Oh no! Seven kids at the start, all yellow and skinny.

Chapter 234 Secret Letter

“Them?” Nan Zhiyi scoffed. “Their hearts have long been skewed. If it weren’t for… I would suspect that old bastard Bai Qingshu has feelings for Ge Yun.”

Ge Yun was just an orphan girl that Bai Jianming happened to save, but since entering the manor, she has actually gained Bai Qingshu's favor. He always said that this child had a hard life. Since she was saved by his son, she must be destined to be with the Bai family. If he hadn't disagreed, she would probably have become a concubine of the Marquis.

Because of her father-in-law Bai Qingshu's attitude, her mother-in-law Chen Mingyan treated her very well.

Ge Yun, this concubine, enjoys the same level of comfort and privileges as the principal wife of the Marquis in the household.

Bai Jianming originally said he would treat her as a decoration and give her a way out, but what happened? Bai An is less than a year younger than his son.

The excuse that he mistook her for himself while drinking is just that—an excuse.

If Ge Yun hadn't later proudly boasted about her relationship with Bai Jianming, she wouldn't have known that they had actually been having an affair for a long time.

However, this world is unfair to women. It is natural for men to take concubines, but if a woman divorces, she will be condemned by everyone. Fortunately, Bai Jianming usually behaves well and at least he has given her the respect she deserves. Moreover, Ge Yun is the only concubine in the mansion so far, so she has managed to get by.

She has her son by her side. Even if Bai Jianming dotes on Ge Yun in private, this Marquis's mansion will eventually belong to her son.

But now? She's no longer sure.

She even doubted whether Ge Yun was really just an orphan and childhood sweetheart.

Was her father-in-law only taking special care of her because he pitied her as an orphan?

Granny Yang sighed as well. That Ge Yun had nothing to offer, so how could he have caught the eye of the Marquis and his son? She just couldn't understand it.

“Since Bai Jianming has made up his mind, he will eventually take action. I can’t wait until the memorial enters the palace before dealing with it; that would be too late.” After venting her frustration, Nan Zhiyi calmed down considerably.

Granny Yang nodded, agreeing that it made sense.

Nan Zhiyi picked up a pen and wrote a letter, handing it to Granny Yang: "Go and give this to Father." Suddenly remembering something, she tore the letter up, saying, "No need for a letter, just pass on a message to Father."

Granny Yang nodded, turned around and left.

After receiving the news from his daughter, Nan Yuan rushed home. After discussing it with his wife, Lin Yuan caught a cold and fell ill that very night. Early the next morning, a servant came to inform the married aunt to return home to take care of her.

The old master and mistress of the Bai family couldn't stop them, and even prepared many gifts for them to take back.

Nan Zhiyi then went back to her parents' home openly and honestly.

Nan Yuan met his daughter in the study.

"Father," Nan Zhiyi's eyes reddened, "you have to help me this time. Bai Jianming has gone too far."

Nan Yuan was furious when he received the news, but he quickly calmed down: "Can you confirm the accuracy of the information?"

“Yes.” Nan Zhiyi nodded. “Ni Zhong, the steward of the Marquis’s mansion in Tianyang City, is my man. I saved him back then and later put him by Bai Jianming’s side. He was the one who brought back the news. Moreover, I don’t know where he found a quack doctor who said that the reason why that idiot Bai An was stupid was because he was poisoned, and this points to me.”

Nan Yuan nodded: "Then what do you want?"

“The Marquis’s mansion must belong to Yang’er.” Nan Zhiyi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If it’s not given to Yang’er, then I would rather destroy him.” She paused for a moment. “Also, have your elder brother investigate that Ge Yun. I always feel that her identity is not just that of Bai Jianming’s childhood sweetheart.”

Bai Jianming's hometown is in Jiangnan, and his elder brother has just been appointed as the prefect of Yangzhou, so it would be perfect to have him investigate.

“Okay.” Nan Yuan nodded. Although he was a scholar, he was not so aloof as to disregard his daughter’s happiness.

Longxi City, Huo Mansion.

Jing Han looked at the note in his hand and frowned slightly. It was a secret letter from the capital, using coded symbols, but he wasn't the real Huo Qingyuan, so he couldn't understand it at all.

He knew that if he could decipher this cryptic message, he might be able to find the master behind Huo Qingyuan.

He then got up and went into the dark room.

Although the real Huo Qingyuan still has a breath left, he is no different from a dead man.

After being detained for several days, he realized that his chances of getting out alive were slim, so he didn't react when he heard someone coming down.

At this moment, he actually sought death.

"Commander Huo?" Jing Han smiled, his tone softening.

Huo Qingyuan continued to feign death with his eyes closed.

"Oh dear, that old lady has invented another medicine." Jing Han suddenly sighed, "But she can't bear to let cats and dogs test it, so..."

"What are you going to do?" Huo Qingyuan suddenly opened his eyes and stared intently at the small bottle in Jing Han's hand.

"We need you to test the drug."

"You're dishonest, you..."

"You've killed so many people, and you're telling me you keep your word?" Jing Han's face darkened.

Huo Qingyuan remained silent.

"Translate it, and I won't give you the medicine." Jing Han threw a copied note in front of Huo Qingyuan.

Huo Qingyuan leaned over for a look, and his expression immediately became somewhat complicated.

"Think it through before you speak. If you're going to spout nonsense, then..."

"This is a code, telling me to protect Tianyi Temple." Huo Qingyuan frowned. What happened to Tianyi Temple? What's wrong? He suddenly looked up at Jing Han, "You've attacked Tianyi Temple?"

Jing Han frowned slightly. "Moving Heaven's Eyes?" Who moved it? Could it be...? Seemingly realizing something, he turned and left the dark room.

Huo Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that what was bound to happen was finally about to happen.

After leaving the dark room, Jing Han immediately summoned Lan Yi: "Send a message to Hong Yi and ask her about the Tianyi Temple." That girl has completely forgotten about her former master ever since she started following Yun Yi.

At first, they would send messages from time to time, but recently there hasn't been any news at all.

Lan Yi pursed his lips: "I've sent her messages several times, but she hasn't responded."

Jing Han was so angry he laughed. Since that was the case, he would have no choice but to go and see for himself.

Yunyi was reading Guo Yining's letter, which contained the birth date and time of the Third Young Master Xia.

Although they both share the surname Xia, the Xia family in Jinan Prefecture and the Xia family in Xia Family Village are not the same. However, Yunyi still felt a sense of familiarity with them, so her actions this time were somewhat influenced by personal feelings.

Of course, the Guo family is quite adept at handling things; look, the gifts that came with the letter are also very generous.

So he took out a copper coin and cast a divination.

After taking a look, I cast another divination.

After casting three divinations, he finally picked up a pen and wrote a letter, handing it to Hong Yi: "Send it out."