Know This, Know This: Watch Madam Bai Turn the Tide

Bai Jingyun, née Bai, was the daughter of a salt merchant and the second wife of Gu Yankai, Marquis of Ningyuan. Her family’s salt business was famous far and wide, with connections in both respectable and criminal circles. The old Marquis Gu came to ask for Bai Jingyun’s hand in marriage to Gu Yankai, but Gu had married her only because the Gu family needed a huge sum of money from the Bai family to cover their debts. Gu Yankai’s first wife, Qin, was already in poor health. When Gu Yankai planned to divorce her and marry Bai, she was so furious that she died.

Bai Jingyun learned the truth about why Gu Yankai had married her only because the servants couldn’t keep their mouths shut. She and Gu Yankai argued to no avail. Instead, Bai, eight months pregnant, was angered to death, taking both her and her unborn child with her!

She watched the younger Mrs. Qin take her place in the household and stage one scheme after another. She watched her scheme and lie her way through everything, turning the brothers in the family against one another until they were no longer brothers in any meaningful sense. She watched her son achieve fame and status, marry, have children, rebuild the ancestral hall, and enjoy success in all things.

Bai Jingyun was finally able to rest in peace, but her life was not yet over. She was reborn on that very day.

Maid: “Tingyu, remember this: someone else killed your mother. You must never let your enemy get away with it.”

Gu Tingyu: “Who killed her?”

Maid: “The Bai woman in this house right now.”

Gu Tingyu: “I don’t understand. Lady Bai has always treated me well.”

Maid: “You silly child, it was all an act. The Bai family knew the authorities were investigating the Gu family’s debts. They had a little money, thought they could marry their way into power, and forced their daughter into our Marquis’s household, claiming she could help your grandfather repay the debt. They pressured your father to divorce your mother. Your father refused, but your mother...”