Born and raised into a provincial governor's family, she had a sickly mother and a loving father. Although her parents had tried to have a son, it was futile. Any other siblings she had, died young or were stillborn. At the age of fifteen her mother passed away suddenly one night. Being the only survivor, although sickly herself she had to find a suitable man to bring honor to her family. Her father, governor Fu Gang had arranged many suitors, but many declined due to her being in poor health. Only one man stayed, and that man was Ying Yue's father. Marquis Zi Wei Yang. He was the second son of a marquis family, and originally was not going to inherit anything. He had agreed to married Ying Yue's mother, because of her strong family background. Not long after marrying Ying Yue's father, governor Fu Gang died suddenly from a heart attack. With madam bai Shun as the only survivor she inherited everything. In doing so it helped Zi Wei Yang become the marquis. At the age of seventeen she became pregnant with Ying Yue, everything was going well so far. Until Ying Yues mother fell ill and became bedridden. Marquis Zi Wei Yang ended up cheating on Ying Yues mother and impregnating the prostitute Ma Dai. In doing so, they had Jia Li. Ma Dai didn't have an easy pregnancy. She struggled and nearly died, giving birth to Jia Li. Refusing to have another child, the marquis gave up on having an heir and therefore trained and raised Ying Yue like a man. With Ying Yue gone now; madam Bai Shun has gone insane with rage. Still blaming Ying Yues father for everything.
"Knock Knock."
"Madam Bai Shun, it's me Chunhua, I've brought you lunch."
"..."
"Madam?"
Chunhua was taking a break from her daily tasks and had snuck into the kitchen for some food for Ying Yue's mother. After calling for her numerous times and not hearing a reply, Chunhua forces her way in. There she sees Ying Yues mother, unresponsive.
"Madam Bai Shun?! Someone call the doctor!"
No one could hear Chunhua's call for help. Unable to do anything, Chunhua ran out of madam Bai Shun's residence and into the main hall. Making her way to where Ying Yue's father was, Chunhua begs for the marquis to call for a doctor.
"Marquis please help madam Bai Shun! Please call for a doctor!"
"Ah, is that woman finally dead? About time, I was getting tired of waiting."
"Please sir! She's dying!"
"Leave her be! I'm not wasting any more money calling for a doctor!"
Chunhua couldn't believe what she was hearing. With tears rolling down her eyes, she stormed out of the marquis residence. Digging into her sash she looked for any money she had to pay for a doctor. Knowing that she couldn't rely on them for help, she only had herself. As she was running, she bumped into Zhi Ruo and Bolin who were about to visit Ying Yue's mother. Bolin notices Chunhua crying and calls out to her.
"Chunhua? Where are you going to in such a hurry?"
"Bolin? Zhi Ruo? Please help madam Bai Shun!"
"What? What happened to her!"
"I tried bringing her food earlier and found her unconscious, I begged the marquis to let me call for a doctor, but he wouldn't allow it."
"Zhi Ruo I'm going to go fetch a doctor. I need you to go with Chunhua to check on madam Bai Shun."
"Alright, we're counting on you Bolin."
Bolin runs off to the nearest clinic he could find. Meanwhile Zhi Ruo and Chunhua returned to check on Ying Yue's mother. Zhi Ruo quickly ran to the bedside and checked on madam Bai Shun's pulse. Pulling up her sleeves, Zhi Ruo places her index and middle finger on madam Bai Shun's wrist.
"Hm... her pulse is weak, but she's still alive. You notified us on time, well done Chunhua."
"Sniff Sniff....will madam Bai Shun be okay?"
"Bolin is getting a doctor, we'll find out soon."
"Knock Knock."
"Come in."
Bolin came running as fast as he could. Bringing with him the closest doctor her could find. An old man looking to be in his fifties walks in after Bolin. The old man glances around the room and greets Zhi Ruo.
"I am Qin Ju. It is nice to see you again lady Zhi Ruo."
"Zhi Ruo, you know this doctor?"
"Yes, he was the one treating my mother when she was alive."
Qin Ju motions for everyone to stand out of his way as he goes in and checks on Ying Yue's mother. Odd enough she wasn't burning up or anything. Never seeing anything like it before. Rather than her body being weak, it was more like her spirit and mind was giving up on life. After examining her for ten minutes, Qin Ju, turns his gaze back to Bolin and Zhi Ruo.
"Hm, I have never seen anything like this before. I will prescribe some medicine for the madam, but it doesn't look like there's much we can do for her."
Zhi Ruo and Bolin could only stare at each other now. Wondering how they were ever going to forgive themselves if something happened to Ying Yue's mother. As Bolin was about to ask the doctor to check again, Marquis Zi Wei Yang and Ma Dai walked in with ten of their guards behind them.
"What is the meaning of this?! Who gave you permission to call for a doctor?"
"With all due respect marquis, madam Bai Shun is still your wife. It is your job to look after her!"
"Need I remind you, general Bolin that this is my household. Whatever I do in my home is none of your concern. Guards! Take them out of here and make sure none of them are allowed back in."
