The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 12

Dong-shi had remarkably exquisite facial features and a dignified and regal demeanour. It was befitting of the mistress of the household, exuding grace and authority without anger.

The two little maids were startled and quickly bowed, saying, “Madam, Eldest Miss instructed us to fetch the sandbags she used to practise martial arts during her childhood.”

Dong-shi furrowed her brows but said nothing, heading towards the main building.

Chuntao hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain for Dong-shi.

When Dong-shi entered, she saw Bai Qingyan reclining on a cushion and loosening her cloak. She took the food box from a maid and approached Bai Qingyan, asking, “Is Ah Bao feeling tired?!”

She was exhausted after talking to Bai Jingtong so much.

Thinking about her grandmother’s unwavering loyalty to the Great Jin imperial family, Bai Qingyan’s heart felt even more painful. Based on Bai Qingyan’s understanding of her grandmother… Had she uttered a single word of dissent at that time, she might have been instantly sent to a temple and locked away forever, never to see daylight again.

When Bai Qingyan saw her mother, an overwhelming mixture of emotions built up inside. She almost cried on the spot and wished she could throw herself into her mother’s arms.

She managed to hold back the painful and fiery emotions in her heart and put on a smile as she rose to greet her mother, “With such heavy snowfall, why did Mother come here?”

Helping Dong-shi to settle on the soft couch, she stood at her mother’s side, holding onto her hand tightly. Her eyes reddened. “Second Sister is getting married and Mother has been working so hard. Why don’t you rest a bit?”

“It’s been busy lately and Mother couldn’t find a spare moment to come and accompany Ah Bao!” Dong-shi gently stroked her daughter’s dark hair, “Come, have a seat! Mother prepared some black silkie chicken soup for you!”

She nodded and took a seat on the other side of the small table, watching as Dong-shi opened the food box and placed a bowl of soup in front of her. She scooped up some with a small spoon and tasted it. Her long eyelashes hung low to conceal her reddened eyes beneath.

It was wonderful that Mother was still here!

Bai Qingyan felt a slight stinging in her nose and a tear dropped into the soup. She quickly lowered her head even further, afraid that Dong-shi would notice.

“Why did you ask the little maids from the courtyard to take out the sandbags?” Dong-shi asked in a low voice.

Bai Qingyan kept her head down, not daring to look up. She took another sip of the soup and said, “My health hasn’t been improving, and I’ve spent a lot of time lying in bed in the past two years. I wanted to do some exercise…”

“It’s good to want to exercise, but in this severe winter, you should take it easy! It won’t be too late to wait for spring when it’s warm and the flowers bloom!” Dong-shi persuaded her with a frown.

When her daughter was young, she had been raised by the duke as if she were a son, practising military drills every day with the sandbags, doing horse stances, and enduring countless hardships.

Dong-shi was already heartbroken about this in the past when Bai Qingyan was in good health, let alone now when her health was not well. How could Dong-shi bear to let her daughter experience the hardships she endured as a child?

Bai Qingyan felt warmth in her heart and smiled as she raised her head, “Mother, I know my limits and won’t overexert myself. Besides, practising calligraphy while having sandbags tied to my wrists indoors won’t expose me to the cold.”

“That’s still too hard! Mother is worried that your body can’t handle it…”

She gazed at Dong-shi with a smile in her eyes. She pretended to be scalded and began coughing heavily, tears streaming down her face, unable to bear the discomfort in her heart.

“Hurry, get some water for your mistress!” Dong-shi quickly got up and went behind Bai Qingyan to help soothe her breath, “You’re a grown woman, how did you choke on your soup like this?!”

Bai Qingyan did not want her mother to worry, so she raised her head, took the handkerchief Chuntao offered, and wiped away her tears. She smiled and said, “Mother, I’ve been injured and left with no martial skills, but you can’t treat me like a sick child. I am the eldest daughter of the Zhenguo Duke, and I need to set an example for my younger siblings.”

These were the words spoken by the Zhenguo Duke when he was educating Bai Qingyan.

Dong-shi pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped Bai Qingyan’s mouth. She sighed and said, “In the entire capital city… Our Zhenguo Duke’s daughters probably have it the hardest!”

“With Mother making soup for me, I won’t suffer!” Bai Qingyan held Dong-shi’s hand and placed her cheek in her mother’s hand, rubbing it affectionately and reluctant to let go.

