《Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Rebirth_1 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Rebirth_1 Bai Qingyan drank a bowl of bitter medicine. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and leaned against the bed, staring in a daze at the white jade vase filled with red plum blossoms. She had clearly died. How could she open her eyes and return to the fourteenth of the twelfth lunar month in the fifteenth year of Xuanjia? She remembered that on the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, her second sister Bai Jinxiu got married, and the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage arrived half an hour earlier for the bridal procession. The seventeen sons of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s family had all gone to the southern border battlefield. The elders who had arranged for relatives to block the entry were unsuccessful, as they were gathered in a remote part of the backyard, gambling on cricket fights. No one was there to block the entrance, causing Bai Jinxiu to leave an hour early. Just that one hour early, the procession encountered assassins targeting King Liang. Bai Jinxiu, upon hearing of the attack, protected King Liang but lost her life to the knife. Thinking of King Liang¡­ Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, gripping the bedsheet tightly. Her breathing became unsteady. Her mind was filled with the indifferent, mocking gaze of King Liang before her death. His sharp features were terrifying. He knelt in front of the bloodied and weak Bai Qingyan, who couldn¡¯t even lift her head. He said many things. He spoke of how he had conspired with her grandfather¡¯s deputy general Liu Huanzhang to kill all the men of the Bai family. He described how he used the military book Bai Qingyan had given him, with her grandfather¡¯s handwriting, to forge letters proving the Bai family¡¯s treason. He even forced the Bai clan¡¯s remaining orphans into a dead end. In her past life, she was foolish enough to believe that King Liang¡¯s feelings for her were unparalleled. She thought he aimed for a high position to clear the Bai family¡¯s name. She willingly followed him into battle, achieving great military merit for him, helping him secure the position of Crown Prince. But he not only killed her grandfather, father, and brothers, but also didn¡¯t spare her sisters. Thinking of the tragic fate of her seven sisters at King Liang¡¯s hands, a surge of anger and grief filled Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart. Her stomach twisted in pain, and she wished to tear apart the heartless beast that was King Liang. ¡°Miss¡­¡± Chun Tao, the head maid, called out softly. Holding a box, she said in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Hong¡¯s medicine is very effective but too bitter. Miss, please have a piece of candied fruit to change the taste.¡± Bai Qingyan picked a piece of ginger plum candy, putting it in her bitter mouth. She looked at Chun Tao, who was placing a soft pillow behind her back. Chun Tao was the daughter of her mother¡¯s wet nurse, Mrs. Dong. She had been by Bai Qingyan¡¯s side since childhood and was utterly loyal. ¡°Second Miss, the roads are slippery with snow. How did you come over?¡± Outside, a cleaning woman cautiously flattered. Inside the warm room, Chun Yan, who was about to bend down to stoke the fire, put down the fire tongs and stepped out to greet with a tone of displeasure, ¡°Second Miss.¡± The Bai family¡¯s Second Miss, Bai Jinxiu, stepped onto the porch, removing her cloak. She softly asked Chun Yan, who had just greeted her, ¡°Is our eldest sister feeling better?¡± ¡°Thanks to Second Miss¡¯s concern, the eldest is doing well. Second Miss is getting married to the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage tomorrow and has many things to prepare. Why come to Qinghui Courtyard in such heavy snow?¡± Chun Yan¡¯s tone was unpleasant, her words sharp. Originally, the Princely Heir was betrothed to their eldest sister. But because the eldest suffered an injury on the battlefield at sixteen, leaving her with a difficult condition, the engagement was transferred to the second sister. Chun Yan couldn¡¯t accept this. Hearing the commotion, Chun Tao glanced outside the partition. She tucked the quilt around Bai Qingyan and asked, ¡°Miss, Second Miss is here to see you. Do you want to meet her?¡± Bai Qingyan clenched her fist, remembering how King Liang had said that he spared her life because Bai Jinxiu, on her wedding day, protected him and begged him to take care of Bai Qingyan. Her heart ached, and she hoarsely instructed, ¡°Go welcome the Second Miss.¡± Chun Tao answered and went to greet the Second Miss properly, gesturing for her to come in. ¡°The eldest just drank her medicine and is feeling much better. She instructed me to welcome you. Please come in, Second Miss!¡± Chun Tao personally lifted the curtain for Bai Jinxiu. Bai Jinxiu entered, the warmth hitting her as she entered. Afraid of bringing in the cold, she warmed herself by the fire at the entrance before going inside. ¡°Eldest sister¡­¡± Seeing Bai Jinxiu¡¯s pure and delicate face again, feelings of shame and guilt surged within Bai Qingyan. It was her hesitation with King Liang that made Bai Jinxiu think she loved him, leading to her death protecting him. She felt she had let down Bai Jinxiu and the entire Bai family. Chun Tao had the maid bring a stool and place it by the bed. Before Bai Jinxiu could sit, the bitter-tasting Bai Qingyan, with reddened eyes, beckoned to her, ¡°Jinxiu¡­come closer!¡± Bai Jinxiu lifted her skirt hem and sat on the edge of the bed. She felt Bai Qingyan seemed aged and grave. Holding Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand with concern, she asked, ¡°Eldest sister, is it because of tomorrow that you¡­¡± Before Bai Jinxiu could finish, Bai Qingyan shook her head, choking up, ¡°Jinxiu, I hope you promise me that no matter what happens in the future, you must protect yourself. Got it?¡± ¡°Big sister?¡± Bai Jinxiu was puzzled. ¡°Promise me!¡± She tightly grasped Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand. Seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s unstable breath, Bai Jinxiu quickly nodded, ¡°I understand, eldest sister!¡± With many things to prepare for her wedding tomorrow, Bai Jinxiu sat briefly and then left. After seeing Bai Jinxiu off, Bai Qingyan dismissed all the maids. Lying in bed, she rethought everything concerning King Liang and the Bai family. It felt like a cold nightmare. From Bai Jinxiu¡¯s death, the Bai family was gradually pushed into an abyss. Heaven had allowed her to return to the day before her second sister¡¯s wedding. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let Bai Jinxiu and the Bai family repeat the past. With Bai Jinxiu leaving tomorrow, she needed thorough preparation. If their incompetent cousins gambled on crickets again, someone reliable must take charge. And the assassination on Changan Street involving King Liang, which was concluded as the work of Nanyan spies. Now that she thought about it, what would motivate Nanyan spies to infiltrate Dadu City and assassinate a prince with a weak reputation? Moreover, she needed to send trustworthy people to the southern border. If possible, it was best to save her grandfather and father. If not, she needed to gather evidence early to prevent King Liang from framing the Bai clan. She couldn¡¯t hide the possibility of losing the Bai family¡¯s men in the southern border from her grandmother. She had to prepare her grandmother gently in advance. Thus, when the battle reports came back to Dadu City, her grandmother wouldn¡¯t be too shocked to pass away. As long as her grandmother, the emperor¡¯s aunt, remained, the Bai family wouldn¡¯t be as vulnerable as before. Bai Qingyan¡¯s body was still weak, and the excessive thinking made her tired. Half asleep, she dreamed of her grandfather, father, and her seventeen brothers. She also dreamed of her grandmother, with tears streaming down her face, holding her and her mother¡¯s hands on her deathbed, saying she felt useless for not being able to support the Bai family during its hardest times. She entrusted the responsibility of protecting the Bai family¡¯s widows to her mother Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan. ¡°Grandmother!¡± She screamed, sitting up, her chest heaving violently. Seeing she was still in her bed at Qinghui Courtyard, her pounding heart slowly calmed down. Her white underclothes were soaked with sweat, and her embroidered pillow was wet with tears. She closed her eyes, remembering the scene in the dream. She couldn¡¯t delay¡­all plans needed to be arranged quickly. Trying to muster her energy, she threw off the quilt and called out hoarsely, ¡°Chun Tao¡­¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Grandmother_1 Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Grandmother_1 ¡°Big Miss!¡± Chun Yan responded, lifting the heavy curtain and coming in from outside. She saw Bai Qingyan sitting on the bedside and quickly grabbed a cloak lined with thin cotton to drape over Bai Qingyan, saying, ¡°Sister Chun Tao went to help Mrs. Luo at the madam¡¯s place and hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± Seeing that Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t look well, Chun Yan couldn¡¯t hide her worry. ¡°Why did you get up without calling someone to assist you?¡± ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s past noon.¡± Chun Yan pulled up the bed curtains on both sides. ¡°Do you want some shredded chicken porridge? Mrs. Fang has been simmering it in the small kitchen, and the aroma is quite tempting.¡± She adjusted the cloak. ¡°Help me get up.¡± With the call of, ¡°Big Miss is up,¡± the once-quiet courtyard quickly became lively. Those sweeping snow continued sweeping, and those preparing water continued their tasks. Soon, the maids in charge of washing lined up under the eaves, holding rinse water, spittoons, copper basins, and towels. Chun Yan then ordered the curtain to be lifted and led the maids in. Chun Tao returned to Qinghui Courtyard. Hearing that Big Miss was up, she dusted off the snow on her body and quickly entered to serve. Seeing Bai Qingyan dressed in a plain, white jacket and skirt embroidered with flowers, draped in a white fox fur cloak looking ready to go out, Chun Tao hurriedly stepped forward to fasten her cloak. ¡°It¡¯s snowing heavily outside, Miss. You¡¯re still ill. Where are you going?¡± ¡°To visit Grandmother.¡± Chun Tao hesitated but helped Bai Qingyan put on the cloak. She took a hot coal from the brazier and put it in a hand warmer. She knew that no matter how she tried to convince her, it was futile against their determined Big Miss. Bai Qingyan took the hand warmer from Chun Tao and held it to her chest. She instructed, ¡°Later, when I am with Grandmother, you need not serve us. Instead, discreetly go to the front courtyard and have Lu Ping wait for me by the rockery corridor in the back courtyard in half an hour. I have something to tell him.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chun Tao responded. Bai Qingyan took a few steps, tightened her grip on the hand warmer, and glanced back at Chun Yan, who was tidying up the clothes trunk. Currently loyal to her, she said, ¡°Chun Yan, ask Qingzhu to come find me at the hour of the rooster.¡± Considering the timing, she feared the men of the Bai family were all lost. But since fate had given her another chance, Bai Qingyan wanted to strive with all her might. If she could save even one, it would be better than doing nothing at all. ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll finish packing and then go find Miss Shen!¡± Chun Yan replied cheerfully. The snow had not yet stopped. She walked through the snow, the smart little maid sweeping snow outside Changshou Courtyard spotted her from afar and hurried inside to report. Bai Qingyan hadn¡¯t even reached the courtyard entrance when Nanny Jiang, who served her grandmother, rushed out to meet her. ¡°Big Miss, the snow hasn¡¯t stopped. Why are you here?¡± Nanny Jiang held an umbrella and, with a group of maids, walked briskly to Bai Qingyan. Naturally, she took the half-warm hand warmer from Bai Qingyan and replaced it with a new, warm one, personally holding the umbrella for Bai Qingyan. Years ago, Bai Qingyan had been stabbed in the abdomen and fell into the water, leaving her with a condition that made her intolerant of the cold. Everyone in the household knew this. Nanny Jiang had served by her grandmother¡¯s side since she was seven. She never married and later followed her grandmother in death by swallowing gold. Her loyalty was evident. ¡°Nanny¡­¡± Bai Qingyan queried while walking towards Changshou Courtyard with Nanny Jiang. ¡°Has Grandmother woken from her nap?¡± ¡°The Eldest Princess is awake. She is currently praying to Buddha for the safe return of the Duke and the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°How has Grandmother¡¯s health been lately?¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t worry. The Eldest Princess has been well cared for by the Imperial Medical Bureau¡¯s director. The only issue is the nearing year¡¯s end. With the Duke, the Crown Prince, and the brothers not yet back, the Eldest Princess hasn¡¯t been sleeping well.¡± Nanny Jiang reported. Bai Qingyan nodded and entered the warm room to adjust her clothes. Nanny Jiang methodically instructed others to change Bai Qingyan¡¯s snow-drenched shoes and socks and to bring hot water for her to wash her hands. ¡°Nanny, don¡¯t busy yourself just yet. I have something to tell you.¡± She untied her cloak and handed it to Chun Tao, then sat by the brazier. ¡°Everyone else, leave us¡­¡± Nanny Jiang, being shrewd, knew Bai Qingyan had something important to say and stood quietly to the side. ¡°Nanny, there¡¯s news from the southern frontier¡­¡± Nanny Jiang held her breath, sensing something bad, her face paling. ¡°Is it about the Duke¡­¡± Bai Qingyan stared into the brazier, extending her hand for warmth, and after a moment of silence, said, ¡°I need you to take out the life-saving medicine the Empress Dowager bestowed upon Grandmother last time, and also prepare some ginseng slices.¡± Nanny Jiang nodded, her face pallid. A crisp ¡°crack¡± sounded, and Bai Qingyan turned to look out the carved wooden window. A tree branch, weighed down by snow, had snapped. Her icy fingers tightened, and she pressed her lips together. ¡°Also, have someone take Grandmother¡¯s name card to invite Doctor Huang to be on standby.¡± ¡°Big Miss, truth be told, the Eldest Princess hasn¡¯t been sleeping well lately and might have had a premonition!¡± Nanny Jiang¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°The Eldest Princess has always been strong. There¡¯s no need to summon the Imperial Physician. She can hold on.¡± ¡°Nanny, let¡¯s still have the doctor come.¡± Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, her tears becoming visible. Her previous life had already taught her how strong her grandmother was and how much she could endure. In this life, she was too afraid of losing her loved ones. She knew that with Grandmother¡¯s wisdom, even if she used the excuse of a prophetic dream, Grandmother might still guess some of the truth. She had to be fully prepared. ¡°Could it be¡­ the Crown Prince is also in trouble?¡± Nanny Jiang held onto the doorframe, her legs nearly giving way. The Crown Prince, as Nanny Jiang referred to him, was Bai Qingyan¡¯s father and the Eldest Princess¡¯s legitimate son. She looked at Nanny Jiang, her eyes wet and red, but her back straight. ¡°Nanny is not an outsider. I¡¯m not afraid to confide in you. In the future, the entire Bai family might have to rely on Grandmother. You must understand the gravity of this. Before the official Imperial Court battle report arrives, I plan to use the pretense of a dream to prepare Grandmother in advance. Grandmother will still need your care, so you must stay strong.¡± Nanny Jiang felt her head buzzing and broke into a cold sweat. She nodded, understanding the seriousness of the matter. If a child could endure this, she, who had survived the palace¡¯s intrigues, had no reason not to be as strong as a child. Nanny Jiang gathered her spirits and immediately had someone take the Eldest Princess¡¯s invitation to summon Doctor Huang. In the side room, Bai Qingyan warmed herself to drive away the chill. Estimating that Doctor Huang should have arrived, she then asked Nanny Jiang to report her arrival to the Eldest Princess. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re not well. Why did you come in the snow?¡± The Eldest Princess scolded lightly upon seeing Bai Qingyan, though her tone was reproachful. The Eldest Princess still reached out to touch Bai Qingyan, checking her warmth before her expression softened. Seeing her grandmother again and hearing her call her childhood name, Bai Qingyan felt like she had been separated by a lifetime¡­ She suppressed the lump in her throat and said, ¡°Grandmother, I just wanted to see you.¡± The Eldest Princess looked at Bai Qingyan¡¯s childlike demeanor, pretended to be angry and tapped Bai Qingyan¡¯s forehead with a finger, pulling her into her arms. She checked Bai Qingyan¡¯s hands for warmth and kindly said, ¡°In about an hour, the court painters will arrive. Everyone else is tidying up in their rooms, yet you¡¯re running to see me!¡± Tomorrow, the second sister of the Duke of Zhen would be married. She was the first daughter of the Duke of Zhen to be wed. Grandmother specially invited several court painters to paint portraits of her granddaughters. Embracing the Eldest Princess and smelling the sandalwood scent on her, Bai Qingyan felt even more sorrowful, fearing that this news, once spoken, would lead to the same outcome as in her past life. Seeing Nanny Jiang enter with the curtain, nodding at her, Bai Qingyan knew Doctor Huang had arrived, and that Nanny Jiang had sent away the people at the door. ¡°Grandmother¡­¡± She looked up at the Eldest Princess. ¡°I had a dream at noon today. I dreamt that Grandfather, Father, our uncles, and brothers couldn¡¯t return from the southern frontier. You fell ill from the shock, and someone accused our Bai family of collusion. We were left with only women, and without your protection, we were at the mercy of others.¡± Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Hold on_1 Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Hold on_1 ¡°Eldest Princess¡± heard Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, her body stiffened, and the blood drained from her face. Nanny Jiang hurriedly poured out the life-saving pill granted by the Empress Dowager and handed it over with water to the Eldest Princess: ¡°Eldest Princess¡­¡± The Eldest Princess waved her hand at Nanny Jiang, comforting Bai Qingyan: ¡°Silly child, it was just a dream. Dreams are always the opposite.¡± ¡°This dream was too real, too terrifying! Grandmother¡­ I dreamt that the entire court mocked our Bai family for having no men, mocked our family for having no one to protect us. I saw our sisters being hurriedly sent away by Mother, changing names and never to contact again. I saw Mother struggling to clear the Bai Clan¡¯s grievances without any means¡­ hanging herself in the prison along with our aunts, leaving behind a blood oath! I was really, really scared.¡± Her hatred and sorrow in her eyes shocked the Eldest Princess. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t be afraid!¡± The Eldest Princess held Bai Qingyan tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! Grandmother is here with you!¡± After speaking with the Eldest Princess for a while, Bai Qingyan left. As soon as she left, the Eldest Princess could no longer hold on, clutching her chest and vomiting blood, collapsing onto the couch. ¡°Princess!¡± Nanny Jiang quickly supported the Eldest Princess, wiping the blood from the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, and called out in panic, ¡°Someone, quickly call Doctor Huang!¡± The Eldest Princess grabbed Nanny Jiang, shaking her head and holding back tears, asking: ¡°Have they gone far?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Eldest Princess, the Eldest Young Lady has already gone far¡­¡± Nanny Jiang¡¯s voice was choked with sobs. The Eldest Princess loosened her grip slightly, tears falling like broken strings: ¡°I raised that Kid myself, don¡¯t I know her temperament? She must be afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to take the news and made this dream up to tell me; otherwise, why would she bring such ethereal matters before me, making me worry with her!¡± Nanny Jiang also cried, holding the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand tightly: ¡°Princess, you must hold on! If the dream Eldest Young Lady mentioned becomes true, our Duke of Zhen Mansion will still depend on you!¡± ¡°Hold on! Of course, I have to hold on!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s eyes reddened like torches, she braced herself against the edge of the table, sitting upright, ¡°If all the men of our Bai family truly die in their armor, and I too fall, the Duke of Zhen Mansion would indeed be vulnerable! For these kids, I must hold on!¡± Nanny Jiang nodded repeatedly: ¡°Eldest Princess, Doctor Huang is already here. Let him come in and take your pulse! Your health must not falter now!¡± The Eldest Princess nodded, closing her pained eyes. Thinking of her husband, son, and grandson possibly dead in the South Frontier, her heart felt torn apart, a wrenching pain. But now, she had no time to grieve. She had to think things through before any definite news returned to Dadu City. If the news was indeed true, she must plan what future lay ahead for their Duke of Zhen Mansion. ¡¤ Bai Qingyan came out of the Eldest Princess¡¯s residence, just in time to see the fourth, fifth, and sixth young ladies riding back on horseback. In the thick snow, the three little girls, dressed in crimson riding outfits, came gallantly, laughing and chatting. Their clear laughter, as pure as silver bells, could clear away any gloom in one¡¯s heart. All of Dadu City knew that the girls of the Duke of Zhen Mansion were different from the ladies of other mansions. The Duke of Zhen Mansion never restricted their daughters to needlework or the arts. The girls of the Duke of Zhen Mansion were flashy and bold. Upon seeing Bai Qingyan standing in the red silk-decorated corridor, the fourth young lady, Bai Jinzhi¡¯s eyes lit up, and she ran over quickly: ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± The fifth and sixth young ladies also lit up and ran over, happily calling: ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Chun Tao smiled, wiping the railing of the corridor, supporting her to sit down. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, are you fully recovered? Coming out even on a snowy day!¡± The fourth young lady, Bai Jinzhi, sat down next to her full of concern, ¡°Then can we go horseback riding in the spring? The riding master is so boring, he doesn¡¯t dare let go and let me ride on my own!¡± The fifth and sixth young ladies were twin sisters, just over ten years old, delicate and lovely, with two adorable buns on their heads. Looking at the three little girls, still the young ladies of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, she remembered the last life¡­ where her third sister Bai Jintong and fourth sister Bai Jinzhi, living under false identities, sought revenge against the Jin Kingdom, her fifth sister Bai Jinzhao perished under King Liang¡¯s sword while attempting assassination, and her sixth and seventh sisters Bai Jinhua and Bai Jinse were sent to a brothel by King Liang¡­ Thankfully, they were all still here and well before her now. Her nose tingled, and she smiled lightly at the three spirited young girls. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, did you like the plum blossoms I sent you yesterday?¡± The fifth young lady, Bai Jinzhao, leaned in with a proud face, ¡°My mother said elder sister fears the cold and cannot go to chilly places. I saw those red plums blooming beautifully and picked them for you, putting them in a white jade vase. Did you like it?!¡± ¡°I loved it! The flowers picked by our fifth young lady are most beautiful. I woke up seeing them first thing this morning¡­¡± She gently comforted the child. ¡°And me! And me! I also cut some window flowers for you! They look so lovely on the windows in the snow! I also gave some to Aunt Five, my mother said Aunt Five, who has a child in her belly, might be worried as Uncle Five and the brothers are away on the expedition, so we should make her happy!¡± She nodded with a smile: ¡°Yes, those two chubby babies you cut are lovely, Aunt Five will surely like them too!¡± She finished and turned to Bai Jinzhi: ¡°Tomorrow, Jinxiu will be wedded. I have something to entrust you.¡± Bai Jinzhi, holding her whip, patted her chest: ¡°Eldest Young Lady, just say the word. I will do it without hesitation!¡± ¡°Tomorrow, when the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion comes to claim the bride, if no one steps up to block the gate, you will lead our maids and servants to block their way. Do not let the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage take your second sister as if we have no men in the Duke of Zhen Mansion, thereby tarnishing our reputation.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Eldest Young Lady! When it comes to tough actions, no one in Dadu City can outdo me, Bai Jinzhi!¡± The fourth young lady confidently promised. Bai Qingyan saw Lu Ping from afar, smiled, and told the three children: ¡°Alright, you go dress up now. Grandmother has invited a palace artist to paint us sisters before your second sister¡¯s wedding day tomorrow. Make sure to look your best!¡± The three little girls respectfully saluted Bai Qingyan before leaving. Lu Ping, nearly forty but looking particularly old and stern, clasped his fist in salute to Bai Qingyan: ¡°Eldest Young Lady, you sought me.¡± ¡°Uncle Ping, let¡¯s talk while walking.¡± She stood and left the corridor. Seeing her solemn expression, Lu Ping became alert, took the umbrella from Chun Tao and held it over Bai Qingyan¡¯s head, following her properly. She tightly held the hand warmer, her steps steady, avoiding the servants sweeping the snow in the yard. It was only then that she slowly spoke: ¡°Last night, someone sent me an anonymous message, asking me to go to Zuian Square on Changan Street tomorrow at noon, saying they have news of the South Frontier for me!¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4: King Liang_1 Chapter 4: Chapter 4: King Liang_1 ¡°Lu Ping¡¯s expression changed: ¡®Who?!¡¯ Who could have bypassed the guards of the Bai Mansion and delivered the message to the eldest daughter in the inner quarters? ¡®I didn¡¯t see anyone, and I didn¡¯t mention the matter to anyone!¡¯ Lu Ping lowered his eyes, staring at the tips of his shoes, deep in thought, his palms already sweaty. If this message was brought in by an outsider, then their guard team truly deserved to die a thousand times over¡­ ¡®I thought long and hard and still had doubts. Why would a message from the Southern Border be sent to me for no reason, instead of to the elders of the family? And why choose the day of the second young lady¡¯s wedding?¡¯ Bai Qingyan¡¯s steps halted as she gazed steadily at Lu Ping, her expression as calm as water: ¡®Therefore, tomorrow I would like to ask you to go to Zuian Square and keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals¡­¡¯ Bai Qingyan wanted Lu Ping to personally go to Changan Street to investigate the details of King Liang¡¯s assassination. It would be best if he could find out who the assassin was. In case Bai Jinxiu couldn¡¯t avoid King Liang¡¯s assassination, Lu Ping being there wouldn¡¯t let Bai Jinxiu lose her life. Bai Qingyan couldn¡¯t tell Lu Ping directly about King Liang¡¯s upcoming assassination, so she came up with this idea. ¡®Lu Ping accepts the order.¡¯ Lu Ping said solemnly. ¡®Uncle Ping, be cautious in all things. Note any suspicious persons and check them thoroughly later, so that the whole Duke¡¯s mansion does not fall into someone else¡¯s trap.¡¯ Bai Qingyan warned. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Miss. Lu Ping knows the gravity of this matter.¡¯ Lu Ping handed the umbrella in his hand to Chun Tao, saluted Bai Qingyan, and then hurriedly left. Seeing Bai Qingyan staring at Lu Ping¡¯s departing figure in a daze, Chun Tao softly reminded: ¡®Miss, shall we go back to the room and change into some bright-colored clothes? We¡¯ll be painted later, and the colorful clothes look good in the painting.¡¯ She withdrew her gaze. Due to her long illness and weakness, her voice was light and faint: ¡®I¡¯m tired. I won¡¯t join the fun¡­ Let¡¯s go back.¡¯ When Bai Qingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Shen Qingzhu was already waiting under the corridor. Looking at the young and vibrant Shen Qingzhu in front of her, her eyes turned red. Shen Qingzhu had grown up with Bai Qingyan. Though called master and servant, they were more like sisters. At the age of ten, full of youthful pride, she implored her grandfather to take her to the battlefield. Her grandfather gave her two years, saying that if she could train a female guard team within those two years, she would be allowed to go to the battlefield. It was then that she chose Shen Qingzhu. Later, this female guard team protected her several times on the battlefield. At the age of sixteen, she disguised as a man and went to the battlefield with her grandfather for the second time. She was pierced by an enemy spear and fell into the swift currents in the cold winter. Most of the guard team was annihilated, but they dragged her out of the river. The military doctor said it was a miracle that Bai Qingyan survived, but it doomed her to be childless. Shen Qingzhu blamed herself for not protecting Bai Qingyan well. After returning, she volunteered to train in the army. She was valued by Vice Commander Shen and taken as an adopted daughter. However, after learning the skills, she resolutely returned to the Bai Mansion, devotedly guarding Bai Qingyan. ¡®Come in!¡¯ Bai Qingyan said. Chun Tao personally lifted the curtain for Shen Qingzhu: ¡®Miss Shen, please.¡¯ Dressed in a neat outfit, Shen Qingzhu followed Bai Qingyan inside and clasped her fist in salute: ¡®Miss, what are your orders?¡¯ Seeing Bai Qingyan unfasten her cloak and hand it to Chun Tao, set down the hand warmer, and sit at the desk to write a letter, Shen Qingzhu didn¡¯t come too close, fearing the cold air might pass on to Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan wrote quickly and, after putting down the writing brush, instructed Chun Tao: ¡®Chun Tao, keep guard outside and don¡¯t let anyone approach.¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ Chun Tao lifted the curtain and went out. Bai Qingyan sealed the letter, held it tightly, and walked to Shen Qingzhu: ¡®Qingzhu, take some trusted men and head for the Southern Border immediately. Travel as fast as you can! Deliver this letter to my Bai family! The matter is urgent, and I trust no one but you!¡¯ ¡®Yes!¡¯ Shen Qingzhu took the letter with both hands without asking any questions. Just as she was about to leave, Bai Qingyan grabbed her wrist. ¡®Does the young lady have any other instructions?¡¯ Bai Qingyan¡¯s grip was strong, and her eyes were filled with immense hatred: ¡®If¡­ If all my Bai family members are gone, you must obtain the records of the marching routes and battle conditions from the Bai family¡¯s official historian! Deliver this letter to your adoptive father General Shen and find my grandfather¡¯s vice commander, Liu Huanzhang¡­ and kill him.¡¯ Shen Qingzhu was shocked, looking at Bai Qingyan. What did she mean, all of the Bai family members being gone? Bai Qingyan¡¯s face was grim. Shen Qingzhu knew the matter was significant and solemnly nodded: ¡®Qingzhu accepts the order!¡¯ Seeing Shen Qingzhu¡¯s pale face as she left the room, Chun Tao hurried in with concern: ¡®Miss¡­¡¯ Bai Qingyan stood by the brazier, staring at the flickering charcoal, calming her turbulent emotions. Do your best¡­ Leave the rest to fate. ¡®Chun Tao, I¡¯m tired.¡¯ Bai Qingyan¡¯s expression was somewhat dazed. ¡®I will attend to you, Miss, so you can rest a bit.¡¯ Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan remove her hairpin and change into comfortable clothes. She lay down on the couch for a short nap but was soon awakened by Nanny Qin, who had come on behalf of Mrs. Dong, to drink a bowl of bitter medicine. Seeing Bai Qingyan frown painfully after drinking, Nanny Qin felt distressed and quickly offered hot water for her to rinse her mouth: ¡®Miss, bear with it a little longer. Doctor Hong said after drinking this medicine for another month, your cold illness will improve!¡¯ Bai Qingyan pressed her lips with a handkerchief and picked a preserved plum from the box Chun Yan held, which made her feel better. ¡®Tomorrow is the second sister¡¯s wedding. Mother has many things to attend to. Nanny Qin, you are mother¡¯s right hand. She cannot do without you. You don¡¯t need to make four or five trips to me daily. Please tell mother not to worry about me.¡¯ Nanny Qin nodded: ¡®Alright, Miss, don¡¯t worry. This old servant will convey your message.¡¯ Seeing Bai Qingyan already picking up the military book on the small table by the couch, Chun Tao tactfully put down the box and smiled: ¡®Nanny, let me see you out.¡¯ Nanny Qin saluted Bai Qingyan and, while leaving, instructed Chun Tao: ¡®With the festivities in the mansion tomorrow, the maids and servants might not be diligent. The steward nanny who usually attends to Miss will only return tomorrow. Remember to remind the women tending the Earth Dragon to keep the fire burning and ensure this room¡¯s brazier is warm! Miss is sensitive to cold. The girls keeping watch at night must stay alert!¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Nanny Qin!¡¯ Chun Tao smiled as she saw Nanny Qin out. ¡®I¡¯ll personally oversee it.¡¯ No sooner had Chun Tao seen Nanny Qin off, she saw Chun Yan with snow all over her head, running in from the entrance and quickly asking, ¡®Is the miss awake?¡¯ ¡®Awake. She just took her medicine and is reading now.¡¯ Chun Tao brushed the snow off Chun Yan¡¯s hair. ¡®Where did you go to get so cold? Aren¡¯t you afraid of passing it on to the miss?¡¯ Chun Yan mysteriously smiled: ¡®Good news. I¡¯ll report to the miss first. It will surely cheer her up!¡¯ Saying this, Chun Yan excitedly entered the room with the curtain, even though Chun Tao could not stop her. ¡®Miss!¡¯ Chun Yan saw Bai Qingyan leaning against the golden-cloud embroidered pillow, reading a book. She curtsied and said with a smile, ¡®Miss, His Highness King Liang, upon hearing this morning that Doctor Hong had visited, feared you might be unwell. He secretly came to the back gate of our mansion. I got the news and went to see him. His Highness, rather hesitantly, said he came to fetch the military books annotated by the Duke¡­¡¯ Hearing ¡®King Liang,¡¯ Bai Qingyan¡¯s whole body stiffened. She almost couldn¡¯t maintain her composure, the hand on the small table gripping tightly, her nails nearly digging into the hardwood. In her past life, this was how she personally handed the annotated military books to King Liang. Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Chun Yan_1 Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Chun Yan_1 King Liang was like a festering sore on Bai Qingyan¡¯s wounded heart, oozing with poison. Every time she thought of him, her wound flared up. It didn¡¯t threaten her life, but it disgusted her completely and made her deeply uneasy. Suppressing her emotions, Bai Qingyan looked up at Chun Yan, who was still chattering happily. ¡°The maid heard from Prince Liang¡¯s aide, Tongji, that the prince arrived before dawn and has been waiting ever since. When I saw him just now, his face was purple from the cold!¡± Chun Yan said, feeling both moved and pained. Bai Qingyan turned a page of her book without responding. Chun Yan couldn¡¯t understand. Someone as noble as Prince Liang, a son of the Imperial Family, had humbled himself to wait in the snow at the corner gate of the Duke¡¯s mansion all day. She found it touching, yet their young lady remained so indifferent. Could it be that she still couldn¡¯t forget the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion? Chun Yan¡¯s voice lowered further: ¡°The prince was worried you¡¯d be upset about the Princely Heir marrying your younger sister tomorrow and wanted to find an excuse to speak with you.¡± ¡°You agreed on our lady¡¯s behalf?!¡± Chun Tao¡¯s face darkened with anger. ¡°You¡¯re far too reckless! If anyone accuses our lady of having secret dealings with Prince Liang, her reputation will be ruined!¡± Chun Yan, lost in her feelings, hadn¡¯t considered the consequences. Startled by Chun Tao¡¯s scolding, she stammered: ¡°My lady, I¡­¡± In her second life, Bai Qingyan understood that Chun Yan¡¯s favor towards Prince Liang blossomed around this time because she frequently served as an intermediary. Bai Qingyan asked calmly, ¡°What did Prince Liang say?¡± Chun Yan answered nervously: ¡°The prince said the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion is short-sighted. Because of your difficulties in bearing children, they decided to have the Princely Heir marry your younger sister. All they cared about was marrying someone from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s family; they didn¡¯t care who. But to the prince, he was grateful for their short-sightedness. It gave him a chance to win your heart.¡± This was how Prince Liang deceived her. He also deceived her loyal maid and her mother. The entire Bai family believed the prince loved her deeply and didn¡¯t care about her difficulties in having children. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, emitting a cold air. Not knowing if she had made another mistake, Chun Yan stood there awkwardly: ¡°My lady, did I do something wrong again?¡± Prince Liang wanted the military strategy book annotated by her grandfather. If she didn¡¯t give it to him, he would find another way due to his relentless nature. Didn¡¯t he want to copy her grandfather¡¯s handwriting? Bai Qingyan had a unique strategy book given to her by her grandfather, with annotations from the Ancestral Emperor. She decided to give that book to Prince Liang to copy. Bai Qingyan, with her long, glossy black hair, asked Chun Tao to fetch a carved redwood box from the bookshelf: ¡°Bring this set of military strategy books given to me by my grandfather to Prince Liang and thank him on my behalf for his concern.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chun Yan, delighted, eagerly took the box: ¡°I will deliver the books to Prince Liang immediately!¡± Chun Tao, worried, grabbed Chun Yan and whispered: ¡°Be careful when you meet Prince Liang. Don¡¯t cause trouble for our lady. If you do, you¡¯ll face the madam¡¯s wrath, no matter how lenient our young lady is.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister Chun Tao!¡± Chun Yan, straightforward and cheerful, believed the prince¡¯s words moved their lady. She took the redwood box and hurried out. The north wind howled, swirling snowflakes in the air. Even through the tightly closed carved wooden window, the sounds of the storm were audible. Bai Qingyan turned back to her book, much calmer than when she first returned in her second life. Reflecting on her previous life, she remembered that the so-called ¡°treasonous letters¡± found in her grandfather¡¯s study had pushed the Bai family to the brink. This showed that Prince Liang or Li Mao¡¯s people had already infiltrated the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. Only a few people had access to her grandfather¡¯s study. Bai Qingyan wasn¡¯t in a rush. She had time to find out who they were. For a long time, she couldn¡¯t understand why Prince Liang and Li Mao colluded with Liu Huanzhang to exterminate the Bai family, which had no male heir. Later, she understood. Prince Liang and his allies wanted the Bai family army. But unlike other general families, the Bai family allowed both males and females to learn martial arts and military strategies. Everyone knew that in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, starting with Bai Qingyan, both men and women had to learn military strategies, riding, spear, and swordsmanship. Even if they wiped out the Bai family men, as long as one Bai family member remained, and that person wasn¡¯t a fool, the loyal Bai family army wouldn¡¯t follow anyone else¡¯s command. Moreover, Bai Qingyan, along with her younger sisters Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong, had once donned armor and fought on the battlefield with their grandfather, shedding blood alongside the Bai family soldiers. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, gripping her book tightly. In her previous life, every time she thought of her family¡¯s massacre, it felt like her heart was being torn apart by hot oil. She wished she could skin Liu Huanzhang and Li Mao alive, but she was bound by Prince Liang¡¯s false affections, serving like a beast of burden. She had endured the unbearable heartache. Now, heaven had pitied her and given her a second chance. Although she didn¡¯t know if she could change the fate of her grandfather and father, she could alter the Bai family¡¯s outcome. She couldn¡¯t let hatred cloud her judgment. She had endured for so many years. With her grandmother, mother, and all female relatives of the Bai family still alive, there was nothing to fear. Slowly and steadily¡­ One step at a time. She would personally bring down the treacherous villains who framed the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion from their high positions. ¡¤ Before dawn, under the misty snow, smoke already curled from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. The main gate of the mansion, adorned with red lanterns and silk, was wide open. The steward of the front yard had already begun bustling about. Servants and maids moved in and out through the corner gate in an orderly fashion. In the back yard, the Green Bamboo Pavilion, where Second Young Lady Bai Jinxiu lived, was lively. Nannies and maids busied themselves, while other courtyards remained quiet. In Qinghui Courtyard, two old women in blue cotton robes had just added charcoal to the Earth Dragon¡¯s stove when they noticed the lights in Bai Qingyan¡¯s main room were lit. Mourning time. After finishing breakfast, Bai Qingyan put on a thick fur-lined cloak and, holding a hand warmer, walked along the covered corridor towards Bai Jinxiu¡¯s chambers. Chun Tao, Chun Yan, and a group of maids followed closely, attending to her. When Bai Qingyan arrived at Bai Jinxiu¡¯s door, Bai Jinxiu had already changed into her wedding clothes and was about to apply makeup. Hearing the maids outside greeting ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡± in unison, Bai Jinxiu stopped the nanny from powdering her face, lifted her skirt, and came out to greet her sister with both surprise and joy. ¡°Eldest Sister, why did you come in such heavy snow? Aren¡¯t you afraid of catching a cold!¡± Inside Bai Jinxiu¡¯s room, two burning stoves made it very warm. The red carpet, the peanuts, longans, and the red decorations created a festive atmosphere. Bai Qingyan handed her hand warmer to Chun Tao, loosened her cloak, took Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand, and led her to the inner room, seating her before the vanity mirror: ¡°Eldest Sister came to see you off. Chun Tao, bring the items in¡­¡± Chun Tao received a long, embroidered box from a maid outside and presented it to Bai Jinxiu, saluting as she opened it. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Welcoming the Bride_1 Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Welcoming the Bride_1 Bai Jinxiu saw the entirely white sword sheath, carved with the Bai family¡¯s military totem. She quickly stood up, walked briskly to the brocade box, and carefully took out the sword, gripping it in her hand, her heart racing. ¡°Qingfeng Sword?!¡± This was the Bai family¡¯s heirloom sword! Back then, after her eldest sister got injured on the battlefield and lost her engagement to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s family, their grandfather was worried that Bai Qingyan would be stubborn and remain unmarried for life. He was also concerned that the sisters-in-law wouldn¡¯t get along with Bai Qingyan, so he specially passed the heirloom sword to her. Bai Qingyan tucked Bai Jinxiu¡¯s stray hair behind her ear and gently said, ¡°The Marquis¡¯s wife is the stepmother of the Princely Heir. It¡¯s inevitable that there will be conflicts. Remember, you should never have to compromise on everything. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s family stands behind you.¡± In the previous life, Bai Jinxiu died on her wedding day and never entered the Marquis¡¯s household. Afterwards, Qin Lang, the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, married the soft-hearted second daughter of the Chief of Staff. She was bullied by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law until she died of illness before the age of thirty. Listening to Bai Qingyan¡¯s heartfelt words, Bai Jinxiu, who was anxious about entering an unfamiliar environment, felt comforted to the point of tears. Bai Qingyan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Bai Jinxiu¡¯s tears, but Bai Jinxiu held her hand instead. She stepped closer to Bai Qingyan, lowered her voice seriously, ¡°His Highness, King Liang, is deeply in love with you. He will surely cherish and protect you. Don¡¯t miss out on such a good marriage!¡± Bai Qingyan recalled how, in her previous life, Bai Jinxiu had begged King Liang to protect her well and not fail her. Overwhelmed with emotions, her eyes turned red. ¡°Quickly apply your makeup!¡± At Si time, the sound of firecrackers was heard at the mansion¡¯s entrance. Bai Qingyan glanced up toward the partition outside and rubbed her fingers on the teacup. ¡°Oh dear, what should we do? The Second Young Lady hasn¡¯t finished her makeup yet!¡± ¡°This young gentleman from the Marquis¡¯s household is too anxious! Why did he arrive half an hour earlier than the scheduled time?¡± ¡°Oh no! The earrings can¡¯t be found¡­¡± ¡°The bridal veil?! The bridal veil is missing too!¡± Inside the boudoir, the maids and nannies were in a frenzy, searching for things everywhere. As expected, just like in her previous life, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wedding carriage arrived half an hour ahead of schedule. The elder relatives who were supposed to block the door were likely gambling in some remote place. However, it didn¡¯t matter. Bai Qingyan had already arranged for their fourth sister, Bai Jinzhi, to guard the main gate with a chessboard ready. Today, their Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion must not, like the previous life, have no one blocking the door, letting Bai Jinxiu leave an hour early and lose her life. At this moment, the bridegroom, the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Lang, dismounted at the front gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. The young, handsome lad exuded exceptional charm, his face beaming with joy, likely due to the celebratory occasion. The marriage of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s daughter to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was the most anticipated joyous event in Dadu City before the Year-end. All the famous playboys of Dadu City followed Qin Lang to join in the wedding festivities. ¡°Our young Duke Qin is having it too easy, marrying the Duke of Zhen¡¯s daughter while the seventeen young masters of the Bai family are away fighting in the southern border!¡± cried Lu Yuanpeng, the youngest legitimate grandson of the Right Prime Minister. Because Bai Qingyan¡¯s grandfather, the Duke of Zhen, and her grandmother, the Eldest Princess, were still alive, and since the Eldest Princess did not reside in the princess¡¯s mansion but lived instead in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, the Bai family had never split into separate households. This is why the Bai family¡¯s younger generation was collectively referred to as the seventeen young masters. Usually, Lu Yuanpeng was close to the Bai family¡¯s seventeen young masters and made jokes without reservation. ¡°Everyone, all say the Bai family¡¯s army of the Duke of Zhen is invincible, entering enemy territory as if walking into an uninhabited place. Today, as we come to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion to welcome the bride, let¡¯s also experience what it¡¯s like to enter an uninhabited place. Everyone, charge! Let¡¯s snatch the bride!¡± The crowd outside the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion laughed heartily and, following Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s order, began to charge in. Unexpectedly, before anyone could rush in, they were stopped by the meticulously trained maids and servants of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, lined up like soldiers. This sight startled the playboys who came to welcome the bride. ¡°Is the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion planning to have maids block us?¡± Lu Yuanpeng asked in surprise, eyeing the formation. Moments later, Fourth Young Lady Bai Jinzhi of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion stepped out from behind the line of maids with a horsewhip in hand, exuding a heroic and spirited demeanor. ¡°The people of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, listen to my orders!¡± Bai Jinzhi raised the long whip in her hand. ¡°Hear the Fourth Young Lady¡¯s command!¡± The maids and guards of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion responded in unison, orderly and disciplined, intimidating the rowdy playboys who had come to pick up the bride. ¡°My eldest sister has ordered, those who forcefully enter the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion shall not be shown any mercy. Let no one think that our Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion lacks men!¡± Bai Jinzhi swung her whip, scaring off the playboys trying to rush forward. The sharp sound of the whip slicing the air commanded unexpected respect. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, indeed the backbone of the nation, even the daughters had strong and heroic stances. The Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Lang, stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Fourth Young Lady Bai Jinzhi, ¡°Fourth Young Lady, you misunderstand. The Duke of Zhen is a pillar of our nation. We enjoy peace and prosperity in Dadu due to the Duke and his sons shedding blood on the frontier. Even if we are mischievous, we wouldn¡¯t dare to belittle the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. Please, Fourth Young Lady, let us in!¡± ¡°Very well!¡± Bai Jinzhi retained her proud and unrestrained demeanor as she put away her whip. ¡°Bring out the chessboard!¡± The household servants of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion cautiously brought out a chessboard, placing it at the entrance with a stool. Fourth Young Lady Bai Jinzhi then said, ¡°My eldest sister said that our Bai family has generations of generals. The chessboard is like a battlefield. If the Princely Heir¡¯s wedding party can break through the chess game, you will be qualified to enter and pick up my second sister!¡± Outside, Bai Jinzhi firmly blocked the gate, while inside the boudoir, Bai Qingyan leaned over to help Bai Jinxiu put on her earrings. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even without Grandfather and Second Uncle, our Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion won¡¯t let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage look down on our Bai family as if we are defenseless.¡± ¡°Big Sister! Big Sister!¡± Bai Jinzhi rushed in hastily, panting and placing a piece on the chessboard, fanning herself with her hand. ¡°Big Sister, Qin Lang placed a white piece here, and everyone is cheering. Did he break it?¡± According to the timeline, it was still before the time King Liang would be assassinated. Bai Qingyan handed her teacup to Bai Jinzhi, wiped her sweat with a handkerchief, and then observed Qin Lang¡¯s placement of the white piece on the chessboard. Bai Jinzhi gulped down the tea, craned her neck, and leaned close to Bai Qingyan, hoping to see where Bai Qingyan would place the piece. Qin Lang placed the white piece in a position that avoided many traps on the chessboard. It wasn¡¯t overly aggressive, steadying the advantage while supporting the overall strategy. From the whole board, it was evident that no matter where the next black move landed, it couldn¡¯t prevent an overwhelming defeat. After pondering for a moment, Bai Qingyan pressed her sleeve with her left hand, picked a black piece from the chess box, and placed it on the board. Bai Jinzhi saw where Bai Qingyan placed the piece, then quickly ran to the main gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, placing a black piece where Bai Qingyan had indicated on the chessboard. Outside, there were exclamations. With the placement of the black piece, the situation changed drastically. The black pieces surged like a mighty wave, instantly taking half of the white pieces¡¯ territory. ¡°Marvelous!¡± Lu Yuanpeng exclaimed, ¡°This black piece is like a sudden troop, cunning and deceitful, reversing the killing momentum in an instant. Ruthless and terrifying! May I ask, who in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion is playing with the black pieces?¡± ¡°My eldest sister,¡± Bai Jinzhi said proudly. For a moment, everyone recalled that in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, there was only one person whose name shared the same character ¡°Qing¡± as the men in the family, the eldest young lady. Qin Lang was dazed upon hearing that Bai Qingyan was the one playing with the black pieces. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Promising Future_1 Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Promising Future_1 A servant from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence rode through the crowd and squeezed to the side of the wedding steward, whispering: ¡°Steward, our wedding procession needs to change route. Half an hour ago, Prince Liang was assassinated on Changan Street. The Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office has sealed off Changan Street to conduct a thorough investigation. The wedding procession may need to make a large detour to return!¡± The wedding steward was also taken aback. Fortunately, the Eldest Young Lady of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence had set up a chess match to block the door. Otherwise, if they had arrived half an hour earlier as planned, they might have encountered the assassination of Prince Liang on their return trip. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence naturally also received this news. The stewards of the two families met and discussed it. Bai Qingyan¡¯s mother, Mrs. Dong, immediately instructed her chief maid, Tingzhu, to inform Bai Qingyan to let the wedding procession proceed, so as not to miss the auspicious time. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Madam sent me to inform you that the steward of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence said the wedding procession needs to detour. The time blocking the door is almost enough. If it is delayed further¡­ it might miss the auspicious time!¡± Upon hearing about the detour, Bai Qingyan felt relieved. She nodded, letting the maid go to relay the message to Bai Jinzhi: ¡°Go and tell Fourth Young Lady that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence sees the sincerity of the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage in seeking to marry our Second Young Lady. We hope he cherishes our Second Young Lady and doesn¡¯t let her be heartbroken! This chess match¡­ can wait until the return visit after the wedding.¡± Bai Jinxiu looked at her eldest sister, her eyes red and swollen beyond measure. The sound of firecrackers rang out as Qin Lang, surrounded by countless playboys of Dadu, rushed into the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. Bai Qingyan, wrapped in a fox fur coat, stood under the corridor, watching Qin Lang carry the goose and enter. He bowed to the hall, offered the goose, served tea, and then joyfully led the bride out of the main hall, walking towards the gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. She slightly curved her lips, and said to Chun Tao behind her: ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The entire Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence was bustling with joy. Qin Lang, with a face full of smiles, thanked the congratulating guests as he held the red cord. His peripheral vision caught a fleeting slender figure at the corner of the corridor, causing him to pause¡­ and fall into a daze. Originally, he was supposed to marry Bai Qingyan. Once, when Bai Qingyan accompanied the Duke of Zhen to a campaign, he had seen her off. He still remembered that at that time, Bai Qingyan¡¯s brows and eyes hadn¡¯t fully opened up. She was astonishingly beautiful, like a picture, in her armor with a sword at her waist, exuding heroic grace. He once believed himself incredibly fortunate to marry such a lady. In his youth, unable to suppress his feelings, he gave his family heirloom, a jade pendant, to Bai Qingyan before the campaign, and bowed, promising: ¡°May you return safely. Don¡¯t forget the one waiting for you. When you return, I will marry you.¡± Now, he was here with the goose to marry someone else. Ultimately, he had failed her. ¡°Congratulations, Princely Heir!¡± The voice of others congratulating brought Qin Lang back to his senses. Smiling, he returned the gesture and stepped over the threshold of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence with the bride. Upon hearing the sound of firecrackers as Bai Jinxiu boarded the bridal sedan chair, Bai Qingyan paused and looked towards the main gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± A sweeping maid from the Qinghui Courtyard ran up to Bai Qingyan, bowing and saying, ¡°Lu Ping from the guards has come to Qinghui Courtyard. He said he has something to report to you.¡± Bai Qingyan nodded, and took the hand warmer from Chun Tao¡¯s hand: ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± In her previous life, at the end of the fifteenth year of Xuanjia, on the day Second Young Lady of the Bai family was leaving for her wedding, she was tragically killed by an assassin¡¯s blade while protecting Prince Liang. Then, on New Year¡¯s Eve, the war report came in¡­ the young men of the century-old aristocratic Bai family in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence had all died in battle. Bai Qingyan¡¯s grandmother, the Eldest Princess of that time, was devastated by the news and fell ill, passing away shortly after. In February of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Bai Qingyan¡¯s mother, Mrs. Dong, received news in advance that the Left Prime Minister, Li Mao, had colluded with Prince Liang to accuse the Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting, of betraying Jin to Nanyan, leading to the catastrophic defeat of Jin and the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers in the southern regions. The evidence would return to Dadu City within two months. Mrs. Dong made a decisive decision, instructing the loyal Steward Liu to take Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong out of the city to investigate. She privately told Steward Liu that if Dadu City changed¡­ he should raise Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong as his daughters, keeping their identities hidden to preserve their lives. She also ordered the Bai family¡¯s Hidden Guards to split into two groups, escorting the pregnant Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, and any underage children out of the city to evade danger. In March of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, Liu Huanzhang, the former deputy of the late Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting, entered the Capital to testify against Duke of Zhen for treason. Liu Huanzhang claimed that he had spared no effort to annihilate the traitorous Bai Clan. However, he had suffered severe injuries and was saved by a farmer. After recovering, he returned to reveal Duke of Zhen¡¯s treachery. That day, the imperial guard surrounded the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, finding correspondence between Duke of Zhen and Prince of Nanyan in the Duke¡¯s study. The evidence was irrefutable. With no male descendants left in the Bai Clan, Emperor Xuanjia, to show his magnanimity, sentenced the Bai family to confiscation of property and exile, ordering the capture of any remaining Bai family members. On the night of their imprisonment, Bai Qingyan¡¯s mother, Mrs. Dong, and several aunts hanged themselves, leaving behind a letter, ¡°Asking the Emperor,¡± enumerating the Bai family¡¯s loyal service over generations, proclaiming their undying loyalty to Heaven. It sharply criticized the Emperor for tolerating treacherous officials, leading to corruption in the Imperial Court, and questioned why, compared to the previous emperor¡¯s reign, there were no more loyal ministers willing to die for justice. Every word resounded powerfully, shocking the ears. The letter, like wildfire, spread across Dadu City, shaking the entire Imperial Court. Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi, who had just given birth to a daughter, was devastated by the news. Protected by loyal servants and the people, she carried the Bai family¡¯s ancestral tablets and a thin coffin. Dressed in mourning clothes, she slashed her throat in front of the palace gates during a heavy downpour, demanding justice for the Bai family from the Emperor, her blood splattering three feet high. She gazed at the falling snowflakes, pulled her white fox cloak tighter around her, and walked towards the inner courtyard. Her steps were slow but grew more determined with each step. In her previous life, her grandmother had asked her mother and her to protect the Bai family and all its widows. She and her mother had failed to do so, unable to change the Bai family¡¯s fate. The anguish and burning hatred in her heart had driven her to wish for a swift death. Bai Qingyan wiped away the tiny tears at the corners of her eyes, her lips curling into a cold, sharp smile. This time, she had protected her second sister, Bai Jinxiu, and there was hope for the future. She vowed that no member of the Bai family would die in vain again. She would preserve the honor of the Bai Clan, whether by fair means or foul, through schemes or honesty, no matter the cost! As she turned down the corridor, she nearly collided with a man dressed in a blue-gray long gown, covered with a gray-furred cloak. The hand warmer rolled off the corridor, but the man quickly caught her. She looked up, meeting a pair of deep, serene eyes, soft and calm, yet seemingly able to see through everything, unfathomably profound. Meeting an old acquaintance again¡­ she couldn¡¯t control her racing heart. This man was the Ninth Prince of Yan, born to the same mother as the Emperor of Yan, and the future Regent Prince of Yan. He had renamed himself Xiao Rongyan and, under the reputation of being the world¡¯s wealthiest merchant, traveled through various countries, establishing businesses and gathering information for Yan. It was said that Xiao Rongyan, the wealthiest merchant, was gentle and steady, but she knew how deep his schemes and ruthless his methods were. He toyed with hearts seamlessly, maneuvering effortlessly between the aristocracy of various countries, and was deeply connected with the Princes of Jin. Most of Dadu City¡¯s playboys revered him. In her previous life, before Prince Liang¡¯s rebellion and Yan¡¯s army entering Dadu City, Xiao Rongyan, moved by the Bai family¡¯s plight, had given her his jade cicada for her to escape. A cold wind, carrying snowflakes, blew into the corridor. Bai Qingyan¡¯s hands cooled as she quickly took a step back and bowed: ¡°Thank you.¡± Xiao Rongyan had a high nose and thin lips, exuding a strikingly handsome appearance with a refined, gentle demeanor. He withdrew the hand that had just supported Bai Qingyan, unconsciously rubbing the white jade cicada in his hand. His eyebrows and eyes showed a light, warm smile, his voice deep and steady: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The attendant following Xiao Rongyan had already picked up the hand warmer and suitably handed it to Chun Tao. Chun Tao quickly bowed and thanked him. Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart pounded as she lowered her head and bypassed the tall, cleanly-cut figure of Xiao Rongyan, hastily walking towards the inner courtyard with Chun Tao. Xiao Rongyan took two steps forward, then turned back to watch Bai Qingyan¡¯s hurriedly departing figure¡­ A few years ago, he had seen her in the Shu Kingdom¡¯s palace. At that time, with Shu Kingdom¡¯s defeat, he was trapped in Shu Kingdom¡¯s palace amidst the cacophony of battle. To stop the slaughter, the Duke of Zhen had ordered Bai Qingyan, clad in battle armor, wielding the head of Great General Pang Pingguo, to gallop through the palace gates. That scene of a young lady in a billowing red cloak, riding straight to the high steps of Shu Kingdom¡¯s main hall, raising Pang Pingguo¡¯s head and shouting, ¡°Pang Pingguo is dead, surrender and be spared!¡± was still vivid in his mind. ¡°Brother Xiao! Brother Xiao, why are you still here?¡± Lu Yuanpeng ran up to Xiao Rongyan, craning his neck towards where Xiao Rongyan had been looking, but saw nothing. ¡°What were you looking at?¡± Xiao Rongyan smiled faintly and elegantly, exuding a calm nobility: ¡°Nothing¡­¡± Not probing further, Lu Yuanpeng dragged Xiao Rongyan¡¯s wrist: ¡°Brother Xiao, why were you in the bathroom for so long? Qin Lang has already taken the bride! Let¡¯s go to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence for the festivities!¡± Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Foresight_1 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Foresight_1 Lu Ping returned and changed clothes, then rushed to Qinghui Courtyard. He paced back and forth under the eaves, his breath forming white mist with each hurried exhale, his face ashen. As soon as he saw Bai Qingyan entering the courtyard, surrounded by maids, he hurried to greet her with a clasped fist salute: ¡°Eldest Miss¡­¡± Bai Qingyan glanced at Chun Tao, who understood and handed the umbrella to Lu Ping, standing still with the other maids. Lu Ping held the umbrella over Bai Qingyan as they walked to the ginkgo tree in the courtyard. Once there, he put the umbrella away, and Bai Qingyan turned to him: ¡°Uncle Ping, please speak.¡± Lu Ping¡¯s throat bobbed. He exhaled a cloud of white mist and knelt on one knee: ¡°Eldest Miss, please forgive me!¡± Her grip on the hand warmer tightened, but she maintained her composure: ¡°Uncle Ping, stand up and speak first.¡± Lu Ping stood up, looking at Bai Qingyan with guilt; ¡°Today, at the gate of Zuian Square, King Liang was attacked by assassins, sustaining several severe stab wounds! Before Jing Zhaoyin could seal off the area, I witnessed an old friend covered in blood. After bringing him back to the manor, I discovered he was one of the assassins. I plead for punishment!¡± Lu Ping knelt down again as he spoke. Bai Qingyan lightly rubbed the hand warmer with her fingers. Her blood boiled at the phrase ¡°severe stab wounds.¡± If King Liang were to die this time, it would spare many future troubles. Her heartbeat quickened. She bent down to help Lu Ping up: ¡°Uncle Ping, where have you placed him now?¡± ¡°The woodshed in the back courtyard.¡± Lu Ping¡¯s face turned ashen with shame for bringing trouble to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s manor; ¡°With Jing Zhaoyin sealing the city, I dared not send him out of the manor hastily. It was my reckless mistake. I ask for your punishment!¡± Just as he was about to kneel again, Bai Qingyan stopped him. ¡°Since the person has been brought back, asking for punishment is futile. We need to think about how to handle it properly.¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes were deep and unreadable. Bai Qingyan stood under the tree for a moment and said: ¡°Uncle Ping, take me to see him.¡± She wanted to understand why King Liang was attacked. If she could grasp any evidence against him, she could place an obstacle on his path to ascend. Moreover, seeing the assassin herself would allow Bai Qingyan to determine whether or not he should be kept alive. Bai Qingyan brought Chun Tao and, with Lu Ping, braved the snow to the woodshed in the back courtyard. However, aside from a pool of blood, there was no one inside. Seeing the drag marks on the ground, Bai Qingyan looked toward the stacked firewood: ¡°Since the chivalrous hero is under the Bai family¡¯s protection, why hide?¡± Chun Tao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she stepped forward, raising her arm to shield Bai Qingyan, fully alert. Bai Qingyan patted Chun Tao¡¯s hand, signaling her to lower it. The man hiding behind the firewood, realizing he was discovered, pushed away the logs. The man sat among the kindling; half his face covered in dried blood, making his pallor even starker. He wore dark clothes, heavily wounded and weak, yet his aura was fiercely menacing. Bai Qingyan kept her composure outwardly, but her hand gripped the hand warmer tightly. The assassin Lu Ping rescued was none other than Qin Shangzhi, the future advisor to the Crown Prince. In their past life, Qin Shangzhi never gained the Crown Prince¡¯s trust, despite his talents, and died in despair. Qin Shangzhi scrutinized Bai Qingyan before sneering: ¡°Eldest Miss, how do you plan to deal with me, an assassin? To curry favor with King Liang?¡± ¡°Qin Shangzhi!¡± Lu Ping scolded. Bai Qingyan raised her hand, signaling Lu Ping to stay calm: ¡°How did the chivalrous hero know I¡¯m the Bai family¡¯s eldest miss?¡± Qin Shangzhi chuckled, his bloody teeth bared, leaning leisurely: ¡°Only someone who can command Lu Ping¡¯s respect would be a master from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s manor. The daughters of the manor are all trained warriors, capable of enduring the cold in thin cotton clothing. But a lady garbed in top-quality fox fur like you¡­ must be the eldest miss, who was injured on the battlefield early with the Duke.¡± ¡°May I ask why the chivalrous hero attempted to assassinate King Liang?¡± Bai Qingyan asked. ¡°Should he not die?!¡± Qin Shangzhi¡¯s dark eyes were filled with boundless hatred, like prairie flames in the pre-dawn hours, ¡°Feigning humility and fear, but secretly forming factions, dereliction, and embezzlement, committing murder casually! He even killed my family to force us into his service, cough, cough¡­¡± Qin Shangzhi started coughing up blood in agitation. Clutching his chest, he gazed coldly at Bai Qingyan with a chilling sneer: ¡°Pity your Bai family, loyal to Jin Kingdom like watchdogs. Soon enough, you will share my fate of a ruined family.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Chun Tao fumed, ¡°Eldest Miss, ignore his madness. Let Lu Ping take him to the official government!¡± ¡°At your command, Eldest Miss!¡± Though Lu Ping felt pity, he couldn¡¯t risk implicating the Duke of Zhen¡¯s manor. Bai Qingyan was shocked, like a storm raging inside her upon hearing Qin Shangzhi¡¯s words. So, Qin Shangzhi had foreseen the Bai family¡¯s demise even back then. Recalling the last life¡¯s appraisal of Qin Shangzhi by the Yan Regent Prince, Xiao Rongyan, Bai Qingyan swiftly made a decision. She handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao and took a couple of steps towards Qin Shangzhi. ¡°Eldest Miss!¡± Chun Tao was worried. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Bai Qingyan bowed respectfully to Qin Shangzhi. Startled, Qin Shangzhi gripped his clothes tightly, bewildered by her gesture. ¡°Eldest¡­ Eldest Miss!¡± Lu Ping was at a loss. ¡°Sir, if you recognize the Bai family¡¯s loyalty and foresee our plight, I dare ask how the Bai family might save themselves?¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s expression was frank and righteous, unperturbed by Qin Shangzhi¡¯s words, seemingly already aware of his insights. Qin Shangzhi, now indebted to the Bai family for saving his life, wouldn¡¯t disregard his duty. He pressed his lips: ¡°Seeing how Eldest Miss anticipates this, I need not elaborate. But, to save the Bai family, the Duke of Zhen must retire.¡± ¡°The undefeated legend of the Bai family army displeases the current emperor. The Duke¡¯s integrity and loyalty have long been at odds with the court sycophants. Words can become as blazing as gold, and accusations as consuming as bones. The emperor will no longer tolerate the Duke of Zhen¡¯s overshadowing merit. If the Duke doesn¡¯t retire, the seventeen brave sons of the Bai family may all perish in the southern border.¡± Every word from Qin Shangzhi hit the previous life¡¯s tragic outcome, where the seventeen sons of the Bai family perished in the southern border. Bai Qingyan trembled and looked up at Qin Shangzhi, startled: the emperor?! In her past life, Bai Qingyan never suspected the emperor¡¯s disfavor towards her family. The Bai family had always been loyally heroic and honorably straightforward, embodying uprightness and integrity. As Qin Shangzhi said, the Bai family was loyal like watchdogs of Jin Kingdom! Words can become as blazing as gold, and accusations as consuming as bones!? Her palm tightened as she grasped a spark of thought in her mind. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, sir!¡± Bai Qingyan bowed again. Chun Tao quickly supported Bai Qingyan, only to hear her say: ¡°Uncle Ping, take good care of Mr. Qin.¡± Lu Ping gratefully responded: ¡°Lu Ping obeys!¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Outer Room_1 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Outer Room_1 Bai Qingyan looked at Qin Shangzhi, ¡°If Mr. Qin does not mind, I earnestly request¡­¡± ¡°I will leave as soon as my wounds heal!¡± Qin Shangzhi interrupted her hurriedly before she could finish. Qin Shangzhi understood Bai Qingyan¡¯s intentions. He cupped his hands in salute, ¡°Miss, please forgive me. I acted rashly and impulsively this time, attempting to assassinate King Liang. It cost my brothers their lives, and I deeply regret it. My ambition in this life lies in state affairs and the royal court. Even if I die trying, I must stop King Liang from ascending. I do not wish to be confined to the inner court.¡± Qin Shangzhi¡¯s aspirations were indeed grand; otherwise, in the previous life, he would not have entered the Crown Prince¡¯s residence. Bai Qingyan did not wish to force him with gratitude. After a moment of silence, she bowed and said, ¡°The royal court is like the sea, and you are like a dragon. I wish you success in achieving your ambitions, riding the clouds and controlling the rain, ascending to the heavens.¡± Qin Shangzhi seemed surprised by her words. He clutched his chest tightly and struggled to stand, offering a rare, respectful salute to Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan nodded and took the hand warmer from Chun Tao, walking back along the same path. Although Qin Shangzhi was unwilling to stay and help her, his words had enlightened her. She thought of the letter ¡°Asking the Emperor¡± her mother had left behind after committing suicide in prison in the previous life. She remembered the scene of furious students in Dadu seeking justice for the Bai family, and King Liang, troubled in his residence, lamenting his inability to ease the Emperor¡¯s worries. Public opinion can destroy even gold and bones, and the words of people are terrifying. Even the current Emperor, who held supreme power, had things he feared: public opinion, people¡¯s anger, and the legacy of oppressing the loyal and good. Now, with her grandfather¡¯s life or death unknown, possibly dead in the southern frontiers, the Bai family could no longer retreat. If they could not retreat, she would advance further, elevating the Bai family¡¯s reputation to its peak, making the Emperor fear public opinion and dare not act against them. Even if the Jin Kingdom ultimately could not escape being destroyed by Yan, under a great reputation, she hoped to protect the Bai family. Nanny Jiang, who was on her way to Qinghui Courtyard to fetch Bai Qingyan, hadn¡¯t expected to meet her on the road. She hastened forward. ¡°Miss!¡± Nanny Jiang bowed in greeting, ¡°The Eldest Princess has sent for you.¡± Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together, ¡°Does Grandmother have something planned?¡± Nanny Jiang nodded, her eyes red. Bai Qingyan then lifted her foot to follow Nanny Jiang to the Eldest Princess¡¯s Changshou Courtyard. Along the way, she inquired about her grandmother¡¯s condition since her departure yesterday. ¡°Miss, rest assured. The Eldest Princess is, after all, an Imperial Family daughter; she can hold on.¡± Nanny Jiang shielded Bai Qingyan with an umbrella, her eyes reddening, ¡°But you are still a child¡­¡± As they spoke, they arrived at Changshou Courtyard. The maid lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan. Seeing her enter, Nanny Jiang dismissed all the maids, then took Bai Qingyan¡¯s white fur cloak, saying, ¡°The old servant will guard outside. Miss, have a good talk with your grandmother.¡± From behind the bead curtain, Bai Qingyan saw her grandmother sitting on the kang, with eyes closed, fingering Buddha beads. Her eyes reddened. ¡°Grandmother¡­¡± Bai Qingyan called softly. The Eldest Princess opened her eyes. Seeing Bai Qingyan pushing aside the bead curtain to enter, she extended her hand, ¡°Kid, come here!¡± As instructed, Bai Qingyan walked up to the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess moved her lips, took several breaths, and then asked with red-rimmed eyes, ¡°Tell Grandmother, who gave you the news that arrived before the Imperial Court¡¯s?¡± ¡°Before leaving, Grandfather ordered two of his best Hidden Guards, once given to me by Grandfather, to accompany him and protect him. One of them returned with his last breath to deliver the message: Our Bai family was betrayed by his deputy Liu Huanzhang colluding with court officials! Without evidence, I dared not make it public and quietly arranged for him to be buried.¡± Bai Qingyan had thought of this explanation before coming to Changshou Courtyard yesterday. The Duke of Zhen had indeed given her two outstanding Hidden Guards, who accompanied him on his expedition last life as well, but had perished while protecting him. The Eldest Princess couldn¡¯t help but grieve, her lips trembling violently. After a long while, she closed her eyes and slapped the table forcefully. ¡°The men of the Bai family can die on the battlefield, shrouded in horsehide, but they must not be brought down by treachery!¡± ¡°Grandmother, given the current situation, we must make plans early¡­¡± Bai Qingyan clasped the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand, clearly already having considered her strategy, ¡°If indeed all the men of the Bai family have been betrayed, someone must be plotting to take the Bai family¡¯s army from us!¡± The Eldest Princess gripped the edge of the kang table tightly. ¡°But the Bai family army has always recognized only Bai family members! Grandfather, Father, and Uncles are likely doomed. Those who harmed us probably have more plans. Grandmother¡­ Now you are our only pillar of support!¡± Bai Qingyan analyzed with the Eldest Princess. ¡°They dream!¡± The Eldest Princess gritted her teeth, ¡°Before the late Emperor passed, he left me a unit of Imperial secret guards. They have remained hidden at my dowry estate for years, untouched. It seems they must move now.¡± Bai Qingyan was quite surprised. She had never heard her grandmother mention having such a unit of secret guards. If this were true, she wouldn¡¯t worry about her grandmother¡¯s safety. ¡°Grandmother, even if Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and Brothers are all gone, you still have me!¡± Bai Qingyan held the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand tightly, solemnly vowing, ¡°Grandmother must take care of her health and be safe! With Grandmother here, I have confidence. I will fight to protect the Bai family and ensure our men do not die unjustly¡­¡± The Eldest Princess was moved to tears by Bai Qingyan¡¯s words and held her tightly, choking with sobs. After a long while, the Eldest Princess pressed a handkerchief to her eyes and asked Bai Qingyan, ¡°Kid, do you already have a plan?¡± ¡°The trouble came from within. We need to thoroughly investigate the household staff in secret. I will discuss this with Mother; Grandmother, please just oversee without worry!¡± The Eldest Princess nodded. Bai Qingyan thought of the son King Liang brought from Second Uncle¡¯s outside household in the previous life. She looked at the Eldest Princess and asked, ¡°I have another question. Did Second Uncle have an outside household?¡± The period Second Uncle was Bai Qingyan¡¯s father¡¯s full brother and the Eldest Princess¡¯s second son. The Eldest Princess pressed her lips together. Seeing her grandmother¡¯s look, Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart sank. So, King Liang¡¯s supposed son from the outside household was real. ¡°Not exactly an outside household but indeed your Second Uncle wronged your Second Aunt. When he was traveling, a girl saved him, and they formed a bond¡­¡± The Eldest Princess hesitated, unable to say more as Bai Qingyan was unmarried, ¡°Before returning, he gave her a dragon-patterned jade pendant as a token, intending to discuss with your Second Aunt upon his return and bring her into the household as a legitimate concubine. But your Second Aunt was pregnant, so he never mentioned it.¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Betrayal_1 Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Betrayal_1 Then later, a crisis occurred at the border. Grandfather took Father and Second Uncle to the front line. When they returned in triumph three years later, they sought out that girl again, only to learn that a flood had ravaged her hometown years ago. Everyone believed that girl had died. A few years ago, who would have known that the girl, carrying a boy, approached the side gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence? Seeing Second Son and Daughter-in-law living harmoniously, the Eldest Princess did not want the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence to be disrupted by this matter. She hid it from everyone and sent the person directly to her own estate to raise. Bai Qingyan felt her temples throbbing. Thinking about the previous life when the Duke of Zhen became an empty title. After Second Uncle¡¯s illegitimate son inherited the title, he engaged in corrupt practices, seized women by force, and murdered tenants. The Bai family¡¯s hard-earned reputation was utterly ruined. Even Shen Qingzhu, who was like a sister to Bai Qingyan, was turned into a beautiful figurine by that scoundrel for others to admire. Bai Qingyan felt a surge of blood in her heart, as though a mountain was pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She wished she could immediately hack that scoundrel with a knife! Bai Qingyan unwillingly asked, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Second Uncle¡¯s child?¡± The Eldest Princess looked pale, leaning on a soft pillow, and sighed, ¡°That child looks almost exactly like your Second Uncle when he was young.¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s hands, hidden in her sleeves, tightened. Her nails dug into her palms. If he wasn¡¯t Second Uncle¡¯s child, she feared she would have Lu Ping eliminate the threat now. But, if he was Second Uncle¡¯s offspring¡­ Bai Qingyan felt a sharp pain in her heart. After a moment, she forced herself to make a decision. She then looked at the Eldest Princess. ¡°Then bring him back!¡± While the child was still young, maybe proper teaching could change him. Even if he couldn¡¯t be changed¡­ it would be better for the child to be in her grasp than in the hands of King Liang. ¡°Alright, bring him back. Grandmother will raise him herself!¡± The Eldest Princess firmly grasped Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand. ¡°As for your Second Aunt, Grandmother will speak to her after your Second Sister returns.¡± Bai Qingyan nodded, her fingertips cold. She forced down the nausea and revulsion, not letting her thoughts wander. She began discussing her plans for Bai Jintong with the Eldest Princess. ¡°Grandmother, after careful consideration, I believe the Bai family should have a retreat plan. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone the Bai family.¡± ¡°Tell me what you have in mind.¡± ¡°Grandmother, do you remember that third sister, Jintong, once helped my mother manage the household and increased the shop¡¯s income by thirty percent within half a year? My mother joked that if Third Sister went into business, she would become as wealthy as Xiao Rongyan, the richest man.¡± The Eldest Princess nodded, remembering that because of this joke, Bai Jintong indeed had the idea of going into business. The Duke of Zhen was furious, declaring that no Bai family child would degrade themselves by becoming a merchant. ¡°Grandmother, if Third Sister wishes, we could pair her with a loyal and capable steward. Let Third Sister disguise herself as a man and demonstrate her talents, secretly accumulating wealth.¡± ¡°Secretly accumulating wealth?¡± Kid, what are you planning? You¡­¡± The Eldest Princess looked at Bai Qingyan in astonishment, her hand trembling slightly. ¡°Are you planning a rebellion?¡± The Eldest Princess gripped Bai Qingyan¡¯s fingertips so tightly that it hurt. Bai Qingyan shivered and was stunned. The atmosphere between grandmother and granddaughter instantly became like a taut bowstring, stretched to the limit and ready to snap at any moment. How could she forget¡­ the Eldest Princess was her grandmother, but she was also a daughter of the royal family, the Eldest Princess of Jin Kingdom. The territories of Jin belonged to the Lin family. In protecting the Bai family, her greatest difference with her grandmother was that she was willing to rebel for the Bai family. But her grandmother wanted to protect both the Bai family and the Jin Kingdom. But Grandmother did not know that the current emperor was already displeased with the Bai family and how the emperor treated the Bai family! As Qin Shangzhi said, in the previous life, the Bai family ended up utterly destroyed because of the emperor¡¯s orders. With such a ruler¡­ if he truly pushed her Bai family to destruction like before, how could she not rebel? She closed her eyes, breathing erratically. If it weren¡¯t for the emperor, why would the men of the Bai family all die tragically? Why would her mother and the other aunts hang themselves? Why would Aunt Five, who had just given birth, despair to the point of taking her own life at the palace gates?! Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart ached as if being cut by a knife. It hurt so much that she trembled all over when she thought of these things. ¡°Kid!¡± The Eldest Princess saw the immense hatred in Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes and pulled her close, her gaze cold and stern. ¡°Are you planning a rebellion?!¡± The Eldest Princess knew Bai Qingyan¡¯s capabilities. Although Bai Qingyan had stayed secluded for many years, her reputation in the Bai family army was extremely high. If she had rebellious thoughts, raised her arm¡­ Jin would be in turmoil. The Eldest Princess couldn¡¯t even bear to think of such a scene. If her most beloved granddaughter really planned to rebel¡­ The Eldest Princess gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with red veins. If Bai Qingyan did intend to rebel, as the Eldest Princess of Jin Kingdom, she could not sit idly by. Even if it meant imprisoning Bai Qingyan for life, or more extreme measures, she could not allow anything to undermine the Lin family¡¯s imperial power. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, suppressing the overwhelming hatred in her heart. After a while, she spoke softly, ¡°Grandmother, the Bai family ancestral teachings value loyalty, righteousness, and put personal honor and life last. Your granddaughter would never dare defy these teachings or tarnish the Bai family¡¯s century-old reputation for loyalty and courage.¡± ¡°Third Sister enjoys this path. Let her change her name and disguise herself as a man, staying far from Dadu City. If the Bai family encounters misfortune, at least Third Sister can be preserved! Furthermore, Third Sister¡¯s business acumen can help the Bai family with finances.¡± Seeing Grandmother¡¯s intense gaze still fixed on her, seemingly unconvinced, she added, ¡°Over the past few days, I have thought repeatedly. If Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and Cousins cannot return, I hope Grandmother permits the family to move back to our ancestral home in Shuoyang. The intrigues in Dadu City are too dangerous. Grandfather¡¯s uprightness has offended many treacherous officials. With no one from our family in court, public opinion could destroy us. Retreating to Shuoyang is our only way to preserve the Bai family.¡± Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, the Eldest Princess remained silent for a moment before releasing her grip and nodding while fingering Buddha Beads. Bai Qingyan was right. Public opinion was potent. Recently, while victory reports had come frequently, treacherous officials in the court praised the Duke of Zhen openly but hinted that his merits overshadowed the ruler, causing discord. The Eldest Princess was aware of this. The Eldest Princess spoke earnestly, ¡°Kid, remember this well. You are the granddaughter of the Eldest Princess of Jin Kingdom, and royal blood flows within you. You must never harbor rebellious thoughts!¡± She looked down at her pale fingertips, held tightly by the Eldest Princess, feeling uncontrollable exhaustion and chill. With a hoarse voice, she replied, ¡°Your granddaughter will remember.¡± Seeing Bai Qingyan like this, the Eldest Princess softened, gently caressing her head. ¡°The painter sent the painting of you and your sisters yesterday. Why wasn¡¯t yours among them?¡± ¡°Your granddaughter doesn¡¯t enjoy such bustle,¡± Bai Qingyan said softly. If the Bai family couldn¡¯t survive, what use was a painting? After conversing with the Eldest Princess for a while, Bai Qingyan rose to take her leave. Just as she reached the gate of Changshou Courtyard, she heard Nanny Jiang sending Grandmother¡¯s maid, Lianxin, to call for Third Miss. