The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 102

Seeing Bai Qingyan nod, Dong-shi patted her daughter’s hand, her eyes full of heartache. If her daughter’s grandfather, father, and brothers were still alive, how would it fall upon a young daughter to exhaust herself for the family’s future?
She smiled and lightly squeezed Dong-shi’s hand. “Mother knows everything in her heart, and there is nothing a daughter can hide from mother.”
“But this wealthy merchant of Great Wei, Xiao Rongyan, can he really buy up so many shops and farmland in one go?” Dong-shi calculated carefully, gripping her daughter’s hand. “This is no small sum!”
“That’s what I wanted to tell Mother. I’ll have Chen Qingsheng go and speak with Xiao Rongyan, but in this matter it’s only to borrow his name. The money will be put forth by our Zhenguo Duke’s residence. Only in this way can all the shops and farmland under the name of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence be transferred in private, but still held in your hands.” Bai Qingyan looked at Dong-shi. “The only thing is… I don’t know whether our Zhenguo Duke’s residence can afford to give 450,000 taels for the clan right now?”
Dong-shi paused in her steps when she heard Bai Qingyan’s words, recalling what her younger brother Dong Qingyue had told her yesterday… that the reason Prince Xin’s carriage axle broke was precisely because of the guard at Xiao Rongyan’s side, who was highly skilled in martial arts. Today too, Xiao Rongyan had come to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence early to pay his respects, and again it was the guard at Xiao Rongyan’s side who had rescued Fourth Sister-in-Law when she tried to throw herself against the coffin.
She gripped her daughter’s hand tightly. “You and Xiao Rongyan, have you met in private? Have you… had contact?! Tell Mother the truth!”
Dong-shi’s questions came like a barrage of arrows. The more she thought, the more it made sense. Although merchants were ranked last in the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, craftsman, and merchant, the Jin Kingdom merchants were not so lowly that merchants were considered inferior. Moreover, Xiao Rongyan was not only handsome and elegant, but his scholarly grace was also outstanding! As for her daughter, needless to say, her character and bearing were undoubtedly exceptional. Could it be that the two of them… had already developed feelings for one another?! Otherwise, why would Bai Qingyan be so certain that Xiao Rongyan would help the Zhenguo Duke’s residence?
If Bai Qingyan truly had feelings for Xiao Rongyan, then Dong-shi would need to make other plans. The method she had discussed with Grand Madam Dong could no longer be used.
Her daughter’s safety was the most important, but beyond that, it was also important that her daughter live a fulfilling and content life.
Right now, the Bai family stood backed by the people of the capital, so for the time being the emperor would not move against the Zhenguo Duke’s residence. If her daughter truly had feelings for this merchant, then she needed to begin planning now. Only after testing Xiao Rongyan’s character and finding it upright and trustworthy would she dare entrust her daughter to him.
How could a man of Xiao Rongyan’s bearing be merely a merchant?! If her daughter were to marry him, it would not only be considered a low match. In the eyes of the world, it would be seen as self-degradation, self-deprecation of her own will!
It would not make sense for ordinary families of nobility and distinction to marry a daughter into a merchant’s household, let alone for a century-old aristocratic house of such glory and renown as the Zhenguo Duke’s residence.
In just a brief moment, Dong-shi’s mind was already churning with thoughts.
Bai Qingyan, seeing Dong-shi’s expression shift ceaselessly, spoke openly, “Today, when I went to Zheliu Pavilion outside the city to see someone off, I chanced upon Xiao Rongyan and exchanged a few words. However, the reason I asked Chen Qingsheng to find Xiao Rongyan for this matter wasn’t because I believed that just by meeting him a few times and saying a couple of words, I could gain such a favour from Xiao Rongyan.”
She supported her mother as they walked forward, whispering to Dong-shi, “Ever since Xiao Rongyan entered the capital, Mother has surely noticed his lavish spending habits. What he seeks is to make a name for himself in this capital, and even in the Jin Kingdom, to turn the title of Great Wei’s foremost wealthy merchant into the wealthiest merchant in the world, and to let the world know there is such a person as Xiao Rongyan!”
“And now, with the Zhenguo Duke’s residence being the focus of the entire kingdom within Jin, for Xiao Rongyan… What could possibly help him achieve his aim quicker than swallowing up all the shops and farmland held by the Zhenguo Duke’s residence in one go?”
When Bai Qingyan had stood under the corridor earlier, she had already thought it all through. Why was it that at the palace banquet Xiao Rongyan had said he would not leave until after the Lantern Festival in the capital? He simply wanted to use the Lantern Festival, a time when scholars from around the world gathered in the capital, to showcase his wealth and establish his reputation as the world’s wealthiest merchant.
But now, because of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence’s funeral, this expectation would likely fall through.

