The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 56

Bai Hongmo’s face stiffened for a moment before returning to calmness: “There is no mother-daughter bond between us. Apart from bringing you into this world, I have done nothing for you. So, feel free to resent or hate me. If you don’t wish to call me ‘mother,’ then don’t.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou quickly stepped in to explain: “Auntie has always been like this, please don’t take it to heart. Actually, it wasn’t her fault back then; circumstances forced her…”

Before she could finish, her words were cut off.

“Don’t say more, Zhou. Even if I could have raised her by my side back then, I might not have fulfilled my duties as a mother. In the end, I owe her, and there’s no need for explanations.”

Bai Hongmo spoke indifferently, as if discussing something trivial.

However, Bai Zhi sensed the underlying meaning in her words. She looked at Bai Hongmo’s expressionless face and said slowly, “So, you didn’t want to give birth to me?”

Surprisingly, Bai Hongmo denied it: “No, I wanted to give birth to you, but not for your sake.”

As for whom it was for, she didn’t say.

And Bai Zhi, naturally, misunderstood.

“Was it for my biological father?”

Bai Hongmo stared at Bai Zhi’s features. This girl before her was her daughter, but also the daughter of that beast. Even though her face resembled hers, there were still faint traces of that man.

A different emotion suddenly appeared on her face, a mix of disgust and hatred.

So, she bluntly said, “It was never for that beast.”

As soon as the words fell, the room fell silent, clearly shocked by her statement.

Bai Zhi suddenly didn’t know how to react. It wasn’t true that she felt no resentment, but she couldn’t say she hated her either.

However, seeing Bai Hongmo’s reaction and the undisguised hatred, she understood without needing to ask.

How could a woman who disliked her husband, even loathed him, have any expectations for their child?

“Then who is he?” Bai Zhi asked, but immediately regretted it. She already foresaw the answer, and it was surely not what she wanted to hear.

Bai Hongmo’s expression returned to calm: “Just a beast who is adept at seizing by force, bloodthirsty and murderous. If you appeared before him, he would probably want to kill you immediately.”

Bai Zhi’s face changed, and she suddenly thought of something. She wanted to stop Bai Hongmo from continuing, but couldn’t speak. Her eyes pleaded silently: Don’t say anymore, whoever he is, it has nothing to do with me.

Bai Hongmo seemed to understand her gaze, or perhaps she didn’t, or maybe she simply didn’t care.

“Your biological father is a man who couldn’t bear the birth of his daughters. He has killed countless of his own daughters. You’ve guessed it, haven’t you?”

Bai Zhi’s face turned pale. Yes, she had guessed.

“You are your own person.”

Wei Ziwan looked at the horrified expression and couldn’t help but feel both heartache and concern. She stood up, walked over to Bai Zhi, and knelt down to hold her hand, dispelling all the unease and fear.

“Wanwan…” Bai Zhi came back to her senses, the sourness in her eyes gradually fading.

Bai Hongmo watched Wei Ziwan’s actions, and a hint of softness appeared in her otherwise cold eyes.

She then looked at Bai Zhi: “Your wife is very good.” So cherish the person before you, and never abandon the most precious one in front of you.

Bai Zhi was stunned, vaguely understanding the meaning in Bai Hongmo’s gaze. She composed herself and said, “Wanwan is very good. I will never part with her until death.”

“Remember your words today.” Bai Hongmo seemed to lose interest in further conversation. After speaking, she stood up and said to Zhou, “Zhou, take me to visit the five elders.”

Zhou was momentarily stunned before replying, “Yes.”

So, was this reunion a success or a failure?

What did Auntie mean? What did Bai Zhi mean? Did they want to acknowledge each other?

Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan followed behind, watching them walk away before turning back to their own courtyard.

This morning had brought too much information, and both of their thoughts were in disarray.

After returning to their room, the two quietly embraced for a while, as if savoring the rare moment of peace.

Once their emotions had settled, Bai Zhi suppressed the tears in her eyes: “Wanwan, what should we do?”

What should she do?

Wei Ziwan gently stroked her back, her voice soft: “Do you prefer life in the palace or outside?”

Bai Zhi thought carefully before answering seriously: “Actually, the time we spent together at Lingjue Villa, planting radishes, was truly happy. I liked checking on the radishes’ growth every day, seeing the lush green crops, and the endless fields. I don’t like the high palace walls. What about you, Wanwan?”

She knew what she liked, but what about Wanwan?

Wei Ziwan noticed the unease in her eyes and smiled: “What a coincidence. I also loved every radish we planted together, loved the boundless fields, and didn’t want to be trapped in the palace for a lifetime.”