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Position_1 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Position_1 She stood at the doorway of Changshou Courtyard, staring at the plaque in a daze. An indescribable bitterness and loneliness spread throughout her body. She had believed that her grandmother would, like her, protect the Bai family and their relatives with her life. But her grandmother was the Eldest Princess of Jin; her surname was Lin¡­ Jin was the world of the Lin family! Chun Tao saw Bai Qingyan gazing at the plaque of Changshou Courtyard with red-rimmed eyes. She thought Qingyan was worried about the Eldest Princess¡¯s health and softly consoled her: ¡°Miss Bai, the Eldest Princess has been blessed with profound fortune. She will surely recover after the winter.¡± Bai Qingyan came back to her senses, clenched the hand warmer tightly, and nodded: ¡°Let¡¯s go back!¡± Forget it. The matter of rebirth was too illusory to make her grandmother believe in it without doubt. If it caused her grandmother to become wary of her, it would make some things harder to accomplish. At least, as long as it did not touch the Lin family¡¯s sovereignty over Jin, her grandmother and she stood on the same ground when it came to protecting the Bai family. ¡¤ Chun Tao had just helped Bai Qingyan into the courtyard when they saw Chun Yan standing under the corridor, pacing back and forth anxiously with a pale face. Upon seeing Bai Qingyan enter, Chun Yan immediately rushed over. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes red with urgency: ¡°Miss Bai, King Liang was attacked today on Changan Street. He¡¯s unconscious, in critical condition! Please ask Doctor Hong to check on His Highness. Doctor Hong is the senior of Doctor Huang, the director, and is highly renowned. He can surely save His Highness!¡± Chun Tao, who had accompanied Bai Qingyan to see Qin Shangzhi today, felt her heart pound upon hearing Chun Yan¡¯s words. Bai Qingyan¡¯s sharp eyes turned to Chun Yan. She wished she could tear King Liang apart and let him die; it would be too lenient for him. Why should she invite Doctor Hong to save him¡­ what a ridiculous daydream?! ¡°Chun Yan, have you lost your mind? King Liang was attacked; the Imperial Medical Bureau will handle it! How can our Miss Bai invite Doctor Hong to see King Liang? Does Miss Bai not care about her reputation anymore?!¡± Chun Tao reproached sternly. Chun Yan hurriedly knelt, tears falling incessantly: ¡°Miss Bai, Chun Yan knows she was wrong. Chun Yan was just worried for you!¡± ¡°The more you talk, the more nonsensical you get! You¡­¡± Before Chun Tao could finish, Bai Qingyan coldly gave Chun Yan a glance: ¡°How about I send you, along with your indenture, to King Liang¡¯s residence?!¡± Chun Yan was shocked, her eyes wide open as she kowtowed: ¡°This maid knows her mistake. Miss Bai, please calm your anger!¡± ¡°Chun Yan, do not forget whose maid you are and where your loyalty should lie. I will not tolerate a servant with divided loyalties!¡± After saying this, Bai Qingyan walked towards the inner room. If it weren¡¯t for Chun Yan¡¯s minor usefulness, she would have had her dismissed long ago. Chun Tao glared fiercely at Chun Yan and then hurriedly followed after Bai Qingyan, lifting the curtain for her. Chun Yan, kneeling in the courtyard, did not dare to plead anymore as she watched Bai Qingyan¡¯s receding figure. She wiped her tears incessantly, unable to understand why Miss Bai was so heartless. King Liang was deeply in love with Miss Bai, attentive and devoted. Now that he was in mortal peril, how could she be so indifferent? Could it really be that going to the battlefield turned her heart to stone? Bai Qingyan had just finished her lunch when Bai Jintong rushed into Qinghui Courtyard, not bothering to shake off the snow from her clothes, and burst into Bai Qingyan¡¯s room: ¡°Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Qingyan covered her mouth with a cloth and spat the mouthwash into the spittoon. Seeing Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes sparkle with undisguised joy, she felt a warmth in her heart. It was wonderful to see her third sister¡¯s lively smile again! She smiled and asked: ¡°Did you eat at Grandmother¡¯s?¡± Bai Jintong handed her cloak to the maid who had followed her in and walked to Bai Qingyan¡¯s side: ¡°You all go out first.¡± ¡°Chun Tao, stand guard outside¡­¡± Bai Qingyan said to Chun Tao. Chun Tao nodded and led the maids out of the inner room. ¡°Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Jintong sat on the stool next to Bai Qingyan, unable to contain her excitement as she grabbed Bai Qingyan¡¯s hands: ¡°Grandmother has given me capital and men. She¡¯s allowing me to dress as a man and go into business! Grandmother won¡¯t force me to marry anymore!¡± The Eldest Princess planned to bring back the grandson raised on the estate and, by the fifteenth day of the first month, would take the Bai sisters to Qingan Temple to pray. At that time, she would find an excuse to stay at Qingan Temple and teach her long-unseen grandson well. Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, smiling as she rubbed Bai Jintong¡¯s cold fingers that had frozen in the wind. She asked: ¡°Did Grandmother explain why?¡± Bai Jintong replied cheerfully: ¡°Grandmother said that the Bai family has seventeen sons and will need to split the family estate in the future. Since I have a talent for business, she¡¯s entrusting me to earn a prosperous family fortune for my brothers and cousins! Although Grandmother didn¡¯t state it outright, I can see it. But what does that matter? I¡¯ve always wanted to pursue business!¡± Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze, recalling how Grandmother had questioned if she harbored rebellious thoughts. The intense emotions and unintentional killing intent had made her eyes mist, making it almost impossible to breathe. Suppressing the pain in her heart, she poured a cup of hot tea for Bai Jintong and pushed it in front of her, then solemnly spoke: ¡°What we talked about today stays between you and me. You must keep it to yourself¡­¡± There were things Bai Qingyan couldn¡¯t say to her grandmother but had to tell Bai Jintong. They were both Bai family children. Bai Qingyan believed that Bai Jintong, like her, would protect the Bai family with her life. Bai Jintong looked seriously at Bai Qingyan: ¡°Eldest Sister, please speak.¡± ¡°Grandfather¡¯s high achievements have alarmed the Emperor. His honesty and straightforwardness have long been at odds with the court ministers close to the Emperor. The current Emperor, believing falsehoods, sees our Bai family as a fierce tiger lying beside him that he wants to eliminate! Grandfather¡¯s situation in the southern border is dangerous¡­¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s heart tightened as she gazed at Bai Qingyan, whose eyes held a deep rage and killing intent. She trembled with fear: ¡°Eldest Sister?!¡± Bai Qingyan gripped her hand tightly to indicate she should listen: ¡°You changing your name and dressing as a man is to protect you and to entrust you with the Bai family¡¯s way out! Why is the wealthy merchant Xiao Rongyan received like a prince and frequenting the homes of aristocrats in Jin? Because wealth can protect lives¡­and open doors.¡± Bai Jintong, who had initially only wanted to use her business talents, suddenly felt a heavy burden on her shoulders, making it difficult to breathe. Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice turned hoarse: ¡°The Bai family, a prominent aristocratic family, doesn¡¯t lack silver coin or worldly possessions. What we lack is an escape route. The household is under Grandmother¡¯s care; the outside world is yours. The extent you can achieve with your intelligence is both your opportunity and the Bai family¡¯s fortune. Eldest Sister hopes you understand the gravity of this.¡± Bai Jintong clenched her fists, no longer as energetic as when she had rushed into Qinghui Courtyard. She had become much more composed. She stood up and bowed to Bai Qingyan: ¡°Eldest Sister, rest assured! Jintong will do her utmost.¡± Bai Jintong left Bai Qingyan¡¯s place with a heavy heart. Her maid hurried forward to put the cloak over her shoulders. She looked down at her feet in a daze. Eldest Sister¡¯s cautious and prudent nature meant she never spoke without purpose¡­ Standing outside Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jintong gazed at the intricately decorated Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion. She broke into a cold sweat. Perhaps the Bai Mansion¡¯s illustrious reputation in Dadu City had blinded her and everyone else in the family. If not for Eldest Sister pointing it out, she would never have thought that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion might provoke the Emperor¡¯s jealousy. Chun Tao, after seeing Bai Jintong off, was about to enter the house when she saw two young maids at the door rummaging through things. They had found the sandbags the steward Nanny had put away long ago. Chun Tao frowned, glanced towards the main house, and walked quickly down the steps, lifting her skirt as she went, whispering: ¡°Why have you brought these out?¡± Ever since Bai Qingyan had been injured, Mrs. Dong, worried that the sight of these things would sadden her, had instructed the steward Nanny Tong to put them away. ¡°What are you bringing out?¡± Mrs. Dong entered the Qinghui Courtyard, supported by Nanny Qin. ¡°Madam!¡± Chun Tao hurriedly bowed and saluted. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mother_1 Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mother_1 Mrs. Dong¡¯s facial features were extremely beautiful and exquisite, exuding an aura of nobility. Her whole demeanor commanded respect without anger. The two young maids were startled and hurriedly bowed and said, ¡°Reporting to Madam, the Eldest Young Lady instructed us to take out the sandbags used for martial training when she was little.¡± Mrs. Dong frowned and, without saying a word, walked toward the main house. Chun Tao hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain for Mrs. Dong. Mrs. Dong entered and saw Bai Qingyan leaning against the spring pillow. She removed her cloak and took the food box from a maid, walking towards Bai Qingyan. ¡°Kid, are you tired?!¡± After talking so much with Bai Jintong earlier, she was utterly exhausted. Especially thinking about her grandmother¡¯s attitude in protecting the Jin royal family, Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart ached unbearably. Given Bai Qingyan¡¯s understanding of her grandmother¡­ if she had indeed spoken out in defiance at that time, she would probably have been sent to the family temple by her grandmother, never to see daylight again. Seeing her mother, Bai Qingyan almost couldn¡¯t suppress her surging emotions, nearly bursting into tears. She wanted nothing more than to rush into her mother¡¯s arms. She held back the burning pain in her heart, quickly got up with a smile to greet her: ¡°Such heavy snow, why did you come, mother?¡± Supporting Mrs. Dong to sit on the soft couch, she stood by her mother¡¯s side, holding her hand without letting go, her eyes reddening. ¡°Second Sister has gotten married. Mother, you have been working hard for so long. Why don¡¯t you take a good rest?¡± ¡°These days have been busy. Mother hasn¡¯t had time to come and accompany Kid!¡± Mrs. Dong gently stroked her daughter¡¯s black hair. ¡°Come, sit down! This is the black chicken soup I made for you!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded and sat on the other side of the small table. Watching her mother personally open the food box and place the soup cup in front of her, she used a small spoon to taste a bit. Her long eyelashes drooped, hiding her reddened eyes. It felt so good that her mother was still there! Bai Qingyan¡¯s nose tingled, and she quickly lowered her head for fear that Mrs. Dong would see her tears falling into the soup. ¡°Why did you have the young maids in the courtyard take out the sandbags?¡± Mrs. Dong asked softly. Bai Qingyan kept her head low, drinking a mouthful of soup as she replied, ¡°My body hasn¡¯t been in good shape. I¡¯ve been bedridden for too long these past two years. I want to move a bit¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to want to move around, but it¡¯s freezing in winter. You should take it slow! Wait until the spring flowers bloom before getting active again!¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s brows furrowed as she advised. When her daughter was young, the Duke raised her like a son. Every day, she wore sandbags to practice military boxing and squatted horse stances, enduring countless hardships. In those days, when Bai Qingyan was healthy, Mrs. Dong felt heartache for her daughter. Now that Bai Qingyan¡¯s body was not well, how could Mrs. Dong have the heart to see her suffer the same hardships she did as a child? Bai Qingyan felt warmth in her heart. She looked up with a smile. ¡°Mother, I know my limits. I won¡¯t exhaust myself. Besides, practicing calligraphy with a wrist sandbag indoors won¡¯t make me catch a cold.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s still too taxing! Mother worries you can¡¯t handle it¡­¡± Seeing the concern in Mrs. Dong¡¯s eyes, Bai Qingyan pretended to be scalded and coughed heavily, tears streaming down her face from the discomfort. ¡°Hurry, bring a glass of water for your lady!¡± Mrs. Dong hurriedly got up, walking behind Bai Qingyan to help her breathe. ¡°You¡¯ve grown so big, how can you choke while drinking soup!¡± Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t want to worry her mother. She looked up and took the handkerchief Chun Tao handed over, wiping her tears with a smile. ¡°Mother, although I¡¯ve been injured and my martial arts skills are gone, you can¡¯t spoil me like a fragile patient. I am the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. I must set an example for my younger siblings.¡± This was a phrase the Duke had often said while raising Bai Qingyan. Mrs. Dong took out a handkerchief to wipe Bai Qingyan¡¯s mouth, sighing. ¡°In all of Dadu City¡­ only the daughters of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion are so hardworking!¡± ¡°But with Mother making soup for me, I don¡¯t feel any hardship!¡± Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong¡¯s hand, rubbed her face against it affectionately, and didn¡¯t want to let go. Bai Qingyan had been raised under the care of the Eldest Princess and the Duke of Zhen, growing up with a mature demeanor. Even when she was young, she seldom acted spoiled with Mrs. Dong. Today, her sudden display of affection and childishness made Mrs. Dong¡¯s eyes well up. She laughed softly and tapped Bai Qingyan¡¯s forehead with her finger. ¡°The older you get, the more childish you become, acting spoiled with Mother!¡± ¡°Mother, no matter how old I get, I am still your daughter¡­¡± Bai Qingyan said warmly, though her heart was filled with sadness. In this life, she would never allow her mother to reach the point of taking her life. She would sacrifice herself if necessary! All the maids and nannies in the room watched Bai Qingyan¡¯s tender display, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs to stifle their laughter. ¡°I know what you¡¯re up to. You must want my permission to act recklessly!¡± Mrs. Dong shook her handkerchief and sat on the other side of the small table again, pushing the soup in front of Bai Qingyan. ¡°Alright, go ahead and practice if you must. Just remember not to overdo it and don¡¯t push yourself too hard!¡± Bai Qingyan obediently nodded. ¡°Kid understands.¡± Mrs. Dong did not see Nanny Tong, who managed Bai Qingyan¡¯s room, in the Qinghui Courtyard, so she asked, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Nanny Tong come back yet?¡± ¡°Nanny Tong¡¯s son was seriously injured this time. Before lunch, I had Chun Yan take some Silver to Nanny Tong¡¯s home and tell her to return after her son has fully recovered.¡± Seeing the motherly compassion, Mrs. Dong nodded. ¡°Your room cannot be without a managing nanny. Before Nanny Tong returns¡­¡± ¡°Mother, although Nanny Tong is not here, Chun Tao is calm and experienced enough to be relied upon. I want Chun Tao to gain more experience during this time. Please don¡¯t worry about the matters in my room!¡± Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, Chun Tao was both surprised and honored. She hurriedly bowed. ¡°Thank you, Eldest Young Lady, for your trust. I will live up to your expectations.¡± Mrs. Dong nodded. ¡°Chun Tao is indeed reliable.¡± ¡°You flatter me, Madam. I am humbled.¡± Chun Tao became increasingly respectful. Mrs. Dong glanced at Bai Qingyan, who had a smile at the corner of her lips, and thought of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s grand wedding today. Her own daughter¡¯s marriage seemed far off, filling her with an unbearable sadness. Afraid that her daughter would notice her sorrow and become upset, Mrs. Dong only stayed a short while before leaving. The next day, at the early hour of cockcrow, a cleaning maid came out with a wooden basin, yawning. She saw Bai Qingyan practicing horse stance in the courtyard and immediately stopped yawning, bowing in respect. ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± ¡°Do what you need to do and mind your own business!¡± Chun Tao instructed. Bai Qingyan wore thin training clothes, sweat dripping from her chin and steam rising from her head and body. Chun Tao stood by, looking worried but not daring to say a word, constantly wringing the handkerchief in her hands and glancing at the water clock, hoping time would pass quickly. Bai Qingyan was soaked in sweat, her clothes half-wet. She had been holding the horse stance for half an hour and hadn¡¯t even started with the sandbags yet. She seemed to be at her limit. Now, to regain her lost martial arts skills, Bai Qingyan had to endure the same hardships she did as a child. No matter how difficult, she had to persevere! In her past life, to be able to fight on the battlefield again, she had endured even greater hardships, nearly losing her life several times, but she survived on sheer hatred. In this life, with her beloved family still around, even if she had to endure a thousand times more suffering than before, she could bear it and had to. She couldn¡¯t be a useless person when the Bai family faced difficulties, only to fight back desperately then. Heaven had mercy, allowing her and the Bai family to return. It wasn¡¯t to let her come back and be mediocre, letting the Bai family fall again. Bai Qingyan clung to that determination with all her willpower. When an hour passed, Chun Tao quickly ran up to support Bai Qingyan. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, an hour has passed!¡± Bai Qingyan was drenched, her legs weak like jelly. She almost stumbled as she stood up. ¡°Careful, Eldest Young Lady!¡± Chun Tao¡¯s eyes reddened with heartache. ¡°Prepare some water!¡± Bai Qingyan ordered hoarsely. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Chun Tao responded immediately. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Return to the Family_1 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Return to the Family_1 Today was Bai Jinxiu¡¯s third-day return to her parents¡¯ home after marriage. Second Lady, Mrs. Liu, had gotten up early to arrange her daughter¡¯s return to the mansion. Although she was sitting in the Eldest Princess¡¯s room, her mind was already outside the mansion gate, constantly craning her neck and looking out, waiting for the servants to report that her daughter and son-in-law had arrived. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they back yet at this hour?¡± Mrs. Liu put down the tea in her hand and turned to send her maid Qingshu to the front to meet them. Fifth Lady, Mrs. Qi, who was heavily pregnant, couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and laugh: ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯re too anxious. Second Sister and her new husband are newlyweds. It¡¯s understandable if they got up late. We all have been through this, you know.¡± ¡°Look at Fifth Sister-in-law, daring to talk recklessly even in front of Mother,¡± Third Lady, Mrs. Li, teased. Mrs. Dong, sitting below the Eldest Princess, smiled without speaking, just lowering her eyes to touch the jade bracelet on her wrist, feeling a bit uncomfortable as this marriage was supposed to be for her daughter. The girls of the Bai family were all sitting on small stools, chatting lively. Bai Qingyan, watching the bustling room, felt both warm and happy inside. Soon, Qingshu, who was by Mrs. Liu¡¯s side, hurriedly stepped into the Changshou Courtyard, followed by Nanny Wu from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion. Nanny Wu was the most favored nanny of the Marquess. When she saw Nanny Jiang standing under the corridor, she hurriedly walked up to her and bowed: ¡°Old sister¡­¡± ¡°Why did Nanny Wu come today? Did our Second Miss and her husband get up late?¡± Nanny Jiang politely pulled up Nanny Wu and asked with a smile. Nanny Wu¡¯s face turned even worse. She awkwardly replied: ¡°Our eldest young lady slipped while playing with our mansion¡¯s girls yesterday, fell into the lake, and coughed up water. It wasn¡¯t serious, but this morning she suddenly developed a fever! So, she won¡¯t be able to return today¡­¡± Nanny Jiang was startled inside and quickly said: ¡°Nanny Wu, please wait a moment while I report to the Eldest Princess.¡± Inside the room, Second Lady Mrs. Liu was so shocked by the news that she stood up: ¡°What?! What is going on with the Qin family?! Jinxiu fell into the lake yesterday, and they only reported it to us today. Are they bullying because our Duke and Jinxiu¡¯s father are not around?¡± Bai Qingyan gripped the teacup tightly, lifted her eyes to look through the partition at Nanny Wu outside, who was twisting her handkerchief. Instantly, she clenched her teeth in a rage. In her previous life, the legitimate second daughter of the Chief of Staff to the Ministry of Personnel married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion. She did not return on the third day, reportedly because she slipped while playing and fell into the lake. She remembered that the Chief of Staff¡¯s legitimate second daughter ended up dying of depression before the age of thirty. She squeezed the teacup hard, her face slightly pale. Could it be that Bai Jinxiu wouldn¡¯t escape this fate even after marrying into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion? Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand holding the teacup trembled with weakness. She did not know whether it was due to over-exercising in recent days or because she was too angry. ¡°Second Aunt, don¡¯t panic!¡± Bai Qingyan steadied herself, put down the teacup, and stood up: ¡°Grandmother, let Second Aunt take Doctor Hong to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion to check on Second Sister!¡± ¡°But¡­ just married, would it be too arrogant for us from the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion to bring a doctor to the in-laws? Wouldn¡¯t the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion resent us?¡± Fourth Lady Mrs. Wang, who had a docile nature, asked cautiously. ¡°Second Sister is skilled in martial arts and a good swimmer! Saying she slipped while playing and fell into the lake and choked on water¡ªis that believable? There must be more to it.¡± Bai Qingyan raised her voice, unable to hide her anger, ¡°Grandmother, you and Mother, one is the reigning Eldest Princess, and the other holds a royal title. It is indeed unsuitable for you to take Doctor Hong! But if Second Aunt, out of maternal concern, brings him, then it is not so surprising.¡± ¡°I want to go too!¡± Fourth Girl Bai Jinzhi stood up and bowed to the Eldest Princess, ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯m worried about Second Sister! I want to go too!¡± ¡°Grandmother, I want to go too!¡± Third Girl Bai Jintong also stood up. ¡°I want to go! I want to go!¡± Inside the room, several girls clamored to go see Bai Jinxiu. ¡°Mother!¡± Second Lady Mrs. Liu¡¯s eyes turned red, ¡°Please let me go! I¡¯m worried about Jinxiu!¡± The Eldest Princess, with a stern face, fiddled with the sandalwood Buddha beads in her hand. Her second daughter-in-law had an impulsive nature, and the younger children were too young to stay calm. This incident clearly had more to it. Perhaps Bai Jinxiu had suffered some grievances. If more people went¡­ it would also let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion know that the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion was not to be bullied. She looked towards Bai Qingyan, and after a while, spoke: ¡°Second daughter-in-law, you take a few of our girls to check on Jinxiu. Kid¡­ you go too, to find out what happened. The girls of the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion are not to be wronged at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion! Nanny Jiang, you go with the second daughter-in-law.¡± Nanny Jiang bowed in acceptance. Second Lady Mrs. Liu gratefully bowed to the Eldest Princess. Nanny Jiang, to some extent, represented the Eldest Princess. Having Nanny Jiang accompany¡­ would also let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion know how much the Eldest Princess valued Bai Jinxiu. Mrs. Dong, hearing that her daughter was to go, quickly said: ¡°Mother, Kid¡¯s health¡­¡± ¡°Mother, I am fine. I wouldn¡¯t be at ease if you did not let me go to see Second Sister!¡± Bai Qingyan reassured Mrs. Dong. Her heart was like an oven at the moment. If she did not go, how could she know how Bai Jinxiu was doing, or whether she could stay at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion? In the Bai family, Bai Qingyan was the legitimate eldest daughter. When there were no children in the Bai family, Second Lady Mrs. Liu also doted on Bai Qingyan. Naturally, she knew Bai Qingyan¡¯s calm and meticulous nature. With Bai Qingyan accompanying¡­ if Bai Jinxiu was reluctant to speak to her mother, she would definitely speak to Bai Qingyan. Despite her unwillingness, Mrs. Dong still asked Nanny Qin beside her to prepare the carriage and horses. When Nanny Wu from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage heard that Second Lady Mrs. Liu was bringing a doctor, along with the girls of the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion, to see Bai Jinxiu, she panicked and quickly said she would return to report back so that their Marchioness could be prepared, then hurriedly left by carriage. Mrs. Dong returned with Bai Qingyan to Qinghui Courtyard, selected a very dense fur cloak for Bai Qingyan, and tied it for her before sending her out: ¡°Mother didn¡¯t want you to go to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, but you insisted! Once there, don¡¯t be too aggressive¡­ otherwise, people will say you are narrow-minded and can¡¯t stand seeing Second Sister married to the Princely Heir. Understand?¡± ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry! I know what to do!¡± At the corner gate of the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion, several spacious and luxurious carriages began to move slowly towards the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion. ¡¤ At the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, Second Lady Mrs. Liu saw her daughter lying in bed, pale, and almost fainted with weak knees. She sat by the bed, holding her daughter¡¯s hand, calling her name: ¡°Jinxiu! Jinxiu¡­ Mother is here! Open your eyes and look at Mother!¡± Nanny Luo, the housekeeper by Mrs. Liu¡¯s side, held Mrs. Liu and said with reddened eyes, ¡°Second Lady, let Doctor Hong check on Second Miss first.¡± Bai Qingyan saw Bai Jinxiu barely breathing, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly in anger, shaking with uncontrollable rage boiling in her blood, wishing she could take a knife and cut down the Marquis¡¯s wife, that heartless viper. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Divorce_1 Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Divorce_1 She took a few steps toward the inner room, covering her mouth as she whispered something into Bai Jinzhi¡¯s ear. Bai Jinzhi¡¯s reddened eyes suddenly sparkled. She gripped the long whip behind her waist and nodded before rushing out. ¡°You go too, don¡¯t let the Fourth Young Lady suffer a loss!¡± Bai Qingyan turned slightly and instructed Chun Yan. ¡°Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Third Young Lady Bai Jintong stepped forward, looking puzzled at Bai Qingyan. ¡°What did you say to Xiao Si? Where did she go?¡± Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the hand warmer, her voice cold and harsh: ¡°Didn¡¯t they say Second Sister and the little sister-in-law were just playing? Since Second Sister¡¯s little sister-in-law enjoys playing so much, our Xiao Si has a reputation to uphold. Not seeking her out for a little fun would be a disservice to that reputation!¡± The Fifth and Sixth Young Ladies surrounded the bed, tearfully looking at Bai Jinxiu. ¡°How is Doctor Hong?¡± Mrs. Liu wringed the handkerchief in her hand, deeply concerned. ¡°She caught a cold, the fever won¡¯t subside¡­ Did she also suffer some head trauma?¡± Doctor Hong rolled up his sleeves, just about to examine Bai Jinxiu¡¯s head. Nanny Wu, from the side of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, shouted: ¡°Our eldest young mistress is highly esteemed; how can we let a rural doctor touch her?!¡± Bai Qingyan directed a sharp glare at Nanny Wu. Mrs. Liu, also a fierce character, didn¡¯t wait for her steward, Nanny Luo, to act. She personally pushed Nanny Wu aside: ¡°My daughter married well into your Marquis Mansion, and now she lies here unconscious! Who do you think you are to stop Doctor Hong from treating my daughter?! Filthy scum¡­¡± Before Mrs. Liu could say anything more offensive, Bai Jintong already cast a sidelong glance at Nanny Wu and spoke: ¡°The valued guests of the Duke of Zhen Mansion become rural doctors at the Marquis Mansion? Marquis of Loyalty and Courage really has a big mouth!¡± Nanny Jiang sensed something wrong and subtly observed the nervous Nanny Wu. Nanny Wu stood timidly to the side, sneaking glances at the solemn-looking Nanny Jiang, her heart sinking. She quickly plastered a smile on her face and said: ¡°Our eldest young mistress fell into the water yesterday. Our madam invited the Imperial Physician over to examine her. The Second Madam, the Third Young Lady misunderstood.¡± ¡°Where is your Crown Prince?!¡± Mrs. Liu, seeing her daughter in such a state and not seeing her son-in-law, immediately flew into a rage. ¡°Today, since the eldest young mistress can¡¯t return home, the princely heir went to the Fanxing Tower to attend a poetry meeting and meet friends,¡± Nanny Wu deliberately stoked the fire. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t someone ask the Crown Prince to come back!¡± Nanny Luo looked at Nanny Jiang, considering Nanny Jiang represented the Eldest Princess. Bai Qingyan knew Qin Lang¡¯s stepmother was difficult to deal with. She probably intended to stoke dissatisfaction from the Duke of Zhen Mansion towards Qin Lang, deliberately sending him away. Holding back her anger, she said: ¡°Third Sister, have a servant from the Duke of Zhen Mansion go to Fanxing Tower to invite Crown Prince Qin back.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t right. Our princely heir is attending a poetry meeting, an important matter for men¡­ How could he return for such a trivial issue!¡± Nanny Wu, back in her own territory, was more arrogant than she was at the Duke of Zhen Mansion. Bai Qingyan¡¯s icy, deep eyes fixed on Nanny Wu, the sharp-tongued one, and she asked sternly: ¡°Is this your idea or the lady of your marquis?¡± Having her intentions exposed, Nanny Wu felt a chill under Bai Qingyan¡¯s stare and didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. She thought of how this eldest young lady of the Bai family had once followed Duke Bai to the battlefield, personally beheading enemy generals. The very thought made her panic. Every glance from this eldest young lady made Nanny Wu¡¯s heart pound. ¡°I¡¯ll go at once!¡± Bai Jintong took a deep look at Nanny Wu before lifting her skirt and heading out. Bai Qingyan sat down on the soft couch, holding a hand warmer. She looked at Nanny Wu again and asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen any of my second sister¡¯s dowry maids around?¡± Nanny Wu felt a shiver run down her spine, sensing something was wrong. Just now, worried and busy, Mrs. Liu hadn¡¯t noticed. But now she realized that none of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s dowry maids were present. Mrs. Liu, furious, pointed at Nanny Wu: ¡°Where are my daughter¡¯s dowry maids?! Speak!¡± ¡°Second Madam, Eldest Young Lady, the eldest young mistress fell into the water because the maids didn¡¯t serve her well. Our marquis mansion has strict rules, unlike the lenient Duke¡¯s mansion. If the master has problems, it¡¯s the servants¡¯ fault. So, our lady decided to sell them all off!¡± Nanny Wu lowered her eyes, nervously explained. Bai Qingyan almost laughed out of anger, her chest heaving violently. She nearly crushed the hand warmer in her grasp. Such strict rules! ¡°The lady of your marquis mansion really carries herself with grandeur! She dares to meddle with my daughter¡¯s dowry! The contracts of my daughter¡¯s dowry maids belong to my daughter. Yet, your lady dared to sell them while my daughter was unconscious!¡± Mrs. Liu was so furious that her chest hurt, wondering what kind of hellhole her daughter had married into. Tampering with the dowry would ruin reputations if word spread. Nanny Wu panicked and quickly said: ¡°This was done with the consent of the eldest young mistress!¡± Mrs. Liu¡¯s heart grew heavier: ¡°Do you think my daughter hasn¡¯t woken up, so you can deceive me?!¡± Just as Mrs. Liu finished, a maid stumbled in, her hair in disarray, a whip mark on her face. ¡°Bad news! Bad news! The Fourth Young Lady of the Bai family has gone mad¡­ She wants to kill our Second Young Lady and Madam!¡± Nanny Wu¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing this. She hastily lifted her skirt and rushed out but quickly turned back, bowing to Mrs. Liu and Nanny Jiang: ¡°Second Madam, Nanny Jiang, please do something! Has the Fourth Young Lady of the Bai family gone mad, daring to assault people at our Marquis Mansion?!¡± Nanny Jiang, who stood with her hands clasped in front of her, heard this and looked at the composed Bai Qingyan. Their eyes met. Bai Qingyan¡¯s gaze was clear, and Nanny Jiang immediately understood that Bai Qingyan was intentionally causing a scene. She slightly nodded at Bai Qingyan. Mrs. Liu let out a cold laugh: ¡°My daughter is lying here on the brink of death. Do I care about your second young lady and madam?!¡± Nanny Wu was dumbfounded by Mrs. Liu¡¯s response. The Bai family was simply¡­ unreasonable. She could only look to Nanny Jiang for help: ¡°Nanny Jiang?! Nanny Jiang, please say something!¡± Nanny Jiang, looking at the bloodless Bai Jinxiu on the bed, also felt heartache: ¡°This old servant will follow the Second Madam¡¯s orders.¡± Before Nanny Jiang left, the Eldest Princess had instructed her that nothing was more important than her granddaughter¡¯s life. Bai Qingyan understood that in her previous life, the Chief of Staff¡¯s wife had kept things quiet for the sake of her daughter¡¯s situation but had sown the seeds for future troubles. In her current life, Bai Jinxiu¡¯s life was of utmost importance. Blowing things out of proportion would make the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage more cautious. Bai Qingyan had already made up her mind. As the saying goes, things must be broken before they can be remade. Hopefully, Qin Lang wouldn¡¯t disappoint her, and she could use this opportunity to truly establish herself. If Qin Lang proved useless, even though a high-status family in Dadu City had never divorced before, she would, before news from the Southern Border reached, still force a divorce while the Duke of Zhen Mansion held power. Divorce would be better than letting Bai Jinxiu suffer a lifetime as the legitimate second daughter of the Chief of Staff. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Witness Testimony_1 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Witness Testimony_1 Doctor Hong also finished examining Bai Jinxiu. He stroked his goatee and glanced at Bai Qingyan; when he saw Bai Qingyan nod slightly at him, he lowered his eyes and said, ¡°Second Miss first sustained a head injury, then fell into the water! The cold water entered her lungs, and her high fever won¡¯t subside. I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, felt her legs go weak. If Qingshu hadn¡¯t held her, she would have collapsed to the ground. Bai Qingyan approached with a solemn face and bowed to Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. ¡°Second Sister is in grave danger. Do you wish to stay here to take care of her until she recovers, or do you want to take her back to the Duke¡¯s Manor for treatment? Aunt, you must decide!¡± Nanny Wu¡¯s eyes widened. A married woman leaving her husband¡¯s house without permission was absolutely forbidden! If Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, took Bai Jinxiu away, it might sever ties between the two families. ¡°Second Madam, you mustn¡¯t! The Young Madam has just married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household. If you take her back, how will people view the Marquis¡¯s family? They will think the two families are cutting off relations! Even the Eldest Princess wouldn¡¯t agree to this, right, Nanny Jiang?!¡± ¡°My daughter has just married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household and now her life is at risk! I don¡¯t care what anyone thinks of the Marquis¡¯s family!¡± Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, clutched her chest and turned to Nanny Jiang. ¡°Nanny! Please inform Mother¡­ Jinxiu was hit on the head and pushed into the lake. All her maids were sold off, and she doesn¡¯t even have someone to attend to her. I must take her back to the manor for care! If Mother doesn¡¯t agree¡­ I¡¯ll take Jinxiu back to my parent¡¯s house!¡± Nanny Jiang bowed to Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. ¡°This old servant will report to the Eldest Princess immediately. Please don¡¯t worry, Second Madam. The Eldest Princess has always doted on the Second Miss and would never prioritize any relationship over her granddaughter¡¯s life!¡± These words struck Nanny Wu like a thunderbolt, almost making her kneel. She never expected Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, to disregard the reputation of both families to protect her daughter, without considering Bai Jinxiu¡¯s future in the Marquis¡¯s household. ¡°Qingshu, you¡¯re quick. Accompany Nanny Jiang.¡± After giving the order, Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, moved to the bedside, grasping her daughter¡¯s hand and crying uncontrollably. Qingshu, whose eyes had been red at the sight of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s condition, immediately complied and helped Nanny Jiang out swiftly. ¡°Nanny Jiang! Nanny Jiang, you mustn¡¯t!¡± Nanny Jiang ignored her. Unable to stop Nanny Jiang, Nanny Wu hurriedly knelt before Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. ¡°Second Madam! You mustn¡¯t stir up trouble with the Eldest Princess!¡± At this moment, Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, was holding her daughter¡¯s hand, staring at her pale face and unconscious state, already crying to the point of being heedless of anything else. Chun Yan ran in, covering her mouth, and whispered in Bai Qingyan¡¯s ear, ¡°The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s guards have gone to the inner courtyard! Miss Bai¡­ what if Fourth Miss suffers?¡± ¡°Jinzhao, Jinhua, stay here with Aunt.¡± Bai Qingyan, exuding an aura of danger, stood in place as Chun Tao draped a white fox fur cloak over her. She glanced at Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, who was crying by Bai Jinxiu¡¯s bedside and said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ll go and take a look. Fourth Sister is impulsive¡­ I hope she doesn¡¯t end up injuring the Marchioness.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t stop Nanny Jiang, Nanny Wu decided to quickly report to the Marchioness. Her eyes flickered as she scrambled up from the ground. ¡°This old servant will lead the way for Miss Bai! I will lead the way!¡± Supported by Chun Tao, Bai Qingyan left the newlywed¡¯s room and walked briskly towards the Marchioness¡¯s courtyard. Nanny Wu tried to get close to Bai Qingyan, but Chun Yan rudely swatted her away with a handkerchief. Knowing that Bai Qingyan was raised by the Eldest Princess and held considerable sway with her, Nanny Wu cautiously spoke to Bai Qingyan with a pleading face. ¡°Miss Bai, this matter really can¡¯t be blamed on our two young misses. Originally, the Princely Heir was betrothed to you, but then the Young Madam married in, and our two young misses only had a few words with her.¡± Bai Qingyan paused and turned to look at Nanny Wu with a half-smile. No wonder in her previous life, after the First Young Female of the Ministry of Personnel¡¯s Chief of Staff¡¯s family passed away in resentment, the Chief of Staff¡¯s wife managed to bring down Mrs. Jiang with severe measures. Even the close maid of the main mistress of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household revealed itself to be such an incompetent and disgraceful figure. The decline of the Marquis¡¯s household was apparent. ¡°If you keep spouting nonsense, I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart! Do you want to blame our Miss Bai for what your two young misses did?!¡± Chun Yan fumed. ¡°Chun Tao, tie her up and hand her over to Second Madam! Tell Second Madam that this maid just claimed¡­ that the two young misses from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household argued and hurt our Second Miss!¡± Bai Qingyan glanced at Nanny Wu before continuing forward. ¡°She¡¯s the close maid of the Marchioness. If this matter goes to court, this maid can be a witness.¡± Hearing the word court, Nanny Wu¡¯s face turned pale, and her legs went weak as she knelt immediately. ¡°Miss Bai! I am the close maid of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household. You can¡¯t tie me up! I didn¡¯t say that our young misses hurt anyone! If I tarnish our young misses¡¯ reputations, I couldn¡¯t make up for it even with my life!¡± Bai Qingyan ignored her. Before the group even got close, Bai Qingyan heard the cries of maids and saw a disheveled maid leading a group of guards rushing into the Marchioness¡¯s courtyard. Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on Chun Tao¡¯s hand, who quickened her pace in understanding. ¡°Hand over the wretches who injured my Second Sister!¡± Bai Jinzhi wielded a long whip, cracking it in the courtyard filled with broken branches and snow. The maids and servants bore whip marks from Bai Jinzhi, who, fearing her status, didn¡¯t retaliate and could only tremble and loudly beg Fourth Miss Bai for mercy. The young guard leading the Marquis¡¯s household¡¯s security took three quick strides forward, seizing Bai Jinzhi¡¯s whip. His face was stern as he stared at her. ¡°Please restrain yourself, Fourth Miss Bai. This is the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household, not your Duke¡¯s Manor! Such insolence will not be tolerated here!¡± Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, trying to pull back the whip, but found she couldn¡¯t move it despite using all her strength. Taken aback by her first loss, Bai Jinzhi widened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and braced herself. Yet, she still couldn¡¯t pull the whip free. ¡°Fourth Sister¡­¡± Bai Qingyan called out, prompting the guard to release the whip in Bai Jinzhi¡¯s hand. Retrieving her whip, Bai Jinzhi gave the guard a deep look and walked over to Bai Qingyan. ¡°Eldest Sister¡­¡± The young guard watched Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi walk toward the main room under the shelter of a group of maids and tutored attendants. He then turned to his fellow guards. ¡°Stand guard here. Ensure that Fourth Miss Bai doesn¡¯t hurt anyone again.¡± Inside, Marchioness Jiang clutched her two daughters tightly, shivering in a corner. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Home Tutoring_1 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Home Tutoring_1 Until she heard the maids outside calming down and repeatedly calling ¡°Miss Bai,¡± did she finally relax and straighten her attire. When the maid came in to report that Miss Bai had arrived, Mrs. Jiang, the Marquis¡¯s wife, was already sitting upright. The hair of the two young ladies of the Marquis Mansion was disheveled, and they were both sobbing into their handkerchiefs. ¡°Invite Miss Bai in,¡± Mrs. Jiang, the Marquis¡¯s wife, took the hand warmer and held it in her hands, a shadow crossing her eyes. Since the founding of the Jin Kingdom, the Duke of Zhen Mansion had been rampant in Dadu City for too many years. Even a small fourth girl from the Bai Mansion dared to whip her daughter in their Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage! But times had changed. Half a month ago, Mrs. Jiang heard a secret from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. She knew that the century-old aristocratic family of the Duke of Zhen Mansion would soon perish along with the Duke of Zhen. In the future, the top aristocratic family in Dadu City would be their Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage. Even if Qin Lang married the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s daughter, when the Duke of Zhen Mansion perished, his daughter would become a burden. The position of the Princely Heir would eventually be her son¡¯s. Seeing Bai Qingyan enter and salute, Mrs. Jiang no longer feared the Bai family. She spoke with an air of authority, ¡°Miss Bai understands etiquette. Since the Bai and Qin families are related by marriage, I can be considered your elder and will say a few words today. Even if there is any conflict among girls, it is unthinkable for a junior to whip someone in front of an elder. How did the fourth girl from the Bai family become so reckless? Such behavior is no different from that of a shrew!¡± Thinking of the whip marks on her two daughters, Mrs. Jiang¡¯s heart ached to the point she wished someone would slap Bai Jinzhi. ¡°Your daughter injured my second sister and pushed her into the lake. Her life and death are still unknown! Your Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage truly teaches people how to take lives!¡± The fourth girl, Bai Jinzhi, was not intimidated by Mrs. Jiang¡¯s authority. The fourth girl from the Duke of Zhen Mansion in Dadu City, Bai Jinzhi, was known for her chivalrous spirit. She had whipped a noble boy who injured an old man while riding, and today she did not care about her reputation in seeking justice for Bai Jinxiu. But while Bai Jinzhi did not care, Bai Qingyan did care. If Mrs. Jiang pinned these words on Bai Jinzhi today, Bai Jinzhi¡¯s reputation would be tarnished. Before Mrs. Jiang could speak again, Bai Qingyan straightened up and looked at Mrs. Jiang with cold, clear eyes, questioning, ¡°Since the Marquis¡¯s wife understands etiquette so well and poses as an elder to point out the family education of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, how did the two young ladies of the Marquis Mansion turn out to be so vicious? A sister-in-law plotting to kill her own sister-in-law, how is this different from beasts?!¡± ¡°You!¡± Mrs. Jiang originally intended to vent her anger, but her words got stuck in her throat. She clutched the edge of the table, her expression becoming increasingly unfriendly as she suppressed her anger. ¡°Our daughters were only playing with their sister-in-law. Such a serious accusation of plotting against their sister-in-law, Miss Bai, do not lay such serious charges so casually on the heads of our girls from the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage.¡± Bai Jinzhi was about to explode, but Bai Qingyan held her back. Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes darkened, suppressing her urge to skin Mrs. Jiang alive. But the murderous intent in her eyes showed. Mrs. Jiang felt a chill from Bai Qingyan¡¯s stare and uncomfortably adjusted her collar. Bai Qingyan curled her lips into a cold smile, slowly and methodically saying, ¡°My second sister has a huge bloody hole in her head and her life hangs in the balance. The Marquis¡¯s wife calls it a game between sisters-in-law! Now the two young ladies of the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage have suffered only minor injuries, yet the Marquis¡¯s wife labels my fourth sister as lacking manners, lacking upbringing, and a shrew. It seems the Marquis¡¯s wife thinks we are easy to bully because of our young age!? Should I call for my grandmother, the Eldest Princess?¡± Mentioning the Eldest Princess of the Bai family¡¯s old ancestor, Mrs. Jiang realized she had lost her composure. Even if all the men in the Bai family perished, the Duke of Zhen Mansion still had the Eldest Princess. Mrs. Jiang suppressed her emotions, pressed her lips with a handkerchief, and grudgingly said to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Miss Bai is indeed eloquent, but words can easily lead to trouble. Miss Bai is already nineteen, and no matchmaker has come to propose. If the reputation of loving arguments spreads, who would dare to marry Miss Bai? My words are for your own good!¡± Reputation was something Bai Qingyan no longer cared about, but Bai Jinzhi¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°You¡­¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was cold, unhurried, and unbothered, ¡°The Marquis¡¯s wife, please keep such kindness for your two daughters and son! My second sister has been married to the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage for only three days. First, the two girls from the Marquis Mansion plotted against her life. Then, the Marquis¡¯s wife interfered with her dowry. If this spreads¡­who would dare to marry a daughter from the Qin family or a son from the Qin family?!¡± Mrs. Jiang broke into a cold sweat. She had two daughters before having a son, whom she cherished dearly. To protect her two daughters, she followed Nanny Wu¡¯s advice and sold Bai Jinxiu¡¯s maids. But in her panic, she forgot that those maids were part of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s dowry. If this really caused trouble, it would be hard for her son to marry in the future. ¡°I forgot to inform the Marquis¡¯s wife, your Nanny Wu confessed. She admitted that your second girl argued and fought with my second sister, injuring her. I have already had her tied up and sent to my second aunt. Nanny Jiang has also returned to the Duke of Zhen Mansion to report to my grandmother. The Marquis¡¯s wife, do take care of yourself.¡± After speaking, Bai Qingyan saluted Mrs. Jiang and walked out with Bai Jinzhi. ¡°Mother!¡± The eldest girl who caused the injury trembled, frightened and panicked, as she clung to Mrs. Jiang, the Marquis¡¯s wife of Loyalty and Courage, ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Mother!¡± The second girl was frightened to tears. Although it was the second girl who quarreled with Bai Jinxiu, it was the eldest girl who hit her on the head, and the second girl who pushed her into the water. Mrs. Jiang knew she had to endure for now. Despite the troubles, the Duke of Zhen Mansion was still the most powerful family in Dadu City. To settle the issue, she must swallow her pride: ¡°Quickly, go get the Marquis!¡± But before Mrs. Jiang could lower herself further, the second sister-in-law of the Bai family had already ordered people to carry Bai Jinxiu out of the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage. Nanny Jiang even brought the Eldest Princess¡¯s grand convoy to bring Bai Jinxiu back to the mansion with great fanfare. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s heart raced. She never expected the second sister-in-law, Mrs. Liu, to disregard Bai Jinxiu¡¯s future and make such a bold move, ignoring all reputation. That day, the second girl from the Duke of Zhen Mansion had a grand wedding, with the Princely Heir from the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage gracing the event. The union of the two matched perfectly, and people still discussed the beautiful couple. But who could have imagined that upon returning, Miss Bai¡¯s life would hang by a thread? Outside the Marquis Mansion of Loyalty and Courage, a crowd of people had already gathered, buzzing with gossip. Surrounded by maids and servants, Mrs. Jiang, the Marquis¡¯s wife, hurried out, crying in front of everyone, ¡°Second Madam! Second Madam¡­moving Jinxiu back to the Duke of Zhen Mansion in this heavy snow might worsen her condition. Just now, the fourth girl also whipped my two daughters fiercely. They know their mistakes and promise never to play by the lake with their sister-in-law again! If I have any shortcomings in my care, please point them out, but please, do not do this!¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Eye-Opening_1 Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Eye-Opening_1 Bai Qingyan, who was already in the carriage holding a hand warmer, pulled back the carriage curtain to look at Mrs. Jiang, who was feigning weakness, and couldn¡¯t help but sneer. Her words were spoken so beautifully. They appeared to be an apology but secretly accused the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household of being too domineering. They said her sister-in-law fell into the lake while playing and that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s fourth young lady lashed out with a whip at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household¡¯s two girls without discernment. In the heavy snow, she took the injured married woman back to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household by force. ¡°She is full of lies!¡± The fourth young lady, Bai Jinzhi, grabbed the whip at her waist and was about to get off the carriage, but her third sister, Bai Jintong, held her back. ¡°Even if the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wife has a noble title, if you impulsively whip her at their mansion, it will give her what she wants. Your reputation will be ruined!¡± Bai Jintong patted Bai Jinzhi¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You sit quietly in the carriage. I will go to Eldest Young Lady¡¯s carriage to discuss this with her.¡± Second Madam Liu, who was about to get on the carriage, shouted angrily with a trembling voice and tears, ¡°My daughter married into your mansion for just three days! Her life is almost gone! How can I dare to leave my daughter in your wolf¡¯s den of a Marquis Mansion?¡± Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, was not yet at the door when he heard his wife apologizing meekly. Seeing Second Madam Liu so aggressively making their mansion out to be a demonic cave, he couldn¡¯t help but become furious. He lifted the hem of his robe and stepped out of the mansion. ¡°Second Madam, have you forgotten that Bai Jinxiu has already married into our mansion?!¡± Qin Dezhao stood with his hands behind his back, his face stern and looking very intimidating. Nanny Jiang, fearing Second Madam Liu would impulsively say something that others could use against her, stepped forward to greet her, but before she could speak, Bai Qingyan¡¯s clear voice was heard¡­ ¡°The marquise can turn black into white with her sharp tongue¡­ Calling murder and mayhem mere playful banter! We were forced to carry our second sister back home in the heavy snow, yet the marquise made it out to be unreasonable and domineering! Truly eye-opening.¡± Bai Jintong saw Chun Tao lift the curtain for Bai Qingyan to get off the carriage and stood silently beside it. Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, clenched his fist behind his back, his deep eyes fixed on the steady pace of Bai Qingyan, ¡°Miss Bai, watch your words.¡± Nanny Jiang hurried forward to support Bai Qingyan, protecting her. Second Madam Liu, her eyes red with anger, shouted emotionally, ¡°Marquis, your two daughters are truly fierce! They struck my daughter¡¯s head, leaving a massive bleeding wound, and in the dead of winter pushed her into the water! What grievance could drive such beastly cruelty towards my daughter?!¡± Qin Dezhao turned to look at Mrs. Jiang, who shook her head in panic. He then looked at Second Madam Liu, ¡°Second Madam, could this be a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Bullshit misunderstanding!¡± Second Madam Liu cursed angrily, tears streaming down her face as she pointed at the Marchioness, glaring as if wanting to tear her apart, ¡°Ask your good wife! Her spiteful maids have already admitted that your two daughters injured my daughter. Yet she lightly dismisses it as sister-in-law¡¯s playful banter! While my daughter was unconscious, she had the audacity to reach into my daughter¡¯s dowry, selling all her maidservants. When my daughter most needed care, she had no one by her side. This is clearly an attempt on her life!¡± Second Madam Liu, crying out in anguish, clutched her chest, her eyes filled with hatred, ¡°What kind of mansion is this?! It¡¯s a death trap! I was blind to have pushed my daughter into your Marquis Mansion, a pit of fire! Are you even human? You¡¯re a pack of wicked wolves!¡± ¡°Second Madam! Bai Jinxiu slipped and fell unconscious. No one wanted this!¡± Qin Dezhao shouted angrily, ¡°I respect you as my in-laws, but speak ill again, and don¡¯t blame me for losing my temper!¡± ¡°Marquis¡­¡± Bai Qingyan spoke coldly and slowly, ¡°My second sister is an excellent swimmer. Among all in Dadu City, few men could match her skills. Do you find it laughable that she would slip and fall unconscious?¡± Qin Dezhao was frustrated, ¡°Regardless, Bai family¡¯s second young lady is the daughter-in-law of our Marquis Mansion, part of the Qin family! How could your Bai family just take her away as you please? And think nothing of our mansion?!¡± Bai Qingyan raised her eyes, already showing a resolute spirit, ¡°As Marquis said¡­ My second sister married into the Marquis Mansion; she is part of the Marquis Mansion. But now that she¡¯s grievously injured by the two young ladies of the mansion, and if the Marquis Mansion neglects her, should our family not care? Should my grandmother, the Eldest Princess, also not care? What kind of marriage is this¡­ or is it a death sentence?!¡± ¡°Utter nonsense!¡± Qin Dezhao¡¯s face turned livid with anger. ¡°If the Marquis believes I speak nonsense, dare to let the two young ladies of the mansion swear on their lives that they didn¡¯t cause the head injury or push her into the water¡­¡± Bai Qingyan slowly stepped up the high steps of the Marquis Mansion, her eyes burning intensely at Qin Dezhao, her aura becoming more imposing, ¡°Dare to let the marquise swear she didn¡¯t meddle with my second sister¡¯s dowry maids. If there are lies, may their entire family meet a bad end, their bodies covered in sores and rot away.¡± The marquise, Mrs. Jiang, was so startled by the battlefield-like aura from Bai Qingyan that she clutched Qin Dezhao¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Marquis¡­¡± ¡°Does the marquise and the two young ladies have the courage? If they dare say a word of affirmation, I will today end my life and drink poison to apologize to the Marquis Mansion!¡± Bai Qingyan spoke quickly and firmly, clarifying everything with a few words, causing the onlookers to discuss fervently. ¡°Oh my, to interfere with daughter-in-law¡¯s dowry, that¡¯s plotting to murder for money!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Who would have thought the Marquis Mansion would behave like this?¡± ¡°I heard they have a legitimate young master in the mansion. Anyone marrying their daughter into the Marquis Mansion would be doomed!¡± Qin Lang, rushing back from Fanxing Tower, saw the commotion at the mansion gate, with carriages and onlookers. Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words from afar, his heart pounded, and he dared not advance. Marquis Qin Dezhao clenched his fists, biting his teeth, ¡°Your Bai family¡¯s daughters act wildly within the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, neglecting virtue and propriety, playing with weapons daily, is already bad enough. Now, meddling in others¡¯ affairs and publicly slandering elders. Aren¡¯t you afraid someone will accuse the Duke of Zhen and his heir for raising unruly, undisciplined daughters?¡± Bai Jinzhi and Bai Jintong were both furious. Bai Jinzhi had already gotten out of the carriage. If Bai Jintong hadn¡¯t held her back, she might have rushed forward to argue with Marquis of Loyalty and Courage using a whip. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Arrogance_1 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Arrogance_1 Bai Qingyan¡¯s calm and clear eyes gazed at Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, as she erupted in fury and spoke sternly, ¡°If anyone wants to accuse my grandfather or my father, then go ahead and do it! The daughters of the Bai family do not learn the virtues of women; what we learn is to protect our home and country and the skills to fight bloody battles with thousands of troops! We learn to be willing to wrap our bodies in horse skin and die in battle, but never to let the people and monarch of Jin Kingdom be humiliated! The sons and daughters of the Bai family hold our heads high with clear conscience, and bow without shame! If being righteous in our actions means rejecting the filthy tricks of scheming in the inner quarters and being open and just in our conduct, if that means being wild, then I, Bai Qingyan, will not only be wild today but also wilder in the future!¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Such open and upright conduct! The entire family of the Duke of Zhen¡­ regardless of gender, truly embodies pride and integrity!¡± Some could not help but cheer loudly. For a moment, the onlooking citizens recalled the daughters of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household fighting bloodily on the battlefield during the national crisis. They thought of the Duke of Zhen, far away in the Southern Border, bringing the sons of the Bai family to the battlefield to protect the country! More than half a year had passed since the Duke of Zhen¡¯s expedition to the Southern Border. The citizens still remembered the grand scene of their departure, as the men of the Bai family stood in their military uniforms, embodying righteousness. The citizens couldn¡¯t bear it and whispered among themselves. ¡°This Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household is bullying the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household because their men are not here!¡± ¡°Shameless bastards, they revel in peace and safety in Dadu City while the sons of the Bai family shed blood in the Southern Border. How dare they bully the daughter of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household!¡± ¡°They say the women of the Bai family do not learn the virtues of women and instead wield weapons. Among the women who learn the virtues, how many can go to the battlefield? The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage holds the title of loyal and courageous¡­ yet never goes to the battlefield, unlike the daughters of the Bai family! And he has the face to say these things!¡± Qin Dezhao gritted his teeth, his face turning green with anger, and clenched the thumb ring on his hand behind his back. ¡°Miss Bai sure has a sharp tongue!¡± ¡°She can¡¯t compare to the Marquis¡¯s wife, who can twist the truth!¡± Bai Qingyan showed no fear of Qin Dezhao¡¯s imposing presence, with anger evident on her face. Qin Lang did not dare to look any longer. He squeezed through the crowd to the front, bowed to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage and the people of his household, then lowered his eyes and bowed deeply to the Second Madam, Mrs. Liu. ¡°Mother-in-law.¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s gaze fell on Qin Lang without a hint of emotion. Mrs. Liu, her eyes red, glared at Qin Lang, her face contorted with rage, wishing she could slap him. ¡°I thought the Crown Prince Qin was a rare good man in Dadu City. But it turns out he¡¯s such a heartless person. Your new wife was nearly killed by your two sisters and lies unconscious in bed, yet you still have the interest to recite poetry at Fanxing Tower! Are you even human?!¡± Mrs. Liu clutched her chest, crying out. ¡°Unconscious?!¡± Qin Lang¡¯s face was filled with shock. He turned towards the Marquis¡¯s wife, Mrs. Jiang. ¡°But Mother clearly told me¡­¡± ¡°Marquis!¡± Mrs. Jiang panicked and spoke before Qin Lang. ¡°I told the Crown Prince to attend the poetry gathering. No matter how big the matter in the inner quarters, it can¡¯t hinder a man¡¯s social prospects! It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I didn¡¯t expect Jinxiu to be so seriously ill! As soon as she was injured, I sent my name card to call for an Imperial Physician! The physician said a few days of rest wouldn¡¯t matter! But today, the rural doctor brought by the Second Madam claims Jinxiu is in mortal danger. How am I supposed to know who to believe?¡± Mrs. Jiang could not let Qin Lang reveal her deceit in front of so many citizens of Dadu City. She had to put on a thoroughly aggrieved and sorrowful act. Standing by the carriage, Bai Third Miss, Bai Jintong, spoke coldly, ¡°A rural doctor? This is the first time I¡¯ve heard someone call the senior brother of the Imperial Medical Bureau¡¯s Director, Doctor Huang, a rural doctor!¡± Qin Lang pressed his lips together, his side hand clenched tightly, his face growing uglier. He could not say in front of all these onlookers that Mrs. Jiang forbade him from seeing Bai Jinxiu, claiming it was bad luck for men to see blood. Mrs. Jiang also told him Bai Jinxiu was fine, and that she was bedridden only to avoid catching a cold, insisting he join the poetry gathering at Fanxing Tower. Bai Qingyan laughed coldly, ¡°Marquis¡¯s wife, are you suggesting my second sister is unfilial for not waking up, causing my Second Aunt grief? May I ask which Imperial Physician you invited? I will have Nanny Jiang fetch my grandmother¡¯s name card and invite Director Huang and other doctors to examine my second sister¡¯s condition together!¡± Marquis¡¯s wife Mrs. Jiang turned pale. She could not have imagined the highly regarded Doctor Hong was actually residing at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household. Nor that the Bai family had brought Doctor Hong to diagnose Bai Jinxiu today. ¡°Marquis¡¯s wife¡­ tell us which Imperial Physician you invited!¡± Bai Third Miss Bai Jintong pressed. Qin Lang closed his eyes, lifted his garments, knelt heavily before Mrs. Liu, and kowtowed. ¡°Mother-in-law, it¡¯s all my fault!¡± ¡°I cannot bear you calling me that! Your title is a curse on my daughter¡¯s life!¡± Mrs. Liu cried from within the carriage. ¡°Return home!¡± Before Bai Qingyan was helped into the carriage by Chun Tao, she glanced at Qin Lang, who remained kneeling. In her previous life, she had no idea that Crown Prince Qin, son of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, was so cowardly. No wonder he couldn¡¯t protect his wife. Chen Qingsheng, sent by Mrs. Dong to guard Bai Qingyan, discreetly placed the carriage stool at Bai Qingyan¡¯s feet and respectfully stooped at her side, reminding, ¡°Miss, be careful of your step.¡± Chen Qingsheng, the nephew of Mrs. Dong¡¯s nanny and Chun Tao¡¯s cousin, lacked other skills but had connections throughout Dadu City. Above all, his loyalty to Mrs. Dong stood out. The citizens, curious onlookers, followed the Duke of Zhen¡¯s carriage all the way to its gates. Mrs. Dong, having heard the news early, personally welcomed the unconscious Bai Jinxiu at the gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. While everyone busied themselves moving Bai Jinxiu into the mansion, Bai Qingyan called Chen Qingsheng aside and gave him instructions. Chen Qingsheng nodded and quickly disappeared into the crowd. ¡¤ The news of the second girl of the Duke of Zhen falling unconscious on her return visit, being taken back to the Duke¡¯s mansion in the Eldest Princess¡¯s carriage, spread like wildfire. Within an hour, it became the hottest topic in all of Dadu City. But the most talked-about event was the marquis of Loyalty and Courage accusing the Bai family girls of not learning women¡¯s virtues, only to be rebuffed speechlessly by the eldest Miss Bai. Taverns, long streets, even the pleasure quarters buzzed with this discussion. ¡°The eldest, second, and third Misses of the Bai family all fought beside the Duke of Zhen on the battlefield. So what if they¡¯re daughters? Who says daughters can only remain in the inner quarters tending to their husbands and raising children? They too can stand tall and proud!¡± ¡°Facing bloody battles with thousands of troops, wrapping their bodies in horse skin, never allowing the people or the monarch to suffer humiliation! Throughout the Jin Kingdom, only the most loyal and brave Duke of Zhen¡¯s household can raise daughters with such heroic spirits! The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡­ ha, only bullies the Bai women while their men are away, truly unworthy of the title loyal and courageous! Unworthy of being called a man!¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Asking for Punishment Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Asking for Punishment ¡°All members of the Bai family are loyal and upright, their characters impeccable. Whether men or women, they all stand tall and righteous, embodying a spirit of integrity!¡± Occasionally, drunken men would say that a woman¡¯s virtue lies in her lack of talent and that her main duty is to manage the household and educate the children. But such remarks would quickly be drowned out by the praises sung for the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion. On the third day after her marriage, Second Miss Bai Jinxiu lay at death¡¯s door. She was carried back horizontally to the mansion, causing the whole mansion to be as taut as a drawn bowstring. Servants and maids moved in and out of the side door in an orderly manner, lighting lanterns without daring to speak loudly. Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, stayed by Bai Jinxiu¡¯s bedside, clutching her daughter¡¯s cold fingers, tears streaming down as she softly called her daughter¡¯s name. Imperial Physician Huang, director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, along with Doctor Hong stood outside the partition, discussing the medication for Bai Jinxiu. The Eldest Princess and other ladies of the Bai Mansion wore heavy expressions as they stayed in Bai Jinxiu¡¯s chamber, waiting for the doctors to reach a conclusion. Third Miss Bai Jintong, feeling oppressed by the heavy atmosphere, stepped out to catch her breath. She saw Chen Qingsheng, the cousin of Chun Tao, bowing respectfully and speaking in a low voice to Bai Qingyan, who stood under the corridor. Noticing someone stepping out from the room, Chen Qingsheng immediately stopped speaking and stood respectfully beside Bai Qingyan, giving a salute to Bai Jintong: ¡°Good evening, Third Miss.¡± ¡°You may go!¡± Bai Qingyan said to Chen Qingsheng. Watching Chen Qingsheng hastily leave after saluting, Bai Jintong walked over to Bai Qingyan and whispered, ¡°That looked like Chun Tao¡¯s cousin. Did Eldest Sister give him some errand?¡± Bai Qingyan adjusted her fox fur cloak and walked a few steps down the corridor with Bai Jintong. Chen Qingsheng was someone she intended to have follow Bai Jintong. She spoke softly, ¡°Chen Qingsheng is very adept at dealing with people. In Dadu City, whether it¡¯s the staff and shopkeepers in teahouses and taverns or the stewards and servants in noblemen¡¯s residences, he can get to know anyone he wants. He has ways to acquire any information. Having him by your side when you go out after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month will surely benefit you.¡± ¡°Eldest Sister¡­¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s throat choked up as she recalled how candidly Bai Qingyan had spoken to her, analyzing the Bai family¡¯s situation thoroughly. She felt the weight on her shoulders increase immensely. Earlier, Bai Qingyan had instructed Chen Qingsheng to spread the news about today¡¯s incident at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Mansion through various teahouses, taverns, and brothels, intending to elevate the reputation of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion even further. This was a test for Chen Qingsheng. If he handled this well, Bai Qingyan would be confident in placing him by Bai Jintong¡¯s side. Unexpectedly, Chen Qingsheng exceeded her expectations. Without involving a single person from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion, he spread the news through his connections, managing to keep himself completely out of it, demonstrating his experienced and efficient methods. As Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong were talking, they saw a maid rush through the Green Bamboo Pavilion¡¯s courtyard gate and hurry to the maid at the corridor, saying, ¡°Please inform Nanny Jiang that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage is outside our mansion, bearing thorns and asking to be let in to apologize. He refuses to come in and is kneeling outside the mansion. The Right Prime Minister¡¯s little grandson and several other young masters are with him, seemingly drunk. We servants don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Bai Jintong was greatly surprised and turned to look at the calmly composed Bai Qingyan. Typically, even if a husband and wife had a severe conflict, the husband would choose an auspicious day to formally apologize to the elders. Noble families would never have a man bearing thorns to apologize, as it would publicize their family scandal. However, Bai Jintong understood after a moment¡¯s thought. Given the magnitude of today¡¯s incident, if the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Mansion didn¡¯t show a strong stance, there was no way to resolve it. But thinking of Bai Jinxiu lying on the bed, barely breathing, Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes reddened with anger. She gritted her teeth: ¡°Second Sister is lying in bed, her life in the balance, and he went drinking! And only after drinking does he come to apologize and seek forgiveness. This is too lenient!¡± Bai Qingyan remained silent, knowing that Qin Lang¡¯s arrival meant there was still hope. After about half a cup of tea¡¯s time, Nanny Jiang came out of the room and followed the gatekeeper maid to the outside. Bai Qingyan knew then¡­ Grandmother and Second Aunt must have agreed to send Nanny Jiang to invite Qin Lang into the mansion. After all, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Mansion had shown such humility. There had never been a precedent of separation in noble families in all of Dadu City. The elders, thinking of Second Sister¡¯s future, could not let Qin Lang kneel outside the mansion indefinitely. ¡°Second Aunt! Have you lost your mind? Second Sister is so gravely injured, lying in bed. How can you let him step into our Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion!¡± Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi¡¯s angry voice came from inside the room, ¡°If it were up to me, I would go out and whip him away! How could you invite him in?¡± ¡°What else can we do? Your Second Sister is already part of the Qin family. There is no precedent of separation among noble families in our dynasty. Do you want your sister to live a life of solitary prayer forever?¡± Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, was also filled with resentment and unwillingness. ¡°My poor Jinxiu! Mother should never have agreed to let you marry into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Mansion! Such a mother-in-law, such a sister-in-law, such a husband! How will you get through the days ahead?¡± Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, gently stroking the hand warmer in her hands, hiding the slight redness in her eyes. She was fortunate to be reborn and would absolutely not let Bai Jinxiu suffer for a lifetime. Bai Jinxiu was the sister she would protect with her life. No one could mistreat her! ¡°I¡¯m going to whip him back!¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s angry voice threatened to blow the Green Bamboo Pavilion¡¯s roof off. Bai Qingyan looked up to see her storming out of the room in a fury. Third Madam, Mrs. Li, fearing her daughter would cause trouble, hurried out after her but failed to stop Bai Jinzhi, anxiously waving her handkerchief and urgently instructing the rough housemaids to tie Bai Jinzhi up and bring her back. But Bai Jinzhi was skilled in martial arts from a young age. These few rough maids were no match for her and would likely get whipped themselves while trying to stop her. Bai Qingyan stepped forward and curtsied to Third Madam, Mrs. Li: ¡°Third Aunt, please don¡¯t worry. Jintong and I will go see Fourth Sister. We won¡¯t let her cause trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Kid¡­ Jinzhi always listens to you! Jintong, protect your eldest sister and quickly bring that disobedient girl back for me!¡± Third Madam, Mrs. Li, said anxiously. ¡°Rest assured, Third Aunt!¡± Bai Qingyan hurried down the steps with Bai Jintong and swiftly walked toward the front courtyard. ¡¤ When Nanny Jiang reached the mansion gate, she saw Qin Lang kneeling outside, bearing thorns. Several young dandies from Dadu City, who were on good terms with Qin Lang, had also come to support him. Right Prime Minister¡¯s little grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, smilingly gave Nanny Jiang a half bow: ¡°Nanny, we accompanied Qin Lang to apologize with thorns and also wanted to check on Second Miss. How is she doing?¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Eldest Legitimate Daughter _1 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Eldest Legitimate Daughter _1 The son of the Imperial Censor, Sima Ping, seeing Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s drunken stupor, quickly tugged at Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s sleeve, almost causing the already unsteady Lu Yuanpeng to fall. Sima Ping could only deeply bow to Nanny Jiang and apologize, ¡°Nanny Jiang, please forgive us. Yuanpeng drank too much today. We beg for your understanding.¡± Xiao Rongyan, draped in a gray squirrel coat, stood upright in front of a carriage not far away. Even in the shadows, he was so distinguished that he was hard to ignore. Seeing Nanny Jiang, who was beside the Eldest Princess, come out personally, Xiao Rongyan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. His deep-set eyes were full of calm and composure. Qin Lang, reeking slightly of alcohol but not overly drunk, knew that Nanny Jiang represented the Eldest Princess. He gave a heavy bow, ¡°Qin Lang is here to apologize to the Eldest Princess and my mother-in-law!¡± ¡°Hurry, help the Crown Prince up!¡± Nanny Jiang instructed the servants behind her. A servant stepped forward quickly from behind Nanny Jiang, bowing respectfully as he helped Qin Lang up. ¡°Heavy snow hasn¡¯t stopped. The Crown Prince drank too much. I have already sent someone to inform the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence. The Crown Prince should come inside, sit for a while, and drink some sober-up soup. The mansion will send someone to fetch you shortly. Please¡­¡± Seeing the servants of the Duke of Zhen mansion supporting the hunched Qin Lang inside, Xiao Rongyan slowly turned around, about to board his carriage, but was pulled back by Lu Yuanpeng, who had squeezed out of the crowd. ¡°Brother Xiao, it was your idea. You can¡¯t just leave! We must see it to the end¡­¡± With that, the drunken Lu Yuanpeng dragged Xiao Rongyan towards the steps of the Duke of Zhen mansion, ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Don¡¯t close the door, don¡¯t close the door! Nanny Jiang, Nanny Jiang¡­ I finally made it here. I must pay my respects to the old ancestor!¡± Sima Ping and a group of playboys shouted after Lu Yuanpeng. ¡°Yuanpeng!¡± ¡°Yuanpeng, don¡¯t drag Brother Xiao into your nonsense!¡± ¡°Lu Yuanpeng¡­¡± Lu Yuanpeng paid no heed, displaying none of a gentleman¡¯s demeanor. He pulled Xiao Rongyan, forcefully squeezing through the gates of the Duke of Zhen mansion like a hooligan. Who knew, just as Lu Yuanpeng pulled Xiao Rongyan through the gates of the Duke of Zhen mansion, Bai Jinzhi rushed out of the brightly lit corridor with a face full of rage, raising her whip towards Qin Lang. Startled, Lu Yuanpeng immediately burped. ¡°Fourth sister!¡± Bai Jintong, with excellent skills, had already shielded Qin Lang just as Bai Jinzhi¡¯s whip swung. He firmly caught the fierce whip, wielded it with a deft twist, and held it in his hand, his expression solemn. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude! Step back!¡± Nanny Jiang was also shocked, clutching her handkerchief against her beating heart. When she saw Bai Qingyan in the corner of her eye, her heart settled down. ¡°Third sister! Why are you stopping me?¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s eyes were red, pointing at Qin Lang. ¡°Second sister is lying on the bed, life and death uncertain, and he still went to the poetry gathering and drank! The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion is full of black-hearted scoundrels. He is heartless too!¡± Qin Lang was deeply ashamed, his fists clenched, ¡°Third Miss doesn¡¯t need to stop her. This whip, I deserve it.¡± Through the falling snow, Xiao Rongyan glanced casually at the figure gradually approaching from the corridor, calm and unhurried. Bai Qingyan stood beneath the corridor, draped in a fox fur. The red lanterns reflected the falling snow, illuminating her clean and exquisite features. Her eyes were dark and indifferent, her whole person tranquil and serene, sharply contrasting with the assertive demeanor she displayed in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion earlier today. ¡°Bai Jinzhi, step back.¡± Hearing the voice, Bai Jinzhi turned to see Bai Qingyan. She glared at Qin Lang with tear-filled eyes before reluctantly stepping back beside Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan, seeing Bai Jinxiu lying on the bed, hated both the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion and Qin Lang. However, she could still understand Qin Lang¡¯s difficult situation, having to contend with a stepmother like Mrs. Jiang and the pressures of filial duty. With the courage from the alcohol, Qin Lang finally dared to look directly at Bai Qingyan. Whether it was because he had been drinking, Bai Qingyan¡¯s stunning beauty came into full view. Qin Lang¡¯s emotions were complicated, and he clenched the jade pendant at his waist in guilt, his palm becoming sticky. He quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look at Bai Qingyan. ¡°Is that the Duke of Zhen mansion¡¯s eldest daughter?!¡± Lu Yuanpeng was dumbfounded, completely unaware of the snow falling on his eyelashes. With profound eyes, Xiao Rongyan remained calm. His hand, hidden under his gray squirrel coat, rubbed the jade cicada leisurely, responding faintly, ¡°Yes.¡± As Bai Qingyan stepped out of the corridor, she met Xiao Rongyan¡¯s calm gaze, her steps momentarily faltering. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s overly deep eyes held a smile. He nodded at her gently, exuding warmth and steadiness. Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand, holding the hand-warmer, tightened instinctively. Her heartbeat quickened inexplicably, breathing a bit unevenly. In her previous life, Bai Qingyan had privately faced countless fierce opponents on the battlefield. Few had left a lasting impression on her; even fewer had instilled fear. But no one ever gave her such a strong sense of dread as Xiao Rongyan did. Beneath Xiao Rongyan¡¯s steady and refined exterior was the ambition of a wolf, with the ability to annex other countries while casually conversing, his depth never fully grasped by Bai Qingyan until her death. Seeing Lu Yuanpeng, Bai Qingyan understood why Xiao Rongyan came with Qin Lang. She closed her eyes momentarily, suppressing her unease and excessive concern for Xiao Rongyan. She then stepped out of the corridor. Nanny Jiang quickly turned, took the umbrella from a servant, opened it, and supported Bai Qingyan. ¡°Crown Prince Qin,¡± Bai Qingyan maintained a cautious distance from Qin Lang as she gave a shallow bow, ¡°Crown Prince, bearing a light garment and a bundle of sticks for the sin, do you have a solution in mind?¡± Qin Lang, bowing his head in shame, replied, ¡°I¡­ I do not.¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart sank, her internal fury growing, no wonder Qin Lang couldn¡¯t protect his wife in the previous life. Apologies alone were useless! Unable to hold back her anger, her voice rose, ¡°Crown Prince, is this how you will answer my grandmother and second aunt? Then I must ask, Crown Prince, what sin are you atoning for today? Apologizing for the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wife, the two young ladies in your mansion, or for yourself?¡± The cold wind blew the snow through the gaps. Qin Lang¡¯s eyes reddened, his lips trembled, but he said nothing. Instead, he bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Qin Lang is ashamed. I have no words.¡± That day at the Duke of Zhen mansion, when Qin Lang came to greet her for the wedding, she saw his strategy was not of a cowardly person without vision. Through chess, one could see the person¡­ Bai Qingyan thought Qin Lang had ambition and the strategy to match. After a moment of thought, Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand holding the hand-warmer tightened, pressing down her anger slowly. She spoke methodically, ¡°When our Jin Kingdom was founded, those who made significant contributions were granted titles. The Marquis of Dingguo¡¯s title was hereditary. By law, the eldest son should inherit the title, but the Marquis favored his younger son, causing family strife and brotherly discord. When the Marquis of Dingguo died, the elder son inherited. The younger son, holding a grudge, killed his mother and brother, resulting in a tragedy.¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Jinxius Future_1 Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Jinxiu¡¯s Future_1 Bai Qingyan mentioned the Marquis of Dingguo. Qin Lang immediately understood. The current series of farces at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence was all because of this title. The stepmother wanted Qin Lang¡¯s younger brother to inherit the title. However, she couldn¡¯t say it openly due to ancestral laws, so she caused many troubles for Qin Lang in secret. She even drove away Qin Lang¡¯s mentor, damaging his reputation. This time, she aimed to provoke a conflict between him and the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence by plotting against Bai Jinxiu. Seeing Qin Lang¡¯s pale face and tightly clenched fists, with veins bulging, Bai Qingyan knew he understood. Qin Lang understood the thoughts of Mrs. Jiang, the mistress of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence, better than Bai Qingyan. But what use was understanding? Qin Lang, bound by filial piety, couldn¡¯t act no matter how capable he was. Bai Qingyan, sensing Qin Lang wasn¡¯t beyond saving, calmly said, ¡°Using bronze as a mirror can correct one¡¯s attire. Using history as a mirror can discern rise and decline. Using people as a mirror can understand gains and losses. In ancient times, Yao and Shun abdicated. Why doesn¡¯t the Crown Prince do the same? After all, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage has become an empty title. The Crown Prince has great ambitions, so why worry about not achieving a prosperous future?¡± ¡°Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Jinzhi exclaimed in shock. Qin Lang¡¯s pupils trembled. He looked up sharply at Bai Qingyan¡¯s calm face. Did she mean he should voluntarily give up his position as the Princely Heir? How could she say such startling words?! Over the years, Qin Lang had thought of resisting and coping. He mingled openly with the dandies of Dadu City while secretly working hard to win first place in the imperial exams. But this was to secure his position as Princely Heir. He had never thought of not wanting this position. Not only Bai Jinzhi but even Bai Jintong was taken aback by Bai Qingyan¡¯s words. From a distance, Lu Yuanpeng, standing with Xiao Rongyan, quietly asked, ¡°Brother Xiao, can you hear what Miss Bai is saying to Qin Lang? Why does Nanny Jiang look so panicked? Could it be she¡¯s asking Qin Lang to divorce their second daughter?¡± Xiao Rongyan smiled faintly, brushing off the leaves blown onto his cloak by the wind, his every move elegant, ¡°Forcing entry into the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence was already impolite. Eavesdropping is even less gentlemanly.¡± Xiao Rongyan didn¡¯t expect Bai Qingyan to have such vision and courage. He observed those in high positions in Dadu City and found few who matched Bai Qingyan¡¯s perspective. Despite Qin Lang¡¯s keen understanding of the affairs in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence, growing up in a wealthy environment made it hard to take drastic actions. He feared Miss Bai¡¯s painstaking efforts might be in vain. ¡°The second young lady has awakened! The second young lady has awakened¡­¡± The clear voice of a maid rang out from the backyard. The entire Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, with shouts of ¡°The second young lady has awakened¡± echoing. Bai Qingyan couldn¡¯t hide the joy in her eyes. The heaviness on her brows was replaced by happiness. Qin Lang¡¯s throat tightened as he craned his neck to look toward the inner residence of the Duke of Zhen. ¡°Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Jinzhi looked back at the inner residence, full of joy, grabbing Bai Qingyan¡¯s arm, ¡°Second Sister has awakened! Let¡¯s go see her!¡± A maid carrying a lantern quickly approached, bowing to Bai Qingyan from behind, ¡°Miss Bai, third young lady, fourth young lady, the second young lady has awakened!