The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 2

“Eldest Miss!” Chunyan responded promptly as she lifted the thick curtain and entered from outside. She saw Bai Qingyan sitting at the edge of the bed and hurriedly picked up a thin cotton cloak, draping it over Bai Qingyan. She said, “Sister Chuntao went to the Madam’s place to help Aunty Luo, and she hasn’t returned yet.”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan did not look well, Chunyan couldn’t help but be concerned, “Why did Miss get up without having someone attend to you?”

“What time is it?”

“It’s between 1pm to 3pm.” Chunyan gathered the curtains on both sides of the bed, “Does Miss want some shredded chicken congee? Aunt Fang has been simmering it over low heat all along in the small kitchen, and the aroma is truly tempting.”

She adjusted the cloak, “Assist me in getting up.”

As she called out, “Eldest Miss is up,” the courtyard that was quiet just a moment ago quickly became lively. People swept snow and prepared water.

Soon, the maids who were in charge of assisting with washing and grooming were holding mouthwash, spittoons, copper basins, and handkerchiefs while standing under the eaves in an orderly row. Chunyan then had the curtain lifted, and she entered along with the maids.

Chuntao returned to Qinghui Courtyard and learned that the Eldest Miss had gotten up. She quickly brushed the snow off herself, pushed aside the curtain, and entered to attend to her. Seeing Bai Qingyan, who was wearing a white embroidered coat and skirt with a white fox cloak over it, ready to go out, Chuntao hurried forward to help her fasten the cloak.

“The snow outside is heavy, Miss. You’re still unwell. Where are you planning to go?”

“I’m going to visit my grandmother.”

Chuntao hesitated, then helped Bai Qingyan put on the cloak. She took the burning charcoal from the brazier and placed it into a portable brazier. She knew that the Eldest Miss in their family was always resolute in her decisions, so her persuading would likely be ineffective.

She took the hand warmer from Chuntao and tucked it against her arms, she instructed, “You don’t need to attend to my grandmother and I for a while. Keep away from others and go to the front courtyard by yourself. Have Lu Ping, the courtyard guard, wait for me by the corridor near the rockery in the rear courtyard after half an hour. I have something to tell him.”

“Yes!” Chuntao responded promptly.

She took a few steps, clutching the handwarmer tightly. She turned around and looked at Chunyan, who was currently considerably loyal to her. She said, “Chunyan, have Qingzhu come to see me during 5pm to 7pm.”

After calculating the time, at this point, it was likely that the Bai family’s sons had already suffered losses, yet… Since fate allowed her to come back, Bai Qingyan still wanted to try her best. What if she could save at least one thing?! It was better to do something than nothing!

“Ah! After I finish tidying up the clothes, I’ll go find Miss Shen!” Chunyan said cheerfully.

The snow had not stopped falling yet. She walked through the snow, and the clever little maid who was sweeping snow outside Changshou Courtyard saw her from afar and quickly went inside the courtyard to inform them.

Before Bai Qingyan even reached the courtyard gate, Aunty Jiang who was always by her grandmother’s side hurriedly came out to greet her.

“Eldest Miss, why have you come while the snow is still falling?” Aunty Jiang hurriedly walked up to Bai Qingyan, while holding an umbrella and accompanied by a group of maids. Moving naturally, she took the new handwarmer from another maid’s hands and replaced the slightly cooled one in Bai Qingyan’s hands. She personally carried the umbrella for Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan was once stabbed in the abdomen and fell into the water, leaving her with an aversion to cold due to the lingering effects of the illness. Everyone in the entire estate was aware of this.

Aunty Jiang had served by her grandmother’s side since the age of seven, and had never married in her life. After her grandmother passed away, Aunty Jiang followed her by swallowing gold to die in allegiance not long after. Her loyalty was evident.

“Aunty…” As she walked towards Changshou Courtyard with Aunty Jiang, Bai Qingyan inquired, “Has grandmother woken up from her midday nap?”

“Princess Dowager has woken up. She’s currently praying to the Buddha for the protection and safe return of the Duke and the Crown Prince.”

“How has grandmother’s health been lately?”

“Rest assured, Eldest Miss. Princess Dowager’s health is being attended to by the physicians from the imperial medical court, and there haven’t been any major issues. However, with the year coming to an end, the Duke, the Crown Prince, and the others haven’t returned yet, so Princess Dowager has been sleeping somewhat poorly,” Aunty Jiang replied.

She nodded and entered the warm pavilion to tidy up her clothes. Aunty Jiang methodically instructed someone to change Bai Qingyan’s snow-stained shoes and socks, and handed her a warm towel to clean her hands.

