The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 1

Bai Qingyan finished drinking a bowl of bitter medicine, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and sat back against the head of the bed. She gazed absentmindedly at the white jade vase with red plum blossoms.

She had clearly died, so how come she opened her eyes and found herself back on the fourteenth day of the 12th month in the 15th year of Xuanjia?

She remembered that on the 15th day of the 12th month, her younger sister Bai Jinxiu got married. The eldest son of the Zhongyong Marquis’s household had arrived half an hour early to greet his wife. All 17 sons of the Zhenguo Duke’s household had all gone to the southern frontier battlefield. The elder relatives who were supposed to block the door were preoccupied gambling with crickets in a secluded corner of the backyard. No one was at the gate, so Bai Jinxiu left an hour earlier than planned.

It had been this one hour too early that led to the wedding procession encountering those attempting to assassinate Prince Liang. When Bai Jinxiu heard that Prince Liang was attacked, she rushed to protect him but tragically lost her life in the knife attack.

Thinking of Prince Liang…

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and gripped the bed sheets tightly beneath her, her breath unsteady.

Her mind was filled with memories of before her death, of Prince Liang’s indifferent and playful gaze, and his sharp and awe-inspiring features.

He had crouched in front of Bai Qingyan whose body was weak and covered in blood, unable to even lift his head, and talked a lot.

He spoke of how he had conspired with his grandfather’s vice-general, Liu Huanzhang, to massacre all the males in the Bai family, how he used Bai Qingyan’s handwriting to forge a letter confirming the Bai family’s treason, and how he forced the orphans of the Bai family to a dead end…

In her past life, she was foolish enough to believe that Prince Liang had unparalleled affection for her, and that the reason he ascended to power was to vindicate the Bai family. She willingly served him like a loyal slave, earning unparalleled military achievements for him, promoting his reputation as a war god, and helping him ascend to the position of Crown Prince.

Yet, not only had he killed her grandfather, father, and brothers, he did not spare her sisters either. Thinking of the tragic fate of her seven sisters at the hands of Crown Prince Liang, Bai Qingyan’s blood surged to her heart and her stomach churned with pain. She wished she could tear apart Crown Prince Liang, that heartless and unscrupulous beast.

“Eldest Miss…” The eldest maid, Chuntao, softly called Bai Qingyan. She held a tray with medicine and whispered, “Mr. Hong’s prescribed medicine is effective, but it’s too bitter! Eldest Miss, have a piece of preserved fruit to cleanse your palate.”

Bai Qingyan picked up a piece of ginger-flavoured preserved plum and put it into her bitter mouth. She gazed at Chuntao, who had placed a soft pillow behind her. Chuntao was the daughter of her mother’s wet nurse, Ms Nanny Dong. She had been by Bai Qingyan’s side since childhood, serving her faithfully.

“Second Miss, the road is slippery in this heavy snow. Why did you come here?”

In the courtyard came the voice of the lady-in-waiting with a cautiously flattering tone.

In the warm pavilion, Chunyan, who was about to bend down to adjust the charcoal fire, put down the tongs in her hand and lifted the curtain to greet the Second Miss. Her tone was unpleasant, “Second Miss.”

Bai Jinxiu, the Second Miss of the Bai family, stepped onto the platform. She untied her cloak and softly asked Chunyan, who was greeting her, “Is the Eldest Miss feeling better now?”

“Thanks to Second Miss’s blessings, Eldest Miss is doing well! Second Miss is getting married to the Zhongyong Marquis’ family tomorrow and there are many important matters waiting for Second Miss. Why has Second Miss bothered coming to our Qinghui Courtyard on such a snowy day instead of preparing urgently?”

Chunyan was unhappy in her heart, so her words were sharp and pointed.

Originally, their Eldest Missy was engaged to the Zhongyong Marquis’s heir. However, because the Eldest Miss suffered injuries and fell seriously ill after going to the battlefield with the Duke when she was 16 years old, the engagement with the Zhongyong Marquis’s heir was transferred to the Second Miss. How could Chunyan accept this in her heart?

Upon hearing this, Chuntao glanced towards the screen and adjusted the brocade quilt for Bai Qingyan. She asked, “Eldest Miss, Second Miss has come to see you. Do you want to see her?”

She clenched her fist tightly, recalling what Prince Liang said to her in her past life. He had spared her life because on the day Bai Jinxiu left to be married, she took a strike with a sword for him. Bai Jinxiu begged him before dying to protect Bai Qingyan during his lifetime and not to betray her.

Her heart felt sour, and in a hoarse voice, she instructed, “Go and welcome the Second Miss.”