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded, turning to Qin Lang, ¡°Failing to comfort your mother is unfilial. Failing to protect your wife fully is unjust! The Crown Prince should know that sometimes things must be broken to be established anew! Or is the Crown Prince truly willing to be an unfilial and unjust person for an empty title? I have said all I can. The Crown Prince must now decide for himself.¡± After a shallow bow, Bai Qingyan couldn¡¯t help but glance deeply at Xiao Rongyan before hurriedly heading to the backyard with Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi. Nanny Jiang gestured to Qin Lang, ¡°Please have the two young gentlemen wait in the hall. Crown Prince, this way, please.¡± ¡°Nanny Jiang¡­¡± Lu Yuanpeng called out, just about to follow them to the inner residence, but was stopped by Xiao Rongyan, ¡°This is a private matter between the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence. We shouldn¡¯t get involved.¡± Bai Qingyan and her sisters hurried to the Green Bamboo Pavilion. Bai Jinxiu was leaning against the bed, softly comforting the tearful second wife, Mrs. Liu. As soon as they entered, Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi rushed to the bedside, asking about Bai Jinxiu¡¯s condition, while Bai Qingyan stood by the screen, feeling a mix of emotions. Though she knew Bai Jinxiu was safe, Bai Qingyan had always felt on edge until now. With Bai Jinxiu awake, her anxiety finally eased. Nanny Jiang entered after lifting the curtain, bowing to the Eldest Princess, ¡°Eldest Princess, the Crown Prince is waiting at the Chuihua gate.¡± The Eldest Princess played with her Buddha beads, looking at Bai Jinxiu, ¡°Second daughter, if you don¡¯t want to see him, then don¡¯t.¡± After this ordeal, Bai Jinxiu had made up her mind. Her eyes were clear as she said, ¡°Grandmother, this wasn¡¯t the Crown Prince¡¯s fault. I don¡¯t blame him. I want to¡­ speak with him alone.¡± Since Qin Lang and Bai Jinxiu were husband and wife, meeting alone wasn¡¯t inappropriate. The Eldest Princess nodded and instructed her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dong, ¡°All of you sisters-in-law may leave. We¡¯ve had enough for today. Let the children rest. Nanny Jiang, you stay. Whether the Crown Prince stays or leaves, let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence know.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Nanny Jiang responded. Seeing Bai Qingyan by the screen, Bai Jinxiu¡¯s smile became more radiant, hoping to reassure her eldest sister. Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t approach but returned the smile, her eyes reddening slightly. For Bai Qingyan, as long as Bai Jinxiu was safe, nothing else mattered. Though Bai Jinxiu hadn¡¯t been conscious, she knew what happened outside the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence that day. Without Bai Qingyan causing a scene, Bai Jinxiu couldn¡¯t imagine the torment she might have faced from her mother-in-law in the future. After settling Bai Jinxiu, the women of the residence slowly left the Green Bamboo Pavilion. Nanny Jiang then invited Qin Lang into the yard. Bai Jinzhi stood at the doorway of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s room, glaring at Qin Lang as he entered. She gripped the whip behind her tightly. Seeing Nanny Jiang shake her head, Bai Jinzhi grudgingly released the whip and walked away, but not before roughly bumping Qin Lang with her shoulder in anger. Entering the room, Qin Lang saw Bai Jinxiu leaning against the bed, her face pale and breathing weak. He was filled with shame, his lips trembling as he wanted to ask about her well-being but remembered how he, under the pressure of filial piety from Mrs. Jiang, hadn¡¯t visited her after she was injured. Ashamed of his cowardice, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. It wasn¡¯t until a faint noise came from the burning silver frost charcoal in the brazier that Qin Lang finally bowed deeply, unable to utter a word. ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s clothes are thin. Nanny Jiang, please bring a cloak for him,¡± Bai Jinxiu said gently. Nanny Jiang immediately fetched a fur cloak for Qin Lang, placed it over him, served him hot tea, and moved the brazier closer before stepping out with the maids, standing guard at the door. Not long after his conversation with Bai Jinxiu, Qin Lang, looking distraught, emerged from the room and half bowed to Nanny Jiang, ¡°Qin Lang takes his leave. I will visit to pay respects to the Eldest Princess and mother-in-law another day!¡± Without waiting for a maid to bring a lantern, he hurriedly left the Green Bamboo Pavilion. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 22nd Chapter: The Path of Filial Piety_1 Chapter 22: 22nd Chapter: The Path of Filial Piety_1 Qin Lang had just left, and Second Lady Mrs. Liu returned. She was worried about Bai Jinxiu; with her husband not at home, she planned to stay at the Green Bamboo Pavilion watching over her daughter tonight. Nanny Jiang, seeing that the Green Bamboo Pavilion had been settled, instructed the maids to take good care of Bai Jinxiu tonight and then braved the snow to return to the Changshou Courtyard to report the day¡¯s events to the Eldest Princess. ¡°As soon as Sister Two was carried into the Green Bamboo Pavilion, Sister One immediately gave orders, instructing everyone in the house to mind their tongues and not speak rashly about Sister Two¡¯s injury. Talking about it to people outside the house was also forbidden, with a penalty of fifty lashes and being sold if caught! The servants in the house have been quite honest. I heard from Nanny Hai that quite a few servants from the Qinggui Mansion came to our house to use silver to ask around today, but our servants didn¡¯t dare spill anything,¡± Nanny Jiang gently massaged the Eldest Princess¡¯s shoulders. The Eldest Princess nodded. Nanny Jiang then recounted what happened in the front yard after Qin Lang was invited in, including Bai Qingyan¡¯s words encouraging Qin Lang to follow in the virtuous footsteps of Yao and Shun and abdicate. The Eldest Princess, with closed eyes, fiddled with Buddha beads in her hand and slowly said, ¡°Kid sees things clearly. The words ¡®filial piety¡¯ weigh heavily on Qin Lang, and if he lacks the courage to renounce his title, even as the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, he will still be controlled by Mrs. Jiang. Jinxiu is Qin Lang¡¯s wife, and as a married couple, their days will inevitably be difficult.¡± Nanny Jiang nodded in agreement before sighing, ¡°Eldest Princess, you mean Sister One is planning for Sister Two¡¯s future. But I worry if Crown Prince Qin loses the title and must compete for accomplishments, our Sister Two will endure hardship for several more years.¡± ¡°Having me here can always lend a hand or two, better than a lifetime being controlled by Mrs. Jiang. Kid made it very clear; it depends on whether Qin Lang can make a decisive move,¡± the Eldest Princess sighed. ¡¤ The next morning, the heavy snow had stopped. Just at dawn, Qin Lang, alone without his attendants, stood at the entrance of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, seeking an audience with the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess had just risen and had not yet had breakfast. When she heard from Nanny Jiang that Qin Lang had arrived, she was quite surprised. The Eldest Princess vaguely guessed that Qin Lang had made up his mind to renounce his title and understood why he sought her instead of reporting to his father, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. She admired Qin Lang¡¯s decisiveness. ¡°Have someone invite Qin Lang in,¡± the Eldest Princess instructed Nanny Jiang, ¡°and prepare the carriage. Today, we might need to go to the palace.¡± As soon as Qin Lang entered the main house of the Changshou Courtyard, he solemnly knelt before the Eldest Princess, ¡°Grandson-in-law could not protect his wife, causing Jinxiu to nearly lose her life. I am ashamed before my grandmother and mother-in-law, beyond words. After reflecting deeply upon returning to the mansion yesterday, I realized that while I hold the title of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s heir, I am unworthy of the title. Being physically strong but unable to be loyal to the ruler, as a son unable to ease my mother¡¯s worries, and as a husband unable to protect my wife, I am ashamed to face my parents and owe my wife. I am willing to repent and renew myself, voluntarily renouncing my title, and focusing on studying, hoping not to waste the ancestral legacy and to someday become a useful person in Jin.¡± Qin Lang had not slept all night. He initially thought of earning military merit on the battlefield like the Bai family sons but knew he was not suited for it. His skills were enough for self-preservation, but battling the enemy would be challenging. Since ancient times, during war, generals wielded power; in peacetime, scholars held the world. After considering it, Qin Lang realized his only path was to pursue scholarly honors. ¡°Stand up!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s face was full of gratification, ¡°After breakfast, you will accompany me to the palace.¡± Qin Lang kowtowed heavily once more, ¡°Thank you, Grandmother.¡± Qin Lang understood that although Mrs. Jiang wished day and night for him to renounce his title on his own, she would never let him make a move right after Bai Jinxiu¡¯s accident. So, Qin Lang bypassed the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage and Mrs. Jiang and sought out the Eldest Princess. Over the years, Qin Lang had felt resentment. Now, right after Jinxiu¡¯s accident yesterday, Qin Lang came to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion to ask the Eldest Princess to take him to the palace and renounce his title. He intended to put Mrs. Jiang on the spot. He wanted to show the world that, out of filial piety, he could not stand up to his stepmother to seek justice for his wife, feeling ashamed towards his wife and thus choosing to renounce his title and endure hardship. Yesterday, the incident in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion was known to everyone in Dadu City, ensuring that Mrs. Jiang¡¯s reputation had taken a hit. By decisively making this choice today, Qin Lang ensured that Mrs. Jiang¡¯s reputation would be thoroughly tarnished. The Eldest Princess grew more appreciative of Qin Lang. While he seemed indecisive, once he made up his mind, he acted with lightning speed. Without using deceit or trickery, he managed to ruin Mrs. Jiang¡¯s reputation. It was truly impressive. ¡¤ Qinghui Courtyard. Bai Qingyan had just finished her morning exercises when Chun Yan told her that Qin Lang had visited Grandmother¡¯s courtyard this morning and was now heading to the palace with Grandmother. ¡°The more I think about it, the more scared I become. Thank goodness you didn¡¯t marry into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion. That place is indeed as Second Lady said, a fiery pit and den of demons!¡± Chun Yan assisted Bai Qingyan, who was steaming from her exercises, into the inner room. Bai Qingyan frowned, feeling disgusted by Chun Yan¡¯s words. Before she could scold her, Chun Tao spoke first, ¡°Chun Yan, don¡¯t say such things again!¡± Chun Tao held the curtain open for Bai Qingyan and then turned to Chun Yan, saying, ¡°You are the eldest miss¡¯s personal maid! With Second Miss still bedridden, if anyone hears what you said, how will they see our miss?!¡± ¡°I only said it in front of the miss!¡± Chun Yan chuckled, slipping into the room ahead of Chun Tao. Once inside, Chun Yan lowered her voice and flatteringly said to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Miss, this morning Tongji, who is by King Liang¡¯s side, came. He conveyed a message from King Liang to the miss, saying His Highness is fine and asking the miss not to worry.¡± Bai Qingyan tightly gripped the face-washing cloth. He¡¯s not dead? What a tenacious life¡­ If only she had known, she would have hired an assassin to ambush him, stabbing King Liang¡¯s heart a few more times to ensure there was no possibility of survival. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, suppressing the anger in her heart, and flung the cloth into the copper basin. Chun Tao, terrified, poked Chun Yan¡¯s forehead, ¡°Why are you always around people from King Liang¡¯s side! We are the eldest miss¡¯s maids. If others see it¡­¡± ¡°Sister Chun Tao, I know my limits!¡± Chun Yan interrupted Chun Tao, looking unhappy. She then scooted over to Bai Qingyan, saying, ¡°I was just afraid the miss might worry about King Liang.¡± Just hearing the words ¡°King Liang¡± made Bai Qingyan incredibly uncomfortable. She suppressed her irritation and instructed Chun Tao to prepare breakfast. ¡°Chun Yan will be sixteen this year, right?¡± Bai Qingyan asked. Chun Yan¡¯s ears turned red, and she joyfully replied, ¡°Miss, I will be sixteen next month.¡± Bai Qingyan, with a faint smile, looked at Chun Yan, ¡°Chun Yan is growing up and having more thoughts. After all, a grown woman can¡¯t be kept. When Nanny Tong returns, I will instruct her to find a good family for you and prepare a dowry. It won¡¯t be in vain for our time as master and servant.¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Losing Face_1 Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Losing Face_1 Chun Yan¡¯s face turned pale instantly. She hurriedly knelt down, saying, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, this maid¡­ this maid never had such thoughts. This maid is determined to follow the Eldest Young Lady in life and death. Wherever the Eldest Young Lady goes, this maid goes too! Even if the Eldest Young Lady gets married in the future, this maid will surely stay by her side to serve both the Young Lady and the Young Master!¡± Bai Qingyan glanced at Chun Yan. Chun Yan must have believed that Bai Qingyan had no other future except marrying into King Liang¡¯s mansion, so she was thinking of becoming her dowry maid there; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t work so hard to please her on behalf of King Liang. Feeling uninterested, she didn¡¯t want to waste her breath lecturing Chun Yan and picked up her chopsticks to eat. For now, she couldn¡¯t deal with Chun Yan. If Chun Yan, who could inform King Liang, left, King Liang would undoubtedly find other people in the Duke¡¯s mansion. At that time, she would be in the open while King Liang¡¯s people would be in the dark, causing more headaches. Even though Chun Yan was annoying with her constant praise of King Liang, she wasn¡¯t deeply conniving and wore her heart on her sleeve. For several days, Bai Qingyan practiced morning and evening, feeling so sore that she couldn¡¯t even hold her chopsticks while eating. Chun Tao ladled a bowl of chicken soup millet porridge for Bai Qingyan, looking worried as she said, ¡°Miss, if this continues, this maid fears that it will take a toll on your health.¡± ¡°These past few days, being all sweaty morning and night has actually made me feel much lighter.¡± Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, Chun Tao dared not persuade her further, only lowering her head to glance at Chun Yan kneeling there, trembling and wiping tears, and shook her head. After finishing breakfast, Bai Qingyan changed clothes to visit Bai Jinxiu, allowing Chun Yan to get up and attend to her. Chun Yan tearfully handed the hand warmer to Bai Qingyan, respectfully stepping aside. Ever since she followed the Eldest Young Lady, this was the first time she had been punished so humiliatingly by her. All the maids coming in and out saw her kneeling there. As Bai Qingyan draped the fox-fur cloak over her shoulders and stepped out of the Qinghui Courtyard, she saw Chen Qingsheng, who had been waiting at the door and joking with the sweeping maids, hastening over. He bowed to Bai Qingyan. ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± ¡°Speak as we walk,¡± Bai Qingyan said. ¡°Yes,¡± Chen Qingsheng said respectfully, bending slightly and lowering his voice. ¡°I found out that the six confidant maids accompanying the Second Young Lady as her dowry haven¡¯t been sold. It seems that the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s family searched the dowry but couldn¡¯t find their contracts. Eldest Young Lady, watch your step¡­¡± Chen Qingsheng reminded Bai Qingyan to avoid the icy path underfoot and continued, ¡°The gatekeeper at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion said his wife told him last night that, except for Mingyu, who was taken out of the mansion and arranged properly by Nanny Wu, the other five maids were all drowned!¡± Bai Qingyan halted her steps, glanced sideways at Chen Qingsheng, and wondered if he was telling her that Mingyu had betrayed her mistress. The dowry maids of Bai Jinxiu, chosen by their mother and second aunt, were simple and intelligent girls. Bai Qingyan had seen them on the wedding day. But five young lives drowned just like that. Mrs. Jiang, Madam of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, was indeed ruthless and vicious. Chen Qingsheng continued, ¡°To avoid having the clothes on the five maids traced back to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, Mrs. Jiang¡¯s Nanny Wu ordered their clothes stripped off, rolled them in straw mats, and threw them to the Burial Mound on a snowy night. The servants tasked with burying the bodies didn¡¯t understand the situation, found it hard to dig the frozen ground, and, thinking they were just drowned maids, didn¡¯t bother digging a proper grave, leaving the bodies in the snow hoping the heavy snow would cover them overnight before they went for drinks. The tavern owner said when they arrived, one seemed uneasy while the other reassured him that by the time the ice melted, the corpses would have been eaten by winter-foraging wild animals.¡± Rage flared in Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart, but she forced it down after a moment. ¡°Continue,¡± she said. ¡°I also found out from the steward of the private brothel that the Second Young Lady¡¯s head maid Mingyu¡¯s brother¡­ hired two brothel women yesterday, saying he had come into some unexpected wealth. I stayed vigilant and have now discovered that Mingyu was unharmed and moved to Mrs. Jiang¡¯s dowry manor.¡± ¡°Why do you always tell the Eldest Young Lady about filthy things¡­¡± Chun Tao said in a small voice, her ears turning red. ¡°Forgive me, Eldest Young Lady. It was my oversight!¡± Chen Qingsheng immediately knelt to ask for forgiveness. ¡°No matter, get up,¡± Bai Qingyan said. Chen Qingsheng was indeed clever and capable. Bai Qingyan had sent him to investigate the whereabouts of Bai Jinxiu¡¯s dowry maids. She hadn¡¯t expected him to find out so quickly and so thoroughly. ¡°You go wait at the Chuihua gate. You might have to make another trip soon,¡± Bai Qingyan said after thinking a moment. ¡°Send someone to the Burial Mound, find the bodies of the Second Young Lady¡¯s dowry maids, keep them under guard, and report it to the authorities. Don¡¯t let wild animals desecrate them. They are, after all, our Bai family members. Even if they¡¯re maids, they shouldn¡¯t die so unjustly, left to be exposed in the wilderness.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand,¡± Chen Qingsheng said. Chun Tao supported Bai Qingyan as they walked to the Green Bamboo Pavilion, sighing inwardly¡­ Back then, when Mingyu¡¯s black-hearted parents wanted to sell her to a brothel, it was the Second Young Lady who pitied her, bought her, and kept her close, giving her great face, making her a first-class maid. And now she had betrayed the Second Young Lady. Chun Tao couldn¡¯t help but think of Chun Yan, feeling her heart thud. She looked at Bai Qingyan, harboring a suspicion. ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­ do you no longer trust Chun Yan?¡± Knowing Chun Tao¡¯s keen sense and loyalty, Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°Chun Yan has grown up and her heart has grown fonder of King Liang. Can¡¯t you see her obvious attentiveness to him?¡± The reason Bai Qingyan still kept Chun Yan was merely to see what else King Liang would have Chun Yan do. Seeing Chun Yan¡¯s close interaction with those from King Liang¡¯s mansion, Bai Qingyan even suspected that the letter placed in Grandfather¡¯s room might be related to Chun Yan. Chun Tao pressed her lips together. No wonder the Eldest Young Lady had become distant from Chun Yan and from King Liang recently. But if this issue delayed the Eldest Young Lady¡¯s chance for a good marriage, Chun Tao thought, it was not worth it. When Bai Qingyan arrived at the Green Bamboo Pavilion, the Bai sisters were all gathered by the bed, chatting and laughing with Bai Jinxiu. As she stood in the courtyard, hearing the laughter and teasing from her sisters inside, her heart felt inexplicably cheerful. Bai Qingyan had lived through one previous life. In this life, she could endure any hardship and give up anything. All she needed was to ensure the safety of her elders and the carefree laughter of her sisters. Hearing the maids outside repeatedly calling ¡°Eldest Young Lady,¡± Bai Jinxiu quickly looked toward the door. Bai Jintong even came out to support Bai Qingyan. ¡°Eldest Sister is here¡­¡± ¡°What are you all talking about? I heard laughter from afar,¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart softened considerably. She handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao and unfastened her cloak. Chun Tao quickly came forward to take the cloak and then stood properly behind Bai Qingyan, head down. Bai Jinzhi put down a handful of melon seeds she was holding, stood up, and greeted Bai Qingyan cheerfully. ¡°We were just talking about how yesterday, at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, you rendered the old shrew of a lady, Mrs. Jiang, so mad that she was practically steaming!¡± Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Human Nature Is Evil_1 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Human Nature Is Evil_1 ¡°Eldest Young Lady is the most amazing!¡± Fifth Miss ran up to Bai Qingyan, tugging on Bai Qingyan¡¯s sleeve coquettishly, her eyes full of admiration. ¡°When I grow up, I want to be as amazing as Eldest Young Lady.¡± Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch the small bun on Fifth Miss¡¯s head. Looking at her sister¡¯s carefree, sweet smile, a warm current dispelled the chill from her body, making her feel warm all over. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, please sit!¡± Bai Jintong pressed Bai Qingyan onto the stool and then chased out Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi and Fifth and Sixth Misses, telling them to get some snacks from the kitchen for Bai Qingyan. Bai Jinxiu had already heard this morning from Bai Jintong about what Bai Qingyan had said to Qin Lang last night. Her eyes turned slightly red, and she choked, ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Knowing what Bai Jinxiu wanted to say, Bai Qingyan grasped Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand and gently patted it. She smiled softly at Bai Jinxiu and spoke slowly, ¡°This morning, Qin Lang came to our house, asking Grandmother to request an audience with the Empress Dowager to relinquish his Princely Heir position. Although Qin Lang won¡¯t have the title in the future, letting the world know that Mrs. Jiang is a cruel mother will give you an excuse to move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence and live your own life behind closed doors.¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s eyes grew hotter from Bai Qingyan¡¯s words. She felt more and more ashamed for not living up to the expectations when Bai Qingyan had given her the family sword. She nodded with a choked voice, ¡°I understand, Eldest Young Lady! Last night, I also said the same thing to the Princely Heir.¡± Seeing Bai Jinxiu¡¯s tears falling, Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart ached, and her eyes reddened. She used a handkerchief to wipe Bai Jinxiu¡¯s tears away. ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll have my mother and second aunt select some capable maids and servants for you. Without a domineering mother-in-law, everything will get better! Don¡¯t be afraid¡­ Our Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and Grandmother are always behind you. In this Dadu City, no one can bully a daughter of the Bai family.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qin Lang to be so courageous to make such a decision.¡± Bai Jintong sat next to Bai Qingyan, her eyes solemn. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that those two venomous snakes at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence, who have harmed Second Sister, will understand the power of our Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and never dare to provoke Second Sister again.¡± ¡°A rotten apple spoils the barrel. Ten years of rot still stinks. Nature once evil, can it change? Difficult as ascending to heaven.¡± Bai Qingyan extended her hands towards the fire, looking at Bai Jinxiu with a faint smile. ¡°To make them behave, you must break their backbones with one strike, crush their supports! Let them know what pain and fear are, so that when they hear your Second Sister¡¯s name, their legs will tremble. Only then¡­ can your Second Sister find peace.¡± ¡°Support?! Eldest Young Lady, are you referring to Mrs. Jiang, the wife of the Marquis?¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes brightened. Once Bai Qingyan made a move, it was never a child¡¯s play to scare off the mother and daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence. The mother and daughter were good at behind-the-scenes schemes, like fleas; if not crushed, they would eventually rise and cause even more trouble for Bai Jinxiu. She did not want to leave any future troubles for Bai Jinxiu, nor did she want Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hands stained with such dirt. She decided to deal with Mrs. Jiang of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence thoroughly this time. Bai Qingyan asked, ¡°Where is the contract of the maidservant who came with you?¡± ¡°At the bottom layer of my jewelry box¡­¡± Bai Jinxiu knew Bai Qingyan would use it and signaled Bai Jintong to fetch it. ¡°The property deeds and servant contracts bestowed by Grandmother and Mother for my dowry are all there. I originally planned to retrieve them when I return home.¡± Bai Jintong got up and took the contract from the redwood inlaid jewelry box and handed it to Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan picked out Mingyu¡¯s contract and handed the rest back to Bai Jintong to keep. ¡°Keep these contracts well; they will be useful in the future.¡± ¡°Mingyu, she is¡­¡± Bai Jinxiu clenched the brocade under her, ¡°She¡­¡± Not wanting Bai Jinxiu, whose body was injured, to be stressed, she gently held Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand and advised, ¡°Your recovery is the priority. Don¡¯t trouble yourself with these ungrateful things. Leave it to capable people to handle.¡± Saying this, she turned and handed Mingyu¡¯s contract to Chun Tao, with a double meaning in her words, ¡°Tell your cousin that Mingyu is ungrateful. Although the Second Girl is kind-hearted, the heavens utterly reject traitors. If he handles this matter well, there will be a significant reward.¡± This would also show the servants in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence what the consequence of betrayal was. Chun Tao acknowledged, received the contract with both hands, and left the Green Bamboo Pavilion. ¡¤ That day, shortly after noon, the Eldest Princess brought Qin Lang back from the palace. The news that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage had requested to relinquish his title spread throughout Dadu City. Madam Jiang of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence received the news and slumped into her chair, her legs weak as if they were made of mud, sweating profusely. ¡°Mother, isn¡¯t this a good thing? Why does your face look so bad?¡± Second Miss Qin cheerfully tugged at Mrs. Jiang¡¯s sleeve with a happy expression. With Qin Lang relinquishing his title, their brother would be able to inherit it. Mrs. Jiang had no strength left even to scold her daughter. She clutched her chest tightly, knowing that her reputation was ruined. Not only her reputation but also her children¡¯s future¡­ Who would dare marry a Qin family daughter or wed a Qin family son after this? Anger overcame her. She slapped Second Miss Qin, causing her to fall to the ground. Second Miss Qin covered her burning face with one hand, staring at Mrs. Jiang with teary eyes. ¡°Mother?! Why did you hit me?!¡± ¡°Fool! If it weren¡¯t for you and Bai Jinxiu quarreling and fighting, would things have escalated to this point?!¡± After scolding her daughter, Mrs. Jiang forced herself to remain calm. As long as the Emperor¡¯s decree had not been issued, there was still room for maneuver. It was too late to enter the palace today; tomorrow, she would beseech the Empress to ask the Emperor for mercy, to make a proper show as a good stepmother, declaring that only Qin Lang could be the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence. Perhaps then, the situation could be salvaged. ¡°Nanny Wu!¡± Mrs. Jiang called out. Seeing the sallow-faced Nanny Wu entering from outside, she hurriedly instructed, ¡°Quickly send my calling card to the palace. I will enter the palace to meet the Empress Dowager tomorrow.¡± After saluting Mrs. Jiang, Nanny Wu said, ¡°Madam, there¡¯s trouble! Steward Xu from the estate came with injuries¡­ saying that today, someone from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, with a group of guards, stormed into your estate¡­ and took Mingyu away with her contract!¡± Mrs. Jiang fell back onto the chaise longue, almost losing consciousness. ¡°Madam! Madam!¡± Nanny Wu quickly supported her. ¡°Does the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence know everything? Do they know about us drowning those maids?¡± Mrs. Jiang clutched her chest, feeling breathless. ¡°Though it¡¯s not a big deal for a wealthy family to dispose of a few servants, Mingyu knows the ins and outs of everything. If she tells it all to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, it would be hard to explain to the Eldest Princess¡­¡± Nanny Wu worriedly glanced at Second Miss Qin, who was crying profusely. ¡°Mother!¡± Just thinking of the Eldest Princess¡¯s intimidating presence made Second Miss Qin¡¯s legs weak. She cried, clutching Mrs. Jiang¡¯s clothes, ¡°What should we do?! If the Eldest Princess finds out, she definitely won¡¯t let us go!¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Calculations Full of Heart_1 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Calculations Full of Heart_1 Mrs. Jiang hit a snag this time. Had she not heard from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage that the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen Mansion was doomed, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to act so arrogantly and handle Bai Jinxiu so carelessly. She was still impulsive. If she wanted to deal with Bai Jinxiu, she could have waited until the news of the deaths of the Duke of Zhen and the Bai men reached Dadu before making a move. Besides, the Bai family had an Eldest Princess behind them. She had been suppressed by Mrs. Dong for so many years and felt that her time to rise had finally come, so she did not curb her arrogance. Nanny Wu¡¯s eyes rolled. She poured a cup of tea for Mrs. Jiang and leaned in to speak, ¡°Madam, Second Lady, let¡¯s not rush! This old servant thinks even if the Eldest Princess knew about this, it wouldn¡¯t blow up beyond control. At most, it would scare you and the two young ladies of our mansion. Just think, as long as Bai Jinxiu is now part of the Qin family, things won¡¯t go well for her even if the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion is not good. She is the daughter-in-law of the Qin family and has to live under your thumb. Your virtue alone is enough to control Bai Jinxiu tightly! The Eldest Princess can¡¯t be ignorant of this!¡± Mrs. Jiang listened to Nanny Wu¡¯s words and nodded, quickly calming down. Thinking that the news from Nanjiang would come soon, her panicked mind gradually settled. Seeing that Mrs. Jiang¡¯s complexion had improved significantly, Nanny Wu continued, ¡°Moreover! Didn¡¯t the Bai family¡¯s Miss Bai claim that Bai Jinxiu¡¯s martial arts skills and swimming abilities surpassed those of most men in Dadu City? She could get up after being stabbed on the front line, so how could she not survive a slight knock against a stone in our Marquis Mansion? She was almost dead during the day in our mansion but awoke as soon as she returned to the Duke of Zhen Mansion? This was merely an accident where the two young ladies played with her and she accidentally fell into the water. Yet she makes a fuss clearly to leverage this to control you as her mother-in-law. She has no virtue as a wife!¡± Thinking of how Miss Bai had her tied up and humiliated in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion today, Nanny Wu was infuriated! She was the most favored nanny of the Marchioness of Loyalty and Courage. If she couldn¡¯t deal with Miss Bai, couldn¡¯t she at least torment Bai Jinxiu? She had to vent this anger. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s chest heaved with anger. ¡°The Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion is indeed full of schemers! I knew she had this intention! She is dreaming!¡± ¡°Madam, don¡¯t be angry! This old servant suggests that madam endure for a while. When Bai Jinxiu returns to our mansion, you, as her mother-in-law, can impose rules on her. Even the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion can¡¯t find fault!¡± Nanny Wu soothed Mrs. Jiang¡¯s back and spoke in a low voice. Mrs. Jiang let out a long breath, straightened her back, and said, ¡°You are right! However, we must show a humble and lowly attitude to others! Nanny Wu, prepare a lavish gift. Tomorrow after we leave the palace, we will visit the Eldest Princess and then bring Bai Jinxiu back to the mansion. You go to the storeroom and select the best millennial ginseng. ¡°The more precious, the better!¡± ¡°Madam is large-hearted. As a mother-in-law, you condescend to visit your daughter-in-law. There¡¯s no other mother-in-law like you in all of Dadu City! This old servant will go prepare now!¡± Nanny Wu quickly went out to have someone open the storeroom. Mrs. Jiang picked up the tea cup and took a sip, hoping to hear soon the news of the deaths of the Bai men in Nanjiang. Only when she saw Mrs. Dong of the Duke of Zhen Mansion crying would her heart be truly satisfied. When she was a girl, Mrs. Dong¡¯s family background and talents overshadowed Mrs. Jiang¡¯s in every aspect. Mrs. Jiang, due to the decline of her family, was forced to bow to Mrs. Dong, always hoping for a day to overturn her fate. Later, she married into the prestigious Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion. Even as a second wife, she finally managed to outweigh Mrs. Dong. But she didn¡¯t know which incense Mrs. Dong burned correctly. Within a few years, Mrs. Dong married the heir of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, whose title was higher than her own family¡¯s. She had been infertile for two years after entering the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, but as soon as Mrs. Dong entered the Duke of Zhen Mansion, she got pregnant. Ten months later, Mrs. Dong gave birth to a daughter. Mrs. Jiang finally sighed in relief. But who knew the Duke of Zhen and the Eldest Princess doted on the girl child like a treasure, loving her even more than the boys in the mansion! Mrs. Jiang was enraged. All these years she held her breath, not wanting to fall too far behind Mrs. Dong, hoping her son Qin Lang would err so that her own son could become the Princely Heir of the Marquis. But heaven did not comply with her wishes! Now, heaven had finally opened its eyes. Mrs. Dong¡¯s husband and son died in Nanjiang, and the entire line of men of the Duke of Zhen Mansion was destroyed. In the future, Dadu City would no longer have a place for the Bai family. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of Mrs. Dong¡¯s future misery, Mrs. Jiang felt a bit relieved, deciding that for now, she should endure a bit longer and allow the Duke of Zhen Mansion a few more days of arrogance. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s plans were meticulous, but before she could send her card to the palace, the Emperor approved Qin Lang¡¯s request to become the Princely Heir and sent an eunuch with lavish rewards. ¡°The son of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Lang, does not wish to rely on ancestral grace and idly end his life. Full of loyalty and courage, he seeks to earn merits and serve the Emperor. He should be a model for the sons of noble families. Grant 100 taels of gold, a house, and hope Qin Lang studies diligently. Next year at the imperial examination, I¡­ eagerly await.¡± Kneeling at the forefront of the people in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, Qin Lang¡¯s eyes immediately filled with tears. He solemnly kowtowed and received the decree gratefully. The eunuch, smiling broadly, looked at the standing Qin Lang with red-rimmed eyes and said, ¡°Young Master¡¯s resolute spirit is admirable! The Empress Dowager asked me to convey to you that His Majesty regards you highly. Do not disappoint His Majesty¡¯s expectations, and be the exemplary son of nobility. Moving to a new house and walking a new path, your future is bright.¡± Upon hearing the Empress Dowager¡¯s words, Qin Lang immediately knelt down and solemnly kowtowed again. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, for your concern! Qin Lang¡­ will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty and Empress Dowager. I will work diligently and stand on my own!¡± The face of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage turned livid. Although the Emperor personally awarded Qin Lang, Qin Lang had sought the position of Princely Heir without consulting him as his father but instead asked the Eldest Princess for help. Moreover, bestowing a house and the Empress Dowager¡¯s instruction for Qin Lang to move in and start anew clearly highlighted the discord within the Marquis Mansion, which would make him a laughingstock among the city¡¯s nobles the next day. The marquis turned around, his fierce gaze glaring at Mrs. Jiang, whose face instantly turned ashen, trembling like a leaf. Mrs. Jiang knew that this time, not only had she brought shame to her husband, the marquis, but her reputation was also utterly ruined. She had hoped for years that Qin Lang would make a mistake, and the position of Princely Heir would fall to her own son! But now that Qin Lang willingly relinquished the heir title, this position turned into a hot potato. She felt humiliated at the thought of her own son taking it. Qin Lang placed the imperial decree on the incense table and was about to return to his courtyard when the marquis called him. With a wave of his hand, the marquis slapped Qin Lang so hard that half of his face went numb. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26: To Be Used_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 26: To Be Used_1 ¡°You unfilial and rebellious thing! Such an important matter as requesting to relinquish the Princely Heir position, and you didn¡¯t even say a word! Do you think this position is like carrots and cabbage, something you can just discard if you want? You even alarmed the Eldest Princess! You are using the reputation of our Marquis Mansion to fight for your own future!¡± Qin Lang¡¯s eyes reddened, his throat tightened. After a moment of silence, he stepped back and bowed deeply to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. ¡°Since mother passed away, you remarried. No matter how I adhered to filial piety, the stepmother was displeased. Despite my diligent studies, you were dissatisfied. I couldn¡¯t understand why. Until this autumn, I saw my younger brother around you and mother. You praised his talent, remarkable and fluent. Stepmother wept, questioning why the younger brother was not the eldest son, lamenting the injustice of ancestral rules and rites. Only then did I realize your favored choice for the Princely Heir was my younger brother. I have no great talent and know I can¡¯t relieve your worries, which would be unfilial. Reflecting on myself, I request to relinquish the Princely Heir position to redeem myself. It was not out of unfilial intent. I will soon move out of the Marquis Mansion. I earnestly wish for the mansion¡¯s harmony, your health, and my wife¡¯s safety. I plead for your forgiveness!¡± The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s pupils trembled. He watched Qin Lang rise, bow deeply again, and turn to leave. His lips quivered as he raised his hand, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t call out to Qin Lang. Bai Qingyan sweated from her evening exercise after dinner. Her body began to adapt, no longer as sore as the previous days. After bathing, Chun Yan was drying Bai Qingyan¡¯s hair with a cloth while she sat under the lamp reading a book. Chun Tao came in with hot tea. ¡°First Miss, your cousin has completed the task you assigned. It¡¯s late, so he didn¡¯t come into the inner house. He sent me to inform you.¡± Chun Tao placed the hot tea beside Bai Qingyan. Chen Qingsheng was a very intelligent person. Bai Qingyan had no further concerns about him. Even though she had spoken implicitly today, Chen Qingsheng clearly understood what needed to be done. Bai Qingyan looked up from her book and asked, ¡°How did your cousin handle it?¡± Chun Tao initially did not want these dirty matters to tarnish Bai Qingyan¡¯s ears. But since Bai Qingyan asked, Chun Tao had no reason to hide it. ¡°My cousin had Lu Ping lead people to the manor of Mrs. Jiang in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Mansion. They used a contract to forcefully take Mingyu away, tied her up, and brought her into the city with a fanfare, delivering her to her family¡¯s home. He said¡­ Mingyu betrayed her masters. Though Second Miss didn¡¯t hold a grudge for her years of service, she dared not use her again. So, she was sent back home, allowing her family a chance to redeem her with money. They must take care in the future.¡± Chen Qingsheng handled it beautifully¡­ The Bai Mansion¡¯s reputation should not be stained. Feeling satisfied, Bai Qingyan closed her book and placed it on the small chicken-wing wood table, knowing there was more. She took a sip of tea and said, ¡°Continue¡­¡± ¡°Mingyu¡¯s brother feared the Duke of Zhen Kingdom¡¯s power. He scraped together money and borrowed from a pawnshop to repay our mansion. Before my cousin left, he subtly warned Mingyu¡¯s brother. Later, a servant from the pawnshop further reminded him. Mingyu¡¯s brother claimed family misfortune, broke her legs, and sold her to a private brothel as a lowly prostitute.¡± Bai Qingyan put down her teacup, confirming Chen Qingsheng was indeed valuable. Her eyes gleamed with a smile as she asked, ¡°What else?¡± Chun Tao blushed and continued, ¡°My cousin said you need not worry, he had informed the right people. Mingyu is now the lowest of brothel workers, as long as she breathes¡­¡± Chun Tao couldn¡¯t go on. Understanding, Chun Yan shivered. ¡°This¡­ Chen Qingsheng usually appears so gentle and carefree. How could he act so ruthlessly? After all¡­ he did know Mingyu.¡± Turning Mingyu into the lowest prostitute, to serve as long as she breathes, truly the epitome of degradation. Chun Tao cautiously watched Bai Qingyan, worrying she might find Chen Qingsheng too cruel and heartless. ¡°Your cousin did very well! It will show those harboring disloyal thoughts the consequences of betrayal.¡± Bai Qingyan smiled at Chun Tao. ¡°Tomorrow, give your cousin a hundred taels of silver as a reward.¡± ¡°Maid thanks you on behalf of my cousin.¡± Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Yan¡¯s pale face. ¡°Go to the small kitchen and see if the sheep milk custard is ready and take it to Second Miss.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chun Tao perceptively took the cloth to continue drying Bai Qingyan¡¯s hair. Once Chun Yan left, Bai Qingyan said, ¡°Tell your cousin to do two more things for me¡­¡± ¡°Anything you command, Miss.¡± Bai Qingyan picked up her book and turned a page nonchalantly. ¡°The matter of Mrs. Jiang ordering the drowning of Second Miss¡¯s dowry maid, you can start spreading it!¡± Previously, Bai Jinxiu was injured and fell into water, her life in danger, and was taken back to the Duke of Zhen Kingdom¡¯s mansion. Then, the Duke of Zhen Kingdom publicly exposed Mingyu¡¯s betrayal from Mrs. Jiang¡¯s dowry manor, sending her back to her family. Now, the citizens of Dadu City, both commoners and nobility, were already speculating about Bai Jinxiu¡¯s incident. The Duke of Zhen Kingdom¡¯s mansion was tight-lipped, not leaking a single word. With no definitive information, idle people from backyards and taverns were driven curious to distraction. At this time, revealing the death of the servant girl from Mrs. Jiang¡¯s manor would not only give people fodder for a grand drama but also put the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion¡¯s reputation at stake. Step by step, revealing incident after incident, in a steady pace would captivate the audience, keeping all eyes on the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion. Then, it would be up to the Marquis whether to protect Mrs. Jiang or preserve the mansion¡¯s reputation. ¡°Before making it public¡­ send someone to the village heads of the dowry maids to erase their slave status, allowing them to be properly buried as free individuals after the matter is settled.¡± Chun Tao never questioned Bai Qingyan¡¯s arrangements and promptly replied, ¡°Yes, once I assist you to rest, I will inform my cousin!¡± ¡°Additionally, three days later, grandmother will send someone to the manor to bring two people. Grandmother and I wish to test their character; let your cousin handle it.¡± Regarding the uncle¡¯s offspring left outside, Mrs. Liu was angered but still agreed. After all, she knew about the uncle¡¯s romantic involvement with a girl who saved him during his travels. As for the extra child, the mansion already had concubine-born children, and she treated them equally. It was just adding another place at the table, she didn¡¯t want to make a fuss. Bai Qingyan turned to look at Chun Tao with a smile, her gaze affectionate. ¡°Your cousin is indeed capable. After the New Year, I plan to let him train outside for two or three years. He can easily become a steward, and I can then safely entrust you to him.¡± Chun Tao blushed deeply and coyly said, ¡°Miss!¡± Seeing Chun Tao¡¯s red cheeks and bashful eyes, Bai Qingyan lightly patted her hand, smiling gently. Chun Tao had been with her for many years, and her thoughts couldn¡¯t be hidden from Bai Qingyan. In her previous life, Chun Tao had followed her to the southern borders to protect her, even before marrying Chen Qingsheng, they were separated by life and death. In this life¡­ Bai Qingyan vowed to see Chun Tao married gloriously, happily spending her life with her beloved. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Shenanigans_1 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Shenanigans_1 The next morning, Bai Qingyan had just finished her breakfast when a young maid reported that the families of the five maidservants who had accompanied Bai Jinxiu were kneeling at the mansion gate, tearfully begging to know where their daughters had been sold. They had heard that the Second Young Lady Bai was compassionate and had allowed Mingyu¡¯s family to buy back their unfaithful daughter. They thought that even though their daughters might not serve well, they were at least loyal. So perhaps they could buy them back too. Poor families were usually unwilling to send their daughters to brothels. Out of desperation, they sent them to noble households as servants, hoping that their children could at least have a meal and not starve to death. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence had always been known for its loyalty and kindness. Having their daughters serve the Second Young Lady Bai was a blessing. But if they were resold, they feared their daughters might end up like Mingyu, who had been sold into a brothel, unable to live or die. Bai Qingyan covered her mouth with a cloth and spat the rinse water into a spittoon before speaking. ¡°Chun Tao, go to the Second Young Lady and fetch the contracts of the five maids. Hand them to Steward Hao. Have him send a sharp-tongued steward to return the contracts to the maids¡¯ parents. Tell them that the Second Young Lady fell into the water and has been unconscious, so she doesn¡¯t know where the five maids were sold. Now, our house is sending people to inquire. Any human trafficker who dares to take people without seeing their contracts will be reported to the authorities by our Duke¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chun Tao responded and quickly ran to the Green Bamboo Pavilion where Bai Jinxiu resided. Upon receiving the orders, Steward Hao immediately sent Steward Liu, who handled purchases, to bring the contracts to the gate. Before Steward Liu left, Steward Hao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. ¡°Early this morning, I received instructions from the Princely Heir¡¯s wife to send people to find a few human traffickers in the city to inquire about the Second Young Lady¡¯s maidservants. The Princely Heir¡¯s wife did not ask the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wife but had our house investigate instead. Plus, our son-in-law has already requested to give up his position as Princely Heir. This shows that our house is bound to break ties with the Marquis¡¯s mansion. So, you need not worry about them being in-laws. Just explain the grievances of the Second Young Lady clearly!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Steward Hao!¡± Steward Liu understood perfectly. As soon as Steward Liu stepped out of the gate, he saw not only the parents of the five maidservants but also a large crowd of onlookers. He immediately ordered the servants to help the parents up. With reddened eyes, Steward Liu said, ¡°Everyone, I am truly sorry! Our Second Young Lady suffered a great calamity. She was knocked unconscious and thrown into the lake. After being carried back, still unconscious, several Imperial Physicians worked tirelessly to snatch her from the hands of King of Hell. When she woke up and learned that her maidservants had been sold by her mother-in-law, she fainted again. When she regained consciousness, she couldn¡¯t believe it because the contracts were still in her hands. Which human trafficker would dare to take people without contracts? So, early today, the Princely Heir¡¯s wife already sent people to inquire about the maidservants with the human traffickers in the city.¡± Then, Steward Liu took out the contracts of the five maids from his chest and had their parents come forward to claim them. After handing out the contracts, Steward Liu said, ¡°Our Second Young Lady commanded me to return the contracts to you. Once we find your daughters, if they are willing to stay and serve the Second Young Lady, she will treat them as family, and they won¡¯t be mistreated. If they don¡¯t wish to stay, the Second Young Lady will send them back to you with a generous dowry when they marry, to honor the master-servant relationship. Our First Young Lady is grateful because your daughters were sold to protect our Second Young Lady. She has already sent people to the village heads to remove your daughters¡¯ slave status. When they return, they will be legitimate citizens.¡± ¡°Great kindness from the First and Second Young Ladies!¡± The parents of the maidservants immediately kowtowed in thanks. ¡°But, what if we can¡¯t find our poor daughters?¡± Steward Liu clasped his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since the maidservants came from the Duke¡¯s residence, if we can¡¯t find them, we will definitely report to the authorities!¡± The onlookers praised the Bai family for its righteousness. ¡°Look at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, showing such loyalty to the people. They even care for their servants like this! The five maidservants were sold because of the Second Young Lady; not only are they looking for them, but they are also removing their slave status. This is indeed a great grace.¡± ¡°That Second Young Lady of the Bai family has had such hard luck to end up with such an in-law!¡± ¡°The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wife must have quite a character. Servants are like dowries that their mistresses can walk on. She dared to sell them without even getting the contracts. Shameless!¡± ¡°What do you know? There must be some inside story here!¡± one observer said deeply. ¡°Think about it. The Duke¡¯s residence is ready to break ties with the Marquis¡¯s mansion to bring back the Second Young Lady, who was half-dead. Then there¡¯s the maid Mingyu, who was found on the properties of the Marquis¡¯s wife. Of the six maidservants, she was the only one not sold. Can¡¯t you see the ulterior motives?¡± ¡°Yeah, and then Crown Prince Qin resigned from his position as Princely Heir. Tsk, tsk¡­ such deep waters in these meritorious families!¡± ¡°There¡¯s truth in the saying that when a stepmother arrives, a stepfather follows. Crown Prince Qin isn¡¯t having it easy either! The daughters of the Duke¡¯s residence would rather break than bend. The Marquis¡¯s wife probably feared she couldn¡¯t control her daughter-in-law, so she used the daughters as an excuse to¡­¡± Someone made a throat-slitting gesture. ¡°Those five maidservants are probably already dead! Think about it, the contracts are still with the Second Young Lady of the Bai family! Which human trafficker would dare to take them without the contracts? The Marquis¡¯s wife must know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Those five maidservants must have met their demise! With the contracts still in the Second Young Lady¡¯s hands, which human trafficker would dare to accept them? Only the Marquis¡¯s wife knows what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°And then there was the maid who was once by the Second Young Lady¡¯s side. She must know the truth¡­ that unfaithful one, Mingyu, who was sold into a brothel after her brother broke her leg. Pity she¡¯s gone mad, babbling nonsense. She kept smiling and saying, ¡®The Marquis¡¯s wife promised her to be Crown Prince Qin¡¯s concubine.''¡± ¡°You know so much detail; have you been to that brothel?¡± The onlookers burst into laughter. An observant person spotted the Marquis¡¯s carriage from afar and shouted, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the carriage from the Marquis¡¯s mansion?!¡± ¡°Well, well, does the Marquis¡¯s mansion have the nerve to come to the Duke¡¯s residence!¡± ¡°Shh! Do you want to die?! Do you know what kind of people the Marquis¡¯s mansion harbors? It¡¯s okay to gossip behind their backs, but if they hear this and bear a grudge, you won¡¯t even know where to cry!¡± As the Marquis¡¯s carriage stopped in front of the Duke¡¯s residence gate, the onlookers fell silent, casting disdainful glances at the Marquis¡¯s wife as she alighted from the carriage. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Asking for Punishment _1 Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Asking for Punishment _1 The parents of the five maids beside Bai Jinxiu hated Mrs. Marquis of Loyalty and Courage deeply, but due to her power, they could only stand aside timidly, heads down and not daring to speak. Mrs. Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Mrs. Jiang, with rich gifts, grandly arrived at the Duke of Zhen Mansion, saying she came to greet the Eldest Princess and also wanted to take Bai Jinxiu back to the Marquis Mansion for care. The Second Lady, Mrs. Liu, unwilling to see Mrs. Jiang, asked Mrs. Dong, the wife of the Princely Heir, to deal with her, while she herself stayed firmly in the Green Bamboo Pavilion to accompany the injured Bai Jinxiu. Mrs. Jiang entered without being welcomed by the masters and was instead invited in by a rough maid in the Duke of Zhen Mansion. Though she came to show submission, she still felt resentment for being neglected and couldn¡¯t hide her malicious intentions, revealing them on her face. She planned how she would vent her anger once the news of the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s men being killed came back. Nanny Wu supported Mrs. Jiang as they walked into the Duke of Zhen Mansion, with her mouth pursed, saying, ¡°This Duke Mansion is too neglectful of the madam.¡± Hearing Nanny Wu¡¯s grievance on her behalf, Mrs. Jiang¡¯s mood calmed down. She said with a smile, ¡°Yesterday you still advised me, how come today it¡¯s you who can¡¯t hold your temper? After all, Bai Jinxiu is my daughter-in-law. If their Duke Mansion disrespects me, can I give Bai Jinxiu a good face? As long as I can take Bai Jinxiu back today and keep Qin Lang from moving out of the Marquis Mansion, the Marquis¡¯s face will look better! Anyway, the days are still long¡­ let¡¯s just wait and see.¡± ¡°Madam is wise!¡± Nanny Wu said with a flattering smile, supporting Mrs. Jiang as they walked towards the inner courtyard. Nanny Wu had followed Mrs. Jiang for many years and understood her temperament well. If she hadn¡¯t complained earlier, Mrs. Jiang would have been unable to hold her anger when she met the wife of the Princely Heir of the Duke of Zhen Mansion later. By complaining first, Mrs. Jiang would feel she possessed great tolerance and would manage to hide her emotions deep inside. Just as they walked into the Duke of Zhen Mansion through the Chuihua gate, Mrs. Jiang saw the steward nanny beside the wife of the Princely Heir, standing there. When Mrs. Jiang approached, Nanny Qin smiled and bowed, saying, ¡°Greetings to the Marquis¡¯s wife, the Eldest Princess just sent a maid over, saying she doesn¡¯t feel well today and won¡¯t be seeing the Marquis¡¯s wife! The Second Lady is busy taking care of our Second Young Lady, and can¡¯t come either. Our wife of the Princely Heir, along with the Eldest Young Lady and the Third Young Lady, are waiting for the Marquis¡¯s wife and sent me to greet you.¡± Upon hearing that Miss Bai was also present, Nanny Wu¡¯s old face twitched in fear. It should be known that Miss Bai had been on the battlefield, having seen blood and killed people! Mrs. Jiang¡¯s face did not look much better. It was understandable that the Eldest Princess would not see her, but what position did Mrs. Liu hold to act haughty? Did she think she could look down on her? Although being received by the wife of the Princely Heir was not considered a disgrace, that Miss Bai was entirely unruly; she seemed gentle and polite but exuded a murderous aura when speaking. That day at their Marquis Mansion gate, even their Marquis was speechless, how could Mrs. Jiang not feel frightened meeting her? Though she was unhappy, Mrs. Jiang still had to put on the demeanor of an elder, saying, ¡°Miss Bai is weak, how can she not rest well, making me feel uneasy.¡± Nanny Qin led the way, hearing Mrs. Jiang comment on Bai Qingyan¡¯s health, she rolled her eyes internally but did not show it. Without responding, she straightened her back and led the way. Mrs. Jiang felt slighted, waved her handkerchief, and said no more. Nanny Qin led Mrs. Jiang into the house, where Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan, along with Bai Jintong, were laughing and talking, showing obvious signs of neglect, which immediately enraged Mrs. Jiang. Mrs. Jiang walked in with a smile, saying, ¡°I must have come at the wrong time today. I wanted to greet the Eldest Princess, but she is unwell! Even my in-law has to take care of Jinxiu and can¡¯t come!¡± Mrs. Dong, hearing the sarcastic remark, glanced at Mrs. Jiang with her phoenix eyes, recalling what Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi had said. That day at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, Mrs. Jiang had ridiculed Bai Qingyan¡¯s health and age. Mrs. Dong, now full of hatred for Mrs. Jiang, gave her no pleasant look. Mrs. Dong withdrew a handkerchief to press the corner of her lips, looking at Mrs. Jiang with a stern face, saying, ¡°Hearing the Marquis¡¯s wife, it sounds as if my mother¡¯s illness came at an inconvenient time just when you arrived. And my second sister-in-law has no sense of priority, leaving such a distinguished Marquis¡¯s wife unattended to take care of her dying daughter.¡± Mrs. Jiang¡¯s throat tightened, humiliated and unable to maintain her smile. Known for her virtuous and kind reputation, Mrs. Dong had always been a matronly model. But Bai Qingyan knew her mother was formidable and fiercely protective. For anyone who bullied her children, Mrs. Dong would fear nothing. Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong still adhered to the formalities, and they stood up to greet Mrs. Jiang with a brief salute. Bai Qingyan sat down and asked with a smile, ¡°The Marquis¡¯s wife visits today, is it to have the Duke of Zhen Mansion welcome you at the main gate to show off your noble status? Upon arrival, you immediately start questioning the faults of my grandmother and second aunt?!¡± Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, Mrs. Jiang felt a rush of fear, remembering the fright Bai Qingyan had given her at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion gate that day. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s palms were sweating. She knew that today was different from the past. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage had made mistakes, and they had to lower their faces and submit to ease the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s anger. But the way Mrs. Dong and Miss Bai spoke was infuriating. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s nails were about to dig into her skin when she finally conceded, saying, ¡°How dare I question the Eldest Princess!¡± ¡°So, the Marquis¡¯s wife blames my second aunt¡­¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s face turned cold immediately, ¡°I thought the Marquis¡¯s wife visited today to apologize, but it turns out you came to find fault!¡± Mrs. Jiang, already narrow-minded, felt insulted by a mere concubine-born girl challenging her, her face turned black: ¡°A concubine-born dares to shout at me, Mrs. Dong, don¡¯t you manage your daughters? Aren¡¯t you afraid of others questioning your family upbringing if this gets out?!¡± Mrs. Dong heavily placed her teacup down and glared at Mrs. Jiang in displeasure: ¡°The Marquis¡¯s wife should worry more about your own family¡¯s upbringing! Your two legitimate daughters even plan to harm their new sister-in-law¡¯s life over small disputes! You extend your hand into your daughter-in-law¡¯s dowry, selling off her maids when she was gravely injured and unconscious. This has spread all over Dadu City, and all the noble families are laughing about it! Instead of thinking about how to recover your family¡¯s reputation, you have the gall to judge the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s upbringing, truly shameless!¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s words trampled Mrs. Jiang¡¯s dignity deep into the mud. ¡°You!¡± Mrs. Jiang¡¯s chest heaved violently, trembling with anger, unable to utter a word. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Generations of Stubbornness_1 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Generations of Stubbornness_1 Nanny Wu knew today¡¯s purpose was to fetch Bai Jinxiu and stop Qin Lang from moving out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion. She quickly smiled to smooth things over. ¡°Oh, Madam Crown Princess, you¡¯ve misunderstood! Our madam didn¡¯t mean it that way! No matter what, our madam would never dare to have the Eldest Princess welcome her! Our madam is just concerned about the Eldest Princess and our young madam. She has a good heart but speaks poorly. How could it be an accusation?¡± Nanny Wu smiled apologetically and subtly tugged at Mrs. Jiang¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Our madam heard the young madam woke up and came specifically to take her back to the mansion. Since we¡¯re here, we must pay our respects to the Eldest Princess. Hearing that the Eldest Princess was ill and feeling it was an inappropriate time, she just said a word! Madam Crown Princess, you and our madam have known each other since childhood. Don¡¯t you know her?¡± Mrs. Jiang stifled her anger, nearly tearing the handkerchief in her hand, and said, ¡°That¡¯s right! Madam Crown Princess and I have known each other since childhood. This is just a misunderstanding.¡± Mrs. Dong did not respond to Mrs. Jiang¡¯s words at all. Hand adorned with a fine jade bracelet resting on the armrest, her demeanor as the head mistress was far more dignified than Mrs. Jiang¡¯s. ¡°So, you came today to apologize?¡± ¡°And to bring Jinxiu back to the mansion. After all, Jinxiu is already a member of the Qin family. It¡¯s inappropriate for her to stay at her maiden home, lest people laugh,¡± Mrs. Jiang said. ¡°Jiang Fengchun, stop circling around! Yesterday, His Majesty issued an edict granting Qin Lang a residence. Once Qin Lang moves out, it signifies the discord within the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion. The incident where your daughters harmed our Jinxiu will be exposed! Realizing there¡¯s no way out, you came to our Duke¡¯s Mansion, intending to take Jinxiu back, hoping to control Qin Lang and prevent him from moving out to save your mansion¡¯s face, correct?¡± Suddenly being exposed by Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Jiang¡¯s face turned even worse. Nanny Wu quickly chimed in, ¡°Madam Crown Princess, our madam is also thinking for the family. In a family, we shouldn¡¯t speak as if we¡¯re from different households! You say¡­ with both parents still here, how can he move out? Look at the prosperous Zhen Duke¡¯s Mansion, isn¡¯t it because they haven¡¯t separated the family that they have someone like Bai Qingyan? If the princely heir moves out while his parents are alive, others might question his filial piety in the future.¡± A nanny wasn¡¯t someone Mrs. Dong deemed worthy of responding to. She simply lifted her teacup. Bai Qingyan slowly asked, ¡°Are these words from the madam?¡± Mrs. Jiang, unwilling to speak to Bai Qingyan, wanted to drink tea but found that Mrs. Dong had not even offered a cup. She flung her handkerchief in anger. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for the good of Qin Lang and his wife.¡± ¡°Madam, you speak boldly. The Empress Dowager ordered my brother-in-law to move to a new house and take a new path. Yet, you say not letting him move out is for his good. Are you suggesting you¡¯re wiser than the Empress Dowager?¡± Bai Jintong raised her eyebrows. Mrs. Jiang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She wouldn¡¯t dare question the Empress Dowager¡¯s words even if she had the guts. ¡°Watch your tongue!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s gaze was intense, her voice soft. ¡°Madam came today without bringing your two daughters to apologize to my second sister. You entered our Duke¡¯s Mansion with an attitude and then wanted to take my second sister back! Do you think the Bai family fears your mansion, or do you think we¡¯re foolish enough to send my second sister back to suffer?¡± ¡°Let me be clear¡­¡± Bai Jintong spoke slowly. ¡°The other day when brother-in-law came to apologize in person, my second sister told him¡­ she endured your daughter¡¯s stone attack to clear the way for him to leave the mansion. If he doesn¡¯t have the courage to move out, he¡¯s unworthy of a Bai family daughter, and divorce is inevitable. Even if it means mutual destruction, she would request a divorce paper and never live with him again!¡± Mrs. Jiang and Nanny Wu both widened their eyes. They never expected Bai Jinxiu, who seemed so gentle and weak, to use such a ruthless tactic! Divorce?! How could a reputable family tolerate divorce? Mrs. Jiang¡¯s hands trembled with anger. Bai Jinxiu was so vicious! This was clearly pushing her to the brink! Bai Qingyan¡¯s cold gaze swept over Nanny Wu as she sneered. ¡°Now that His Majesty has issued an edict, and the Empress Dowager has given clear instructions, who dares use filial piety to speak of Qin Lang¡¯s future, it¡¯s an accusation against His Majesty and the Empress Dowager! Qin Lang has packed and is ready to move out, with great days ahead for my second sister. But madam¡­ hasn¡¯t your years of scheming been for this princely heir position? Now that Qin Lang is openly giving it up, why don¡¯t you dare accept it?¡± Nanny Wu broke into a cold sweat. She had just spoken about filial piety. ¡°Dong Wanjun, I came today, kindly, to bring Bai Jinxiu back! Ask around Dadu City, how many mothers-in-law are as magnanimous as I am! Yet, I get nothing in return?! Haven¡¯t had a sip of tea, and now these two children from your Duke¡¯s Mansion are stepping on me!¡± Mrs. Jiang, also furious, called Mrs. Dong by her full name and slammed the table. ¡°Even as a stepmother, Qin Lang¡¯s father, our marquis, is still present! Family shouldn¡¯t separate while parents are alive; your second daughter, encouraging Qin Lang to move out right after marriage, defies filial piety! Aren¡¯t you afraid of becoming the target of public criticism?¡± Mrs. Dong blew on her tea slowly, too lazy to argue. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking? You believe that since the Bai Mansion married a daughter into your mansion and you¡¯re the legitimate mother-in-law, our Bai Mansion would hold you in esteem for Jinxiu¡¯s future! But Jiang Fengchun, the Bai family has tough bones that aren¡¯t easily chewed. Reflect on whether your teeth are strong enough before you come again.¡± ¡°Dong Wanjun!¡± Mrs. Jiang rose, slamming the table, and threw her handkerchief. ¡°We shall see! You will regret this!¡± Nanny Wu barely managed to restrain the furious Mrs. Jiang, winking continuously. ¡°Madam, the young madam¡¯s injury angered the Crown Princess who¡¯s her family. Watch your temper; misunderstandings between our families could remain unresolved otherwise!¡± Bai Qingyan, looking at Mrs. Jiang about to storm out, spoke slowly. ¡°Speaking of my second sister¡¯s injury, may I ask madam, where did you sell my second sister¡¯s dowry maids after she fell unconscious? The parents of those five dowry maids are kneeling at our Duke¡¯s Mansion gate, asking. I¡¯m curious what kind of powerful backer dares take them when their contracts are in my second sister¡¯s possession! Or¡­ are the five maids in a plight like Mingyu, kept on your estate?¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Involved in it_1 Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Involved in it_1 Nanny Wu¡¯s heart was pounding uncontrollably. Nanny Wu waited for Mrs. Jiang to deal with the maidservants before she remembered the contract of the maidservants¡¯ indenture. Unfortunately, up until now, she hadn¡¯t been able to find the contracts in Bai Jinxiu¡¯s dowry. The original plan was to keep Mingyu behind. If the Duke¡¯s Mansion pursued the matter, Mingyu, the personal maid, would step forward and claim that Bai Jinxiu had personally ordered her to give the contracts to Mrs. Jiang. But who could have expected that the Duke¡¯s Mansion would send someone with Mingyu¡¯s contract to forcibly take her from Mrs. Jiang¡¯s estate? Needless to say, the other five maidservants¡¯ contracts must still be at the Duke¡¯s Mansion. Before Nanny Wu could deliberate on how to speak, the guilty Mrs. Jiang had already lost her temper: ¡°Bai Jinxiu just entered the Qin family, yet she doesn¡¯t think about honoring her in-laws. She disregards wifely virtues and uses deceit to instigate her husband to split from the family. And you have the nerve to ask me about those maidservants! If I, as her mother-in-law, beat Bai Jinxiu to death, no one in the world would say a word against it! Nanny Wu, leave now!¡± Nanny Wu, covered in sweat, followed Mrs. Jiang. ¡°Madam, if you leave this door today with the idea of spreading rumors that my second sister conspired with Qin Lang to move out of the Marquis Mansion, slandering her, I advise you to think twice! Our Duke¡¯s Mansion will deny everything, and my mother will surely stand up for my second sister and explain everything.¡± Bai Qingyan stood up, smiling, ¡°My mother is praised by the Emperor himself as the model matriarch of Dadu City. Lady, think about the reputation you will have, especially with your crimes of conspiring to harm others and meddling with your daughter-in-law¡¯s dowry. If you then smear her name, won¡¯t that be quite ironic?¡± The words Bai Jinxiu spoke to Qin Lang would damage her reputation if spread. Bai Jintong, standing beside Bai Qingyan, shook her head as if helpless: ¡°I told the madam what my second sister said, hoping she would add fuel to the fire! Eldest sister, you are too kind-hearted to remind her.¡± ¡°Dong Wanjun, do you think your Duke¡¯s Mansion wants to tear apart relations with our Marquis Mansion?¡± Mrs. Jiang gritted her teeth, wringing the handkerchief in her hand. Mrs. Dong lazily lifted her eyes: ¡°Those two daughters of yours almost killed our Duke¡¯s second young lady, and you dare ask for face here?!¡± Bai Jintong stood with her hands behind her back, smiling coldly: ¡°Is the Marquis Mansion¡¯s face thicker than the city walls? We made a grand show of bringing my second sister back! Is that not enough?!¡± ¡°You people¡­ fine! Go on, be arrogant!¡± Mrs. Jiang was so enraged her whole body trembled. She spat, ¡°It won¡¯t be long before you¡¯ll be crying! Nanny Wu, let¡¯s go!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s gaze lifted, her deep eyes fixed on Mrs. Jiang¡¯s retreating figure. Standing at the door, Nanny Qin saw Mrs. Jiang storm out and politely stepped forward to guide her out. Mrs. Jiang, full of anger, lashed out at Nanny Qin: ¡°What, you need to watch me even as I leave? Afraid I¡¯ll steal something from your Duke¡¯s Mansion?!¡± Once the Marchioness left, Mrs. Dong threw down her tea cup in disgust: ¡°That Jiang woman, always thinking she¡¯s the smartest in the world, and everyone else is a fool to be trampled upon by her!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s engagement was arranged when Qin Lang¡¯s mother was gravely ill. Back when her mother was still a maiden, she had been saved from bandits by Madam Dong and Mrs. Dong, preserving her chastity. Ever since, she was deeply grateful and stayed close to the Dong family, forming a sisterly bond with Mrs. Dong. When Qin Lang¡¯s mother fell seriously ill, knowing her days were numbered, she entrusted Qin Lang to Mrs. Dong. She privately knelt and begged Mrs. Dong to promise her daughter to Qin Lang so that Mrs. Dong would become his rightful mother. Moved by the sincerity of her dying sister, the young Mrs. Dong agreed boldly, giving Qin Lang¡¯s mother a keepsake as a token and sealing the promise privately. Qin Lang¡¯s mother, out of deep love for her son, knowing she had no deep affection for Marquis Qin Dezhao, feared that if a stepmother entered the household, the heirship of the Princely Heir would be changed. To secure Qin Lang¡¯s position, she calculated even with her sworn sisterhood. Had it not been for the declining status of Qin Lang¡¯s maternal family and knowing that Mrs. Dong was favored by the Duke of Zhen and just waiting for her grandfather¡¯s three-year mourning period to propose marriage, Qin Lang¡¯s mother wouldn¡¯t have clung to this lifeline and begged the yet unmarried Mrs. Dong for this engagement. Later, after Qin Lang¡¯s mother passed away, the Marquis remarried Mrs. Jiang. Mrs. Dong knew full well what kind of person Mrs. Jiang was. Ever since Bai Qingyan was born, she had been worried for her. Who would have thought that when Bai Qingyan came of age she would suffer an injury that made childbirth difficult, leading Duke Zhen to want to annul the engagement between the Duke¡¯s Mansion and the Marquis Mansion? It was the Marquis himself who came to convince him to replace Bai Qingyan with Bai Jinxiu as Qin Lang¡¯s betrothed. The Duke initially disagreed, but after speaking with the Marquis, he relented. As a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dong couldn¡¯t say much more, fearing that saying too much would make the second mistress, Mrs. Liu, think she was unhappy with the change in engagement. After a few unsuccessful attempts to persuade, she decided to keep quiet. Who knew that years later, Bai Jinxiu¡¯s marriage would lead to such a loss? Had she known, she would have opposed it vehemently back then. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Bai Qingyan comforted Mrs. Dong. ¡°Before going to the Marquis Mansion, I thought the Marchioness was a formidable figure. Now, it seems she¡¯s nothing much. With Qin Lang moving out being inevitable, you and the second mistress should send more capable nanies and servants to Jinxiu. Without a mother-in-law¡¯s interference, how could Jinxiu not have a good life?¡± Mrs. Dong sighed and nodded. Fortunately, the Emperor issued a decree, and even the Empress had spoken. Even if Mrs. Jiang had three heads and six arms, this was a done deal. Thinking of Bai Qingyan questioning Mrs. Jiang about the whereabouts of the five maidservants, Mrs. Dong hesitated but then told her daughter the truth: ¡°Yesterday, your second aunt asked me to send someone to find the remaining five maidservants of your second sister, to understand the whole story and seek future revenge. Although I sent people to inquire with the city brokers this morning, it¡¯s clear in my heart that those five maidservants are likely gone. Your second aunt is straightforward and doesn¡¯t know how wicked Mrs. Jiang is. I¡¯m unsure how to break it to her.¡± The five maidservants, as they were from the Duke¡¯s Mansion, anyone dealing with city brokers would not dare to tamper with them without their contracts. Only the second mistress, Mrs. Liu, believed this. ¡°Mother, why do you need to explain to the second mistress? If we can¡¯t find the five maidservants of our Duke¡¯s Mansion, we¡¯ll report it to the officials and have them search.¡± Bai Qingyan suggested firmly. Seeing her daughter¡¯s resolute and composed demeanor, Mrs. Dong¡¯s worries melted away: ¡°My child is right! I¡¯m being foolish! If our servants go missing, we should indeed report it to the authorities! We need to have our steward take the maidservants¡¯ contracts and their biological parents to the officers!¡± Bai Qingyan walked out of the hall, her face solemn, repeatedly pondering the Marquis¡¯s wife¡¯s parting words¡ªthere won¡¯t be long before you¡¯re crying. These words seemed to have deeper meaning. She lowered her eyes, gazing at the stone path beneath her feet, wondering if the Marquis¡¯s wife knew something, which gave her the audacity to act against Bai Jinxiu just after her arrival? That day, at the Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Jiang acted unafraid despite her daughter¡¯s injury to someone. The usually cautious Marquis, even when angered by their removal of Bai Jinxiu, thinking the Bai family had dishonored them, why remained so adamant in such clear-cut right and wrong? A cold sweat formed on her back. Regarding the Bai family¡¯s affairs¡­ how many influential figures in Dadu were involved? Bai Jintong walked slowly beside Bai Qingyan, visibly pleased: ¡°Seeing that vile woman trembling with anger was indeed satisfying!¡± Not hearing a response from Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong couldn¡¯t help but think about the five maidservants and asked, holding a glimmer of hope: ¡°Eldest sister, are the five maidservants really in as dire a situation as Aunt said?¡± She came back to her senses and didn¡¯t hide the truth: ¡°Except for Mingyu, all of your second sister¡¯s maidservants were drowned. The Marchioness feared their clothes might reveal their identities, so she ordered their clothes stripped off. On a snowy night, wrapped in straw mats, they were thrown into the Burial Mound.¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Wrist Tricks_1 Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Wrist Tricks_1 She rubbed the hand warmer, lowered her head, her eyes cold and clear. ¡°At this hour, the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office should have already received the report and sent people to the Burial Mound outside Dadu City to investigate those female corpses.¡± Right now, the attention of everyone in the Capital was focused on the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion and the Duke of Zhen Mansion. From what she knew, many aristocratic families were openly and secretly probing for news about the two houses. Mrs. Jiang of the Marquis Mansion naturally poured out her grievances and complaints, while Mrs. Dong, the wife of the Princely Heir of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, claimed to know nothing, only saying they needed to find the five maids sold by Mrs. Jiang to clarify the truth. Mrs. Liu, the second lady, avoided everyone out of worry for her daughter¡¯s well-being. However, the more these aristocratic families and commoners probed for information to no avail, the more they would speculate and fabricate stories, eagerly waiting for those five maids to be found and to prove their own wisdom. Even Bai Jintong, who had been on the battlefield, was astonished by Mrs. Jiang¡¯s clean and swift methods. She looked at Bai Qingyan and asked, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, you found everything out, so you asked Aunt to report it to the authorities and escalate the situation?¡± Bai Qingyan strolled leisurely. ¡°The Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office received a report about five unidentified female corpses. Our mansion happened to be looking for the five maids sold by the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. The Jing Zhaoyin wouldn¡¯t need to investigate deeply to guess that the wife who claimed to have sold the five maids would certainly have someone from our Duke¡¯s mansion sent to identify the bodies.¡± ¡°But, Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Jintong placed one hand behind her back, exuding a bit of masculine aura. ¡°In our dynasty, maids and servants are considered movable property of their masters. Even taking it to the authorities would only mean that Mrs. Jiang reached into Second Sister¡¯s dowry, but this established reputation won¡¯t harm Mrs. Jiang one bit. Is it worth it?¡± ¡°Therefore, this morning, we already had someone remove the maid status of those five maids, and Second Sister returned their contracts to their parents.¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes brightened, and she wrapped her hands around Bai Qingyan¡¯s arm. ¡°Without their maid status, they are now commoners, and killing commoners requires repayment with one¡¯s life! When Eldest Young Lady told Second Sister to keep those maid contracts, it was for today, wasn¡¯t it?! So¡­ can we really make that vicious woman pay with her life? Shouldn¡¯t we think of more ways to ensure the outcome of this case? After all, that vicious woman deserves a thousand cuts!¡± Bai Qingyan gazed at Bai Jintong¡¯s bright eyes, feeling a hint of worry. Seeing that Bai Jintong was about to leave home, she realized her nature was still a bit lacking in steadiness. Since she had spoken to Bai Jintong about these matters, it was a good opportunity to use this case to explain things more clearly to her. Bai Jintong was the smartest and most clever of all the sisters, but due to her young age, she sometimes acted out of impulsiveness. Her greatest strength was that she understood immediately once the reasoning was explained. ¡°What we initially wanted was for your second sister to be free from her mother-in-law¡¯s control and for the two girls in the Marquis Mansion to no longer dare to provoke your second sister. We didn¡¯t want Mrs. Jiang¡¯s life, right?¡± Bai Qingyan held Bai Jintong¡¯s hand and spoke softly as they walked. Bai Jintong nodded, not understanding Bai Qingyan¡¯s intention. ¡°Then we must drive Mrs. Jiang out of the Marquis Mansion so your second sister can be completely free from this mother-in-law¡¯s control. Otherwise, even if they live in separate houses, Mrs. Jiang could still use filial piety to force your second sister to tend to her if she claims sickness. As for the two girls in the Marquis Mansion, without their mother, your second sister as the eldest sister-in-law would have to handle their marriages. In that case, would they dare to cause trouble under her watch? Isn¡¯t that correct?¡± Bai Jintong thought for a moment and then nodded. ¡°So, the outcome of the case doesn¡¯t matter! If Mrs. Jiang is sentenced to death, that would be delightful for us, but it is not the goal. What we want are the consequences like we planned after Mrs. Jiang is entangled in a murder case. Once involved in a murder case, even if she doesn¡¯t pay with her life for those five maids, her reputation would be tarnished with the stain of murder. Aristocratic families involved in murder cases would surely alarm the Imperial Censorate, and the keen-eyed Censors would undoubtedly be itching to impeach. That¡¯s the first point. The second is that the two daughters and one son raised by Mrs. Jiang, with their mother¡¯s reputation damaged, would find it hard to hold their heads high in the Capital.¡± ¡°Now think about it¡­ with the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s selfish and profit-seeking nature, would he keep Mrs. Jiang in the mansion, allowing her to continue damaging his and his children¡¯s reputation? Our goal is almost within reach¡­ but if you used methods to push Mrs. Jiang to her death and it backfired, what then?¡± Seeing the slight hesitation in Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes, Bai Qingyan stopped and adjusted her cloak, saying softly, ¡°Soon you will leave home alone. Eldest Young Lady is taking this opportunity to teach you¡­ whatever strategy you use, remember the goal you hope to achieve. All the tactics should pave the way for that goal. Never seek more than necessary, or you may end up with nothing. Furthermore, don¡¯t just look at the outcome. Take this case for example, the outcome isn¡¯t important. Think more about whether the consequence is what you want. The result and the aftermath might seem similar but are worlds apart.¡± Bai Jintong suddenly recalled the moment in Bai Jinxiu¡¯s room when Bai Qingyan said, ¡°To subdue them, you must break their backbone in one strike and crush their support! Make them understand pain and fear, so when they hear your second sister¡¯s name, their legs will tremble. Only then will your second sister have peace.¡± Bai Jintong always prided herself on her intelligence, though she knew she wasn¡¯t as good as Eldest Young Lady, she thought the gap wasn¡¯t too wide. Now, seeing the Eldest Young Lady¡¯s clean and swift handling of the Marquis Mansion, her meticulous planning made her realize she still had much to learn from her. ¡°Bai Jintong will remember Eldest Young Lady¡¯s teachings, inscribed in my heart, never to be forgotten.¡± Bai Jintong bowed respectfully to Bai Qingyan, wholeheartedly convinced. Bai Qingyan helped Bai Jintong up, holding her hand. ¡°You are about to leave home. The world outside is vast and different from home. Eldest Young Lady said more today in hopes that you will be prudent in your actions.¡± ¡°Bai Jintong understands! Eldest Young Lady, rest assured!¡± Bai Jintong, with reddened eyes, squeezed Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany Eldest Young Lady back to the inner courtyard.¡± As they walked a few steps, they saw Qin Shangzhi, recovering in the Duke¡¯s mansion, standing not far away as if looking at them. Bai Qingyan smiled and bowed in greeting. Bai Jintong, not knowing why, followed and bowed as well. Qin Shangzhi looked at Bai Qingyan with a frown, wanted to say something, but in the end, he cupped his fists and turned to leave. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Paying a Visit_1 Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Paying a Visit_1 ¡± Qin Shangzhi once told Miss Bai that if she wanted to protect the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household, she should retreat. But judging by Miss Bai¡¯s behavior these past two days, she seemed to have lost her mind over the injury of the second Miss Bai, adopting a stance of preferring to die with honor rather than live in disgrace. This put the entire Duke¡¯s household in a precarious position. Qin Shangzhi wanted to remind her that being too full of oneself would lead to loss, and overflowing water would spill. But seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s clear eyes, he feared she had other plans. So he said no more, hoping that this Miss Bai could truly protect her family¡¯s loyalty. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, that person is¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s a guest of our household!¡± she said. Upon returning to Qinghui Courtyard, she dismissed everyone, stood with her eyes closed in front of the brazier, and recalled the words of Mrs. Jiang before she left. Mrs. Jiang, a woman of the inner court, couldn¡¯t stir up much trouble. But what about Qin Dezhao? Qin Dezhao was currently a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue. When news came back from the southern borders about the Bai family¡¯s misfortune and the joint forces of Nanyan and Xiliang advancing towards Sanlang Pass, her grandfather¡¯s deputy general, Liu Huanzhang, requested to go to battle. Qin Dezhao was promoted to Chief of Staff responsible for military logistics. She suddenly opened her eyes, thinking about the batch of military supplies sent to the southern frontlines two months ago, and felt a chill down her spine. The army hadn¡¯t moved, but the supplies went first. Provisions were the foundation of an army. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was responsible for the supply preparations. He must have known there would be issues with the supplies, and perhaps those issues were Qin Dezhao¡¯s doing. ¡¤ Second Madame Liu heard that today, because of Bai Jinxiu, Mrs. Dong had already had a falling out with Mrs. Jiang. She was filled with inexplicable gratitude. Only now did she realize that Mrs. Dong had genuinely been thinking about Jinxiu¡¯s best interests when she advised her to reconsider the marriage. She had misunderstood and thought Mrs. Dong held some resentment and was intentionally causing trouble. That night, after settling Bai Jinxiu, Second Madame Liu brought substantial gifts to see Mrs. Dong. The two sisters-in-law talked late into the night, and it was only with red eyes that Second Madame Liu left Mrs. Dong¡¯s place. Perhaps guided by Mrs. Dong¡¯s advice, Second Madame Liu no longer held all the anger. She was already considering how to arrange Qin Lang¡¯s new residence. She let out a long sigh and said to the steward Nanny Luo: ¡°Nanny Luo, tomorrow, instruct Nanny Pang to pick some reliable and hardworking maids and servants from the household to be sent to the new residence that His Majesty granted to my son-in-law. Also, have Nanny Wan find Matchmaker Wang to pick some good ones to send there!