I’ve never had anything I particularly cared about, but because of you, because I love being with you, I love everything about you.

What brings you joy, how could I not love?

Bai Zhi’s lips curved into a smile. It was wonderful that Wanwan loved what she loved.

“Then let’s leave all of this behind and live the life we love, okay?” She looked at Wei Ziwan with anticipation.

Wei Ziwan didn’t disappoint her, nodding with a smile: “Okay, let’s live the life we love.”

“Wanwan~ I’m so happy, what should I do?”

Wei Ziwan looked up, but before she could say “I’m happy too,” her tongue was silenced…

Bai Zhi didn’t know how many times she kissed her, but as she looked at Wei Ziwan’s reddened eyes, her heart softened: “Wanwan, after we leave here, let’s put on wedding clothes and get married, okay?” That’s what a wedding night should be like. She wanted to give Wei Ziwan the best memories she could.

Although there was an imperial decree, its contents…

So, Bai Zhi had burned that so-called decree from the start. What did it mean to bestow Wanwan upon her? If it were a true bestowal, it would be a treasure from heaven, a treasure beyond compare in this world.

Wei Ziwan gently stroked her chest, calming her breathing: “Okay, we’ll put on wedding clothes, cover our heads, bow to each other, and then lift each other’s veils…”

What a beautiful scene that would be.

Just thinking about it filled her with longing and anticipation.

Bai Zhi kissed Wei Ziwan’s forehead: “How should we leave? Sneak away, or say goodbye?”

There was another question she didn’t ask: Would Song Village and Lingjue Villa try to stop them?

Bai Zhi hoped it would be different, because here was Bai Hongmo, her mother.

But she also hoped it would be the same, so she could erase the last trace of hope for familial affection and leave without any burden.

“Let’s say a proper goodbye.”

“But what if they don’t let us go? If we say goodbye, won’t we be stuck?” Bai Zhi hesitated again.

Wei Ziwan smiled: “They probably won’t.”

Not for any other reason, but because when they were with Zhou, Bai Hongmo had told Bai Zhi to “cherish the person before you.” Just that one sentence made her fairly certain that the woman wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

Bai Zhi was puzzled: “Wanwan, are you so confident in them?”

Wasn’t her tone too certain? Were the people in Song Village really so trustworthy? She couldn’t feel it.

“Auntie… Elder Bai told you to remember your words today.” Wei Ziwan chuckled, reaching out to rub Bai Zhi’s slightly furrowed brows.

“What words?” Bai Zhi instinctively asked.

Hearing this, Wei Ziwan’s fingers paused, and she pinched Bai Zhi’s brows in mock annoyance: “It’s only been a short while, and you’ve already forgotten? Were you just saying it casually, without meaning it?”

Bai Zhi’s eyes lit up as she remembered. She grabbed Wei Ziwan’s fingers and kissed them: “I just didn’t react in time. The things I say to you are always heartfelt, never casual.”

“What kind of things are you talking about?”

Bai Zhi’s ears turned slightly red, and she lowered her gaze. Of course, it was that kind of thing.

Seeing the person before her silent again, Wei Ziwan’s fingers moved slightly, brushing against Bai Zhi’s lips, her voice soft and melodious: “Husband~ I want to hear it~”

Bai Zhi’s ears, which had only been slightly red, instantly turned crimson, spreading to her cheeks.

She bit her lip, feeling as if her entire body had been set on fire.

Bai Zhi looked up and suddenly regretted her earlier words. A wedding night could happen anytime.

But the words had already been spoken.

She moved Wei Ziwan’s fingers away, her clear eyes filled with intense possessiveness: “Wanwan, wait for me.”

Then, Bai Zhi quickly walked away, rummaged through some drawers, and returned holding a black leather booklet. She glanced through it hastily before coming back.

Wei Ziwan vaguely remembered the scene when they left the palace. If she wasn’t mistaken, that black booklet was…

Wasn’t it a gift from the old concubine?

The old concubine really was an unconventional person.

Her thoughts wandered aimlessly as Bai Zhi pushed her to the edge of the bed, still feeling a bit dazed.

The winter chill touched her body, and wherever Bai Zhi’s cool hands went, they left behind sparks that burned away her wandering thoughts.

“Wanwan, you? Don’t be afraid…”

Wei Ziwan bit her lip, her trembling body unable to stop.

“Wanwan, I won’t go in…”

Wei Ziwan involuntarily tilted her head back, biting her lip hard, her fingers tightly gripping Bai Zhi’s waist.

The spring breeze brushed against the dew, the corners of her eyes slightly red, like pear blossoms in the rain, a beauty to be cherished.