"You can't do this to us! Are you not even going to let Ying Yue rest in peace?!"
"Guards! Kick them out!"
Bolin fights off the guards and grabs Zhi Ruo by her hand with the doctor following closely behind, them they walked out of marquis Zi Wei Yang's home. With the front gate now closed, Bolin could only scratch his head in frustration. Finally realizing he was still holding onto Zhi Ruo's hand, he quickly releases her.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to grab your hand."
"I....I don't mind."
The two idiots were blushing from ear to ear. The doctor couldn't stand it anymore and decided to cut in between the two.
"Ahem, sorry to interrupt you two. But have you forgotten about what just happened to us?"
"Bolin, doctor Qin Ju is right. How are we ever going to check on madam Bai Shun now?"
"I don't know...I don't know! Ugh! Curse that old man!"
With everyone kicked out of the room, the marquis and madam Ma Dai quickly left as well. Leaving only Chunhua and madam Bai Shun. Chunhua walked to Ying Yue's mother's bed side and could only cry at how terrible she was being treated.
"Sniff....where are you Ying Yue?"
"Don't cry little Chunhua."
Hearing a voice, Chunhua quickly looked up and realized madam Bai Shun was awake. Barely able to talk, she motions for Chunhua to bring her some water. With Chunhua's help, she sat up against the wall. Madam Bai Shun heard everything. A feeling she had felt before was now overwhelming her.
"Chunhua, I need you to do a favor for me."
"What is it madam?"
"Take this money and go into the market, and buy me a dagger,"
"A dagger? What do you need it for?"
"Don't worry about the small details. Now run along."
Madam Bai Shun takes out a small pouch of money she had been saving. Although Chunhua was reluctant to go purchase a weapon, she did as she was told. Running out the front gate and into the town market, Chunhua was able to purchase a small dagger iron dagger, no more than eight inches for the price of forty silver coins.
"Madam Bai Shun, I'm back!"
"Thank you, for everything Chunhua. Keep the rest of that money and go back to your town. There is no need to continue working here. I am not long for this world and I'm afraid you may suffer if you continue to stay."
"What? What do you mean by that Madam Bai Shun? I can't abandon you, I promised Ying Yue!"
"It's alright, please understand as this is my last wish. You are dismissed."
Chunhua couldn't understand why. Slowly making her way to her sleeping quarters, Chunhua packed whatever she could and walked to the front entrance of the mansion. Getting in once last look, Chunhua couldn't believe she was really leaving. Worried that the madam might plan something, Chunhua makes a run for Bolin's residence. After running for what seemed like forever, she finally reaches the prime minister's residence.
"Please let me see master Bolin!"
The guards outside the front entrance refused to let Chunhua in. She was a commoner and was dressed like a maid no less. They started to laugh and mock her. Feeling anger well up inside her Chunhua screams for Bolin.
"Master Bolin! Please I need your help!"
With the guards now pushing her away from the entrance, Chunhua was lost on what to do. Feeling defeated, Chunhua turns her back and walks away feeling hopeless. That is, until a familiar voice called out to her.
"Chunhua? I had a feeling it was you."
"Master Bolin!"
"What's wrong? It's rare for you to pay me a visit. Come on in."
"I can't really say...."
Bolin motions for Chunhua to come inside. If she was here that means something may have happened to Ying Yues mother. Seeing how reluctant Chunhua was, Bolin turns to his two guards and gives them a warning.
"From now on, this woman is allowed to come and go as she pleases. I better not catch you two doing something again. Keep this in mind if you want to keep your jobs."
"Yes sir!"
The guards quickly apologized and gestured for Chunhua to follow Bolin. Chunhua could only nod in agreement and walk slowly behind Bolin. Making it into a corridor Bolin question Chunhua again.
"Did something happen at the marquis residence?"
"Bolin, I'm worried madam might do something horrible. She had me purchase a dagger from the market and dismissed me saying she didn't want to get me involved."
"What? That's unusual."
"Right?! You don't think she plans to kill herself with that dagger, do you?"
"If it's not for herself...it's for the marquis! This isn't good!"
"What are we going to do master Bolin?!"
"I'm no longer able to enter the marquis residence anymore, but I'll try heading there. In the meantime, I need you to go to duke Dong's residence and get Zhi Ruo."
"Alright...., I'll do it!"
Parting ways, Chunhua runs to find Zhi Ruo. Bolin wasted no time; quickly running to his stable, he grabs hold of his horse and makes a run towards the marquis residence. Meanwhile madam Bai Shun forces herself up. Slowly walking to the main hall, she hides the dagger within her sash. The marquis sees his first wife from the distance and was shocked to still see her able to move.
"Well, I guess you haven't kicked the bucket yet. Ha Ha!"
"..."
"What's that? I can't hear you."
"Let's have a little chat Zi Wei Yang."
The marquis stands up from his chair and moves closer to madam Bai Shun. Mocking her at every moment he could. Ma Dai could be heard laughing in the back.
"Go back to your residence Bai Shun. You're dirtying my mansion."
"You might want to send away your guards, whatever I say from here on out. You wouldn't want others to know, would you?"