Bai Qingyan had been raised under the tutelage of the Princess Dowager and the Zhenguo Duke from a young age, making her mature and composed. Even when she was young, she rarely displayed this kind of affectionate coquettishness towards Dong-shi.

Today, her sudden display of affection and coquettishness brought tears to Dong-shi’s eyes. She chuckled and playfully poked Bai Qingyan’s head with her finger, “The older you get, the more childish you become. You’re even acting cute with Mother!”

“Mother, no matter how old I get, I will always be your daughter…” Bai Qingyan replied affectionately, her heart welling up with emotion.

In this lifetime, she would never let her mother reach the point of having to suicide, even if was splintered into smithereens!

The maids and servants in the room had never seen Bai Qingyan act so coquettish before, and they could not help but stifle their laughter behind their handkerchiefs.

“As if I still don’t know that you want me to let you fool around!” Dong-shi tossed the handkerchief aside and took a seat at the small table on the other side. She pushed the soup towards Bai Qingyan and sighed, “Fine, fine, if you want to practise, then practise. Just remember not to overexert yourself and don’t force it!”

Bai Qingyan nodded obediently, “I understand.”

Dong-shi noticed that the house steward, Aunty Tong, who usually looked after Bai Qingyan’s room in the Qinghui Courtyard, was not present and asked, “Has Aunty Tong not returned yet?”

“Aunty Tong’s son was seriously injured this time. Before lunch, I sent some silver to her through Chuntao and passed on the message to Aunty Tong that she should wait for her son to recover from his injuries before coming back to work.”

They were both mothers. Dong-shi nodded and added, “It won’t do for your room to have no stewardess. While Aunty Tong is away, you should…”

“Mother, even though Aunty Tong isn’t here, Chuntao is steady and experienced. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity and let Chuntao gain more experience. You don’t have to worry about what’s happening in your daughter’s room!”

Upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Chuntao was pleasantly surprised. She quickly bowed and said, “Eldest Miss trusts me. This servant will not let her down.”

Dong-shi nodded, “Chuntao is indeed reliable.”

“Madam is too kind. This servant is humbled,” Chuntao replied with increased respect and humility.

Dong-shi turned back to look at Bai Qingyan, who was smiling at the corner of her lips. She thought of Bai Jinxiu’s grand wedding today. Her own daughter’s wedding day was still far away. Her heart was filled with unbearable sadness. She was afraid that her daughter would see her sadness and become sad herself. So Dong-shi only sat for a while before leaving.

Early the next morning at the break of dawn when the roosters crowed, a cleaning maid came out of the room carrying a wooden basin, breathing heavily. She saw Bai Qingyan in the courtyard doing the horse stance. She was so startled that she gasped and quickly curtseyed, “Eldest Miss!”

“Do what you’re supposed to do and mind your mouth!” Chuntao instructed.

Bai Qingyan was dressed in lightweight training clothes. Beads of sweat dripped from her chin and her body was radiating heat. Chuntao looked worried as she stood beside Bai Qingyan but dared not say anything. She anxiously twisted the handkerchief in her hands, frequently checking the hourglass, hoping for the time to pass quicker.

Bai Qingyan was drenched in sweat and her clothes were half-soaked. She had only been doing the horse stance for half an hour. She had not even started using the sandbags yet and it felt like she had already reached her limit.

To regain her lost martial skills, Bai Qingyan had to endure the hardships she experienced during her childhood once again. No matter how difficult it was, she had to persevere!

In her previous life, she had endured much greater suffering to be able to wear armour and fight in battle again. She had almost died several times but had persevered through sheer hatred.

In this life, her beloved family was still alive. She would endure a thousand times more suffering than in her previous life. She would hold on, must hold on, and must not be a useless bystander when the Bai family was in trouble, and not wait until she had seen everyone in her family die before she tried her best to regain her martial arts skills.

The heavens had taken pity on her and sent her back to a full Bai family, but it was not just to let her have the Bai family collapse in front of her again.

With a resolute heart and unwavering determination, Bai Qingyan took a deep breath and relied on her willpower to persevere.

When an hour was up, Chuntao hurriedly ran to Bai Qingyan and gently supported her up, saying, “Eldest Miss, it’s been an hour!”

Bai Qingyan’s entire body was soaked, her legs wobbly as if made of mud. She almost stumbled when she tried to stand.

“Eldest Miss, be careful!” Chuntao said, her eyes red from distress.

“Have someone prepare some water!” Bai Qingyan said in a hoarse voice.

“Yes…” Chuntao replied.