Chapter 94 – Rebirth: The Poisonous Concubine (35)
Before the Emperor could fully regret his decision, an urgent decree was sent to Yu Chenyi. The message conveyed that “excessive action leads to unintended consequences” and ordered him to suspend the investigation of corrupt officials while also stripping him of his imperial inspector authority.
Yu Chenyi, however, was indifferent. As long as he could stay with Mo Mo, he was content with anything. Without this task, their honeymoon would only last longer.
The couple did not rush back to the capital. With their parents having resigned from office, they had no desire to return. Moreover, once Lady Yu’s pregnancy stabilized after three months, both families planned to move back to the countryside, making a return to the capital even more unnecessary—better to avoid becoming pawns in the power struggle between the Emperor and the Prime Minister.
The term “pawn” was Bai Mo’s way of putting it—it meant a sacrificial substitute.
Enjoying their journey through mountains and rivers, they gradually headed northwest, as Bai Mo had promised Madam Bai to visit his older brother, and he was not one to break his word.
His elder brother had been stationed at the border and was unable to attend his wedding. Although he wasn’t there in person, he had still sent a generous gift. Whether it was heartfelt or not, Bai Mo couldn’t say—he didn’t even know what the original host of his body liked—but it was certainly valuable, enough to make Xiao Bobao ’s eyes sparkle with greed.
“Big Brother hasn’t met his younger brother-in-law yet. You better behave well. I heard he might have…” The closer they got to the Northwest Army’s garrison, the harsher the environment became. Bai Mo couldn’t help but worry. Harsh environments shape people, and even the best temper might change under such conditions. Given that his older brother had held the border for years, his strength was unquestionable.
“I did steal his only younger brother. If he tries to fight me, you have to protect me, Mo Mo.” Yu Chenyi teased, trying to lighten the mood when he noticed Bai Mo getting nervous.
Unexpectedly, Bai Mo only grew more tense. A Northwest General’s martial skills were no joke!
“Then you better hide behind me and keep your distance from Big Brother,” Bai Mo said seriously, his young face taut with tension.
To prevent a scenario where his dear husband ended up bruised and battered, Bai Mo even exchanged a protective barrier with Xiao Bobao—just in case the two really did fight when he wasn’t looking.
Xiao Bobao: “…… That’s totally unnecessary, Mo Mo. Do you even know what your husband is capable of? No ordinary person could possibly hurt him.”
But once a little snow ferret made up its mind, not even Xiao Bobao’s words could change it. Anyway, they’d be going home soon, and these reward points would be useless afterward. If they were wasted, so be it.
With lightning speed, Xiao Bobao exchanged for the highest-level protective barrier, perfectly embodying the attitude of a landlord’s son who never worried about food shortages.
Bai Mo was satisfied and continued riding leisurely forward with Yu Chenyi, sharing the same horse.
…
Military Camp
“General, there are two people outside claiming to be your younger brother and brother-in-law, requesting to see you.” A soldier presented a jade pendant—one that Madam Bai had specifically prepared for both brothers, ensuring each had one.
Yu Chenyi and Bai Mo didn’t have to wait long before Bai Zhu appeared, followed closely by several curious onlookers.
Perhaps it was the bond of blood relations, but despite never having seen Bai Zhu before, Bai Mo recognized him immediately. The moment he saw the man, his round little face lit up with a sweet smile, his voice dripping with sugar as he called out:
“Big Brother~”
The affectionate greeting made a certain someone very unhappy. He gets called ‘Brother Chenyi,’ but Bai Zhu gets called ‘Big Brother’? How many “good brothers” did this heartless little guy have, exactly?
Bai Mo dashed toward Bai Zhu, and for the first time in years, Bai Zhu’s stoic face softened into a rare smile. He reached out and ruffled his younger brother’s hair, which had grown taller since their last meeting.
“Mo Mo has grown taller.”
“You haven’t seen me in years! I didn’t just grow taller—I even got married!” Bai Mo turned back and beckoned Yu Chenyi over.
“Brother Chenyi, come here~”
If a mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law and grew more fond of him the longer she observed, then an older brother looking at his brother-in-law would only find fault no matter how long he stared.