The marquis gestures for his two guards to leave him alone. Leaving only Ma Dai, the marquis and Ying Yue's mother in the main hall.
"Never thought I'd see the day when you would walk into this mansion on your own. What do you think you're doing, coming here now?"
"Hah, you forget who helped you get to where you are today. I knew you were a frivolous man, but I didn't think you'd stoop so low as to make a prostitute your second wife."
"You better watch what you say!"
With the marquis now standing only inches away from her now. Bai Chun pulls out the dagger from her sash. Without any hesitation she stabbed the marquis right into his chest. The marquis grunts in pain and falls to the floor, bleeding and gasping for air. Ma Dai stares at the situation, in shock she screams for help. The guards all came storming in and surrounded Ying Yue's mother in a matter of seconds. Jia Li hears the commotion and runs to check on what was going on, only to find her father bleeding slowly to death. Bai Chun showed no remorse for what she had just done.
"You were wondering what I was doing here right? I'm only doing something I should've done years ago. You took my daughter away from me. You took everything that made me happy. If your whore of a daughter wasn't pregnant, I would've gone after her first. Killing her would've at least made you suffer like me."
The guards dragged Ying Yue's mother away to await trial for attempted murder. Meanwhile the marquis was taken to his sleeping quarters and treated by a doctor for the wound. As fate would have it, the marquis lived. Although he suffered a blow to the chest, Ying Yue's mother was too weak and could not dig the dagger in deep enough to kill him.
Bolin finally makes it to the residence after fifteen minutes. Arriving too late he could only see madam Bai Chun being handed over to royal guards. The residence was now filled with people gathering around the entrance. Pushing people out of his way, Bolin finally comes face to face with the royal guards.
"Wait! Why are you taking her away?!"
"Ah! General Bolin, she's going to be going on trial for attempted murder."
"What? There's no way that's true!"
Madam Bai Shun walks closer to Bolin and pats him on the shoulder, with a weak smile she assured him that this was what she wanted. She was finally breaking her shackles to the marquis household.
"It's alright Bolin. I got what I wanted in the end."
Bolin could only watch as Ying Yue's mother was dragged away. Chatter erupted from the group of people that gathered, Bolin watched in silence as the carriage carrying madam bai Shun disappear. Bolin stares into the distance until someone tapped him on the shoulders. Turning to see who it was, it was none other than Zhi Ruo and Chunhua.
"Bolin? What's going on?"
Scratching the back of his head in frustration, Bolin pulls Zhi Ruo and Chunhua to the side and told them about what madam Bai Shun has done. Zhi Ruo couldn't believe it, and Chunhua was now filled with guilt. Blaming herself for buying a dagger for the madam. Zhi Ruo still in disbelief, couldn't help but question Bolin again.
"Do you know when she's going on trial Bolin?"
"No, but I'm going to head to the palace and find out. Take Chunhua back with you, she's not safe if people know she was part of it."
Zhi Ruo nods in agreement and grabs hold of Chunhua. Each going their separate ways now. The only person Bolin could talk to was the emperor himself. By now, he was sure the emperor had heard of it already. After twenty minutes, Bolin finally reaches the palace. Quickly making his way into the throne room, Bolin interrupts the afternoon meeting that the emperor was having with his ministers.
"Bolin, what is the meaning of this?"
"Greetings your majesty, I apologize for disrupting your meeting but I'm sure you are aware as to why I am here."
The emperor sighs and dismisses all his minister. With only Bolin and the emperor left, the emperor finally breaks the tension.
"I know why you are here. I will tell you now that there is nothing I can do for Ying Yue's mother."
"I don't understand why not your majesty. You knew everything and didn't punish the marquis for his actions, and now those actions are the result of what happened today."
"I don't play favorites, Bolin. General Ying Yue was one of the best generals this kingdom ever had. No matter how great Ying Yue was I can't pardon her mother for trying to kill her husband. The public will not allow it."
"Ying Yue died for this country and now we're going to just sit back and watch her mother die?"
"You know the rules, attempted murder on a noble is punishable by death. She will go on trial a week from today. I will use her as an example to remind people of this country to not overstep their boundaries. I am done talking now, Bolin you may leave."
Quickly biding the emperor farewell, Bolin storms out of the throne room, hopping back onto his horse, he makes his way to Zhi Ruo's residence. Bolin was now fuming with rage. Unable to do anything for Ying Yue before and now with history repeating itself, he's unable to do anything for madam Bai Shun. Zhi Ruo sees Bolin at the entrance and quickly runs to him.
"Bolin? What happened with the emperor?"
"He won't help us, I should've known. He didn't help Ying Yue then. why would he help her mother now?"
"Oh no..... when's her trail?!"
"In a week, is what he told me. There will most likely be no trial. I'm certain the emperor will have her beheaded in front of the citizens as a lesson. There's nothing we can do now."
"Oh no..."
Zhi Ruo and Chunhua could only cry. Meanwhile Bolin was unsure of what to do. The emperor's decision was absolute. No one could go against it. Soon, nothing but crying noises could be heard throughout the day from duke Dongs residence.