¡± ¡°Rest assured, Second Madame. I will handle it properly!¡± Nanny Luo supported Second Madame Liu as they walked to her courtyard. ¡°Nanny Luo, there is something I need to discuss with you. You¡¯ve served by my side for many years, and your family is here under the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household. But concerning Jinxiu¡­ I am truly worried. As her mother-in-law, I can¡¯t always be at my son-in-law¡¯s new residence. So I want you to stay by Jinxiu¡¯s side for now and help her out. I trust no one but you! You are the only one who can manage the chief attendants and stewards given to Jinxiu as dowry.¡± Second Madame Liu stopped and patted Nanny Luo¡¯s hand. Nanny Luo was moved to tears by Second Madame Liu¡¯s words and nodded repeatedly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Second Madame. I watched the second young lady grow up! I will definitely help the young lady well! Besides, the Eldest Princess, the Princely Heir¡¯s wife, our eldest young lady, and third young lady will all risk their lives to protect our second young lady!¡± Second Madame Liu gripped Nanny Luo¡¯s hand firmly, and the two of them walked back through the snow, their footsteps deep and shallow. ¡¤ Snow had fallen all night, thickly covering the ancient green bricks and green tiles of the Duke¡¯s household. Before dawn, smoke had already started swirling from the main kitchen, and maids and servants were bustling around. Farmers delivering vegetables and meat to the Duke¡¯s household gathered at the brightly lit back gate, chatting, joking, and subtly inquiring about the gossips between the Duke¡¯s household and the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s household. At dawn, lamps in the servants¡¯ rooms of each courtyard were lit one by one. Rough maids, exhaling white breaths, shivered as they came out of the rooms into the winter wind. They saw Chun Tao accompanying the eldest young lady standing in the courtyard practicing horse stance, with steam rising from her head, making her look as if she were just pulled from hot water. The maid, accustomed to the sight, bowed without making a sound and went out with a broom to sweep the courtyard. After Bai Qingyan finished her breakfast, she leaned by the window on a large embroidered cushion of golden clouds, reading a book. A maid from her mother Mrs. Dong¡¯s side tactfully arrived at Qinghui Courtyard. Hearing the maids outside greeting Tingzhu with laughter, Chun Tao quickly went out to meet her, seeing Tingzhu already standing under the eaves. She smiled and asked: ¡°Sister Tingzhu, you look so happy. Is there good news?!¡± Tingzhu was genuinely happy. She rubbed her cold arms and smiled at Chun Tao: ¡°This year, Madam Dong from Dengzhou and Second Master Dong, have come to Dadu to celebrate the New Year. They entered the city last night. Madam Dong did not send anyone ahead because she was afraid of making our madam anxious. Early this morning, Madam Dong asked Second Master Dong and Second Madame Dong to bring generous gifts to pay their respects to the Eldest Princess. They are now in Changshou Courtyard, talking, and she specifically sent me to invite the eldest young lady over.¡± ¡°That is indeed good news! Our madam hasn¡¯t seen Madam Dong for several years. She must be very happy now!¡± Chun Tao held the thick felt curtain for Tingzhu. ¡°Isn¡¯t it!¡± Tingzhu laughed as she entered the door. Hearing Tingzhu¡¯s words from outside, Bai Qingyan closed her book and instructed Chun Yan to prepare clothes for her. She remembered that in her previous life, her second uncle Dong Qingyue had brought her grandmother to Dadu City on the nineteenth day of the twelfth month. But at that time, Bai Jinxiu had just passed away, and she was gravely ill. She hadn¡¯t seen her second uncle on the day he visited. Later, when the Duke¡¯s household encountered trouble, other aunts¡¯ families avoided them. Her second uncle, Governor Dong Qingyue from Dengzhou, risked his life to appeal for justice for the Bai family. Her eldest uncle, Chief of Honglu Temple Dong Qingping, wearing mourning and sackcloth, collected and buried the Bai family¡¯s remains. Countless memories from her past life surged in, and Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes turned red, feeling overwhelmed with bitterness. She couldn¡¯t wait to visit the only uncle who had stood up for the Bai family. Through the screen inlaid with mutton-fat jade and emerald, Tingzhu saw Chun Yan wrapping Bai Qingyan in a fox fur cloak. She smiled and greeted: ¡°Eldest young lady, Second Master Dong and Second Madame Dong from the Dong family in Dengzhou have come to pay their respects to the Eldest Princess. Madam sent me to invite you.¡± Bai Qingyan smiled, took the maid¡¯s newly prepared hand warmer, and nodded: ¡°I heard. Let¡¯s go!¡± Upon entering Changshou Courtyard, Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t bother to change her footwear in the warming room but headed straight to the main room. The maid in a dark blue padded jacket hurried to lift the curtain for Bai Qingyan and announced her arrival. Standing at the door, Bai Qingyan handed the hand warmer to Chun Yan, and as she untied her cloak, Chun Tao stepped forward to help her remove the white fox fur cloak. Bai Qingyan walked straight into the main room. Chun Tao had never seen Bai Qingyan in such a hurry before. She hastily handed the cloak to Chun Yan and followed her inside. In the main room, the Eldest Princess was leaning on a large embroidered cushion of golden clouds, laughing, and said: ¡°Kid came so quickly today. It must be because you miss your uncle and aunt!¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Proposal_1 Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Proposal_1 Kid wore a light yellow jacket and skirt embroidered with branch patterns, making her black hair look like crow feathers, radiant and elegant. She had an unmatched graceful figure and an aura of a legitimate daughter. Second uncle Dong Qingyue was thirty-eight this year, unlike his elder brother, Dong Qingping, who appeared gentle and scholarly, easygoing and peaceful. He had dark skin and looked very formidable. Though he was the youngest son in the Dong family, he carried an imposing presence that commanded respect naturally, even more so than his elder brother. He was also more stable. As soon as Kid saw Dong Qingyue, her eyes reddened uncontrollably. Back then, second uncle had petitioned on behalf of the Bai family, but was accused of being an ally of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and was stripped of his official position and exiled to the border. Second uncle, with chains on his head and hands, had loudly proclaimed before leaving, ¡°Their loyal souls have been defamed, and their heroic spirits have perished! How the Jin kingdom¡¯s rivers and mountains fall, I shall watch!¡± ¡°Grandmother! Mother¡­¡± After paying respects to the Eldest Princess and Mrs. Dong, Kid solemnly performed a grand salute to Dong Qingyue and his wife. Second aunt, Mrs. Cui, quickly stood up to support her, ¡°Kid, what are you doing?¡± She held Mrs. Cui¡¯s hand and helped her sit down, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for many years. How is grandmother? How are uncle and aunt?¡± Dong Qingyue put down his teacup and smiled, his tiger teeth slightly diminishing his imposing demeanor and revealing a bit of warmth, ¡°Everyone is well! Especially your grandmother who misses you a lot! Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Kid has grown up so much.¡± Today, Dong Qingyue and Mrs. Cui came together, instructed by Madam Dong, to propose marriage for her legitimate second son, Dong Changyuan, to Kid. Mrs. Cui was initially reluctant. Even though she liked Kid very much, this daughter-in-law would be three years older than her son, and had difficulties with childbirth. What should they do if they couldn¡¯t have children? In Dengzhou, Mrs. Cui cried and made a fuss. But Madam Dong and her husband said that precisely because Kid had difficulties with childbirth, even becoming a second wife would be challenging. Only by marrying her into their own family and keeping her close would she not be bullied by her in-laws. At that time, they could take a concubine for Dong Changyuan, and any children would be under Kid¡¯s name. This way, Kid would not be bullied, and Dong Changyuan would also have children in the future. Even so, those children would still be concubines¡¯ offspring. Any noble family would prefer to have more legitimate sons. Despite her unwillingness, Mrs. Cui had no choice but to comply, as Madam Dong and her husband had made up their minds. Mrs. Cui smiled and patted Kid¡¯s hand, her face smiling but her eyes full of bitterness, unable to express her sorrows. Naturally, Mrs. Dong was overjoyed to hear about this. Although marrying into her maternal family was somewhat beneath Kid¡¯s status, this way, Mrs. Dong would no longer worry about her being bullied by her in-laws. Kid would have her grandmother¡¯s protection above and her uncles¡¯ love below. It would be nothing more than taking a concubine for Dong Changyuan to carry on the family line. Even if Kid had no difficulties with childbirth, this was a match others could only dream of. ¡°Today, your grandmother instructed me and your aunt to come here first. One is to pay respects to the Eldest Princess. Second, your grandmother misses you but is too weary from the journey to come. So, we are here to take you to your eldest uncle¡¯s residence,¡± Dong Qingyue said with a smile. Before Kid arrived, Dong Qingyue and Mrs. Cui had already discussed the intention of marriage with the Eldest Princess. This time they were taking Kid to meet Dong Changyuan to see if she was satisfied. As long as Kid nodded, Madam Dong would immediately ask Lady Shoushan, the mother-in-law of her eldest son, Dong Qingping, to come and arrange the marriage. Both families were aware of this, only keeping Kid in the dark. Seeing her daughter-in-law Mrs. Dong¡¯s satisfied expression, the Eldest Princess naturally approved and let Kid go. She only urged her to return early and asked Nanny Jiang to bring some tonic medicines for Kid to take to Madam Dong. ¡°Daughter-in-law, you haven¡¯t seen Madam Dong for many years either. Go with Kid,¡± the Eldest Princess said with a smile, turning to Mrs. Dong. Suppressing her delight, Mrs. Dong thought for a moment and said, ¡°But¡­ today I need to pick servants and maids for the new house of the second son-in-law. I have made arrangements with the human traders, and they will bring people over at the hour of si (9-11 am).¡± ¡°Let the second daughter-in-law take care of it. If you¡¯re still worried, leave Nanny Qin to assist her!¡± the Eldest Princess ordered. Mrs. Dong quickly got up to thank her, even more delighted. In the carriage, Mrs. Cui couldn¡¯t help but wipe her tears again with her handkerchief. Dong Qingyue held her hand to comfort her, ¡°You see, Kid has grown even more beautiful, her manners refined, and her temperament remarkable. Besides the issue of childbirth, be it her family or herself, our Brother Yuan cannot match Kid!¡± Mrs. Cui glared at Dong Qingyue, ¡°Your niece is the best! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re solving your sister¡¯s problem and repaying your brother-in-law¡¯s favor! Poor Brother Yuan¡­¡± Seeing Mrs. Cui start crying again, Dong Qingyue¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Whether you agree or not, Dong Changyuan will marry! No more discussion! Stop crying, or mother will punish you!¡± Seeing her husband¡¯s face darkened, Mrs. Cui bit her lip, and her tears fell even more. In the four-horse carriage adorned with dark blue tops, Mrs. Dong revealed to Kid Madam Dong¡¯s plan. ¡°Since your grandmother learned of your injury, she has been unable to sleep. The only way to prevent your mother-in-law from bullying you is to keep you close. Just now, your second uncle said¡­ Brother Yuan didn¡¯t even have a maid in his house all these years! Although Brother Yuan is three years younger than you, he is mature for his age and has a knack for studying. He¡¯s the perfect match!¡± Mrs. Dong, beaming, held Kid¡¯s hand, scrutinizing her for a moment, then her eyes reddened, ¡°Now that your marriage is settled, I can die in peace.¡± Only then did Kid understand why Mrs. Cui had smiled at her with a helpless bitterness in her eyes earlier at the Eldest Princess¡¯s place. She held Mrs. Dong¡¯s hand, her heart tangled with emotions but unable to speak, ¡°Mother, Brother Yuan is second aunt¡¯s only child. Would she agree for her legitimate son to marry a wife who can¡¯t have children?¡± ¡°Brother Yuan is a second legitimate son, not the eldest. Your second aunt has always been very fond of you. She shouldn¡¯t mind, right?¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s words were uncertain. Chun Yan, following beside the carriage, stretched her ears. Hearing Mrs. Dong¡¯s words, her face turned pale, and she couldn¡¯t keep up with the carriage. ¡°Chun Yan! What are you doing?! Keep up!¡± Chun Tao scolded with a frown. Chun Yan finally lifted her feet. Her mind was in turmoil, and her legs weakened, making it hard to keep up with Chun Tao. She had to jog at the end of the team. If the young lady married the legitimate second son of her uncle¡¯s family, what would happen to King Liang? What would she do? She feared she would never see the noble and otherworldly King Liang again. Thinking of this, Chun Yan¡¯s eyes reddened, and she planned to quickly inform King Liang. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Meeting Gift_1 Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Meeting Gift_1 Bai Qingyan looked at Mrs. Dong¡¯s joyous face and didn¡¯t want to say she would never marry, fearing it would sadden her. She only said, ¡°I just saw Second Aunt¡¯s eyes were red. She must have cried before coming. Second Aunt loves me because I am her niece, but she won¡¯t necessarily like a daughter-in-law who has difficulty bearing children. Grandmother and Uncle care about me, but one cannot force a cow to drink. In the end, one still has to live under the mother-in-law¡¯s hand in the back courtyard. Mother, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Mrs. Dong didn¡¯t speak, considering it carefully. ¡°Mother, Grandmother and Uncle have been so good to you and me. Are you willing to disturb Grandmother¡¯s peaceful later years by causing discord between her and her daughter-in-law over my marriage? Marriage isn¡¯t the only path in life. This is what you used to comfort me with.¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s words were all to comfort her daughter when she was injured. She didn¡¯t want to let go of this marriage, her lips quivering, ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s better to meet Brother Yuan first. What if¡­ Brother Yuan is willing?¡± Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t argue with Mrs. Dong. Her mother said that Grandmother had been planning her marriage with Dong Changyuan since she was injured, but she hadn¡¯t heard about it in her past life. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and thought about it, quickly figuring it out. In her previous life, when her grandmother, second uncle, and second aunt came to Dadu for the New Year, they indeed brought the second son, Dong Changyuan, from Dengzhou. However, at that time, Bai Jinxiu had unexpectedly died on her wedding day not long ago. Grandmother probably felt it was inappropriate to mention a marriage proposal, and later, the news of the Bai family men dying in Nanjiang on New Year¡¯s Eve came back¡­ She knew her grandmother loved her, and she didn¡¯t want to cause a rift between her grandmother and second aunt because of her. Before the carriage arrived, Madam Dong, with white hair, was already standing at the gate of the Dong Mansion, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Mrs. Song and four grandsons and two granddaughters to welcome her daughter and granddaughter. Madam Dong wore a gray squirrel fur coat embroidered with gold patterns, and her hands were wrapped around Buddha Beads, constantly looking toward the right side of the long street. Dong Changyuan stood beside Madam Dong with his hands folded behind his back, dressed in a stone-blue straight gown with a black jade pendant hanging from his waist. The handsome young man showed no emotion on his refined face. ¡°They¡¯re here, they¡¯re here!¡± a servant woman shouted, ¡°I see Second Master¡¯s carriage!¡± Madam Dong lifted her coat¡¯s hem, held up by Mrs. Song, took a few steps forward. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t rush, Wan Jun and Kid can¡¯t fly!¡± Mrs. Dong, playing with Madam Dong. Dong Tingzhen, Mrs. Dong¡¯s second daughter, also laughed as she held Madam Dong: ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t hurry. If you fall, Aunt and Big Cousin will worry!¡± Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Dong Mansion. Mrs. Dong got off the carriage first and, upon seeing her white-haired mother, immediately burst into tears: ¡°Mother!¡± ¡°Wan Jun!¡± Madam Dong¡¯s eyes moistened as she hurried down the steps. Chun Tao and Chun Yan, who had been walking alongside the carriage, helped Bai Qingyan down. She bowed and greeted, ¡°Grandmother, Aunt!¡± ¡°My Wan Jun, my Kid!¡± Madam Dong hugged her daughter with one arm and her granddaughter with the other, tears streaming down, making Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes red as well. Several cousins and siblings came forward to pay respects. Only Dong Changyuan stood at the top of the steps, holding his jade pendant tightly, not wanting to look at anyone. Seeing Dong Qingyue standing by the carriage, dead-eyed and expressionless, Mrs. Cui quickly called Dong Changyuan. He reluctantly walked down the steps and deeply bowed, ¡°Chang Yuan greets Aunt and Cousin.¡± He didn¡¯t glance at Bai Qingyan. ¡°Brother Yuan has grown so much! Such a handsome young man!¡± Mrs. Dong praised, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. Mrs. Song hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s ill-mannered to stand at the gate talking. Kid¡¯s health is fragile and she fears the cold! Mother, let¡¯s find a warmer place to chat.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Let¡¯s talk inside!¡± Madam Dong, holding her daughter and granddaughter¡¯s hands, led them inside, not wanting to let go, seeing no one but her daughter and granddaughter. Inside, Madam Dong hugged Bai Qingyan, showering her with affection. Her tears never stopped, soaking Bai Qingyan¡¯s new clothes. Dong Changyuan sat at the back, drinking tea by himself, not looking at anyone, indifferent, his resistance clear to Madam Dong, let alone Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan. Though she worried about her daughter¡¯s lifelong happiness, Mrs. Dong didn¡¯t want her daughter to marry a man who didn¡¯t care about her. Seeing Mrs. Cui, who showed signs of weeping on the carriage, and her daughter with red eyes, Mrs. Dong decided she¡¯d talk to her mother about canceling the marriage. ¡°Brother Yuan, I haven¡¯t seen you in years. You¡¯ve grown into an adult.¡± Mrs. Dong smiled, then beckoned Tingzhu to present Dong Changyuan¡¯s meeting gift. Dong Changyuan finally stepped forward and bowed. Madam Dong held Bai Qingyan, looking at her handsome second grandson, thinking they were a perfect match. ¡°Last year, your grandmother wrote that you topped the township examination and earned the title of Top Graduate! Aunt is also happy for you!¡± Mrs. Dong motioned Tingzhu to present the gift to Dong Changyuan, ¡°These two Shoushan Stones would be wasted if kept by me. They best serve Brother Yuan to carve into seals.¡± Dong Changyuan quickly declined, bowing, the Shoushan Stones too precious, he was indeed afraid to accept. ¡°A gift from an elder cannot be declined! Your aunt gave it to you. Keep it well and don¡¯t disappoint her kindness!¡± Madam Dong implied. Bowing, Dong Changyuan¡¯s face grew uglier, not wanting to accept the generous gift. Mrs. Song covered her lips with her handkerchief and chuckled, ¡°My sister¡¯s gift is too precious, it¡¯s scared Brother Yuan!¡± Hugged by Madam Dong, Bai Qingyan saw Mrs. Cui¡¯s red eyes. Not wanting her second aunt and Dong Changyuan to argue over her marriage, she said, ¡°Mother hopes Chang Yuan can top the exam again, bringing glory to the Dong family and making her proud.¡± Hearing the clear and gentle voice, Dong Changyuan, though not disliked, lowered his head more. Bai Qingyan stood beside Madam Dong and smiled, ¡°First meeting Brother Yuan today, I prepared a gift.¡± Upon hearing this, Chun Tao quickly presented the top-quality Hui ink and Xizhi inkstone Bai Qingyan had prepared. Seeing the ink and inkstone, Dong Changyuan, a lover of calligraphy, couldn¡¯t help but admire them. But remembering they were gifts from someone he was forced to marry, his joy turned sour as if he had swallowed a fly, his discomfort evident. He bowed his head and said, ¡°Cousin¡¯s gift is too valuable. Chang Yuan dares not accept without earning it.¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: 35章：Cherish Blessings_1 Chapter 35: 35Õ£ºCherish Blessings_1 He only heard that clear and laughter-filled voice, unhurriedly saying, ¡°Cousin Chang Yuan, there¡¯s no need to be so polite. When my seventeen younger brothers were beginning their studies, I gifted them with Hui ink and She inkstones. Uncle and Aunt treat me like their own child, so I naturally see you as my own brother! It is only because you have won the title of Jieyuan that I carefully selected the quality of the ink and inkstone. If you acknowledge me as your sister, then don¡¯t refuse this gift.¡± Upon hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, Mrs. Cui suddenly looked at Bai Qingyan and Mrs. Dong, her heart torn between joy and sorrow. Although Mrs. Dong did not expect Bai Qingyan to say such things in front of everyone, she had already mentally prepared herself and was not as flustered as Madam Dong and others. She simply sipped her tea calmly. Dong Changyuan was dazed for a moment before he finally looked up, gazing seriously at his cousin for the first time. He saw Bai Qingyan dressed in a moon-white plain gauze dress, her eyes clear and her smile both distant and intimate, perfectly balanced without any pretense. Her black hair, as smooth as crow feathers, was partially tied into a neat bun with a white jade hairpin. Despite such a simple and elegant appearance, it couldn¡¯t hide her breathtaking beauty. Her sophisticated and serene demeanor imparted a sense of calm and ease. Dong Changyuan¡¯s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He quickly lowered his head, his ears turning red, feeling a faint sense of shame. Previously, he resented his grandmother for forcing him to marry this cousin under threat and was filled with indignation and reluctance. Therefore, he had harbored ill will against this cousin even before meeting her. Today, he had not given Bai Qingyan a proper look at all. Who would have thought that his cousin had no intention of marrying him? Her dignified and brilliant demeanor made him feel petty and narrow-minded in comparison. After having lunch at Dong Mansion, Mrs. Dong and Madam Dong spoke privately for a while before returning home. Chun Yan, who was feeling distracted, helped Bai Qingyan change into her regular clothes and casually remarked, ¡°Second Uncle¡¯s legitimate second son, his eyes were raised to the skies after merely winning the title of Jieyuan. I saw with my own eyes at the entrance of Dong Mansion that he didn¡¯t even look at you, Miss. It¡¯s clearly a sign of disrespect!¡± Bai Qingyan was leaning against the window, propped up by a brocaded cloud pillow, reading a book. She didn¡¯t raise an eyelid as she responded, ¡°And why are you trying to make trouble for Cousin Chang Yuan in front of me?¡± Chun Yan¡¯s face turned red from being exposed. Having learned her lesson from last time, Chun Yan refrained from mentioning King Liang again this time. Instead, she said, ¡°I just think Second Uncle has lofty ambitions. With Miss¡¯s family background and beauty, what kind of noble family wouldn¡¯t want you as their daughter-in-law? How dare they covet you!¡± Seeing that Bai Qingyan¡¯s expression had not changed, Chun Yan couldn¡¯t control herself and stepped closer, daring to speak well of King Liang: ¡°Prince Liang doesn¡¯t mind Miss¡¯s status and is truly sincere towards you. That is Miss¡¯s great fortune! You must not waste such luck.¡± Ha¡­ Was it really her good fortune?! Bai Qingyan thought to herself how foolish she had been in her past life. Chun Yan¡¯s disloyalty had been so obvious, yet every time Chun Yan praised King Liang¡¯s affections for her, she had believed it. She closed her book and casually tossed it onto the small table made of chicken-wing wood, toppling the tea cup made of Haitang frozen stone leaf shape: ¡°Chun Yan, you have the audacity to think you can decide my marriage? Who gave you such courage and face?¡± Chun Yan¡¯s legs went soft, and she knelt down: ¡°Miss, I wouldn¡¯t dare! That¡¯s not what I meant! I just think¡­ I just think that Miss marrying Second Uncle¡¯s legitimate second son is too unfair! I am doing this for Miss!¡± Chun Yan trembled like a sieve, tears streaming down in big drops: ¡°I am just not resigned on behalf of Miss. Prince Liang, a Prince, is so humble towards you, but this Jieyuan doesn¡¯t even give you a proper look!¡± Chun Tao came in, originally to tell Bai Qingyan that the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion had sent someone to summon the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage for questioning. However, upon entering and seeing the situation, she hurriedly used a cloth to clean up the spilt tea on the small table. Bai Qingyan¡¯s chest was heaving with anger: ¡°Get out!¡± Chun Yan left the room crying. Chun Tao replaced her tea with Babao tea, smiling and comforting her: ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if Miss is angry with Chun Yan. Just don¡¯t break your favorite Haitang frozen stone leaf-shaped tea set.¡± She suppressed her anger, picked up her book again, and turned a page: ¡°Have someone secretly keep an eye on Chun Yan. Report her movements at all times¡­¡± Chun Tao¡¯s face showed reluctance, but she acknowledged the order and then gathered her composure to say, ¡°Miss, early this morning, the parents of the five accompanying maids of Second Miss went to the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion to claim the bodies. By noon, the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion had sent someone to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion to question the wife about which human trafficker she sold the five maids to. Unable to evade, the wife had to admit that the five maids were beaten to death for not taking good care of the Second Miss. Right now, the officers from Jing Zhaoyin Mansion are blocking the entrance, and there is a standoff with the mansion guards.¡± ¡°The matter with the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage will be dealt with by Jing Zhaoyin Mansion. We¡¯ll just watch.¡± Bai Qingyan said, ¡°I¡¯m just not sure if this will delay Qin Lang¡¯s move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion tomorrow.¡± Because Qin Lang had an imperial decree to move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage couldn¡¯t stop him and was very troubled. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, went through great effort to secure the position of doctor at the Ministry of Revenue. Finally finding stability among the nobility in Dadu, now anyone could bring up the disputes between his stepmother and legitimate son and talk about it. It was truly embarrassing. Fortunately, King Liang sent his advisor to personally comfort him and promised that once the situation in the southern frontier was resolved, he would recommend him to the Emperor for the position of Minister of Revenue. Holding a high position, no one in the entire Dadu¡¯s nobility would dare to look down on him then! In a private room in a restaurant, the drunken Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, remembered the Duke of Zhen and the Princely Heir far away in the southern frontier, poured a cup of wine and raised it to the sky: ¡°Duke, Princely Heir! Don¡¯t blame me¡­ The Duke¡¯s House¡¯s merits make the Emperor feel threatened. The entire court cannot tolerate you! I¡¯m merely following orders; the provisions and supplies I owe you, I¡¯ll repay you in the next life¡­ hic¡­¡± Qin Dezhao hiccupped and suddenly laughed foolishly: ¡°In the next life, I¡¯m afraid I still won¡¯t be able to repay!¡± With that, Qin Dezhao raised his head and downed the strong wine in one gulp. ¡°Marquis! Marquis! There¡¯s trouble at the mansion¡­¡± Qin Dezhao¡¯s long-time attendant hurriedly pushed the door open. ¡°What kind of behavior is this?! Qin Dezhao, seething with anger, heavily placed his wine cup down, his sharp gaze directed at the attendant, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just Qin Lang moving out of the mansion? What other big trouble could there be?¡± ¡°No, Marquis! The officers from Jing Zhaoyin Mansion are blocking our mansion¡¯s entrance to arrest the wife!¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Prison - Part 1 Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Prison ¨C Part 1 ¡°What?!¡± Qin Dezhao, knowing he was drunk, thought he misheard. ¡°Has the Jing Zhaoyin lost his mind? How dare he come to our Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion and arrest the Marchioness without any reason?!¡± ¡°The five maidservants who were sold off by the Madam, their bodies were found at the Burial Mound outside the city, and their parents have claimed the corpses. That¡¯s why the Jing Zhaoyin came to arrest the Madam. The servants are looking everywhere for the Marquis, waiting for you to return and take charge!¡± The follower said with a mournful face. The drunken Qin Dezhao slapped the table and stood up, his eyes filled with ferocity as he roared, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about a few maidservants being beaten to death? Has the Jing Zhaoyin gone mad, or does he want to become my enemy?¡± ¡°Marquis, those maidservants had already been freed from servitude and were civilians. The Madam is involved in a murder case, which is why the Jing Zhaoyin came to arrest her! Marquis, please return to the mansion quickly!¡± The follower, sweating profusely, was almost in tears. Qin Dezhao sobered up significantly. How could they free maidservants of their servitude? In his half a lifetime, he had never heard of such a thing! ¡°Return to the mansion!¡± The follower quickly took down Qin Dezhao¡¯s gray mouse fur cloak and draped it over him, helping him downstairs. Just as Qin Dezhao stepped out of the tavern, he was about to board the carriage when he saw the carriage of his cousin, the Imperial Censor Sima Yan, stop in front of his own. Sima Yan lifted the curtain of his carriage and looked at Qin Dezhao. Qin Dezhao quickly cupped his hands, ¡°Cousin¡­¡± Sima Yan¡¯s face was displeased, ¡°The news of your Madam being involved in a murder case reached the Imperial Censor¡¯s Office half an hour ago, and you still have the leisure to drink here?!¡± Qin Dezhao felt a chill up his spine, ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the mansion right now!¡± ¡°The current administration is displeased with the atmosphere among the meritorious families. Listen to your brother¡¯s advice, have your Madam quickly go with the officers from the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s Office and answer their questions. Do not rely on the prestige of the marquis¡¯s mansion to resist! Your mansion¡¯s internal conflicts between the heir and his stepmother have already come to light. The heir, Qin Lang, volunteered to relinquish his position and was praised by the emperor. Who can guarantee that some court officials won¡¯t seize the opportunity to report on your mansion? If that happens¡­ it is not impossible that the emperor might strip your mansion of its prestige! Remember this¡­¡± The cold wind blew, and Qin Dezhao felt a chill all over. ¡°Thank you for your advice, cousin!¡± Qin Dezhao responded respectfully. Sima Yan sighed, looked at Qin Dezhao, and shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s the end of the year. Tell your Madam to stay out of trouble and not keep causing problems!¡± With that, the Imperial Censor Sima Yan dropped the curtain and told the coachman to drive away. Qin Dezhao hurriedly ordered his coachman to return to the mansion quickly. Ever since Mrs. Jiang injured Bai Jinxiu, who had just married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion, misfortune seemed to have plagued their household. At this moment, Qin Dezhao also resented Mrs. Jiang. The main gate of the marquis¡¯s mansion was surrounded by onlookers and the officers from the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s Office, with the gate tightly closed. Qin Dezhao avoided the commotion and had the follower park the carriage at the corner gate. He entered with a sullen face. As soon as he walked into the inner courtyard, he heard Mrs. Jiang inside the house, yelling at the servants. His veins bulged with anger, and he lifted the curtain and entered. ¡°Marquis¡­¡± Nanny Wu saw Qin Dezhao enter and quickly bowed in greeting. Qin Dezhao, with a determined stride, snatched the whip from Mrs. Jiang¡¯s hand and slapped her, causing the Marchioness to collapse onto the soft couch. ¡°You ignorant and vicious woman, you¡¯ve caused a huge scandal and are still here beating and scolding people!¡± Nanny Wu and the other maidservants were so frightened that they all knelt down, not daring to lift their heads. Mrs. Jiang held her face, looking up at the furious Qin Dezhao with wide eyes. She wanted to get angry but, thinking of the officers outside waiting to arrest her, quickly kneeled at Qin Dezhao¡¯s feet. ¡°Marquis! Marquis, you must save me! This is a plot by the Duke¡¯s mansion! Yesterday, they said those maidservants¡¯ contracts were with Bai Jinxiu, but now they claim the five maidservants are civilians! The Duke¡¯s mansion wants me dead, Marquis, you cannot ignore this!¡± Qin Dezhao¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and he calmed down. After a moment of thought, his eyes filled with a cold light, ¡°You say¡­ yesterday they said the maidservants¡¯ contracts were with Bai Jinxiu?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the absolute truth. If I lie, let me be torn to pieces! If you don¡¯t believe me¡­ ask Nanny Wu!¡± Mrs. Jiang clung to Qin Dezhao¡¯s leg, crying without any dignity. The trembling Nanny Wu banged her head on the floor, ¡°Marquis, yesterday I accompanied the Madam to the Duke¡¯s mansion to bring back the young Madam and ease the tension caused by the heir leaving the mansion! But the third Miss of the Bai family said the young Madam was injured by our lady with a stone to pave the way for Qin Lang¡¯s departure. Miss Bai also said the five maidservants¡¯ contracts were with the young Madam, and no slave trader would dare take them without seeing the contracts! This is all absolutely true!¡± The Duke¡¯s mansion¡­ Qin Dezhao gritted his teeth, his sharp gaze intimidating everyone. Nanny Wu didn¡¯t even dare to raise her head. Qin Dezhao closed his eyes and completely sobered up, ¡°You should go with the officers from the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s Office. I will find someone to handle it, and you won¡¯t be wronged! But if you don¡¯t go¡­ the entire marquis¡¯s mansion and your son will be implicated.¡± Hearing this, Mrs. Jiang turned pale and collapsed on the ground. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion was in turmoil, and the news of the Marchioness being imprisoned was reported to the Duke¡¯s mansion by the stewards left there by Bai Jinxiu that very night. This was just as Bai Qingyan had predicted, and she was not particularly pleased by it. Before Bai Qingyan retired, Chun Tao hesitantly reported that the little maidservant Yingshuang, who had been secretly following Chun Yan, reported that Chun Yan had met with a servant in the front courtyard today. ¡°Seeing the servant leave the mansion, little Yingshuang, not knowing her place, followed him outside and witnessed the servant heading to the back gate of King Liang¡¯s mansion to whisper with their people. Without a word, she knocked him out with a punch and brought him back. She just threw him to Lu Huyuan and came to Qinghui Courtyard happily asking for pine nut candy as a reward¡­¡± Chun Tao said with a mix of tears and laughter. Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Bai Qingyan, who had been filled with anger, was instantly amused, ¡°Yingshuang is fourteen this year, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss, she is fourteen, you still remember¡­¡± Chun Tao took the white jade comb and began combing Bai Qingyan¡¯s hair. Yingshuang was brought back by Shen Qingzhu when she was ten. She was not only weak but also not very bright, and because she ate a lot, her parents sold her as they couldn¡¯t afford to raise her. Yingshuang had been following Shen Qingzhu for so many years, and no one knew how skillful she had become. ¡°Tomorrow, inform Nanny Qin and transfer Yingshuang to Qinghui Courtyard. Have Chun Xing and others teach her proper manners. She will stay at Qinghui Courtyard from now on,¡± Bai Qingyan said. Chun Tao bit her lip, hesitating as she thought of asking forgiveness for Chun Yan, who grew up with her. ¡°Miss, Chun Yan she¡­¡± ¡°Ignore her, just have someone keep an eye on her.¡± Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Reluctant Marriage_1 Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Reluctant Marriage_1 ¡°Miss¡­¡± Chuntao set down the white jade comb, solemnly knelt beside Bai Qingyan, and choking with red eyes said, ¡°Chuntao knows that Chun Yan¡¯s betrayal deserves death, but this servant only begs Miss to spare Chun Yan¡¯s life. It is not that I am soft-hearted, but I wish to repay the favor Chun Yan did when she once saved my life.¡± She looked at the innocent and kind Chuntao, sighed after a moment, and helped her up. ¡°Enough, as long as she does nothing to harm the Bai family, I will spare her on your account. Hopefully, she won¡¯t disappoint your pleading for her. Wipe your tears and go tell Uncle Ping to quietly keep the servant captured by Yingshuang under watch. Don¡¯t let this get out.¡± Chuntao, with tearful eyes, looked at Bai Qingyan. ¡°Yes! Thank you, Miss!¡± King Liang, who was still nursing his injuries in the mansion, received the news. He closed his eyes, leaned back against the cushion, clutching his chest. His handsome face, angular and pale as snow, lacked any trace of blood. His voice, as cold as a corpse¡¯s tomb, said, ¡°Has this Dong Changyuan been investigated thoroughly?¡± ¡°Dong Changyuan studied under the great scholar Mr. Lu. He became the top provincial graduate in his youth. Some even predicted he would achieve the highest honors in all three imperial exams. Over the years, many matchmakers have almost broken down the Dong family¡¯s door, but Madam Dong seems intent on keeping this legitimate grandson for her granddaughter. She refused everyone. Moreover, this top scholar doesn¡¯t have even one chamber maid, quite clean indeed,¡± reported King Liang¡¯s subordinate truthfully. King Liang opened his eyes, his deep, fox-like eyes showing intense coldness. His heart thrumming with anger, he couldn¡¯t help but cough softly, his chest tearing with pain. After a long while, he called, ¡°Tongji¡­¡± Tongji quickly entered, carrying a steaming bowl of bitter medicine. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning, take my royal jade pendant to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion to find Chun Yan. Instruct her to pass the pendant to Bai Qingyan! Tell Bai Qingyan I wish to marry her as my Princess and to wait for me.¡± King Liang¡¯s calculation was clear. First, the status of a Prince would pressure the Dong family not to propose marriage. Second, as long as Chun Yan accepted the jade pendant, it would prove Bai Qingyan had a private relationship with him. Her reputation would be tarnished and her chances of bearing children slim. Who would dare to marry her then? Tongji¡¯s brow knitted into deep furrows. ¡°But Your Highness initially said side consort. The title of Princess is so honorable¡­ What about the heir of the Bai family¡­¡± ¡°How dare you disobey me? Cough, cough¡­¡± Tongji, shaken by King Liang¡¯s gaze, nodded quickly and agreed. The next morning, Dong Changyuan accompanied Madam Dong with rich gifts to visit. Firstly, to visit the Eldest Princess, and secondly, because Dong Changyuan spoke regretfully to Madam Dong the night before, pleading for another chance with the Duke¡¯s family to see if their marriage to Bai Qingyan could still be negotiated. It wasn¡¯t that Dong Changyuan lusted for beauty. He saw his cousin Bai Qingyan as bright as a clear moon and flawless as ice. The thought of her marrying someone else and being disdained by her husband¡¯s family over her offspring was heartbreaking. The Eldest Princess and Madam Dong chatted warmly in the inner hall when Nanny Jiang was sent to invite Bai Qingyan to Qinghui Courtyard. Chun Yan, after sending Nanny Jiang out, stood at the door with her face long and drooping as if someone owed her money. She muttered, ¡°Why did that Lord of Dengzhou come to our mansion again after seeing the Duke¡¯s family yesterday?¡± Yesterday, Chun Yan had someone report to King Liang. She wondered if he had received the message and had any countermeasures. If Miss really married into Dengzhou, how could she ever see King Liang again? Seeing Bai Qingyan was already dressed and out, Chun Yan stepped forward to assist, but Bai Qingyan said, ¡°Chuntao can accompany me.¡± Chun Yan retracted her hand, eyes reddening as she stood aside. Bai Qingyan ignored her and left Qinghui Courtyard holding Chun Tao¡¯s hand. Holding a bowl of sugared pine nuts and eating heartily, Yingshuang noticed Chun Yan¡¯s red eyes. She looked at her own candy, painfully furrowing her brows, and offered it forward. ¡°Candy?¡± Chun Yan glared at Yingshuang, raising her hand to knock the candy out of Yingshuang¡¯s hand. ¡°Who wants your candy, fool!¡± Yingshuang watched the pine nuts scatter across the ground, then casually pushed Chun Yan to the ground. Chun Yan turned, glaring at Yingshuang. ¡°You¡­¡± Yingshuang, fearless of heaven or earth, raised her chin. Chun Yan, knowing she couldn¡¯t match Yingshuang, got up, brushed the dust off herself, and angrily said, ¡°I won¡¯t argue with a fool like you!¡± After Chun Yan left, Yingshuang bent down to pick up the pine nuts given by Chuntao, blew off the dust, wrapped them again, and sat under the eaves happily eating again. The Eldest Princess and Madam Dong were talking inside while Dong Changyuan, unable to contain himself, kept looking out to Changshou Courtyard. In the brilliant morning light, a slender, tall figure in white slowly appeared. Dong Changyuan¡¯s heart warmed, and he couldn¡¯t help but walk down the steps, bowing deeply. ¡°Cousin¡­¡± She smiled in return. ¡°Why are you standing under the eaves, Cousin? Is it too stuffy inside?¡± ¡°I was waiting here for you,¡± Dong Changyuan, ears turning red, bowed again. ¡°Firstly, to apologize for my neglect yesterday.¡± ¡°No harm.¡± She nodded lightly. ¡°Secondly¡­ secondly¡­¡± Dong Changyuan, unable to straighten up, blushed and his heartbeat raced. ¡°May I ask you to speak privately?¡± Bai Qingyan turned to look at Chuntao. Understanding immediately, Chuntao stood at a distance. Fortunately, this was Changshou Courtyard, observed by many servants, not a breach of propriety. ¡°Please speak, Cousin.¡± Dong Changyuan, face red, straightened up. ¡°I know your marriage has caused Aunt much worry over the matter of heirs. You¡¯re a woman of virtue and talent, bright as jade and flawless as ice. How could¡­ How could you accept a marriage that slights you because of heirs and suffer at your husband¡¯s family¡¯s disdain?¡± Dong Changyuan bit his lip and solemnly declared, ¡°I cannot bear to see your brilliance dim. I boldly ask you to reconsider me.¡± Surprised for a moment at Dong Changyuan¡¯s earnestness, Bai Qingyan gently laughed. ¡°Thank you for your kindness. I never intended to marry. Grandfather and Father have arranged my retreat. Cousin needn¡¯t worry for me. You are an upright gentleman, an uncut gem fit to match with someone pure. Compassion is no reason for compromise. But¡­ such talk of lifelong celibacy might pain my mother. I ask Cousin to keep this secret, not letting her know.¡± Dong Changyuan could see she didn¡¯t wish to marry him. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected she intended never to marry. Inside, the Eldest Princess and Madam Dong shook their heads. Madam Dong remarked, ¡°Seeing Changyuan¡¯s expression, Kid doesn¡¯t seem willing. Last night, Changyuan knelt before me, begging me to use this old face once more. He didn¡¯t wish to see such a bright, clear woman suffer from a marriage for heirs.¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Grievance_1 Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Grievance_1 Mrs. Dong clutched the handkerchief in her hand, already deeply moved, wishing she could agree immediately. Madam Dong sighed and looked at the Eldest Princess: ¡°After all, they are my grandson and granddaughter. What¡¯s there to be ashamed of? But if Kid doesn¡¯t nod to this marriage, we can¡¯t force him. Thinking about Kid¡¯s lifelong matter, it really makes my heart ache!¡± ¡°Mother!¡± Mrs. Dong looked urgently at Madam Dong. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Eldest daughter-in-law, don¡¯t you know your own daughter¡¯s temperament? If you force her to marry, would she be happy inside?¡± The Eldest Princess interrupted Mrs. Dong. The Eldest Princess was Bai Qingyan¡¯s grandmother. Naturally, like Madam Dong, she worried about Bai Qingyan. But Bai Qingyan would rather break than bend and would never compromise against her will. Mrs. Dong dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. ¡°Forget it! If Kid never marries in her lifetime, as long as she is happy.¡± Later, Dong Changyuan and Bai Qingyan entered the room, Dong Changyuan standing like a statue beside Madam Dong, not uttering a word. Madam Dong sat briefly and then took Dong Changyuan back to the mansion. Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan personally escorted Madam Dong to the door. After some reluctance, Mrs. Dong sent Madam Dong onto the carriage. After watching Madam Dong¡¯s carriage depart, Bai Qingyan was summoned back to Changshou Courtyard by Nanny Jiang. The Eldest Princess spoke to her about the son of her second uncle who was to be brought back to the mansion. ¡°Go ahead and test the character of those two people. If the boy¡¯s birth mother is honest and forthright, bring them both back. If she¡¯s ambitious, send her back immediately!¡± ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t worry. I understand!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded. Nanny Jiang entered, holding a tray of eight-treasure tea, smiling as she said: ¡°The little maid named Chun Yan in the eldest sister¡¯s courtyard, she¡¯s been anxiously peeking around outside Changshou Courtyard for some time now, her face red with worry. Cui¡¯er went out but couldn¡¯t find out anything. Does the eldest sister want to call her in and ask?¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart sneered. What could make Chun Yan so anxious but unable to tell others? Aside from that exalted King Liang! Bai Qingyan changed the subject. ¡°I just heard mother say, Qin Lang came to talk to the second sister this morning. Today is the day he moves out of the Marquis Mansion. He will wait quietly in the mansion for the second sister to return.¡± The Eldest Princess nodded. ¡°Qin Lang is decisive. It¡¯s not in vain that you paved the way for him¡­¡± Bai Qingyan served the Eldest Princess Buddha in Changshou Courtyard and only came out after having lunch. Chun Yan, who had been nestled in the snow all morning, hurriedly greeted her, her face red from the cold. ¡°Miss Bai¡­¡± Her cold eyes glanced at Chun Yan. ¡°We¡¯ll talk back inside.¡± Chun Yan¡¯s legs were numb. She gritted her teeth and chased after Bai Qingyan. As soon as they entered the door, she eagerly took out a jade pendant that had been warm in her bosom for a while and handed it to her. ¡°Miss Bai, this is the jade pendant that King Liang had Tongji deliver. King Liang said he would formally propose to marry you as his main wife!¡± A rush of blood went to her head. Bai Qingyan¡¯s cold and fierce eyes stared at Chun Yan. She had never expected Chun Yan, this treacherous servant, to be so bold as to accept King Liang¡¯s personal jade pendant! Chun Tao¡¯s eyes widened. Her face flushed red, her chest heaving dramatically. ¡°Chun Yan, how dare you! Are you insane?!¡± Enraged, Bai Qingyan gripped the edge of the small table fiercely, staring at Chun Yan. ¡°Chun Yan, you really are audacious. You made the decision for my marriage and set me with King Liang! I¡¯m terribly sorry we didn¡¯t let you manage the entire Duke¡¯s household!¡± Chun Yan immediately knelt down. ¡°Chun Yan wouldn¡¯t dare, Miss Bai! Chun Yan did it for you! Miss Bai, think about it. The Princess¡¯s esteemed position¡­ The Lord of Dengzhou is just a mere Juren. What right does he have to covet our miss!¡± She almost couldn¡¯t resist slapping this treacherous servant but thought that keeping Chun Yan would allow her to investigate which petty people in the mansion were King Liang¡¯s. She suppressed the urge, feeling utterly nauseated. She closed her eyes, her temples throbbing. ¡°By the end of the day, return this thing the way it came! Or don¡¯t blame me for breaking your legs! Get out!¡± Chun Yan left the room in tears. Chun Tao almost cried out of anger. How could Chun Yan plead with Miss Bai after being rebuked at noon; she must be out of her mind. Seeing Bai Qingyan close her eyes in agitated breathing, Chun Tao felt immense guilt. She quickly poured her a cup of water. ¡°Miss Bai, this maid will severely punish Chun Yan later.¡± After a moment, she calmed down, eyes still closed. ¡°Go find out who allowed Chun Yan to go out today. Tell the steward to find a reason to detain that person, saying the steward has assigned them a task outside to avoid suspicion!¡± ¡°Yes, this maid will handle it right away!¡± Chun Tao responded promptly. Before the sun set, the Duke of the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s carriage steadily stopped at the entrance of Manjiang Tower. Chen Qingsheng, who was sitting with the coachman, leaped off the carriage and informed Bai Qingyan inside, then went into Manjiang Tower to make arrangements. The shop assistant saw Chen Qingsheng and quickly informed the shopkeeper. ¡°Head Shopkeeper, Master Chen has arrived!¡± The Head Shopkeeper, seeing Chen Qingsheng, beamed with joy and hurried out from behind the counter. ¡°Master Chen, as per your instructions, I had the best private room cleaned early this morning. The stove has been burning warmly all day, no guests have been let in, and we¡¯re waiting for Miss Bai.¡±Update by n0vgo. co Chen Qingsheng quickly walked two steps and respectfully handed over some silver. ¡°Thank you, Head Shopkeeper. Without your permission for Madam Luo of the Luo family wonton stand to use your kitchen, our Miss Bai might not have tasted fresh wontons. When Miss Bai rewards us, I must treat you to a drink! You can¡¯t refuse!¡± ¡°Master Chen, what are you saying? Your business is my business!¡± The Head Shopkeeper guaranteed, warmly pushing the silver back, grateful. ¡°Besides, I know you did this to let Miss Bai taste our food on her way. If Miss Bai of the Duke of the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s mansion says it¡¯s good¡­ won¡¯t all the noble families know about our Manjiang Tower? I understand your kind intentions, Master Chen. Rest assured¡­ We will serve Miss Bai well today.¡± Spring Tao and Chun Yan had already helped Bai Qingyan down from the carriage. The shop assistant at the door was so stunned that he stood there, though he wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with seeing wealthy young ladies in the Dadu City¡ªit was his first time seeing someone as stunning as Bai Qingyan. ¡°Let¡¯s settle accounts clearly!¡± Chen Qingsheng hurriedly stuffed the silver into the shopkeeper¡¯s hands, then quickly walked back two steps to personally greet Bai Qingyan. The Head Shopkeeper followed behind, holding the silver, bowing and smiling. In doing so, Chun Yan was squeezed to the back. Chun Yan, who had been reprimanded by Bai Qingyan at noon, couldn¡¯t understand why Miss Bai hadn¡¯t scolded Chen Qingsheng and the shopkeeper for taking her place after she had sent back King Liang¡¯s jade pendant. Feeling wronged, Chun Yan trailed behind with a pout on her face. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Wandering_1 Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Wandering_1 Bai Qingyan watched Chen Qingsheng¡¯s methodical dealings with the shopkeeper, feeling increasingly satisfied with Chen Qingsheng. In the future, when Third Sister goes into business, Chen Qingsheng will definitely become a strong supporter for her. She turned her head and said to Lu Ping and the accompanying guards, ¡°Uncle Ping, you all stay downstairs and do not act rashly. Follow my instructions.¡± Lu Ping cupped his fists and agreed. ¡°Miss Bai, the shopkeeper has already arranged a private room! Though Manjiang Tower is a newly opened establishment and not as famous as the neighboring Que Tower, it is more serene.¡± Chen Qingsheng led Bai Qingyan to the stairs, saying, ¡°Miss Bai, be careful of your steps.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! The best private room was cleaned up for Miss Bai early this morning! When the sun sets, Miss Bai can push open the window, lean against the beauty railing in the corridor, and view the red lanterns lining the street. It¡¯s an absolutely perfect spot! Not inferior to the viewing position in the private rooms of Que Tower next door!¡± The head shopkeeper followed behind with a smile. ¡°Shopkeeper, you are very thoughtful! You may go about your business. We will attend to Miss Bai.¡± Chun Tao said with a cheerful smile. ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The shopkeeper stood downstairs, nodding repeatedly. Chen Qingsheng opened the door to the private room for Bai Qingyan, knowing she feared the cold. He hurried inside to close the facing windows and said, ¡°Miss Bai, although this room has a good location, the windows are too close to those in the private rooms of Que Tower next door. I¡¯ll close them for you first.¡± Chen Qingsheng arranged things meticulously. Probably worried that Bai Qingyan might get bored sitting here, he placed a chessboard under the carved wooden window and a chess manual on the small table. Bai Qingyan unclasped her cloak and walked straight to the chessboard. Her eyes glanced over it briefly. This endgame, wherever Chen Qingsheng found it, was new to her and piqued her interest. The private room was brightly lit with candles and had five braziers burning fiercely, making it feel warm even though the window had just been opened. Seeing the waiter standing at the door with tea, Chen Qingsheng quickly stepped forward, took the tea, and tipped the waiter. As he poured the tea, he said, ¡°The shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower took over this place just half a month ago. About half a year ago, the owner of Que Tower next door became an in-law with an official from the street supervisory yamen. Later, when Que Tower expanded, it occupied half of the adjacent alley to Manjiang Tower, blocking the light from this window! Because of this, the former owner of Manjiang Tower sued Que Tower, but after losing his fortune without resolving the matter, he returned angrily to his ancestral home.¡± Chen Qingsheng indeed knew everything about the big and small matters of Dadu City. ¡°Miss Bai, please have a seat. I will keep watch downstairs. As soon as the carriage enters the city, I will come back to report.¡± Chen Qingsheng bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan. ¡°Chun Tao, I saw some figurine makers by the roadside when we got off the carriage. Please go with Chen Qingsheng to buy some for the young ladies in the household and bring them back later.¡± She took a sip of tea, smiling warmly. Normally, Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao seldom had the chance to meet, as one was in the inner courtyard and the other in the outer courtyard. Bai Qingyan knew this and wanted to give them an opportunity to be alone, wishing that in this life, they could come to truly know and cherish each other, not miss each other and regret it for life as before. Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao both blushed deeply, hurriedly bowing out of the room. In the spacious private room, only Bai Qingyan and Chun Yan were left. Not looking at Chun Yan¡¯s greatly aggrieved face, she said, ¡°Stand guard at the door.¡± Chun Yan¡¯s eyes reddened instantly. She bowed and exited, sniffling. The heat from the fire was too much, and Bai Qingyan felt a thin layer of sweat forming after sitting for a moment. She pushed open the two windows, raising her eyes to meet the deep, well-like eyes of a man across the way. She was taken aback. Xiao Rongyan, who stood by the window opposite, was also quite surprised. His hand, which had been rubbing a jade cicada, paused unconsciously. Dressed in a white robe, Xiao Rongyan stood tall and slender in the light. His gaze was calm as water. Although he appeared gentle and noble, in that moment when their eyes met, Bai Qingyan clearly saw the depth and steadiness of his hidden designs. In an instant, the warmth in Xiao Rongyan¡¯s eyes replaced the imposing cold authority of moments before. He gently nodded at her, looking like a completely different person from the powerful and cold ruler. The two windows were only three feet apart. In both this life and the previous, she had never been so close to Xiao Rongyan. Closing the windows hurriedly would appear too cowardly and show a lack of composure. Thus, she stiffly straightened her back and slightly bowed. From the private room in Que Tower, Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s voice arguing fiercely could be heard: ¡°What I said is true! If you don¡¯t believe me, ask Brother Xiao if Miss Bai isn¡¯t truly unparalleled in beauty. Miss Bai is far more stunning than Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, who is reputed as the first beauty, isn¡¯t she, Brother Xiao?!¡± Xiao Rongyan didn¡¯t turn his head, gazing calmly at Bai Qingyan¡¯s exquisite features. The light smile almost hidden in his dark eyes, he responded, ¡°Indeed¡­ unparalleled.¡± The low, warm voice, steady and rich, made her face instantly heat up. How could this person¡­ be so audacious?! ¡°See! See!¡± Lu Yuanpeng slapped the table excitedly, ¡°And you said I exaggerated! Now that Brother Xiao has spoken, you should believe it! You have no idea, under the snowy red lanterns, Miss Bai, in her white fox fur, standing in the corridor, was like a scene from a painting¡­¡± She hurriedly closed the two windows, her sleeve sweeping the chess pieces to the ground with a clatter. Chun Yan quickly pushed the door open and came in, seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s ears and neck turn red as she bent down to pick up the chess pieces. Chun Yan hurried forward, ¡°Miss, let me pick them up!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded. She wiped her sweaty hands with a handkerchief and subconsciously turned to the already-closed window. Outside, she thought she could still vaguely see Xiao Rongyan¡¯s figure, making her heart beat even faster. As Chun Yan picked up the chess pieces, she noticed Bai Qingyan¡¯s flushed face. She put the pieces back in the box and said with a smile, ¡°Miss, your face is all red. You must be hot. Shall I open the window for some air?¡± Her heart pounding like a drum, Bai Qingyan grabbed Chun Yan¡¯s hand as she reached for the window. Her voice was sharp, ¡°No need!¡± ¡°Miss?!¡± It was the first time Chun Yan had seen her lady so flustered, and she was startled. Bai Qingyan¡¯s throat tightened. She withdrew her hand from Chun Yan¡¯s arm, trying to hide her inner anxiety, and said sternly, ¡°Go guard outside the door!¡± Feeling even more wronged by Bai Qingyan¡¯s recent sternness and distance, Chun Yan choked back her tears, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and stood guard outside the door. Once again, alone in the private room, Bai Qingyan turned to look outside the window. Noticing the person across the window was no longer there, she felt a little more at ease. Although the window opposite was open, Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s rowdy voices from the group of dandies in Dadu City kept drifting over. Occasionally, a ¡°Brother Xiao¡­¡± reached her ears, inexplicably making her uneasy. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Young Noble_1 Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Young Noble_1 Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, and it took her a while to calm down. She picked a piece from the chess box. Chun Tao and Chen Qingsheng bought flour figurines. After chatting briefly downstairs, they hurried upstairs to serve their young lady. ¡°Big Miss, I bought many flour figurines, and I got one for you too! Look¡­¡± Chun Tao bent over with a bright smile, holding a small figurine in front of Bai Qingyan. ¡°Big Miss, look at this general on horseback. Doesn¡¯t he look like you? So majestic!¡± Bai Qingyan looked at the small figurine of the general on horseback in Chun Tao¡¯s hand, a mix of feelings swirling in her heart. Nowadays, her body needed a few more years if she wanted to don armor and go to battle again. Night fell upon Lincheng. After the Bell Tower lit its lanterns, each shop followed suit, lighting the long street with red lanterns, enveloping Dadu City, covered in white snow, in a warm glow. Tea houses and restaurants were brightly lit and prosperous, their doors busy with people coming and going, bustling with noise. Chen Qingsheng saw an elmwood carriage painted with the Bai family¡¯s emblem of the Duke of Zhen. After passing the city gate inspection, it slowly made its way down the long street, rushing towards Manjiang Tower. Chen Qingsheng rushed upstairs, lifting his hem, and informed Bai Qingyan, who was eating wontons, ¡°Big Miss, the carriage has entered the city!¡± ¡°I know; you may go!¡± She lifted her spirits, pressing her lips with a handkerchief, and ordered, ¡°Chun Tao, open all the partitions.¡± Chun Tao responded and pushed open all the carved flower partitions that separated the corridor on the second floor. This cousin, though she hadn¡¯t faced him in her previous life, she¡¯d heard plenty about his deeds. The reputation the Bai family had accumulated was utterly squandered by him. Bai Qingyan picked up a teacup, gripping it tightly in her hand, her eyes sharp and cold. In this lifetime, this cousin had not yet fallen into King Liang¡¯s grasp. She didn¡¯t know his character. If he had a good nature, then she would guide him onto the right path with all her heart. If he was inherently malicious, she would seize the opportunity to trample on him to enhance the Bai family¡¯s reputation. That way, he would still have contributed to the Bai family in some way. ¡°Miss, your cloak!¡± Chun Yan brought the cloak to drape over Bai Qingyan. Chun Tao replaced the charcoal in the silver-plated plum blossom hand warmer and handed it to Bai Qingyan. She held the hand warmer, standing under the hot red lanterns in the corridor. Seeing Chen Qingsheng talking to Lu Ping downstairs, she looked towards the distant carriage of the Duke of Zhen, her eyes clear. Inside the carriage, a beautiful woman lifted the curtain with her hand, gazing at the brightly lit Dadu City outside the window, her heart pounding in awe of the bustling scene. ¡°Son, we¡¯ve finally¡­ entered Dadu City!¡± The woman looked back at her son, who lay on the long seat in the carriage, his head propped on one hand, chewing a straw. ¡°Once we enter the Duke¡¯s Mansion, your name will be under the second wife¡¯s name. You will become a young master of the Duke¡¯s Mansion! They say there are seventeen young masters in the Duke¡¯s Mansion, and you will be the eighteenth!¡± Bai Qingxuan pulled the straw from his mouth, propped himself up with one hand, and squinted his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to any battlefield or be the eighteenth. I just like beauties. Mom, do you think the maids in the Duke¡¯s Mansion are all very beautiful?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth, you little ancestor!¡± The woman hurriedly lowered the curtain, staring at Bai Qingxuan with a pale face. ¡°Once you¡¯re in the Duke¡¯s Mansion, you must control your bad habits! The Duke¡¯s Mansion is not like the village. If you mess up the life of a tenant¡¯s daughter, we can settle it with silver! But if your grandmother, the Eldest Princess, or the Duke finds out you harmed a maid in the mansion, your leg won¡¯t be spared!¡± Hearing this, Bai Qingxuan, biting on the straw, laid back down, crossing his legs. ¡°Then what¡¯s the fun in returning to the Duke¡¯s Mansion? I¡¯d rather stay in the village!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you have some ambition¡­¡± Before the woman finished speaking, the carriage suddenly stopped, causing her to fall and hit her head inside the carriage, crying out in pain. Bai Qingxuan, in pain from the fall, spit out the straw in his mouth. He didn¡¯t help his mother but pushed open the carved wooden door of the carriage, grabbed the coachman by the hair, and smashed his head against the rail, angrily shouting, ¡°You blind dog, how are you driving? Trying to kill me on purpose?!¡± The coachman¡¯s head immediately bled. When he saw Bai Qingxuan¡¯s fierce expression as if he wanted to eat him, he fell off the carriage, knelt, and begged for mercy. ¡°Master, please spare me! Master, please spare me! It wasn¡¯t my fault; a child suddenly rushed out. I was afraid of hurting someone!¡± Bai Qingyan, standing upstairs, gripped the hand warmer until her knuckles turned white. She was instantly filled with rage. How could her uncle have such a creature for a son? Even knowing the evil deeds Bai Qingxuan had done in his previous life, she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so violent and cruel at such a young age. At that moment, Bai Qingyan felt it was a terrible mistake to bring such a person back to the Duke¡¯s Mansion. She should have ordered Shen Qingzhu to kill him upon her rebirth, leaving no hidden troubles. Bai Qingyan¡¯s killing intent inadvertently leaked, startling Chun Tao. ¡°Big Miss?¡±Upd@te by n0vgo .c0 ¡°We¡¯re going downstairs¡­¡± Bai Qingyan gave Bai Qingxuan a deep look before turning around. Kneeling on the carriage, Bai Qingxuan glanced at the child protected in the old woman¡¯s arms, who was crying in fear, then jumped down from the carriage. The coachman, holding his bleeding head, knelt to make way for Bai Qingxuan, afraid of being affected. Bai Qingxuan walked towards the old woman and child. Looking down from above, his smile was eerie and sinister. ¡°Boy¡­ cough cough cough¡­ the boy was picking herbs for me. Cough cough¡­ afraid that the wheels would crush the medicine wrapped in cowhide paper, he offended you. Please forgive him¡­¡± The frail old woman was about to leave with her grandson, but as soon as she stood up, Bai Qingxuan kicked her down. The child in her arms fell to the ground and rolled away. The old woman, panicking, called out the child¡¯s name but was unable to get up before Bai Qingxuan mercilessly stomped on her back. She spat out blood and coughed violently. The dirty-faced child, holding the herbs, cried loudly, ¡°Grandmother! Grandmother!¡± Bai Qingxuan used all his strength to stomp on the old woman. Leaning down with a face like a demon, he said, ¡°Because the little master picked herbs for you, I have to get hurt for nothing? Who gave you the gall! I am a young master of the Duke¡¯s Mansion. If I¡¯m injured, your life and that of your entire family wouldn¡¯t be enough to compensate!¡± Bai Qingxuan¡¯s eyes were blood-red and violent, scaring the onlookers around them into stepping back. Bai Qingyan, having descended to the last step, heard Bai Qingxuan¡¯s words, and her anger flared. How could she have thought of guiding such a being onto the right path? Bai Qingyan, face dark with rage, called out, ¡°Chen Qingsheng!¡± Chen Qingsheng, who had some martial skills, immediately understood when he saw Bai Qingyan¡¯s stern expression. In three moves, he had Bai Qingxuan pinned against the carriage. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Arrogant and Presumptuous Youth_1 Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Arrogant and Presumptuous Youth_1 ¡°You lowly commoner! How dare you lay a hand on me!¡± Bai Qingxuan, not expecting someone more skilled than him, was tightly pressed against the carriage, unable to move. Bai Qingxuan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He struggled and cursed, ¡°I am the son of the Duke of Zhen! You lowly commoner dare to touch me. When my grandfather returns, he will exterminate your nine clans!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes were filled with a fierce, murderous intent. To dare to say such words about exterminating nine clans! Leaving this heartless scum in the Bai family might bring about the family¡¯s doom. ¡°Let go of my son!¡± The woman lifted the carriage curtain, jumped down like a shrew, and angrily hit and tore at Chen Qingsheng. ¡°You lowly commoner! My son is the most esteemed son of the Duke of Zhen! If you hurt my son, the Duke will surely kill your entire family when he returns!¡± Being the woman of the Bai family¡¯s second master, Chen Qingsheng dared not lay hands on her by any means. He took a slap from the woman on his face and could only awkwardly turn his face to avoid her. Bai Qingyan stepped out of the doorway, clenching the hand warmer in her hand. Her heart boiled with anger as if being cooked by fire. This mother and son¡­ they were utterly foolish, vile, and malicious. She closed her eyes, suppressing her boiling murderous intent, and ordered, ¡°Chen Qingsheng, let him go! Have someone take the coachman and the old man to the medical clinic across the street first!¡± ¡°Yes, Eldest Young Lady!¡± Chen Qingsheng obeyed the order and instructed the Bai Mansion guards to take the injured to the medical clinic across the street. The coachman, who was supported up, hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan in gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Eldest Young Lady! Thank you, Eldest Young Lady!¡± ¡°You just wait! I will drag you to see an official!¡± The woman glared at Chen Qingsheng, quickly supporting her son and tearfully asked, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, did that lowly commoner hurt you anywhere?!¡± As Bai Qingyan walked to the front of Manjiang Tower, the patrons and waiters crowded at the door watching the commotion hurriedly made way. Just as Bai Qingxuan, who was holding his neck and preparing to cry in pain, saw Bai Qingyan, he was stunned¡­ immediately filled with admiration, revealing a chilling gaze like a hungry wolf seeing prey. He pushed the woman aside, squinted his eyes, and walked toward Bai Qingyan with a grin, ¡°What a beautiful little lady¡­¡± ¡°You are outrageous!¡± Chun Tao¡¯s heart surged with anger at the foul words. Chen Qingsheng feared that this scoundrel might hurt Chun Tao, quickly stepped forward to shield Bai Qingyan and Chun Tao, preventing Bai Qingxuan from approaching further. Bai Qingxuan¡¯s gaze swept over Chen Qingsheng, then fixated on the cold, snowy features of Bai Qingyan. He circled around her, eyes filled with excitement as if examining merchandise, eager to approach and closely observe Bai Qingyan¡¯s beauty. Chen Qingsheng¡¯s expression darkened, just about to knock down Bai Qingxuan when Bai Qingyan spoke, ¡°Chen Qingsheng, go check how the lady and the coachman at the clinic across the street are doing, and if the child is injured.¡± Chen Qingsheng gritted his teeth and replied, obeying and stepping aside. ¡°Now that¡¯s sensible! This beautiful little lady knows how to judge the situation. My grandfather, the Duke of Zhen¡­ even the Emperor dares not provoke him!¡± Bai Qingxuan thought the stunning little lady in front of him was cowed by the prestige of the Duke of Zhen and grew even more arrogant. Her pupils slightly constricted. If not for gripping the hand warmer tightly, she feared she might not have been able to resist drawing her sword and hacking the person in front of her to pieces. Bai Qingxuan stepped forward, only three steps away from her. After another detailed examination, Bai Qingxuan smiled and said, ¡°Which family is the little lady from? When my grandfather, the Duke of Zhen, returns victorious, I¡¯ll have him go to your house to ask for you! I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful woman before. If made into a beauty jar¡­ it would be unique in the world!¡± At the mention of a beauty jar, her boiling blood instantly turned to ice, her gaze turning cold and grim like it was laced with poison. She could hardly restrain herself from tearing this foolish animal apart. Yet she was now a cripple with no martial arts, unable to do anything, gritting her teeth tighter, holding the hand warmer even tighter. Standing at the viewing corridor on the second floor of Yanque Tower, Xiao Rongyan, hands behind his back, his ink-black eyes darkened upon hearing this. ¡°Brother Xiao, isn¡¯t that the Duke¡¯s eldest legitimate daughter?!¡± Lu Yuanpeng anxiously pulled Xiao Rongyan¡¯s sleeve. Xiao Rongyan remained unmoved. He picked a peanut from the small dish in Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s hand¡­ ¡°Thud¡ª¡± Bai Qingxuan¡¯s kneecaps were suddenly hit by something, causing him to kneel straight down before Bai Qingyan. Lu Ping, who had been hidden in the crowd waiting for Bai Qingyan¡¯s orders, thought Bai Qingxuan was going to make a move on the Eldest Young Lady. He immediately stepped in front of Bai Qingyan, kicked Bai Qingxuan in the chest, sending him rolling down the stairs. ¡°Take him down!¡± With Bai Qingyan¡¯s command, the guards brought by Lu Ping immediately pressed Bai Qingxuan to the ground, making him unable to move. ¡°Let go of my son! Let go of my son!¡± The woman rushed up, clawing at the Bai Mansion guards, angrily cursing at Bai Qingyan, ¡°Which family¡¯s little nobody are you to be so rude?! How dare you have your family¡¯s servants lay hands on the son of the Duke of Zhen! Do you not want your entire family to live?!¡± Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth. Such malicious, reckless dogs¡ªif not crushed to establish the Bai family¡¯s reputation, their existence in this world would be a waste. ¡°You are outrageous!¡± Chun Tao was so angry that her face turned pale. ¡°Even the Duke¡¯s eldest legitimate daughter is not someone you can insult!¡± The woman, hearing that the young lady before her was the Duke¡¯s eldest legitimate daughter, was shocked and stepped back two paces. If not for holding onto the carriage, she would have almost knelt with weak legs. Since that day at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, the name of the Duke¡¯s eldest legitimate daughter had spread not only in Dadu City but even in the countryside. It was said that the Duke¡¯s eldest legitimate daughter had been raised under the knees of the Duke of Zhen and the Eldest Princess, deeply loved by them. Moreover, she was reputed to be filled with the indomitable spirit of the Bai family and extraordinary bearing. Bai Qingxuan looked up, surprise in his eyes, at Bai Qingyan, who stood in a pure white fox fur coat under the brilliant lights of Manjiang Tower, her expression solemn. He sensed intense disgust and murderous intent in her tranquil gaze. ¡°When your second uncle was studying abroad, your mother saved him! Our grandmother sent people to search for your mother and you but couldn¡¯t find you two. Now, bringing you two into the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion was our grandmother¡¯s act of mercy! Who gave you the gall to use the Duke¡¯s prestige to act without reason?¡± Bai Qingxuan felt unwilling in his heart, but had to yield to Bai Qingyan, biting his teeth tightly, ¡°Just a lowly commoner! He wasn¡¯t even beaten to death! Why make a fuss over nothing, Eldest Sister?!¡± At the repeated mention of ¡°lowly commoner,¡± her brow twitched violently, the rage in her heart growing, unable to restrain herself, she took three steps forward and kicked Bai Qingxuan to the ground. The Duke¡¯s guards quickly stepped forward to press him back to his original kneeling position. ¡°Lowly commoner?!¡± Her chest filled with rage, unable to hide her loathing, her words were intense, ¡°The so-called lowly commoners in your mouth are exactly why the Bai family has gone to battle for generations, bodies shattered! The people of Jin Kingdom provide for us with their taxes. We in the Bai family fear we cannot repay the people in the slightest. Even at the age of sixty, my grandfather still takes to the battlefield, leading the Bai family¡¯s men¡ªall of them! The youngest, no more than ten years old! The Bai family sees the people of Jin Kingdom as their flesh and blood kin. Yet, in your arrogant mouth, they are lowly commoners?!¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Generations of Loyal Bones_1 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Generations of Loyal Bones_1 Bai Qingyan¡¯s words made the people gathered in front of Manjiang Tower suddenly have tears in their eyes and their hearts surge with passion. They remembered that indeed, all ten-year-old children of the Bai family from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion would train in the battlefield with the Duke. They recalled that half a year ago, when the Duke of Zhen marched to war, even the seventeenth son of the Bai family, who was not yet taller than a horse, was clad in armor and rode alone. The eldest daughter of the Bai family before their eyes also went to war at ten and was severely wounded in a fierce battle at sixteen, with little hope of having children for the rest of her life. Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words about considering the people as her kin and her humility in fearing that the Bai family might not be able to repay the taxes that support them! Having such a Duke¡¯s Mansion and such sons of the Duke sacrificing their lives at the front lines, how could the people not feel grateful and moved? How could they not appreciate a Duke¡¯s Mansion that, despite its high status, did not treat them as insignificant? Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was steady and clear, echoing resoundingly, ¡°An illegitimate son not included in the mansion¡¯s genealogy, who has never fought bloodily to protect the nation! Who has never achieved merit for the people! Where does he get the audacity to claim himself as a son of the Duke! Where does he get the audacity to use the Duke¡¯s influence to bully and kill the citizens of Jin?¡± These words were undoubtedly stepping on Bai Qingxuan¡¯s face into the mud. The entire long street was crowded with people, with every viewing balcony of the restaurants along the street also filled with people. The most famous idle youths of Dadu City were on the balcony of Yanque Tower¡¯s second floor. Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, they were stunned. So, this was how the Bai family educated their children! Even a woman had such a strong sense of duty and integrity. Despite losing her martial skills, she did not lose her spirit, embodying the Bai family¡¯s pride. No wonder the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen, which had been a military family for a hundred years, never produced any worthless offspring. Xiao Rongyan stared at Bai Qingyan, who stood resolutely in the dim light, clutching the jade cicada tightly, his deep, dark eyes containing only her slender and upright figure. ¡°This¡­ Sister Bai is truly righteous!¡± Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s throat rolled as he felt sincere respect from the bottom of his heart. He no longer held any previous superficial thoughts due to Bai Qingyan¡¯s beauty. ¡°Miss¡­¡± Chen Qingsheng hurriedly came out of the medical hall opposite, bowing deeply before speaking, ¡°Doctor Liu from the opposite Huichun Hall said the elderly lady, having been kicked, spat out the blood accumulated in her lungs, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise! The coachman¡¯s bleeding has stopped, and the child only has superficial injuries that will heal with some days of medication.¡± Bai Qingxuan, now utterly hateful towards Bai Qingyan, could no longer feign submission, and glared angrily at the guards of the Duke¡¯s Mansion, ¡°Everything¡¯s fine now, why won¡¯t you let me go!¡± Without Bai Qingyan¡¯s order, the guards did not dare to release him and pressed Bai Qingxuan down even harder as he struggled anxiously. Seeing Bai Qingxuan¡¯s unrepentant and defiant look, her heart sank completely with no intention of teaching him anymore. ¡°Grandfather set the family rules, and the Bai family military regulations are the family law! Bullying the people¡­ thirty rods for soldiers, and for Bai family descendants who offend, the penalty is doubled! Fifty rods!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s gaze was scorching like a mirror, biting her words out, ¡°Uncle Ping, borrow a rod from the shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower, and beat him right here on the long street!¡± Bai Qingxuan stared wide-eyed at Bai Qingyan. ¡°No!¡± A woman crawled to Bai Qingyan¡¯s feet, kowtowing and crying, ¡°Xuan¡¯er is still young, Miss! Fifty rods will kill him! He must not be beaten!¡± ¡°Bai Qingyu, the legitimate son of the Bai family, was twelve years old when he received sixty rods for chasing bandits and trampling wheat fields! Bai Jinxiu, the second daughter of the Bai family, went to war at ten and received fifty lashes when her horse injured a lumberjack on the march! Were any of them older than your son when they were punished?¡± Bai Qingyan looked at the woman¡¯s act with deep disgust, raising her voice. ¡°Miss, the rod is here!¡± Lu Ping returned with the rod. Seeing the thick wooden rod, the woman cried in panic, crawling back to the ashen-faced Bai Qingxuan, holding him tightly, ¡°Xuan¡¯er is of the noble flesh of the Duke¡¯s Mansion, and these fifty rods¡­ let me take it for him! Please, Miss, have mercy!¡± ¡°As if youth isn¡¯t an excuse, you now speak of nobility?!¡± Bai Qingyan sneered coldly and unhurriedly said, ¡°In the third year of Xuanjia, during the Battle of Pingcheng, the Xiliang army besieged the city. Our army had no grain for three days. My father, the Princely Heir of the Duke¡¯s Mansion, took livestock from the city¡¯s households to feed the soldiers, waiting for reinforcements. After the victory at Pingcheng, my father knelt to the people in apology, and barebacked in the snow, took two hundred rods! He said that before the law and military regulations, there is no nobility! Wasn¡¯t my father¡¯s status noble?! What makes your son, an illegitimate child, untouchable?!¡± Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the hand warmer. ¡°Pull him away and hit him hard! Not one rod less!¡± Amid the woman¡¯s cries, Bai Qingxuan was pressed to the ground by the guards, and Lu Ping personally wielded the rod. The dull thud of the wooden rod hitting flesh echoed through the long street with Bai Qingxuan¡¯s screams. After thirty rods, the blood already oozed from Bai Qingxuan¡¯s buttocks, and his screams were weak. The idle youths on the upper floor felt their chills as if the rod landed on their bodies alongside white Qingyan¡¯s cold and unchanging expression. After fifty rods, Bai Qingxuan lost consciousness, and the woman broke free from the guards, holding Bai Qingxuan and crying heart-wrenchingly. Bai Qingyan¡¯s anger had not fully subsided, but she couldn¡¯t actually kill him on the long street, so she said indifferently, ¡°Have him carried back to the mansion and treat him well!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lu Ping responded, ordered someone to call a doctor, and had Bai Qingxuan carried onto a carriage. ¡°Chen Qingsheng, stay and take the wounded elder and child home. Apologize and comfort them well!¡± Bai Qingyan said, ¡°Return to the mansion. I am tired!¡± Seeing the Bai mansion¡¯s eldest daughter¡¯s carriage approaching, the onlookers spontaneously made a path for it to pass. On the carriage, Bai Qingyan rested one hand on the spring pillow, closed her eyes, her throat rolled, and tears seemed to glimmer in her eyes, with sorrow and desolation filling her chest. Today, speaking of her siblings and father¡¯s past, images of her grandfather, father, and uncles gathered around the fire in front of the camp, discussing strategies, flooded her mind. Scenes of the Bai family¡¯s brothers full of vigor before setting off to war flashed before Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes, making her whole body tremble uncontrollably. Today, things went far more smoothly than Bai Qingyan had expected. It would indeed elevate the Bai family¡¯s reputation even higher when speaking of the Bai family¡¯s ancestral teachings and recalling the Bai family¡¯s loyalty to the king and the people¡­ falling into ruin due to the suspicions and punishments inflicted, she was filled with intense hatred. It was the Jin royal family that betrayed the Bai family¡¯s generations of loyalty. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Compensation_1 Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Compensation_1 Nanny Jiang had been waiting early at the gate of the Duke¡¯s Mansion for Bai Qingyan. The matter of testing Bai Qingxuan¡¯s character had been approved by the Eldest Princess. After all, if all the men of the Duke of Zhen Mansion truly died in the southern border and there was only this one son left, with the Eldest Princess present, the possibility of this son inheriting the title of Duke of Zhen was quite high. People¡¯s hearts were unpredictable. Since he did not grow up in the Duke¡¯s Mansion, even the Eldest Princess could not be at ease without testing him. The Eldest Princess, sitting on the soft couch, trembled uncontrollably as she twirled the Buddha Beads after listening to Bai Qingxuan¡¯s actions. If Bai Qingyan hadn¡¯t been present today, not only would the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s century-old reputation have been ruined, but the claim that even the Emperor did not dare provoke the Duke of Zhen and wanted to exterminate the Nine Clans would have reached the Emperor¡¯s ears, making him suspicious of the Bai family. The Eldest Princess closed her eyes. ¡°Kid did very well! This child is so violent in nature. It will take some effort to educate him. For now, have someone watch him and keep him confined to the mansion to avoid any trouble.¡± Grandmother was, after all, old. Even knowing that Bai Qingxuan was a miscreant, she could not harden her heart to send him back to the manor. She felt discontent, but still nodded in agreement, clearly unwilling to say more. Leaving the Changshou Courtyard, Bai Qingyan noticed two half-human-high snowmen piled up under the lantern by the courtyard gate. The snowmen¡¯s mouths were made in a peanut arc of a smile. Recalling the peanut that had struck Bai Qingxuan¡¯s knee, forcing him to kneel in front of Manjiang Tower today, Bai Qingyan clutched the hand warmer tightly, lowering her eyes in unease. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s skills were indeed formidable, but why did he help her?! She remembered that in the previous life, during the expedition with King Liang, the Jin and Yan armies faced off. Bai Qingyan planned to capture Xiao Rongyan alive, but only managed to capture his vanguard General Yue Quanyong. Yue Quanyong had said that if not for Xiao Rongyan being seriously injured in his heart and lungs, with Xiao Rongyan¡¯s martial skills, they would never have fallen into Bai Qingyan¡¯s trap and failed to escape. It seemed his words were not false. Nanny Jiang, seeing Bai Qingyan staring at the snowmen in a daze, said smilingly, ¡°These were made by Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister for the Eldest Princess today!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded. ¡°Nanny, go back to attend to Grandmother. No need to see me off.¡± Nanny Jiang lifted the curtain to enter and found the Eldest Princess somewhat lost in thought. Walking lightly to the Eldest Princess¡¯s side, she gently massaged her shoulders. The Eldest Princess, staring at the direction of the partition screen, asked Nanny Jiang in a low voice, ¡°Nanny, do you think Kid blames me for questioning her loyalty that day? Nowadays, she isn¡¯t as close to me as before.¡± ¡°Eldest Princess, be at ease! Big Miss was raised by you personally. Don¡¯t you know her filial heart?¡± Nanny Jiang said with a smile, speaking for Bai Qingyan. ¡°So many things have happened in our mansion lately. Big Miss is still just a child; it¡¯s inevitable she¡¯ll feel overwhelmed. Eldest Princess, you should be more considerate of Big Miss. How could you expect a child to come and comfort you?¡± Hearing Nanny Jiang¡¯s words, the Eldest Princess closed her eyes tiredly and sighed long. She let out a faint laugh. ¡°You¡¯re right; it¡¯s my fault. Later, fetch the imperial jade chess set from my storeroom and send it to Kid tomorrow morning. She loves to play with those.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll serve the Eldest Princess to bed first, then go to the storeroom to find it. Tomorrow morning, just as Tianxiu Workshop is coming to deliver new clothes and jewelry for the ladies of the house for the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet at the palace, I¡¯ll send the chess set to Big Miss.¡± Nanny Jiang said. The Eldest Princess nodded and resumed twirling the Buddha Beads. ¡°What did Wei Zhong say after visiting the secret guard team today?