Too pale. Too thin. That smile is too dazzling. Had to rely on Mo Mo to take the lead just to request a meeting? Too timid.
Bai Zhu had opinions about every inch of Yu Chenyi, and when Yu Chenyi bowed respectfully and greeted him with a smooth, gentle voice,
“General Bai.”
Even his warm, jade-like tone felt like a mistake.
Not manly enough. How was he supposed to protect Mo Mo?
Conclusion: Yu Chenyi is just a pretty boy.
“I’ve heard of you. Come inside, and we’ll talk.” Bai Zhu’s face turned cold, a stark contrast to the warmth he had shown Bai Mo.
Bai Mo, still worried they might actually start fighting, quickly tried to ease the tension with a preemptive explanation.
“Brother Chenyi treats me really well, Big Brother. You’ll understand once you get to know him…”
Bai Zhu merely grunted in acknowledgment, then turned to glance at Yu Chenyi, who followed calmly and effortlessly behind. In his mind, Bai Zhu was already calculating eighteen different ways to “educate” this so-called husband of Bai Mo’s.
His Mo Mo wasn’t that easy to marry.
The only reason Yu Chenyi had succeeded was because he hadn’t been home. But now that the man had delivered himself to his doorstep, it was the perfect chance to set things right.
No one gets to steal Mo Mo from me. Not even his brother-in-law.
Yu Chenyi’s smile didn’t waver, as if he truly embodied the gentle and refined gentleman described in rumors.
The two men locked eyes, and invisible sparks ignited between them in midair.
Meanwhile, Xiao Bobao could only hold its head in its hands.
Mo Mo, for the love of everything, please stop talking. Can’t you see your dear husband’s eyes are practically shooting flames?
Did Bai Mo notice? Of course he did.
But he was too busy chatting with Bai Zhu about everything that had happened at home. Sure, his brother had received letters about it, but that was nothing compared to hearing the details straight from someone who had lived through it.
And sure enough, after listening to one outrageous incident after another—kidnapping, the disastrous flower banquet, the wedding fiasco— Bai Zhu’s expression had turned so dark that even the term “ashen-faced” didn’t do it justice.
Xiao Bobao stole a cautious glance at Bai Zhu.
Oh, wow. That’s beyond furious. That’s full-on “black as the bottom of a pot” level of rage.
Congratulations, Bai Zhu. You’ve just won the title of the next King of the Underworld.
In the letters Bai Shangshu sent to Bai Zhu, nothing was deliberately concealed.
However, certain people had been keeping a close watch on their correspondence. For the past two years, every single letter had been intercepted before reaching Bai Zhu.
If the contents were harmless daily updates, the letters were resealed and delivered intact. But anything involving court affairs or potentially sensitive information was copied and rewritten before being sent to Bai Zhu.
As a result, the only thing Bai Zhu knew for certain was that Bai Mo and Yu Chenyi had teamed up to capture the leader of a notorious child trafficking ring—a case so shocking that it had reached even the distant Northwest, with or without a letter.
But as for everything else? Bai Zhu had never heard a word of it. Those details had been completely erased from his knowledge.
Bai Mo, as always, was oblivious to political maneuvering.
However, when Bai Zhu’s expression darkened, both Yu Chenyi and Bai Zhu’s subordinates took immediate notice. Exchanging glances, they quickly came to a silent agreement—do not discuss this in front of Mo Mo.
Bai Zhu was well known for his fierce devotion to family, especially to his younger brother. Whenever he saw something good, his first thought was always to send it to Mo Mo. Naturally, he did not want his younger brother’s ears tainted by these dirty matters.
His subordinates, fully aware of their general’s temperament, also held their tongues, no matter how much they wanted to speak.
“Mo Mo, go rest in the tent first. You barely slept last night. I need to have a word with your brother.”
Once Bai Mo had finished speaking, Yu Chenyi deliberately steered him away. He turned to Bai Zhu with a smile and added a casual explanation:
“Mo Mo was so excited about seeing you today that he spent half the night stressing over what gift to bring. He kept worrying that you wouldn’t like it.”
This was to clarify—when he said Mo Mo ‘didn’t sleep well,’ it wasn’t for the reason people might assume.
