newbobooks Chapter 17 The Hope of the Qiao Family
Chapter 17 The Hope of the Qiao Family
When Madam Qiao heard that the dowry had to be returned, she felt a pang of heartache. She hadn't even had a chance to warm the money in her arms before she had to give it back!
Seeing the reluctant expression on Old Lady Qiao's face, Bai Zhining immediately sneered.
"Fine, if you don't want to give it to me, I'll go back and write a memorial right away. Compared to money, I'd rather see your Qiao family fall into ruin. That would truly quell my hatred! Then I'll take Shu'er home and raise her under my name. I'll find her a wealthy and noble husband just the same!"
He turned and ran out, but Qiao Jizhou grabbed his thigh and made him cry out in pain.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, whatever you say, whatever you say! Chanzi's dowry will all be returned, returned!"
Madam Qiao, having now clearly grasped the pros and cons, immediately reluctantly agreed.
"Here you go! Give it all back to your family!"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingshu felt a great weight lifted from her heart.
Qiao Qingshu slowly walked to Xu Biyun and squatted down, her eyes filled with undisguised hatred.
"Ten years ago, you were dressed in rags and knelt at our gate with Liu Wan'er, begging to be taken in. At that time, my grandmother was away worshipping Buddha and it was my mother who helped you in, helped you wash and change your clothes, provided you with three meals a day, and cared for you. She was compassionate towards you because of your husband's death and your family's ruin. How have you treated her all these years?"
As Xu Biyun listened to these words, her thoughts were inevitably drawn back to the past. Recalling those memories, she lowered her eyes for a moment, not daring to look at Qiao Qingshu.
Qiao Qingshu had a pair of compassionate eyes just like Bai Shi's. When she wasn't angry, her narrow phoenix eyes were full of kindness, but when she got angry, they were terrifying.
When she first entered the Qiao residence and met Bai Chanzi, she was immediately impressed by her demeanor. Bai Chanzi's noble and dignified manner made Xu Biyun look even more pathetic and petty.
From that moment on, she began to envy her. Why was Bai Chanzi born into a noble family with such a good background and such dignity? Why did all the good things fall on her alone?
The seeds of malice took root and sprouted at that moment. For ten years, she schemed and plotted, wanting nothing more than to possess everything Bai Chanzi had ever envied since their first meeting.
Just when she was about to succeed, on the eve of victory, everything was ruined by her daughter!
She was resentful and bitter, knowing that now that things had developed to this point, she would never be able to obtain the position of the matriarch of the Qiao family in her lifetime.
She couldn't help but look up and glare at Qiao Qingshu, feeling no remorse whatsoever, and even disgusted that Qiao Qingshu was blocking her way.
Qiao Qingshu said coldly,
"You did such a despicable thing in front of my mother's spirit, did you think about the consequences?"
Xu Biyun provocatively said,
"Consequences? What consequences?"
Qiao Qingshu leaned close to her ear and whispered firmly,
"You will die. Die by my hand."
Xu Biyun, however, burst into triumphant laughter.
"I will not die, because I am already carrying the Qiao family's child."
After saying that, she crawled to Qiao Jizhou's feet, changing her expression to one of pitiful vulnerability.
"Second Master, Second Master, I haven't had a chance to tell you yet, I'm pregnant with your child! This is the hope of the Qiao family!"
Qiao Jizhou's mind twitched, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and he pulled Xu Biyun along, saying...
"Really, you're really pregnant?"
Grandma Qiao was overjoyed. Ignoring the disapproving looks from the Bai family, she helped Xu Biyun up and touched her belly.
"Really pregnant?"
Xu Biyun nodded hurriedly.
"How could this be false? If Second Master doesn't believe it, he can find a doctor to take a look and find out."
The imperial physician was summoned and, in full view of everyone, took Xu Biyun's pulse, confirming that she was indeed more than a month pregnant.
Madam Qiao and Qiao Jizhou disregarded their pride and knelt before the old lady of the Bai family.