¡± ¡°Wei Zhong said that although the secret guard team has been kept at the Eldest Princess¡¯s manor and was not used, Captain Wan Ruozhong still followed the rules and took one apprentice per person, training them in character and conduct before imparting their lifetime skills. Wan Ruozhong asked Wei Zhong to relay that the newly formed secret guard team is ready and awaits the Eldest Princess¡¯s command.¡± Nanny Jiang said. The Eldest Princess closed her eyes and thought briefly before saying, ¡°After the Lantern Festival, have the team return to the city and send two of them to protect Kid. But don¡¯t let Kid know.¡± Nanny Jiang was slightly surprised but did not ask further, only nodded in agreement. Having the secret guard protect Bai Qingyan in secret was both protection and surveillance. The Eldest Princess still feared Bai Qingyan might develop treasonous intentions. The Eldest Princess¡¯s eyes moistened slightly. She recalled her father¡¯s earnest instructions to watch over the Duke of Zhen Mansion for the Jin royal family and the rebellious look in the granddaughter she had raised by herself. She felt like she was burning in oil. No one knew that the bitterness in the Eldest Princess¡¯s heart was like that of bitter gourd. She had to guard the Bai family¡¯s kin with her life while also protecting the Lin family¡¯s royal lineage. She truly found it difficult to navigate. In recent days, she constantly pondered which was more important, family kin or the Lin family¡¯s throne, but still had no answer today. Bai Qingyan returning from the Eldest Princess¡¯s place had Chun Tao help her change into training clothes, tying sandbags around her arms and legs. While practicing, she meticulously reviewed Xiao Rongyan¡¯s life in the previous life. It seemed that just this year, during the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet held at the Imperial Palace for officials and their families, Xiao Rongyan attended as an honored guest of the King of Qi¡¯s Mansion. However, he was caught secretly meeting with the King of Qi¡¯s side consort¡¯s maid during the banquet. The maid confessed to being a Wei spy on the spot, and Xiao Rongyan was also arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for interrogation. In the previous life, the Bai family was in trouble. Bai Qingyan did not know when Xiao Rongyan was released from prison, nor whether he was injured this time in prison or in subsequent near-death experiences, causing him to lose his martial arts skills just like her. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, her whole body steaming in the cold wind. Perhaps because both lost their martial arts skills in the previous life and shared a common misfortune, she felt a sense of sympathy for Xiao Rongyan. Recalling how Xiao Rongyan had helped her many times after she saw through King Liang¡¯s fa?ade in the previous life, she couldn¡¯t help but feel compassion. A string of maids came out of the small kitchen, carrying buckets of boiling water, following Chun Yan into the main house to pour hot water into the bath barrel. ¡°Big Miss, the time has come!¡± Chun Tao quickly stepped forward to support Bai Qingyan. ¡°The water is ready, Big Miss, please bathe!¡± Bai Qingyan used Chun Tao¡¯s strength to stand. Her legs were not as limp as when she first started practicing. After bathing, Bai Qingyan spread out a piece of Chengxin Hall Tribute paper, dipped the brush in ink, and hesitated for a moment before putting the brush down. Bai Qingyan used all the tribute paper and ink sent by the Eldest Princess from Chengxin Hall, easily letting Xiao Rongyan identify the message source. She instructed Chun Tao to fetch ordinary hemp paper and common account ink, and, using her left hand to hold the brush, began to write¡­ After finishing, Bai Qingyan dried the ink, folded the letter, and handed it to Chun Tao. ¡°Take this early tomorrow morning and give it to your cousin. Have him find a way to deliver the letter to the steward of the Xiao Mansion in the southern city the day after tomorrow, before the New Year¡¯s Eve. Remind him to be careful not to reveal his identity.¡± Xiao Rongyan had helped her many times before, and she had never repaid him. Now, she would help if she could. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Obedient Awareness_1 Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Obedient Awareness_1 Chun Tao did not ask why and carefully folded the paper, placing it into her sleeve and nodding solemnly, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Miss Bai.¡± Chun Yan pulled back the curtain and entered, curtseying, ¡°Guard Lu Ping has reported that the young master retrieved from the estate has already been settled in Qingming Courtyard. However, it seems he won¡¯t be able to get out of bed for at least half a month.¡± Just half a month, he got off easy. ¡°Hmm.¡± Bai Qingyan nodded, ¡°I understand. Tell Uncle Ping to have someone guard Qingming Courtyard well. No one should enter or leave arbitrarily to prevent the little fourth from using a whip without regard. Today has been hard on him; let Uncle Ping go back to rest early.¡± Lu Ping emerged from the inner courtyard, carrying two bottles of wine and some medicine to Qin Shangzhi. While changing Qin Shangzhi¡¯s bandages, he recounted the events at Manjiang Tower today, full of worry. ¡°Earlier, when there was trouble in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, you shook your head and said that although Miss Bai¡¯s words protected the Duke of Zhen Mansion¡¯s reputation, it might make the current emperor dislike them even more. Now this commotion in front of Manjiang Tower¡­ I¡¯m really worried about the Duke¡¯s Mansion!¡± Lu Ping sighed and took a sip of wine, ¡°Do you think there is any way to persuade Miss Bai?¡± Qin Shangzhi¡¯s hand tightened around the wine bottle, and he looked up as if struck by a sudden revelation. His eyes brightened, and with a slap on the table, he laughed heartily, ¡°What a brilliant strategy by Miss Bai!¡± Lu Ping gazed at Qin Shangzhi, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°Your Miss Bai¡¯s vision is extraordinary!¡± Qin Shangzhi raised his head and took a hearty gulp of wine, giving a thumbs up with a fervent gaze. ¡°I only saw ten steps ahead, but she has seen ninety-nine steps behind! Your Miss Bai has meticulously planned each step! She aims to raise the Bai family¡¯s prestige among the people, creating momentum and winning their hearts for the Bai Mansion!¡± In Lu Ping¡¯s bewildered eyes, Qin Shangzhi let out a long sigh, ¡°A master strategist seeks advantage, not reliance on people, thus choosing the right person for the task! Your Miss Bai is using military tactics! She aims to make the current ruler fear the influence and public opinion of the Bai family, keeping them from making any moves against the Bai family! Those in high positions may seem to have power in their hands, but they still fear public sentiment, resentment, and the pen of historians a hundred years later!¡± Qin Shangzhi took another large swig of wine and heavily set down the bottle. His heart surged with hot blood, yet he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit despondent over his unrealized potential, ¡°What an incredible girl! But alas¡­ if only your Miss Bai were a man, the Bai family¡¯s glory could be extended for at least three generations!¡± If Bai Qingyan were not a girl, she would surely have a place in the highest halls of power in the future! If Bai Qingyan were not a girl, given her profound wisdom, Qin Shangzhi would willingly enter the Bai Mansion as a counselor! But alas¡­ she was a woman, and no matter her talents, she could only be confined to the inner chambers. ¡°What a pity!¡± Qin Shangzhi sighed deeply, draining his cup, this low lament not knowing whether it was for himself or for Bai Qingyan. ¡¤ The next morning, as Bai Qingyan finished her morning exercise and was having breakfast, Chun Yan walked in with a smile, ¡°As Miss Bai predicted, the fourth young lady heard about what happened on the main street yesterday and rushed to Qingming Courtyard with a whip at dawn. Wielding it with great vigor, she even broke the newly planted saplings in half. The young master and that concubine were so frightened they huddled together in bed, not daring to come out! If you ask me, Miss Bai shouldn¡¯t have let the guards stop her¡­ she should have let the fourth young lady thrash them, teaching them that our Miss Bai isn¡¯t someone they can offend! Such audacity!¡± Bai Qingyan continued drinking her porridge without a word. Chun Tao frowned and said, ¡°Even if that person is unworthy, he is still the second master¡¯s illegitimate son, and that concubine is the second master¡¯s concubine. As servants, we shouldn¡¯t say these things! Don¡¯t mention this again in the future, to avoid bringing trouble to Miss Bai.¡± Chun Yan sulkily pouted and stood aside. Just as Bai Qingyan finished her meal, Nanny Jiang arrived with people from Tianxiu Workshop. ¡°This imperial jade chess set was given to the Eldest Princess by the previous emperor when she was about the same age as you, Miss Bai.¡± Nanny Jiang placed the chess box aside, ¡°The Eldest Princess cherishes you dearly and sent this chess set for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandmother!¡± She fondled the exquisite jade chess pieces, knowing that Nanny Jiang was comforting her on behalf of her grandmother. ¡°Nanny, I understand; Grandmother worries I¡¯m overly concerned, but I won¡¯t be.¡± Nanny Jiang¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°We know you won¡¯t! You were raised under the Eldest Princess and me; we know your character well!¡± After sending Nanny Jiang off, Chun Tao admired the intricate embroidery on the luxurious clothes, exclaiming, ¡°The clothes from Tianxiu Workshop are indeed exceptional. Look how beautiful they are! Miss, which one will you wear to the palace banquet?¡± She looked at the five sets of clothing sent by Tianxiu Workshop and pointed to a plain white set. Picking up a chess piece, she asked, ¡°How many days has Shen Qingzhu been gone?¡± ¡°Miss Bai, Miss Shen has been gone for nine days now,¡± Chun Tao replied. Bai Qingyan nodded, knowing that Shen Qingzhu should have at least reached Zhancheng by now. In her past life, the news of the Bai family¡¯s men being lost in the southern borders came on New Year¡¯s Eve. She was reborn on the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. By calculating the time, she feared it might be too late to save the Bai family¡¯s men, but she still sent Shen Qingzhu out. She only prayed the heavens would pity her family and allow Shen Qingzhu to save at least one man from the Bai family. She closed her tired eyes, steadying her hot breaths, and placed the chess piece back into the box with tears. Now was not the time for sorrow. New Year¡¯s Eve was approaching soon, and she didn¡¯t have much time left to act. Just as spring followed after winter, Chun Tao had the girl responsible for managing Bai Qingyan¡¯s clothes put the outfits away. As she came out of the room, she saw Chun Yan with a displeased look. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you pouting so early in the morning?¡± Chun Yan frowned and whispered to Chun Tao, ¡°I just saw Qin Lang, from a distance, bowing towards our courtyard before leaving. It was so strange!¡± Bai Qingyan began grinding ink, feeling a bit relieved, a faint smile appearing on her lips. Qin Lang had not let her down; he was an insightful person. Yesterday, Qin Lang had already moved out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence into the house bestowed by the emperor. Qin Lang, being kind and intelligent, would move back to their new residence once Bai Jinxiu recovered. Their future life would certainly be peaceful. ¡°You¡¯re worried about too many things¡­¡± Chun Tao adjusted her sleeves in exasperation, ¡°After all, he did not disturb Miss Bai.¡± Chun Yan was about to argue when she saw a gatekeeper woman peering around the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard. She couldn¡¯t help but show a happy expression and sensibly curtseyed to Chun Tao, ¡°Understood, Sister Chun Tao! I just remembered¡­ Tingzhu asked me to go see her today to get some embroidery patterns, I¡¯d better go now!¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Responsibility_1 Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Responsibility_1 After speaking, Chun Yan hurriedly ran out of Qinghui Courtyard. Silver Frost, who was sitting in the room eating pine nut candy, saw Chun Yan leave and immediately stuffed the candy into her chest and followed her. The gatekeeper old lady saw Chun Yan come out and greeted her obsequiously: ¡°Miss Chun Yan!¡± Chun Yan grabbed the gatekeeper¡¯s arm and walked to a secluded place. After looking around to make sure no one was there, she asked: ¡°Does His Highness have any instructions?¡± ¡°Uncle Tong said that His Highness came in person. The carriage is waiting outside the side gate, saying His Highness wants to see Miss Bai, please ask Miss Chun Yan to talk to Miss Bai and let her see His Highness¡­¡± the gatekeeper said. Chun Yan¡¯s heart was pounding heavily, and her face turned red with anxiety: ¡°Isn¡¯t His Highness seriously injured? How did he come in person?! What if he catches a cold again, what should we do?!¡± ¡°This shows His Highness¡¯s true feelings for Miss Bai. Miss, go and report to Miss Bai quickly. Let Miss Bai go fast. In this freezing weather, if anything happens to His Highness at our mansion¡¯s gate, we wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the responsibility!¡± the gatekeeper said. ¡°I understand!¡± Chun Yan¡¯s heart was wholly concerned with King Liang, and she couldn¡¯t help but resent Bai Qingyan. It was all because Miss Bai returned the jade pendant given by His Highness, causing him to rush over with injuries. If anything happened to His Highness, even if Miss Bai died a million times, it would be hard to atone. Chun Yan was both angry and anxious, almost tearing the handkerchief in her hand. She turned and rushed hastily toward the main house. As Chun Yan ran, Silver Frost jumped down from the wall, startling the gatekeeper old lady. The old lady clutched her chest and glared at Silver Frost. Just as she was about to leave, Silver Frost knocked her out with a punch. Silver Frost looked at the fainted old lady at her feet, hoisted her onto her shoulder, and carried her into Qinghui Courtyard. ¡°Miss Bai! Miss Bai!¡± Chun Yan rushed into the main house, circled around the screen, saw Bai Qingyan practicing calligraphy with sandbags tied to her wrists, and kowtowed. ¡°Miss Bai, this maid knows you don¡¯t like hearing about His Highness, but you asked this maid to return His Highness¡¯s jade pendant yesterday. His Highness came personally today. He is seriously injured, almost losing his life, but for you, he came to our Duke¡¯s mansion! Miss¡­ this maid begs you, His Highness truly cares for you! Please see him!¡± Chun Yan¡¯s head knocked repeatedly on the floor, tears flowing down her face, genuinely heartfelt. In her past and present lives combined, Bai Qingyan had never seen Chun Yan so loyal to her. Besides anger, she also felt deep sadness. Outside the door, Chun Tao, who was about to lift the curtain and enter, was startled to see Silver Frost carrying an old lady in. She quickly realized that Chun Yan had gone to meet King Liang¡¯s people and was caught by Silver Frost. Silver Frost casually threw the unconscious old lady on the ground and, smiling, reached out to Chun Tao for candy: ¡°Caught another one! Sister, candy¡­¡± Chun Tao felt deeply ashamed, remembering how she had pleaded for Chun Yan in front of Miss Bai one day, and now she felt embarrassed. Without showing it on her face, she tapped Silver Frost¡¯s forehead: ¡°You fool! Wait here!¡± Chun Tao lifted the curtain and walked in. Seeing Chun Yan kowtowing on the ground, she quickly walked to Bai Qingyan¡¯s side and whispered: ¡°Miss, Silver Frost knocked out another gatekeeper and carried her into the courtyard.¡± Chun Yan didn¡¯t know what Chun Tao whispered to Miss Bai and just looked at Bai Qingyan with teary eyes, hoping she would see King Liang: ¡°Miss¡­¡± Bai Qingyan never glanced at the crying Chun Yan from beginning to end. She finished writing the last word and put down the brush: ¡°Since she was caught, we¡¯ll use today¡­ to clean the Duke¡¯s mansion. Chun Tao, send Chun Xing to inform Mother in her courtyard. Ask Nanny Qin to get Steward Hao, and instruct each steward and all off-duty servants and maids to gather in the front courtyard.¡± Chun Tao curtsied and quickly left to instruct Chun Xing. Soon, Chun Tao returned with a copper basin of water, helping Bai Qingyan wring a handkerchief while asking: ¡°Miss, should I take Silver Frost and the old lady to meet the Princely Heir¡¯s wife? Are you going?¡± Bai Qingyan nodded: ¡°Yes, naturally I have to go.¡± Hearing this, Chun Yan kneeled forward a few steps, crying and begging: ¡°Miss, this maid begs you! Cleaning the mansion can wait, but seeing His Highness is urgent!¡± ¡°Chun Yan! You¡­¡± Chun Tao was startled. She thought Chun Yan was repenting here, not expecting she was demanding Miss Bai to see King Liang. Seeing Bai Qingyan indifferent, slowly untying the sandbags from her wrists after just finishing writing, Chun Yan became more anxious, raising her voice and straightening her spine to accuse Bai Qingyan: ¡°Miss! It¡¯s freezing outside. His Highness is at the Duke¡¯s mansion¡¯s back gate. If anything happens, can you afford it?!¡± The words ¡°can you afford it?¡± made Bai Qingyan extremely angry. Her sharp gaze directly at Chun Yan sent a chill down her spine, and she broke into a cold sweat. ¡°Afford?!¡± She threw the handkerchief handed by Chun Tao onto the desk, her anger surging. ¡°Chun Yan, are you possessed by a ghost?! Or have a mental breakdown?! Was it Miss who made His Highness wait in the snow at our Duke¡¯s mansion¡¯s back gate? What does Miss need to afford?! A Duke¡¯s unmarried daughter, does she have to meet someone just because they stand at our mansion¡¯s back gate?! What kind of reasoning is this? Did Nanny Tong¡¯s teachings go into a dog¡¯s belly?!¡± ¡°But how can it be the same? It¡¯s King Liang!¡± Chun Yan stubbornly retorted, feeling heartbroken for King Liang¡¯s serious injury. Bai Qingyan was utterly disappointed with Chun Yan, suppressing her anger: ¡°As a maid of the Duke¡¯s mansion, worrying about King Liang¡¯s house! Chun Yan¡­ you¡¯re wronged! Today the Duke¡¯s mansion cleans its gates, you go to King Liang to seek a way out!¡± ¡°This maid didn¡¯t mean that!¡± Chun Yan hastily kowtowed, ¡°This maid¡­ this maid is really worried about His Highness¡¯s health! Please, Miss, show mercy! This maid has followed you since childhood and will follow you for life after life!¡± Bai Qingyan sneered: ¡°Follow me for life after life?! You dare to follow me, but I don¡¯t dare to keep you¡­ A maid who arranges her master¡¯s marriage and blackmails her master to meet outsiders, I can¡¯t afford to keep!¡± ¡°Miss! Miss! Chun Yan knows she was wrong!¡± Chun Yan cried out in fear, anxiously begging for mercy. ¡°Usually, Miss thinks you¡¯re young and treats you leniently, spoiling you to the point you don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth, repeatedly involving Miss with outsiders! Now you dare to force Miss to see King Liang¡­ You¡¯re trying to kill Miss, Chun Yan!¡± Chun Tao cried in anger, hating that she couldn¡¯t slap Chun Yan awake. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Lifting Up_1 Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Lifting Up_1 She walked around the desk and instructed Chun Tao to bring her the fox fur cloak. Chun Tao hurriedly wiped away her tears and draped the fox fur cloak over Bai Qingyan¡¯s shoulders. Just outside the door, she hesitantly asked, ¡°Miss, what should we do with Chun Yan?! Should we¡­ send her away?¡± Bai Qingyan took a deep breath, barely containing her anger. It wasn¡¯t the right time yet; there was still use for Chun Yan. She knew King Liang¡¯s ruthlessness all too well, as well as the cunning strategies of Du Zhiwei, the counselor by King Liang¡¯s side. If she were to send Chun Yan away now, Du Zhiwei and King Liang would immediately find someone else in the Duke¡¯s residence to bribe. Human nature could not withstand such temptation. At this critical juncture, she couldn¡¯t afford to gamble. In her previous life, she prided herself on her wisdom. She was indeed blind to believe that Chun Yan, who sided with outsiders, was doing it for her benefit when she tirelessly praised King Liang in her presence. Standing under the eaves, she tightly clutched the hand warmer in her hand. After thinking for a moment, she lifted her gaze, her eyes cold. ¡°I won¡¯t take her life. Bring her to the front yard.¡± Chun Tao, hearing this, immediately burst into tears, thinking that her previous plea had made things difficult for Bai Qingyan. She sobbed, ¡°Miss, I¡­¡± Bai Qingyan had a splitting headache, overwhelmed by fatigue. She no longer wished to entangle herself with Chun Yan¡¯s matter. Tightening the cloak around her, she braced herself and walked towards the front yard. King Liang had already sent someone with a jade pendant, promising the position of the main consort. He even visited personally despite his severe injuries, showing his determination to use her for military exploits. Given her frail condition, it was remarkable that King Liang was so ¡°persistent.¡± However, she would rather die than allow herself to be his pawn again. To prevent that heartless, shameless King Liang from forcing her into his residence using underhanded means if his display of affection failed, she needed to publicly expose King Liang¡¯s bribing of their servants. This would make everyone aware of her disgust for his despicable tactics, extinguishing any further schemes he might have. ¡¤ Outside the back gate of the Duke¡¯s residence, an ordinary-looking carriage was parked by a tree, from which occasional coughing could be heard. Tongji, hands tucked into his sleeves, pressed his head against the back gate, eagerly peeking inside. Seeing no sign of anyone coming, he stomped his feet in frustration and cold. Another round of heart-wrenching coughing came from the carriage. Tongji hurried back, gently patting King Liang on the back, clearly displeased. ¡°Miss Bai is truly ungrateful. You¡¯ve offered her the position of main consort, even though she might not be able to bear children. And yet, she dares to refuse! If Your Highness truly desires her, you might as well ask the Empress Dowager for a decree to make her a side consort. Why torment yourself by coming here in person, given your serious injuries? She doesn¡¯t know how fortunate she is!¡± King Liang coughed a few times into his clenched fist, wrapped the quilt around himself, and extended his hand towards the fire, speaking in a low voice. ¡°What do you know!¡± Only when all options were exhausted would he forcefully bring Bai Qingyan into his residence. He needed her talents, so she had to submit willingly. Yesterday, Bai Qingyan efficiently dealt with the illegitimate son who wasn¡¯t recorded in the family¡¯s genealogy. Her reputation as a strong and unyielding woman had become widely known. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t afford to neglect her any longer. Contemplating Bai Qingyan¡¯s recent coldness towards him, King Liang sensed something was amiss. He couldn¡¯t rest easy without seeing her personally. As King Liang continued to wait in the carriage by the back gate, the Duke¡¯s residence was in turmoil. Stewards, servants, old maids, and maids gathered in the front yard, where benches were prepared. They looked at each other in panic, unsure of what major event had transpired. A steward stepped forward to ask Steward Hao, but Steward Hao remained silent, standing on the high steps. Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t hide the fact that King Liang had repeatedly bribed servants to meet with her at the back gate and gifted her the jade pendant. She told Mrs. Dong everything. At first, Mrs. Dong felt pleasantly surprised, but on closer thought, she realized that if King Liang was truly sincere, he would formally visit the Duke¡¯s residence, respect her elders, and inquire respectfully before proposing. However, his frequent secret invitations belittled her daughter. If the matter were to escalate, Bai Qingyan¡¯s reputation would be ruined. Mrs. Dong broke out in a cold sweat. Considering the importance of the family, Mrs. Dong, as the matriarch, understood the seriousness of the situation. Even though it was nearing the end of the year, necessary punishments had to be enforced. Decisively, Mrs. Dong summoned a few ¡®yazi¡¯ (servants who dealt with domestic punishments) and accompanied Bai Qingyan to the front yard. The vast front yard was filled with servants, old maids, and maids. When they saw Nanny Qin supporting Mrs. Dong, followed by Bai Qingyan, they hurriedly bowed. Mrs. Dong¡¯s sharp eyes swept over the crowd. She sat down on a chair under the eaves and asked, ¡°Have the ¡®yazi¡¯ arrived?¡± Steward Hao stepped forward and saluted Mrs. Dong. ¡°Madam, they are waiting.¡± Mrs. Dong nodded and instructed Steward Hao, ¡°Bring them up!¡± Soon, the servant who had reported to King Liang¡¯s residence, the old maid who handed over the jade pendant to Chun Yan, and the old maid who was punched unconscious by Yingshuang that morning were all dragged up, bound tightly. The servant, seeing the serious situation, knelt down with trembling legs, crying. ¡°Spare me, Princely Heir¡¯s wife! I only passed on a message for King Liang to Chun Yan and didn¡¯t do anything to harm our Duke¡¯s residence!¡± The old maid who had been knocked out earlier that morning banged her head on the ground. ¡°Old servant¡­ I only took King Liang¡¯s silver to pass on a message from his servant to Chun Yan!¡± ¡°I only called Chun Yan as King Liang¡¯s servant ordered that one time!¡± The old maid who handed over the jade pendant crawled forward two steps. ¡°Chun Yan! Chun Yan, say something!¡± Chun Yan, standing beside Bai Qingyan, thought of what Chun Tao had said about Mingyu earlier. Her legs gave way, and she knelt down in a cold sweat. ¡°Madam, Miss! I¡­ I¡­¡± Mrs. Dong picked up the tea handed by Nanny Qin, her eyes filled with rage. If it weren¡¯t for her daughter¡¯s earlier plea, she would have had Chun Yan beaten to death! ¡°Tell me what messages you passed to Chun Yan, and what Chun Yan conveyed to King Liang¡¯s residence. Speak truthfully,¡± Bai Qingyan said. She showed no sign of anger, sat down elegantly, and asked slowly. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Loyalty_1 Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Loyalty_1 These three gossipmongers spilled everything cleanly. However, they knew nothing crucial. If it were important, King Liang and Chun Yan wouldn¡¯t have let these three relay it. At most, they were paid to help Chun Yan meet someone at the corner gate. ¡°Besides them, who else helped you pass messages?¡± Bai Qingyan turned her head to ask Chun Yan, who was kneeling and shivering at her feet. Chun Yan bit her lower lip, tears streaming down her face. She put down the hand warmer, picked up the hot tea cup, and blew on it slowly: ¡°This is a chance for atonement. If you don¡¯t speak, even if Chun Tao kneels down and begs me, I can¡¯t forgive you.¡± The elderly woman tied and kneeling in the courtyard hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s also Madam Liu! I saw Madam Liu passing messages too!¡± Madam Liu, who was named, immediately knelt down: ¡°Madam, Eldest Miss, please show mercy! I¡­ I only passed a message that one time! Just that one time! I was tempted by seeing Madam Wang take the silver!¡± Pulling out the radish brings out the mud, yet another one. Madam Wang hurriedly knelt on the ground, shaking like a leaf. Mrs. Dong heavily placed her teacup on the small table: ¡°Our Duke¡¯s household has never mistreated its servants. I never thought there would still be those blinded by money! Whoever else is involved, stand up. I might spare you! If someone else points you out, you will be beaten to death without mercy!¡± Mrs. Dong had always governed her household with both kindness and strictness. The Duke¡¯s household was well-managed; otherwise, when Mrs. Dong had strictly forbidden any news about Second Miss Bai Jinxiu returning home from being spread, how could nothing have leaked? King Liang indeed put in great effort for Bai Qingyan, but in the end, he only managed to bribe a gatekeeping servant and four gatekeeping women. Chun Yan¡¯s tears fell even more fiercely. With a desperate look, she crawled to Mrs. Dong¡¯s feet: ¡°Madam! Prince Liang has genuine feelings for our miss. This maid did it for the miss¡¯s good! Prince Liang heard that the lady of Dengzhou wants to match our Eldest Miss with the young master. Even with such heavy injuries, he came personally¡­ just to see the Eldest Miss. Such deep affection, which man in the entire Dadu City could be so wholehearted to our Eldest Miss?¡± Nanny Qin clasped her hands before her stomach, her face stern: ¡°Miss Chun Yan¡¯s words make no sense! If Prince Liang holds such deep affection, he could easily have had a lady visit our household¡­ to probe or to speak on his behalf. Why bribe servants to act in secrecy? How is such behavior different from ruining our miss¡¯s reputation?! You are a personal maid to the Eldest Miss, yet you had close dealings with King Liang¡¯s servant. If the Eldest Miss hadn¡¯t been astute enough to have Yingshuang follow you and been discovered by others¡­ your life as a maid doesn¡¯t matter, but what about our miss¡¯s reputation?!¡± ¡°Madam! Prince Liang truly cherishes our Eldest Miss¡­¡± ¡°It seems Chun Yan eats the Duke¡¯s household¡¯s food but works for the Liang household¡¯s interests!¡± Mrs. Dong let out a low laugh, then said slowly, ¡°Nanny Qin, take Chun Yan¡¯s deed of sale and send her to King Liang¡¯s manor. If King Liang doesn¡¯t accept her, leave her outside the manor, break her legs, and sell her to a brothel.¡± Chun Yan¡¯s face changed drastically. She crawled back to Bai Qingyan¡¯s feet in desperation, tears and snot running: ¡°Eldest Miss! Please save me! I don¡¯t want to go anywhere; I only wish to stay with the Eldest Miss! I¡­ I will never dare again!¡± Though Chun Yan was foolish, she understood that King Liang only saw her because she was the Eldest Miss¡¯s personal maid. If the Eldest Miss despised her, of what use would she be to King Liang? He surely wouldn¡¯t want her, and she would meet the same fate as Mingyu. Thinking of Mingyu, Chun Yan shivered and cried even more miserably. Bai Qingyan looked at the terrified Chun Yan and said lightly, ¡°What did you tell King Liang about me? Today¡­ you must confess everything, or even the gods can¡¯t save you!¡± ¡°This maid, this maid¡­ just told King Liang about the Eldest Miss¡¯s preferences and some childhood things of the Eldest Miss,¡± Chun Yan cried with a guilty conscience, her voice lowered. ¡°Speak clearly, what exactly did you say! Don¡¯t leave out a single detail!¡± She casually picked up her teacup. It wasn¡¯t that she was petty, but in her previous life, King Liang knew everything about her, even where she had scars and which ones itched when it rained. If in this life, King Liang used what Chun Yan told him to destroy her innocence, she couldn¡¯t clear her name no matter what. Better to deal with it openly now so that if King Liang ever had any despicable thoughts, Bai Qingyan would have no worries. Chun Yan was truly intimidated, sobbing as she divulged everything she told King Liang or Tongji during this period. Nanny Qin, upon hearing Chun Yan had told even about Bai Qingyan¡¯s injuries on the battlefield and how her shoulder itched in rainy weather, was so angry she could barely contain herself. Rushing forward, she slapped Chun Yan: ¡°Someone! Drag this vile maid out and beat her to death! Right now! How dare you disclose such private matters of the Eldest Miss?!¡± Always composed, Mrs. Dong was so enraged that her vision darkened, almost fainting. ¡°Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss!¡± Chun Yan clung to Bai Qingyan¡¯s leg, ¡°Eldest Miss, save me! I¡¯ve confessed everything! Save me!¡± ¡°Pull this vile maid away! Don¡¯t dirty the Eldest Miss¡¯s clothes!¡± Mrs. Dong gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear Chun Yan apart. ¡°Mother¡­¡± She shook her head at Mrs. Dong, then looked down at Chun Yan, ¡°What else did you tell King Liang?¡± ¡°Nothing else! Really, nothing else¡­¡± Chun Yan shook her head, crying. After a while, Bai Qingyan put down her teacup and called Chun Tao: ¡°Chun Tao¡­¡± Knowing that Chun Yan had divulged so much about the Eldest Miss to King Liang, Chun Tao trembled with anger, pale-faced. She immediately knelt down: ¡°Chun Tao is here!¡± ¡°That day you knelt before me to plead for Chun Yan. Today, I spare Chun Yan¡¯s life, considering you¡¯ve repaid her lifesaving grace! However, Chun Yan can escape death but not punishment. Beat her fifty times and demote her to a third-class maid! Your monthly allowance will be halved for six months. Do you accept?¡± she asked Chun Tao. Chun Tao kowtowed heavily, ashamed, tears streaming down: ¡°Miss, punish me too! I shouldn¡¯t have pleaded for this despicable wretch!¡± She lifted Chun Tao and grasped her hand: ¡°You are loyal and just; such qualities make you a person of our Duke¡¯s household!¡± Her cold gaze turned to Chun Yan: ¡°Chun Yan, do you accept your punishment?!¡± Shivering, Chun Yan hurriedly expressed her gratitude: ¡°Thank you, Eldest Miss, for sparing my life! Thank you, Eldest Miss, for sparing my life!¡± Chun Yan was dragged away and punished before everyone. The thick paddle struck her buttocks with dull thuds, her screams filled with agony. Before long, blood stained her clothes, and Chun Yan fainted from the pain. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: A Night Banquet in the Palace_1 Chapter 48: Chapter 48: A Night Banquet in the Palace_1 Those five maids and servants who had taken bribes from King Liang¡¯s Mansion, upon seeing Chun Yan¡¯s fate, were already trembling uncontrollably, only bowing their heads incessantly to beg for mercy. Mrs. Dong, infuriated by Chun Yan to the point of chest pain, gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Steward Hao, handle this according to the rules. Do not go easy on them¡­¡± Steward Hao immediately stepped forward, efficiently dealing with these five money-grabbing individuals by breaking their legs and having their entire families taken and sold. With the year-end approaching, the Princely Heir¡¯s wife, Mrs. Dong, due to the unclear entanglement between the household staff of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and King Liang¡¯s Mansion, reorganized the mansion thoroughly. Those deserving punishment were punished, and those to be sold were sold. Even a few stewards were implicated and unjustly affected. Mrs. Dong drastically replaced and adjusted the stewards, especially having the gate guarded with heavy security. Mrs. Dong knew very well that the gate was the first line of defense for the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. No further incidents were permissible. King Liang had been waiting outside the side gate the whole time. Tongji, hearing the commotion inside as they replaced the gatekeepers, could not help but knock on the door, but no one came to open it. After a few moments, someone came to inform King Liang that many servants were being sold off from the Duke¡¯s residence, with some carried out bleeding. King Liang¡¯s heart tightened, knowing that he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to see Bai Qingyan today, so he ordered his men to return to the mansion, instructing Tongji before leaving, ¡°You stay behind. Find a way to contact Chun Yan and ask what happened at the Duke¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Tongji nodded. Upon returning, King Liang was restless. Tongji returned and reported that all the gatekeeper maids and servants had been replaced. He had bribed some people to call for Chun Yan, but no one dared accept the money, all stating that since the Princely Heir¡¯s wife had just reorganized the mansion, nobody dared to risk offending her now. King Liang could only close his eyes and think of another plan. That night, Chun Xing, who had taken over Chun Yan¡¯s position as the head maid, stood obediently beside Bai Qingyan, speaking of the matter of the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Jiang Fengchun, being released by the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s residence: ¡°Later, the case concluded that since the five dowry maids lost their slave status posthumously after death, they were still considered slaves at the time of death. Thus, the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was deemed not guilty and was released.¡± Bai Qingyan, listening, placed a chess piece on the board, nodding slightly. ¡°I see. You may go and tend to your tasks now.¡± Chun Xing bowed and agreed, noticing Chun Tao entering with red eyes, she then exited the room. ¡°Miss, may I help you settle in?¡± Chun Tao¡¯s voice was thick with emotion. Bai Qingyan asked, ¡°How is Chun Yan?¡± Chun Tao started to cry again, guilt overwhelming her, and she felt ashamed enough to want to die: ¡°The doctor said she would need at least half a month to recover. The execution nanny still hit her too lightly; even breaking her legs wouldn¡¯t be too harsh!¡± Bai Qingyan found such a Chun Tao endearing, patting her hand, ¡°It¡¯s alright! I am not angry anymore, so you should not feel so remorseful! I wouldn¡¯t have done anything severe to Chun Yan even if you hadn¡¯t pleaded for her, as I still have use for her. Just take good care of her, and keep this matter to yourself.¡± Chun Tao blinked her tearful eyes, her spirits lifting immediately upon hearing that Bai Qingyan still had use for Chun Yan. She promised repeatedly, ¡°Rest assured, Miss, I won¡¯t show it on my face, and Chun Yan won¡¯t suspect a thing.¡± Today, upon hearing Chun Yan tell King Liang all of Miss¡¯s secrets, Chun Tao had no more sympathy for Chun Yan. Naturally, she would follow whatever Bai Qingyan instructed. In the Qingming Courtyard, Bai Qingxuan and his mother had been hearing about the major commotion at the Duke¡¯s residence today, disciplining and selling off five families, a total of nearly forty people. His mother was terrified and kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief: ¡°Had I known, I would have stayed quietly at that estate. At least we were still masters there. I thought we could enjoy life at the Duke¡¯s residence, but who knew we¡¯d be beaten before even entering the mansion, and now we¡¯re being watched! This family that readily punishes and kills¡­¡± ¡°Enough, Mother! Stop talking!¡± Bai Qingxuan, struggling with his wounds and lying prone on the bed, was extremely annoyed. His eyes were filled with malice. ¡°When I recover, we¡¯ll see about it!¡± A few days ago, His Majesty had grandly commended Qin Lang, declaring him a model among the aristocracy, influencing the noble families throughout Dadu City to confine their unruly young men at home to study diligently. In recent days, the business at Dadu¡¯s restaurants, teahouses, brothels, and pleasure boats had dwindled day by day. Those noble scions, used to a life of revelry, were suffering bitterly at home. It wasn¡¯t until the palace banquet on the Eve of the Minor New Year that these scions finally had a legitimate reason to gather and share their grievances about their recent confinement. Qin Lang, who also attended the banquet, was endlessly complained to by these normally unruly peers. Qin Lang only smiled foolishly, bowing and apologizing with drinks. Bai Qingyan was brought by the Eldest Princess to sit below the high seats of the Emperor and Empress. Seated opposite them, King Qi and the Princess of Qi immediately rose to greet the Eldest Princess. Bai Qingyan, standing properly behind the Eldest Princess, curtsied in greeting. She remembered that in March of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, the next year, King Qi would be appointed Crown Prince and reside in the Eastern Palace, his first task being to preside over the case of Duke Bai Weiting¡¯s treason. There was Liu Huanzhang¡¯s testimony and the letters between the Duke of Zhen and Prince of Nanyan found in the Bai family¡¯s house. The Bai family¡¯s crimes were thus confirmed in King Qi¡¯s hands. Later, already the Crown Prince, King Qi petitioned to lessen the punishment for the Bai family¡¯s women, only to be reprimanded by the Emperor and confined in the Eastern Palace for reflection. At that time, she had also deeply hated King Qi. Thinking back now, in the previous life, the evidence was conclusive. As the Crown Prince, King Qi had no choice. Supporting the Eldest Princess to her seat, Bai Qingyan looked up to see Xiao Rongyan seated just behind King Qi, nodding slightly at her with a gentle smile. Her palm tightened, and she lowered her gaze, unable to tell if Xiao Rongyan had received the message or not. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s seat behind King Qi showed how much King Qi valued him. ¡°Chun Tao¡­¡± she turned her head and lowered her voice, hiding her mouth with a handkerchief, ¡°Did your cousin deliver the letter?¡± Chun Tao, kneeling beside her, whispered, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t worry. My cousin said he had a beggar deliver it to the Xiao Mansion¡¯s gate, mentioning a letter for the steward. He saw the beggar deliver it into the steward¡¯s hands himself! The beggar doesn¡¯t know my cousin¡¯s identity.¡± Chen Qingsheng was trustworthy in handling affairs. In her previous life, Xiao Rongyan helped her greatly. This time¡­ she hoped to repay him somewhat. Hearing the eunuch announce the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, she suppressed her deep-seated hatred, supporting the Eldest Princess as they rose to greet. It seemed that the Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood because King Liang, who had been bedridden with serious injuries, was showing significant improvement. After they were seated, she raised her cup along with others, her clear eyes fixed on the Emperor, who was toasting and speaking of righteousness, virtue, and peace. Her gaze was profound. Xiao Rongyan, noticing Bai Qingyan¡¯s steady gaze towards the Emperor without the slightest hint of reverence, found it interesting. He thought of the note given to him by the steward before entering the palace¡ª¡±Ambush at the palace banquet, a traitor in the Qi residence.¡± He raised his cup and drank with the Emperor of Jin, rubbing the cup while glancing at King Qi, who was smiling at him, and returned the smile. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: 49章：Knowing Oneself_1 Chapter 49: 49Õ£ºKnowing Oneself_1 Eight delicacies and jade food, wine cups in close succession, amidst the pleasant sound of silk and bamboo, cups were exchanged. The hall resounded with music and dance, presenting a scene of peace and prosperity, a grand banquet that could hardly be found anywhere else in the world. Bai Qingyan¡¯s uncle, Dong Qingping, sat below, being mocked by his colleagues for the scratch marks at the corner of his eyes, calling him henpecked. They teased that if he continued to indulge his wife, she might end up controlling the Dong family just like the Empress of Yan did, bringing shame to Dong Qingping. Xiao Rongyan paused slightly while pouring wine, then calmly filled the cup and lifted it, casting his gaze downward. The moment Xiao Rongyan¡¯s gaze fell on Dong Qingping, Bai Qingyan felt a chill. Xiao Rongyan was the youngest and most beloved son of the Empress of Yan. She remembered in a past life, fifteen years later, the Jin Kingdom fell while the Yan rose to power. The Yan attacked the Jin from the north and south with Xiliang. While she fought with King Liang in Xiliang, the Jin Kingdom had no choice but to seek peace with the Yan. Xiao Rongyan agreed to cease the attack, demanding neither territory nor compensation but the surrender of those who had insulted the Empress of Yan. The fate of those people was predictable. Dong Qingping, usually eloquent and graceful, remained calm, but once drunk, he became reckless and indulgent. At that moment, intoxicated, he spoke freely: ¡°The ¡®Comprehensive History of Yan¡¯ records that Mrs. Ji was exceptionally alluring, surpassing even the charms of Daji or Liji. She served King Su with her beauty, first gaining the position of imperial consort to oversee the harem, then maneuvering among high officials to become the empress, commanding unparalleled power and strategy across the land. She was known as Empress Quan. My wife, Mrs. Song, straightforward and with a fiery temper, could never be compared to such a seductive and vicious woman!¡± As he spoke, Dong Qingping burped and looked towards Bai Qingyan¡¯s mother, Mrs. Dong: ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, sister?!¡± Bai Qingyan felt a jolt from Dong Qingping¡¯s words, instinctively glancing at Xiao Rongyan. She saw Xiao Rongyan sipping his wine with a cold smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Before Mrs. Dong could respond, Bai Qingyan quickly said, ¡°Reviled by thousands and constantly insulted, whether her heart was as venomous as a snake or her charm ensnared the ruler, at that time, the Empress of Yan was just a minor consort. With no power in the palace or influence in court, she survived amidst the fluctuating imperial intrigues and eventually ushered Yan to become a dominant power. How resilient was her wit?¡± Xiao Rongyan¡¯s deep and profound gaze lifted towards her. Bai Qingyan pretended not to notice, fixing her attention on Dong Qingping, her palms sweaty: ¡°To be reviled by the masses is merely the victor¡¯s privilege; how can you speak nonsense just because you drank too much today?!¡± The Emperor leaned on the soft pillow beside him, his gaze falling on Bai Qingyan. ¡°The Empress of Yan usurped power, leading to the nation¡¯s decline! That once formidable monarch¡­ Aren¡¯t they now confined to a small corner, even giving up their capital, Dadu City, to us and living under our patronage?! Isn¡¯t that right!¡± someone shouted with a laugh. As a woman, Bai Qingyan particularly loathed the phrase ¡°a hen crowing at dawn,¡± originally defending the Empress of Yan from Xiao Rongyan¡¯s resentment, she found herself speaking more sincerely now. ¡°Everyone says the Empress of Yan was domineering and ruthless. But it was precisely this venomous woman who transformed Yan from a poor, weak nation into a power comparable to our Jin and Xiliang. Back then, Yan¡¯s government was clean and prosperous; the loyal officials died remonstrating, and the military officials fought to death. After the Emperor of Yan recovered from his madness and took control, he killed the Empress, and everyone in Yan rejoiced. Yet shortly after, Yan fell into rapid decline, becoming subservient to our Jin. What a tragedy!¡± Xiao Rongyan tightly clenched the jade cicada in his hand, his gaze towards Bai Qingyan growing deeper. Once, a woman of bravery and clarity now knelt under the lights in his mother¡¯s Dadu Palace, justifying his mother¡¯s name. With no power in the palace or influence in the court, surviving with a foolish emperor in treacherous times, Bai Qingyan¡¯s words spoke of his mother¡¯s hardships and helplessness. Xiao Rongyan looked down, filled his cup with wine, and drank it in one go to honor Bai Qingyan as a confidante. The Emperor suddenly laughed: ¡°Aunt, your granddaughter is quite formidable! I heard¡­ That day at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s mansion, her words left the Marquis speechless, but now I believe it.¡± Bai Qingyan stood up, respectfully bowing her head and standing submissively at her place. The Emperor squinted his eyes as if in remembrance, turning to the grand eunuch beside him: ¡°What was it that Miss Bai said? She learned¡­¡± The grand eunuch quickly bowed respectfully and continued: ¡°Your Majesty, Miss Bai said she learned the skills of defending the nation and fighting bloody battles with an army! She learned that even if her corpse were covered in horse leather, shattered to pieces¡­ She would never allow the people and Monarch of our Jin to be humiliated!¡± The Eldest Princess smiled: ¡°My granddaughter grew up beside the Duke, raised with a man¡¯s spirit.¡± ¡°I remember that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhen had also joined the army and gone to war with the Duke! Such words might not be possible from other families¡¯ daughters, but from the Duke¡¯s, they certainly are!¡± Li Mao lifted his cup with a smile, seemingly in jest, ¡°For a hundred years, the Bai family of the Duke¡¯s mansion has raised sons and daughters who excel in battle, never suffering a defeat, achieving glory that has indeed taken all our Jin¡¯s military merit, leaving nothing for others!¡± Li Mao always knew how to voice complaints about the Bai family in front of the Emperor. His words cut into the Duke¡¯s mansion and the Bai family right before her eyes, like thrusting a knife into her heart, igniting a burning wrath within her. How could she bear it?! She turned, her back straight as an arrow, staring coldly at Left Prime Minister Li Mao beneath the high steps: ¡°So the Left Prime Minister sees only military merit! True, the Bai family has been a military lineage for a century. But let the Left Prime Minister visit the ancestral hall of the Bai family and see which of those souls laid down their lives for power and position! The Bai family even has ten-year-olds fighting on the battlefield! The entire family facing life-and-death situations, seeking military merit?! The Bai family seeks to protect the land and ensure the people¡¯s safety! They seek peace and prosperity for the Jin Kingdom!¡± Remembering old events, Bai Qingyan felt a sharp pain in her heart. Her words grew louder, each one a gem, and every utterance resounding, shaking the hall. The entire hall fell into a deathly silence. Li Mao¡¯s face was ashen, awkward and angry, standing there. Those who had been drinking and making merry became suddenly reflective upon hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s words. The Duke¡¯s Bai family was the foremost aristocratic family of the Jin Kingdom, but the sons of the Bai family did not seek shelter under their ancestors, joining the battlefield as young as ten. Meanwhile, they were here, indulging in the pleasures of Dadu City, making no contributions at all. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Military Exploits_1 Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Military Exploits_1 Tears welled up in her eyes, and every word she spoke dripped with blood and flesh. She pointed her five fingers at the Left Prime Minister, Li Mao, and raised her voice. ¡°If the Left Prime Minister has the integrity to protect our country and is willing to sacrifice generations to defend our Jin people and our territory! This military achievement, my Bai family will offer it to the Left Prime Minister! The Bai family army, too, can change their allegiance and follow the orders of the Left Prime Minister! Military achievements?! If the Left Prime Minister wants them, take them! What my Bai family seeks day and night is simply for the men of my Bai family to return whole; that¡¯s all!¡± Sitting below the steps with Mrs. Dong, who held official rank, were Bai Jintong, Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinhua. Their eyes reddened, and they looked up at Bai Qingyan standing tall like a pine tree on the high steps, their fists clenched tight. Even the Eldest Princess¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and she choked up, unable to speak. Recalling the fate of the Bai family men, wrapped in horse leathers in their past lives, she trembled with pain. After a long time, she swallowed her tears, turned around, and solemnly knelt before the Emperor. ¡°It is the end of the year, and my family has not yet received news from the southern frontier. We are overly worried and have acted improperly in the hall. I beg your Majesty¡¯s forgiveness.¡± The Emperor squinted, his fingers caressing a wine cup, and after a long pause, he laughed slowly. ¡°The Bai family truly is loyal to the bone! But, Miss Bai, your words suggest that your Bai family is loyal to the people of Jin. Does the Bai family have me, the Emperor, in their hearts? Are you loyal to me, the Emperor?¡± The hall was so silent that a pin drop could be heard. Bai Jintong, sitting below the steps, suddenly clenched her clothes tight. She remembered Bai Qingyan telling her in Qinghui Courtyard that the Emperor saw the Bai family as a fierce tiger lying beside him, eager to remove it. Hearing the Emperor¡¯s words today, her whole body turned cold. Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, feeling a heartbreaking cold. This was the Emperor her grandfather and father had sworn unwavering loyalty to! With Xiliang and Nanyan watching like tigers from the sidelines and Daliang and the Rong harboring ill intentions, Jin had few capable generals. Any general in Jin who was granted a marquis would no longer wish for their descendants to suffer at the frontier, preferring them to abandon military paths for scholarly ones. Her grandfather and father had brought all the men of the Bai family to the frontline without leaving any leeway, cultivating successors for Jin who could deter other nations. Such loyalty was invisible to the Emperor of Jin, who instead suspected and schemed against his officials. She knelt again. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s authority comes from the people of Jin! Without the people, there is no Emperor. My Bai family guards the frontier and protects the people, never overstepping our boundaries. If this is not considered loyalty to your Majesty, then what is?¡± A ruler holds the highest position yet lacks the vision of keeping the nation¡¯s welfare and the people in mind. Warriors fight to the death on the battlefield against enemies coveting Jin, while their ruler, in the flourishing Dadu City, schemes against his loyal subjects. Is he fit to be a ruler?! This court was no longer the just and bright court her grandfather had described to her. Generals fought and died in battle, but inside the court, the spirit of the upright officials had vanished. The straight die on the roadside; the crooked gain titles. Look at the court full of sycophants, riding the current, pursuing false fame, honored with titles and high positions! The Bai family¡¯s loyalty and integrity resulted in the extermination of their entire family! How ironic? In their past life, Jin was indeed not wronged when crushed by the Yan they despised so much. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± The Eldest Princess, fearing that the Emperor would take his anger out on Bai Qingyan, quickly knelt down. ¡°This child is spoiled by me. I ask for Your Majesty¡¯s forgiveness.¡± The Emperor was taken aback by Bai Qingyan¡¯s unmasked anger. After a moment, the Emperor chuckled softly, brushed nonexistent dust off his sleeves, and abruptly changed the subject. ¡°Yesterday, an Imperial Censor reported that the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s wife beat to death a maid accompanying the Bai family¡¯s second young lady. These maids are common people. Qin Dezhao¡­ How much do you know about this matter?¡± The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage quickly stepped forward and knelt, sweating profusely, unable to guess the Emperor¡¯s intention for bringing up this matter suddenly. ¡°Replying to Your Majesty, I have already inquired with my wife. She said that because the property deed of the maid accompanying her daughter-in-law, Bai Jinxiu, was held in the Duke¡¯s mansion, as the head of the mansion, she could not be at ease without managing it.¡± Bai Qingyan sneered. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage truly excelled at twisting the truth. ¡°Your Majesty, may I ask the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage a question?¡± She respectfully asked the Emperor. Seeing the Emperor nod, she turned around, standing tall and straight, scanning the faces of the court officials. Many of them were waiting to see the Bai family¡¯s downfall, hoping to witness the collapse of the centennial noble family, the Duke of Zhen. She looked coldly at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage and asked sharply. ¡°May I ask the Marquis if your wife only learned of the maid¡¯s property deed after inspecting my second sister¡¯s dowry, or can she divine as the legendary Zhuge amongst women?¡± Having experienced the prowess of Miss Bai, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, had prepared his and his wife¡¯s statements. ¡°Your Majesty, it was revealed by Mingyu, the maid accompanying my daughter-in-law Bai Jinxiu, that news of the property deed was known. This is why my wife spared that maid¡¯s life!¡± Qin Dezhao speculated that since the issue with Mingyu caused such an uproar, this explanation was the only way to account for how Bai Jinxiu¡¯s maid ended up at Mrs. Jiang¡¯s villa. Bai Jinzhi, the fourth young lady of the Bai family, clenched her teeth, ready to rise and curse him, but the third young lady, Bai Jintong, pressed her down firmly. ¡°Third sister! He¡¯s lying!¡± Bai Jinzhi glared fiercely at Qin Dezhao. ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive. This is the main hall!¡± Bai Jintong lowered her voice and warned Bai Jinzhi. ¡°The property deed is no trivial matter. Does the Marquis think my second sister is a fool who would discuss it with a maid? The Marquis must know that Mingyu has already gone mad and is using her as an excuse, right?¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s tone was obviously mocking. Qin Dezhao panicked for a moment but quickly steadied himself. ¡°Miss Bai, why attribute such lowly thoughts to me? The maid Mingyu said she inadvertently discovered that her mistress had not brought their property deeds, fearing coercion through them, so she informed my wife!¡± ¡°Does the Marquis know the crime of deceiving the Emperor? In front of His Majesty, the Marquis claims that a maid who cannot even read her own name, bought by my second sister, would know what her own contract looks like?! Marquis, do you think we are so foolish to be easily deceived, or are you at your wit¡¯s end and trying to cover it up?¡± Infuriated, Qin Dezhao racked his brain for a response, his lips moving but finding no words. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Repulsive Appearance_1 Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Repulsive Appearance_1 The Emperor, however, turned back carelessly and asked Bai Qingyan, ¡°I heard¡­ that your chess skills are excellent?¡± She clenched her hand tightly and lowered her eyes, remaining silent. The Emperor¡¯s stance in protecting the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was so blatant that the court officials would certainly follow his lead. When news of the Bai family¡¯s defeat came back, those sycophants good at speculating the Emperor¡¯s intentions wouldn¡¯t hesitate to step on them. No wonder, in her previous life, everyone knew of the Bai family¡¯s loyalty and bravery, yet no one dared to argue for them in court. High-ranking officials imitated their superiors¡¯ behavior. With the Emperor already so displeased with the Bai family, who among the court officials would dare to speak out for them? She bowed deeply, ¡°I only understand a little.¡± ¡°Your aunt¡­ was also very skilled at chess.¡± The Emperor¡¯s gaze fell on Bai Qingyan. He seemed to be caught up in a certain emotion, trying to see another person through Bai Qingyan. He spoke slowly, ¡°When you have time, accompany your grandmother to the palace and keep the Empress company. The Empress is also fond of chess. Rise!¡± The Empress smiled and nodded, but her pale nails dug into her palms inside her sleeves. She had been married to the Emperor for many years and knew that Bai Suqiu, the only daughter of the Duke of Zhen, was the eternal scar on the Emperor¡¯s heart. Though Bai Suqiu had already passed away, she had become irreplaceable in the Emperor¡¯s heart. Now, what did the Emperor mean by letting Bai Qingyan come to the palace when she was free? Could it be that he had taken a liking to her? The Empress felt overwhelmed by thoughts and her chest tightened. The Emperor¡¯s attitude toward the Bai family was ambiguous, seeming both dismissive and affectionate, making it truly unpredictable. A clatter was heard, and a palace maid immediately knelt down and begged for mercy: ¡°Please forgive me, sir! It wasn¡¯t intentional!¡± ¡°No matter¡­¡± Xiao Rongyan calmly brushed off the wine stains on his robe. His elegant demeanor and gentle voice were soothing. The Emperor came back to his senses and looked at the strikingly handsome man behind the King of Qi. The man exuded a scholarly and modest temperament akin to a great sage of the era. The Emperor instantly took a liking to him and said, ¡°You¡­ must be the righteous merchant Xiao Rongyan from the Wei Kingdom that the King of Qi often mentions to me.¡± Xiao Rongyan rose gracefully and bowed to the Emperor, ¡°Grateful for Your Highness¡¯s favor. It is my humble honor to enter the palace and witness Your Majesty¡¯s grandeur. My eternal gratitude.¡± Even flattery, when spoken by such an elegant man, brought more joy. The Emperor, feeling cheerful, burst into laughter. ¡°Mr. Xiao, a righteous merchant of Wei; your talent is renowned. A month ago, at Wenxian Tower, your work ¡®Pingchuan Night Snow¡¯ was exquisite, making me long for the beauty of Pingchuan!¡± The Emperor¡¯s admiration for Xiao Rongyan was apparent. The officials below the high platform each had their own thoughts. ¡°It was a crude work created inebriated. Your Majesty praises me too much.¡± Xiao Rongyan, neither humble nor arrogant, maintained his composure. Despite the wine stains on his robe, he remained unflustered, appearing otherworldly and untouched by earthly dust. ¡°The Wei Kingdom has many famed scholars known for their romantic elegance; you must be among the best, renowned in all lands. There¡¯s no need for such modesty!¡± The Emperor, always fond of literary talents, couldn¡¯t help but ask Xiao Rongyan a few more questions, ¡°Mr. Xiao, did you not return home last year, to stay in the Capital for the New Year?¡± ¡°I heard that the Lantern Festival in Dadu City is a grand event in Jin Kingdom every year. Scholars and poets compete with enthusiasm, showcasing their talents. It¡¯s lively and bustling, so I stayed in the Capital for the New Year. After the Lantern Festival, I will set off back home.¡± The Emperor nodded, noticing the wine stains on Xiao Rongyan¡¯s robe, and said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, please change your clothes first. When you return, share with me the beautiful scenery of Pingzhou.¡± Xiao Rongyan bowed with a smile and agreed. Bai Qingyan noticed that the side consort¡¯s maid serving the King of Qi was gone and had already guessed the situation. She silently prayed for Xiao Rongyan, her gaze inevitably drifting toward him. Their eyes met in the air; Xiao Rongyan¡¯s look was calm and insightful. Her palm tightened and then slowly relaxed, seeing Xiao Rongyan¡¯s sharp and deep gaze. He clearly realized the trickery; but would he be able to escape this calamity? Xiao Rongyan remained composed, his eyes resolute. With a flash of inspiration, he looked away calmly and followed the palace maid to change his clothes. In less than a quarter of an hour, Xiao Rongyan returned, dressed in a new robe. Bai Qingyan finally felt relieved. ¡¤ On the way back to the mansion after the palace banquet, the Eldest Princess was filled with fear. She held Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand tightly and scolded sternly: ¡°Have you lost your mind?! You usually act prudently; why couldn¡¯t you stay calm today? Saying such things in front of the Emperor, if the Emperor really got angry, how many heads do you have to bear the consequences?! If something happened to you too, how would your grandmother live?!¡± The finely crafted elm carriage, with lanterns swaying at the corners, cast flickering shadows inside. Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to hide the redness, admitting that she had said those words intentionally for the Emperor to hear. She wanted that stubborn and suspicious Emperor to know; she wanted the world to know! The Bai family¡¯s sacrifice in fighting for the Jin Kingdom and the lives of countless people was not something the scheming Emperor could ever compare to! Those words, those matters, were lodged in her heart like a blade in her throat, cutting her constantly. She had to speak them out! Seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s lowered head and her reluctance to speak, the Eldest Princess closed her tearful eyes and choked up. ¡°Grandmother knows, that day when I asked if you had rebellious thoughts, it hurt you. You, child¡­ you have many good qualities but are like your grandfather with a stubborn mind! But Kid¡­ the Imperial Family is my family, I carry the surname Lin! Your blood is also mine! So anyone else in Jin can rebel, but not my descendants! Do you understand?!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s loyalty to the Imperial Family was just like Bai Qingyan¡¯s to the Bai family. How could she not understand? But the Jin Imperial Family had already decayed, corrupted by the power-hungry and scheming royal court and nobles. The rot and stench from inside could only be eradicated by a change of dynasty and power falling into truly capable hands. Otherwise¡­ how could it not perish from within? ¡°Do you understand? Do you? Answer me!¡± Facing the Eldest Princess¡¯s escalating questions, Bai Qingyan could no longer suppress the suffocating despair, exhaustion, and deep sorrow in her heart. She had grown up under her grandmother¡¯s care, her first steps taken with her grandmother¡¯s hand. Her grandmother had taught her to write her first word. When she had a high fever, her grandmother had held her all night, praying to the gods to take ten years of her life for Bai Qingyan¡¯s safety. Her grandmother was of immeasurable importance in her life. Once, she and her grandmother had spoken about everything. Now¡­ they had different goals despite the same ends, walking hand in hand yet wary of each other. They should have been the closest in the world, but were now miles apart. She feared that, in the near future, the deep bond between her and her grandmother would be worn away by mutual vigilance, growing more distant, and even¡­ turning ugly. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Heart Cold and Discouraged_1 Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Heart Cold and Discouraged_1 The chill in her heart couldn¡¯t be warmed by the furnace. She suppressed her bitter words and bowed her head. ¡°Kid understands!¡± The enmity of life and death was far less disheartening than this conflicted mixture of kinship and sorrow, like a dull knife cutting flesh, painful to the point of making it hard to eat or sleep. The Eldest Princess¡¯s throat swelled with grief. After a long moment, she tearfully embraced Bai Qingyan, closed her eyes, and felt a deep ache, only feeling torn between her family and her country. In her youth, the Eldest Princess had once given her heart to the valiant and handsome General Bai Weiting. But the night before the imperial edict of marriage was delivered to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, her most cherished father, with reddened eyes, told her that marrying the Princely Heir Bai Weiting was to fulfill her youthful longing and to keep an eye on Bai Weiting at his pillow. Her father had bestowed supreme military power upon the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence and needed someone to keep it in check on behalf of the Jin Imperial Family to prevent them from harboring rebellious intent. Therefore, she married into the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, becoming a woman of the Bai family, with a mission as a Jin Kingdom Princess beyond merely extending the Bai family¡¯s bloodline. She had resolutely decided she could not watch her most beloved granddaughter, whom she had poured her life¡¯s energy into teaching, develop rebellious intentions. On the way back to the residence, the grandmother and granddaughter each harbored their thoughts, remaining silent without exchanging a single word. ¡¤ Since the day after the palace banquet ended, the streets, alleyways, teahouses, and taverns of Dadu City were abuzz with discussions about the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. Even the idle rich, who typically indulged in frivolous pastimes, were talking, and the fervor of the discussions soared. Even people like Lu Yuanpeng, who usually only entertained themselves frivolously, were saying things like, ¡°The Bai family¡¯s demeanor sets an example for us all!¡± Since the founding of the Jin Kingdom, where there were wars, there was the loyal and courageous Bai Army. To this day, it seemed that everyone in the Jin Kingdom had become accustomed to it. They believed that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence was essentially a sword of the Jin Kingdom, born to protect the country loyally and courageously, even if it meant sacrificing their lives. But the eldest Bai girl¡¯s words in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s residence, her actions in dealing with the Duke of Zhen¡¯s illegitimate son in front of Manjiang Tower, and her eloquence at the state banquet, where she expressed hope for the safe return of the Bai family¡¯s sons, made everyone realize that these legendary warriors of the Bai family were also mortal beings¡­born of mothers and raised by fathers, with families anxiously waiting for their return. It was only for the sake of the Jin Kingdom and its people¡­that they had no choice but to risk their lives on the battlefield. Almost overnight, it was as if someone had unveiled layers of veils, allowing the world to see the generations of loyalty and righteousness passed down in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. People developed a new sense of respect and awe for the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. When the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence¡¯s procurement officers went out to make purchases, the shops in the city and the farmers outside the city all unanimously refused to accept any money from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. Some farmers even delivered fresh fruits to the residence¡¯s gate daily. When the procurement steward reported this to Mrs. Dong, she was caught off guard, both crying and laughing. ¡°Madam, what should we do? The farmers and merchants are blocking the back gate, competing to send things to our residence,¡± the procurement steward Liu, humbly inquired of Mrs. Dong. Mrs. Dong, holding a teacup, thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Accept the items and pay them according to market prices. Tell them that our Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, already content with receiving the emperor¡¯s salary and the people¡¯s tax grain, absolutely will not take a single cent more from the common people!¡± Placing the teacup down, Mrs. Dong hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Tell Steward Hao to instruct everyone in our residence. When they go out, they must not take an extra penny from the common people. If anyone is found violating this, they will be immediately beaten to death without reporting to me!¡± Although the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence¡¯s reputation was currently flourishing, any slight misstep could plant the seeds of future troubles. Mrs. Dong, who had managed the household for many years, was well aware of the stakes. ¡¤ Mrs. Liu kept her eyes on the doctor as he applied new medicine to Bai Jinxiu¡¯s forehead, feeling heartbroken at the thought of her daughter possibly having a scar. With red eyes, she stepped out of the Green Bamboo Garden and hadn¡¯t walked far when she saw Nanny Luo hurriedly approaching with a joyous expression. Nanny Luo bowed and exclaimed, ¡°Second Madam, good news! Early this morning, there were rumors that on the night of the Little New Year¡¯s palace banquet, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage sent Mrs. Jiang to the Quiet Heart Nunnery for penitential cultivation overnight. I specially confirmed the news, and it¡¯s true beyond doubt! Our girl will no longer have to fear her mother-in-law¡¯s control!¡± The Quiet Heart Nunnery was typically a place where women waiting to be punished from prestigious families were sent, with many meeting their ends there, never returning home. Mrs. Liu, upon hearing this, jubilantly exclaimed that Heaven had eyes, ¡°Nanny Luo, prepare a feast! I must treat Sister-in-law to a meal at noon to properly thank her for her help these past days!¡± At the table, Mrs. Liu laughed, ¡°Just hearing of Mrs. Jiang¡¯s misfortune makes me feel as warm as if I¡¯ve drunk a pot of hot wine, and I could eat five bowls of rice!¡± The Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, caressing her belly, chimed in with a smile, ¡°Second Sister-in-law, you should thank our eldest Sister-in-law, not the heavens! If it weren¡¯t for her kindness in releasing those five maidservants from slavery, how could things have escalated? How could the Imperial Censor have reported the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, and how could Mrs. Jiang have met her downfall?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no doubt Second Sister-in-law should thank our eldest Sister-in-law. Do you think she prepared this feast just for us? We are merely accompanying guests!¡± The Third Madam, Mrs. Li, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing. Mrs. Liu, in high spirits, asked Nanny Luo to bring a pot of wine and poured a cup to toast Mrs. Dong. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the matter of our son-in-law moving out or Mrs. Jiang¡¯s situation, Sister-in-law has truly put in a lot of effort!¡± ¡°In a family, there should be no formalities!¡± Mrs. Dong, after drinking the wine, happily pulled Mrs. Liu to sit down. ¡°Once Jinxiu heals and moves to the new house, she will be the head of the household and never be at anyone¡¯s mercy again, so you can be at ease.¡± Thinking of Bai Jinxiu, Mrs. Liu¡¯s eyes reddened immediately, and she nodded. In the cold of midwinter, the grand ancient mansion with its blue tiles and brick walls was covered by falling snowflakes, creating a picturesque scene. The Fourth Madam, Mrs. Wang, looking out the window at the snow, sighed with red eyes, ¡°I wonder how our children in the southern frontier are doing. Will they be able to return for the New Year this year¡­¡± ¡°With the Duke of Zhen, the Crown Prince, and their fathers there, it will be fine! Young men should undergo more experiences to take on great responsibilities,¡± said Mrs. Dong, though her words belied her own worry for her son. ¡¤ Though King Liang did not attend the Little New Year¡¯s palace banquet, Bai Qingyan¡¯s words the next day spread throughout Dadu City. How could he not have known? Seeing the rising fame of the Bai residence and Bai Qingyan, King Liang became increasingly uneasy. The Bai residence¡¯s prestige was shining brighter than ever, even prompting his father to inquire about the incident involving the second Miss Bai¡¯s drowned dowry. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was instructed to handle it well. There were rumors outside that, on the night Marquis of Loyalty and Courage returned to his mansion, he immediately sent Mrs. Jiang to the Quiet Heart Nunnery for penitential cultivation as a repentance and blessing. Who knows, when the war reports from the southern frontier arrived, with public sentiment and hearts all inclined towards the Bai family, whether his father would dare move against the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Avenging Humiliation_1 Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Avenging Humiliation_1 King Liang sat before the roaring fireplace wrapped in a heavy cloak. The bright flames cast a reddish glow on his deathly pale face. His phoenix eyes were dark, contemplating who knows what. Du Zhiwei, King Liang¡¯s advisor, had planned everything before his death¡­ He first had King Liang work under the guise of serving King Xin, urging King Xin to compete for military merits against the Duke of Zhen. The current emperor was already dissatisfied with the Duke due to his numerous military accolades, so he quickly permitted his favorite son to go to the frontlines and oversee the military, even giving King Xin a golden command arrow. Later, Liu Huanzhang was secretly instructed to communicate with the King of Nanyan, aiming to wipe out the Bai family while all the men were with the Duke of Zhen. At that time, all the capable and battle-tested commanders of the Bai family in Jin Kingdom would be exterminated! The Duke¡¯s residence would then be accused of colluding with the enemy, uprooting the Bai family completely! When war resumed in the southern borders, his father the emperor would have no generals to use and would have to rely on Liu Huanzhang, thereby placing military power under his control. This was the first step. The second step involved keeping Bai Qingyan close, because Du Zhiwei mentioned that King Liang was not adept at military strategies. Therefore, Bai Qingyan, a praised ¡°star general¡± even by the Duke of Zhen, was to be kept around to secure military merits and pave the way for ascending power. Amidst the intense power struggle between King Qi and King Xin, both vying for the position of Crown Prince and resulting in mutual destruction, he, the accomplished prince, could return and easily reap the benefits. Everything proceeded smoothly according to Du Zhiwei¡¯s plan, until the death of Du Zhiwei and the marriage of Bai Jinxiu. Since then, things had not gone as smoothly as before. Bai Qingyan¡¯s family in Dengzhou intended to have their legitimate grandson marry Bai Qingyan, but when he sent her a jade pendant indicating the position of a chief consort, she did not accept it. When he personally went to meet Bai Qingyan, she did not see him. What was to be done? King Liang instinctively wanted to ask Du Zhiwei how to handle this. Just as he was about to call for Du Zhiwei, he remembered that Du Zhiwei had died protecting him during an attack on the long street that day¡­ He violently coughed a few times. Hearing the commotion, Tongji, who was boiling medicine, quickly ran in and poured him a glass of water: ¡°Your Highness, please drink some water!¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ Leave!¡± King Liang pulled his cloak tighter around himself. His birth mother was of low status and died early. He was raised by Consort Tong, who, along with the late second prince, treated him like family. However, they were killed by those so-called pillars of the nation from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s faction, meeting a tragic end. Therefore, he was determined to fight for that position! Only by attaining it could he exact justice for Consort Tong and the second prince, no matter the despicable means necessary. Staring at the fire pit in deep thought for a long time, King Liang suddenly called out hoarsely: ¡°Gao Sheng!¡± Hearing him, Gao Sheng entered, cupped his fists, and saluted: ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Go and call Hongqiao over¡­ I have orders for her.¡± Soon, Hongqiao came in through the snow. After hearing King Liang¡¯s orders, she was initially shocked but then knelt down, resolutely declaring: ¡°Your servant owes a debt of gratitude to the second prince. Since he is no longer here, I should have followed him in death. But it was Your Highness who gave me hope for revenge and kept me alive! I understand Your Highness¡¯s intentions. For this mission, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to sacrifice my honor, or even my life. I will see it through to the best of my ability!¡± King Liang coughed lightly twice before shaking his head: ¡°You need to live. As you said, you must live to see our revenge complete. Only then can you give an explanation to the second prince. Follow the plan and do not act rashly.¡± Hongqiao¡¯s eyes reddened as she heavily kowtowed to King Liang. ¡°Go now!¡± King Liang adjusted his cloak, his eyes dark and somber as he watched the flickering flames in the brazier. ¡¤ On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth month, families began preparing for the New Year, slaughtering pigs and stocking up on meat. The procurement offices of noble families were also bustling. Though the men of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence were away in the southern borders this year, the mansion was livelier than ever. The butchers and vegetable farmers kept sending their best goods to the Duke¡¯s residence. The Duchess Consort had previously ordered that as soon as items were delivered, the mansion would promptly send back silver coins. Some commoners who were unable to express their gratitude in words would stealthily leave their goods by the back corner gate in the middle of the night and slip away unnoticed! The procurement steward, Steward Liu, was overwhelmed and hurriedly reported to Steward Hao. This time, Steward Hao decided to receive all the goods, saying they would send more substantial gifts and red couplets to the merchants, butchers, and farmers who regularly interacted with the Duke¡¯s residence on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth month. He also instructed Steward Liu to prepare smaller silver pieces wrapped in red paper to distribute to any children they met, as an early New Year¡¯s gift. The Hao family had served the Bai family for generations. Knowing the generosity of the Bai family masters, they would repay kindness tenfold. Steward Hao felt his arrangements were justified. Madam Dong, living temporarily at the Dong Mansion of the Honglu Temple, planned to return to Dengzhou after the New Year. She originally wished to have Bai Qingyan stay over during the festivities, but since all the Bai family men were not around, she felt it improper to compete for Bai Qingyan during the New Year, which might leave the Bai family mansion desolate. So she invited Bai Qingyan to the Dong Mansion every other day. Mrs. Dong felt it inappropriate for her mother, Madam Dong, to invite only Bai Qingyan, so she told Bai Qingyan to bring along her younger sisters. On this day, apart from the recuperating Bai Jinxiu and the seventh girl Bai Jinse, who caught a cold, all the Bai sisters were at the Dong family¡¯s mansion. Although their cousins at the Dong family were not as bold as the daughters of the Bai Mansion, they were not the troublesome sort and got along well with the Bai girls. When they left, the fifth and sixth girls left, their arms full of trinkets given by their elders and cousins. They were reluctant to part with them and did not let their maids touch their treasures, eagerly playing with them as soon as they were on the carriage. ¡°How skillful our Dong family cousin is, making these birds look so lifelike!¡± Bai Jinzhi marveled at the pair of paper birds in her hands. ¡°It¡¯s nice to be young! I also wanted these paper birds but felt too embarrassed to ask due to my age¡­¡± Hearing this, Bai Jinzhao immediately snatched the paper birds from Bai Jinzhi¡¯s hands and cradled them in her arms: ¡°Fourth Sister is grown-up now. She shouldn¡¯t be snatching from younger ones. Second Sister is recovering¡­ and Seventh Sister has a cold. They missed the fun with the cousins today, so these are tokens I will take back for Second Sister and Seventh Sister!¡± Bai Jintong and Bai Qingyan were amused and burst into laughter. Suddenly, the sound of reins being pulled came from the front, and the carriage of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence slowly came to a halt. ¡°First Miss!¡± Hearing the call, Bai Qingyan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside, only to hear a servant from the Duke¡¯s residence say: ¡°First Miss, there is a girl from King Liang¡¯s mansion kneeling at our gate asking to see you. Steward Hao sent me to inform you.¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Character_1 Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Character_1 Hearing the name King Liang, Bai Qingyan¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted, and a chilling aura instantly spread. Before she could ask, Bai Jinzhi anxiously lifted the curtain and, unable to suppress her temper, asked, ¡°What¡¯s the maid from King Liang¡¯s residence causing a ruckus at our mansion for?¡± Bai Jinzhi was seriously furious. The other day, such a commotion was made at the Duke¡¯s mansion, selling off thirty-nine people from five households altogether, just because King Liang had bribed the gatekeeper¡¯s wife, who daily colluded with Chun Yan by Eldest Young Lady¡¯s side. And now, a maid from King Liang¡¯s residence dared to come openly. ¡°The maid from King Liang¡¯s residence said she wanted to plead with Miss Bai, asking Miss Bai to spare her life. Steward Hao sent some grannies and stewards to inquire, but the girl insisted on not speaking without seeing Miss Bai and refused to enter the mansion. She¡¯s kneeling and crying at the gate of our Duke¡¯s mansion! Now there¡¯s a big crowd gathered at our gate.¡± With a cold face, Bai Qingyan asked, ¡°When did this happen? Did it alarm my mother?¡± ¡°A quarter of an hour ago. Steward Hao did not dare to alarm Madam.¡± The servant from the Duke¡¯s mansion quickly replied. ¡°Go back and tell Steward Hao not to alarm my mother. Since she¡¯s here for me, we¡¯ll return respectfully through the front gate. I also want to ask her¡ªhow this maid from King Liang¡¯s residence needs me to spare her life.¡± After finishing, she lowered the curtain, her face heavy with contemplation. Bai Jintong, always perceptive, quickly sensed something unusual: ¡°From King Liang¡¯s residence? Eldest Young Lady, King Liang¡¯s mansion first bribed Chun Yan by your side to spy on your secrets. Then they sent this maid. I guess¡­ they want to use your reputation as leverage! Eldest Young Lady, do you have any idea?¡± She pursed her lips, looking at Bai Jintong without speaking. The other day, the Duke¡¯s mansion had just made a grand example of itself, and she thought she was being overly cautious about King Liang using underhanded methods. She didn¡¯t expect that in just four days, King Liang would impatiently send someone. She truly overestimated King Liang¡¯s character. ¡°What¡¯s to fear from a mere maid?! If she dares to misbehave¡­ see if I don¡¯t whip her to death! Eldest Young Lady, you just return to the mansion, and I¡¯ll ensure she can¡¯t utter a single word!¡± Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, gripping the whip at her waist. ¡°It¡¯s better to let it flow than to block it. Let¡¯s see what the maid has to say first, then think of a countermeasure¡­¡± She looked up, smiling at Bai Jinzhi. ¡°Fourth Sister, stand among the crowd and keep a sharp eye. Make sure that girl doesn¡¯t harm herself in front of me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eldest Young Lady!¡± Bai Jinzhi patted her chest in assurance. Bai Qingyan¡¯s words made Bai Jintong understand the meaning immediately: ¡°Right, we can¡¯t let her create a scene of a loyal servant from King Liang¡¯s mansion begging Eldest Young Lady to meet King Liang. People might think our Eldest Young Lady indeed had an affair with King Liang.¡± Bai Jinzhi nodded, feeling more solemn. ¡°Eldest Young Lady, what about me?¡± ¡°And me! And me!¡± Seeing the eager faces of Little Five and Little Six waiting for her orders, she couldn¡¯t help but smile softly. She touched the foreheads of the two children with warmth in her eyes: ¡°You two¡­ return to the mansion with the carriage, go and play with your Seventh Sister. Don¡¯t get involved, or the two ponies I prepared for your birthdays will be gone!¡± She didn¡¯t want her young sisters to witness such filth. Their world should be clean, and she was willing to safeguard it with all her might. Upon hearing that Bai Qingyan was giving them Blood Sweat Ponies, their clear eyes instantly brightened. Ecstatically, they promised not to watch the commotion. Before getting off the carriage, Bai Qingyan saw Hongqiao kneeling properly at the gate of the Duke¡¯s mansion, and she narrowed her eyes. In her previous life, Bai Qingyan had seen Hongqiao in King Liang¡¯s residence. This maid was very loyal to King Liang. Later, King Liang went to Pingshan to suppress bandits, and Hongqiao sacrificed herself to the bandit leader, helping King Liang eliminate the bandits in one swoop. But Hongqiao ultimately died in Pingshan. It was commendable that King Liang thought highly enough of her to send someone as trusted as Hongqiao. Seeing the elegantly decorated carriage slowly stop at the front gate, Hongqiao¡¯s hands tightened at her sides. Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan off the carriage, with Bai Jintong following closely behind. ¡°Miss Bai has arrived¡­¡± The crowd murmured. Ignoring Hongqiao, who was kneeling on the ground, Bai Qingyan walked straight up the high steps of the Duke¡¯s mansion. Hongqiao, in a panic, inched forward on her knees, quickly calling out, ¡°Miss Bai, I am a maid from King Liang¡¯s mansion, Hongqiao! I know Miss Bai is angry with His Highness because of my shameless service to him, so you cut off ties with His Highness! You refused to accept the Jade Pendant from His Highness¡­ even when he was gravely injured and came to see you personally, you didn¡¯t meet him!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes widened, about to speak up, but she was stopped by Bai Qingyan, who turned and held her hand. Hongqiao cried even more pitifully, ¡°Miss Bai¡­ I am just a lowly maid. Though I admire His Highness, I only hope to serve by his side. I have no other extravagant hopes! His Highness¡¯s heart is only for Miss Bai. How can Miss Bai harm your relationship with His Highness over a humble, disgraceful maid like me? Because you refused to meet him, His Highness, overwhelmed with anger, coughed up blood upon returning. I am truly helpless, begging Miss Bai to save His Highness! Today, I swear by my life¡­ I will no longer obstruct you and His Highness. I only ask Miss Bai to forgive him!¡± Finishing, Hongqiao pulled out the hairpin from her head and aimed it at her heart. From the crowd, Bai Jinzhi was quick to act. The whip¡¯s cracking sound filled the air, precisely striking Hongqiao¡¯s wrist, sending the hairpin flying far away! Bai Jinzhi then controlled Hongqiao. Rage flared up in Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart, her eyes revealing a fierce coldness. For King Liang, this Hongqiao was willing to sacrifice everything. Not only was she eloquent, but she also tried to establish that she and King Liang had an affair. ¡°What a vicious tactic!