After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 279 Madam Zhu Instructs Her Daughter

Master Bai arrived late, and seeing the chaos in the courtyard, he hurriedly asked the steward to fetch a doctor. He suppressed his grief and exchanged pleasantries with Madam Zhu.

Madam Zhu politely rose to return the greeting and said solemnly, "Father-in-law, Bai Feng is my only son-in-law. I was deeply saddened to receive this news, which is why I rushed here to help. I never expected that Liu Biru would accuse my son of not protecting Bai Feng behind my back. It's utterly ridiculous."

You also have communication with the border. Ever since the two children went to the battlefield, every time it was my son who protected Bai Feng and kept him alive. The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, how can we guarantee that everything will be safe? I told Liu Biru long ago to remind Bai Feng to find a way to save his own life and not to rely on my son all the time.

Liu Biru, however, believes I'm greedy and think the Bai family isn't giving me enough, and that I'm constantly trying to get more from her. She's also been badmouthing me behind my back. I know all this, but I haven't said anything for my daughter's sake. Now that Bai Feng is in trouble, she's blaming my son for not protecting him. Does she think her son's life is more important than mine? Do you think she's right?

Madam Zhu vented all the pent-up frustration and dissatisfaction she had accumulated over the years.

Master Bai was speechless. He apologized while trying to calm Madam Zhu down. “My dear mother-in-law is right. It was indeed my wife’s fault. Once Feng’er’s funeral is settled, I will personally bring her to apologize. Also, my wife is unwell and not fit to continue managing the household. From now on, all matters concerning the inner quarters will be handled by my daughter-in-law. The steward will bring the account books over in a little while.”

Madam Zhu was satisfied now. She took a deep breath, put on a fairly kind expression, and curtsied to Master Bai.

"I shouldn't interfere in the Bai family's affairs. Let my father-in-law make all the decisions. I'll talk to my son a bit more and then go back. I'll come to see him off on the day of the funeral," Madam Zhu said.

After Master Bai and his men left.

Madam Zhu immediately slammed the door shut and went inside, angrily grabbing Zhu's ear and yelling, "Useless thing! When you were at your parents' house, you weren't so spineless when you were going against your sister-in-law!"

"Mother! What should I do? My husband is dead, and I'll be all alone from now on. I don't have a son to rely on. How will I establish myself in the Bai family in the future?" Madam Zhu poured out her anxieties, tears welling up in her eyes.

Madam Zhu was furious and scolded in a low voice, "Hold back your tears! Although Bai Feng is incompetent and petty and can't accomplish anything, he is still my son-in-law and your husband. I can't say anything more."

Now that he's gone, life goes on. Fortunately, the woman in Bai Feng's harem bore him a son. After the funeral, choose one you like and adopt him as your own son. That way, you'll still be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Bai family, and no one can challenge your position.

Zhu was lost in thought, quickly recalling all the concubines, illegitimate sons and daughters in the backyard whom she had disliked.

Those concubines were all taken in by her on Bai Feng's behalf. They were either maids or bought from slave traders, and their indentures were still in her possession.

She felt jealous and resentful after those women gave birth, but she couldn't kill them to avoid giving Bai Feng another excuse to take concubines.

So, under the guise of nurturing her children, she sent her illegitimate sons and daughters to another residence, casually hired a tutor to give them their early education, and then left them to their own devices.

Those children didn't live with their birth mothers and had no feelings for them. They could be adopted, but the women in the backyard couldn't stay.

After thinking it through, Madam Zhu immediately stopped crying and said to Madam Zhu, "Mother, what do you think? Should I sell those concubines in the backyard or..." Madam Zhu made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Pfft!" Madam Zhu spat out all the tea in her mouth and punched Zhu Shi hard twice. "You fool! Now that Bai Feng is dead, what threat can those concubines pose? You brainless idiot! If you're going to adopt their children, you can't let them resent you. You have to make them grateful to you."

"Oh? What should I do then? If I leave them in the mansion, they'll be spending all their time with the children, and I'll just be doing all the work for someone else!" Madam Zhu muttered resentfully.

Madam Zhu closed her eyes helplessly, having given up hope for her daughter's intelligence. "Find those women and ask them if they are willing to remarry. If they are, you can choose some good families for them and return their indentures to them."

"Mother, isn't this like letting a tiger return to the mountain?" Zhu's eyes widened, feeling that her mother was siding with outsiders.

Madam Zhu was too lazy to even scold them. "Shut up and listen to me. If they are willing to remarry, find them families in the next county, not too far from Zhaohua County. These families must be good families. Only when they are happy in their husbands' families will they completely forget everything about the Bai family, including the children."

"If your child misses their biological mother in the future, don't stop them. Let them go see her on their own. Once they see that their biological mother has her own home, they'll know how to choose and will treat you well in the future. Do you understand?"

She didn't need to say so much, but unfortunately her daughter wasn't smart enough, so she had to explain it all out in detail.

Madam Zhu understood what Madam Zhu meant. Although she was still worried, she knew her own mother would never harm her, so she agreed.

As soon as Bai Feng's funeral was over, he immediately summoned the women and asked them for their thoughts.

If Bai Feng hadn't died, they definitely wouldn't have left. But now that Bai Feng is dead, they are still young and beautiful, the oldest being only in their early twenties, the prime of their lives. Given a choice, who would want to be trapped in a small courtyard and spend their remaining years there?

They certainly care about their children, but they haven't even seen them in all these years. Staying with the Bai family is pointless; when the children grow up and see them again, they'll probably be strangers. In the end, leaving is the best option, so they can regain their freedom.

After everyone unanimously decided to leave, Madam Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately saw the people off and then brought back the illegitimate sons and daughters from the villa.

After all this, even Master Bai looked at Madam Zhu with new respect.

After learning of Madam Zhu's intentions, Madam Bai lay on the bed and sneered incessantly, "It's not that I look down on her, but she's been spoiled and willful by the Zhu family. How could she have such clever methods! I never expected Cui Xuejuan's reach to be so far, even extending into the backyard of my Bai family!"

Li Mama, whose head had been beaten into a pig's head, had lost her few remaining teeth and looked more than ten years older in the past few days. Her expression had also become much more numb, and she was no longer as eager to please Madam Bai as before.

Madam Bai glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, then slowly closed her eyes. "Granny Li, do you resent me for not being able to protect you?"

"This old servant wouldn't dare. I've served you, Madam, for so many years, and I'm already prepared to dedicate myself to you. How could I possibly resent you?" Granny Li said, bowing her head with utmost respect.