The servants already went to inform Lin Ping'er among the female guests. Lin Ping'er's face changed, she wanted to go over, but stopped in her tracks. It wasn't appropriate, and what help could she offer with her belly now?

Ji Ling, who was by Lin Ping'er's side, clenched her fist tightly. She had been staying by Fen Jiu's side, and only came to the front courtyard to celebrate when she heard her younger brother was being granted a title. But just as she said a few words, more guests arrived. Not trusting Lin Ping'er to be alone, she stayed nearby, only to hear news of Bai Guanghe.

That was her biological father, yet the father she didn't want to acknowledge at all.

In her naive youth, she foolishly asked her mother, "Why do you like a bookworm? He has no martial arts skills, isn't he a useless person?"

With a forlorn expression, Jiao Yunyun wearily reached up to touch her hair and said, "At first, even your mother looked down on that bookworm, but time and again, I was left speechless by his grand principles. In the end, I don't even know why, I just fell for him involuntarily."

Ji Ling could not understand why; she only thought her mother too foolish for falling for a useless person.

As she slowly grew older and found someone she liked, she then understood why.

Truly falling for someone, you can't control yourself, and you sink deeper and deeper.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll go take a look, hide in the shadows, and if help is needed, I'll offer it," Ji Ling said, holding Lin Ping'er's hand.

Lin Ping'er nodded, "Big sister, don't act impulsively, after all..."

After all they are father and daughter, but Lin Ping'er found those words inappropriate, swallowing them back.

"I understand." Ji Ling said, walking out.

Over at Bai Ruozhu's side, Bai Yihong was already beside him, and soon Bai Guanghe entered with his family to congratulate. Unexpectedly, following him were Bai Yuanxiu, the eldest son of the Bai Family whom Bai Ruozhu had met, and Bai Yuanshan with his wife Bai Qizhi.

She remembered Bai Yuanshan being very cordial to her, but the eldest son of the Bai Family didn't want any relations with them. Why did he personally come now?

Soon she figured out the reason.

Bai Yuanxiu acknowledging her father was to not lose his position as the eldest son and the inheritance right. But now her father was granted a title, even Bai Guanghe had no title, how could her father affect Bai Yuanxiu? Moreover, at this time if her father was willing to acknowledge Bai Guanghe, their Bai Family would be even more prestigious.

Bai Ruozhu felt irritated inside, uncertain if Bai Guanghe thought the same. If he sought favor, she would really be disgusted.

"Earl Jiaqing, congratulations." Bai Guanghe didn't act with the air of a senior, greeting with official manners, seemingly truly there to congratulate.

Bai Yihong was still a bit stunned. Knowing Bai Guanghe was his biological father, he harbored resentment but had never really met him. Now, facing him directly, he suddenly didn't know what to do.

His head was in chaos, is this man truly his biological father? Was he foolishly filial back then, or did he favor the concubine and forsake the wife?

Bai Ruozhu quietly tugged on her father's sleeve, gesturing back to Bai Guanghe's father and sons, "Thank you, Bai Minister. There is a banquet today at the house, Bai Minister may first have a seat."

Bai Yihong snapped out of it, hastily returned the gesture to Bai Guanghe, being tongue-tied and somewhat nervous, he simply said nothing.

Bai Guanghe secretly glanced at his eldest son, feeling greatly uncomfortable, involuntarily recalling the woman he had sworn to cherish with sea and mountain vows.

His body swayed, fortunately, the nearby Bai Yuanshan supported him, allowing him to steady himself.

Bai Yuanxiu had been scrutinizing Bai Yihong, his gaze carrying a judging tone, disdain flashing in his eyes.

Bai Ruozhu observed everything, discreetly glimpsing at Bai Yuanxiu, thinking little of her father, and she held the same disregard for this worthless person.

Fortunately, Bai Guanghe did not wish to linger. He soon took his two sons to the table and sat down, disappointing those who had been watching; was it not a grand show of recognition today?

At that moment, a maid came in to serve tea. Bai Ruozhu immediately spotted Ji Ling among them, her heart skipped a beat. Ji Ling had removed her jewelry, and usually dressed plainly, resembling one of the household managers' wives now.

But why would she disguise herself like this to come here? Is she observing Bai Guanghe? Or does she plan to do something to him?

Bai Ruozhu's heart leapt, the Jiuli Clan specialized in cultivating poisonous insects, even if her aunt was not an insect master, she certainly had some poisonous insect poison in hand. Was she intending to seek justice for her mother?

No, Bai Guanghe couldn't die at her aunt's hands, or else how could her aunt live peacefully afterward?

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath; perhaps she was just overthinking. She needed to calm down first.

She pretended nothing was amiss, approached the maids and said, "Bring some more heat-relieving tea, the weather is stifling; we can't let the guests catch heatstroke."

As she neared, she was very close to Ji Ling, and all the maids, including Ji Ling, responded positively. She looked into Ji Ling's eyes, finding them calm, without any hatred or intent to kill.

She may indeed be overthinking, Ji Ling might have just come to have a look.

Soon Ji Ling finished serving tea and withdrew, Bai Ruozhu found a chance to follow her out.

"Auntie, why did you..." Bai Ruozhu asked upon finding Ji Ling.

"Your mother wasn't assured, so I said I'd come over to look." Ji Ling sighed, "I couldn't help but come closer to see."

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief, "My father is fine. You don't have to acknowledge him if you don't want to, no one can force you, but if you want to acknowledge him, we will support your decision no matter when, you need not feel any burden."

Ji Ling smiled gratefully, "Actually, I thought I would hate him, but seeing his white hair, I couldn't bear it. But for now, I don't wish to acknowledge him. Thank you, Ruozhu."

The banquet carried on lively, the three fathers and sons of the Bai Family, plus Jiang Yichun, Zhang Liliang, and Wa San helped entertain the crowd, keeping the scene orderly.

Finally, as the banquet slowly wound down and guests began to take their leave, Bai Ruozhu felt relieved too.

Just then, Jianqi hurried over, softly telling Bai Ruozhu, "Master, quickly go have a look. Senior Fen Jiu has awakened, but something is very wrong."

Bai Ruozhu, without bothering to inform her father, rushed toward the backyard, Jiang Yichun hurriedly following.

When Bai Ruozhu arrived, a strong scent of blood greeted her before even entering the room, tightly clenching her heart as if seized by an enormous hand.

She took a deep breath and rushed in.

"Ruozhu, quickly see what's wrong with Fen Jiu! He opened his eyes and became like this, holding his head and screaming in agony, continuously bleeding, and no matter how I called him, he seemed not to hear." Ji Ling desperately held Fen Jiu, crying and speaking to Bai Ruozhu.

At that moment, Fen Jiu gripped his head with both hands, shaking it in agony, emitting sounds akin to a beast's wails, while his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth were bleeding, continually bleeding!

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