“My dear in-law, please have pity on the Qiao family. Our legitimate son was abducted, and the Qiao family only has one illegitimate son, who is mentally challenged. Now we finally have a continuation of our family line. Please, my dear mother-in-law, have mercy and do not drive us to extinction.”
Bai Zhining frowned.
"What? You're going to let this slut give birth to a bastard child, and then help her rise to power? Where do you think you are with my sister? Don't even think about it! This slut and her bastard child must die!"
Qiao Jizhou hurriedly denied it, and kowtowed to Old Madam Bai,
"Mother-in-law, I will never make her my legal wife, I swear I will never remarry. I will only make her my concubine. Please, Mother-in-law, spare the Qiao family's life. Please don't drive us to extinction. The Qiao family bloodline is almost gone. It absolutely cannot end with me!"
Xu Biyun's eyes flashed with displeasure upon hearing this. Qiao Jizhou had clearly promised her to be his legal wife, but now, because of the Bai family's commotion, she could only be a concubine! Her hopes of many years had been dashed, and she felt a great deal of resentment in her heart. She glared fiercely at Qiao Qingshu and the Bai family with a burning resentment.
She blurted out something out of the blue.
"I won't be a mistress!"
Old Madam Qiao wanted to tear her mouth apart, and now this bastard was adding fuel to the fire.
Enraged, he bypassed two or three people and rushed forward, slapping Xu Biyun hard across the face.
"You little whore, shut your mouth! If you keep chewing on maggots here, you can get out of the Qiao mansion with your belly all over your head!"
Over the years, Xu Biyun has been spoiled by Qiao Jizhou to the point of being unruly. Not being very smart, she inevitably becomes complacent and fails to recognize the situation.
The slap made her see stars before she finally came to her senses a little more.
At this moment, Madam Bai looked at Qiao Qingshu and asked softly.
"Shu'er, you make the decision. If you don't want to see this old whore, my Bai family will definitely take care of her."
A cold smile crept across Qiao Qingshu's lips. How could she not know that Xu Biyun was pregnant?
In her past life, this vile woman also became pregnant at this time, killed her mother, and successfully gave birth to a boy. Because of her son, she gained status and firmly secured her position as the new mistress of the Qiao family.
Qiao Qingshu's performance today was also arranged at this specific time, so that she could personally get rid of the bastard child in Xu Biyun's womb in the future.
She wanted to kill Xu Biyun's child with her own hands at the moment when Xu Biyun was full of hope, so that she would taste that heart-wrenching pain!
Upon hearing of the great turmoil, Liu Wan'er rushed over from her own courtyard.
He knelt down in front of Old Mrs. Bai with a thud, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Madam Bai, my mother knows she was wrong. Please have mercy and spare their lives. She is pregnant, this is a double tragedy. Madam, you are the most kind person, how can you bear to do this?"
“My mother has had a hard life. All she ever wanted in this life was a peaceful place to live. We, a widow and her orphan, are living here, our hearts already adrift like duckweed. If she could be a concubine, my mother would definitely be willing. She would never covet the position of the principal wife. Please, Madam, have mercy and spare our lives, and also spare the life of our unborn child!”
Qiao Qingshu looked at the mother and daughter kneeling on the ground and thought to herself that Xu Biyun's stupid brain would have been exposed long ago if it weren't for Liu Wan'er's advice behind the scenes. How could she have kept it so well hidden from her mother and her?
Liu Wan'er is the one who's pretending to be weak while actually being strong; she's the mastermind behind it all.
She suddenly wanted to have a good fight with Liu Wan'er; she wanted Liu Wan'er to watch her mother and younger brother slowly die.
Xu Biyun was pregnant, and the Qiao family regarded this illegitimate child as their hope, so let's go along with their wishes for now.
Let the Qiao family experience the bitter taste of being filled with hope only to be disappointed and desperate.
Qiao Qingshu had already planned how to kill this wicked son in the future.