¡± Bai Jintong gritted her teeth. If it weren¡¯t for Eldest Young Lady being prepared and instructing Bai Jinzhi to watch from the crowd, if Hongqiao had really died in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion, even a thousand explanations from Eldest Young Lady wouldn¡¯t have cleared her name. ¡°Miss Bai, His Highness cannot be without you! This foolish maid didn¡¯t know what else to do! A worthless life like mine can only plead with death for Miss Bai to ease her anger! Please forgive His Highness!¡± Hongqiao cried hysterically. The onlookers murmured, as if uncovering a shocking secret. This seemingly upright Miss Bai appeared to have an affair with King Liang. Hongqiao¡¯s words turned Chun Tao¡¯s face livid with anger. Publicly, this maid implied that their Miss Bai had an affair with King Liang! Chun Tao couldn¡¯t help but resent Chun Yan even more: ¡°Say another word, and I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡± ¡°Let her speak. If she doesn¡¯t, how would I know what¡¯s going on¡­¡± Bai Qingyan glanced at the old woman at the door, calmly smiling, ¡°Bring me a chair.¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Outsmarting Oneself_1 Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Outsmarting Oneself_1 Hongqiao¡¯s heart pounded. She had long known Miss Bai¡¯s formidable reputation. Initially planning to confess and then die, leaving Bai Qingyan no room for rebuttal, she was unexpectedly restrained. Her heart filled with panic. Bai Qingyan sat leisurely on the chair brought by the housemaid, handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao, and instructed her to add a piece of charcoal. Only then did she speak slowly, ¡°From what I hear, you intend to accuse me of having an affair with King Liang?¡± Hongqiao¡¯s heart pounded fiercely. She avoided Bai Qingyan¡¯s words and continued to cry, ¡°Miss Bai, His Highness can¡¯t eat or sleep well because of you. He came personally four days ago despite his serious injury, but you still refused to see him! I¡¯m afraid His Highness won¡¯t survive if this continues!¡± ¡°Jintong, instruct the steward to visit King Liang¡¯s mansion. If King Liang is not seriously ill, please have him come personally. His maid is causing a ruckus at the front gate of our Duke¡¯s mansion. If King Liang is too ill to move, then I¡¯ll have to trouble the Eldest Princess to visit and resolve the matter at King Liang¡¯s gate!¡± She firmly directed Bai Jintong, then turned back to Hongqiao with a smile, maintaining an air of integrity, ¡°This concerns my reputation. It must be clarified!¡± Hongqiao was about to speak but was cut off by Bai Qingyan, ¡°But since Miss Hongqiao said that King Liang came to our Bai Mansion four days ago, it seems his injury isn¡¯t too severe, so he should be able to come.¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s piercing eyes hid a sharp edge. Hongqiao shivered from her cold, bone-chilling smile, panicking completely. King Liang had sent someone with Hongqiao. Realizing the situation wasn¡¯t favorable, that person immediately rushed back to report to King Liang. However, the steward from the Duke¡¯s mansion arrived much faster than King Liang anticipated. Just as his man finished explaining the situation at the Duke¡¯s mansion gate, they were informed that the Duke¡¯s steward had arrived to invite him. King Liang sat by the brazier with his eyes closed, furious at Hongqiao for not following the plan. She was too eager to use her life to falsely accuse Bai Qingyan of an affair, resulting in a blunder. Though King Liang knew this was a display of Hongqiao¡¯s loyalty to him, her haste had ruined everything. Thinking about how Bai Qingyan had publicly dealt with her cousin, infuriating the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, and the incident at the palace banquet, King Liang felt uneasy about confronting Bai Qingyan now. If only Du Zhiwei were here, he could advise on how to handle this! King Liang felt his wound tightening and his head aching terribly. After calming down and thinking carefully, King Liang had Tongji help him change clothes. He realized restoring his relationship with Bai Qingyan was more important than forcing her to be with him. His reputation for being weak and incompetent was well-known. He didn¡¯t fear appearing humble in front of Bai Qingyan. As long as he insisted that his feelings for her were genuine and claimed that Hongqiao had acted rashly without his knowledge, it would be fine. Originally, King Liang didn¡¯t want to be publicly associated with the Duke¡¯s mansion, fearing future entanglements. But now¡­ he had no choice. Making his affections for Bai Qingyan known might work. In the worst case, he could use his ¡°weakness¡± to implore the emperor for a marriage decree, which Bai Qingyan would never dare defy! As he donned his cloak, King Liang realized his excessive reliance on Du Zhiwei. Without him, it felt like having lost his wings. He needed to find another suitable advisor soon. Quickly, the steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion, Tongji, and Gao Sheng hurried to the gate of the Duke¡¯s mansion. Seeing the large crowd at the Duke¡¯s gate, the steward hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Miss Bai, I apologize. I am the steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion. It¡¯s my fault for not managing the household well, causing you trouble. I will take her back immediately!¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± She looked at the steward with a smile, ¡°Where is His Highness?¡± ¡°Our Highness vomited blood halfway in the carriage and has been sent back to the mansion! Surely Miss Bai doesn¡¯t insist on His Highness coming to retrieve her? If something happens to His Highness, can Miss Bai bear the consequences?!¡± Tongji glared angrily at Bai Qingyan, resenting her stone heart. She didn¡¯t even glance at Tongji, a mere servant of King Liang, unworthy of her notice. ¡°If King Liang is too ill to come, then I¡¯ll trouble you to convey my words to His Highness!¡± She stood up, holding her hand warmer, and looked down at the steward from her high position, ¡°Four days ago, our Duke¡¯s mansion dismissed thirty-nine servants. My personal maid, Chun Yan, was beaten with fifty strokes and still can¡¯t get out of bed. No one knew why! Today, I¡¯ll clarify at the gate of the Duke¡¯s mansion¡­¡± Her stare was fixed on Gao Sheng, King Liang¡¯s trusted aide, with a stern expression, ¡°Because His Highness bribed five of our Duke¡¯s servants to spy on my secrets through my maid. Therefore, my mother broke the legs of those five and sold their entire families. Chun Yan¡­ was spared because she grew up with me and once saved the life of my most valued maid.¡± The steward from King Liang¡¯s mansion was drenched in sweat. Tongji, feeling guilty, stood there nervously. ¡°This young lady said that King Liang sent me a jade pendant, which I didn¡¯t accept, and came personally despite his serious injury, but I still didn¡¯t meet him! Why?!¡± She raised her voice, her expression cold and serious, addressing the steward, ¡°Though I am a woman, I have studied the classics since childhood and understand propriety, righteousness, and integrity! Everything should be done transparently and rightly! If His Highness has feelings for me, he should have sent elders to inquire about my engagement status, and if I were not engaged, then sent a matchmaker! At that time, obeying my parents¡¯ and matchmaker¡¯s words, I, Bai Qingyan, would have had no objections! That would be respectful and honorable!¡± ¡°But look at what His Highness has done. Bribing our Bai family¡¯s servants, secretly gathering information about me through my maid, repeatedly asking my maid to arrange meetings! To avoid embarrassing my grandmother and the Imperial Family, I have tolerated it repeatedly! I thought that by dismissing the servants and setting an example, as long as our Duke¡¯s mansion, and I, Bai Qingyan, maintained self-respect, there would be nothing to fear! But I never imagined that His Highness would use such despicable and filthy means, ordering the maid to sacrifice her life to tarnish my reputation!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Tongji was infuriated by Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, ¡°Miss Bai, you think too highly of yourself. His Highness is a prince of the current dynasty. He can have anyone! Why insist on you? His Highness didn¡¯t mind your difficulty in having children, yet you pretend to be noble and aloof!¡± ¡°Tongji! Step back!¡± The steward from King Liang¡¯s mansion turned pale. ¡°So, King Liang thinks my difficulty in having children means that if my reputation is ruined, I¡¯ll have no choice but to enter his mansion?!¡± Her face darkened, her presence imposing, ¡°Tell His Highness, the bones of the Bai family are unyielding! Bai Qingyan declares today that even if I marry a pig, a dog, or engage in a posthumous marriage in this life! I will never submit to a treacherous man with vile deeds!¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Evil One_1 Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Evil One_1 ¡°Good!¡± Someone in the crowd couldn¡¯t help but shout out in approval, then quickly pulled back their head, afraid of being seen by King Liang¡¯s men and offending him. Bai Qingyan¡¯s words showed the pride and integrity of the Bai family. They gave people a glimpse into the righteous backbone of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household. With such honest and upright people protecting Jin Kingdom, how could the citizens not feel at ease? ¡°Miss Bai! His Highness never intended for things to be this way! It was all this maid¡¯s own doing!¡± The steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion bowed solemnly to Bai Qingyan. ¡°Miss Bai, please do not let this maid harm the harmony between the Duke of Zhen¡¯s household and King Liang¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°In that case, please ensure that King Liang¡¯s mansion properly disciplines their servants. Do not come to my Bai Mansion causing trouble! His Highness, as a prince, should set an example for the people, stand upright, cultivate his character, and act with integrity. He should know what can and cannot be done. He must not engage in lowly actions like bribing other household servants to spy on the private matters of daughters, thus tarnishing the Imperial Family¡¯s reputation.¡± Bai Qingyan sneered at Tongji, ¡°Fourth Sister! Let her go!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky!¡± Bai Jinzhi, full of resentment, pushed away the kneeling Hongqiao with gritted teeth. If it weren¡¯t for her elder sister stopping her¡­ she would have whipped this lowly maid a hundred times. The normally silent Gao Sheng saw that Hongqiao seemed about to pick up her hairpin and commit suicide. He immediately stopped her. ¡°Guard Gao, let me die! His Highness has always admired Miss Bai. I thought Miss Bai knew I was serving His Highness, which is why she wouldn¡¯t see him. I never expected to cause such a misunderstanding between Miss Bai and His Highness! Miss Bai, it wasn¡¯t His Highness who sent me, I came on my own¡­ You cannot misunderstand His Highness!¡± Hongqiao wept bitterly. ¡°Whether you caused trouble at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion on King Liang¡¯s orders or out of your own selfishness, it doesn¡¯t matter! Bribing our household servants, sending a jade pendant, and secretly requesting to see my elder sister¡­ these were the actions of King Liang!¡± Bai Jintong said coldly, bowing to the steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion. ¡°Please discipline the servants of King Liang¡¯s mansion! If this continues, it might alarm my grandmother, the Eldest Princess¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion hurriedly turned to Gao Sheng, ¡°Guard Gao, take this lowly maid away!¡± Gao Sheng nodded. Bai Qingyan stood at the main gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, watching Gao Sheng walk away, her eyes cold. Gao Sheng was King Liang¡¯s most skilled guard, and Du Zhiwei was King Liang¡¯s most adept counselor. She wondered if today¡¯s act by Hongqiao was arranged by Du Zhiwei. If so¡­ she really overestimated Du Zhiwei. ¡°Let¡¯s go back!¡± she said to Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi. Bai Jinzhi watched the steward of King Liang¡¯s mansion bow and leave, her eyes filled with undisguised hatred. She tightly gripped her whip as she returned to the mansion. ¡¤ As the New Year¡¯s Eve approached, Bai Qingyan felt increasingly uneasy, often waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares of the Bai family¡¯s men all perishing on the front lines in her previous life. Just past 3 AM on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, all was silent. Outside the window, the north wind howled, and the sound of falling snow could be faintly heard. Someone knocked on the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, waking the lightly sleeping Bai Qingyan. She listened to the howling wind outside the window. Waking from a nightmare, her heart pounded. Missing her night guard, Chun Tao, she hoarsely called out, ¡°Chun Tao¡­¡± At the gate, Chun Tao, pale-faced, heard Bai Qingyan call her, glanced back at the main house, and said to Lu Ping at the gate, ¡°The young lady is awake! Please wait a moment, I will inform the young lady!¡± Ignoring the snow and cold, Chun Tao hurriedly ran into the main house. Seeing Bai Qingyan already sitting by the bed, Chun Tao bowed and said, ¡°Miss, Miss Shen sent Wu Zhe to deliver a message. Wu Zhe is bleeding profusely, and I¡¯m afraid he doesn¡¯t have much time left. Lu Ping didn¡¯t want to delay your important matters and came to call on you in the middle of the night!¡± Her scalp tightened, and she quickly stood up, her voice trembling uncontrollably. ¡°Bring me my cloak! Quickly!¡± Bai Qingyan, dressed in white undergarments, put on her cloak and stepped out into the wind. The cold wind, like a knife, wrapped the snow and hit her, instantly piercing through her. ¡°Miss!¡± Lu Ping bowed deeply. She grabbed Lu Ping, ¡°Where is he? Take me to him quickly!¡± Seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s stern face, Lu Ping did not dare delay. He lit a lantern and led the way. Holding Chun Tao¡¯s hand tightly, they hurriedly made their way through the snow to the side gate. The wind and snow beat against her face and eyes like knives, but she didn¡¯t feel the pain, only the chaos in her heart. When they reached the side gate, the wind and snow had made Bai Qingyan frozen and pale. The guard by Wu Zhe¡¯s bedside saw her and struggled to stand up, ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°Miss¡­¡± Wu Zhe struggled to get up, blood dripping from his mouth with every word, a sight that was shocking. Her eyes turned red, and disregarding proper etiquette, she rushed forward and held Wu Zhe with her icy hands, ¡°I¡¯m here¡­¡± Lu Ping hurriedly placed a cushion behind Wu Zhe. After regaining some composure, Wu Zhe spoke hurriedly, ¡°We traveled day and night to the Southern Borders. Just after crossing Chongluan Ridge, we encountered General Fang Yan of the Bai family¡¯s Tiger Camp being pursued. We fought desperately but only managed to save the bamboo slip recording the battle conditions that General Fang Yan protected with his life! General Fang Yan said treacherous officials had harmed the Bai family¡¯s army¡­ then he died! Assassins kept coming, and Miss Shen led Ji Tingyu and Wei Gao to divert them, instructing us to deliver the bamboo slip to you in Dadu no matter what, even if we died!¡± Wu Zhe lowered his head, his hands, crusted with dried blood, trembled as he untied his clothing. The bamboo slip, stained with his blood, was firmly tied to his body. ¡°Wu Zhe, mission accomplished!¡± Chun Tao covered her mouth, shuddering as she saw the bamboo slip almost embedded in Wu Zhe¡¯s bloody flesh. ¡°The bamboo slip, protected with my comrades¡¯ lives, has been safely delivered. Wu Zhe can now face them in the afterlife!¡± She clenched her teeth, her eyes shifting from the bamboo slip, feeling a surge of grief as she looked at Wu Zhe¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Miss, Wu Zhe is not afraid of death. I only ask the Eldest Princess and you never to let the traitors who killed the Bai family¡¯s army go unpunished!¡± Her lips tightened into a line as uncontrollable tears streamed down. Struggling to maintain her composure, she gently patted Wu Zhe¡¯s shoulder, choked with emotion, ¡°On behalf of the tens of thousands of Bai family soldiers, thank you! Rest well. I will ensure you see justice done for the wicked!¡± With a weak smile, Wu Zhe said, ¡°Miss, in the next life¡­ Wu Zhe will still serve the Bai family!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth. She held onto Wu Zhe, her scalp tightening, and shouted, ¡°Uncle Ping! Get Doctor Hong! Get Doctor Hong immediately!¡± Wu Zhe slumped in her arms. Through his blurred vision, he saw Bai Qingyan¡¯s white fox fur stained with his blood. He opened his mouth to apologize, but words failed him as he took his last breath. ¡°Miss, Wu Zhe is gone!¡± Lu Ping knelt on the ground, looking up at Bai Qingyan with tears. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Horrific Tragedy_1 Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Horrific Tragedy_1 Chun Tao tightly covered her mouth and cried out loud. She gripped Wu Zhe¡¯s shoulders firmly. A wave of blood rushed to her heart, wrenching pain surged, almost as if her heart were being torn apart. She wished she could kill those who wanted to harm the Bai family. She closed her eyes, but tears still flowed uncontrollably, her eyes hurt so much that she couldn¡¯t open them. She wanted to scream but couldn¡¯t make a sound. Her rage was boundless, as if it would break through the heavens, yet the pain was filled with utter despair. After half a cup of tea, Chun Tao, with eyes bloodshot, held the bamboo slips Wu Zhe had risked his life to protect. She followed the disheartened Bai Qingyan back. The Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, with its green tiles and red lantern light contrasting with the white snow, was splendid and bright in the silent darkness. Yet, it was cold and desolate. Chun Tao saw Bai Qingyan stumbling under the red lantern corridor. She wanted to reach out to support, but her hands were full and she feared dropping the bamboo slips. Tearfully, she cried: ¡°Miss¡­¡± Bai Qingyan, with her snow-white cloak stained with shocking red, returned to Qinghui Courtyard. In a hoarse voice, she instructed Chun Tao to place the bamboo slips on the desk. Chun Tao, seeing Bai Qingyan¡¯s stiff body and blue-purple face from the cold, spoke: ¡°Miss, let this maid help you change out of these blood-stained clothes and warm yourself up!¡± With gritted teeth, she waved Chun Tao away, staring intently at the bamboo slips flickering in the candlelight. She instructed Chun Tao to wait outside and not to come in. In the warm spring-like room, the decorated copper furnace emitted faint sparks from the Yingshuang coal. She then snapped back to reality, her entire body felt as if it were in an icy cellar, cold and numb. She sat at the desk filled with grief and rage, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the bamboo slips. Her throat hurt so much that she couldn¡¯t speak a word, and the taste of blood lingered between her lips and teeth, refusing to fade. Before her eyes, the bamboo slips recorded the military conditions of the Bai family¡¯s battle in the southern front, even the last moments. In her previous life, she had hoped to obtain them to seek justice for the Bai family. Now that they were in front of her, she hesitated to look. Some things, as long as one hasn¡¯t received the exact news, there remains hope. But once seen, there would be no more hope¡­ Bai Qingyan closed her eyes. After a long time, she took a deep breath and opened the bamboo slips¡­ The five blood-stained bamboo slips, with each word and sentence, leaped before her eyes. Chun Tao, with red eyes, stood guard outside the door. She watched the sky turn pale in the vast falling snow, listening to the heart-wrenching sobs from Bai Qingyan inside the room. Her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. Bai Qingyan tightly clutched the bamboo slips. Her throat constricted, she could hardly breathe. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down in grief and indignation. The fury within her almost consumed her entirely. Seeing the little figurine on the desk, posed to charge with a sword, placed prominently by Chun Tao, she madly swept all the brushes, ink, and paper off the table. After returning gravely injured, if she had practiced diligently like before, how great it would have been to join her grandfather on the battlefield this time! Why did she consider herself weak just because others thought so, spending her days in comfort, being weak! What use was she staying in the Duke¡¯s mansion? What was her use?! She grabbed her chest with all her might, gnashing her gums, unable to stop her tears for the Bai family¡¯s heroes¡­ King Xin!!!!!!! In her previous life, she believed King Xin to be cowardly but reasonable. Even if he went to war with her grandfather, the Bai family men perished entirely. King Xin still returned from a near-death experience. She never imagined it was he who recklessly trusted Liu Huanzhang, forcing her grandfather to advance with a gold medal order. She wished to take her longsword and tear King Xin apart! To see the hearts of those who harmed her Bai family army, to see if they were black! The few words on the five bamboo slips broke her heart into pieces, her insides felt like they were being incinerated! She clenched her teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, holding the bamboo slips desperately. Scenes flooded her mind of her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers¡¯ tragic deaths. The brief records on the bamboo slips depicted the horrifying brutality faced by the Bai family men! Her father, trapped in Fengcheng, ran out of food. To hold off the enemy and help Fengcheng¡¯s civilians, he said to the remaining thousand soldiers defending Fengcheng: ¡°Those with elderly parents at home, step back. Those who have not established a family yet, step back. The rest, those willing to die for the Jin people, come with me to face the enemy!¡± The Bai family¡¯s ten-year-old seventeenth son, Bai Qingdong, stepped forward with his sword, proclaiming his readiness to die in battle alongside his uncle for the Jin people, refusing to live in disgrace. Moved by the ten-year-old, the Bai family army drew their swords, vowing to fight to the death. Her brother Bai Qingyu, at seventeen, guarded the camp with five thousand soldiers. Seeing fifty thousand enemy troops approaching, King Xin fled, while Bai Qingyu decided to defend the line to the death, saying to the soldiers: ¡°Comrades, though we were not born together, today we fight as brothers and blood kin for the Jin people. Toast one last drink; see you in the next life!¡± Her cousin Bai Qingqi died defending Linggu Pass, facing an army of eighty thousand from Xiliang and Nanyan with just ten thousand troops. Before fighting to the death, he proclaimed: ¡°Millions of civilians behind us, can the Bai family army retreat? Dare we retreat?!¡± The loyal Bai family army shouted thrice, no retreat. Her third uncle, Bai Qiyu, when all Bai family men were forced to retreat to Tianmen Pass, called out in one last battle: ¡°Our Marshal Generals have all perished. We are the last line of defense for the Jin people of Pingcheng! This General is willing to lead by example, to kill the enemies who insult my Jin! Those who dare to die, follow me!¡± The Bai family¡¯s men, even in death, held the Jin people¡¯s well-being in their hearts¡­ The entire loyal Bai family, why did Heaven force my Bai family men so?! Why force my Bai family men so?! She held back tears amidst her blood feud, her eyes like a devil from hell, vowing to kill all traitors and dark spirits! But each thought of the words on the bamboo slips stabbed her heart, making her cry in unbearable pain. Her mind muddled, crying and stopping, like a madwoman. Even though she knew the Bai family¡¯s fate, seeing it in the bamboo slips made the tragedy even more unimaginable. Holding the bamboo slips, her disheveled hair scattered, her blood-red eyes stared at the brightening sky outside the window. She felt as though being cut piece by piece, lost in overwhelming grief, wanting to carve out her heart to stop the pain. If she hadn¡¯t ordered Shen Qingzhu to the southern front, met Fang Yan of Tiger Camp during his pursuit, these five bamboo slips might have never seen the light of day like in her previous life. The Bai family, loyal and heroic, would be nailed to the shame of treason. The overwhelming hatred, and the immense pain gnawed at her bones and flesh like ten thousand ants, making her wish for death, feeling as if she were being fried alive in despair and agony. In her extreme pain, she clung to the bamboo slips, crying and laughing¡­ ¡°The brave who terrified their sovereign faced danger. Those whose accomplishments overshadowed the world were exterminated!¡± ¡°Many heroes die in vain, treacherous ministers and thieves create havoc!¡± What did the entire Bai family men ever do wrong?! Their loyalty and fiery blood¡­ all buried in the southern front. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Atonement_1 Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Atonement_1 Chun Tao originally listened to Bai Qingyan¡¯s heavy, suppressed sobs coming intermittently from inside the room. She cried like rain but didn¡¯t dare to go in and comfort her. Now, hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s eerie laughter, she felt as restless as an ant on a hot pan, unsure of what to do. Chun Xing heard the sound. She hurriedly dressed, buttoning her top while rushing out of the side room, and asked Chun Tao, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the young lady?! Why are you standing outside the door instead of going in to check on her?!¡± Chun Tao wiped away her tears, grabbed Chun Xing¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°You stay here. Don¡¯t let anyone in! I¡¯ll go get the Third Young Lady!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Chun Xing¡¯s face turned pale with fear as she nodded repeatedly. Chun Tao ran through the snow, slipping and sliding along the way, heading straight for Bai Jintong¡¯s courtyard. As soon as she entered the yard, she knelt at the main room¡¯s door and cried out, ¡°Third Young Lady! Third Young Lady, please go see our Eldest Young Lady quickly!¡± Bai Jintong, who had just finished her morning exercises, heard the cry and lifted the curtain to step out, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Chun Tao¡¯s eyes were swollen from crying, ¡°Please, Third Young Lady, go check on her!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s face turned pale as she hurried towards the courtyard gate without even bothering with her cloak. The Green Bamboo Pavilion, where Bai Jinxiu resided, was very close to Bai Jintong¡¯s Bitong Garden. Habitually an early riser, Bai Jinxiu was leaning by the window reading when she heard the commotion. She quickly instructed Mrs. Liu to stay in the Green Bamboo Pavilion to look after Qingshu, then went out to see what was happening. As soon as Qingshu stepped out of the courtyard gate, she saw Chun Tao and one of Bai Jintong¡¯s maids hurrying towards Qinghui Courtyard. Qingshu quickly returned to report to Bai Jinxiu, ¡°Second Young Lady, I saw Chun Tao following closely behind the Third Young Lady, heading towards the Eldest Young Lady¡¯s place.¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s grip on her book tightened as she thought of Bai Qingyan¡¯s illness and her recent busy days. A cold shiver ran down her spine. She threw off the blanket, ¡°Qingshu, dress me. I have to go to the Eldest Young Lady!¡± ¡°Second Young Lady, it¡¯s still snowing outside. Your head injury¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m much better now! Just get me a thicker fur hat!¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s anxiety for the Eldest Young Lady made her impatient. Qingshu dared not argue further and quickly prepared a cloak and hat, then helped Bai Jinxiu make her way through the snow towards Qinghui Courtyard. As Bai Jinxiu reached the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, she heard Bai Jintong calling softly at the door, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, it¡¯s me, Jintong. May I come in?¡± Getting no response from Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong dared not enter without permission. She turned to Chun Tao and asked, ¡°What happened to the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Chun Tao knew it was a serious matter. She bit her lip and shook her head with tears in her eyes. ¡°Jintong, what happened to the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Holding onto Qingshu¡¯s arm, Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand began to sweat. She walked quickly to the eaves, ¡°Did her illness act up again?!¡± ¡°Second Sister, you¡­ why are you here too?!¡± Bai Jintong quickly took a step forward to support Bai Jinxiu. Then the room¡¯s sliding door creaked open. Chun Tao hurried to lift the curtain, revealing Bai Qingyan, whose white inner garments were half stained with blood, standing between the two doors. Bai Jinxiu¡¯s legs went weak, and she almost collapsed, ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s pale face was as calm as still water. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her messy hair had been combed neatly. Her aura was like a violent undercurrent, sharp and menacing as if she were a demon from hell. ¡°Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, come in. Everyone else¡­ wait outside the gate of Qinghui Courtyard. No one is to approach!¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, your clothes¡­¡± She walked towards the inner room first, ¡°It¡¯s not my blood. Come in.¡± Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong had the servants leave the courtyard and stand guard outside the door. Holding each other¡¯s hands, they entered the main room and saw Bai Qingyan standing with her back to them in front of the stove. Bai Jinxiu called softly, ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Qingyan closed her sore eyes. She had returned to life to protect her family and her sisters. So, she couldn¡¯t collapse, couldn¡¯t go mad, couldn¡¯t fall. No matter how much hatred she felt, she couldn¡¯t let it disrupt her plans and seek reckless revenge. Having lived through the events of a previous life, she was a daughter of the Bai Clan of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. She had to hold on, to see those traitors and villains damned to hell, paying for their sins against her entire clan. After a long pause, she said hoarsely, ¡°Jintong, close the door. I have something to say.¡± Bai Jintong closed the door and walked with Bai Jinxiu to stand behind Bai Qingyan, ¡°Eldest Young Lady.¡± She raised her eyes to look at five blood-stained bamboo slips on the desk. Her breath was hot and erratic. She closed her eyes and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you before because I hadn¡¯t confirmed the news¡­¡± Bai Qingyan turned around, looking at the tense and bewildered faces of Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong. Choking with sobs, she said, ¡°Grandfather, my father, second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle, fifth uncle¡­ along with seventeen sons of our Bai family, all¡­ perished in battle in the southern border.¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s eyes widened, and she nearly fainted, feeling as if the sky had collapsed. The wound on her forehead throbbed, the blood pulsing as if it would break through the scab. ¡°How could¡­ all of them¡­ all of them¡­¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably, choked by her sobs, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, the news must be wrong!¡± In their previous life, the news also came, and the Bai family couldn¡¯t believe it. She walked to the desk, placing her hand on the five bamboo slips. The veins on the back of her hand bulged, her unhappy emotions almost bursting out, yet she stubbornly swallowed them back. Having lived two lifetimes, how could she be so easily defeated? ¡°This is the record of the march and battles by the historian who accompanied the Bai family army.¡± She picked up two bamboo slips. ¡°Fang Yan, the commander of the Bai family army¡¯s Tiger Camp, Shen Qingzhu, and our guard Wu Zhe risked their lives to save these five bamboo slips. Shen Qingzhu¡¯s whereabouts are now unknown¡­ Fang Yan and Wu Zhe have died. The blood on these slips is Wu Zhe¡¯s, Fang Yan¡¯s, and also that of our hundreds of thousands of Bai family soldiers.¡± Bai Qingyan placed one bamboo slip in Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand and another in Bai Jintong¡¯s hand. Looking at her two weeping sisters, she said, ¡°Let it be known that our Bai family men did not die by the blades of foreign enemies, but from the Jin Emperor¡¯s suspicion, and at the hands of our own Jin Kingdom!¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s tears fell like broken strings. Trembling, she opened the bamboo slip in her hand. Bai Jintong also quickly opened her bamboo slip, scanning it with tear-filled eyes. After reading one, Bai Jintong burst into tears. She staggered back to the desk, opened another slip, her entire body trembling, crying pitifully. Bai Qingyan stood stiffly by the fire basin. Even though she had cried herself to madness, her eyes still ached with tears welling up. She felt cold to the bone, shivering uncontrollably, even standing so close to the fire couldn¡¯t warm her. Standing at the desk, Bai Jinxiu picked up the bamboo slip, desperately gasping for breath in her sorrow, clinging to the slip as she collapsed to the ground, ¡°Little Seventeen¡­ he¡¯s only ten! He¡¯s only ten years old!¡± Holding back her tears, Bai Jintong turned her grief into rage. Her eyes burned with fire, fists clenching so hard they cracked, as she turned and stormed out. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Loyal Bones_1 Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Loyal Bones_1 ¡°Stop! Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Bai Qingyan didn¡¯t even turn her head but stopped Bai Jintong. ¡°Heaven is unfair to my Bai family! We have been loyal and served the people for generations. How did we end up like this? I¡¯m risking this life to kill that dog Emperor! To kill Liu Huanzhang and his whole family!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s hatred was so overwhelming that he wanted to pierce the sky, making the entire Jin Kingdom bury with the Bai family¡¯s men. ¡°Can you avenge all the men of the Bai family with just your life?!¡± She turned her head, her bloodshot eyes staring at Bai Jintong. ¡°And then?!¡± ¡°And then?!¡± Bai Jintong gritted his teeth. ¡°Kill Liu Huanzhang¡¯s whole family? And do you really think you can kill King Xin? Can you really kill the Emperor? Even if you¡¯re invincible and succeed, what will happen to the remaining women of the Bai family?! The crime of regicide¡­ do you want the women of the Bai family to perish along with your reckless bravery?! I know you¡¯re not afraid of death¡­ but what about facing our grandfather after death? Facing your father?!¡± Looking at Bai Jintong¡¯s desolate and aching expression, she suppressed the immense hatred and anger in her heart, tears in her eyes as she tried to persuade him, ¡°Grandmother is the Eldest Princess of this dynasty. How can you face her after killing King Xin and the Emperor?!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s immense anger deflated, and he slumped against the door, kneeling softly with tears flowing, ¡°But why do we have to suffer like this? The Bai family saved the people of Jin, but who will save the loyal souls of the Bai family?!¡± ¡°The courage of a brute¡­ it¡¯s common among men¡­¡± She bent down, picked up the bamboo slip from the ground, carefully rolled it up, and placed it on the redwood desk. ¡°Killing is the easiest, and also the most foolish!¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, do you have a plan?¡± Bai Jinxiu asked hoarsely, suppressing her grief. ¡°The art of war says, the expert fighter seeks victory from the situation. We have no power or allies in the court. We must leverage the situation and public opinion to seek justice for the spirits of the Bai family.¡± She threw the clay figure of a horse-riding swordsman into the brazier. Sparks flew and the flames burst, reflecting in her ice-cold dark pupils. With her eyes burning with immense hatred, Bai Qingyan regained her composure, and Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu¡¯s intense grief and anger gradually calmed down as well. With a backbone, people no longer felt so helpless and at a loss. Watching the flames devour the small clay figure entirely, she lowered her voice and said, ¡°In Qinghui Courtyard, crying is enough! We have elderly Grandmother above, and young sisters below! Fifth Aunt is pregnant! We must not¡­ cannot be weak and fall! We must stand and support Mother and the Aunts, to uphold the Bai family!¡± Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu felt that although Bai Qingyan appeared weak and thin, her gaze was intense and powerful, instilling trust and reliance. ¡°Jintong understands!¡± Bai Jintong gritted his teeth. ¡°Jinxiu understands!¡± Bai Jinxiu choked out a response. ¡°I will talk to Mother. Jinxiu will talk to Second Aunt¡­ and Jintong, you will talk to Third Aunt!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was weak. Although Bai Jintong was an illegitimate child, she had been raised alongside Bai Jinzhi by Mrs. Li for years, considering Mrs. Li her birth mother. ¡°Do not mention the bamboo slip. It¡¯s our most important card.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Tomorrow night, the news of Grandfather and the others¡¯ deaths in battle will come. Be prepared!¡± She closed her eyes¡­ the New Year¡¯s Eve when the news of their deaths arrived in her previous life. The desperate cries of the Bai family amidst the splendid fireworks. Closing her eyes brought back the desolation that enveloped the entire Duke¡¯s mansion. The three sisters embraced each other, tears streaming like threads. An hour later, Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu emerged dazedly from Qinghui Courtyard. The maids quickly returned inside to fetch water, handle basins, and assist Bai Qingyan in washing her face and changing clothes. This morning, Chun Tao had frantically gone to Bitong Garden to fetch Bai Jintong and then drove a group of maids and woman servants to the outside of Qinghui Courtyard. This incident had spread. Before Bai Qingyan had a chance to look for Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Dong had already arrived at Qinghui Courtyard. Upon entering, seeing Bai Qingyan safe and sound and in the process of changing, Mrs. Dong sighed with relief, placing her hand on her chest with a handkerchief. ¡°Did something happen this morning? Why did Chun Tao urgently go to find Jintong?¡± Bai Qingyan, seeing Mrs. Dong seated on the soft couch, waved for Chun Tao and the others to leave. ¡°Mother¡­¡± Bai Qingyan sat close to Mrs. Dong, holding her arm. Her eyes reddened. She hesitated to speak, only calling softly, ¡°Mother! Mother¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Mrs. Dong looked at her daughter¡¯s tear-stifled face, her smile stiffening. A bad premonition formed in her heart. Her eldest daughter had always been composed. When had she ever cried in front of her? ¡°Mother¡­¡± Bai Qingyan took a deep breath and raised her head. Tears streamed down as she clung to Mrs. Dong¡¯s arm, her voice choked. ¡°Grandfather, Father¡­ and Brother, they aren¡¯t coming back! The military report will probably arrive tomorrow.¡± Mrs. Dong was stunned by the news as if the world had collapsed. Her mind went blank, her face lost all color, and her spine felt weak. She almost slid off the soft couch. ¡°Mother¡­¡± Bai Qingyan hugged Mrs. Dong tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! We still have Kid!¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back her tears in front of her mother. She thought she had returned¡­ gained an advantage at least to fight the King of Hell, if not for a draw, at least to save one¡­ even just one! Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice, Mrs. Dong snapped back, her eyes reddened, tightly clutching the handkerchief, holding back tears. After a while, she reached out, embraced Bai Qingyan, and said hoarsely, ¡°Your father and brother were born into a family of Generals. When they went to the battlefield, I was prepared for this. When your father previously returned victorious with our son, I could hold a banquet to celebrate. Now that they rest in peace on the battlefield, I can handle the aftermath for them! Kid, do not be afraid¡­ I am the mistress of the Duke¡¯s mansion! I can hold up!¡± In her past life, when the news arrived, Grandmother fainted¡­ Aunts and sisters cried together. Her mother was the one who held up the collapsing sky of the Bai family. She remembered it clearly. Although her mother didn¡¯t know martial arts and had never been on a battlefield, she was more resilient and strong-willed than those iron-blooded men. Otherwise¡­ she wouldn¡¯t have left the ¡°Asking the Emperor¡± letter and resolutely led the Aunts to their deaths. But how much pain and suffering must her mother endure, losing her husband and son?! She knew her mother was holding on desperately. It wasn¡¯t that she could hold up¡­ but that she knew as the head of the household, she must hold up. Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong tightly. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s okay¡­ In front of Kid, you don¡¯t have to hold up! Kid will stay with you¡­ always stay with you.¡± Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Entrusting Life and Death_1 Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Entrusting Life and Death_1 Mrs. Dong tightly bit her lips, gently patted Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand that was holding her, her nostrils flared, and she closed her eyes as tears immediately streamed down. On the twenty-ninth of December in the Xuanjia period, heavy snowfall, the wives of the master of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion¡ªMrs. Dong and the second wife, Mrs. Liu, the third wife, Mrs. Li, the fourth wife, Mrs. Wang, the fifth wife, Mrs. Qi¡ªlearned one after another that all the men of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion had perished in the Southern Frontier. The pain was unbearable. While the entire Dadu City brimmed with festive joy, the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion was shrouded in gloom. The concubines, maids, and older servants within the mansion, sensing something unusual, kept to themselves and did not dare to make noise. In the upper room of the Eldest Princess Changshou Courtyard, Mrs. Dong, the princely heir¡¯s wife, managed to maintain her composure. She firmly held the hand of her daughter Bai Jinse, consoling her not to be afraid. The second wife sobbed endlessly, wiping her tears. The third wife sat there as if her soul had left, her face devoid of color. The fourth wife, inherently weak in character, would have collapsed if it weren¡¯t for the twin daughters, the fifth and sixth girls, holding her hands tightly. Only the fifth wife forced herself to stay strong like Mrs. Dong, sitting upright with a straight back, her eyes red, hands protectively covering her belly, biting her lips and saying nothing. Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinse all sat by their respective mothers. The Eldest Princess fiddled with the Buddha Beads in her hand, her eyes closed. The tears she couldn¡¯t hold back eventually traced down her cheeks. ¡°Fifth son¡¯s wife is heavily pregnant. Fourth daughter-in-law¡¯s timid nature renders her incapable. This Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion has flourished for a hundred years, and now this far, the way forward¡­ has to rely on the eldest, second, and third daughters-in-law to support!¡± The Eldest Princess looked weary. ¡°Start preparing what needs to be prepared! Do not wait until¡­ until the news arrives to catch us off guard.¡± ¡°Yes, daughter-in-law understands!¡± Mrs. Dong nodded with tears. ¡°The Duke, the eldest, second, third, fourth, fifth sons, and¡­ seventeen children! The coffins transported back will undoubtedly be makeshift!¡± The Eldest Princess kept her eyes closed, yet tears constantly flowed out. ¡°The Duke¡¯s coffin had long been prepared! Today is the twenty-ninth of December, the coffin shops might all be closed. Eldest daughter-in-law¡­¡± Before the Eldest Princess could finish, Bai Qingyan spoke up: ¡°Then we wait for the news to return, and we go borrow, we borrow from the whole world¡­¡± The Eldest Princess slightly opened her eyes, the candlelight stinging her sore, swollen eyes. ¡°Grandmother, only by placing the heroic spirits in the harshest condition and letting the world see what our Bai family has done for this country and its people can we make those who wronged the Bai family feel guilty. So the current Emperor can remember our Bai family¡¯s contributions, treat our Bai family¡¯s widows kindly, and protect them from harm.¡± Bai Qingyan knew clearly, as long as it benefitted the Bai family without revolting, her grandmother would agree. The Eldest Princess looked at Bai Qingyan and nodded: ¡°Do as Kid says.¡± ¡°After the major affairs are settled, if any concubines in the family wish to seek a different future, return their indentures and give them five hundred taels of silver, let them leave! Everyone should settle in your own rooms, do not trouble your eldest sister-in-law.¡± The Eldest Princess, with her remaining bit of compassion, hesitated for a long time before speaking again, ¡°If you do not wish to stay in this home either, you can choose to leave then! Do not be afraid¡­ even if you leave the Duke¡¯s Mansion, as long as I live, the Duke¡¯s Mansion will always be your home.¡± The words of the Eldest Princess moved the second wife, Mrs. Liu, the third wife, Mrs. Li, and the fourth wife, Mrs. Wang, to tears again. The three of them covered their mouths, crying for their husbands and sons. Even though they had cried countless times, thinking again of their husbands and sons still tore at their hearts. ¡°Mother, I promised Big Brother. He guarded Jin for the people, I guard the Bai family for him, sharing honor and disgrace, life and death, and I will not fail in this life.¡± Mrs. Dong spoke of her husband with an indescribable gentleness, ¡°Although he has died, the vow remains. I will not fail the Bai family, alive I am the Bai family¡¯s matriarch, and dead a spirit of the Bai family.¡± The Eldest Princess nodded, closing her eyes, her tears streaming, too choked to speak. Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong¡¯s hand, even colder than hers, gently rubbing it to warm her. In the previous life¡­ her mother Mrs. Dong truly fulfilled what she had said. In fact, her mother and the aunts were lucky to have a mother-in-law as understanding as her grandmother. In this life, she no longer wanted to see her mother and aunts sacrifice themselves for the Bai family¡¯s justice. Perhaps her heart was too narrow, unable to let go of the deaths of her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers in both lives. Rebirthing back¡­ She lived solely for revenge! So she truly hoped her mother and aunts could move beyond the grief of losing their husbands and sons. Maybe even remarry. In the mire of all Bai family¡¯s hatred¡­ her alone was enough. ¡¤ From the twenty-ninth of December to New Year¡¯s Eve, it felt exceptionally long. Like condemned prisoners already knowing their fate, but not knowing when the executioner¡¯s knife would fall. Bai Qingyan was lost in thought as she sat in the pavilion by the rockery until Lu Ping came to report back on Wu Zhe¡¯s aftermath, bringing her back to reality. ¡°According to Miss¡¯s instructions, I sent the deed for two hundred acres of prime land to Wu Zhe¡¯s parents and retrieved five hundred taels of silver from the accounts, giving them to Wu Zhe¡¯s parents and wife. I informed them that Wu Zhe died on a mission due to banditry. The expenditure for Wu Zhe¡¯s funeral will be fully covered by the Duke¡¯s Mansion. Wu Zhe¡¯s wife is due in February, and at least she will have an heir. So, Miss, please don¡¯t feel too sad!¡± said Lu Ping. Bai Qingyan nodded, looking a bit weary: ¡°Thank you, Uncle Ping¡­¡± Lu Ping knew why Wu Zhe had died, naturally, he also knew about the Southern Frontier battlefield. His eyes reddened. Seeing Bai Qingyan in this state, Lu Ping, being a rough person, didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. He only said: ¡°Miss, Qin Shangzhi said Miss has an extraordinary vision. Where he sees ten steps, Miss sees ninety-nine steps. He also said if Miss were a man, the Bai family¡¯s glory could continue for at least three more generations! I believe what he said! Although the Duke and others have¡­ have left, Miss, you must hold on.¡± Bai Qingyan never expected to receive praise from Qin Shangzhi. This man had always been arrogant about his talents. She hadn¡¯t heard of him complimenting many people in her past life. ¡°I know, Uncle Ping, don¡¯t worry. I will hold on!¡± Being reincarnated and experiencing it twice, if she couldn¡¯t hold on, it would betray Heaven¡¯s good will in letting her return. Seeing Chun Tao bringing Chen Qingsheng from the rockery, Lu Ping finally bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan and withdrew. Chen Qingsheng met Lu Ping at the rockery steps, exchanged polite greetings, then hurried to the pavilion. ¡°Miss!¡± Chen Qingsheng greeted. ¡°Today is New Year¡¯s Eve, originally you should be with your family. But I have an urgent task that requires someone trustworthy, so forgive me for burdening you!¡± She held onto the hand warmer, eyes downcast, voice hoarse. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Forge Ahead_1 Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Forge Ahead_1 ¡°Bai Qingyan, please speak! I will not shirk even in death!¡± Chen Qingsheng hurriedly said. She looked up at Chen Qingsheng and spoke slowly, ¡°Tonight, there might be war news from the southern border. Take more people to guard the city gate. Once you see the messenger carrying the eight-hundred-mile urgent military report, make sure to let the people of Dadu City know. Find a way to lead the people to gather in front of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence.¡± Since ancient times in the Jin Kingdom, if the news was of victory, the messenger would enter the gates of Dadu City proclaiming the victorious news to let the people celebrate. If it was bad news, the messenger would present the report to the Emperor in the palace first. If the leading general had died, the palace would send someone to notify the soldier¡¯s family to prepare for mourning. After Bai Qingyan¡¯s previous scene, the people of the entire Dadu City were exceptionally concerned about the Bai family and the war in the southern border. If the messenger entered the city without reporting, and someone led the people¡­ they would naturally come to the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence to wait for news from the palace. When the news of the Bai family¡¯s men dying to protect the Jin Kingdom spread, she wanted the people of Dadu City to see what the Bai family had done to protect Jin. She wanted the people to witness the Bai family¡¯s tragedy and mourn with them! In this way, as long as the Emperor made any move against the Bai family, it would surely incite public resentment and anger. The Emperor always cherished his reputation. As long as he still feared the pen of the historians and the overwhelming public anger, even if he had the thought of eliminating the Bai family, he wouldn¡¯t dare touch the Bai family¡¯s widows. Although Chen Qingsheng didn¡¯t know what Bai Qingyan intended to do, he nodded in agreement, ¡°Bai Qingyan, rest assured.¡± ¡°There is another matter. Do your best to find out, but it¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t.¡± She looked at the red plum in the snow not far away and continued, ¡°Two months ago, the supplies sent to the southern border, which were prepared by the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, went through whose hands? I want to know the names.¡± Involving the royal court, Chen Qingsheng was surprised. But knowing this batch of supplies was likely related to the southern border war, he agreed without hesitation, ¡°Bai Qingyan, rest assured, I will fulfill my duty!¡± ¡¤ The sky on New Year¡¯s Eve hadn¡¯t fully darkened, and brilliant fireworks already bloomed in the air. Bai Qingyan stood under the corridor, quietly looking up at the sky, waiting for the news to arrive. Chun Tao, her eyes red, carried a thick cloak to Bai Qingyan¡¯s back and draped it over her, ¡°Bai Qingyan, our cousin is already at the city gate following your orders. But at this hour, the city gates of Dadu City are closed. It¡¯s unlikely we will get any news today. Stop worrying and go have New Year¡¯s Eve dinner with the Eldest Princess.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bai Qingyan adjusted her cloak, held Chun Tao¡¯s hand, and left Qinghui Courtyard surrounded by a group of maids with downcast eyes. Surprisingly, as soon as they stepped out, they saw Bai Jintong standing alone at the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, looking up at the sky¡¯s fireworks in a daze. Hearing the sound of the gate opening, Bai Jintong came to her senses and took a few steps to Bai Qingyan. In a hoarse voice, she said, ¡°Eldest Sister¡­¡± Bai Qingyan reached out to brush the snow off Bai Jintong¡¯s shoulder, smiling at her, ¡°Waiting for me here?¡± Bai Jintong nodded, her reddened eyes nearly overflowing with tears. She quickly bowed her head to hide them. She remembered last year when the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence was brightly lit, filled with people and children, bustling with prosperity. Maids, servants, and workers were busy going in and out of the side doors amid cheerful laughter. The adults were drinking and chatting happily, while she and Bai Jinzhi led young children with lanterns around Qinghui Courtyard, while Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu sat under the corridor talking and laughing, displaying a scene of prosperity and vitality. This year, the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence was still brightly lit. But the maids and servants, sensing the master¡¯s somber mood, didn¡¯t even dare speak loudly. The lack of cheerful noises made the residence feel desolate. Knowing Bai Jintong felt sorrow, Bai Qingyan smiled and squeezed Bai Jintong¡¯s cold hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± Looking at the calm and composed Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong felt her Eldest Sister possessed a fearless strength, and her own heart steadied, ¡°Okay¡­¡± After taking two steps, they saw Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi also arriving at Qinghui Courtyard by coincidence. Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi had come to Bai Qingyan for reassurance as well. The four sisters stood together. Bai Jinxiu, her eyes red, stifled a laugh with a handkerchief, ¡°What a coincidence, we all came to find Eldest Sister.¡± The red lanterns illuminated the four sisters with teary smiles under the snow, a heartwarming yet sorrowful sight. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Grandmother¡¯s place¡­¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was heavier and firmer than usual. Chun Tao stepped forward to support Bai Qingyan, gently reminding, ¡°The road is slippery because of the snow, my ladies. Be careful.¡± Seeing Bai Qingyan already lifting her foot to move, Bai Jinxiu, her eyes filled with tears, softly said, ¡°With Eldest Sister leading the way, no matter how slippery, we are not afraid.¡± What¡¯s to fear in the wind and snow, when the sisters walked together with determination. Bai Jintong nodded, holding Bai Jinxiu¡¯s outstretched hand, unable to speak from emotion. ¡°We sisters walk together, we fear nothing!¡± Bai Jinzhi wiped her tears and quickly caught up with Bai Qingyan, walking beside her. Her vision blurred with mist. In her previous life, she walked alone. In this life, with her sisters accompanying her, what is there to fear? Bai Qingyan would brave even the mountain of swords, the sea of fire, and the molten lava. Just as they entered the Eldest Princess¡¯s Changshou Courtyard, a young maid guarding the main room suddenly pointed to the sky, ¡°What is that?!¡± Bai Qingyan turned. She saw slow-rising sky lanterns, followed by the second, third, and fourth¡­ Underneath the display of dazzling fireworks, countless sky lanterns ascended, turning the entire night sky into a warm sea of flames. The lanterns bore words like ¡°Triumphant Return,¡± ¡°Victory in War,¡± ¡°Undefeated,¡± and ¡°Safe Return.¡± The previously silent Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence suddenly became lively, as maids and workers paused their tasks, gathering under the corridors and in the courtyards to watch the sky lanterns. The warm orange light made everyone feel cozy inside. Bai Qingyan turned and instructed Chun Xing beside her, ¡°Go find out what¡¯s happening.¡± Before Chun Xing could leave, the old maid at the gate hurriedly approached. Seeing the sisters at the door, she smiled and bowed, ¡°First Young Lady, Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady! The people moved by the loyalty and courage of our Bai family have spontaneously set up these sky lanterns in the streets and courtyards, praying for the Bai family army far in the southern border.¡± Hearing this, Bai Qingyan choked with emotion. She handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao, bowed deeply to express her gratitude to the people of Dadu City. Who said heroes go unremembered? The people whom the Bai family protected for generations remember them! In her previous life, the Bai family did too much and spoke too little, leading to them being forgotten. Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi, eyes filled with tears, followed suit, bowing deeply to the sky lanterns. The lively laughter of the maids and servants in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence finally alerted the elders in the main room of the Changshou Courtyard. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Returning Hearts of the Masses_1 Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Returning Hearts of the Masses_1 The Eldest Princess walked out, escorted by her daughters-in-law, stunned by the sight of flying sky lanterns. The young Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss leaned against the Eldest Princess and pointed at the sky lanterns, asking, ¡°Grandmother, what is that?!¡± ¡°Reporting to the Eldest Princess, Fifth Miss,¡± replied a maid in the courtyard with a smile, ¡°those are sky lanterns released by the townspeople to pray for the Bai family army.¡± The Eldest Princess felt a myriad of emotions well up inside her. She choked out, ¡°The people of Dadu have not forgotten our Bai family army¡­¡± Bai Qingyan and her three sisters saw the Eldest Princess standing under the corridor. They paid their respects and stood with the Eldest Princess, watching the sky lanterns. As the sky lanterns began to disperse, and just when Bai Qingyan was about to help the Eldest Princess back indoors, Lu Ping hurried in with a maid from the Chuihua gate. Seeing their masters in the courtyard, Lu Ping stepped forward and bowed. ¡°Eldest Princess, ladies, and misses, news has arrived. The southern city gate has been opened, and a messenger with a command arrow on his back is rushing straight to the Imperial Palace on horseback!¡± A command arrow on his back indicated a military report. Entering from the southern city gate meant it came from the southern borders. Not reporting upon entering the city gate and heading straight to the Imperial Palace was not a good omen. Bai Qingyan felt a scalp-numbing chill, and the entire Duke of Zhen Mansion tensed up. What was meant to come would always come. She tightly gripped the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand, turned to look at the stiff-backed Eldest Princess, and said, ¡°Grandmother, you, Mother, and the aunts should prepare yourselves¡­¡± As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, a few aunts could no longer hold back their tears. The fifth aunt, heavily pregnant, clutched her handkerchief tightly, her legs weakening. The Eldest Princess¡¯s breathing faltered for a moment but then steadied. She firmly gripped the tiger head cane, straightened her spine, and said, ¡°What is meant to come will always come. Let¡¯s go! We will wait at the entrance!¡± The Eldest Princess led the procession of Bai family women to the front of the Duke of Zhen Mansion. Outside the mansion, a crowd of townsfolk with lanterns and umbrellas had already gathered. They had heard about the messenger with the command arrow who did not shout a report upon entering the city gate. Braving the snow, they had come to wait for news at the mansion¡¯s entrance, whispering among themselves. ¡°Second Uncle! What brings you out in this cold weather¡­¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s a military report, and the messenger didn¡¯t report upon entering the city gate, so I came here to wait for news. Why are you here?!¡± ¡°I also heard about the military report. I was afraid of bad news, so I came to wait and hear!¡± ¡°Just a coincidence! I also came because of the news. The messenger not reporting upon entering the city gate is not a good sign! Let¡¯s hope nothing happens to the Duke and the men of the Bai Mansion!¡± Suddenly, the red lacquered door of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, adorned with a row of majestic red lanterns, opened slowly. The Eldest Princess, along with the Bai family women, came out personally under the protection of the Bai Mansion guards to wait for news. ¡°Oh! The Duke¡¯s door has opened!¡± ¡°The Duke¡¯s family must be waiting for news too!¡± ¡°The tiger head cane! Isn¡¯t that the Eldest Princess?!¡± The crowd hastily knelt and bowed, ¡°Eldest Princess¡­¡± The Eldest Princess, remembering the sky lanterns from earlier, felt an ache in her heart. She handed the tiger head cane to Nanny Jiang and led the Bai family women in a bow to the townspeople. As she straightened up, Bai Qingyan saw Chen Qingsheng standing among the crowd. He nodded to indicate everything was arranged. She slightly nodded back. ¡°Steward Hao,¡± Mrs. Dong turned around to instruct the steward, ¡°have the kitchen prepare hot soup and meat pies. Distribute them to everyone! We don¡¯t know how long the news from the palace will take. It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve, and everyone is here with us. Don¡¯t let them freeze!¡± ¡°Yes, madam!¡± Steward Hao quickly turned back to the mansion to give the orders. Soon, two galloping horses were seen approaching the Duke of Zhen Mansion. Everyone grew tense, but it turned out to be Bai Qingyan¡¯s two uncles, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue. Dong Qingping handed the reins to a mansion servant. Glancing at the townsfolk at the entrance, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue climbed the mansion steps and bowed to the Eldest Princess. ¡°Brother, Qingyue, why are you here?!¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°We received news that the command arrow messenger entered the southern city gate without reporting the battle situation. Mother was worried, so she sent me and my brother to check!¡± Dong Qingping, holding a whip, spoke with a grim expression. Bai Qingyan felt warmth in her heart and respectfully bowed to her two uncles. Dong Qingping smiled at Bai Qingyan and stood next to the Bai family women, waiting for news. Dong Qingyue walked up to Bai Qingyan, raised his hand, and gently patted her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your father and brother will be fine!¡± Bai Qingyan nodded. Within less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Qin Lang also galloped in. After respectfully greeting the elders, he walked up to Bai Jinxiu, holding her as he softly comforted her, seeing her eyes red from crying. On New Year¡¯s Eve, the red light street should have been empty, with everyone at home celebrating together. But in front of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, more and more townspeople and aristocratic family members kept arriving to inquire about the news. When the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Dingyong arrived at the Bai Mansion entrance, he was surprised to see so many people already gathered. Not long after, the third son of Ming Dabo also arrived. Bai Qingyan looked at these aristocratic families and common folk braving the snow to stand with them. She knew¡­ the situation she could rely on to protect the Bai family and force the current emperor¡¯s hand had arrived! On the second floor of Tianxiang Tower, Xiao Rongyan stood by the window, looking at the Duke of Zhen Mansion, which was lit up at the end of the long street. Below, townspeople passed by in small groups with lanterns, and occasionally a horse would gallop straight to the mansion. He played with the jade cicada in his hand, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. Xiao Rongyan never believed in winning the hearts and minds of the people or becoming widely respected. Without someone¡¯s meticulous planning and effort, how could the Bai family have garnered such unanimous support? The current state of the Bai family, with the populace supporting them, seemed to be orchestrated by that Miss Bai. From the moment Bai Qingyan persuaded Qin Lang to request the position of Princely Heir, Xiao Rongyan knew that Miss Bai was destined for great things. But it was a pity that the entire Bai family, with its talented generals, had been ruined by the foolish emperor and the incompetent prince of Jin. If his Yan Kingdom had loyal, brave families like the Bai family, how could it not thrive? What a pity¡­ ¡°My lord, I am incompetent. The deadline you set has passed, and I could only gather some general information!¡± Xiao Rongyan did not turn around. ¡°Speak¡­¡± ¡°A beggar who delivered a message to the steward said he didn¡¯t recognize the sender. But he saw the shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower greeting the person, indicating familiarity. When I questioned the shopkeeper, he feigned ignorance. Later, I had someone keep watch at Manjiang Tower. This afternoon, the shopkeeper was seen discussing the matter with someone in a secretive manner, cautioning that person to be careful. Upon inquiry, a shop assistant said that person was from the Duke of Zhen Mansion, unsure if he was a steward, only mentioning he worked for Miss Bai.¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Stubborn Use of the Military_1 Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Stubborn Use of the Military_1 Xiao Rongyan¡¯s hand, which was stroking the jade cicada, paused. He turned his head, his deep-set eyes showing a trace of imperceptible surprise, and asked, ¡°You mean¡­ Miss Bai?¡± ¡°Exactly! Initially, I wanted to obtain Miss Bai¡¯s handwriting for comparison. But the servants at the Bai Mansion are not easy to bribe, nor is it easy to infiltrate.¡± Xiao Rongyan¡¯s subordinate kneeled on one knee. ¡°Please forgive me, master.¡± Outside, the hanging lantern depicting plum blossoms swayed in the cold winter wind and snow. Xiao Rongyan, dressed in a sky-blue long robe, stood at the window with an indifferent expression, holding the jade cicada tightly. His inscrutable gaze nearly vanished in the shadows beneath the lamp. He closed his eyes, recalling the palace banquet on the eve of the new year. When he had followed the palace maid to change clothes, Miss Bai¡¯s sudden gaze met his. Her pupils had contracted, and when he returned, her slightly relaxed posture betrayed her tension. Did this Miss Bai know his identity? ¡°Master, whether or not the note was given by Miss Bai, your identity is at risk of being exposed. I boldly suggest you leave Dadu City as a precaution.¡± The cold air mixed with snowflakes rushed in from outside the window. Xiao Rongyan turned, his gaze falling on the red lanterns lining the long street. ¡°If the person who delivered the note wanted to harm me, why go through the trouble of sending the note to the steward? Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± ¡¤ In the biting wind of midwinter, the Eldest Princess and the Bai family had been standing for an hour. The hand warmers had been changed, and the hot soup and meat pies had been distributed to the people waiting at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion gate. The Eldest Princess, leaning on her tiger head cane, was on the verge of collapsing. Bai Qingyan supported her and instructed someone to bring a chair for the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess shook her head, held Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand tighter, and adjusted her fur coat, asking, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re weak. Can you hold on?¡± Bai Qingyan, who had been training for some time now, could already stand solidly with sandbags tied to her legs for an hour daily. Standing here posed no real challenge for her. She shook her head. ¡°Grandmother, rest assured, Kid is fine.¡± The people sipping hot soup, surrounded by the fragrant steam of mutton broth, saw a speeding horse approaching from afar. They immediately put down their bowls and pointed. ¡°It¡¯s coming! It¡¯s coming! This time it really looks like someone from the palace!¡± The Eldest Princess stiffened involuntarily, straightening her back. The Bai family hurried forward a few steps, craning their necks to look down the long street at the end of the line of red lanterns. The eunuch, galloping towards them, saw the people holding lanterns outside the Duke¡¯s Mansion in the distance. His heart sank when he got closer and found the Eldest Princess with the Bai women waiting outside the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion gate. The eunuch did not dare delay. He dismounted quickly, rushed up the steps, and kneeled heavily before the Eldest Princess. ¡°Eldest Princess, news from the southern army says that the Duke¡¯s arbitrary use of the military led to our army¡¯s disastrous defeat. The Duke of Zhen, the Crown Prince, and all the men of the Bai family have perished on the battlefield! Five days later, King Xin will bring back their coffins¡­¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s head jerked up, fury and murderous intent surging within her. The Duke¡¯s arbitrary use of the military?! The shocking news caused the Eldest Princess to wobble. She almost fell but was steadied by Bai Qingyan and Nanny Jiang. Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue felt a chill down their spines. They had considered the possibility of someone from the Bai family dying in battle but never imagined it would be all of them¡­ ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Fourth Sister Bai Jinzhi snapped her whip, which wrapped tightly around the neck of the eunuch. She took three steps forward and stomped on his chest. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her anger consumed all her rationality. ¡°My grandfather always taught us to be cautious above all! He was cautious all his life! How could he be accused of arbitrarily using the military?!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s hands clenched so tightly the knuckles cracked. Arbitrary use of the military! The Emperor and Empress¡¯s son, King Xin, was too mediocre to take on such a responsibility and forced her grandfather to take risks for military accomplishments. Now, they¡¯ve framed her grandfather for arbitrary use of the military?! Pushing all the blame onto a loyal and brave minister who devoted his life to the Jin Kingdom, spilled his blood on the battlefield, and died wrapped in a horsehide! Didn¡¯t King Xin fear the spirits of the Bai family would seek revenge in his dreams?! She nearly couldn¡¯t hold back from producing the military records right then and there to clear her grandfather¡¯s and her family¡¯s name. But¡­ it was not the right time yet. Thorough preparation was needed to achieve a decisive victory. These blood debts and profound grievances, Bai Qingyan etched into her memory! The overwhelming anger surged within her. She gritted her teeth and swallowed the metallic taste rising in her throat. She shouted, ¡°Bai Jinzhi! Step back! Grandmother has not finished her questions; who allowed you to take action?!¡± Bai Jinzhi almost broke into tears. She retracted her whip and, unable to control herself, burst into tears. The eunuch, nearly strangled, coughed violently and crawled to the Eldest Princess¡¯s feet, seeking protection. The Eldest Princess¡¯s face was ashen. With trembling lips, she held onto the last shred of hope. ¡°All of them?! Did I hear wrong?! My ten-year-old grandson also went to the southern border. He was just ten years old¡­¡± The usually gentle Fourth Lady, Mrs. Wang, staggered forward on weak legs and fell to her knees, clutching the eunuch¡¯s clothes, crying heartbrokenly, ¡°Seventeen¡­ my little Seventeen is also gone?! My little Seventeen was so small, only ten years old! Ten years old! How could he die too?! He only went to see the world¡­ how could he die! You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re lying!¡± ¡°Eldest Princess! Seventeen is also gone!¡± the eunuch cried, kowtowing heavily. ¡°Impossible! Erlang promised me he¡¯d protect our son!¡± Second Lady, Mrs. Liu¡¯s wailing echoed as she grabbed the eunuch¡¯s collar. ¡°You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re lying!¡± In an instant, the previously quiet gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion turned into chaos, filled with wailing cries. ¡°Oh, my son! Sanlang¡­ how could you be so cruel! How could you take all our sons away! How am I supposed to live!¡± Third Lady, Mrs. Li, cried in anguish, pounding the ground. The twin boys, standing by their mother, Fourth Lady, Mrs. Wang, who was crying uncontrollably, bit their lips hard, pleading with her to hold on. Fifth Lady, Mrs. Qi, bit her lip fiercely. Holding her stomach, she fainted as her vision darkened. ¡°Fifth Lady! Fifth Lady!¡± Dong Qingyue¡¯s quick reflexes caught the unconscious Fifth Lady. ¡°Fifth Aunt!¡± Bai Jintong took Fifth Lady from Dong Qingyue¡¯s arms and held her tightly. ¡°Fifth Aunt, wake up!¡± The commoners, moved by the grief of the Bai women, also knelt and cried, calling out for the Duke and General Bai. Their sorrowful cries echoed throughout Dadu City. ¡°Quick! Get Doctor Hong!¡± Bai Jinxiu urged with tears in her eyes. ¡°Steward Hao, quickly have Fifth Aunt carried inside.¡± Bai Qingyan turned around and saw Mrs. Dong, who was standing there motionless, pale as a sheet. She stepped forward to support her mother, choking out, ¡°Mother?!¡± Mrs. Dong came to her senses, tears streaming down her face. She gritted her teeth and turned to face the main gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion¡­ Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Sky Collapses and the Ground Caves in_1 Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Sky Collapses and the Ground Caves in_1 ¡°Nanny Jiang, help my mother back to Changshou Courtyard! The stewards of each courtyard, help your masters stand up properly. No matter when, our Duke of Zhen Mansion must never lose its backbone. If the sky falls, we will stand to hold it up ourselves! Second Lady, Third Lady, Fourth Lady, come with me to consult about the funeral arrangements for the men of the Bai Clan. Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong, take care of your Fifth Aunt and have someone take my name card to invite Doctor Huang, Doctor Zhong, and Doctor Liu here! Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jinzhi, Qin Lang, take care of your younger sisters. Lu Ping, immediately send someone on a fast horse to ride back to our ancestral home in Shuoyang to report the Bai family¡¯s mourning. Steward Hao, organize the household staff and prepare for the funeral. The guards, follow Steward Hao¡¯s orders. Anyone who causes trouble at such a critical moment, be they concubines, maids, servants, or anyone else, Steward Hao has the authority to kill them on the spot without reporting to me!¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s voice was steady and swift, without the slightest disorder. The guards, servants, maids, and maids of the Bai Mansion all answered in unison and quickly got to work. Mrs. Dong finished arranging the internal affairs of the mansion and turned to the aristocrats still standing at the gate of the Duke of Zhen Mansion. She solemnly bowed and said, ¡°I apologize to everyone. Thank you for accompanying the women of the Bai family in this wind and snow for so long. But with such a major event at hand, I really can¡¯t entertain you with a cup of hot tea! Please forgive us!¡± The Bai family was suddenly struck by disaster. The matriarch, Mrs. Dong, straightened her back and methodically arranged the affairs of the mansion, earning everyone¡¯s admiration. Most of the attendees were juniors who understood that the Bai family was facing a calamity like the sky falling. They returned the bow, expressing their sympathies. ¡°Please accept my condolences, Lady.¡± ¡°Lady, please accept my condolences!¡± When Mrs. Dong looked up again, her face was already full of tears. ¡°Sister! My brother and I will stay and help!¡± Dong Qingping said to Mrs. Dong with red eyes, ¡°What do we need to do?¡± Mrs. Dong straightened herself with difficulty, her voice choked with sobs, ¡°Today is New Year¡¯s Eve. All the men of the Bai family have died. I don¡¯t even know where to find so many coffins.¡± Hearing this, Bai Qingyan felt as if a knife had pierced her heart. Looking at the aristocrats and commoners still gathered at the entrance of the Bai family, she knelt down and bowed deeply, enduring the intense pain in her heart, choking out, ¡°My grandfather, Duke of Zhen¡¯s coffin was prepared early. But we never anticipated that all the men of the Bai family would die for the country. King Xin will bring back their bodies in five days. It¡¯s the New Year, and there¡¯s no time to prepare their coffins. If any of you have suitable coffins at home, I dare to ask for them for the Bai family men to be buried honorably.¡± After speaking, she bowed again, and Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, Bai Jinzhi, followed Bai Qingyan¡¯s lead and knelt down too. The Bai family had loyally sacrificed for the country. How could the people of Jin let heroes be buried without coffins?! That night, on New Year¡¯s Eve, the entire Dadu City wept. They wept for the fallen heroes, for the loyal courage of the Bai family, and for the Jin Kingdom soon to be without its pillars of defense. Meanwhile, in Qingming Courtyard, Bai Qingxuan, who had been confined and injured, was shocked upon hearing the news. He grabbed his mother¡¯s wrist, panicking, ¡°What?! They¡¯re all dead?! Grandfather, father¡­ they¡¯re all dead?!¡± ¡°Yes! What will we do now?!¡± the woman responded in a panic. ¡°Tens of thousands of troops have perished in the southern regions. The Emperor is sure to blame this on us! If only we hadn¡¯t returned! If we¡¯re implicated, we could be executed along with our entire household! No¡­ I need to find a way for us to escape!¡± Bai Qingxuan, stunned at first, suddenly had a glint in his eyes. He tightened his grip on the woman¡¯s wrist, whispering eerily, ¡°Mother! You said¡­ all the men of the Bai family are dead! Does that mean the title of Duke of Zhen falls to me?!¡± The woman¡¯s eyelid twitched, and she swallowed, suppressing her wild joy with fear. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ve heard it was the Duke¡¯s arrogance in using the army that led to the total defeat. If the Emperor holds us accountable, it will be a huge crime, implicating the entire family. What¡¯s more important, our lives or this title? We should escape first!¡± ¡°But what if the Emperor doesn¡¯t blame us?!¡± Bai Qingxuan¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Mother! Fortune favors the bold! Think about it¡­ if the Emperor doesn¡¯t blame us, this grand Duke of Zhen Mansion would be ours!¡± The woman was deeply tempted by Bai Qingxuan¡¯s suggestion, unable to let go of the immense fortune of the Duke of Zhen Mansion but also terrified for her life, hesitating. ¡¤ On the first day of the New Year. The Duke of Zhen Mansion, which had been gloomily downcast for two days, began to bustle with activity as the matriarch, Mrs. Dong, took charge. The servants and maids preparing for the funeral were rushing in and out of the side gates. Before dawn, the busy Steward Hao came to the Eldest Princess¡¯s room. Apart from the Eldest Princess, who was being persuaded to rest due to exhaustion, the Lady of the Duke, Mrs. Dong, Second Lady Liu, Third Lady Li, and Fourth Lady Wang were all present. There were seventeen young men of the Bai family, along with five sons of the Duke, making a total of twenty-three coffins that couldn¡¯t fit in the main hall of the Bai mansion. ¡°Set up tents,¡± Mrs. Dong ordered, her spirits barely holding up, calmly addressing the bewildered Steward Hao, ¡°Place them in the courtyard. Keep the mansion gates wide open! Let the people of Dadu City and the officials in the temple see how miserably the Bai family sacrificed for the Jin Kingdom.¡± ¡°Reporting to the Lady, Second Lady, Third Lady, Fourth Lady. Someone from the gatehouse reported that many people have brought coffins outside the mansion!¡± Mrs. Dong¡¯s throat tightened, and she stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look. Three younger sisters, you have worked hard all night. Go and rest! Regain your energy. On the fifth day, we will welcome our husbands and sons home.¡± The Fourth Lady started crying again, shaking her head in pain. ¡¤ Hearing the news, Bai Qingyan arrived at almost the same time as Mrs. Dong. By now, the red lanterns of Bai Mansion had been replaced with white ones, and the red ribbons in the courtyard had been changed to black and white, covered in gloom. Outside the wide-open gate, people stood in the snow, holding ox carts and horse carts, bringing their best coffins to block the entrance. Some aristocrats had sent people to deliver coffins as well. An old man, around sixty years old, tugged on an ox cart and cupped his hands towards Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan, saying, ¡°Lady, young lady¡­ this old man has brought a good coffin. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s suitable. Can it be used for the Princely Heir, generals, or young masters in your mansion?¡± ¡°Mine is the best coffin! Top quality! Lady, young lady, use my coffin!¡± ¡°Mine is good! Mine is good! This is a proper pine coffin, very sturdy!¡± ¡°Lady, our family runs a coffin shop! The coffins I brought were all ordered by prominent families before the New Year. I brought them all here! They are made of nanmu. Though not the best nanmu, they are definitely worthy of the young masters of the Bai mansion.¡± Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan stood at the entrance, tears streaming down their faces, bowing to thank the people who were competing to deliver coffins. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Restraint in Grief_1 Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Restraint in Grief_1 Afterwards, the servants of the Marquis of Dingyong¡¯s mansion escorted the steward of the mansion through the crowd. The steward bowed and said, ¡°Madam Crown Prince, Eldest Young Lady. This old servant is the steward of the Marquis of Dingyong¡¯s mansion. My lord asked me to bring over the coffin he prepared by carriage. Given the meritorious services of the Crown Prince and the Generals, it is not against protocol to use it.¡± ¡°Thank the Marquis of Dingyong for me!¡± Mrs. Dong said while bowing with Bai Qingyan. ¡°My lord and the Duke of Zhen have known each other since childhood. It¡¯s only fitting! Madam, Eldest Young Lady, please accept my condolences.¡± The steward bowed. Seeing that the coffins from various aristocratic families were of suitable standards for the Bai family, almost all sent their coffins over. Mrs. Dong personally selected the usable coffins and had them carried into the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. She ordered Steward Hao to have the Bai Mansion¡¯s steward visit each home to thank them. The remaining unused ones were politely returned with thanks. Mrs. Dong originally wanted to stay in the courtyard to supervise the setup of the mourning hall, but was persuaded by Bai Qingyan to go rest. There was still a heap of things waiting for Mrs. Dong to handle. In the Bai family, everyone could collapse except the Eldest Princess and Mrs. Dong. She stood in the courtyard, watching the servants work together to set up the canopy, looking at the twenty-plus coffins, feeling a mix of sorrow and hatred, a deep ache swelling in her heart and eyes. In her previous life, only the remains of her grandfather, fifth uncle, her cousin Bai Qingming, and young Seventeen had returned. The other men of the Bai family had all stayed behind in the southern frontier. She wondered if this life would end with the same outcome. Chen Qingsheng came back from outside the mansion and happened to see Bai Qingyan standing under the gallery, quickly walking over. Chun Tao saw her cousin and whispered to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Miss¡­ my cousin is here!¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± Chen Qingsheng bowed with a pale face. Bai Qingyan turned back, saw him bowing, and said, ¡°No need for formalities.¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, just now when this small one returned to the mansion, I encountered the shop assistant left to look after Manjiang Tower. He said¡­ someone was inquiring about my identity. After thinking it over, I went to find the beggar who had delivered the letter to Xiao Mansion. Sure enough, the beggar said someone found him, broke one of his thumbs, and interrogated him about the origin of the letter. He truthfully said¡­ he saw the shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower greet me that day!¡± Chen Qingsheng¡¯s head was drenched in sweat as he glanced at Bai Qingyan, then quickly lowered his head. ¡°This oversight is my fault. Please punish me.¡± Bai Qingyan clenched her palm tighter. She knew from her past life that Xiao Rongyan was formidable. Chen Qingsheng was still young and lacked experience, yet he had done well to reach this stage. ¡°Get up!¡± Bai Qingyan pursed her lips. ¡°They might not necessarily trace it to you. If anyone asks you, just say that someone paid you to handle this matter and you were afraid of causing trouble for the Duke¡¯s mansion, so you asked the beggar for help. It¡¯s no big deal! Since you¡¯re a person of the Duke¡¯s mansion, they likely wouldn¡¯t dare use extreme means to press you for answers.¡± Chen Qingsheng let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°I understand! I will be more cautious in the future and won¡¯t trouble you, Eldest Young Lady.¡± Chen Qingsheng was a smart person. He knew Bai Qingyan valued him for his abilities. If he couldn¡¯t handle small matters well, he wouldn¡¯t be worthy of being by the Eldest Young Lady¡¯s side to take orders. She tightened her grip on the handwarmer and called out his name, then took a few steps to a deserted corner. Chen Qingsheng quickly followed her. He heard Bai Qingyan slowly start, ¡°After the mourning at the Duke¡¯s mansion is properly handled, grandmother will take the Third Young Lady to the temple under the guise of praying for the Jin Kingdom. The prayer¡­ is a ruse. The Third Young Lady will disguise herself as a man, leave incognito, and engage in commerce to display her talents. I am planning to let you accompany the Third Young Lady to gain experience for a few years.¡± Chen Qingsheng was slightly stunned upon hearing this. For such a heretical action as a woman disguising herself as a man to go into business, to actually have the support of the Eldest Princess, meant it was a significant matter. Such affairs would not have been revealed unless it was to someone trustworthy. Chen Qingsheng¡¯s acute perception made him realize that the Eldest Young Lady was opening her heart to him, treating him as one of her own. Otherwise, how could he easily be told such confidential matters? Chen Qingsheng was filled with ardent loyalty. He steadied his emotions, knelt down, and declared, ¡°Since the Eldest Young Lady trusts me, I will dedicate my life to her service.¡± She turned her head to look at Chen Qingsheng and advised, ¡°Be more cautious in the future. I trust you!¡± ¡°I understand! Thank you for your confidence!¡± Chen Qingsheng kowtowed. ¡°Go prepare then. You should know how to explain it to your parents,¡± she said. ¡°I understand!