The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 17

Already on the carriage, Bai Qingyan held a hand warmer and peeked through the carriage curtain at the seemingly gentle and weak Jiang-shi. She could not help but sneer.

The words were spoken so beautifully, appearing submissive while covertly accusing them of being too overbearing. A playful mishap between sisters-in-law resulting in a fall into the lake was turned into a tale of the four young ladies from the Zhenguo Duke’s residence. Not only did they unjustly whip the two young ladies from the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, they were also acting unreasonably… On such a snowy day, they were forcefully moving the newlywed and injured lady back to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence.

“She’s spouting nonsense!”

The fourth miss, Bai Jinzhi, clutched her whip and was about to get off the carriage but she was held back by her third sister, Bai Jintong.

“The Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam is a noble lady of high rank. If you impulsively whip the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam at the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, not only would it not benefit you, but your reputation would also be ruined!” Bai Jintong patted Bai Jinzhi’s hand and said, “Sit tight in the carriage; I’ll go to the eldest sister’s carriage to discuss with her!”

Second Madam Liu-shi, who was about to board the carriage, spoke with a trembling and emotional voice, full of anger, “My daughter has only been married into your residence for three days! She’s almost lost her life! How can I dare to let my daughter stay in the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence which is like a den of wolves?”

Zhongyong Marquis Qin Dezhao had not even reached the door when he heard his wife’s apologetic tone while bowing and scraping. He also saw Second Madam Liu-shi being so aggressive, describing their residence as a den of wolves. Unable to contain his anger, he picked up his robe and stepped out of the residence.

“Second Madam, could it be that you’ve forgotten that Bai Jinxiu has already married into my Marquis’ residence?!” Qin Dezhao stood with his hands behind his back, his face stern and dark, looking quite intimidating.

Afraid that Liu-shi might impulsively say something that would give others an opportunity, Aunty Jiang stepped forward and bowed, but she had yet to speak when the clear voice of Bai Qingyan echoed…

“Marquis’ Madam can turn lies into truth with one eloquent mouth… Twisting murder into playfulness! Forced by circumstances, we had to move Second Younger Sister back home on this snowy day. Madam has glib lips, becoming so atrociously overbearing! Truly eye-opening.”

Bai Jintong watched as Chuntao parted the curtain and assisted Bai Qingyan down from the carriage, then stood quietly beside it.

The Zhongyong Marquis Qin Dezhao clenched his fists behind his back. He gazed intensely at Bai Qingyan who was striding over steadily. “Eldest Miss Bai, be careful of your words.”

Aunty Jiang hurried forward to support Bai Qingyan, protecting her from the side.

Second Madam Liu-shi’s eyes reddened and she said angrily, “Zhongyong Marquis, your two daughters are truly formidable! They inflicted such severe injuries on my daughter, causing a massive wound on her head, even pushing her into the water in the middle of winter! What kind of resentment is this, to ruthlessly try to murder my daughter like beasts?!”

Qin Dezhao turned to look at Jiang-shi who had a pale face. She shook her head hurriedly. Qin Dezhao then faced Second Madam Liu and asked, “Second Madam, could there be a misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding my foot!” Second Madam Liu-shi was so furious that she used vulgar language and pointed accusingly at Jiang-shi, tears streaming down her face. She seemed eager to tear her apart, “Ask your esteemed wife! The mischievous servants around her have already admitted that your two daughters harmed my daughter. But she shamelessly twisted it around and said lightly that her daughter-in-law fell into the water while playing! While my daughter was unconscious, she nabbed my daughter’s bridal dowry and sold all the maids accompanying my daughter, and now, at a time when my daughter needs care the most, she doesn’t even have a serving maid by her side. This is clearly an attempt on my daughter’s life!”

Madam Liu was so agitated that she clutched her chest while speaking. Her eyes were filled with hatred, “Is this even a Marquis’ residence? It’s simply a demonic pit that kills people! I must have been blind to let my daughter enter this firepit Zhongyong Marquis’ residence! Are you people even human? You’re nothing more than a group of savage wolves!”

“Second Madam! Bai Jinxiu slipped and fell into the water, then fainted. No one wished for that!” Qin Dezhao’s anger flared suddenly, “I respect you as my in-laws, but if you continue to use such harsh words, don’t blame me for being rude!”

“Marquis…” Bai Qingyan had a sullen expression and spoke slowly, “My younger sister is agile in the water, and there are hardly any people in the entire capital who can compare with her. Yet she fell into the water and lost consciousness? Does Marquis not find this absurd?”

Qin Dezhao was filled with irritation, “Regardless of what you say, Second Miss Bai is now the daughter-in-law of my Zhongyong Marquisate and a member of my Qin family! For your Bai family to take her away as you please, do you think my marquisate is something to be trifled with?!”

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes, showing a hint of hostility, “As Marquis said… Second Sister is now a member of the Zhongyong Marquisate after marrying into it. But Second Sister is seriously injured by the two young ladies of the Zhongyong Marquisate. If the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence does not care about it, shouldn’t we as the maternal family be concerned? Shouldn’t our grandmother, the Princess Dowager, be concerned? Is this a marriage… Or a threat to life?!”

“This is utter nonsense!” Qin Dezhao’s face turned livid with anger.

“Since Marquis says I’m spouting nonsense, would you dare to have your two young ladies swear an oath with their lives, declaring that they didn’t cause a bloody wound on Second Sister’s forehead, that they didn’t push her into the water…” Bai Qingyan, calm and composed, walked up the steps of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence. She locked eyes with Qin Dezhao. Her momentum became more compelling with each word. “Dare have Marquis’ Madam swear an oath, stating that she didn’t touch Second Sister’s dowry and sell off the maids accompanying her? That if any oath is falsely sworn, then may the entire family suffer an ill-fated end, covered in festering sores and rot away?!”

The Marquis’ Madam Jiang-shi was frightened by Bai Qingyan’s fierce aura that had been tempered on the battlefield, and pulled Qin Dezhao’s sleeve, “Marquis…”

“Does Marquis’ Madam and the two young ladies dare to accept this oath? If Marquis’ Madam and the two young ladies utter the word ‘dare’, then I, Bai Qingyan, will drink poison today as an apology to the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence!”

Bai Qingyan’s words were steady and swift, succinctly exposing the truth. The onlookers murmured in response.

“Ah, meddling with the daughter-in-law’s dowry, that’s plotting for wealth and murder!”

“Indeed! Who would have thought that the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence would behave like this!”

“I heard they even have a legitimate young master in their marquisate. Whoever marries their daughter into the Zhongyong Marquisate would have an eight-generation-long streak of bad luck.”

Hearing about the incident, Qin Lang was hurrying back on horseback from the Fanxing Restaurant. From a distance, he saw the carriages, horses, and onlookers in front of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence gate. He happened to hear Bai Qingyan’s words, causing his heart to race and he hesitated, not daring to move forward.

The Zhongyong Marquis Qin Dezhao clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he said forcefully, “You ladies from the Bai family are acting so recklessly within the Marquis’ residence, lacking in self-cultivation and the virtues expected of women. You play with knives and swords all day long! Now, you’re even poking your noses into other people’s houses and publicly slandering your elders, not even afraid that others will attack the Zhenguo Duke. The Zhenguo Duke’s eldest son indulges his daughters in such an unruly manner, raising them but not teaching them?!”

Bai Jinzhi and Bai Jintong were both furious. Bai Jinzhi was already stepping out of the carriage. If it were not for Bai Jintong holding her back, Bai Jinzhi might not have been able to resist confronting the Zhongyong Marquis with a whip.