Madam Fang’s expression froze.

She opened her mouth with difficulty and said, “I admit I took things I shouldn’t have, but didn’t things turn out well in the end? Father earned merit, and now he doesn’t have to work so hard on assignments in far-off places. He might even get promoted… Haven’t I, in a way, helped the Bai family?”

Slap!

Bai Yonghua couldn’t hold back anymore and struck her again across the face.

“You foolish woman! Short-sighted and always acting on your own whims. Back when we were in Lingchuan, you used to accept fruits and vegetables from commoners. I warned you multiple times, but you ignored me.

Now we’ve returned to the capital, and you’ve gotten even bolder. This time we were lucky that Lord Cheng intervened. What about next time? Do you want the entire Bai family executed? If you want to die, I won’t stop you—but I will not allow the Bai family to be disgraced and decapitated!”

Madam Fang said anxiously, “But the matter has already been resolved. What more do you want from me? I promise—it won’t happen again, isn’t that enough?”

“Divorce.” Bai Yonghua coldly spat out the word. “Divorce. That’s the most dignity I can offer you. Otherwise, all you’ll get is a letter of repudiation.”

“What did you say? You want to divorce me?” Madam Fang instantly flew into a rage. “I bore you children, managed the household for your Bai family all these years, endured hardship until we finally saw better days—and now you want to cast me aside? I won’t agree! I’d rather die than leave the Bai family!”

“Mother, please… say no more…” Bai Tang went to hold her flailing mother. “A mistake is a mistake. If you admit it, Father might give you another chance…”

The Bai household was in an uproar.

Even Bai Ruzhu felt uneasy and spoke up. “Why not listen to me? Eldest Brother, Tangtang and the others are all grown, and marriages are approaching. A divorce now would hurt the children. How about we just confine Sister-in-law to reflect on her behavior?”

Hearing this, Madam Fang flared up again. “You’re just a married-off daughter—what right do you have to interfere in your natal family’s affairs? And you want to confine me? I—”

“Enough!” Old Madam Bai snapped coldly. “Divorce or confinement—choose. The Bai family will respect your decision.”

Madam Fang instantly fell silent.

If she returned to her parents’ home after a divorce, she would be greeted with endless ridicule and humiliation…

Night had fallen.

The people of the Marquis of Xiangyang’s household departed and returned home.

On the way back, Bai Ruzhu took Bai Tang with her. “Tangtang has a soft heart. Seeing her mother confined will trouble her deeply. Let her stay at the marquis’s estate for a while and ease her mind.”

She also had another thought: to let Tangtang spend some time with her son.

If they could rekindle their childhood affection, the marriage could be settled. If not, it was better to end things early rather than let the children suffer.

As the carriage arrived at the gate of the marquis’s residence, Li Muyun came out to greet them.

Although he had been studying at home, he had heard bits and pieces about the Bai family’s incident, though not the details.

“Brother Yun, your aunt is now confined,” Bai Ruzhu sighed. “Tangtang has been crying all the way here. She always listened to you when she was little—go comfort her, will you?”

Bai Tang’s eyes were red from crying.

She forced a smile through her sorrow and greeted, “Cousin.”

Li Muyun said, “The moon is lovely tonight. There’s a spot in the residence perfect for moon gazing. Come with me, Tangtang.”

Bai Tang knew her aunt wanted her and her cousin to spend time together.

And indeed, she hadn’t spoken alone with her cousin for many years.

The two of them walked to the lakeside.

Li Muyun looked up at the moon and said gently, “Thankfully, this incident didn’t lead to serious consequences. As long as your mother sincerely acknowledges her mistake, Uncle will show leniency. Don’t worry too much.”

Bai Tang nodded. “I understand.”

“There’s something else,” Li Muyun said with difficulty. “When we were young, our families were close, and we grew up together. I said some inappropriate things back then…”

Bai Tang asked, puzzled, “What inappropriate things?”

“I used to make a fuss about marrying you—that was just childish talk. I didn’t know better.” Li Muyun lowered his head, then looked into her eyes with resolve. “Now that we’ve grown up, things are different. Childhood words shouldn’t be taken seriously. Tangtang, let’s cancel the engagement.”

As the words fell, he saw her tear-reddened eyes grow even redder.

Tears welled up, but she stubbornly held them back.

She asked with a trembling voice, “Are you sure you want to break off the engagement?”

“There was no formal exchange of betrothal documents—what engagement is there to break?” Li Muyun replied. “Just canceling a childish promise, that’s all.”

“I understand.”

Bai Tang slowly turned around and walked away from the lake—step by step.

As she turned a corner, Li Muyun saw her raise a hand and begin wiping away tears again and again.

He regretted it.

He shouldn’t have brought up breaking off the engagement at a time like this.

His cousin was already upset—now she’d cry all night.

And indeed, Bai Tang cried the whole night.

She was the same age as Li Zhiyue and was temporarily staying in the west wing of her courtyard.

Lying in bed, Li Zhiyue clearly heard the muffled crying from the west wing—it was especially loud in the quiet of night.

She sighed.

In the original novel, her older brother had also broken off this engagement.

But under pressure from the elders and Bai Tang’s refusal to give up, they eventually got married.

She got up and walked to the west wing.

As she approached the door, the crying stopped.

Such a stubborn girl—crying in secret, afraid of being discovered.

“Cousin, it’s me,” Li Zhiyue said. “It’s so dark, I’m a little scared. Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Bai Tang seemed to want to refuse.

But Li Zhiyue had already opened the door and stepped in. “Cousin, did my brother say something hurtful?”

Bai Tang quickly shook her head, but her tears fell even faster.

She held back her sobs and said, “I haven’t seen Cousin in seven or eight years. We’ve grown distant… Yue-niang, can you tell me what kind of food he likes? I’ll cook for him myself tomorrow—he’ll see my sincerity… And what embroidery patterns does he like? I’ll make him a pair of shoes.”

Li Zhiyue rubbed her forehead.

Now she finally understood what “love-brained” meant.

She said, “Cousin, my brother is the kind of person who resists more the harder you chase him. I really don’t think it’s a good idea to cook or embroider shoes for him—it might backfire.”

“Really?” Bai Tang looked a little scared. “Thank goodness you told me, or there’d be no hope at all between us.”

Li Zhiyue changed the subject. “This incident with Aunt—it all comes down to the Bai family being too poor. Though technically nobles, even average households live better. Cousin, you could help ease the burden on the family too.”

Bai Tang had been in the capital for a few days and had heard of her cousin’s exploits.

Tea houses, opera houses—these had brought in a constant stream of silver for the Marquis’s household.

She asked, “Yue-niang, what do you think I could do?”

Li Zhiyue did have an idea.

Cheng Changyan had just helped the Bai family through a major crisis.

They should return the favor.

And what the Cheng family lacked was money.

Why not… have the Bai and Cheng families go into business together?