¡± Early in the morning, having spent a sleepless night, Dong Changyuan heard that his uncle Dong Qingping and his father Dong Qingyue had returned. He hurried over to inquire and learned that all the men in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion sacrificed their lives for the country. Dong Changyuan was filled with trepidation. When he thought of Bai Qingyan, the gentle and refined cousin, he couldn¡¯t sit still. He was full of worries, wondering how terrified Bai Qingyan must be. Her health was already frail and thin. With such a calamity hitting the Bai family, how much torment must she be enduring, whether she was overwrought, grief-stricken to the point of tears? An anxious Dong Changyuan immediately rode over. Before he even stepped into the main gate of the Bai Mansion, he saw Bai Qingyan standing under the gallery, dressed in plain mourning clothes, speaking with Chen Qingsheng. Dong Changyuan stood under a white silk lantern marked with the word ¡°Condolence,¡± quietly observing. Bai Qingyan was not weeping as he had expected, nor was she too grief-stricken to get out of bed. Although she looked tired, her eyes were red, but her expression was clear-minded. She was even methodically instructing the servants, showing impressive resilience. As the early morning light filtered through the thin mist, it gradually fell on the woman with her strong and steadfast demeanor. Faced with such a great catastrophe, she was sorrowful but not despairing, hiding her pain within, with no sign of panic. Though appearing delicate, she was as strong as green silk, containing inner strength, seemingly unbreakable by any means. All of the consoling words that Dong Changyuan had brought with him dissipated in his chest. He was foolish to forget that his cousin, despite her frail exterior, had been to the battlefield and slain enemy soldiers! Her courage and steely resolve were qualities that could not be matched by the men who had grown up among books in their comfortable homes. Chun Tao noticed Dong Changyuan standing at the entrance of the Bai Mansion and hurriedly approached Bai Qingyan, whispering, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Young Master Cousin is here!¡± She turned around, saw Dong Changyuan bow deeply to her, and returned his salute with a slight curtsey. Dong Changyuan stood in front of Bai Qingyan, his lips moving for a long time before he timidly said, ¡°If there is anything I can do to help, do not hesitate to ask, Cousin.¡± She looked at the canopy that had already been set up in the courtyard and said, ¡°Cousin Changyuan, please spend more time accompanying grandmother on behalf of my mother and me. She had come to Dadu with great difficulty for the New Year, yet neither my mother nor I can be by her side.¡± Dong Changyuan nodded, then turned to look at the steadfast young woman before him. ¡°Cousin, my condolences.¡± ¡°Elder Sister!¡± Fourth Young Lady Bai Jinzhi came running quickly with urgent footsteps. After hastily greeting Dong Changyuan, she leaned close to Bai Qingyan and whispered, ¡°Elder Sister, grandmother has coughed up blood!¡± Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Cannot Be Distracted_1 Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Cannot Be Distracted_1 The Bai family had now encountered a great misfortune, and all the men in the family had perished. If the news of the Eldest Princess¡¯s severe illness spread, it was feared that the hearts of the Bai family would scatter. Nanny Jiang had already instructed Bai Jinzhi not to make a fuss, and Bai Jinzhi understood the seriousness and naturally did not dare to publicize it. The scene of her grandmother spitting blood and passing away upon hearing the news suddenly appeared before her eyes. Her whole body went numb as if a hand had clenched her wildly beating heart, causing her chest to feel like it was being torn apart. ¡°Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Bai Jinzhi saw that Bai Qingyan¡¯s face had lost all color and quickly called out. She regained her composure, turned around, and bowed to Dong Changyuan, ¡°There are many matters in the residence, Changyuan, as family, please forgive the lack of hospitality.¡± ¡°Please attend to your matters, Cousin!¡± Dong Changyuan responded quickly. She nodded, took Bai Jinzhi¡¯s hand, and hurried towards the inner quarters. As they walked, Bai Jinzhi said to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Fortunately, last night Doctor Hong and Doctor Huang were both attending to Fifth Aunt. Nanny Jiang has already sent someone to fetch Doctor Hong and Doctor Huang! I came to inform Eldest Young Lady at once!¡± ¡°What is with the spitting of blood?!¡± Bai Qingyan asked through gritted teeth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but that treacherous mother and her son in Qingming Courtyard!¡± Bai Jinzhi grinded her teeth. Her reddening eyes were filled with hatred, wishing she could give that shrew a few more whips, ¡°That shrew heard Doctor Huang, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, was with Fifth Aunt and demanded that Doctor Huang go to her son for his injury, saying¡­ saying that the Bai family only had her son left, and that her son was the future Duke of Zhen! Grandmother was already overwhelmed with grief. Nanny Jiang had ordered not to mention this matter, but the mother and son shouted it all over! Grandmother, upon hearing this, was so furious her face turned purple and she spat blood!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s anger surged as she clenched the hand warmer tightly, wanting to immediately skin that mother and son alive! They were indeed troublemakers and could not be left alive. The two hurried into the Changshou Courtyard. The maidservants opened the thick felt curtain as they saw the eldest and fourth young ladies approaching in haste. Inside, the Eldest Princess, pale-faced, was leaning against the window on a large peony pillow embroidered with gold thread. A fine cashmere blanket covered her legs. She took the medicine and water handed by Nanny Jiang and swallowed them with her head tilted back. Doctor Huang put the pulse pillow into the medicine chest. Seeing Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi enter with hurried breaths, he quickly bowed, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, please don¡¯t worry. The Eldest Princess is fine! The anger and rage actually caused the Eldest Princess to expel the congested blood from her chest, which is a positive sign. Otherwise, such congested blood would be hard to detect and could damage the heart and lungs over time. Even Bian Que could do nothing then. However¡­ the Eldest Princess¡¯s body truly needs proper care and rest.¡± The Eldest Princess put down the water cup, seeing her usually calm and composed eldest granddaughter¡¯s face now pale, her heart softened, and tears streamed down her face. Even though there had been some disagreements between them, the bond of flesh and blood could not be faked. Hearing about her spitting blood, she still rushed over anxiously. She waved her hand with red eyes to Bai Qingyan, ¡°Kid, come here!¡± Hearing Doctor Huang say that her grandmother was no longer in danger, she breathed a sigh of relief, took off her cloak, handed the hand warmer to a maid, and walked towards the Eldest Princess. ¡°Eldest Princess, Eldest Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, I shall take my leave now!¡± Doctor Huang, carrying the medicine chest, bowed to the Eldest Princess. ¡°I will see Doctor Huang out!¡± Nanny Jiang quickly smiled and led the way with a curtain for Doctor Huang. Bai Jinzhi noticed that the Eldest Princess had something to say to the Eldest Young Lady, so she quietly exited the inner room. The Eldest Princess held Bai Qingyan¡¯s jade-like hand, noticed the fine sweat in her palm, and her eyes reddened further, ¡°Rest assured, grandmother will be fine. I still need to protect you children!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s concern was genuine. Besides the Zhen Kingdom¡¯s mansion needing her protection, Bai Qingyan was tied by bonds of family. She could no longer afford to lose any more relatives! ¡°Just now, while resting on the couch for a short moment, grandmother dreamed of many people, dreamed of your grandfather¡­ dreamed of my father!¡± The Eldest Princess choked with reddened eyes, raised her hand, and embraced Bai Qingyan, slowly and wistfully recounting the past, ¡°Grandmother married into the Bai family at sixteen, not only willing to bear children for your grandfather but also shouldering the inescapable responsibility as a Princess of Jin! The night before the emperor bestowed the marriage¡­ father and mother held me in their arms and told me that the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen was the pillar and backbone of Jin, and the Imperial Family must rely on but also guard against the Bai family. With father aging and his days numbered, he wished for me to safeguard the Lin family¡¯s royal authority and to guard against the Bai family¡¯s rebellious intentions. If I didn¡¯t swear, I couldn¡¯t marry your grandfather.¡± These matters, stored in the heart of the Eldest Princess for years, were now being slowly told to her granddaughter. The feeling of being pulled in different directions was still unbearably bitter. Thus, after deciding to marry Bai Weiting, the heir of the Duke of Zhen, she moved out of the Princess¡¯s mansion with a guilty conscience and into the Bai family¡¯s mansion, serving her in-laws like an ordinary daughter-in-law, hoping to find a bit of peace for herself. Grandmother¡¯s difficulties, she knew¡­ She also knew that her grandmother, such a proud and steadfast Eldest Princess, speaking of this matter today, was an effort to lower herself in hopes that she would understand her grandmother, and to prevent any rebellious thoughts against her grandmother. But when the thing she tried to conceal and not believe was candidly spoken by her grandmother, she instead felt a calmness. ¡°Kid, your grandfather is gone, your father, uncles, and brothers are all gone! Our family must not be divided!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s tears flowed like threads. How could the Eldest Princess¡¯s words not make her heart ache? The divergence of paths with intimate family members was indeed the true bitterness, like a dull knife cutting flesh, making it hard to sleep and eat. ¡°Grandmother, granddaughter knows grandmother¡¯s difficulty! Grandmother is both our grandmother and the Eldest Princess of Jin. The Bai family is our home, and the Imperial Family is also grandmother¡¯s home!¡± She looked up, eyes bloodshot, at the Eldest Princess, speaking word by word, ¡°Granddaughter dares not deceive grandmother. Upon hearing the news of the Bai family¡¯s men¡¯s death, granddaughter wanted to rebel immediately and bloodily cleanse the royal court of Jin! To tear apart those demons and monsters who harmed the Bai family¡¯s men alive!¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s whole body tensed, her eyes bulged, and her withered hand pressed Bai Qingyan¡¯s shoulder with all her might, ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t! Firstly¡­ because I have no power, no position, and my martial arts are wasted. I am merely a small woman in the back residence.¡± She did not resist, letting the Eldest Princess press her down, ¡°Secondly, this stable and peaceful kingdom of Jin was fought for by the Bai family for generations, soaked with the blood of the Bai ancestors, grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers! The Bai family safeguards the tranquility and prosperity of this kingdom, and the peace of the people! How could I, for my venting of personal hatred, plunge the people into another abyss of fire and water? How could I let the elders lose their sons, the children lose their fathers and mothers? How could I let the innocent people bear the pain of losing their kin? How could I let tens of thousands of soldiers¡¯ bones be exposed! What wrong have the people done? What wrong have the soldiers done? Why should they bury their bones for the Bai family¡¯s private revenge?!¡± Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 58: _1 Chapter 67: Chapter 58: _1 Chun Tao originally listened to the intermittent heavy and restrained sobs from inside, tears streaming down her face but not daring to enter to comfort. At this moment, hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s hair-raising laughter, she suddenly felt like an ant on a hot pan, not knowing what to do. Chun Xing heard the noise, hurriedly put on her clothes, fastened her buttons, and rushed out from the small room, asking Chun Tao: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the girl?! Why are you standing at the door and not going in to check?¡± Chun Tao wiped away the tears covering her face and grabbed Chun Xing¡¯s hand: ¡°You stay here, don¡¯t let anyone go in! I¡¯m going to get the Third Young Lady!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Chun Xing¡¯s face turned pale with fright, and she nodded repeatedly. Chun Tao ran and slid through the snow, heading straight for Bai Jintong¡¯s courtyard. As soon as she entered, she knelt in front of the main door, crying: ¡°Third Young Lady! Third Young Lady, please go see our Eldest Young Lady quickly!¡± Bai Jintong, who had just finished her morning exercise, lifted the curtain and came out: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Chun Tao¡¯s eyes were severely swollen from crying, making her a weeping figure: ¡°I beg the Third Young Lady to go and see her!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s face turned ashen. She hastily strode towards the courtyard gate without bothering to put on her cloak. The Green Bamboo Pavilion of Bai Jinxiu was very close to the Bitong Garden of Bai Jintong. Bai Jinxiu, who was accustomed to getting up early and reading by the window, also heard the commotion. She promptly instructed Mrs. Liu to stay in the Green Bamboo Pavilion to take care of Qingshu while she went out to see what was happening. As soon as Qingshu reached the courtyard gate, she saw Chun Tao and Bai Jinxiu¡¯s maids hurrying behind Bai Jintong towards the Qinghui Courtyard. Qingshu quickly turned back to report to Bai Jinxiu: ¡°Second Young Lady, I saw Chun Tao, who is always beside the Eldest Young Lady, hurrying with the Third Young Lady towards the Eldest Young Lady¡¯s place.¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand, which was holding the book, tightened. Thinking about Bai Qingyan¡¯s cold condition, about Bai Qingyan¡¯s recent travels, Bai Jinxiu suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She lifted the brocade quilt: ¡°Qingshu, help me change, I must go to the Eldest Young Lady!¡± ¡°Second Young Lady, it¡¯s still snowing outside, and your head¡¯s injury¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m much better now! Just get me a thicker fur hat!¡± Bai Jinxiu, anxious and worried about the Eldest Young Lady, was in a panic. Qingshu dared not persuade her further, hurriedly prepared the clothes, and supported Bai Jinxiu through the snow towards the Qinghui Courtyard. Bai Jinxiu had just reached the entrance of the Qinghui Courtyard when she heard Bai Jintong softly calling from the doorway: ¡°Eldest Young Lady, it¡¯s Jintong. May I come in¡­¡± Receiving no response from Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong stood outside, not daring to enter without permission. She could only turn and ask Chun Tao: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Chun Tao knew the gravity of the situation. She could only bite her lip and shake her head with tears in her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Eldest Young Lady?!¡± Bai Jinxiu, whose hand gripping Qingshu¡¯s arm was now sweaty, hurried to the eaves, ¡°Is it the cold condition acting up?!¡± ¡°Second Sister, you¡­ why are you here too?!¡± Bai Jintong hurriedly supported Bai Jinxiu. Just then, the inner door frame creaked. Chun Tao hurriedly lifted the curtain, only to see Bai Qingyan, whose white undergarments were half stained with blood, standing between the two doors. Bai Jinxiu¡¯s legs went weak, nearly causing her to fall: ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s pale face was calm as water, her eyes bloodshot, her disheveled hair already tidied up. Her whole aura was as fierce as a demon from the depths of hell. ¡°Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, come in. Everyone else¡­ guard the gate of Qinghui Courtyard. No one is allowed to approach!¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, the blood on your body¡­¡± She walked into the inner room first: ¡°It¡¯s not my blood. Come in!¡± Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong ordered the servants to wait at the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, and the two sisters entered the main room together. They saw Bai Qingyan standing with her back to them by the fire, and Bai Jinxiu softly called: ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Qingyan closed her sore and aching eyes. She had been reborn to protect her family, her elders, her sisters! Therefore¡­ she could not collapse! She could not go mad! She could not fall! No matter the hatred, she couldn¡¯t recklessly kill for revenge like a fool. She had experienced this once before. She was the daughter of the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion. She had to hold on and see with her own eyes those treacherous and sinister people dragged to hell to atone for her Bai clan! After a while, she spoke in a hoarse voice: ¡°Jintong, close the door. I have something to say.¡± Bai Jintong closed the door and walked behind Bai Qingyan with Bai Jinxiu: ¡°Eldest Young Lady.¡± She looked up at the five blood-stained bamboo slips on the desk, her breath chaotic and warm. She closed her eyes before saying: ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t tell you before was because I didn¡¯t have confirmed news¡­¡± Bai Qingyan turned around, looking at the tense and bewildered faces of Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong. She choked on her words: ¡°Grandfather, my father, my second uncle, my third uncle, my fourth uncle, my fifth uncle¡­ along with all seventeen members of the Bai clan, all¡­ died in battle in the southern border.¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s eyes widened and she nearly fainted, feeling like the sky had fallen. The wound on her forehead throbbed wildly, and her blood seemed ready to burst through the scab. ¡°How could they¡­ all¡­ all¡­¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s tears flowed continuously, her voice choked with grief, ¡°There must be some mistake in the information!¡± In the previous life, when this news arrived, the Bai family also couldn¡¯t believe it. She walked to the desk, placing her hand on the five bamboo slips. The veins on the back of her hand bulged, the grief and anger almost exploding, but she forcibly swallowed it back. Having lived two lives, how could she be easily crushed? ¡°This is the record of the marching and combat status by the Bai family army¡¯s attached historian.¡± She picked up two bamboo slips, ¡°Bai family army¡¯s Tiger Camp leader Fang Yan, with Shen Qingzhu and our Bai family guard Wu Zhe, risked their lives to save these five bamboo slips. Now Shen Qingzhu¡¯s whereabouts are unknown¡­ Fang Yan and Wu Zhe are dead. The blood on these bamboo slips is Wu Zhe¡¯s¡­ it is Fang Yan¡¯s, it is also the blood of hundreds of thousands of Bai family soldiers!¡± Bai Qingyan handed one bamboo slip to Bai Jinxiu and another to Bai Jintong. Looking at her two tear-filled, heavy-faced sisters, she said: ¡°It would be good for you to know that our Bai family men did not die in battle against foreign enemies, but died because of the Emperor of Jin¡¯s suspicion, because of¡­ the hands of their own people in the Jin Kingdom!¡± Bai Jinxiu¡¯s tears flowed continuously as she trembled and unrolled the bamboo slip in her hand. Bai Jintong also hurriedly opened her bamboo slip, scanning it rapidly through tears¡­ After reading one bamboo slip, Bai Jintong¡¯s tears overflowed, and she stumbled to the desk, opening another. She trembled violently, her cries wretched. Bai Qingyan stood rigidly by the fire basin. Even though she had cried out madly and vented her grief, her eyes were still painfully tearful. She felt a bone-chilling coldness that even the proximity to the fire basin could not alleviate. Standing by the desk, Bai Jinxiu trembled as she picked up the bamboo slip, feeling a suffocating despair. Hugging the bamboo slip, she collapsed to the ground: ¡°Little Seventeen¡­ he¡¯s only ten! He¡¯s only ten years old!¡± Bai Jintong, suppressing her sobs, turned her grief into anger. Her eyes blazing, she clenched her fists so tightly that they cracked, and she turned to leave. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 67: A Century of Renown_1 Chapter 68: Chapter 67: A Century of Renown_1 She spoke these words from the bottom of her heart; she would not rebel unless absolutely necessary. The Bai family had always been loyal and brave, never for the sake of the Imperial Family, but for the tens of thousands of people in the Jin Kingdom! The Eldest Princess¡¯s eyes, like a torch, stared intensely at Bai Qingyan, her suspicions unresolved, fearing that her treasured granddaughter was deceiving her. She held the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand and slowly began to speak, ¡°When I was five, I heard Grandfather and Father discuss the debate between the two great scholars, Cui Shiyan and Guan Yongchong, at Wenxian Hall about whether the First Emperor was a wise ruler or a tyrant. I said that if the First Emperor could ensure that the people were well-fed and clothed, then he would be a wise and holy ruler.¡± ¡°When I was eight, Grandfather did his utmost to reopen the old case of Imperial Censor Jian Congwen, where Consort Tong and her maternal family were imprisoned for framing a loyal minister. Imperial Censor Jian Congwen was exonerated, but the Nine Clans had already been exterminated. Even Jian Yushi¡¯s four-year-old grandson was beheaded along with the family, an innocent child thinking he was playing a game with his family, begging his mother for sweets before he was executed.¡± Her voice choked with emotion, ¡°On the day Imperial Censor Jian Congwen was exonerated, Grandfather asked me what made a wise ruler. I replied that ruling with compassion and not allowing the people to suffer wrongful accusations made a wise ruler!¡± ¡°When I was thirteen, I returned from the battlefield with Grandfather. He asked again what made a wise ruler. I had seen mountains of bones, rivers of blood, and the decimation of the populace, families torn apart. I understood the invaluable nature of peace, and I said¡­ a ruler who could bring peace to the world was a wise ruler.¡± ¡°Now, although the people of the Jin Kingdom are generally well-fed, except for those at the border suffering from years of war, the country is relatively stable and peaceful. If I were to rebel out of personal vendetta, what would happen to the people? What of the generations of loyalty and sacrifice of the Bai family? What of our family creed? I do not seek rebellion but justice for the Bai family! I want to ensure that the slanderous words ¡®recklessly using the army¡¯ do not tarnish the heroic and loyal spirits of the Bai family! I want the current Emperor, ridden with doubts and suspicions, to acknowledge our contributions and spare the Bai family widows a path to survival, instead of eradicating us completely. Am I wrong?¡± She could not contain her grief-stricken emotions, her voice escalating. By the time she finished, tears were streaming down her face. The Eldest Princess, overwhelmed with sorrow, pulled her granddaughter into her arms, choking back her tears and eventually weeping aloud. She did not want to lie to her grandmother, but she did not necessarily have to reveal everything. Yes, she did not plan to rebel now, but she was already paving the way for it! Bai Qingyan could refrain from rebelling, but the Bai family could not remain without a mighty force capable of shaking the Imperial Family. Grandfather wanted a peaceful world, and so did she! Grandfather did not dare to seek the power to intimidate the ruler, but she did! The Bai family could bow and serve the Lin Imperial power, but she also wanted the Imperial Family to understand that the Bai family¡¯s popular support and virtue could also replace the Lin Imperial power! Was the Emperor not afraid that the Bai family¡¯s achievements would overshadow the ruler¡¯s prestige and arrogantly seize control of the court? Then she would show the Emperor exactly how they could seize control! Make him fear! She wanted a change in imperial power¡­ and the Bai family would decide! The people of the world would decide! ¡°Kid did nothing wrong! It was Grandmother who was wrong! Grandmother should not have doubted you! Grandmother was wrong¡­¡± Outside, Nanny Jiang heard this heart-to-heart between grandmother and granddaughter. She cried tears of relief and happiness, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. The Eldest Princess, worn out from her old age and the emotional pain, was physically exhausted. Thus, Bai Qingyan and Nanny Jiang helped her to rest. As Bai Qingyan exited the Changshou Courtyard, Steward Hao, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, approached and reported, ¡°Miss Bai, a group of ruffians claiming to be the parents of Bai family soldiers suddenly gathered at our gates, crying and cursing. They claim that the Duke of Zhen recklessly used the army, causing the death of tens of thousands of Bai family soldiers, and they demand justice from the Bai family!¡± She paused her steps. Though many people had waited outside the National Duke¡¯s residence for news from Nanjing last night, these soldiers¡¯ relatives would not dare confirm their sons¡¯ deaths so assuredly without someone¡¯s instigation, nor would they gather to cause a commotion today just based on last night¡¯s rumors without someone¡¯s behind-the-scenes manipulation. ¡°How should we deal with those soldiers¡¯ parents? This old servant dared not decide on her own. The Princely Heir¡¯s wife has just rested, and Nanny Qin did not want to disturb her, so I came to seek your advice,¡± Steward Hao said with a furrowed brow. Bai Qingyan always believed that, while public opinion could be terrifying, if used and guided properly, it could become a powerful force, even a weapon, she could rely on! Now, someone intended to use public opinion to harm the Bai family? Excellent! Unfortunately for them, she already had the marching records in her possession. Her eyes darkened, and within a flash, she grasped the hidden threads, becoming suddenly enlightened¡­ Wu Zhe had risked his life to bring back the marching records. He had mentioned that someone had tried to kill Tiger Camp¡¯s commander, Fang Yan, who was escorting the bamboo slip, and by a twist of fate, Fang Yan had been saved by Shen Qingzhu¡¯s group and acquired the bamboo slip. King Xin¡¯s hounds likely did not obtain the five volumes of marching records and were now attempting to test the Bai family to see if they had them, possibly forcing them to produce the records today for self-exoneration. The masterminds must have prepared methods to ensure that as soon as the Bai family claimed to have the records, the Emperor would immediately demand their surrender to prevent them from being publicly revealed. She closed her eyes, pondering what she would do if she were King Xin¡¯s advisor. She would gather a crowd to create a disturbance at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence to test whether the Bai family had the records while tarnishing their century-old reputation. If her heart were even crueler, she would secretly kill one or two troublemakers after inciting a mob, spreading rumors that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence killed the martyrs¡¯ relatives. She would ensure that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence could only accept praise and not tolerate criticism, putting them in the public¡¯s ire. This way, when King Xin returned to the city, the Bai family would not be blamed by the public if they had obtained the records. Steward Hao saw Bai Qingyan¡¯s long silence, as if her soul had wandered away, and softly called, ¡°Miss Bai¡­¡± ¡°Send people to keep an eye on the onlookers for anyone suspicious. Arrest and interrogate them immediately!¡± Steward Hao instantly understood that Miss Bai meant someone had instigated the soldiers¡¯ relatives to cause trouble, targeting the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence. Steward Hao replied with a guarded expression, ¡°Rest assured, Miss Bai!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go outside and take a look.¡± ¡°Miss Bai, please wait. I will call Lu Ping to guard us, just in case,¡± Steward Hao said cautiously. She nodded. When Bai Qingyan arrived at the front courtyard, accompanied by Steward Hao and Lu Ping, they heard the angry, hysterical voice of Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi from outside the gates. ¡°Even the late Emperor said that no one in the Bai family is worthless; all are capable generals! My grandfather despised recklessness and greed for achievements in his lifetime! That so-called ¡®recklessly using the army¡¯ is nonsense! If you ignorant fools continue to spout nonsense in front of our gates, I¡¯ll whip you to the West!¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Swear Not to Return_1 Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Swear Not to Return_1 Bai Jinzhi, her eyes bloodshot, gripped the long whip at her waist. Burning with fury, she wished she could whip these foolish troublemakers to death in front of the Duke¡¯s residence. Seeing the crowd of onlookers surrounding the manor, Bai Jinxiu beside her felt an anxious thumping in her heart. ¡°Fourth Sister, don¡¯t!¡± Bai Jinxiu quickly grasped Bai Jinzhi¡¯s hand, preventing her from unleashing the whip. ¡°These people are causing trouble at our Duke¡¯s residence. They might be plotting something. We can¡¯t act impulsively!¡± ¡°Your Bai family produced no coward! On the battlefield, you Bai family were always victorious. But your victories were bought with the lives of our common sons!¡± A woman cried out, ¡°A general¡¯s success requires thousands of bones! With a command, our sons rushed to the blades! Your losses were never yours! How would you know our pain?! The Duke only seeks military achievements and a place in history, using our sons¡¯ lives for your glory!¡± ¡°My poor son!¡± Another woman wailed, angrily screaming, ¡°The Duke has no shame! All you Bai family men deserve to die in the Southern Border! It was your Bai family who killed our sons!¡± ¡°Sprouting nonsense again!¡± Bai Jinzhi flung Bai Jinxiu aside with brute force, raising her whip towards the wailing woman. ¡°You deserve to die! I¡¯ll whip you to death today!¡± ¡°Bai Jinzhi!¡± Bai Jinxiu held Bai Jinzhi back with all her strength, the wound on her forehead splitting open and bleeding profusely. ¡°You¡¯re a coward who gets bullied! I¡¯m not!¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s eyes were crimson as she roared at Bai Jinxiu, pushing her away in fury. The whip cracked in the air, and the woman¡¯s scream was shrill. ¡°Little Four! Stop!¡± Already injured, Bai Jinxiu was pushed against the wall by Bai Jinzhi, pain throbbing in her head. Qingshu was frantic, ¡°Fourth Miss, how can you fight Second Miss? Second Miss¡­ are you alright?¡± Bai Qingyan quickened her steps, gripping her plain clothes as she stepped up. Seeing Bai Jinzhi, eyes red and ready to whip the woman to death, she shouted, ¡°Bai Jinzhi! Stop!¡± Turning sharply, she ordered, ¡°Uncle Ping, restrain Fourth Miss!¡± Lu Ping rushed forward, taking a whip lash himself before restraining the infuriated Bai Jinzhi, who screamed madly like a demon, repeatedly breaking free from Lu Ping¡¯s hold, seeming ready to perish with the accusers of the Duke¡¯s residence. Arriving then, Bai Jintong grabbed the cold tea from the gatehouse table. Rushing down the steps, she doused Bai Jinzhi with the pot of water. The cold water snapped Bai Jinzhi out of her fury. Gasping, she looked tearfully at the pale Bai Jintong, then turned her gaze to Bai Qingyan at the top of the steps, whose face was iron gray, ¡°Eld¡­ Eldest Sister.¡± ¡°Heaven, open your eyes! The Duke killed my son for military glory! Now the girls of the Duke¡¯s residence want to kill me too!¡± ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s anger flared again. She struggled to charge forward. From atop the steps, Bai Qingyan, her face cold, in mourning clothes, stood with a straight back and asked, ¡°May I ask this lady, the frontline military records from King Xin haven¡¯t been sent back yet. We only know of our army¡¯s loss. My grandfather, father, uncle, and brothers are all dead. The situation of the soldiers hasn¡¯t been reported! How can you be certain your son is dead?¡± The woman, her face marked by the whip, showed fear and defensiveness but retorted, ¡°If the Duke is dead, how could my son be alive?!¡± ¡°So, you presume your son is dead! From a young age, I went to the battlefield. I also delivered death benefits to fallen soldiers¡¯ families. When did any soldier¡¯s mother not hope for their son¡¯s return, instead of declaring their son¡¯s death without proof, shouting at the Duke¡¯s residence?¡± The woman shrank, under the gazes of the crowd, only arguing stubbornly, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just anxious! My poor son! What will I do if you die?! You wanted to earn a title in the army, but didn¡¯t! The generals in the Duke¡¯s residence took your bones for their glory!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not anxious, you came to make trouble at the Duke¡¯s residence!¡± Bai Jinzhi screamed hoarsely, ¡°The news of my family¡¯s men all dead just arrived. Even if the eunuch said King Xin would return soon, we still hoped the news was wrong! But you¡­ you cause a commotion without any confirmed news, claiming my grandfather killed your son. Are you even a mother?! If you keep causing trouble, I¡¯ll whip you to death!¡± The weakening woman clung to Bai Jinzhi¡¯s last words, her shrill cries even louder, ¡°Heaven, look! The Duke killed my son and now the girls of the Duke¡¯s residence want to kill me! We commoners truly can¡¯t live like this!¡± ¡°You¡­ you shrew!¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s eyes reddened, struggling fiercely, almost breaking free from Lu Ping. ¡°My grandfather killed your son?!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was cold as a blade, her heart burning with fury, turning her eyes even redder, ¡°Did my grandfather put a knife to your son¡¯s neck to force him into the army?! Every warrior wants to protect the nation and honor their family. Is glory given freely? The greater the glory, the greater the dangers! Want titles without risks, how is that possible?!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about my family! The Duke¡¯s residence has a hundred years of honor! But this honor was bought with the lives of my family¡¯s men on the battlefield! The ancestral hall¡¯s plaques, which one wasn¡¯t earned through blood? Few died peacefully in bed!¡± ¡°You say my family are glory seekers? If we were, why did my grandfather present ¡®On Titles¡¯ to plead the Emperor to allow common soldiers to earn titles? The Bai family¡¯s honor is well known, why would my grandfather fake achievements?¡± Seeing the woman¡¯s eyes darting, she continued coldly, ¡°I once asked my grandfather why other marquises¡¯ children could be officials in the capital, enjoying prosperity. Why must Bai family¡¯s children go to war at ten, suffering and fighting? He said it¡¯s because the frontline always needs someone! Because thousands of civilians there need protection! Because we can¡¯t bear the title of ¡®Zhen¡¯ in vain! Zhen means defending against enemies without ceasing until death!¡± Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 69: No Regrets in Life or Death_1 Chapter 70: Chapter 69: No Regrets in Life or Death_1 ¡°The Bai family, since it was established by our ancestor, has been bestowed the title of Duke of Zhen! Isn¡¯t a century of glory recorded in history books enough?! My father, uncles, and brothers were all conferred as generals! Their ranks and honors could not be higher! What kind of military achievements could surpass the prestige of our Bai family¡¯s army, which has deterred Daliang and Rong from invading for ten years?! What kind of military merit demanded my grandfather to fight until all the men of our family were extinguished?! Even if the descendants of the Bai family lay on the laurels of our ancestors, why can¡¯t we enjoy the peace and prosperity in Dadu City?¡± Bai Qingyan pointed at the imperial plaque with black background and gold characters above her head, ¡°Live for the people, die for the country! The Bai family only wishes not to be ashamed of the title of Zhen above our heads! Only to guard the peaceful mountains and rivers of Jin, so that our people live without fear! Life or death, no regrets!¡± ¡°But in the end, in this prosperous Dadu City¡­ those who compose poetry and indulge in pleasures enjoy glory! While the heroic souls of the Bai family who died in the war to protect the country are accused of using military merit to harm their fellow soldiers! How is this just?!¡± She turned to the side, pointing with five fingers towards the twenty-some coffins lined up inside the main gate of the Duke¡¯s Mansion, ¡°Tell me¡­ If my grandfather killed your sons, then who killed my grandfather?! Who killed the men of the Bai family?! Even ten-year-old children of the Bai family shed blood on the battlefield! Whose ten-year-old child ever marched to war?! Whose ten-year-old child could ride a horse with a sword to kill the enemy?! Who is willing to let their ten-year-old child die in battle for the country?! Who?!¡± Her voice grew louder with each question; every word was like a pearl, her voice thunderous. Yet the pain in her heart was unbearable, making her body tremble. The people were also shaken by Bai Qingyan¡¯s words. Their hairs stood on end, and their eyes filled with hot tears. They were moved by the loyalty and righteousness of the Bai family, feeling a mix of sorrow and righteous indignation as they stared at the troublemakers. Qin Shangzhi, who was recuperating at the Duke¡¯s Mansion, hurried over when he heard that the families of soldiers were causing trouble at the gate, intending to help the Bai family in gratitude for their hospitality. He did not expect that upon arrival, he would hear Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart-wrenching and soul-stirring questions, which moved him to tears, wishing he could take up a sword immediately and join the Bai men in battle, defending his country with his blood. Bai Jinxiu, with blood on her face, clutched her chest and knelt on the ground, crying bitterly to the sky, ¡°Grandfather, open your eyes and see¡­ These are the people the Bai family fought to protect! The Bai family sacrificed their lives for the people¡­ Eldest Young Lady was severely injured for killing bandits! The men of the Bai family are all dead! And in return, we are slandered! Grandfather¡­ You taught us to sacrifice for the people, to love and protect them! But who will protect the Bai family?!¡± Hearing Bai Jinxiu¡¯s cries as she knelt, Bai Jinzhi bit her lip and couldn¡¯t hold back her own sobs after enduring for so many days. The servants of the Bai family, dressed in mourning clothes, were already in tears. Some knelt and cried out to the Duke, and others clutched wooden sticks, wishing to beat the troublemakers to death. The onlookers at the gate also had tears running down their faces, moved by the spirit and dedication of the Bai family. They wiped their tears with their sleeves, gritting their teeth and cursing at the families of the soldiers causing trouble at the gate. ¡°The one causing trouble earlier was Wang Ergou¡¯s stepmother, a shameless woman¡­ Wang Ergou isn¡¯t her biological son, of course, she wished for his death! The entire male line of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s family died defending the country! But she¡¯s brazen enough to make a scene here! She only wants money! Heartless dog¡­¡± one of them cursed. ¡°Shame on her! The Duke of Zhen¡¯s family protects the people of Jin, even when they have an enormous tragedy in their family, she still dares to ask for money! They should be sent to the border, let the Nanyan Army and the Xiliang army torment them! Then they¡¯ll understand the worth of the Duke¡¯s family!¡± ¡°All the men of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s family are dead, and now, the Nanyan and Xiliang allied forces are breaking through the southern borders. With Daliang and Rong watching like tigers, who will protect Jin in the future?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! The daughters of the Duke¡¯s family are just as brave! The eldest young lady, second young lady, and third young lady all fought on the battlefield! The eldest young lady even personally killed Shu Kingdom¡¯s Great General Pang Pingguo and crushed the kingdom that humiliated Jin!¡± After those words, the people looked up at Bai Qingyan standing high above. They saw Bai Qingyan with tears in her eyes, her face like frost. And Bai Jinxiu, who was clutching her chest, cried so much that she needed two maids to support her; seeing this, the spectators felt even more sorrowful. The eldest, second, and third young ladies of the Bai family were indeed formidable, but they were still young women¡­ ¡°These scoundrels don¡¯t understand respect for the deceased. Making trouble now, aren¡¯t they afraid of breaking the hearts of the Duke¡¯s widows?!¡± Some of the people had already started sobbing. Their emotions were affecting each other, creating a wave of righteous fury. They glared at the troublemaking families so fiercely that those at the back were already stealthily retreating, planning to slip away unnoticed. Wang Ergou¡¯s stepmother, who had caused the most disturbance, was trembling with fear, unable to find a place to hide under the hostile stares that wanted to tear her apart. Pretending to be tough, she said, ¡°Your Duke¡¯s family may have great achievements, but who would ever have too much merit?! Of course, the more the better!¡± Bai Jintong stepped forward, tears in her eyes, gritting her teeth, ¡°How dare you mention military merits! What kind of merits require over twenty coffins that can¡¯t even fit in our hall, having to line them up out here in broad daylight?! Tell me, what kind of merits caused my elderly grandmother to lose her husband, sons, and grandsons?! If you came here to make a scene, then tell me¡­ what kind of merits did my grandfather desire?!¡± The people¡¯s emotions grew even more intense, many strong men ready to fight. ¡°Damn it! Their whole family died for the country and the people, and you still cause trouble here! Do you want to get beaten?!¡± Lu Yuanpeng and Xiao Rongyan arrived with guards, dragging two bloodied bandits, slowly approaching the Duke¡¯s Mansion. As they discussed how to approach the Duke¡¯s family about this matter, Lu Yuanpeng saw a large crowd gathered at the mansion¡¯s gate. ¡°Brother Xiao, I¡¯ll go ahead and check it out! You bring the others! Don¡¯t steal my credit!¡± Lu Yuanpeng said, mounting his horse and riding away. Xiao Rongyan smiled faintly, but his eyes were sharp. He had already noticed Bai Qingyan standing in mourning attire at the gate, and ordered, ¡°Send two guards to take the bandits over first.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± his subordinate responded. Remembering the note, Xiao Rongyan¡¯s expression grew even more profound. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Breaking Down_1 Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Breaking Down_1 Though it was unknown if the note came from Miss Bai¡¯s hand or if this Bai Young Lady was aware of his identity. But now, since the person who sent the note had not taken any action, had not leveraged the favor to make any demands, nor exposed his identity, he decided to follow the principle of ¡°inaction¡± and wait quietly. However, he guessed that the matter of the note was probably related to this Bai Young Lady who seemed to possess deep tactics and scheming. ¡°Sister Bai!¡± When Lu Yuanpeng rode quickly closer to the crowd, he reined in his horse, jumped off the saddle, gripped his whip, pushed through the crowd, and rushed up the high steps. He respectfully saluted Bai Qingyan deeply, then turned to look at the people kneeling in front of the Duke¡¯s Mansion making trouble and said, ¡°Early this morning, Brother Xiao and I received news that two people had bribed some soldiers¡¯ families to come to the Duke¡¯s Mansion to make trouble. It seems to be these people¡­¡± At the mention of Brother Xiao, Bai Qingyan raised her eyes. Not far away, Xiao Rongyan, wearing a gray mouse-fur cloak, was leading his horse and walking leisurely, surrounded by a dozen guards. The onlooking citizens turned their heads upon hearing the guards¡¯ shouting. All they saw were the tall, stern-faced guards with knives at their waists, dragging two blood-soaked men toward the Duke¡¯s Mansion. The crowd quickly made way for them. ¡°Sister Bai! Early this morning, I heard about the sad news of the Bai family¡¯s seventeen sons. On my way to the Duke¡¯s Mansion, I encountered Brother Xiao. It just so happened that an elder in Brother Xiao¡¯s family was reporting to him, saying that silver was being sent to several impoverished families in the city outskirts on Brother Xiao¡¯s behalf. Unexpectedly, they overheard someone distributing silver to soldiers¡¯ families at the ruined temple outside the city, instructing them to come to the Duke¡¯s Mansion to make trouble. They were told to say that the Duke was foolishly using the army for his own glory, disregarding the soldiers¡¯ lives! After causing trouble, they would receive fifty taels of silver each!¡± ¡°Such despicable tactics! This is meant to drive our Duke¡¯s Mansion to ruin!¡± Bai Jintong clenched his fists tightly beside her. The soldiers¡¯ families, trembling as they came to make trouble at the Duke¡¯s Mansion, were now shaking. Lu Yuanpeng had clearly pinpointed the exact location, indicating the scheme was exposed. Some tried to flee but were blocked by the citizens and guards. With a loud thud, they knelt on the ground, confessing everything. ¡°Miss Bai, forgive us! These two men gave each of us twenty taels of silver to come and make trouble at the Duke¡¯s Mansion!¡± ¡°Miss Bai! Miss Bai, I don¡¯t want the silver anymore! I¡¯ll give it all to you! I know I was wrong! I dare not do it again! Please spare me!¡± ¡°Sister Bai, guess what?¡± Lu Yuanpeng threw aside his cloak and pointed at the bloodied men on the ground with his whip. ¡°These two men were waiting at the ruined temple for these fools to return. They planned to kill all these greedy fools and then frame the Duke¡¯s Mansion, tarnishing its reputation!¡± Upon hearing this, the soldiers¡¯ families turned pale with fear. Terrified, they crawled forward a few steps on their knees, begging for mercy: ¡°Miss Bai! Our minds were clouded by greed, so we accepted the money to come here. But¡­ but I only have one son! If my child dies, I just wanted to get some more money for my old age!¡± ¡°Yes! We were forced by circumstances. If our sons really die, how are we, the old ones, supposed to live!?¡± Bai Qingyan stood straight on the high steps, looking at those who had come to make trouble, accusing her grandfather of killing their sons with conviction, now tearfully banging their heads on the ground, begging for mercy. She felt no significant surge of emotion. Instead, she looked at those two villains being pressed down by the guards and asked, ¡°Who ordered you?¡± The two, restrained and unable to resist, one of them replied: ¡°We took money to dispel disaster for people. Everyone in the martial world has their own code of loyalty and rules. We should be dead by now. We were captured alive because our skills were inferior. We accept the outcome! It is up to Miss Bai to decide whether to kill or flay us.¡± ¡°Helping scoundrels slander loyal and brave martyrs who died for the country, intending to frame the Duke¡¯s Mansion¡¯s widow as unkind; how dare you speak of loyalty?¡± Her voice was hoarse, seemingly exhausted, her heart as cold as winter. After closing her eyes briefly, she said, ¡°Now the Bai family¡¯s loyal spirits are not yet cold, but there are already dark arrows aiming to kill my Bai family! So be it! The Bai family¡¯s loyalty and integrity are well-known to gods and men! Grandfather is dead, and all the Bai family sons are lost. My Bai family can at least live up to the name of Zhen Kingdom!¡± That indifferent coldness, devoid of joy and sorrow, filled with exhaustion, was drastically different from the righteous, passionate young lady fiercely arguing against those greedy troublemakers who besieged the Duke¡¯s Mansion. It was an unspeakable desolation, akin to the hopelessness of a heart turned to ash. She bowed to Lu Yuanpeng and said, ¡°The Bai Mansion has many affairs to attend to, and the stewards and servants are all occupied. Could I trouble Young Master Lu to hand these two over to the magistrate¡¯s office? The Bai Mansion trusts that the magistrate will deliver justice for the Bai family.¡± Lu Yuanpeng, taken aback, dumbly replied, ¡°Of course, no problem!¡± Her gaze fell on Xiao Rongyan, who stood calmly outside the crowd. Behind him were over a dozen armed guards, wearing a cloak and a robe with blue and white cloud patterns, with a jade belt adorned with gold threads, exuding extreme elegance. His deep-set, exquisite features, combined with the scholarly elegance of a literati, always had a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, his gaze steady and reserved. His scholarly demeanor was rarely matched even by the great scholars of the time. She was not foolish. Instead, she was clear-eyed and perceptive. It was Xiao Rongyan who sent these two people to the Duke¡¯s Mansion¡¯s door through Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s hand today. Bai Qingyan nodded towards Xiao Rongyan in greeting; this favor¡­ she, Bai Qingyan, accepted. ¡°Fourth Young Lady Bai Jinzhi whipped the people. Uncle Ping, seize Fourth Young Lady¡¯s long whip, take her back to the mansion, and apply the family law.¡± After speaking, she turned and silently supported Bai Jinxiu, who had blood on her face, smiling at her through her tears. ¡°Eldest sister¡­¡± Bai Jinxiu choked, tears streaming down like rain. ¡°No more crying. Let¡¯s go!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was like a sigh, tightly holding her sister in her arms as she walked towards the Bai Mansion. Bai Jintong bowed to Lu Yuanpeng, then personally escorted the still-angry Bai Jinzhi back to the mansion. Watching Bai Qingyan¡¯s despondent figure, Lu Yuanpeng gripped his whip tightly. He hadn¡¯t expected that bringing these two people to the Bai Mansion to claim credit would actually lead to the desolation of a woman with the spirit and charm of a proud frost flower. He seemed to be infected by the white cloth inscribed with ¡°sacrifice¡± on the Duke¡¯s Mansion gate, feeling a deep sadness and anger that pained his heart. Once before Manjiang Tower, this seemingly fragile woman, with her loyal and righteous words and her heartfelt compassion for the people, was a stunning revelation! Her thunderous demeanor when dealing with that illegitimate son was so powerful! On that day in the grand hall, her thin figure stood like a pine and cypress, filled with righteous vigor, iron will, and loyalty. It seemed no setbacks or impacts could crush her proud backbone. Yet today, she was defeated by the very people the Bai family had protected with their lives for generations! Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Follow Your Heart_1 Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Follow Your Heart_1 ¡°You despicable and shameless scoundrels!¡± Lu Yuanpeng pointed his riding whip at the group of kneeling, greedy ingrates outside the Duke of Zhen¡¯s residence, filled with righteous anger. ¡°The Bai family of the Duke of Zhen used their blood and lives to protect the peace of this glorious capital. You are ungrateful, throwing mud at the loyal and brave for the sake of gold and silver! Are you even human?!¡± ¡°And you two!¡± Lu Yuanpeng pointed his whip at the so-called men of the martial world. ¡°Without the Bai family defending the borders against the invaders, where would be your ¡®martial world¡¯? Brotherhood of the martial world?! What face do you have! The men of the Bai family died on the battlefield for Jin, and you dare to push their widows to death for silver?!¡± The already escalating and mutually infectious public anger was further inflamed by Lu Yuanpeng¡¯s few words, and the crowd, rolling up their sleeves, began to fight¡­ ¡°These sons of bitches! Beat these traitorous scoundrels to death!¡± Chaos ensued in front of the Duke¡¯s residence. Even Lu Yuanpeng joined the melee, swinging his whip. Only Xiao Rongyan stood alone like a sage beyond the secular world. After a while, he turned and said to the guard, ¡°Protect those two people. Don¡¯t let them die.¡± The soldiers¡¯ families who caused trouble at the Duke¡¯s residence, along with the two so-called ¡°martial men,¡± were beaten and escorted all the way to the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office. The Jing Zhaoyin had anticipated not having a good year because of the tragic loss of the men of the Duke¡¯s residence in the southern border. Unexpectedly, on the morning of the first day of the new year, the Right Prime Minister¡¯s most beloved grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, had brought him such a grand gift in collaboration with the people of Dadu City. ¡¤ To avoid disturbing the Eldest Princess and the resting elders, Bai Jintong pressed Bai Jinzhi into Bai Qingyan¡¯s Qinghui Courtyard. Bai Jinzhi knelt on the bluestone bricks of the Qinghui Courtyard, her neck stiff. She was not afraid of family punishment but she was not convinced. Lu Ping, holding the punishment cane, stood aside, feeling reluctant. After all, today others had come to the Duke¡¯s residence to make trouble first, and the Fourth Lady had only fought to protect the reputation of the Duke¡¯s residence. Standing beside Bai Qingyan, the Third Lady Bai Jintong, with her hands behind her back, glanced at the tearful Bai Jinzhi and lowered her voice to plead, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Xiao Si knows her mistake. Today, it was indeed others who provoked first.¡± Seeing Bai Qingyan tightly pursing her lips and gazing at Bai Jinzhi with piercing eyes, Bai Jintong quickly said, ¡°Xiao Si! Apologize to Eldest Young Lady!¡± The Second Lady Bai Jinxiu, with her forehead bandaged, supported by Qingshu, hurriedly entered the gate of Qinghui Courtyard. She glanced at Bai Jinzhi kneeling in the yard, walked to Bai Qingyan¡¯s side, bowed, and pleaded for Bai Jinzhi, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Xiao Si is at fault, but there is a reason. Xiao Si was also protecting the family¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, if you want to hit me, I accept! But I won¡¯t admit I¡¯m wrong!¡± Bai Jinzhi clenched her teeth, tearfully staring directly at Bai Qingyan standing under the corridor, ¡°I was protecting the honor of the Duke¡¯s residence! I was right!¡± Bai Jinzhi glared at Bai Jinxiu, ¡°On the other hand, Second Sister¡­ those greedy and treacherous people slandered our Duke¡¯s residence. Second Sister just stood there and did nothing! Second Sister is a coward! I despise Second Sister!¡± Looking at the stubborn expression on Bai Jinzhi¡¯s face, Bai Qingyan felt an aching disappointment in her heart, ¡°Uncle Ping, you all wait outside the courtyard.¡± In the vast Qinghui Courtyard, only the four sisters remained. ¡°Your Second Sister is a coward? If she were a coward, could she have risked having her arm nearly cut off to save your Third Brother and still managed to kill the enemy¡¯s vanguard?! From childhood to now, your Second Sister has taken the blame for you, suffering at least no less than two hundred cane strokes. Is she a coward?!¡± Just now, at the front gate of the Duke¡¯s residence, if it weren¡¯t for your Second Sister¡¯s timely weeping, do you think the people would overlook your whipping and support our Bai family? Even in the Qin family¡¯s Marquis of Loyalty and Courage residence, your Second Sister struck only when necessary, forcing Qin Lang to the point of no return and making him move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage residence! Your Second Sister is a coward, and you think you are a hero because you hurt people and showed off your strength?!¡± Bai Jinzhi turned her head, still unconvinced. ¡°When your Second Sister tried to stop you, did she not tell you that those people gathered in front of the Duke¡¯s residence might have ulterior motives and that you should not act impulsively?!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°Swinging your whip in front of the Duke¡¯s residence, shouting about killing! Truly impressive! If Lu Yuanpeng hadn¡¯t captured those two scoundrels today and revealed their plot, have you thought about the consequences?!¡± Bai Jinzhi recalled Lu Yuanpeng saying that those two wanted to silence the soldiers¡¯ families and then frame the Duke¡¯s residence. She felt uneasy but stubbornly refused to admit her mistake. Bai Qingyan pointed in the direction of the Duke¡¯s residence¡¯s main gate, ¡°If those people were silenced after returning, the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office would be the first to come to the Duke¡¯s residence to arrest you!¡± Thinking about how this matter could destroy the Bai family¡¯s reputation and public support, Bai Qingyan felt a chill. The current situation and public support were the only tools she relied on to save the Bai family. ¡°I have nothing to hide! Let them arrest me! I am not afraid! At worst, I will go to jail, and the Jing Zhaoyin will eventually clear my name!¡± Bai Jinzhi, with a fearless expression, stood steadfast. Her eyes piercing, Bai Qingyan looked at her proud and competitive sister, her anger boiling over. ¡°Naive! This matter is a carefully arranged trap. Do you think you will be exonerated once you enter the Jing Zhaoyin¡¯s office?! They will only make the charges stick to destroy the public¡¯s support for our Bai family! Destroying the situation in our favor! You think you¡¯re impressive¡­ ignoring your Second Sister¡¯s advice, you had to charge forward and even fought your Second Sister!¡± ¡°Without Lu Yuanpeng capturing the trespassers today, those soldiers¡¯ families would have been executed. Solely for the crime of killing soldiers¡¯ families out of anger¡­ it would have been enough to destroy the Bai family¡¯s centuries-old achievements in an instant! Doing a hundred good deeds can¡¯t make up for one mistake, have you learned nothing?! If you go to jail, those behind this plot will incite rumors and pin the blame on our Bai family, fabricating a charge of extermination! With no men left in our family, maneuvering in the royal court is already difficult. Without public support, it would lead to total destruction! This¡­ is the outcome those manipulating this affair want for our Bai family!¡± Bai Jinzhi, clutching her clothes tightly, sweating coldly, bit her lip in silence, not daring to meet Bai Qingyan¡¯s clear eyes. Her disappointment mounting, Bai Qingyan¡¯s voice rose, ¡°Whether a person or an action, one can be sharp but only if they have the ability and the wisdom to control the situation! But look at you¡­ confronting scoundrels with brutality! Competing for trivialities with people who forget loyalty for gain! Ignoring the greater picture, letting petty anger cloud your judgment, flaunting your whip thoughtlessly with no contingency plan!¡± Seeing Bai Jinzhi¡¯s tears falling from Bai Qingyan¡¯s severe scolding, Bai Jinxiu felt distressed and softly advised, ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­ Xiao Si is still young and straightforward. This time she acted rashly but for the reputation of the Duke¡¯s residence. As long as she knows her mistake, let the lesson end here.¡± Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Midnight by the Abyss_1 Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Midnight by the Abyss_1 She fixed her gaze on Bai Jinzhi, who knelt rigidly in the courtyard, refusing to admit her mistakes. Her chest heaved violently. ¡°Every reckless act without considering the consequences is the helpless indulgence of a fool! Our grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers died in Nanjing; in the court, traitors with ghostly intentions glare at our Bai family like tigers eyeing their prey. The Bai family is now struggling to survive, like standing at the edge of a cliff at midnight. Do you think there¡¯s any room for her to act recklessly?¡± The atmosphere in Qinghui Courtyard became oppressive and heavy following Bai Qingyan¡¯s stern voice. The four sisters pressed their lips together in silence. Apart from Bai Jinzhi, Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, and Bai Jintong had all read the bamboo slips recording the military maneuvers. How could they not know the Bai family was in dire straits? Bai Jinxiu¡¯s eyes immediately brimmed with tears, and she turned her head, tears streaming down. Bai Jintong clenched her fists tightly, crying with her head lowered. The howling winter wind whipped through, making it colder under the blazing sun than on snowy days. Her already sore eyes couldn¡¯t bear the dazzling sunlight reflecting off the snow. She closed her eyelids, trying to calm the tumultuous emotions in her chest. Hoarsely, she asked, ¡°Do you know¡­ why your grandfather never allowed you to go to the front line for training when you begged him at ten years old?¡± Bai Jinzhi no longer had her previous stubborn stance. Clenching her clothes tightly at her sides, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Grandfather once said, among our sisters, your second sister is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, seemingly meek, but with her own measures. Your third sister is the brightest, with wisdom and strategy. And you¡­ have the highest aptitude for martial arts among all the sisters! You¡¯re the most like Grandfather in his youth, fiercely competitive, vengeful, and without regard for consequences. You¡¯re inherently rebellious, and Grandfather feared that if you tasted blood, you would become even more unrestrained. That¡¯s why he made you stay in Dadu¡­ to study more books of sages with the tutelage of a teacher.¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s face paled at Bai Qingyan¡¯s words, her back straightening rigidly. Looking at Bai Jinzhi, she spoke with a tone of heartbreak, ¡°Horsemanship, swordsmanship, spear techniques, archery, whip skills! You learn everything faster than others and are more proficient in everything. At just fifteen, how many people in Dadu City are your match? You should be self-restrained, planning thoughtfully before acting! Displaying recklessness on the outside while remaining calm inside. You should be making a name for yourself on the battlefield as a woman, becoming a general that future generations will admire, like Grandfather, the most glorious woman of Jin¡¯s Duke¡¯s mansion and Jin Kingdom! Not competing for a moment, putting yourself and the Bai family in a perilous situation!¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s previously proud back slumped slightly, her expression became grave, and her clenched fists trembled with force. Unable to bear her emotions, she said weakly, ¡°If you admit your mistake today, go find Uncle Ping and take these fifty canes! If you still think you are not wrong¡­ then let it be.¡± If she doesn¡¯t know her mistakes, what use is punishment? Bai Jinzhi couldn¡¯t speak, only biting her teeth hard, then rising and leaving Qinghui Courtyard to find Lu Ping and take her punishment. ¡°Jintong, go tell Uncle Ping to go easy on her, considering the urgent matters of the Bai family.¡± She lowered her voice and instructed. Bai Jintong nodded and quickly turned to chase after Bai Jinzhi. ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Jinxiu grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. ¡°Xiaosi will understand that Eldest Young Lady¡¯s harsh words are because she has high hopes for her.¡± The Bai family¡¯s men were all lost; only the women remained. It was already difficult to support the Bai family. Bai Jinxiu was married into the Qin family. Soon Bai Jintong would also leave to do business. It wasn¡¯t because she thought Bai Jinzhi was too young to arrange anything for her. She intended to keep Bai Jinzhi by her side and teach her for a few more years after the Bai family¡¯s major affairs were settled, then let her follow her aspirations to showcase her talents on the battlefield. But she forgot that the Bai family was already walking on thin ice, with a difficult and pressing road ahead. There was no long time left for a pure and free-spirited girl like Bai Jinzhi to indulge at will. After experiencing the great sorrow of losing her loved ones, Bai Jinzhi had to quickly grow up to be a strong and responsible daughter who could support a part of the Bai family. With the clear blue skies above, she gazed into the distance with deep determination in her eyes. King Xin¡¯s claws had dared to play tricks behind their backs, planning and plotting to overthrow the Bai family. Now that the plot was exposed¡­ if they still hoped to retreat without a hitch, she wouldn¡¯t make it easy for them. Bai Qingyan, though she had lost her martial skills, would use public opinion as her sword. Since they both wanted to use public sentiment and words as weapons to shape the situation, then let¡¯s see who¡¯s superior. She called out to the anxious maids and attendants standing at the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard: ¡°Chun Tao¡­¡± Chun Tao heard her and quickly walked in. Seeing Bai Qingyan support Bai Jinxiu to go inside, she hurriedly lifted the curtain. ¡°Go call your cousin over. I have something to instruct him.¡± ¡°Yes! This maid will go now!¡± Chun Tao nodded. Inside the main house, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu sat by the stove. She personally massaged Bai Jinxiu¡¯s arm. When blocking the Fourth Young Lady, Bai Jinzhi, in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion gate, Bai Jinxiu was caught off guard and was pushed by Bai Jinzhi, hitting the copper-edged door frame, hurting her old injury, making her arm too painful to lift. Perhaps it was too quiet in the room, or maybe it was just because she felt peaceful next to her eldest sister, Bai Jinxiu couldn¡¯t help speaking¡­ ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Jinxiu lowered her eyebrows, sounding particularly nasal. ¡°This morning, Nanny Luo beside my mother sent a message from my maternal grandparents¡¯ family. They said¡­ the entire Bai family men are dead, my father, brothers, and younger brother have all passed away. I¡¯ve also married. Now the Emperor¡¯s attitude toward the Bai family is unclear. They advised my mother to make early arrangements, to ask Grandmother for a divorce paper, to avoid being implicated by the Bai family.¡± In the golden-beast incense burner, light smoke swirled, filling the room with a faint fragrance. ¡°Aunt won¡¯t leave.¡± Her voice was low, yet very certain, because in her past life¡­ it was so. Her aunts, though they married when the Duke¡¯s mansion was in glory, none of them were cowards during its downfall. Not one¡­ left the Bai family. They even threatened the Emperor with their lives for justice for the Bai family. ¡°I know.¡± Bai Jinxiu responded softly. ¡°I just feel that life is unpredictable. In the past¡­ Grandmother always taught my mother to be obedient and kind, to serve her in-laws well. But why, the moment something happened to the Bai family, during the time when my father¡¯s body isn¡¯t even cold yet, did she urge my mother to get a divorce paper? It¡¯s really¡­ so heartless.¡± ¡°Maternal love is all about wanting her children to live safe and prosperous lives! There¡¯s a saying¡­ raising children for a hundred years, always worrying ninety-nine! Don¡¯t blame your grandmother.¡± The bits of resentment and shame in Bai Jinxiu¡¯s heart dissolved because of Bai Qingyan¡¯s words. She turned to look at Bai Qingyan massaging her shoulder, tears streaming down her face: ¡°I wonder if the mother¡¯s families of my other aunts will also want them to leave the Bai family at this time.¡± ¡°Aunties, they won¡¯t leave!¡± She held Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand, speaking earnestly. ¡°So, we need to help Mother and our aunts support the Bai family! To show the world that even if our grandfather, father, all of the Bai men aren¡¯t here anymore, no one can belittle the Bai family¡¯s prestige. No one can belittle our mothers and aunts!¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Adding Trouble_1 Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Adding Trouble_1 Bai Jinxiu nodded, ¡°I only hope Fifth Aunt can give birth to a boy! At least it would help sustain the Bai family¡¯s household!¡± When Bai Jinxiu mentioned the word ¡°boy,¡± she couldn¡¯t help but think of the illegitimate son in Qingming Courtyard, like a bone stuck in her throat. ¡°That illegitimate son of my father¡­I¡¯ve heard about what happened on the long street. He¡¯s simply a worthless scoundrel! We can¡¯t count on him!¡± Bai Qingyan did not want to mention that illegitimate son again and merely said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that illegitimate son; he won¡¯t cause any major trouble. Whether Fifth Aunt has a boy or a girl is up to fate. We can¡¯t force it! We need to plan for the worst outcome.¡± ¡°Then what will happen to the Bai family in the future?¡± Bai Jinxiu choked. ¡°When Grandfather¡­ and the others return, Grandmother will ask the Emperor to allow us to relocate the entire family back to ancestral land in Shuoyang. Grandmother will claim to be praying for the blessings of Jin and will go to Qingan Temple for worship, taking your third sister Jintong with her. Grandmother will have Third Sister dress as a man to go out and conduct business, secretly amassing wealth for the Bai family¡­¡± Hearing Bai Qingyan¡¯s plans, Bai Jinxiu felt her heart pound with fear. She tightened her grip on Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand, her mind in turmoil, and her words became rash, ¡°Move the whole family back to Shuoyang? I want to go back too! Qin Lang has already moved out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage¡¯s Household¡­Shuoyang is a place of outstanding people, perfect for studying! I¡­¡± Compared to staying in Dadu, Bai Jinxiu always felt that being together with her sisters brought more security and warmth. Bai Qingyan patted Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand to calm her down before shaking her head, ¡°Leaving aside the fact that you¡¯re already married to Qin Lang, our Bai family¡­may not be able to withdraw safely back to Shuoyang. If we can indeed withdraw safely, we can¡¯t all leave Dadu City unwatched. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Bai Jinxiu was taken aback, vaguely sensing that Bai Qingyan seemed to be planning something, ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Bai Qingyan squeezed Bai Jinxiu¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°This time, if the Bai family can withdraw completely back to Shuoyang, someone needs to stay in Dadu to manage things. You have always been reserved and steady. With you in Dadu¡­Eldest Young Lady can feel at ease.¡± Bai Jinxiu pressed her lips together and suddenly understood Bai Qingyan¡¯s intention. Eldest Young Lady was planning for the Bai family¡¯s future. The retreat to Shuoyang was only temporary; in the future, Eldest Young Lady still intended to bring the Bai family back! Now that she knew Bai Qingyan had plans, Bai Jinxiu would never hold them back. She raised her eyes, a firm and steady look in them, and nodded, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. Jinxiu will not disappoint Eldest Young Lady¡¯s expectations. I¡¯ll be here in Dadu City, waiting for you to come back.¡± ¡°Big Miss, my cousin is here!¡± Chun Tao said softly from outside the door. Hearing this, Bai Jinxiu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, composed herself, and sat properly by the carved bronze stove. ¡°Let Chen Qingsheng in,¡± Bai Qingyan said. When Chen Qingsheng entered and saw Bai Jinxiu there, he hastily bowed, keeping his head lowered and not daring to lift it, ¡°Greetings, Big Miss, greetings, Second Miss.¡± Bai Qingyan sat by the soft couch¡¯s small table, and without avoiding Bai Jinxiu, she asked, ¡°Have you heard about what happened in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion today?¡± Chen Qingsheng, observant and perceptive, knew that since Big Miss did not avoid Second Miss when she called him over, she must not fear Second Miss knowing. He answered honestly, ¡°I heard about it. Big Miss, just give the order!¡± She lowered her eyes, opened the lid of the gilded incense burner, and used a plain silver stick to stir the ashes, restraining the overwhelming murderous intent in her eyes, ¡°The words ¡®arrogant and reckless in using the military¡¯ were sent by King Xin! The ones behind this want to blame the Bai family for King Xin¡¯s defeat in the capital, further cementing the accusation that the Bai family harmed the soldiers¡¯ families, thus ruining our reputation completely. Since they failed in their attempt, the Bai family must act, showing them that once they stir up trouble in this pool, it won¡¯t calm down easily.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Big Miss. I know what to do! They want to use rumors to attack our Duke¡¯s mansion; we can hit back in kind. I¡¯m skilled at this and won¡¯t disappoint you¡­¡± Chen Qingsheng promised. Bai Qingyan closed the incense burner lid and looked solemnly at Chen Qingsheng, ¡°Thank you for your hard work! Go on with your tasks!¡± ¡¤ Despite Lu Ping¡¯s leniency, Bai Jinzhi, who took the beating, still ended up with welt-laden skin. Bai Jinzhi was tough and knew she was wrong. She bit her teeth and took the beating without uttering a sound, walking back to the courtyard herself without letting anyone help. When Bai Jintong came to treat Bai Jinzhi with golden sore medicine, she saw Bai Jinzhi lying on the soft couch, secretly shedding tears. Hearing the door open, Bai Jinzhi quickly wiped her tears with a pillow. ¡°Eldest Young Lady had Uncle Ping go easy on you. Your injury is considered light.¡± Bai Jintong washed her hands and sat by the bed, moved the brazier closer, and opened the blanket to apply medicine to Bai Jinzhi. ¡°Do you accept your punishment today from Eldest Young Lady?¡± Bai Jintong asked, glancing at Bai Jinzhi, who was secretly crying. Maybe Bai Jintong¡¯s hand was too heavy while applying the medicine, making Bai Jinzhi¡¯s body stiffen. She muttered, ¡°Yes, I know! I¡¯ll fix my impulsiveness! I¡¯ll plan before acting from now on.¡± ¡°Do you understand what Eldest Young Lady meant by ¡®outwardly straightforward, inwardly steady¡¯?¡± Bai Jintong deliberately asked. Bai Jinzhi propped herself up on one arm and looked back at Bai Jintong. After applying the medicine and covering Bai Jinzhi with the blanket, Bai Jintong wiped her hands with a towel, ¡°Eldest Young Lady doesn¡¯t want you to change your way of doing things! Everyone says that being outwardly accommodating and inwardly principled is the way to deal with the world, but you can go the opposite way! Everyone in Dadu City knows about your righteous and straightforward nature. If you use this to disguise yourself as a pig to eat the tiger, you can achieve what others can¡¯t, and they won¡¯t be guarded against someone who seems so simple-minded.¡± Hearing the term ¡°simple-minded,¡± Bai Jinzhi almost got angry, frowning deeply. ¡°How others perceive you doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that you know in your heart who you are¡ªyou are the Bai family¡¯s fourth girl from the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion! We may lack a counselor¡¯s wisdom. So, we must be internally cautious and steady, planning before action. Being outwardly firm yet inwardly flexible, knowing your own strengths, means you can achieve great things. Reflect well on what you should do!¡± ¡°On the side of the sinking ship, a thousand sails pass; before the sick tree, a thousand trees bloom! Though the Bai men are gone, we still have Eldest Young Lady¡­ and us! We may be women, but we must support the Bai family¡¯s honor! A member of the Bai family may die, but the spirit cannot be extinguished, the resilience cannot be broken, and the sharpness must not be dulled!¡± Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes, very similar to Bai Qingyan¡¯s, reddened. She firmly grasped Bai Jinzhi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Third Sister understands that from Grandfather to our youngest brother, none will return. You are scared, confused, and hate those who try to slander Grandfather! I feel the same! But now, the Bai family is like eggs in a broken basket, teetering on the edge. We can¡¯t be afraid, can¡¯t be reckless, and can¡¯t act like brutes just to vent our anger! We must help our aunt and Eldest Young Lady, not cause further trouble.¡± Bai Jinzhi, her heartache exposed, immediately burst into tears. Reflecting on today¡¯s events that nearly caused a disaster for the Bai family, she felt deep shame and tightly clenched the bedsheet beneath her, ¡°Third Sister, don¡¯t worry! I understand now!¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 74: Deployment_1 Chapter 75: Chapter 74: Deployment_1 The news that the fourth young lady of the Bai Mansion had whipped a greedy troublemaker outside the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion and received fifty military cane strokes as family punishment quickly spread among the common folk. Some praised the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion for its high moral standards, saying, ¡°I¡¯d rather have the world betray me than betray the world!¡± Others felt that the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion was too weak, wondering how it could allow its own daughter to be punished after resisting an intruder. However, when the matter was brought up, the public couldn¡¯t help but recall the thunderous anger of the Bai family¡¯s eldest daughter in front of the mansion. Suddenly, the Duke of Zhen was scorned for his obstinate military decisions which led to the disastrous defeat in the southern border. Some citizens speculated about the surviving King Xin, wondering who first guessed that King Xin might have shifted the blame for the failed campaign onto the deceased hero to protect himself. Others suspected that the person behind the scenes, who bribed the soldiers¡¯ families to cause trouble at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, was none other than King Xin. Rumors intensified, and soon the public firmly believed it to be the truth. In less than half a day, households across Dadu City could hear citizens whispering curses against King Xin, their words laced with intense bitterness. Some bold men even ran to King Xin¡¯s residence to spit at the gate before leaving in anger. The advisors left in King Xin¡¯s mansion were like ants in a hot pot, gathering in the discussion hall without reaching a resolution. ¡°Fortunately, we have already tested that the Bai family does not have the military records! For now¡­ we must find those records as soon as possible!¡± An advisor frowned under the bright lamp. ¡°We have no choice but to proceed this way! Keep a close watch on the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. Report immediately if there¡¯s any suspicious activity!¡± The old man in the green robe shook his head under the lamp. ¡°With the military report, King Xin was too eager to cover his mistakes, and using the phrase ¡®obstinate military decisions¡¯ was too obvious. It was a blunder, a great blunder!¡± King Xin would be returning on the fifth with the deceased¡¯s spirit enshrined. The Bai Mansion was suddenly burdened with a great mourning. Fortunately, Mrs. Dong managed the household strictly, and the Bai family worked in unity. Despite it being the festive season, they received the news on New Year¡¯s Eve. In just three days, the preparations in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion were mostly complete. Yet the discussion of whether the second house¡¯s illegitimate son, Bai Qingxuan, should perform the mourning rites remained unresolved among the Eldest Princess, the mother, and various aunts. Now, all the male members of the Bai family were deceased, leaving only the illegitimate son from the second house, who had yet to be entered into the family register. The gender of the fifth wife¡¯s unborn child was still unknown. If Bai Qingxuan were allowed to perform the rites, it would signify the Bai family acknowledging his identity, even entrusting him with the family¡¯s honor. If the Duke¡¯s position could be preserved, it would surely be inherited by him. However, Bai Qingxuan was known for his violent and ruthless nature, lacking any sense of justice and righteousness. Neither the Eldest Princess, Mrs. Dong, nor the other wives trusted him with the fate of the Bai family. After discussing all afternoon in the Eldest Princess¡¯s Changshou Courtyard, the wives still could not reach a decision. Observant servants, however, were quick to curry favor by running to offer their assistance at Qingming Courtyard. Even Bai Qingxuan¡¯s mother started acting like the future mother of the Duke of Zhen. During such a crucial time in the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, she completely ignored Mrs. Dong¡¯s orders for the household to eat vegetarian food. She demanded blood swallows for her son from the kitchen, then honey-glazed ham, then crystal pork elbow, and kept finding faults with the maidservants for not being pretty enough, claiming they sullied her son¡¯s noble eyes. Some servants, eager to please this mother-son duo, secretly sent an array of delicacies to Qingming Courtyard. Some maids, aware of Bai Qingxuan¡¯s lecherous tendencies, harbored improper thoughts and flaunted their looks in Qingming Courtyard. Bai Qingyan stood in front of the brass fire shield, listening to the steward nanny she had placed in Qingming Courtyard, who stood respectfully and reported on recent events there. ¡°The nanny from the second house boasts in Qingming Courtyard, saying that whoever injured her son will be punished when they gain power.¡± The steward nanny knew she must report this to Bai Qingyan, as the statement was aimed at her. ¡°Nanny, your hard work is appreciated. Please keep a close watch on Qingming Courtyard during this critical time to prevent any disturbances,¡± Bai Qingyan instructed, looking up at the elderly steward nanny. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, eldest young lady! If anything happens, this old servant will send someone to report immediately,¡± the steward nanny assured. Chun Tao escorted the steward nanny to the door and was about to return to attend to Bai Qingyan when she saw Nanny Tong, carrying a bundle, hurrying into Qinghui Courtyard. Chun Tao¡¯s eyes welled up. She quickly stepped forward, bowed, and greeted tearfully, ¡°Nanny Tong, you¡¯ve returned!¡± Though Nanny Tong was usually stern and strict in Qinghui Courtyard, keeping all the servants firmly in line, she was their pillar of strength, especially in such a crisis. With the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion facing such a catastrophe, Nanny Tong¡¯s return provided the servants with the vital support they needed. Nanny Tong helped Chun Tao to her feet, her eyes reddened. Her inherently stern features grew even more solemn, ¡°How is the eldest young lady? Can she endure it?¡± ¡°Nanny, rest assured! The eldest young lady is well and holding up!¡± Chun Tao said, tears streaming down. With the stream of calamities befalling while Nanny Tong was away, Chun Tao managed to hold up just like the eldest young lady. But now that Nanny Tong had returned, she felt her strength crumble. Thinking of the disgraceful and vile Chun Yan, and the tragic fate of the Bai family¡¯s men, Chun Tao couldn¡¯t help but cry. Nanny Tong heard several rumors about the eldest young lady while away. Despite her anxiety, she felt relieved hearing Chun Tao¡¯s words. ¡°Let me freshen up first, and then I will see the young lady,¡± Nanny Tong said, heading to the side room to tidy up. She stood by the brazier to dispel the cold before entering to pay respects to Bai Qingyan. Hearing about the calamity the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion had suffered, Nanny Tong had hurried back and was tearfully relieved to find Bai Qingyan in good health, even appearing stronger than when she left. Bai Qingyan had Chun Tao help Nanny Tong sit on a cushioned stool and asked, ¡°Nanny, did you arrange everything at home before returning?¡± Nanny Tong had left to care for her gravely ill son. Bai Qingyan had sent word for her to remain home until the new year. With the tragic news of the Bai men¡¯s demise, her swift, loyal return was evident. ¡°Everything is settled at home, eldest young lady. No need to worry. I also bring a message from Nanny Jin, your wet nurse, entrusting your two wet-nursed brothers to serve you and the Princely Heir¡¯s wife during these crucial times. Nanny Jin wants you to know¡­ you mustn¡¯t fear. The loyal servants of the Bai family stand ready to aid you at your command.¡± Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Assistance_1 Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Assistance_1 Yes, in this life¡­ the Bai family loyal servants were all here! They had not yet scattered to the ends of the earth to protect her and her sisters¡¯ escape. Her eyes turned red. In her previous life, her mother had received news that Liu Huanzhang was returning to Dadu to accuse her grandfather of treason. It was the two wet nurse brothers, Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai, who protected Bai Jinzhi and took her to the Wei Kingdom. Bai Jinzhi devoted herself to Wei and became one of its most valiant generals. Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai, too, became trusted advisors and generals by her side. ¡°I am not in a position to meet the two milk brothers at this hour. Nanny, please make arrangements for them to rest well first. They have traveled throughout the night and must be exhausted. We can discuss everything tomorrow.¡± Bai Qingyan looked at Nanny Tong¡¯s bloodshot eyes and knew she probably hadn¡¯t rested well on the journey. Nanny Tong nodded. After traveling for a day and a night without sleep, she felt relieved upon seeing Bai Qingyan safe and sound at the Duke¡¯s mansion. Exhaustion then took over. After all, she was old and couldn¡¯t endure such torments. As she stepped out, Nanny Tong saw a new face, Yingshuang, sitting under the porch eating pine nut candy. She frowned, feeling it was unruly, and asked Chun Tao, ¡°Has our courtyard got new people?¡± Chun Tao looked at Yingshuang with some affection and quickly explained, ¡°I forgot to tell Nanny. Yingshuang was brought into Qinghui Courtyard by Miss. This child isn¡¯t very bright but has great strength. She used to serve Miss Shen Qingzhu. Miss¡¯s intention is that as long as she doesn¡¯t make big mistakes, there¡¯s no need to restrain her too much.¡± Nanny Tong nodded in agreement, but she wasn¡¯t very pleased. Rules and order were necessary; even if the Miss wanted to promote Yingshuang, she shouldn¡¯t be sitting so carelessly in the courtyard eating. Others might think the Qinghui Courtyard lacked discipline. She did not show this on her face but planned to discuss it with the Miss later and start teaching Yingshuang the rules after obtaining her approval. In Nanny Tong¡¯s view, it didn¡¯t matter if Yingshuang wasn¡¯t smart or learned slowly. She could be taught gradually. Favoring her out of pity would only harm her in the long run. ¡°You should go serve the Miss now!¡± Nanny Tong said to Chun Tao. Chun Tao nodded. Upon entering the room, she saw Bai Qingyan taking out a fox-fur cloak and quickly helped her put it on. ¡°Miss, where are you going?¡± ¡°To see grandmother.¡± When Bai Qingyan entered Changshou Courtyard, she saw the Eldest Princess and Nanny Jiang standing under the eaves lantern. She handed her hand warmer to Chun Tao and quickly walked up. ¡°Grandmother, why are you standing outside?¡± The Eldest Princess, her eyes red as if she had been crying, saw Bai Qingyan arrive and smiled. She pulled Bai Qingyan into her arms and pointed to the pine tree in the courtyard. ¡°That pine tree was planted by your grandfather himself! The year we moved into this Changshou Courtyard¡­¡± The Eldest Princess looked down at her granddaughter in her arms, tears mingling with her smile. ¡°Back then, this place was called Rongshou Courtyard! But your grandfather said he did not seek glory, only long life for us as a couple. He changed the name to Changshou Courtyard instead.¡± Standing beside them, Nanny Jiang turned away, covering her mouth as tears streamed. The Eldest Princess¡¯s nostrils flared; a sour bitterness filled her heart. ¡°Grandmother, let¡¯s go inside¡­ it¡¯s windy here.¡± She lowered her moist eyes and helped the Eldest Princess back into the main room. She then placed a warm towel on the Eldest Princess¡¯s face, bringing her back to her senses. ¡°Coming over in the wind this late, is there something troubling you?¡± The Eldest Princess handed the warm towel to Nanny Jiang, took Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand, and had her sit by her side. She then sent Nanny Jiang to fetch a bowl of hot ginger soup for Bai Qingyan. ¡°Regarding my second uncle¡¯s illegitimate son, it is now being said throughout the household that Bai Qingxuan will inherit the Duke of Zhen¡¯s title. Grandfather, father, uncle, and my brother will be back in three days. I have come to ask grandmother about your plans for him.¡± The Eldest Princess¡¯s mind was in a tangle, remembering the scene of the daughters-in-law discussing earlier without resolution. She asked Bai Qingyan, ¡°What does Kid think?¡± She held the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand and spoke slowly, ¡°That child¡­ is violent and lacks compassion. He is unfit for the title of Duke of Zhen. If we place him in such a position, it may not only destroy the Bai family¡¯s century-old reputation but also bring disaster upon us!¡± The Eldest Princess nodded. However, the Bai family had sacrificed over generations to earn the Duke of Zhen¡¯s title¡ªcould they just give it up so easily?! ¡°The other day, someone bribed a soldier¡¯s family to cause trouble at our mansion¡¯s gate. It served as a reminder that someone is watching in the shadows, trying to bring the Bai family down! I personally believe that bringing honor to the Bai family resides in our hearts. Voluntarily giving up the Duke¡¯s title to protect the family is the urgent priority!¡± ¡°Voluntarily giving up the title¡­¡± The Eldest Princess had considered this. She nodded. ¡°In that position, one must fulfill its responsibilities. Bai Qingxuan does not have the capability to. Rather than letting the Duke of Zhen become an empty title, we should retreat at the peak and return to our ancestral home in Shuoyang. Let His Majesty see our humility to preserve the Bai family¡¯s lives and century-old honor.