The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 11

She stood at the entrance of the Changshou Courtyard, gazing at the plaque in a daze. An indescribable bitterness and loneliness spread throughout her body.

She had originally thought that her grandmother would guard the Bai family as fiercely with her life as she would. However, her grandmother was the Princess Dowager of the Jin Kingdom, with the surname Lin… The Jin Kingdom was the domain of the Lin family!

Chuntao saw Bai Qingyan staring at the plaque of the Changshou Courtyard with red eyes in a trance and thought she was worried about the Princess Dowager’s health. She whispered, “Eldest Miss, the Princess Dowager has great blessings and she will surely recover after the winter.”

Bai Qingyan returned to her senses, gripping her hand warmer tightly and nodded, “Let’s go back.”

Forget it, a story of rebirth was so futile that it did not matter whether grandmother believed it or not. It might make her grandmother more wary of Bai Qingyan, complicating matters even further.

At least, as long as she did not threaten the Lin family’s power over the Jin Kingdom, then she and her grandmother’s positions were aligned when it came to protecting the Bai family.

As Chuntao helped Bai Qingyan into the courtyard, she saw Chunyan standing in the corridor, her face pale, agitated, and pacing back and forth.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s arrival, Chunyan immediately approached. She was clutching a handkerchief and bowed while her eyes turned red from anxiety, “Eldest Miss, Prince Liang was attacked on Chang’an Street today. He’s unconscious and in a critical condition! Please, summon Physician Hong to check on His Highness Prince Liang! Physician Hong is a senior colleague of Physician Huang, the imperial physician, and he has a good reputation. He can definitely save His Highness Prince Liang!”

Chuntao had gone with Bai Qingyan to meet Qin Shangzhi earlier in the day. Hearing Chunyan’s words, her heartbeat raced.

Bai Qingyan’s sharp eyes bore into Chunyan. She wished she could tear Prince Liang apart, and it would be a cheap price to pay for him to die like this. To bother calling for Physician Hong to treat him… It was all just wishful thinking!

“Have you gone mad, Chunyan?! Prince Liang was attacked, so the Imperial Institute of Medicine will take care of him! Why would our Eldest Miss ask for Physician Hong?! Do you want to tarnish her reputation?!” Chuntao scolded harshly.

Chunyan quickly knelt down, her tears streaming down, “Eldest Miss, Chunyan realises her mistake. Chunyan was just concerned for Eldest Miss!”

“The more you talk, the more you sound insane! You…”

Before Chuntao could finish, Bai Qingyan gave Chunyan a cold look, “How about I have you sent to Prince Liang’s residence along with your contract?!”

Chunyan was so shocked her eyes opened wide and she prostrated herself on the ground, “I apologise, Eldest Miss. Please don’t be angry!”

“Chunyan, don’t forget whose servant you are and where your loyalties should lie. I won’t tolerate servants who are disloyal or double-minded!”

With that, Bai Qingyan turned and walked toward the inner room. If Chunyan had not been somewhat useful, she would have dismissed her long ago.

Chuntao shot a fierce glare at Chunyan and quickly caught up with Bai Qingyan to help her with the curtains.

Chunyan, still kneeling in the courtyard, watched Bai Qingyan’s retreating figure, feeling too scared to plead any further. She just kept wiping her tears. She could not understand why her Eldest Miss had become so ruthless. Prince Liang was deeply infatuated with her and now His Highness was in grave danger. Eldest Miss, however, remained indifferent. Had her time on the battlefield truly turned her heart into stone?!

Bai Qingyan had just finished her lunch when Bai Jintong hurriedly arrived at the Qinghui Courtyard. Ignoring the snow on her clothes, she rushed into Bai Qingyan’s room, “Elder Sister!”

Bai Qingyan used a handkerchief to cover her mouth as she spit into a spittoon. She looked at Bai Jington who had shining eyes. A glimmer of happiness warmed her heart. Seeing her third younger sister’s lively smile was truly heartening!

She smiled and asked, “Did you eat with Grandmother?”

Bai Jintong took off her cloak and handed it to her servant who had followed her into the room. She then went straight up to Bai Qingyan, “The rest of you can all leave for now!”

“Chuntao, guard outside…” Bai Qingyan turned and said to Chuntao.

Chuntao nodded and left the inner room along with the maids,

“Elder Sister!” Bai Jintong sat on the stool beside Bai Qingyan. She was so excited as she held Bai Qingyan’s hand, “Grandmother has given me capital and manpower, and she is allowing me to dress as a man and go into business! Grandmother won’t force me to get married anymore!”

