lcionline Chapter 952 I, Bai Lu, am an orphan, utterly alone.
Chapter 952 I, Bai Lu, am an orphan, utterly alone.
The seven little moons were counting money around the table, their little faces full of excitement and a sense of accomplishment.
"Mommy, we made so much money today!"
"Yes! These are all high-end products; they can sell for several thousand taels of silver a day!"
Bai Lu patted her daughters' heads and said softly, "That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that you remember how you felt today. Remember, creating value through your own hands and wisdom is far more comforting than any external possessions."
"Never be like other noble ladies in Kyoto, thinking that just because you're a noble lady, it's not good to show your face in public and do business... You should know that it's very rare and difficult for a person to earn money with their own hands."
“Our daughter isn’t so traditional. She doesn’t think that showing her face in public is the best thing about a girl. She thinks that when a girl goes out and demonstrates her abilities, she’s the most capable…”
The daughters nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
That night, Bailu slept exceptionally well.
-
The popularity of Hakuro Beauty Shop quickly swept through the elite circles of Kyoto.
Unlike ordinary shops, it not only sells goods, but also promotes a brand new lifestyle called "refined living"!
Pre-orders piled up like mountains, with everyone from noble ladies to wives of high-ranking families taking pride in owning a set of Bailu products.
On this day, Zhao Bingyu sat in a luxurious and spacious carriage, listening to her trusted female steward report on the interesting things that had happened in the capital recently.
"...Madam, you haven't seen it, but a new beauty shop has opened on Suzaku Avenue. It's called Bailu Beauty Shop, and it's making a fortune every day! It's already the most sought-after shop in Kyoto!"
Zhao Bingyu was resting with her eyes closed. Her eyelashes twitched slightly, but she didn't open them. She just gave a soft "hmm".
To her, this was nothing more than her daughter playing some petty tricks using the name of the Marquis of Anguo.
The steward, unaware of her mistress's thoughts, continued with great interest, "It's strange, but the shop's living advertisements are actually the Marquis's seven young princesses."
"They were all eloquent and knew the effects of those bottles and jars like the back of their hand; they were even more talkative than the most experienced shopkeeper."
"The ladies in the capital are praising those seven young princesses to the skies, saying that the Marquis has raised his daughters well and that they will surely be outstanding individuals in the future!"
This time, Zhao Bingyu slowly opened her eyes.
A fleeting, extremely complex emotion, unnoticed by anyone, crossed her eyes!
How could her gentle and resilient daughter, who was as strong as bamboo, allow her granddaughters to engage in such public and commercial activities?!
This seems somewhat different from her usual style of doing things.
"Go and take a look." Zhao Bingyu's voice remained gentle, revealing neither joy nor anger.
The carriage stopped not far from Suzaku Avenue.
Zhao Bingyu did not get out of the car, but quietly looked at the shop called Bailu through the specially made glass window.
The shop was bustling with traffic and guests.
Those haughty ladies who usually looked down on everyone were now patiently queuing up, their faces beaming with expectant smiles.
Inside the shop, her daughter, Bai Lu, sat quietly in an elegant moon-white dress, her expression serene and her demeanor refined.
She didn't personally recruit people, but she naturally became the center of the entire shop.
Seven beautifully sculpted granddaughters moved about among them, their speech and manners graceful and poised, their brows displaying a confidence and composure beyond their years.
There was not a trace of humility, but rather an air of nobility and dynamism.
Zhao Bingyu watched quietly, feeling uneasy.
It's a complex feeling that's hard to put into words.
On the one hand, as a successful businesswoman, she could clearly see the enormous potential and brilliance of Bailu's business model.
She didn't simply lower her daughters' status, but rather empowered them with greater competence.
Even she had to secretly admire this method.
On the other hand, seeing her daughter manage her life so successfully and brilliantly, the thorn in her heart called dislike began to ache faintly.
This was the life that her children, especially her beloved Ruzhen, should have had.
If it weren't for that sudden serious illness... with Ru Zhen's intelligence, she would surely have been just like her sister Bai Lu and her brothers Bai Qingze, Bai Liezhao, and Bai Chuyao, both accomplished in literature and martial arts, and become her pride.
But the reality is that her only biological son, Ruzhen, is currently lying in the villa, clinging to life with countless rare and precious herbs.
