The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 18

Bai Qingyan’s steady and clear eyes glared at the Zhongyong Marquis Qin Dezhao. She furiously and loudly declared, “If anyone wishes to criticise my grandfather and father, then feel free to do so! The daughters of my Bai family may not follow conventional women’s virtues and teachings. Instead, what we have learned is how to protect the country… the abilities to fight alongside thousands of troops in bloody battles! We learned to wrap a corpse in horsehide after death on the battlefield and sacrifice our lives, and the unwavering loyalty and bravery that will never cause humiliation to the people and emperor of the Jin Kingdom! The daughters of my Bai family are worthy of heaven and will not submit to others! If acting with integrity, disdainful of the dirty tactics of scheming in the backyard, is considered arrogant, then I, Bai Qingyan, will not only show arrogance today… I will become even more arrogant in the future!”

“Good!”

“Well said, acting with integrity and being forthright! The entire Zhenguo Duke’s family… Whether men or women, truly possesses an unwavering backbone and noble character!”

Some people could not help but applaud.

For a moment, the onlookers recalled the fact that the Zhenguo Duke’s daughters had once fought bravely on the battlefield during times of national crisis.

They thought of the Zhenguo Duke who was currently engaged in battle in Nanjiang, bringing with him all the Bai family men to the warfront to protect their home and country!

It had been more than half a year since the Zhenguo Duke set out for the expedition to Nanjiang. However, the people would never forget the grand scene when the Bai family’s sons were sent off to war. The Zhenguo Duke’s mansion was full of loyal and upright people. Standing there in military attire, the Bai family’s men all showed an unyielding righteous spirit.

The people, unable to bear the current situation, whispered among themselves.

“This Zhongyong Marquis’ residence is just bullying them while all the men in the Zhenguo Duke’s family are away!”

“So damn shameless. They’re able to enjoy peace and prosperity in the capital all thanks to the Bai family’s men shedding blood in Nanjiang. Where do they find the audacity to bully the Zhenguo Duke’s daughters!”

“They say that Bai family women lack women’s virtues and teachings and just play with knives and swords, but how many women with women’s virtues and teachings can actually step onto the battlefield? The Zhongyong Marquis holds the title of ‘Loyalty and Courage’… Yet, he’s never even seen the battlefield. They’re not even as good as the Bai family’s daughters! But they still have the nerve to say these things!”

Qin Dezhao gritted his teeth, his face turning blue with anger. The hand behind his back clenched the ring on his thumb, “Eldest Miss Bai has such a great tongue!”

“Nothing is comparable to Marquis’ Madam’s silver-tongued eloquence, turning lies into truth!” Bai Qingyan showed no fear at all in the face of the imposing aura emanating from Qin Dezhao, anger evident on her face.

Qin Lang dared not watch any longer and quickly squeezed through the crowd. After bowing to the Zhongyong Marquis and his family members, he did not dare to meet Bai Qingyan’s gaze. He lowered his eyes as he respectfully saluted Second Madam Liu-shi, “Respected mother-in-law.”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Qin Lang without any change in expression.

Second Madam Liu-shi glared at Qin Lang with red eyes, her resentment palpable. She wished that she could step forward and slap him across the face.

“I initially thought that Young Master Qin, with your reputation, was a rare good young man in the capital. But I never expected you to be such a heartless person. Your newlywed bride lies unconscious in bed, almost killed by your two sisters, and you’re still in the mood to compose poetry at Fanxing Restaurant! Are you even human?!” Second Madam Liu-shi clutched her chest and cried out in sorrow.

“Unconscious?!” Qin Lang was greatly stunned and turned his head to look at the Marquis’ Madam, “But Mother clearly told me…”

“Marquis!” Marquis’ Madam Jiang-shi felt anxious and hurriedly stepped forward, “It was I who allowed the young master to participate in the poetry meet. No matter how significant the matters in the inner residence are, they can’t delay a man’s social engagements and future prospects! It’s all my fault… I didn’t expect Jinxiu’s condition to be so serious! As soon as Jinxiu was injured, I had someone take my name card to invite the imperial physician over! The imperial physician said that a few days of rest would be fine! However, the country doctor brought by Second Madam Liu-shi today insisted that Jinxiu is in immediate danger. I really don’t know whom to believe!”