Since that was the case, Bai Qingyan would present the opportunity to Xiao Rongyan. A person as intelligent as Xiao Rongyan would definitely not miss this chance, one that could both showcase his wealth to the world… and also make the Zhenguo Duke’s residence owe him a favour.

Dong-shi looked at her daughter’s eyes, sharp yet restrained, and grasped her icy-cold hand, asking, “This Mr Xiao… whether in appearance or in character, he is outstanding among the crowd. You, towards him…”

She was momentarily stunned by her mother’s words. When she finally came back to her senses, she was rendered both exasperated and amused by her mother, “Mother, what are you thinking? I am well aware of what kind of person I am. In this life, I have already resolved to stay by Mother’s side. Besides, our Zhenguo Duke’s residence is struggling at every step now. Where would there be any room for me to indulge in such girlish thoughts?”

Before Dong-shi could speak, she added, “Mother, no matter what, let us wait until the mourning period for Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and my younger brothers is over before we discuss it.”

Dong-shi’s eyes reddened, and she choked back a sob as she nodded.

“First Madam, Eldest Miss.”

They saw elderly Mr Gu, supported by a servant boy, walk out. After bowing, he anxiously asked, “Where’s Fourth Master Qiyun from the clan? Has he left?””

Elderly Mr Gu was a loyal servant of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence. Since the time of her great-grandfather, generation after generation of Mr Gu’s family had served in the residence, devoting themselves tirelessly.

All these years, Elderly Mr Gu had been in charge of the most important accounts of the residence, overseeing the allocation of funds. Therefore, whether within the Zhenguo Duke’s residence or among the Shuoyang clan, Elderly Mr Gu was highly respected.

Just now, when Bai Qiyun had arrogantly come to confront Dong-shi, Aunty Qin had quietly sent someone to fetch Elderly Mr Gu to stabilise the situation. Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan had arrived shortly after and resolved the matter, so Elderly Mr Gu ended up coming a step late.

“Just now, Mother has agreed to the request raised by the clan, intending to sell off all the shops and farms currently owned by the Zhenguo Duke’s residence to gather this sum of money. Eldest Uncle has already gone ahead to the front to pay respects to Grandfather and Father before the spirit tablets,” Bai Qingyan said respectfully to the elder.

“This old one shall go reason with them!” Elderly Mr Gu leaned on his cane and, trembling all over, nonetheless strode quickly toward the front hall.

“Elderly Mr Gu…”

Dong-shi was about to call him back, but Bai Qingyan grasped her hand. She looked deeply at the elder’s back, then withdrew her gaze and, calm and steady, said to Dong-shi, “Mother, let Elderly Mr Gu go add fuel to the fire. That’s just right!”

The sun had already set, withdrawing the last trace of afterglow from the horizon.

At the mourning hall in the front courtyard, under the flickering candlelight, Bai Qiyun finally kowtowed properly.

He knelt on the prayer mat and said, “Eldest Uncle, younger cousins, though you have gone, Younger Sister-in-Law keeps her word. Previously, Eldest Uncle had promised to the clan to repair the ancestral hall, the ancestral temple, the ancestral tombs, and the school. These matters, Younger Sister-in-Law has now agreed to undertake!”

Upon hearing these words, Bai Jinzhi, just as Bai Qingyan had instructed, angrily retorted, “What?! Eldest Aunt agreed?!”