The doctor's words still echoed in my ears: "Madam, the young master... I'm afraid he won't make it through this winter. You... should prepare as soon as possible."
Those words, each one like a knife, pierced her heart...
She devoted herself wholeheartedly to her son's illness.
But her daughter... lives such a glamorous and unrestrained life in Kyoto.
Why is Bailu's life so glamorous?
One was her own flesh and blood, to whom she had poured all her heart and soul and shown her unwavering love, yet whose life hung by a thread...
One is the daughter of her ex-husband, whom she deliberately distanced herself from and treated coldly, yet who was thriving and doing well in everything.
This stark contrast, like a poisonous vine, tightly coiled around Zhao Bingyu's heart...
She didn't hate Bai Lu; in fact, reason told her that Bai Lu's excellence had nothing to do with Ru Zhen's frail health...
Emotionally, however, she couldn't help feeling a sharp imbalance and resentment...
Why?
Why should the one she cherishes most suffer so much?
And yet, she possesses everything that she dislikes?
Looking at Bai Lu's faint, genuine smile in the shop, she felt it was incredibly irritating.
She sought out renowned doctors for her son, spending a fortune, only to be met with disappointment time and time again...
Bailu, on the other hand, seems to have never truly been troubled by anything.
Whether it was the chaos of war in Liangzhou or the plague in Qingzhou, she always managed to turn misfortune into good fortune, and even transform crises into achievements...
Nowadays, even opening a store can attract a huge following.
“Madam…” the steward said cautiously when she saw that Madam remained silent for a long time.
Zhao Bingyu withdrew her gaze, slowly lowered the carriage curtain, shutting out the noise.
"Go back home."
The carriage started moving again. The interior was dimly lit, and Zhao Bingyu's face was hidden in the shadows, making it difficult to see clearly.
She took out a safety buckle from her bosom. It was something Ruzhen had personally polished for her while she was ill. The coolness of the jade traveled through her fingertips to her heart.
She thought to herself: Ruzhen, don't worry... everything your mother has earned outside is for you.
No matter the cost, your mother will make sure you live on...
As for White Dew...
Zhao Bingyu's eyes darkened.
She could... let Bai Lu do her part for Ru Zhen's illness.
Bai Lu is the Marquis of Anguo, a heroine revered throughout the land, and has always been known for her benevolence and kindness!
If the world knew that she had a younger brother suffering from a serious illness and teetering on the brink of death, wouldn't she be obligated to lend a helping hand?
A cold smile curved Zhao Bingyu's lips.
This plan is almost perfect.
It didn't rely on intrigue or trickery, but rather on Bailu's own hard-earned and most prized reputation for benevolence.
The higher one's reputation, the tighter one is bound by these invisible shackles.
What she wanted was to see Bai Lu bow down to her in this moral blackmail, so that she could also empathize with Ru Zhen's pain.
Even if it's only in name.
Upon returning to her villa on the outskirts of Beijing, Zhao Bingyu immediately began making arrangements.
She didn't choose those low-level methods of spreading rumors, which would be too easy to uncover and wouldn't suit her status.
First, in the name of a merchant's wife returning to her hometown, she donated a huge sum of money to Guangshantang, the largest charity in Beijing.
This sum of money was enough to allow Guangshantang to operate smoothly for three years. This immediately caused quite a stir in the capital, and everyone praised the unknown Madam Zhao for her compassion.
Following that, at a charity tea party hosted by Guangshantang and attended by many wealthy women, Zhao Bingyu was invited to attend as the largest donor.
At the tea party, she was dressed elegantly, behaved dignifiedly, and spoke gently, quickly winning the favor of the ladies present.
Only then did everyone realize that this was actually Madam Zhao, who had been dead for many years...
Bai Yansong's wife.
Everyone was shocked.
When the topic inadvertently turned to the benevolent deeds of Marquis Bai Lu of Anguo, Zhao Bingyu's eyes reddened at just the right moment.
A lady asked with concern, "Mrs. Zhao, what's wrong? Have you been thinking about something sad?"
Zhao Bingyu gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief, her voice tinged with suppressed sobs, and sighed softly, "I'm sorry to have made you ladies laugh."
"But hearing everyone praise Marquis Anguo's benevolence reminds me of my poor, unfortunate child..."
"If he could have half the fortune of Marquis Anguo, I would be willing to give up all my wealth."