¡± ¡°As for Bai Qingxuan, if grandmother has the energy, you can keep him by your side and educate him. If he achieves something in the future, the good name we build by stepping down today will greatly aid his career. Even if Bai Qingxuan is hopeless, we still have the child in Fifth Aunt¡¯s belly. If it¡¯s a boy, the Bai family can rebuild its glory soon!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s words made the Eldest Princess see clearly. Yes¡­ how could she have forgotten Fifth Daughter-in-Law¡¯s child! By stepping down, the Bai family has another way out! Stubbornly fighting for the title even if that illegitimate son gets it, might not prolong the Bai family¡¯s glory. The Eldest Princess nodded, her red eyes gazing at Bai Qingyan softly. She stroked her granddaughter¡¯s dark hair, constantly marveling in her heart. If her granddaughter was a grandson, the Bai family would worry less about successors. Bai Qingyan was excelling in both literature and martial arts! Her strategies, wisdom, and demeanor were all extraordinary. After leaving the Eldest Princess¡¯s courtyard, Bai Qingyan intended to visit Mrs. Dong. When she reached her courtyard door, she did not let Nanny Qin announce her. Just as she lifted the curtain to enter, she heard her mother crying softly. Through the twelve-paneled jasper-redwood screen, she vaguely saw her mother sitting by the bronze flower mirror, clutching the hairpin her father handcrafted for her birthday and holding the clothes she made this year for her younger brother, Bai Qingyu. She was crying uncontrollably. Her mother¡¯s sobbing stung Bai Qingyan¡¯s heart as if it was pricked. Her internally strong mother, who lost both husband and son overnight, must be feeling heart-wrenching pain. Not wanting to disturb her mother, she stood behind the screen for half a cup of tea¡¯s time before quietly leaving the room. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 76: The Return of the Hero_1 Chapter 77: Chapter 76: The Return of the Hero_1 ¡°Eldest sister¡­¡± Nanny Qin approached her, and upon seeing her reddened eyes, instructed her to take good care of their mother, at which Nanny Qin¡¯s tears immediately welled up. ¡°Rest assured, eldest sister, the Princely Heir¡¯s wife is strong. Just this morning, she told this old servant that as the mistress of the Duke¡¯s family and your mother, she must hold on¡­ If she can¡¯t even support the Bai family, how can she protect her own daughter?¡± Hearing these words, Bai Qingyan¡¯s palms clenched tightly, and her heart ached intensely. She thought of her father. She recalled the bloody battle where she once crushed the Shu Kingdom, surrounding and cutting off the head of Shu¡¯s Great General Pang Pingguo after three days of pursuit, shattering the Shu Kingdom¡¯s will to fight in one fell swoop. After their victory, she was overjoyed, but her father scolded her for disobeying military orders to pursue Pang Pingguo and instructed her to take fifty lashes herself! She protested, arguing with her father, and asked, ¡°I have beheaded a great general of the Shu Kingdom and contributed to our victory; why does father punish me?¡± Her father¡¯s eyes were red with anger; he threw down the horsewhip in his hand, kicked away the silver spear in her hand, and yelled at her with splitting veins, ¡°Because I am your father! No matter how ingenious and valiant you appear in others¡¯ eyes, to me, you are the daughter I could not bear to lose even at the expense of my own life!¡± The love of parents for their children¡­ is to always want to bravely sacrifice themselves to protect their children at any time. But afterwards, she no longer had a father! Nor a brother¡­ Her father had died in Fengcheng. Her brother had died in the southern borders. She nodded slightly, and in a hoarse voice, she said to Nanny Qin, ¡°Nanny, don¡¯t tell mother I was here.¡± Nanny Qin tucked the shawl around Bai Qingyan, nodded with choked sobs, and said, ¡°Rest well these few days, Eldest. When the Duke of Zhen and the Princely Heir return¡­ you¡¯ll have much to attend to.¡± She nodded in agreement, leaned on Chun Tao¡¯s hand, and slowly walked out of the courtyard against the harsh chill of the wind. Watching the white lanterns swinging chaotically beneath the eaves as they were blown by the wind, she gripped Chun Tao¡¯s hand tightly. A storm was brewing; Dadu City was inevitably facing a change of seasons. ¡¤ In the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, on the fifth day of the first lunar month, heavy snow fell. At the first quarter of Yin time, the guards at Dadu City¡¯s southern gate came out of the barracks, lantern in hand, ordering the city gates to be opened. Turning around in the heavy snow, the guard saw people approaching from the bright lights at the far end of the street. As they came closer, he saw it wasn¡¯t just two or three people and immediately went on guard, readying the sword at his waist. The steward of Duke of Zhen¡¯s family ran up ahead, bowed respectfully to the guard, and explained the situation, ¡°Today, King Xin is returning with the funeral procession, and our family¡¯s mistress along with the ladies have come to welcome them at the city gate.¡± Seeing clearly that the visitors were indeed dressed in mourning clothes and wearing mourning headbands, the guard nodded and stepped aside. As a fellow military man, even though he had not gone to the battlefield, he harbored a heart devoted to serving the country and its people. That day, in front of Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, some people who forgot their integrity for silver caused a disturbance at the Duke¡¯s residence; the Bai family¡¯s eldest daughter spoke out and ignited the fervently boiling blood of the men, whose eyes filled with tears as they wished they could join the Duke in battle to serve the country to their deaths. Now that the Duke¡¯s family and men of the Bai Mansion had returned wrapped in horsehides, it was only right for the widows of the Bai family to come out and welcome them. The Princely Heir¡¯s mother, Mrs. Dong, together with Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Li, Mrs. Wang, and the pregnant Mrs. Qi with her swollen belly, as well as the eldest daughter Bai Qingyan, second daughter Bai Jinxiu, third daughter Bai Jintong, and the fourth daughter Bai Jinzhi who, despite recently being punished, had stubbornly gotten back on her feet, along with second son-in-law Qin Lang, stood outside the southern gate of Dadu City accompanied by the Bai family¡¯s guards and servants, silently awaiting the return of the heroes of the Bai family. The faint sounds of servants¡¯ sobbing came from the crowd, yet the masters themselves appeared more resilient. The heavy snow obscured visibility, and all Bai Qingyan could see beyond the thick falling flakes was darkness. With the men of the Bai family all fallen, those within the great Dadu City who feared and resented the Bai family were probably too exhilarated to sleep. Yet the road ahead was long and uncertain, who knew what the future held? A cold glint suddenly flashed in Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes. The viper lies dormant, hibernating until the spring hunt. No rush, no rush¡­ Mrs. Dong, eyes red and teary, lowered her gaze and wrapped Bai Qingyan¡¯s cloak tighter around her, her fingers trembling despite her efforts to control them, ¡°I wanted you children to stay at the mansion, to accompany your grandmother and take care of your sister, but you wouldn¡¯t listen¡­¡± She gently grasped her mother¡¯s icy hand, her own eyes reddening as she gripped it tightly, ¡°We, the younger generation, are now able to share the burden with you, Aunties. We are no longer children.¡± In a previous life, Bai Qingyan had fallen ill, leaving her mother to single-handedly support the Bai Mansion. This life would be different; she would not allow her mother to be left all alone again. Mrs. Liu, the Second Lady, hugged her daughter Bai Jinxiu close, her tears flowing relentlessly. If not for the sake of her daughter, she would have wished to die and join her husband and sons. But her daughter had already lost her grandfather, father, and brothers¡ªhow could she bear to let her daughter lose her mother as well? It was unknown who in Dadu City was the first to light a lantern. Upon hearing that the widows of the Duke¡¯s mansion had gone to the South Gate early in the morning to receive the coffins, they hastily dressed and took their lanterns out into the snow, coincidentally meeting a neighbor who was doing the same. ¡°Did you also hear? The widows of the Bai family have gone to the South Gate!¡± ¡°Yes! The valiant members of the Duke¡¯s mansion return today, and since they have protected us for generations, we should also go to welcome them.¡± The two had barely exchanged a few words when the wooden door next door creaked open, and a man, followed by his elderly father, seeing the neighbors, also asked, ¡°Are you going to the South Gate too?¡± The guard at the South Gate stood atop the city wall and saw lantern after lantern emerge from somewhere within Dadu City. The warm soft glow within the lanterns converged from all directions, a sight grander even than New Year¡¯s Eve. The harsh winter snow had not yet given way to dawn. The guard, moved by the scene, called out loudly, ¡°Raise the wicks of the city gate¡¯s lamps higher, to guide the loyal souls of Jin back home!¡± Hearing this, the women of the Bai family couldn¡¯t stop their eyes from reddening and stood with straight spines in the snow, waiting for those returning. Court officials tended to flock to the powerful and avoid the weak, and since news from the southern borders had returned, the Emperor¡¯s attitude seemed subtly hesitant to pardon the Bai family. Those who had received the news didn¡¯t dare to rashly go to the South Gate as they had on New Year¡¯s Eve. This time, only a few noble court officials came, among them Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue, who, upon learning that Mrs. Dong had led the Bai family widows to the South Gate, wiped their faces with handkerchiefs and hurried over on horseback. Mrs. Dong, her eyes teeming with tears and heart filled with gratitude, couldn¡¯t help but admonish, ¡°Brother, Qingyue, you shouldn¡¯t have come!¡± Dong Qingping patted Mrs. Dong¡¯s shoulder with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Unexpectedly for Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan had also come to the South Gate, accompanied by Lu Yuanpeng and a group of dandies. Lu Yuanpeng greeted the ladies of the Bai family with great respect, and Xiao Rongyan also nodded slightly, looking up at Bai Qingyan who was returning the courtesy with lowered eyes. Bai Qingyan, dressed in mourning attire, her head covered with a mourning veil, her peerless beauty wrapped in serene poise. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 77: Leading the Way_1 Chapter 78: Chapter 77: Leading the Way_1 Bai Qingyan¡¯s already pale face looked even more ghostly today. Though her brows bore signs of weariness, her gaze remained resolute. ¡°Thank you, Young Master Lu, for resolving the situation in front of the Duke¡¯s residence that day. After our family¡¯s affairs are settled, we will surely visit to express our gratitude,¡± Mrs. Dong said gently. ¡°Madam, you give Yuanpeng too much credit! It was just a coincidence. Madam need not worry,¡± Lu Yuanpeng replied politely. The sky was just beginning to lighten as the heavy snowfall gradually ceased. Just when the citizens thought they would freeze, they faintly heard the sound of horse hooves through the fog. Soon, a four-horse-drawn carriage with lanterns at its corners appeared, slowly approaching, escorted by guards carrying King Xin¡¯s banners. Mrs. Liu¡¯s legs gave way, and it was only thanks to Bai Jinxiu¡¯s quick reflexes that she was caught. Holding Mrs. Liu¡¯s hand tightly, she was in tears. Mrs. Dong took a deep breath and instinctively gripped Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand. From afar, King Xin¡¯s guards saw the bright lanterns illuminating the south gate. They hurried over, realizing the situation, and rushed back to the carriage, whispering, ¡°Prince, the Bai family¡¯s widow and the citizens of the capital are all at the south gate¡­¡± King Xin, carrying a beautiful concubine in his arms, lifted the curtain to glance at the bustling lights. Feeling guilty, he quickly withdrew, his palms sweaty. This time, he had only brought back the bodies of Duke Bai Weiting, Bai Weiting¡¯s fifth son, Bai Qijing, and Bai family¡¯s sixth and seventeenth sons. To humiliate the Bai family for the court officials to see, King Xin had deliberately placed them in the lowest-quality coffins. King Xin wiped his sweaty palms with a handkerchief, stared at the bronze incense burner, and thought for a moment before saying sternly, ¡°Tell them I am severely injured and cannot get off the carriage, and to proceed directly into the city.¡± ¡°Yes, understood!¡± King Xin¡¯s guard nodded. The beautiful concubine in the carriage, seeing King Xin¡¯s somber expression, laughed as she took a cup of warm wine from the stove and offered it to King Xin¡¯s lips. ¡°The men of the Bai family are all dead. It¡¯s just a group of women; why should you worry, Prince?¡± The alluring beauty smiled radiantly at him, and King Xin, feeling a bit more at ease, drank the wine from her delicate hand. Yes, the men of the Bai family were all dead. What could a group of women possibly do? Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t he who held a grudge against the Bai family but his father. The ancient saying goes that when a ruler wants a minister to die, the minister has no choice but to die. The Bai family died for a cause. Why should he be afraid? Thinking this, King Xin leaned back comfortably on the soft cushion, playing with the beautiful woman¡¯s delicate hand. The carriage swayed as it arrived at the city gate, where Mrs. Dong led the Bai family members in a salute. ¡°Greetings, King Xin.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± King Xin¡¯s coughing sound came from the carriage. ¡°I tried my best, but I could only bring back Duke and General Bai Qijing, along with the sixth and seventeenth sons. I am severely injured and cannot get off the carriage. Let the soldiers take them back to the Duke¡¯s residence.¡± With that, the carriage began to move. Mrs. Dong, realizing none of her husband or sons had returned, swayed and had to be supported. ¡°Mother!¡± Watching Mrs. Dong, who was in shock, Bai Qingyan felt a sharp pain in her heart. Mrs. Liu, whose husband and two sons also did not return, fell backward in shock. If not for Bai Jinxiu¡¯s quick reflexes, she would have collapsed. Mrs. Liu, now in tears, could not utter a single word. Her husband and sons, were they really¡­ just bones now? ¡°Seventeen! My little Seventeen!¡± Fourth Lady Wang could no longer contain herself. She stumbled towards the smallest coffin at the back. Despite the slippery path, she fell twice but got up each time, finally embracing the snow-covered coffin, utterly heartbroken. ¡°Sixth Son¡­Mother is here! I¡¯ve come to take you home!¡± Third Lady Li, choked with emotion, moved forward with Bai Jintong supporting her, wanting to touch her son¡¯s cold coffin and bring him home. Fifth Lady Qi, heavily pregnant, managed to control her emotions. She wanted to move quickly to her husband¡¯s coffin but restrained herself, pressing her palm against her abdomen, tears in her eyes. ¡°Sister-in-law¡­let¡¯s go home first!¡± Wounded Bai Jinzhi, supported by her maid, also walked towards her brother Bai Qingming¡¯s coffin. Mrs. Dong clenched her fists tightly, her heart filled with hatred, yet she had to express gratitude. ¡°Thank¡­you, Prince.¡± Bai Qingyan tightly clenched her fist. Just like in her previous life, only her grandfather, fifth uncle, brother Ming, and little Seventeen returned. But King Xin claimed to be severely injured¡­ She watched as the luxurious carriage¡¯s wheels passed before her, catching a faint scent of wine and sandalwood from the window. She stood upright, her piercing gaze catching a corner of the curtain lifted by the wind. Inside, she saw a beautiful woman draped in disheveled clothes leaning against the ¡®severely injured¡¯ King Xin. Standing apart from the crowd, Xiao Rongyan, always sharp-eared, heard the whispered words and turned his icy gaze towards his guard. The guard nodded and left quickly. Bai Qingyan turned to look at the soldiers carrying the coffins. None were from the Bai family army. They all belonged to King Xin. Her hand clenched tightly inside her sleeve. King Xin¡¯s personal guards placed the coffins down and followed the carriage back into the city, leaving the four coffins outside the city gate. Mrs. Dong struggled to maintain her dignity and composure, refraining from breaking down in tears. She led the Bai family women to kneel, knocking their heads to the ground in respect. ¡°Bai family¡¯s eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dong, and the Bai family women, welcome father and our Bai family¡¯s fallen heroes home!¡± Bai Qingyan knelt with tears in her eyes, heavily bowing her head. Citizens knelt as well, crying out for the Duke, their continuous wails resonating through the cloudy morning sky. With Nanny Qin¡¯s support, Mrs. Dong stood up, standing firmly in front of her grandfather¡¯s coffin. She bit her lip and tearfully commanded, ¡°Raise the coffins! Scatter the money! Lead the way!¡± The Bai family servants immediately surrounded the four coffins, lifting the coffin poles. Dong Qingyue, a robust man, threw down the reins he had been gripping tightly, personally hoisted the coffin onto his shoulder, and shouted in a thunderous voice, ¡°Raise the coffin!¡± ¡°Raise the coffin!¡± Following the shouts, the weeping of the citizens grew even more heart-wrenching. Officials never personally carried coffins, not even for their own family. But Dong Qingyue was different. He was still a soldier under the Duke¡¯s command, with a heart full of unyielding loyalty. Bai Qingyan took the paper money, looked deeply at the four coffins, and stood at the forefront, throwing the money high into the air¡­ Following her, Bai Jinxiu also took the paper money, scattering it to guide the Bai family¡¯s heroic spirits on their journey back. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 78: Such Humiliation - 1 Chapter 79: Chapter 78: Such Humiliation ¨C 1 Amidst the fluttering paper money and the heart-wrenching cries of the common people, four coffins, three large and one small¡­ moved forward into the city. Perhaps they had been waiting here early in the morning, and the people were already frozen. A family servant carrying the coffin of the Duke of Zhen slipped, and with a ¡°thud,¡± the coffin hit the ground, followed by the other three coffins, one after another, falling in a panic. The paper-thin coffin cracked open, and the small coffin¡¯s hemp rope broke, causing the coffin to tilt and crash to the ground, bursting open. The body of a young boy, clad in broken armor, rolled out, and his severed head rolled straight into the snow, completely exposed! ¡°Little Seventeen!¡± Bai Jintong cried as she lunged forward, clutching Little Seventeen¡¯s head. Looking at her younger brother¡¯s lifeless, innocent face was like a silver spear piercing her chest. She hugged Little Seventeen¡¯s head and couldn¡¯t hold back her intense crying, wailing with all her might, ¡°Little Seventeen!¡± ¡°Little Seventeen!¡± Bai Jinzhi also exclaimed in shock. Bai Jinxiu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Little Seventeen!¡± Bai Qingyan turned around and saw Little Seventeen¡¯s rolling head. Her eyes were bloodshot, her heart shattered, and it felt as if a fierce wind was sweeping through her chest, making her hair stand on end. Her mind was filled with a shrill whistle, compelling her to draw her sword and slay King Xin immediately. ¡°Uncle Ping, stop King Xin¡¯s carriage for me!¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Mrs. Wang, the fourth lady, screamed, staggered, and knelt down, grabbing her son¡¯s head. Like a madwoman, she crawled back to her son¡¯s body, holding him tightly, her son¡¯s corpse already covered in bruises. She wept in despair. Mrs. Wang, usually the most gentle, had blood-red eyes like a demon from hell. She cursed at the noble Imperial Family, and at King Xin, the Emperor¡¯s son, relentlessly. ¡°King Xin, you butcher! My son¡­ you made my son¡¯s body be separated! You didn¡¯t even change him into clean clothes! He was only ten years old! A ten-year-old child, you bastard! Do you have any conscience at all?¡± Mrs. Wang cried out to the heavens, then whispered softly as if comforting her sleeping child, ¡°Little Seventeen, don¡¯t be afraid! Mommy¡¯s here! Mommy¡¯s with you! Mommy¡¯s here¡­ Mommy will warm you! We are not afraid! Not afraid¡­¡± Lu Ping saw the once lively and adorable ten-year-old child reduced to a severed body. His eyes turned red with fury, and with a murderous intent boiling within him, he was about to chase after them when Dong Qingping leaped onto his horse and¡­ rode into the city, stopping King Xin¡¯s carriage just ten meters into the city. Throughout history, if a General died in battle and his body was separated before being brought back to the city, unless the body parts couldn¡¯t be found, the person bringing back the body would order the body to be stitched back together and dressed in clean clothes and armor, so the full body could be buried with dignity. Even though the common people knew the battlefield had always been brutal, it was more shocking to see the body of a ten-year-old child who was beheaded right before their eyes. Dong Qingyue sat high on his horse, his eyes blood-red, glaring at King Xin¡¯s guards who had already drawn their swords. The Duke¡¯s Family guards had also drawn their swords, both sides in a tense confrontation, ready to strike! The Duke¡¯s Family guards were incensed by the sight of the ten-year-old boy¡¯s body rolling out. They were burning with rage, eager to fight King Xin to the death. ¡°King Xin! From the Duke himself to the soldiers of the Duke¡¯s household, they are all loyal heroes of the nation. Why didn¡¯t you clean and dress their bodies properly when bringing them back to the city? Why did you let them be disgraced with their bodies separated like this? Killing is just a matter of beheading. How dare you insult the loyal souls to such an extent!¡± Dong Qingyue bellowed, his eyes nearly popping out as he pointed his whip at the luxurious carriage, filled with murderous intent. Lu Yuanpeng, a debauchee, had never seen such a gruesome scene. Feeling his blood and anger boiling, his chest surged with what felt like molten lava, almost bursting out, and he was close to rushing forward to fight King Xin. As if even heaven couldn¡¯t bear to watch, the axle of King Xin¡¯s carriage suddenly broke. The wheels flew off, knocking down two guards at the side of the carriage. The carriage overturned, and the brazier inside instantly ignited the carriage¡¯s green cover. King Xin and a beautified concubine inside screamed as they crawled out of the carriage. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s guard silently returned to his side and whispered, ¡°Master, I failed. When I made my move earlier, the Duke¡¯s Family¡¯s guard leader and the person on horseback probably noticed me.¡± Xiao Rongyan remained expressionless and coldly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The guard nodded silently, lowering his eyes as if he hadn¡¯t done anything. The common people were dumbfounded as they watched the supposedly ¡°seriously injured¡± King Xin agilely jumping around, slapping the flames on his body. Beside him was a delicate beauty, shivering and looking around. ¡°Looks like King Xin¡¯s injury is very serious indeed!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes were blood-red, killing intent swirling around her like a fierce wind. ¡°Injured enough to have a beauty accompany him in his carriage but no time to have someone stitch up and dress my ten-year-old brother who died for the nation!¡± King Xin¡¯s eyelids twitched heavily. He hadn¡¯t expected the entire city to see him standing unscathed. Clenching his fists tight, once exposed, he wasn¡¯t afraid to do worse. He looked coldly at Bai Qingyan, who stood outside his guard¡¯s circle, and said in a cold voice, ¡°I wanted to save face for the Bai family by saying I was seriously injured. Does the Bai family really want me to tell all the people in the city how Bai Weiting disobeyed my orders, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in southern Jin?!¡± ¡°When my grandfather was in command on the expedition, he had experienced countless battles. Why should he follow the orders of a yellow-mouthed brat like you who has never experienced a bloody battle in the prosperous capital!¡± Bai Qingyan¡¯s tears flowed like a spring, rage and heart-wrenching pain burning away her sanity. Her voice quivered in furious agitation, ¡°Even if my grandfather commanded poorly, the sons of the Bai family¡­ fought for the people and sacrificed their lives for the country! Do they deserve to be left with their bodies separated after death? What kind of logic is this? My brother was only ten years old! He dared to go to the battlefield at ten years old! He died for our Jin Kingdom as a young hero! How can you dishonor him like this?¡± A breath of rage blocked King Xin¡¯s chest. Being forced to silence by a woman, he gritted his teeth. ¡°Even if my brother was just a commoner, you, as a royal son, should treat a child¡¯s corpse with respect! But where is your sense of kindness and justice? You are worse than an animal! The nation¡¯s elite soldiers died for the people and the country! And you¡­ cooped up in a lavish carriage with a prostitute, do you deserve to be a prince? Do you deserve to be supported by the people¡¯s taxes? If an unworthy, immoral, shameless hedonist like you, who only knows how to indulge in pleasures, were to ascend to the Eastern Palace, how would our Jin Kingdom¡¯s people survive under your rule? You are not just unfit to be a nobleman of the Imperial Family; you are not even worthy of being called a human being!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Affected Poses_1 Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Affected Poses_1 King Xin¡¯s face instantly lost all color. If Bai Qingyan¡¯s words spread and were known to the public, they would certainly become the greatest obstacle on his path to the throne! ¡°What a vicious woman!¡± King Xin trembled all over with rage, pointing at Bai Qingyan and roaring, ¡°Someone! Cut her to pieces!¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see who dares!¡± Bai Jintong drew his sword and stood in front of Bai Qingyan, his pair of fierce eyes sweeping over King Xin¡¯s personal guards. ¡°King Xin, watch your words!¡± Mrs. Dong hurried forward to protect her daughter, standing at the forefront with the authority of the mistress of the house. ¡°If the Bai family¡¯s loyalty and bravery in battle are truly crimes, then let His Majesty decide after reviewing the military records! But before His Majesty condemns, they are all heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country! King Xin, if you show disrespect and then kill the widow of the Bai family, are you not afraid of the people¡¯s condemnation?!¡± Bai Jinzhi, injured and tasting blood in her mouth, was full of overwhelming murderous intent. Together with the Bai family¡¯s guards, she moved forward, ready to fight King Xin to protect Bai Qingyan. But Bai Qingyan, already enraged beyond control, yanked Bai Jintong back and took two steps forward, pressing her chest against the guard¡¯s sword at King Xin¡¯s mansion. Her imposing murderous aura forced the guard to retreat a step. ¡°Kill me?! Come on!¡± she screamed hoarsely, her eyes surging with a destructive madness. ¡°In broad daylight, under the clear skies, let the world see how the princes of the Jin Imperial Family treat the martyrs¡¯ orphans! Let everyone see¡­ what kind of end awaits those who fought and died for the Jin Kingdom! My spirit will stand here with eyes wide open¡­ watching who dares to fight for the Jin Kingdom in the future! Who dares to die for the Jin Kingdom! Who will dare to protect your Lin family¡¯s dynasty!¡± Xiao Rongyan stood amongst the crowd, appearing as if he were an outsider. His deep, somber eyes concealed a subtle light. Others might not understand, but he could see¡­ today, Bai Qingyan¡¯s reason had vanished the moment the seventeen heads of the Bai family fell. Her words were increasingly seditious, aggressive, and terrifyingly sharp. King Xin, intimidated by Bai Qingyan¡¯s presence, was drenched in sweat. Seeing the infuriated commoners stepping forward, seemingly unafraid of death, they assumed a stance of aligning with Bai Qingyan against his guards. King Xin¡¯s throat convulsed as he retreated. ¡°Are you¡­ you wretched people trying to rebel?!¡± The commoners noisily surged forward, eager to flay King Xin¡­ each one burned with fighting spirit, making King Xin feel unsettled and weak. He tried to maintain a facade of calm but couldn¡¯t help but step back. Words are powerful, and King Xin wasn¡¯t unaware. Today, he had assumed that all the men of the Bai family were dead¡­ and had grown arrogant. Just as King Xin didn¡¯t know how to respond, a eunuch rode in hastily, his sharp voice calling out, ¡°His Majesty decreed¡­ King Xin, go to the palace immediately for questioning! His Highness, King Xin, please follow me urgently to the palace!¡± King Xin, troubled over how to escape, realized his father had sent someone to rescue him. He quickly knelt and bowed respectfully. ¡°Your son accepts the decree!¡± King Xin stood up, pointed viciously in Bai Qingyan¡¯s direction, and then got onto the eunuch¡¯s carriage, heading toward the Imperial Palace. The entire Bai family, their eyes bloodshot with hatred, watched King Xin¡¯s departing carriage, clenching their fists tightly. ¡°Grandfather! My grandfather¡­ your grandson has just returned to the Bai family, and you have not even seen me. How could you leave¡­ grandfather!¡± A sudden cry broke out. Bai Qingxuan knelt and crawled towards the Duke of Zhen¡¯s coffin, shouting and crying, seemingly afraid that others wouldn¡¯t know he was the Duke of Zhen¡¯s grandson. Bai Qingxuan had been carried to the southern gate of the city by a servant who sought favor with the Bai family. Seeing the tense standoff between the Bai family and King Xin, he quietly hid and remained silent. Only after King Xin left did he display this seemingly heart-wrenching stance. ¡°Duke! How could you leave! Your grandson Bai Qingxuan has just returned to recognize his roots¡­ how could you leave!¡± The woman wept and beat her chest, crying out in grief. Mrs. Dong¡¯s eyes darkened. Coldly, she watched the mother and son, who were making a scene, with deep annoyance. ¡°What¡¯s all the commotion?!¡± ¡°How can you say that, Lady Wife of the Heir! This is not a scene! My son Qingxuan is the Duke¡¯s grandson¡­ the Duke is no longer here, so naturally, Qingxuan must come to greet him!¡± The woman clutched her chest, feigning heart-wrenching grief. ¡°Lady Wife of the Heir came early in the morning with the Bai family widows to welcome the Duke at the south gate. Why didn¡¯t you call my son? Is it possible that just as the Duke and the Second Master passed away¡­ you are in a hurry to drive us mother and son out of the Zhen Family¡¯s house?!¡± ¡°Grandfather! Now that you¡¯re gone, what will your grandson do!¡± Bai Qingxuan kneeled before the Duke¡¯s coffin, hitting the thin, paper-like casket. ¡°Your grandson was just beaten when he got home and nearly died! I have not even been recorded in the family register, and grandmother refuses to see me! Without your protection, grandfather¡­ your grandson will soon follow you!¡± The onlookers couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. ¡°Is he also a prince of the Duke¡¯s mansion?!¡± ¡°I remember! Isn¡¯t he the one who was beaten by the eldest lady in front of Manjiang Tower?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that amidst all the heroes of the Duke¡¯s mansion, there would be such a malicious son!¡± ¡°No matter how malicious, he is now the only male heir of the Duke¡¯s mansion! His future might be limitless!¡± The most impulsive and enraged Bai Qingyan calmed down, watching this farce unfold. She closed her eyes, ceased confronting King Xin¡¯s guards, and ignored the mother-son duo¡¯s act. She spoke, ¡°Bai Qingxuan, today you saw clearly King Xin¡¯s attitude towards my Bai family! The future of the Bai family is still uncertain. Perhaps¡­ who knows when a great crime will be imposed upon us! Our entire family may be exterminated! If you are not afraid¡­ after I handle the Bai family¡¯s affairs, mother and I will request grandmother to officially record you in the family register! Whether the Duke¡¯s mansion flourishes or is destroyed, you must bear it all without regret!¡± Bai Qingxuan, wailing, shivered as he recalled King Xin¡¯s demeanor earlier. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and his hysterical cries got stuck in his throat. She firmly gripped Bai Jintong¡¯s hand, not even glancing at Bai Qingxuan¡¯s act. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Bringing our Bai family heroes home is of utmost importance!¡± She turned to Chun Tao, whose eyes were red, and took the white fox fur she brought, straightened her back, and walked to Mrs. Wang, who was cradling the corpse of Little Seventeen, whispering madly. She knelt, wrapping Little Seventeen¡¯s body in the fox fur. ¡°Aunt, let¡¯s take Little Seventeen home!¡± Mrs. Wang looked up through her tear-filled, bloodshot eyes, her gaze empty and lost, voice trembling, ¡°But¡­ but Little Seventeen¡¯s body is all cut open! I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t hold Little Seventeen¡¯s head! I can¡¯t hold Little Seventeen¡¯s head¡­¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 80: Bewildered Young Child_1 Chapter 81: Chapter 80: Bewildered Young Child_1 With just one word, ¡°without support,¡± her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were shredded. The spicy, bitter, and desperate sorrow surged up, almost making her cry out loud, and her tears flowed like a torrent. She bit her teeth and said, ¡°I can support it!¡± ¡°Fourth Aunt, we sisters will support Little Seventeen together. We can definitely do it!¡± She clutched her fox fur with all her might, the veins on the back of her hand bulging, and shouted, ¡°Bai Jinxiu! Bai Jintong!¡± Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong, who were already in tears, hurried over and knelt beside Bai Qingyan. Bai Jinzhi even broke free from her personal maid and limped toward Little Seventeen. ¡°Today, the three of us sisters will¡­ hold Little Seventeen¡¯s body and support Little Seventeen¡¯s head! We will bring our family¡¯s hero of the Jin Kingdom, Little Seventeen, home!¡± The ten-year-old boy¡¯s body in armor was already stiff. Bai Qingyan supported Little Seventeen¡¯s back from the arms of the fourth lady, Mrs. Wang. Bai Jintong supported Little Seventeen¡¯s head, and Bai Jinxiu held Little Seventeen¡¯s legs. ¡°And me!¡± Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, lifted Little Seventeen¡¯s waist with both hands, tears streaming down her face as she shouted, ¡°Little Seventeen! Sister is taking you home!¡± ¡°Support the fourth lady!¡± Mrs. Dong suppressed her sobs and shouted, ¡°Home!¡± Paper money floated in the air, and the matriarch of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion, Mrs. Dong, walked in front, scattering paper money to guide the soul. Dong Qingyue lifted the wooden support beam and shouted, ¡°Lift the coffin!¡± Except for the already shattered small coffin, three wooden coffins were lifted one by one and carried into the southern gate of Dadu City under the escort of the Bai family¡¯s guards. Bai Qingxuan, who had been crying loudly, hurriedly knelt to the side, his heart filled with unease. The soldiers guarding the southern gate saw the grieving citizens kneeling in sorrow; they also bowed their heads, clasped their fists, and struck their chests, saluting the slowly entering loyal bones. Bai Qingyan tightly embraced her youngest brother, Little Seventeen. Bai Jintong steadily supported Little Seventeen¡¯s head and neck, following behind the three coffins, walking steadily towards the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion. Bai Jinzhi saw the citizens kneeling and crying along the way, wishing she could immediately grab a whip and rush to the frontier to kill all those who harmed her Bai family¡¯s men¡­ those who harmed Little Seventeen. ¡°King Xin¡¯s attitude towards our Bai family is the attitude of the imperial family towards us. Little Fourth, today you saw with your own eyes how they treated Little Seventeen, how they treated our grandfather, uncles, and younger brother. What kind of coffin did they use, and how did they treat our Bai family! Do you understand? The Bai family is no longer the Bai family you thought it was. The Bai family is now in a precarious situation, and there is no time for you to grow up slowly! Little Fourth, you must grow up!¡± Bai Qingyan looked straight ahead, her eyes aching, and spoke word by word to Bai Jinzhi, who lifted Little Seventeen¡¯s waist beside her. Bai Jinzhi couldn¡¯t hold back her tears and nodded, choking, ¡°Little Fourth understands!¡± Xiao Rongyan stood with his hands behind his back, tightly holding a jade cicada that had been nurtured until it was entirely transparent, his gaze fixed on the pale Bai Qingyan, only feeling that the sharpness in her eyes was about to burst forth. Lu Yuanpeng, filled with tears, followed the citizens on foot towards the Duke¡¯s Mansion. But before he could reach the gate of the Duke¡¯s Mansion, he was forcefully brought back by the guards of the Prime Minister¡¯s Mansion. The citizens cried all the way to the gate of the Duke¡¯s Mansion. The Eldest Princess had already brought the young women of the Bai family to wait at the gate. She had also heard what King Xin had done at the southern gate of the city. Seeing her four granddaughters holding Little Seventeen¡¯s body, the Eldest Princess stared at her grandson¡¯s corpse, unwilling to touch it, and burst into tears, hating as fiercely as old vinegar. ¡°How dare King Xin! How dare he do this to the sons of the Bai family! I will enter the palace to see the emperor! I will¡­¡± The Eldest Princess, suppressing her agony, uttered a cry and fainted. ¡°Eldest Princess! Eldest Princess!¡± Nanny Jiang was so frightened that her face turned pale. The scene in front of the Bai Mansion was chaotic. Mrs. Dong stood firmly at the main gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion, ordering people to send the Eldest Princess back to Changshou Courtyard. She arranged for the bodies of the Duke, the fifth lord of the mansion, and the sixth and seventeenth lords to be cleaned and re-coffined, while the other Bai family men who couldn¡¯t return were to be buried in their attire. The tragic state of the Bai family indicated that the situation at the front lines must have been hellish. Inside the spacious, canopied courtyard of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion, more than twenty coffins lay in a mournful row. The crying citizens were mourning not only for the Duke of Zhen¡¯s Mansion but also for the Jin Kingdom. With the Xiliang and Nanyan allied forces invading the Jin Kingdom, the men of the Duke¡¯s Mansion had all perished. Who would now protect the territory and its people? Bai Qingyan came out of the Eldest Princess¡¯s Changshou Courtyard, looking at the grim sky. Her eyes, sore and weary, couldn¡¯t hold back the tears that streamed down her face as she closed them. ¡°Eldest Young Lady¡­¡± Hearing her seventh sister, Bai Jinse¡¯s choked voice, she quickly turned her head to wipe away the tears, then turned back and looked at her half-sister Bai Jinse, who tugged at her dress. She restrained her emotions, held Bai Jinse¡¯s cold little hand, bent down to meet her eyes, and asked hoarsely, ¡°Little Seven, why are you here? Where is your wet nurse?¡± Bai Jinse¡¯s eyes were red and puffy. She gritted her teeth and asked, ¡°Eldest Sister, were grandfather, father, uncles, and brother harmed by someone?¡± Before she could respond, Bai Jinse continued, ¡°Eldest Sister, Little Seven is no longer a clueless child. I am nine years old now! I¡¯ve also read military books with you and studied the sage¡¯s writings with the tutor! I¡¯m not stupid! If it weren¡¯t for someone conspiring against us, how could our Bai family¡¯s men all perish? They didn¡¯t even spare Seventeen Brother. Isn¡¯t this extermination, cutting weeds and eliminating the roots?!¡± Looking at the clarity and innocence in Bai Jinse¡¯s eyes now replaced by a mature steadiness uncharacteristic of a child, Bai Qingyan pursed her lips, feeling an unbearable sorrow. She raised her hand to touch Bai Jinse¡¯s head but couldn¡¯t find the words to say. Obviously, she should have been a carefree, innocent child, but with the sudden loss of her grandfather, father, and brothers, she seemed to have grown up overnight. Bai Qingyan did not know whether to feel gratified or saddened. ¡°Little Seven¡­¡± Bai Qingyan bent down, using her index finger to wipe away Bai Jinse¡¯s tears, and said softly, ¡°Mother, grandmother, and the aunts, as well as many sisters, we will seek justice for the Bai family and ensure that Little Seven grows up safely! The road ahead is long, and the future of the Bai family lies in the hands of us sisters. There is a saying, ¡®Do not underestimate a poor young man!¡¯ When you grow up, Eldest Sister will show you who truly controls Jin Kingdom!¡± Bai Jinse nodded earnestly, seemingly understanding, ¡°Little Seven understands!¡± Out of the corner of her eye, Bai Qingyan saw Nanny Qin entering Changshou Courtyard with Mrs. Dong. She stood up straight, looking at Nanny Qin, and called, ¡°Nanny¡­¡± After saluting Bai Qingyan, Nanny Qin said, ¡°Eldest Miss, Seventh Miss, the people from Shuoyang have arrived! The princely heir¡¯s wife asked me to inform the Eldest Princess that if she is unwell, the wife will find an excuse to have them come to pay their respects another day. Steward Hao will arrange for their accommodation.¡± Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Broken Home_1 Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Broken Home_1 ¡°Who came from Shuoyang?¡± she asked. Nanny Qin looked troubled and said, ¡°Only two of the unacknowledged elders of the same generation as the Crown Prince were sent over.¡± The cold wind swirled with snow, and a sheet of white slid down from the eaves¡¯ corner, disturbed by the tilt. The lanterns in the corridor swayed back and forth in the wind. She pressed her lips together and remained silent for a while. Though the Bai family of Shuoyang and the Bai family of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion were about to separate in her generation, the Bai family of Shuoyang relied entirely on the Bai family for protection. Every year during the New Year celebrations, the legitimate members of the Bai family of Shuoyang would almost always follow, trying to foster closer ties with the Duke¡¯s mansion. Now, in the midst of the Bai family¡¯s grand mourning, only two unacknowledged elders were sent. Although it doesn¡¯t suffice to say they were opportunistic, it did inevitably come off as somewhat heartless. It was human nature to seek benefit and avoid harm. She blamed no one. Yet, there was still a faint chill in her heart. She murmured, ¡°Grandmother just took her medicine and lay down to rest. Let¡¯s leave it for another day!¡± Nanny Qin nodded respectfully and left hastily. Bai Qingyan held her seventh sister Bai Jinse¡¯s hand and walked to the front courtyard. They knelt before the spirit tablets alongside their mother, aunt, and sisters. The fourth aunt, Mrs. Wang, seemed utterly defeated, lying beside the small coffin of the seventeenth child. No one could persuade her to leave. The first to pay their respects was Madam Dong from Dengzhou, accompanied by almost the entire family. After Dong Changyuan finished paying his respects, he looked at Bai Qingyan, who barely managed to hold back tears while giving him a greeting in return. His heart felt heavy, assuming that since the Bai family¡¯s current situation was unclear, the Shuoyang clan had only sent two unacknowledged elders for the funeral. Those serving as officials were too afraid to come. Even their maternal relatives didn¡¯t send anyone. Instead, the common folk of the Capital gathered at the Duke¡¯s mansion gate, wailing in sorrow. Go to ????????????????????.co This incident with the Bai family vividly showcased the fickleness of political life. After paying respects to the Bai family¡¯s departed spirits, Madam Dong took Mrs. Dong to a secluded place and quietly asked about her future plans. ¡°Yesterday the Chief of Staff who is close friends with your elder brother advised him to distance himself from the Bai family. He said the Emperor might seize this chance to root out the Bai family entirely and suggested your brother should protect himself. I¡¯ve been thinking, perhaps I should return and pretend to be ill. Our official line should be that Kid and Chang Yuan have had a marriage agreement for a long time. Even though marrying in such mourning is unconventional, if it¡¯s for bringing good fortune to this old life of mine, nobody could say much. You should also ask the Eldest Princess for a divorce paper. We¡¯ll return to Dengzhou; preserving what we can is more important.¡± Madam Dong spoke rapidly, her thoughts evidently long premeditated. Knowing the Bai family¡¯s dire fate, she was willing to risk her life to save her daughter and granddaughter. Mrs. Dong¡¯s heart raced upon hearing Madam Dong¡¯s words, ¡°Mother¡­ are you sure? Did the Chief of Staff truly say that?¡± The Chief of Staff was always adept at gauging the Emperor¡¯s sentiments. ¡°Would Mother deceive you?¡± Madam Dong clutched her daughter¡¯s hand tightly, her voice tinged with a sob. ¡°Mother knows your loyalty, but this is not a time for sentimentality! We must take it step by step, first pulling you and Kid out of this mire. Then, we¡¯ll think of ways to save the Bai family members, one by one! There¡¯s no need to worry about the Eldest Princess. She is, after all, the Emperor¡¯s birth aunt. He wouldn¡¯t do anything to harm her.¡± Mrs. Dong quickly pondered, noting that Bai Jinxiu, the second daughter, was already married. Bai Jintong had also reached marriageable age. However, the fourth girl Bai Jinzhi, the fifth girl, the sixth girl, and the seventh girl were still very young! Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Qi, was also several months pregnant. ¡°Wanjuan!¡± Madam Dong grasped her daughter¡¯s hand tighter, ¡°Did you hear what Mother said?¡± After a prolonged silence, Mrs. Dong looked at Madam Dong with tearful eyes and smiled, ¡°Mother, since I married into Qishan¡­ I made vows to Qishan. If I leave the Bai family at this moment, how will I face Qishan in the afterlife? How can I bear to let the world see that the strong spirits left behind ended up with a broken family?¡± Madam Dong couldn¡¯t resist hitting Mrs. Dong¡¯s arm, ¡°And you just want me to see a white-haired parent burying a black-haired child! What did you do to deserve this? What did Kid do to deserve this?¡± ¡°Mother! Initially, I thought if Kid didn¡¯t want to, the marriage between Kid and Chang Yuan could be called off. But now, since things have come to this, I will make sure Kid agrees to the marriage willingly or not. If the Bai family can overcome this trial¡­ if not, I will leave Kid under your and my siblings¡¯ care!¡± As she spoke, Mrs. Dong knelt before Madam Dong and kowtowed, her voice choked with emotion, ¡°Let Kid fulfill the filial duties I owe you!¡± Madam Dong turned away, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she wept, pounding her chest in sorrow. She understood that her daughter had resolved to live and die with the Bai family. How could this not break her heart as a mother? This was her beloved daughter, a piece of her own flesh. Seeing her daughter kneel and not rise, Madam Dong reluctantly helped her up, her voice thick with tears, ¡°You have always been stubborn and loyal since childhood! Before you even got married, you boldly promised your dear friend Yun Ying to make Qin Lang your son-in-law! And now¡­¡± Unable to continue, Madam Dong sobbed and tightly embraced Mrs. Dong. ¡°Since you wish to live and die with the Bai family, our Dong family will do its utmost¡­ to protect the Bai family. I hope Heaven has mercy on your pure heart, and on the loyal spirits of the Bai family, and doesn¡¯t treat them too harshly!¡± ¡°Mother¡­ Mother¡­¡± Mrs. Dong held onto Madam Dong¡¯s clothing tightly, crying uncontrollably, calling out for her mother. Although Mrs. Dong was a remarkably strong woman, after crying, she began planning the escape routes for the Bai family members. After the Bai family¡¯s grand mourning, she needed to find a way to send these children out of the Capital. If anything unforeseen happened, they would be safely elsewhere. If the Bai family survived, it would be like they went on a journey, only to return. ¡¤ The mother and son huddled in Qingming Courtyard occasionally sent people to the front courtyard for news. They learned that apart from Mrs. Dong¡¯s maternal family, the other wives¡¯ families had been too afraid of the Emperor to come and pay their respects. Their hearts turned cold. Under the flickering candlelight, Bai Qingxuan lay on the soft couch, thinking that his weeping at the South Gate today might have only worsened his situation. ¡°Xuan¡¯er, perhaps we should gather our valuables and flee!¡± the anxious woman suggested. ¡°Given the Bai family¡¯s current situation, it seems destined to fall as that Miss Bai implied! If we are blamed for a crime of extermination, we will die alongside the Bai family! My son, if we keep the mountains, there¡¯s no fear of firewood to burn. At worst, we wait until the Bai family is at peace and return! You are the last hope of the Bai family! By then, you¡¯ll be the esteemed Duke, and the wealth and honor of Bai Mansion will still be yours!¡± Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 82: The Loyal Soul of the National Scholar_1 Chapter 83: Chapter 82: The Loyal Soul of the National Scholar_1 Bai Qingxuan repeatedly thought about King Xin¡¯s attitude towards the Bai family. After a long time, he finally made up his mind and nodded. ¡°Alright! Mother, pack our things now. The Bai family¡¯s men have all died. Such a large funeral won¡¯t have time to take care of us! Pick some valuable items and smuggle them out over the next few days. Once I¡¯ve recovered sufficiently, we¡¯ll leave!¡± Seeing that her son had made up his mind, the woman nodded repeatedly. ¡°I will prepare right away!¡± ? Lady Wang, who had always been frail, was determined to stay with her son¡¯s coffin despite anyone¡¯s persuasion. She clung to the coffin tightly, refusing to let go. As a mother herself, Mrs. Dong understood Lady Wang¡¯s feelings. She ordered someone to bring a fire basin and draped a thick fox fur cloak over Lady Wang to ward off the cold. It wasn¡¯t until Lady Wang fainted from exhaustion that Mrs. Dong had her carried back. Late at night, Bai Qingyan persuaded her mother and several aunts to rest. The seven sisters knelt vigilantly by the coffin throughout the night. Bai Qingxuan, however, Bai Qingyan had sent someone to fetch him, but he claimed to have a persistent high fever and worsening wounds and refused to come. Although the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Sisters were young, their immense grief and sorrow turned into strength, supporting them as they knelt by the coffins, waiting silently for the souls of their grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers to return. The darkness before dawn was the deepest and coldest. Despite being wrapped in a fox fur cloak, the chill had already crept up Bai Qingyan¡¯s waist. The flickering candlelight made a slight popping sound. She saw the Seventh Sister Bai Jinse swaying and gently opened her fox fur cloak to embrace the now-sleeping Bai Jinse, wrapping her snugly. She asked Chun Tao to stir the coals in the fire basin to make the fire burn brighter. Bai Jinxiu protected the drowsy Fifth Sister as well, instructing someone to bring a quilt to cover the Fifth and Sixth Sisters. ¡°Fourth Sister, you are injured. Go to sleep!¡± she said to Bai Jinzhi. Bai Jinzhi knelt on the mat, silently shaking her head. All the men in the family were gone, and they couldn¡¯t even retrieve their bodies. How could she sleep? Go to ????????????????????.co Bai Jinzhi¡¯s thoughts were written all over her face. Seeing her eyes reddened, Bai Jinxiu felt deeply pained. She lowered her eyes and said softly, ¡°Since we haven¡¯t seen the bodies of our uncles and brothers, everything still has room to turn around. Isn¡¯t that¡­ also a kind of hope?¡± Tears welled up in Bai Jinzhi¡¯s eyes as she looked at her eldest sister. She wiped her tears with her sleeve, and a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her heart. She nodded with a choked voice, saying, ¡°Yes!¡± As dawn broke, commoners had already come to the Duke¡¯s mansion to pay their respects. Some came to watch the excitement, hoping to see any prominent figures coming to offer condolences. The morning light penetrated the white mist, reflecting on the snow-covered blue bricks and green tiles. A luxurious carriage with elm wood inlaid in brass stopped in front of the Duke¡¯s mansion. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s guard took a stool and helped him down from the carriage. He lifted his robe and walked calmly up the high steps of the Duke¡¯s mansion, removing his cloak and handing it to the guard standing to the side. Under Bai Qingyan¡¯s slightly surprised gaze, he respectfully bowed to the twenty-some memorial tablets of the Bai family. Mrs. Dong and the children returned the courtesy. The handsome and elegant young man, dressed in a white robe, looked all the more noble and extraordinary. His gaze turned to Bai Qingyan, then he calmly and solemnly bowed deeply to Mrs. Dong. His eyes were warm and profound. ¡°The Duke, the Crown Prince, and all the gentlemen of the Bai Mansion are heroes of the Jin Kingdom. Although I, Xiao, am a Wei person, I feel deeply moved! I hope the Crown Princess can hold back her grief. The loyal souls of national heroes live in the people¡¯s hearts.¡± Mrs. Dong, unable to hold back her tears because of the words ¡°the loyal souls of national heroes live in the people¡¯s hearts,¡± solemnly returned the bow to Xiao Rongyan. ¡°Thank you for your comforting words, Mr. Xiao.¡± Xiao Rongyan returned the bow and looked at Bai Qingyan. ¡°Miss Bai, my condolences.¡± She straightened her spine, slightly bowed her head, and half-closed her eyes. Her long lashes, like fans, concealed a sharpness that was hidden beneath her seemingly fragile demeanor. The Bai family¡¯s steward invited Xiao Rongyan to the rear hall and ordered someone to serve tea. Xiao Rongyan had just lifted his cup when he heard that the two renowned scholars of the time, Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong, had come to pay their respects. Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong were close friends of the Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting. Now that Bai Weiting had suddenly passed away, how could his two dear friends not come to mourn? The two elders were advanced in years, especially Mr. Cui Shiyan, who was over seventy. Supported by the family servants and Mr. Guan Yongchong, he trembled as he stepped over the threshold, shedding tears as he called out, ¡°Buyu,¡± unable to control his sobs. ¡°Buyu, I am seven years older than you, yet I have not passed on. How could you leave before me¡­¡± ¡°Buyu¡± was the courtesy name of her grandfather, Bai Weiting. Her grandfather aspired to return peace to the people, to establish peace in the world, and swore unwavering commitment to this goal until his death. She clenched her fist tightly and knelt heavily in gratitude, tears that had been suppressed in her eyes flowed freely, something rising straight up to her throat, blocking any sound from escaping. The mourning hall, which had resembled a dead lake, was filled with cries due to Mr. Cui Shiyan¡¯s tearful exclamation. Even the commoners outside began to wail. Xiao Rongyan stood under the corridor, seeing the two literary giants, the erudites of the era, bowing to the Bai family¡¯s widows. Bai Qingyan¡¯s return of¡­ was a master¡¯s bow. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Could it be that this eldest Miss Bai was actually a disciple of the two erudites?! Guan Yongchong helped Bai Qingyan up, his red-rimmed eyes looking at her and nodding repeatedly. Recently, he had heard a bit about Bai Qingyan¡¯s deeds, which moved his heart greatly. When Bai Qingyan was four, she had been a cute and small little girl. His dear friend, Bai Weiting, holding his young daughter¡¯s hand, had brought her to his little hermitage in the forest to ask him to teach her literature. He had said, ¡°A woman¡¯s virtue lies in being unlearned. Why trouble her with studies?¡± The morning light had filtered through the densely packed leaves, rustling in the breeze. His dear friend had smiled lightly, patting his daughter¡¯s head. His voice was gentle. ¡°Learning to understand courtesy, virtue, righteousness, and shame! I do not wish for my granddaughter to be renowned throughout the world. I only hope she knows courtesy, virtue, righteousness, and shame; to be a person of integrity, who is unashamed when standing between heaven and earth.¡± Honorable, magnanimous! Loving and protecting the people, knowing courtesy and virtue, and understanding shame and righteousness. Bai Qingyan had done exceptionally well. Mr. Cui Shiyan nodded tearfully, as if in comfort or perhaps regret. ¡°Your grandfather did not misjudge you. You have indeed grown into what he hoped for you¡­¡± She could not hide her choking, bowing again in respect. ¡°Good child! Take care of¡­ your grandmother, mother, and sisters!¡± Guan Yongchong¡¯s voice was thick with sorrow. She nodded in agreement. News of the two literary Titans coming to the Bai family to pay respects spread. Nobles from prestigious families gradually came to offer their condolences. The once dead-silent Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion now echoed with the sounds of mourning, with elegant carriages coming one after another. The elderly Marquis of Dingyong arrived with his entire family. Just one mention of ¡°Brother Buyu¡± had him in tears. Bai Qingyan bowed in return. As soon as she straightened up, she saw Chun Tao, lifting her skirt, hurriedly squeezing past people to her side, panting. In a low, suppressed voice, she said, ¡°Miss Bai! Lu Ping has sent a message. Ji Tingyu has returned!¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 83: Clear and Obvious_1 Chapter 84: Chapter 83: Clear and Obvious_1 ¡°Wu Zhe! Her scalp tightened. She grabbed Chun Tao¡¯s hand, looked up at the family members of the Marquis of Dingyong who were still saluting, and stood up on her numb legs, almost falling. Bai Jintong quickly caught Bai Qingyan, not daring to exclaim, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Eldest Young Lady?¡± She tightly gripped Chun Tao¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chun Tao lowered her head and supported Bai Qingyan forcefully, quietly retreating from the crowd. Sensing something was wrong, Bai Jintong leaned close to Bai Jinxiu and whispered, ¡°Second Sister! Please take care of our younger sisters! I¡¯ll go check on Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Jinxiu, also worried about Bai Qingyan¡¯s health, nodded repeatedly. Bai Jintong hurriedly stood up and discreetly followed Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan, with her numb legs, staggered down the steps. As she saw Lu Ping¡¯s serious face approaching, he was about to say something to Bai Qingyan but stopped upon seeing Bai Jintong following closely. He then respectfully cupped his fists in salute, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, Third Young Lady!¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Her heart churned, and her voice trembled uncontrollably. She feared that the news Ji Tingyu brought was of Shen Qingzhu¡¯s mishap but hoped that Ji Tingyu would tell her that someone from the Bai family survived on the battlefield in South Xinjiang. ¡°In the back courtyard. It was Yingshuang who found him. Doctor Hong is stopping the bleeding,¡± Lu Ping said. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± Bai Qingyan walked briskly, wishing to fly over. Even though she mentally prepared herself, hearing Ji Tingyu¡¯s muffled groans of pain while biting on a wooden board in the back courtyard frightened her deeply. Pushing open the door, Doctor Hong pressed a fire-heated blade on Ji Tingyu¡¯s severed limb to stop the bleeding. Ji Tingyu gripped the table edge tightly, biting the wooden board, his face flushed, veins bulging, and beads of sweat and blood continuously rolling down. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°It¡¯s done! It¡¯s done!¡± Doctor Hong moved the blade away and wiped his sweat with a blood-stained towel. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, making one¡¯s heart shudder. If not for battlefield experience, this sight would make even strong men weak in the knees, let alone sheltered young women. Bai Jintong widened her eyes, not understanding, Ji Tingyu had gone where he had lost an arm! ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± Ji Tingyu¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. His body soaked in blood. He knelt on one knee, unsteady due to the missing arm, choking with emotion, ¡°Miss Shen took me and Wei Gao on fast horses to South Xinjiang. On the way, we met General Yue Zhizhou, who entrusted me with three military record bamboo slips from the Third Young Master. But I failed the mission, only bringing one back despite all the struggles! Please punish me, Eldest Young Lady!¡± After speaking, Ji Tingyu quickly opened the blood-soaked bundle on his back, tightly wrapping one bamboo slip inside. Her eyes reddened, she helped Ji Tingyu up earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s just good that you¡¯re alive!¡± Bai Jintong was astonished, realizing that her Eldest Sister had already sent someone to South Xinjiang! Bai Jintong stepped forward and took the bamboo slip from Ji Tingyu¡¯s hand, reading aloud, ¡°The fifteenth year of Xuanjia, 12th month, 12th day, General Jiyong Bai Qingming destroyed a small cavalry of Xiliang, returning with a thousand soldiers. The camp had been leveled, and General Jiyong rescued four wounded soldiers. The wounded claimed a day prior, King Xin saw 50,000 Nanyan troops approaching, abandoned camp, and fled with 3,000 men. General Jifeng Bai Qingyu scattered 500 soldiers to evacuate civilians, leading 1,500 soldiers to fight. General Jifeng died, his body burned.¡± ¡°The fifteenth year of Xuanjia, 12th month, 13th day, General Jiyong defended Feng County against Nanyan¡¯s attack. He claimed millions of lives were at stake. The Bai family army fought to the death, not retreating until the last man!¡± Bai Jintong glanced at Bai Qingyan, whose face was blue with anger, supporting Ji Tingyu, her eyes red, and continued, ¡°To disturb Jin¡¯s morale, the allied forces of Nanyan and Xiliang¡¯s chief, Yun Poxing, hung Vice Commander Bai Qishan¡¯s body on a cart! They beheaded seventeen Bai family sons¡­¡± Reading further, Bai Jintong¡¯s eyes widened, tears streaming, blood rushing to her head, her face paled, and breathing became difficult as intense killing intent surged. Bai Qingyan snatched the bamboo slip, gritting her teeth as she read the messy handwriting¡­ To disturb Jin¡¯s morale, Nanyan and Xiliang¡¯s chief, Yun Poxing, hung Vice Commander Bai Qishan¡¯s body on a cart. They beheaded seventeen Bai family sons, disemboweled their bodies, finding no food, only tree roots and dirt. Yun Poxing was shocked! The Bai family army¡¯s anger exploded. They fought bravely! Even a ten-year-old showed courage. I am ashamed. As a scholar, I dare to pick up a sword and die in battle! Her heart felt like being pierced by countless sharp needles, a rush of blood surged from her chest to her throat, unbearable pain making her whole body tremble, almost collapsing. ¡°Eldest Young Lady!¡± Chun Tao quickly supported Bai Qingyan, tears streaming. Despite seeing Little Seventeen¡¯s tragic state, she had never imagined¡­ his death would be so miserable! She closed her bloodshot eyes, biting her tongue hard to stay awake. Now was not the time to drown in endless sorrow. The Bai family¡¯s pain and tragedy must be known by the world! She had to expose King Xin¡¯s face to everyone! She would force the high and mighty Emperor to kill King Xin with the people¡¯s wrath! She, Bai Qingyan, would avenge the Bai family¡¯s fate with her life! Just then, following Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong¡¯s religious rituals, the nobles of Dadu City had already arrived, the timing was right. She opened her bloodshot eyes, gazing intensely at Ji Tingyu, ¡°Ji Tingyu, I have a task for you! Can your body handle it?!¡± ¡°Eldest Young Lady, command me! Ji Tingyu will do it even if it means death!¡± Ji Tingyu clenched his jaws tightly. ¡°Chun Tao, go and fetch the five bamboo slips Wu Zhe brought back from my room!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chun Tao ran out quickly. Seeing Chun Tao leave, she gritted her teeth and solemnly instructed Ji Tingyu, ¡°I want you to enter the Duke¡¯s mansion with the six bamboo slips through the main gate! Present them in the mourning hall with your miserable state!¡± ¡°You went to South Xinjiang before the New Year to deliver winter clothes for my grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers! On Chongluan Ridge, you encountered the Tiger Camp¡¯s commander, General Fang Yan, being pursued by assassins. All the guards with you perished to save him. General Fang Yan said Liu Huanzhang betrayed us, colluding with Nanyan and King Xin. King Xin forced my grandfather into battle, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. As the front line collapsed, General Jifeng Bai Qingyu sacrificed himself to defend and evacuate civilians while King Xin ignored the people¡¯s safety, fleeing with most of the troops! You protected the six bamboo slips with your life, only asking Heaven for justice for the Bai family¡¯s fallen spirits!¡± Bai Qingyan organized her words clearly, nine parts truth, one part lie, already arranging the source of the six bamboo slips perfectly. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 84: The Family of Hairpin and Tassel_1 Chapter 85: Chapter 84: The Family of Hairpin and Tassel_1 She wanted to frame King Xin for treason, even if the bamboo slip did not contain it! Was King Xin the only one who could wield the sword of rumors? She could too¡­ No matter if these words were true, when the people of Dadu City saw Ji Tingyu half-dead and heard the message he desperately delivered, could they think it was false? Even if one day the Imperial Court released the so-called truth, the people would believe it to be a shameless lie to cover up for King Xin. If King Xin dared to strike at the Bai family, then she would cut off his path to power, even¡­ take his life! Ji Tingyu understood what Bai Qingyan intended to do and nodded vigorously. ¡°Rest assured, Eldest Young Lady, Tingyu understands!¡± Seeing Bai Qingyan stand up straight, her entire presence filled with killing intent, Ji Tingyu added, ¡°Eldest Young Lady, General Yue Zhizhou also brought a message¡­ Seventh and Ninth Young Masters led troops to raid Xiliang¡¯s capital and have not returned, which may preserve a lineage for the Bai family! Miss Shen and Wei Gao have already ridden out! Eldest Young Lady¡­ take care! Do not employ a strategy of mutual destruction.¡± ¡°Eldest Sister!¡± Bai Jintong cried with joy, ¡°Eldest Sister was right! Not seeing the bodies was a good sign! They might still be alive!¡± She had not expected the words of comfort to her sister last night to eerily come true today. Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother¡­ She felt a surge of warmth from her feet to her head, a bright light dispelled the chill from her eyes, and tears silently streamed down, tempering her seething hatred with a touch of calm from this piece of news. The mix of sorrow and joy made her scalp tingle, and for a moment, she felt a myriad of emotions! Perhaps this meant she had managed to send Shen Qingzhu to rescue them¡­ Go to ????????????????????.co Perhaps it was not in vain to be reborn, at least snatching her two brothers from the hands of Lord Yan?! No, before seeing her two brothers, it was too early to speak. Praying Heaven would have mercy on the Bai family, letting Shen Qingzhu save them! Strength returned suddenly, despite her intense emotions she remained composed and ordered, ¡°Uncle Ping! Immediately select the most elite death warriors in the Bai family and send them to Xiliang. No matter the cost, ensure the safety of Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother!¡± Lu Ping nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± Her heart raced. She had to go to the Southern Front personally, not only to bring Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother back safely but also to manage the Bai family¡¯s military connections. She was eager to go. Bai Jintong supported Bai Qingyan out of the room filled with the stench of burnt flesh. Under the bright sun, her eyes burned, making it hard to keep them open. Though it was midwinter with warm sunshine, vigilance was necessary, and the dry leaves rustled. ¡°Eldest Sister¡­¡± Bai Jintong tightly grasped Bai Qingyan¡¯s hand, gritting her teeth. ¡°Ji Tingyu delivered six volumes of bamboo slips to put before the shrine. I will read them! To let the people of Dadu City know the Bai family¡¯s tragedies at the frontlines! To expose the shameless face of King Xin! Lest¡­ the Emperor, in trying to protect King Xin, keeps these six military records secret!¡± ¡°Not only will we read¡­¡± she opened her eyes, deeply concealing her sorrow. Gazing at the yard, filled with white mourning decorations fluttering in the wind, she exuded a suffocating killing intent. ¡°I will take these bamboo slips to the palace gate, knock the drum of complaint! Make publicly known the content of these bamboo slips! Let scum like King Xin¡­ have nowhere to hide! Use the people¡¯s emotions, their anger and resentment to pressure the Emperor to bring justice for the Bai family!¡± The woman¡¯s voice was clearly determined and firm. The anger and sorrow boiled within Bai Jintong. She declared, ¡°I will go with Eldest Sister to knock the drum of complaint!¡± She gazed at the shiny blue bricks of the corridor, opening with melancholy, ¡°Go to Changshou Courtyard and invite Grandmother, tell her¡­ Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong have arrived! Let Grandmother come and listen personally to what kind of beasts she has been trying to protect in the Imperial Family.¡± Also let their grandmother hear how this beast had killed her husband, her sons, and her grandsons! Watching Bai Qingyan walk determinedly toward the front yard, Bai Jintong clenched her fists tightly, swallowing her tears and pain, and turned towards Changshou Courtyard. Since Eldest Sister had not mentioned Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother¡¯s situation to Grandmother, then she would remain silent, too. The subtle distance and wariness between Grandmother and Eldest Sister were too obvious for Bai Jintong not to notice. Although Grandmother was the Eldest Princess of the Empire, and Bai Jintong could understand her difficulties, now that she had read the military records and saw the despicable actions of King Xin¡­ Bai Jintong clenched her fists so tightly they turned white. Her feelings for Grandmother were of both respect and admiration; though she could sacrifice her life without hesitation for her, if Grandmother insisted on protecting the Imperial members, then she could only bring her sorrow. Front yard mourning hall. Bai Jinxiu looked at Bai Qingyan, who had returned pale and kneeled beside her, and whispered, ¡°Eldest Sister, if you are unwell, there is no need to force yourself.¡± She shook her head. Looking up, she saw the intricate chariot with the King of Qi¡¯s crest slowly stopping at the Duke¡¯s residence gate. Her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched, starting to tremble slightly. In her past life, the Qi King¡¯s Mansion had not attended the Bai family¡¯s grand funeral despite her grave illness. Could it be¡­ Xiao Rongyan?! Arriving at the perfect time! She feared the matter would not be big enough, with not enough people knowing! A handsome eunuch helped the King of Qi down the stepping stool, crossing over the copper-trimmed threshold of the Duke¡¯s mansion, and bowed solemnly to pay respects at the mourning hall set at the entrance. Suddenly, a horse, covered in blood, charged towards the high steps of the Duke¡¯s mansion. Ji Tingyu, covered in blood, fell off the horse¡­ ¡°Protect His Highness!¡± The guards from the Qi King¡¯s Mansion all drew their swords, shielding the pale-faced Qi King and stepping back quickly. The frightened horse raised its hooves. Lu Ping quickly rushed forward, grabbed the reins, and stopped the bleeding horse. The townsfolk at the gate screamed in fear, retreating and staring at the man lying on the ground, covered in blood, and seemingly lifeless. ¡°It¡¯s Ji Tingyu! Princely Wife, Eldest Young Lady! It¡¯s Ji Tingyu from our mansion!¡± Lu Ping, holding the reins tightly, shouted. Bai Jintong, who was supporting the Eldest Princess from the corridor, tightened her throat and quickly said, ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯ll go look!¡± The Eldest Princess nodded. ¡°Go quickly!¡± Bai Jintong released her hold on the Eldest Princess¡¯s hand and ran to the front yard. Bai Qingyan, kneeling before the shrine, rose and pushed aside the guards from the Qi King¡¯s Mansion blocking her path. She walked swiftly forward, eyes wide in shock¡­ Just now, Ji Tingyu had not been this severely injured! Clearly, Doctor Hong had already stopped the bleeding in his arm, so why¡­ She understood in her heart. Ji Tingyu was risking his life to seek justice for the Bai family! What kind of Imperial Court was this? Forcing a noble family like the Bai family to have a loyal servant risk his life just to seek justice! ¡°Ji Tingyu?¡± She knelt down to support Ji Tingyu, staring at his arm, now even shorter, the pang of bitter soreness overwhelmed her eyes. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: 85章：Planning to Strive_1 Chapter 86: 85Õ£ºPlanning to Strive_1 Ji Tingyu probably cut off another piece of his arm to make the act more believable! When Ji Tingyu fell off his horse, it was a hard fall. He opened the bundle stained with his blood and handed it to Bai Qingyan, gripping her hand tightly to assure her. Ji Tingyu¡¯s veins bulged on his forehead. ¡°My lady¡­ I was ordered to deliver winter clothing to the Duke of Zhen and his men in the southern regions. At Chongluan Ridge, we encountered assassins trying to kill General Fang Yan from the Tiger Camp! We fought to the death to save General Fang Yan¡­¡± ¡°General Fang Yan said that Liu Huanzhang had betrayed us and colluded with Nanyan and King Xin. King Xin forced the Duke to go to battle to claim military credits, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers. At the front line, General Bai Qingyu fought to the death while evacuating civilians. King Xin abandoned the civilians, forcibly taking most of his troops to escape! General Fang Yan entrusted us with these six records of the military operation on bamboo slips! We hid and snuck all the way back, losing all our brothers to protect these six bamboo slips! We only ask¡­ Heaven to give justice to the Duke and the Bai family!¡± The King of Qi was horrified upon hearing this. Records of military operations presented to the Emperor were common, but why would anyone be pursued and killed along the way?! Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes, drinking tea without showing any reaction. In contrast, the nobles invited to the back hall stood up in unison and headed to the main gate, driven by curiosity to learn how the men of the Bai family met their demise! Bai Jintong looked at the floor soaked with Ji Tingyu¡¯s blood. She reached out trembling and took the bundle containing the bamboo slips, knowing that Ji Tingyu had to make his wounds more severe to seem truthful. But seeing Ji Tingyu inflict such harm on himself for the Bai family made Bai Jintong¡¯s heart turn tumultuous. For the Bai family¡¯s justice¡­ if Heaven and the imperial court wouldn¡¯t grant it clearly, must they resort to such self-destructive methods to seek it?! Bai Jintong opened the bundle in front of everyone, trembling as she took out one of the bamboo slips and unfolded it. Mrs. Dong, the princely heir¡¯s wife, and Mrs. Liu, the second wife whose husbands and sons hadn¡¯t returned, pushed past the guards to closely examine the bamboo slip, hoping to find any clue that their husbands and sons were still alive. Bai Qingyan tightly tied the rope around Ji Tingyu¡¯s severed arm and shouted sharply, ¡°Uncle Ping! Take Ji Tingyu to Doctor Hong for treatment! Hurry!¡± The King of Qi pushed past the guards blocking his way, took two steps forward, and bowed deeply, saying, ¡°Since we have the records of the military operation, can the princely heir¡¯s wife hand them to me now so that I may present these bamboo slips to our father, the Emperor?¡± The King of Qi was not exceptionally talented, but he knew well that with the Duke of Zhen Bai Weiting¡¯s capability, it was impossible he would act as recklessly as King Xin had claimed in his tearful complaints inside the Imperial Palace, accusing Bai Weiting of using troops impulsively and ignoring King Xin¡¯s advice, forcing an attack! Go to ????????????????????.co Forcing the Duke to fight for selfish gains while abandoning the civilians, just these two charges were enough to block King Xin¡¯s path to the throne! The King of Qi¡¯s heart pounded rapidly. As the elders governed, the legitimate son was established first. However, King Xin was the legitimate son, while he was the elder! Although he knew he lacked great literary or martial skills, he didn¡¯t want the kingdom to fall into the hands of someone as selfish and indulgent as King Xin. If he desired the highest position, he had to plan and strive for himself. Mrs. Dong looked at the bamboo slip in her hand. Blood rushed to her head, her mind went blank, and she couldn¡¯t hear a word from the King of Qi. Her eyes were wide open, tears streaming down like a fountain, her anger almost turning her whole being into ashes. Mrs. Liu knelt on the ground, flipping through one bamboo slip without finding any information about her husband and son. She cried heart-wrenchingly and moved on to another one. Holding the bamboo slip, Bai Jintong clenched her teeth, restraining the surge of overwhelming emotions within her, striving to speak clearly, and read aloud, ¡°On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, the fifteenth year of Xuanjia, scouts reported that Xiliang¡¯s twenty-five-thousand strong main force was ambushed in Chuanling Mountain, trapping Bai Qiying¡¯s reinforcements of forty thousand troops. King Xin urged Marshal Bai Weiting to lead the main force to Chuanling Mountain, planning to coordinate with Bai Qiying internally and externally to annihilate Xiliang¡¯s main force. Marshal suspected deceit. King Xin, by the Emperor¡¯s order, commanded Bai Weiting to battle under the threat of executing Bai Weiting¡¯s nine clans should he disobey.¡± The commoners, hearing Bai Jintong read the military records publicly, gathered around, looking up at Bai Jintong standing at the Duke of Zhen¡¯s gate, their hearts filled with horror. It turned out that it was King Xin who forced the Duke of Zhen to battle! ¡°On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the fifteenth year of Xuanjia, Vice Commander Bai Qishan was trapped in Fengcheng for five days with no provisions. The Nanyan Army captured the five sons of the Bai family, stripping and mutilating them in front of their formation, attempting to force Bai Qishan¡¯s surrender. Vice Commander decided to protect the civilians of Fengcheng by retreating and fighting the Nanyan Cavalry to buy time. He shot and killed the five sons of the Bai family with tears in his eyes. Vice Commander Bai Qishan said, if anyone has elderly parents or an only child in the family, step back. Those who are unmarried or without heirs, step back. The rest¡­ those willing to die for the people of Jin, follow me to battle! Seventeen sons of the Bai family, aged ten, stepped forward with swords, declaring they would fight to the death for the people of Jin alongside their father, vowing never to live in disgrace! The Bai family army, deeply moved by the ten-year-old children, drew their swords and shouted three times, ¡®Fight to the death, not to survive in disgrace.''¡± Bai Jinzhi, with blood rushing to her head, quickly stepped forward and grabbed a bamboo slip randomly, reading with unsteady breath, ¡°On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the fifteenth year of Xuanjia, General Jiyong Bai Qingming annihilated a small troop of Xiliang Cavalry, returning to camp with a thousand men. The camp was already leveled. General Jiyong saved ten remaining soldiers¡­ they said that one day before, King Xin saw Nanyan¡¯s fifty-thousand strong army approaching and fled with three thousand troops. General Jifeng Bai Qingyu deployed five hundred soldiers to evacuate the rear civilians and led fifteen hundred soldiers to battle. General Jifeng died in battle, his body burnt.¡± ¡°So it was King Xin! King Xin was so shameless! He fled with three thousand men!¡± ¡°Damn it! How could King Xin have the cheek to accuse the Duke of being reckless? He was the one who forced the battle!¡± ¡°Shameless! The poor Bai family¡¯s men were all sacrificed like this!¡± The commoners cried, cursed, ignoring that King Xin was of the imperial bloodline, the Emperor¡¯s legitimate son. They were grief-stricken and furious, wishing they could tear King Xin apart. ¡°On the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the fifteenth year of Xuanjia, General Jiyong defended Feng County against Nanyan Army¡¯s assault. General Bai Qingming declared the lives of millions were entrusted to them, and the Bai family army fought with their backs to the river, vowing never to retreat until the last man was standing! To demoralize the Jin army¡­¡± Bai Jinzhi¡¯s voice abruptly stopped here. She gripped the bamboo slip, her teeth gritting, anger, and sorrow almost tearing her apart, blazing with intense fury, she forced herself to utter each word slowly, ¡°Yun Poxing beheaded the seventeen sons of the Bai family in front of the formation, disemboweling and humiliating their corpses. Their stomachs were filled with roots and soil¡­¡± Inside and outside the gate of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, there was complete silence. Mrs. Wang, upon hearing the gruesome death of her son, stood still like a statue. After a moment of emotional freezing, she exploded, gripping her clothes tightly, screaming hysterically as she rammed her head into her son¡¯s coffin. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Poor Person_1 Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Poor Person_1 ¡°Protect the Fourth Madam!¡± Mrs. Dong shouted, her eyes wide open. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s guards moved swiftly, catching Fourth Madam Wang just an inch away from the coffin. Bai Qingyan felt her whole body tense up, as if a bucket of hot oil had been poured over her heart. Only when she saw her fourth aunt being held tightly by Xiao Rongyan¡¯s guard, did she slowly relax the hand clenched in her sleeve. Mrs. Dong rushed over, hugging Fourth Madam, choked, ¡°Fourth sister-in-law! You must not do anything foolish!¡± ¡°That damned King Xin! Heartless dog! What right does he have to treat the Bai family this way? What right does he have to treat my son like this? Oh, heaven! Are you blind? Why didn¡¯t you let that dog King Xin die on the battlefield? Why didn¡¯t he die!¡± The frail Fourth Madam had nothing left to fear after the deaths of her husband and son. Regardless of the Royal Family or the emperor¡¯s son, she had resolved to die. Could she not curse once freely?! ¡°Mother!¡± ¡°Mother!¡± The Fifth and Sixth girls rushed over, kneeling and hugging Fourth Madam¡¯s legs, crying. ¡°Mother, we¡¯ve already lost our grandfather and father! We can¡¯t lose you too!¡± Sixth Miss Bai Jinhua choked through her tears. Fifth Miss Bai Jinzhao cried, ¡°Though we are not your biological daughters, you raised us from childhood. You are our real mother¡­ If you follow Father and Brother, what will we do?!¡± Fourth Madam Wang lowered her head to look at the pair of twin concubine daughters clinging to her legs. Her heart softened, and she collapsed, hugging the two girls and weeping bitterly. That day, King Xin returned to the city with the Duke¡¯s and the Bai family¡¯s young master¡¯s remains in paper-thin coffins. When the Bai family¡¯s seventeen sons went to war, they had barely grown as tall as horses. Arriving back from the battlefield, King Xin cruelly brought back the young master¡¯s head, unsewn. It was an unforgivable insult! Go to ????????????????????.co At just ten years old, the child fought for his country and died a tragic death. His stomach was found full of dirt and tree roots¡­ Jin had been prosperous with the Bai family guarding it. Who of the children in Jin¡¯s good times had ever starved?! Even street beggars had likely never eaten dirt and tree roots. Yet this cowardly, evil Prince, a grown man taller than a horse, had committed such atrocities. Pushing all blame onto the noble and loyal dead, he was shameless and despicable. Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth. After crying and going mad, hearing these military records again, she thought her heart had become numb. But still, her chest felt as if hot oil had been poured into it, and hatred burned fiercely. With tears in her eyes, she took the bamboo slips from her mother, aunt, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi, held them close to her chest, and knelt solemnly in front of the Bai family¡¯s spirit hall. When she looked up, her eyes blazed like fire, and her entire being radiated intense killing intent, as if she had returned from a sea of blood and corpses. ¡°Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and Brothers were persecuted by treacherous villains. Today, I vow before the loyal souls of the Bai family to seek justice for the wrongs done to our family. If Liu Huanzhang and King Xin don¡¯t pay with their lives, I will not rest in peace even in death!¡± With that, Bai Qingyan stood up decisively, her spine straight, and walked out of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion. Xiao Rongyan¡¯s deep, dark eyes followed Bai Qingyan¡¯s resolute figure, narrowing slightly¡­ Miss Bai was still the fierce woman who had once ridden a warhorse and cut down enemy troops. To demand King Xin¡¯s life, no one but Miss Bai in all of Dadu City could achieve it. ¡°Miss Bai, where are you taking the military records?¡± King Qi asked anxiously. Standing beneath the plaque of the Duke of Zhen¡¯s mansion, Bai Qingyan in her mourning clothes turned back. Biting her lip, she said, ¡°To the palace gates, to beat the drum of justice! To seek redress for the Bai family! To seek justice for my wronged Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and Brothers!¡± King Qi¡¯s eyes widened, realizing Miss Bai¡­ was about to confront his father! ¡°Eldest Sister! I will go with you!¡± Bai Jintong, in tears, firmly grasped her clothes and stepped over the threshold with determination. Bai Jinxiu, her eyes bloodshot, stood up, biting her lip, ¡°I will go too!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go too!¡± Just as Bai Jinzhi spoke, a loud voice like a bell echoed from behind¡­ ¡°Kid, stop!¡± At these words, she gripped the bamboo slips tightly, her fingers instantly cold, and her body stiffened. Blood ties could make one invincible, but also incredibly weak. Strong as iron, one could be shattered by familial love. But here, in front of these twenty-odd coffins of the Bai family, she would not retreat for her grandmother.Even if her grandmother wanted to stop her, it was too late! In broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of the people of Dadu City, could her grandmother, the esteemed Eldest Princess of the Lin family, lock her back in the rear courtyard? She may be disappointed, her heart may ache, but even if her grandmother, the Eldest Princess, knew the contents of the bamboo slips, knew how her husband, son, and grandsons died, knew how her grandson, Little Seventeen, was decapitated and dismembered, yet still sought to protect the Lin family¡¯s royal authority¡­ Turning her head, her blood-red eyes gazed deeply at the Eldest Princess. Her voice softened, ¡°Grandmother, are you going to stop me?!¡± Seeing her granddaughter¡¯s disappointment and vigilance, the Third Miss was tense and ready to burst with anger. The Eldest Princess couldn¡¯t utter a single word.But she was, after all, the Eldest Princess, strong and dignified to the end. Even in her old age, she carried an increasing air of authority. Despite her weary face and meticulously combed silver hair, her back remained impeccably straight. Tears reddened the Eldest Princess¡¯s eyes. Holding tight to her tiger head cane, supported by Nanny Jiang, she finally walked towards Bai Qingyan. Looking into Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes, her usually gentle voice was now hoarse, ¡°How can the Bai family seek revenge with just a girl at the forefront? I am the Duchess of Zhen¡¯s wife! I am not dead yet! For my husband, my son, and my grandsons, I will seek justice, even if it costs me my life!¡± Unexpected yet completely reasonable. Bai Qingyan¡¯s eyes turned even redder, her heart softened. Compared to losing fathers and brothers, the real pitiable one was her grandmother, the Eldest Princess of the Lin family. Overnight, her husband, son, and grandsons had all perished in the southern frontier, and the wrongdoers were from her own family. It is said that there are three great sorrows in life: losing a parent in youth, a spouse in middle age, and a child in old age.Just pitiable people. She took two steps forward to support the Eldest Princess, choking, ¡°Grandmother¡­ we will go with you!¡±