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

Chapter 329 The Fate of the Bai Family
Passing through the back gate of the ancestral hall, you arrive at a row of small courtyards where people live. The entire mansion is paved with bluestone slabs, while the interior is tiled and the walls are painted white. It looks both rustic and elegant, clean and bright, making people feel happy.

Shen Yi asked the village women to help clean up, and everyone who entered the courtyard praised it.

After the mansion was completed, Shen Yi specially hosted a banquet to treat the villagers to a big meal.

With the autumn harvest just around the corner, everyone can save up some money before the harvest.

Upon receiving the news, Ma Xingteng brought congratulatory gifts to visit Shen Yi's family. After touring the mansion, he was full of praise and couldn't help but sigh when he thought of the Bai family in the county town.

"My father-in-law's side has suffered a complete defeat; even the Bai family mansion was forced to be sold," Ma Xingteng sighed with a worried expression.

Shen Yi paused for a moment, then asked, "Was it done by Zhu Yixuan?"

Ma Xingteng nodded slightly and remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Zhu Yixuan is indeed ruthless! He doesn't make a move unless he's absolutely ruthless. In just three months, the Zhu family has taken over all of the Bai family's businesses. My father-in-law has fallen ill and is powerless to help. His illegitimate sons are all eager to benefit when there are opportunities, but when trouble comes, they all want to disappear without a trace."

It's pitiful that he was so ill, yet he didn't have any filial children by his side. Only Aunt Qin and the housekeeper were there to take care of him. My wife did go back to visit him once, and she came back crying so hard that she almost went blind.

She said her father now lives in a small courtyard, with only Aunt Qin and the housekeeper by his side. The doctors in the county town dare not offend the Zhu family, and no one will treat him when he is sick. If this continues, he probably won't last much longer.

What do you think people are after in this life? My father-in-law was such a shrewd and calculating man, and the Bai family was such a large clan! They were gone just like that.”

He had been depressed for several days because of the Bai family's fate.

Shen Yi patted him on the shoulder, "You haven't gone to see it?"

Ma Xingteng chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Me? I'm also afraid of death, I dare not go! But if I don't go, my conscience won't allow it. Don't you think I'm very hypocritical?"

Shen Yi shook his head seriously, "It's just human nature to drink."

Ma Xingteng gulped down a glass.

The Su Chunsen family, who were sitting next to them, also heard what Ma Xingteng said.

On the way back, Su Chunsen said to Wan Shi, "I want to go to the county town."

Knowing her husband's thoughts, Madam Wan didn't stop him. "If you want to go, then go. After all, you were master and servant. Before the Cuilan incident, he treated you quite well."

Actually, after Cuilan's incident, Master Bai didn't hold a grudge against Su Chunsen; he just didn't protect him either.

Since he was going to visit Master Bai, Su Chunsen had to prepare some things, including food, supplies, and medicine that he didn't know if it would be useful.

Once the oxcart entered the county town, a little inquiry revealed Master Bai's current whereabouts.

Su Chunsen drove the oxcart over and knocked on the courtyard gate.

The butler was genuinely surprised to see him. "Su Chunsen, what brings you here?"

Su Chunsen handed the bundle to the butler and said in a low voice, "I've come to see the master."

"You've really put your heart into this!" The steward let him in dejectedly, and said sadly, "The Bai family is gone. None of the young masters are coming. Apart from Miss Rong who came back once, the other married ladies have all disappeared. The clansmen are kicking us while we're down and blaming the master. The master is suffering too!"

The two then entered Master Bai's room.

Aunt Qin is feeding Master Bai.

Su Chunsen bowed slightly and greeted, "Master."

Master Bai was clearly pleased to see him. "Chunsen is here. Didn't you go back to your hometown to retire?" Su Chunsen nodded with a smile. "Yes, I did go back to my hometown. I heard that you were ill, so I came to see you."

"Why have you come to see me! How did Madam and Feng'er treat your family back then? Don't you hate them?" Master Bai asked, his eyes red.

Su Chunsen hesitated for a while before replying seriously, "To be honest, I don't hate, I'm just disappointed and heartbroken! After all, my family were just servants, and even our lives belonged to our masters. We had no right to hate. On the contrary, we turned misfortune into blessing and were freed from our slave status. Now I'm doing well in the countryside, and I've let go of the past."

"You're quite magnanimous," Old Master Bai said with a half-smile. Looking at the happy and harmonious Su Chunsen now, and then at his own miserable situation of being abandoned by everyone, he was filled with grief and indignation and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Aunt Qin and the steward were so frightened that their faces turned pale.

Seeing that things were not going well, Su Chunsen quickly left.

Even after leaving the courtyard, he still couldn't understand it, shaking his head and muttering, "How did he vomit blood? I didn't say anything offensive!"

Mr. Bai ultimately couldn't hold on and passed away in the early hours of the next day.

Aunt Qin and the steward approached Master Bai's several illegitimate sons, but none of them were willing to step forward and arrange the funeral.

In the end, it took Aunt Qin and the steward emptying their pockets to arrange Master Bai's funeral.

After learning about the situation, Bai Rong took the initiative to give the steward a sum of money for his retirement and then brought Aunt Qin back to the Ma family.

After Master Bai died, Zhu Yixuan went to pay his respects to Madam Zhu. "Mother, the Bai family is gone, and Xiong Kai, who plotted to kill you, is also dead. You can rest in peace now. Your son is unfilial and will apologize to you in the afterlife."

After returning from the cemetery, Zhu Yixuan locked himself in his study to drown his sorrows in alcohol. As he drank, he suddenly remembered the past, longing for that cozy little courtyard, that gentle and caring woman, and that chubby and adorable child.

The more he thought about it, the more he drank, and the clearer his memory became.

Longing is like a maddened wild beast, breaking free of its cage and becoming uncontrollable.

Zhu Yixuan suddenly pushed open the door and rushed out.

With the help of her maid Xiaoshuang, Cen Mingzhu dressed and made up. Looking at her exquisite appearance in the bronze mirror, Cen Mingzhu was very satisfied. "Where did Master go?"

Xiao Shuang respectfully replied, "When Master returned from outside, he went to his study, drank some wine, and then hurriedly went out again."

"Walking in such a hurry? What is he going to do?" Cen Mingzhu stared at Xiao Shuang in confusion.

Xiao Shuang quickly shook her head, "This servant doesn't know, the young master shouldn't have gone far."

Cen Mingzhu thought for a moment, then got up and quickly left the courtyard.

According to the rules of Langya Kingdom, one cannot drink alcohol or indulge in pleasure during the mourning period. Zhu Yixuan had been observing the rules well before, but today he broke the abstinence from alcohol, which is not right.

The master and servant inquired along the way until they reached Yong'an Lane.

Cen Mingzhu knows this place! This is where that mistress used to live! Zhu Yixuan really still has feelings for that woman!
An enraged Cen Mingzhu did not linger in Yong'an Lane, but instead took Xiao Shuang back to the Zhu residence immediately.

"Go, send someone to find out where Madam Ke is. Three days. I need to know Madam Ke's whereabouts in three days, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Xiao Shuang was so frightened that she trembled and quickly went to do it.

Actually, it's not impossible to find out if you really want to. Madam Zhu is dead, but her old friends are still around. Xiao Shuang offered enough benefits in exchange, and soon someone secretly leaked the information.