Chuntao responded affirmatively and came out from the main room.She clasped her hands together and politely welcomed the Second Miss. She said, “Eldest Miss just took medicine and her complexion has improved. I was asked to welcome Second Miss. Please come in!”

Chuntao personally lifted the curtain on the door for the Second Miss, Bai Jinxiu.

Bai Jinxiu entered the room where the warmth rushed towards her. Afraid that the cold air would affect Bai Qingyan, she stood by the brazier at the entrance and warmed herself. Only then did she walk around the screen towards the inner room and said, “Elder Sister…”

Seeing Bai Jinxiu’s beautiful and clean face again, feelings of shame and guilt
surged in her heart. It was because of her indecisiveness towards Prince Liang in the past that Bai Jinxiu mistakenly believed she had feelings for him. She had fought desperately to protect this evil and cruel creature who had brought disaster upon the Bai family. She felt ashamed towards Bai Jinxiu and the Bai family.

Chuntao asked a maid to bring a stool for Bai Jinxiu and placed it by the bed. Before Bai Jinxiu could sit down, Bai Qingyan, with a bitter expression and red eyes, waved Bai Jinxiu over and said, “Jinxiu… Come here!”

Bai Jinxiu picked up her skirt and sat down on the edge of Bai Qingyan’s bed. She felt like Bai Qingyan was burdened with the weariness of an old person. Worried, she held Bai Qingyan’s hand and asked, “Elder Sister, is it because of tomorrow…?”

Before Bai Jinxiu could finish speaking, she shook her head and choked up, saying, “Jinxiu, Elder Sister hopes that you can promise her, no matter what situation you encounter in the future, you must take care of yourself, understand?”

“Elder Sister?” Bai Jinxiu was confused.

“Promise Elder Sister!” She held Bai Jinxiu’s hand tightly.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan’s breath was unsteady, Bai Jinxiu hurriedly nodded and said, “Jinxiu understands, Elder Sister!”

The next day, Bai Jinxiu had many trivial matters to attend to for her marriage. She only sat briefly by Bai Qingyan’s side before getting up and leaving.

After seeing off Bai Jinxiu, Bai Qingyan dismissed all the maids and lay on the bed. She repeatedly pondered over the issue of Prince Liang and the Bai family, feeling as if it were a chilling nightmare.

Starting from the death of her second sister Bai Jinxiu, the Bai family began to be pushed into the abyss.

It was as if heaven had eyes, allowing her to return to the day before her younger sister’s marriage. In any case, she could not let Bai Jinxiu and the Bai family meet the same fate as in her previous life.

Tomorrow, when Bai Jinxiu leaves the family to marry, she must be fully prepared. In case those unreliable cousins cause trouble, there must be someone to handle it.

Also, there was the matter of Prince Liang being assassinated on Chang’an Street. IWhen the case was closed in the previous life, it was said to be the work of the Nanyan assassins

However, thinking carefully now, Prince Liang had a reputation for being weak and incompetent. To have the Nanyan assassins go through great difficulties to infiltrate the capital to assassinate him, what was so worth this?

In addition, she needed to send someone reliable to go to Nanjiang. If there was a chance to save her grandfather and father, they would be the best chance. If not… She must collect evidence in advance to avoid giving Prince Liang an opportunity to frame the Bai family.

She was afraid she could not hide from her grandmother the matters of the Bai family’s sons being almost wiped out and the situation in Nanjiang. She must find a way to prepare her grandmother in advance.

Like this… When the frontline war report reached the capital, her grandmother would not be overwhelmed and would give it up.

As long as the Bai family still has their grandmother, who was a close aunt to His Majesty, they would not be as passive as they were in the previous life.

Bai Qingyan’s body was still weak and her mind was overburdened with thoughts. A wave of fatigue hit her and she half-dreamed of her grandfather, father, and her 17 brothers.

She dreamt of her grandmother’s last moments, holding her and her mother’s hands as tears streamed down her face, saying that she was useless… and that she could not hold on during the most difficult time for the Bai family but had to go and find her grandfather first! She entrusted the responsibility of protecting the Bai family’s widows to her mother, Ms Nanny Dong, and Bai Qingyan, hoping they would not let her down.

“Grandmother!” She exclaimed and sat up abruptly, her chest rising and falling intensely.

Seeing herself still on the bed in Qinghui Courtyard, her almost bursting heart gradually calmed down. Her snow white undergarment was drenched in cold sweat, and tears also covered the embroidered pillow.

She closed her eyes and thought of the scenes in her dream just now. She dared not delay any longer… She must quickly arrange what needed to be arranged.

She forced herself to gather her spirits and lifted the brocade quilt, hoarsely calling out, “Chuntao…”