The Princess Dowager had decided to bring her grandson back from the rural estate where he had been raised. On the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, she would be taking the Bai sisters to the Qing’an Temple to worship Buddha, praying for the prosperity of the Great Jin Kingdom. During that time, Third Young Miss Bai Jintong would accompany her grandmother, giving her the opportunity to teach her long-concealed grandson who had been concealed for many years.

Bai Qingyan lowered her head, smiling as she rubbed Bai Jintong’s fingers, which had become cold from her running in the wind. She then asked, “What reason did Grandmother give you?”

Bai Jintong happily replied, “Grandmother said that the Bai family has 17 sons and we will have to split our family estate in the future into separate households. I have a talent for business, so she has entrusted me to earn a substantial fortune for our elder and younger brothers! I could see that Grandmother did not explicitly tell the truth, but it doesn’t really matter. I want to be in the world of commerce!”

Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze, thinking back to the moment when her grandmother had questioned her about having rebellious intentions. Her surge of emotions had unintentionally revealed murderous intent. Her eyes reddened and her throat felt tight, almost unable to breathe.

She held back her own pain and poured a cup of hot tea for Bai Jintong, placing it in front of her. She looked up and spoke solemnly, “What I’m about to tell you today, let pass only from my mouth to your ears. Once you’ve heard it, you should have a clear understanding…”

There were certain things that Bai Qingyan could not say to her grandmother. However, she had to tell Bai Jintong, as they were both children of the Bai family. Bai Qingyan firmly believed that Bai Jintong, like herself, would fight to death to protect the Bai family.

Bai Jintong gazed at Bai Qingyan with a serious expression, “Elder Sister, please go ahead.”

“Our grandfather’s great achievements have shocked the ministers. He is straightforward and unyielding, and he has been at odds with the court’s ministers who are constantly by the emperor’s side. His Majesty, influenced by slander, views the Bai family as a dangerous tiger that needs to be eliminated quickly! Our grandfather is in dire straits in Nanjiang…”

Bai Jintong’s hands tightened as she looked at Bai Qingyan, whose eyes were red and filled with deep murderous intent. She was frightened, “Elder Sister?!”

She swallowed hard and squeezed Bai Jintong’s hand tightly, signalling her to listen closely, “Your change of identity and dressing as a man is for your own protection and to secure a future for our Bai family! Why is that foreign wealthy businessman, Xiao Rongyan, treated as an honoured guest at the imperial court of our Great Jin Kingdom? As a guest of the aristocratic families? Because his wealth is invaluable… it gives him the power that transcends the sky.”

Bai Jingtong originally just wanted to use her business talents. The weight of her new responsibilities suddenly weighed heavily on her shoulders and she found it hard to catch her breath.

Bai Qingyan’s voice was hoarse as she continued, “The Bai family is a prestigious clan, and we are not lacking in wealth or material possessions. What we lack is an escape route. With our grandmother inside the palace and you handling affairs outside, how far can you go with your talents? Your fate will be the Bai family’s fate. Elder Sister hopes you understand the gravity of this situation.”

Bai Jintong clenched her fists, her earlier exuberance when she rushed into Qinghui Courtyard now replaced with a sense of solemn duty. She stood up and bowed respectfully to Bai Qingyan, “Elder Sister, rest assured, I will give my all!”

Bai Jintong left Bai Qingyan’s room with a heavy heart. Her personal maid quickly stepped forward to drape a cloak over her. She looked down at the ground sluggishly.

Elder Sister was always cautious and careful. She would never act aimlessly…

Standing outside Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jintong stared at the magnificent architecture of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence and broke out in cold sweat. The reputation of the Bai family in the capital had blinded her and everyone in the Bai family. If not for her elder sister’s insight, she would never have thought that their Zhenguo Duke’s household would cause His Majesty to be afraid.

After Chuntao sent Bai Jintong away, she lifted the bead curtain and was about to go back inside. However, she noticed two young maids at the door from who knew where… They had somehow dug out a bag of sandbags that had long been put away by the house stewardess.

Chuntao frowned and glanced back at the main building, then she walked down the steps quickly with her skirts in hand. She lowered her voice to ask, “Why did you bring these out?”

Ever since Bai Qingyan’s injury, Bai Qingyan’s mother, Dong-shi, had feared that these items would upset her daughter and had the house stewardess of Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Tong, put them away.

“What did they bring out?”

Dong-shi entered Qinghui Courtyard with the support of Aunty Qin.

“Madam!” Chuntao hastily curtsied.