These words aroused curiosity among everyone present.
"What do you mean, Madam? What's wrong with your son?"
Zhao Bingyu shook her head sadly, her gentle and kind face filled with the despair and pain of being a mother: "To be honest, I have a son named Ruzhen."
"This child was born after I divorced Bai Yansong, went to the Western Regions, remarried, and gave birth to him..."
"He was a bright and clever child, but unfortunately, he was frail from childhood, and some time ago he contracted a serious illness. We sought out many famous doctors, but none of them could help him. Everyone says... everyone says he has dissociative identity disorder and won't survive the winter..."
Her voice was poignant and moving, stirring the hearts of all the mothers present.
“I am often away on business and we rarely see each other, so I already felt guilty towards him. Now, hearing this terrible news, I am heartbroken.”
"I am donating this money in the hope that it will bring some good fortune to my poor child, and that Heaven will have mercy on him and allow him to live a few more days..."
She became sobbing as she spoke.
The ladies present were all deeply moved and stepped forward to comfort them.
Just then, Zhao Bingyu seemed to have made up her mind. She tremblingly took out a safety amulet from her bosom and said to everyone, "Actually... besides donating money, I have another request to make today."
“I have heard that Marquis Anguo is not only a peerless hero, but also a person of great fortune, who was able to quell the plague in Qingzhou.”
“I…I wish to see Marquis Anguo, just so she can touch my son’s personal safety amulet and pray for him. Perhaps…perhaps we can borrow her blessings and give my son a glimmer of hope.”
These words are perfectly reasonable. A mother who has nowhere else to turn places her hopes on a vague and uncertain blessing, which makes her seem both incredibly humble and incredibly real.
The news quickly spread throughout Kyoto's high society.
"Have you heard? That wealthy merchant's wife from the Western Regions, Madam Zhao, is actually Bai Yansong's wife!"
"And she also has a son who is dying!"
"Heavens! No wonder she was looking for Marquis Anguo! It turns out that Young Master Ruzhen is Marquis Anguo's half-brother!"
"Poor thing, the elder sister is the Marquis of Anguo, who is revered by all, while her younger brother is dying of illness. If the Marquis of Anguo finds out, how can he sit idly by?"
"What dissociation syndrome? What illness in the world can't the White Snake Lady cure?"
"Lady Bai is incredibly capable; such a minor illness is a piece of cake for her! Whether she's willing to treat it or not is just a matter of a moment's thought."
As the rumors intensified, Zhao Bingyu's image transformed into that of a great mother who was willing to abandon her dignity and past to save her beloved son.
As for White Dew, it was pushed into a position where it had to make a statement.
The whole world is watching.
You are a heroine revered by the world, and you have always presented yourself as benevolent and kind.
Now, your blood-related brother is hanging by a thread, right before your eyes.
Are you going to save them or not?
If you cannot save them, your great fortune will become a joke.
Not to save him? Then all your virtue and reputation will be ruined. How can someone who wouldn't even save his own brother be called a hero? How can he deserve the respect of the people?
This incident quickly put the Marquis of Anguo's mansion in the spotlight.
The whole of Kyoto was talking about it. Teahouses, taverns, streets and alleys...
They all wanted to know how Bai Lu, the heroine of Da Wu, would respond.
But in reality, there don't seem to be many options.
Zhao Bingyu's plan was flawless. She portrayed herself as a humble mother praying for her son's survival, pushed a dying younger brother before Bai Lu, and then used the gossip of the world as a weapon to force Bai Lu into the game...
Emotionally, they were blood relatives; rationally, she bore the weight of the people's revered reputation for benevolence. No matter what, she had to save them.
If you're just touching the safety amulet, how can that be acceptable? You'd get roasted!
However, the response from the Marquis of Anguo's residence was completely unexpected...
Faced with overwhelming public pressure from the outside world.
The Marquis of Anguo's residence did not send anyone to explain, refute the rumors, or send a carriage to Zhao Bingyu's villa.
They simply had the old steward of the Marquis's residence calmly and clearly convey a sentence from the Marquis of Anguo to all the guests who came to inquire and the officials who presented their visiting cards.
Just one sentence.
“I, Bailu, am an orphan, all alone. In this world, apart from my three elder brothers and seven daughters, I have no other blood relatives.”
What half-brother? What blood relation?
Marquis Anguo said that she had no father or mother.