, lowered her voice, and coaxed softly, “It’s not overstepping. You’re my wife, so of course you can manage my affairs. The silver should also be kept by you.”

Wei Ziwan stopped walking: “You know that’s not what I want to hear.”

Bai Zhi averted her gaze and said vaguely, “It’s just that I feel you and Zhou □ became too close too quickly.”

Wei Ziwan suddenly understood as she looked at Bai Zhi’s evasive gaze. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to be happy or angry.

She silently put away the silver, reached out, and gently hooked her arm around Bai Zhi’s, giving it a slight shake.

Bai Zhi’s body stiffened slightly, then gradually relaxed. At this point, she didn’t care that there were still people following behind them, and the corners of her mouth quietly turned up: “I won’t be so calculative like this in the future.”

She actually also wanted to hear Wei Ziwan call her “sister.”

But she was nineteen years old, and Wei Ziwan was twenty. If it really came down to it, it seemed that she should be the one calling Wei Ziwan “sister.”

So Bai Zhi wisely didn’t bring this up.

Wei Ziwan smiled and said, “Sister Zhou is a woman.”

Bai Zhi frowned, glanced behind her, and then leaned close to Wei Ziwan’s ear, whispering, “I’m just disguised as a man right now. Wanwan, have you forgotten? I’m also a woman.”

Wei Ziwan was both amused and exasperated. What kind of logic was this?