“Aunty, please don’t rush. I have something to discuss with you.” She unfastened her cloak and handed it to Chuntao, then sat down by the brazier, “The rest of you can leave for now…”

Aunty Jiang was an astute person and understood that Bai Qingyan had something important to say. She stood quietly by the side.

“Aunty, there’s news from Nanjiang…”

Aunty Jiang held her breath, sensing that something was amiss. Her expression turned grim. “Is it the Duke…”

Bai Qingyan gazed into the brazier, extending her hand to warm it by the fire. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Please take out the life-saving medicine that the Empress bestowed upon my grandmother last time, and also prepare some ginseng slices.”

Aunty Jiang nodded, her complexion pale.

There was a crisp “cracking” sound, and Bai Qingyan turned her head to look out of the intricately carved wooden window. It turned out that the snow accumulating on a tree branch had caused it to snap.

Her icy fingers tightened, and she pursed her lips. “Have someone bring my grandmother’s name card again and request Physician Huang to be on standby.”

“Eldest Miss, actually, Princess Dowager has been having trouble sleeping during this period, and she had a vague premonition!” Aunty Jiang’s eyes were red-rimmed. “Princess Dowager has always been strong-willed. It shouldn’t be necessary to call a physician. She can endure.”

“Aunty, please still call for the physician.” Bai Qingyan’s eyes lowered, tears already welling up.

Whether her grandmother could endure or not, she already knew in her previous life.

In this lifetime, she was too afraid of losing her loved ones. She knew that with her grandmother’s level of wisdom, even if she used the excuse of having had a dream, she might guess something. Bai Qingyan had to be fully prepared.

“Could it be… something has happened to the Crown Prince as well?” Aunty Jiang held onto the doorframe, her legs almost giving way.

The Crown Prince Aunty Jiang referred to was Bai Qingyan’s father, the legitimate son of Princess Dowager.

She looked at Aunty Jiang, her eyes moist and red, yet her posture remained resolute. “Aunty, you’re not an outsider, so I’m not afraid to confide in you. In the future, I’m afraid… The entire Bai family will have to rely on my grandmother. As long as you understand the situation, it’s enough. Until we receive the exact official report from the court, I intend to use the excuse of having had a dream to prepare my grandmother in advance. She will rely on your care, Aunty. You must hold on.”

Aunty Jiang felt her head buzz and her body was covered in cold sweat. She nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Even Eldest Miss could handle it as a child. She had endured through the cunning intrigues of the palace, so there was no reason she could not handle something a child could.

Aunty Jiang gathered her spirit and promptly had someone deliver an invitation to Physician Huang, inviting him to the palace.

In the side rooms, Bai Qingyan warmed her body by the brazier, dissipating the cold on her body. She estimated that Physician Huang would arrive soon and instructed Aunty Jiang to inform her when he did.

“Ah Bao, your health is not good. Why did you come out in the snow?”

As soon as she saw Bai Qingyan, Princess Dowager scolded her lightly. Although her words were reproachful, she still reached out and patted Bai Qingyan’s hand. Feeling that Bai Qingyan’s hand was relatively warm, her expression eased.

Seeing her grandmother again, hearing her grandmother call her by her childhood name, Bai Qingyan felt as if she had travelled through time…

Suppressing the lump in her throat, she spoke, “Grandmother, I just missed you.”

Princess Dowager looked at Bai Qingyan’s childish demeanour, pretending to be annoyed as she playfully tapped Bai Qingyan’s forehead with her finger. She pulled her into an embrace and touched Bai Qingyan’s hand to check if it was cold. Kindly, she said, “The court artists will arrive in about an hour. Everyone else is preparing in their own chambers, yet you’ve run over here to me!”

Tomorrow, the second young lady of Zhenguo Duke’s household would leave to be married. She would be the first daughter from Zhenguo Duke’s household to marry. Princess Dowager had specially invited a few court artists to paint portraits for her and her sisters.

Hugging Princess Dowager tightly and smelling the scent of sandalwood on her, Bai Qingyan felt even more upset. She was afraid that revealing this news would lead to the same result as in her previous life.

Seeing Aunty Jiang enter through the curtain and nod at her, Bai Qingyan knew that Physician Huang had arrived. Aunty Jiang had also already dismissed everyone else at the door.

“Grandmother…” She looked up at Princess Dowager, “I had a dream at noon today. I dreamt that Grandfather, Father, my uncles and brothers all failed to return from Nanjiang. You, Grandmother, would be emotionally affected and fall ill. Someone would falsely accuse our Bai family of treason. Our Bai family would be left with only females, and without your protection, we would be at the mercy of others.”