He was not some insatiable beast.
Hearing this, Bai Zhu’s darkened expression finally eased, if only slightly.
He nodded, acknowledging the explanation.
“I like whatever Mo Mo gives me,” he said simply. Then, turning to his younger brother, he added, “Tonight, I’ll roast a whole lamb for you.”
Little Snow ferret, a devoted meat lover, immediately let out an excited cheer:
“Yay~!”
As for whether Yu Chenyi would get beaten up by Bai Zhu… Bai Mo wasn’t worried at all.
After all, the protective shield he exchanged with Xiao Bobao was already in place—his Brother Chenyi wouldn’t get hurt.
…
Capital City.
The elderly and expectant Madam Yu was treated like a national treasure by Censor Yu, who cherished her with utmost care. While he planned for their swift departure, he also worried that the long journey might take a toll on her health.
Yet, after drinking the prenatal tonic Bai Mo had exchanged, Madam Yu felt perfectly fine and couldn’t help but find her husband’s anxious demeanor amusing.
“I’m really fine. We should set out as soon as possible. The longer we stay, the greater the risk. We also don’t want our children to worry about us, do we?” Holding Censor Yu’s hand, she spoke gently. It wasn’t mere comforting words—she genuinely believed it.
After all, every pregnancy was different. When she was carrying Chenyi, she could hardly eat anything without throwing up. But this time, she found everything delicious and wasn’t picky at all.
Meanwhile, turbulent times loomed over the capital. The Prime Minister’s secret maneuvers were becoming increasingly aggressive.
Although Bai and Yu had already resigned from their posts, rendering them less of a threat, it was better to be cautious.
The Prime Minister might not waste resources on them, but one could never be too careful—what if innocent people got caught in the crossfire?
After discussing the matter, the Bai and Yu families agreed to leave in three days.
…
The Emperor had assumed that although both men had resigned under the pretense of retiring, their continued presence in the capital suggested they were merely biding their time.
However, when he could no longer withstand the mounting pressure and sought to call them back, he sent people to their estates—only to discover both residences deserted. The servants had been dismissed, and not even a single caretaker remained.
It was clear—they had no intention of returning.
At that moment, the Emperor deeply regretted his decision.
What had he done?
He had cut off his own arms.
…
Regardless, the departure of Minister Bai and Censor Yu served as a huge morale boost for the Prime Minister. He had worried that, since they had resigned but not left, there was always a chance they could return to court at any time. But now? They were truly gone. A burden had finally been lifted.
When one of his aides suggested eliminating them entirely, the Prime Minister rejected the idea—not because he feared doing so, but because he couldn’t afford to.
Censor Yu’s family background ran deep. While he himself was not from the main branch, his grandfather was, and the current Yu family head was his paternal cousin. If something happened to him right after leaving the capital, the Yu family would easily trace it back to the Prime Minister. Inciting a rebellion among scholars was not a risk worth taking.
“As long as they’re gone, that’s enough. There’s no need to concern ourselves with insignificant people.”
With that, he instructed his wife to visit Wei Yuyan frequently in the palace and provide whatever she needed from their household.
Until his own son was born, the child in his daughter’s womb must remain unharmed.
…
The Prime Minister was not so ruthless as to stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Wei Yuyan was still his daughter, and the child she carried was still his grandson. He merely needed Wei Yuyan to cooperate with him. On the day of the birth, they would swap the babies, and everything would be settled. His grandson would still be well taken care of—after all, he carried his bloodline too.
The Prime Minister’s wife obediently agreed to everything.
Her sudden compliance made the Prime Minister regard her in a new light. He reassured her, saying:
“Once this is done, I will not mistreat you. You will always be my wife.”
“I understand now. In the past, I was thinking too narrowly,” the Prime Minister’s wife said, shedding tears at just the right moment. She appeared remorseful and reformed, stirring up the Prime Minister’s fond memories of their younger years.
“As long as you understand.” The Prime Minister patted his wife’s hand reassuringly. She said nothing more, but in her lowered gaze, hatred and satisfaction intertwined.
That position belongs to my grandson— and mine alone.