The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 108

She was already well aware of everything that Aunty Jiang said. It was precisely because she understood it so clearly… that she was willing, for the sake of her grandmother, to restrain her killing intent and spare that illegitimate son’s life.

“I’ll take care of the matter of removing the mother and keeping the son on Grandmother’s behalf, so please don’t let Grandmother worry herself any further,” she said.

“Aunty, Grandmother may be having a hard time… but is Eldest Sister not?” Bai Jinxiu clutched her handkerchief tightly, speaking through tears for Bai Qingyan. “That evil creature left behind by my father is nothing but a disaster if kept in the Bai family! The things he said that day in the middle of the main street, were they not frightening? Keeping him here… Who knows when he will bring calamity upon our household again! When that time comes, will Eldest Sister have to clean up the mess once more? Eldest Sister’s health is already fragile, yet she has exhausted herself for the family. Earlier at Wude Gate, Eldest Sister was struck by the rod. Even now she has not had a moment’s rest for Physician Hong to check her pulse properly. Aunty, don’t you feel any pain for Eldest Sister? Instead, you’re pleading for her to find a way to keep that bastard?”

Bai Jinxiu’s throat tightened, and her tears streamed down her face, “Since childhood, no matter how much pain or injury Eldest Sister suffered, she never once cried out. Does Aunty Jiang truly think Eldest Sister’s body is made of steel and feels no pain?”

Under the lamplight, Aunty Jiang seemed to awaken from a dream. Flustered and anxious, she looked Bai Qingyan up and down, her voice trembling with a sob, “Eldest Miss, Eldest Miss, can you still endure it? It’s this nanny’s fault… it’s this nanny’s fault! I’ll send someone to fetch Physician Hong at once!”

“Physician Hong is currently attending to Ji Tingyu. He lost too much bl00d, I fear…” She pressed her lips together, leaving the rest unsaid. Thinking of how Ji Tingyu, for the sake of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, had cut his arm off again after it had just stopped bleeding, her eyes stung. “I’m fine.”

Compared to Ji Tingyu, what was a single strike to her?!

She squeezed Bai Jinxiu’s hand, comforting her. “The execution officer showed mercy. It was far lighter than the family’s military strikes with the rode. Otherwise, would I still be standing here?”

Hearing the rustling of the beaded curtain swaying inside the room, the maids and old servants quietly retreated from the main chamber.

Aunty Jiang wiped away her tears and lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu. Upon entering, they saw Dong-shi already supporting the Princess Dowager to sit at the round table.

Dong-shi had come to report the sale of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence’s assets to the Princess Dowager, explaining the whole story and how it would be handled. She spoke with clarity and the Princess Dowager, understanding that Dong-shi and Bai Qingyan’s plan was for the sake of ensuring the widows’ livelihood upon returning to Shuoyang, raised no objections. Instead, she admired their decisiveness, no longer worried they would be bullied by the clan once they returned to Shuoyang.

After she finished speaking with Dong-shi, she felt a sense of rely and was about to dine when she heard Aunty Jiang’s words from outside.

The Princess Dowager and Dong-shi stood inside the room, listening for a moment before emerging from behind the beaded curtain.

The Princess Dowager closed her eyes, her fingers moving over her Buddhist prayer beads. The silver strands of hair at her temples gleamed in the candlelight, making her appear even more haggard.

“Ah Bao…” The Princess Dowager extended her beaded hand toward her, eyes reddened.

Bai Qingyan had only just taken a step toward her grandmother when the Princess Dowager pulled her into her arms. The Princess Dowager’s eyes were shut tight, tears streaming down her face. She gritted her teeth and then opened her eyes, her voice commanding, “Take my calling card and summon the imperial physician to examine Ah Bao.”

She must have overheard their conversation just now. Bai Qingyan looked up at the Princess Dowager and said softly, “Grandmother, I’m all right. Please don’t worry.”

“You will do as your grandmother says!” Dong-shi, already beside herself with worry, had eyes red as fire and her handkerchief was nearly torn to shreds. “Why are you trying to act tough in front of your own family?!”

She had only known that the Princess Dowager had taken the children to strike the Drum of Appeal today. Seeing them return unscathed, she had thought that everything went smoothly. She had never imagined her daughter had been struck at Wude Gate. How had no one reported this to her?!

Had she known earlier, how could she have let her daughter work so hard?!

“How can this be nothing?! You’ve been like this since you were little, never admitting pain no matter how much pain you suffer! It’s not until a small ailment becomes a grave one, that you grudgingly admit it after it’s discovered!” The Princess Dowager’s tone was stern. “If you don’t want to worry Grandmother, then let the imperial physician examine you properly!”

Once the matter of summoning the imperial physician was settled, the Princess Dowager steeled her resolve and said decisively, “If that evil creature wants to leave, then let him go. Our Zhenguo Duke’s residence does not need such a worthless descendant.”

Since Bai Qingxuan was the illegitimate son of Bai Jinxiu’s father, guilt rose in Bai Jinxiu’s chest. “Grandmother…”

The Princess Dowager opened her bloodshot eyes, her expression still solemn and dignified. “Even without that evil creature, our Zhenguo Duke’s residence can still count on the child Fifth Daughter-in-Law carries. Even if it’s a girl, can our Bai family’s daughters not uphold our family’s name?! Sit and eat! Aunty Jiang, send someone to call the children from the mourning hall to dinner.”

Looking at the table full of vegetarian dishes, the Princess Dowager spoke in a tone that allowed no argument, “Although we are in the mourning period, the children are still growing. How can they abstain from meat like this old woman?!”

“Grandmother, we are still in mourning…” Bai Jinxiu said, her eyes red.

“How can one have the strength to keep vigil without nourishment? Or to support our Zhenguo Duke’s residence? Filial piety lies in the heart, not in empty formality. It’s all just for show… What meaning is there in keeping up such pretence? Ah Bao’s body is frail, Jinxiu is married and must take care of her health for the future, and your younger sisters are still small. If you truly mourn for three full years, what will become of your bodies? Your health and safety is the greatest act of filial piety toward your grandfather and fathers! There shall be no more discussion. If anyone dares to speak against it… Tell them this old woman ordered you to eat under the name of filial duty!”

The Princess Dowager straightened her back and instructed the maid beside her, “Tell the kitchen to cook noodles for the children in chicken broth, add pickled bamboo shoots and matsutake mushrooms, and poach two eggs! Steam two plates of the Yunnan ham we prepared before the New Year! From tomorrow onwards, the kitchen must not have a shortage of meat broth. Just say that I decreed it!”

“Dear child, Aunt knows you are filial, but your grandmother is right!” Dong-shi patted Bai Jinxiu’s hand. “Your grandfather and father are gone already. Do you mean to sacrifice your health for the sake of filial piety?! Listen to your grandmother!”

After persuading Bai Jinxiu, Dong-shi instructed the maid, “Prepare a bowl of noodles for Second Uncle as well, with some refreshing side dishes. He has worked tirelessly these past few days helping at the Zhenguo Duke’s residence.”

The mourning hall could not be left unattended, so Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi brought their three younger sisters over, while their mother and aunts remained in the hall to keep vigil.

After dinner, the wet nurse led the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Misses back to rest. The Princess Dowager personally oversaw as the imperial physician took Bai Qingyan’s pulse. When he assured them she had no internal injuries, the Princess Dowager finally allowed herself to relax.