How could Marquis’ Madam Jiang-shi let Qin Lang expose the words she had used to deceive him in front of so many people in the capital? All she could do was look aggrieved and sad.

Standing by the carriage, Third Miss Bai Jintong looked at her coldly, “Country doctor?! I’ve never heard anyone refer to Imperial Physician Huang’s senior brother, who is in charge of the Imperial Physician Hospital… As a country doctor before!”

Qin Lang pursed his lips, clenched his fists at his side, and his face became increasingly unsightly.

He could not say it in front of everyone that Jiang-shi forbade him from visiting Bai Jinxiu, saying that it was unlucky for a man to see blood. Jiang-shi also told him that Bai Jinxiu was very well and that she was afraid Bai Jinxiu might catch a cold, so she insisted on Bai Jinxiu resting in bed. She even had her maternal nephew drag him to the Fanxing Restaurant for a poetry competition on the day he returned.

Bai Qingyan smiled coldly, “Marquis’ Madam, are you implying that Second Sister is unfilial for not waking up and causing distress to my Second Madam?! May I ask which imperial physician Marquis’ Madam invited? On our side, Aunty Jiang has taken my grandmother’s name card to go and invite Imperial Physician Huang over. The three doctors can then evaluate the extent of Second Sister’s injuries together!”

The Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam Jiang-shi turned pale. She could not believe that the famous Physician Hong had been at the Zhenguo Duke’s residence all this time. Moreover, she never expected that the Bai family would bring Physician Hong to check Bai Jinxiu’s pulse today.

“Marquis’ Madam… Could you please tell us which imperial physician you invited?” Third Miss Bai Jintong pressed.

Qin Lang closed his eyes, picked up the hem of his robe slightly, and knelt before Second Madam Liu-shi, kowtowing heavily, “Respected mother-in-law, everything is my fault!”

“I can’t accept your addressing me as a respected mother-in-law! You addressing me in this way is a death sentence for my daughter!” Second Madam Liu-shi got into the carriage and cried, “We’re going home!”

Bai Qingyan who was being assisted onto the carriage by Chuntao, glanced at the still kneeling Qin Lang. In her previous life, she had not known that the Zhongyong Marquis’ son, Qin Lang, was so stupid and spineless. No wonder he could not even protect his own wife.

Chen Qingsheng, sent by mother Dong-shi to take care of Bai Qingyan, calmly placed a stool by Bai Qingyan’s feet. He bowed respectfully as he stood aside and reminded, “Eldest Miss, please watch your step.”

Chen Qingsheng was the nephew of Dong-shi’s nanny and also Chuntao’s cousin. While he did not have many talents, he had connections throughout the capital and, most importantly, he was loyal to Dong-shi.

Almost everyone who was enjoying the spectacle followed the Zhenguo Duke’s carriage all the way to the gates of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence.

Dong-shi had received the news long ago and personally brought people to the gates of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence to receive the unconscious Bai Jinxiu.

While everyone was busy moving Bai Jinxiu into the residence, Bai Qingyan called Chen Qingsheng aside and gave him some instructions. Chen Qingsheng nodded and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

The incident of the second daughter of the Zhenguo Duke falling unconscious on the day she was meant to visit home, and was brought back to the Duke’s residence by the Princess Dowager, practically grew wings. It became the most talked-about topic in the entire capital within two hours.

However, what captivated people the most was the Zhongyong Marquis accusing the Bai family’s young ladies of not adhering to proper female virtues, and the retort from the eldest daughter of the Bai family that left him speechless.

In the taverns, on the streets, and even in the red-light districts, people talked about this endlessly.

“The eldest, second, and third daughters of the Bai family are all women who have fought on the battlefield alongside the Zhenguo Duke. So what if they were women?! Who said women could only stay in the inner courtyards to manage the household and educate children? Women can also stand tall and proud!”

“Fighting on the bloody battlefield with thousands of troops, wrapping a corpse in horsehide after death on the battlefield and sacrificing their lives, and the unwavering loyalty and bravery that will never cause humiliation to the people and emperor of the Jin Kingdom! In our Great Jin Kingdom… Only the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, known for its loyalty and courage, can nurture daughters with such heroic spirit! Whereas the Zhongyong Marquis… Hah, he only knows how to bully women when the men of the Bai family are not around. He’s unworthy of the title ‘Loyalty and Courage’, unworthy of being a man!”