The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 23

Chuntao’s face immediately turned pale, and she hurriedly knelt down, saying, “Eldest Miss, this servant… This servant never had such thoughts before. This servant is determined to serve Eldest Miss for the rest of my life. Wherever Eldest Miss goes, this servant will be there! Even when Miss gets married in the future, this servant will definitely follow and serve Miss and her husband!”

Bai Qingyan glanced at Chunyan. It was likely that Chunyan had probably been convinced that Bai Qingyan had no other options in the future except to marry into Prince Liang’s palace. Hence, she was under the assumption that she would be accompanying Bai Qingyan to Prince Liang’s palace. Otherwise, there would be no need for Chunyan to go to such lengths to please Prince Liang on her behalf.

Bai Qingyan found it rather uninteresting and did not want to waste words teaching Chunyan. She picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

At the moment, she could not send Chunyan away. Chunyan could send messages for Prince Liang, so if she left, Prince Liang would likely approach other members of the Duke’s residence. In that case, Bai Qingyan would be out in the open while Prince Liang’s people operated in the dark, making the situation even more troublesome.

Although Chunyan often praised Prince Liang tirelessly, annoying everyone around, at least she was not cunning and deceitful, and her thoughts were transparent on her face.

For several days, Bai Qingyan practised morning and night. Her whole body ached so much that she could not even pick up chopsticks during meals.

Chuntao served Bai Qingyan a bowl of chicken soup and millet porridge. Looking worried, she said, “Miss, if this continues, this servant is afraid that Miss’ body won’t be able to endure it.”

“These days, I sweat a lot in the morning and evening. I feel much lighter.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Chuntao did not dare to persuade further. She only lowered her head and glanced at Chunyan, who knelt fearfully with tears streaming down her face, wiping her tears and not daring to get up. She shook her head.

After finishing breakfast, Bai Qingyan changed into a different attire to visit Bai Jinxiu. Only then did she let Chunyan get up and serve her.

With tears in her eyes, Chunyan handed the hand warmer to Bai Qingyan. Then she stood aside obediently and let her tears fall. Since following Eldest Miss, this was the first time she had been punished so embarrassingly by Eldest Miss, kneeling while all the maids and servants came and went.

Bai Qingyan draped on a fox fur cloak and stepped out of the Qinghui Courtyard. She saw Chen Qingsheng, who had been waiting at the door, chatting with the sweeping older maid. He quickly approached Bai Qingyan, bowing and greeting, “Eldest Miss…”

“Talk while we walk!” Bai Qingyan said.

“Yes…” Chen Qingsheng bowed slightly and respectfully followed Bai Qingyan, lowering his voice, “This servant has heard that the six close maids accompanying Second Miss were not sold, probably because the Zhongyong Marquis’ people went through Second Miss’ dowry but could not find the contracts. Eldest Miss, watch your step…”

Chen Qingsheng reminded Bai Qingyan to bypass the icy part of the path under her feet, and then continued, “The man guarding the gate at the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence said that one of the old maids told him last night that, except for Mingyu who was taken out and settled by Aunty Wu, the other five maids by Second Miss’ side were drowned!”

Bai Qingyan’s steps paused and she looked sideways at Chen Qingsheng. Was Chen Qingsheng informing her that Mingyu had betrayed her mistress?

The accompanying dowry maids for Bai Jinxiu’s marriage were all chosen by her mother and her second aunt. Bai Qingyan had seen them on the day of the wedding. They were all modest and clever girls.

But now, five young lives in their prime years have been drowned. The Zhongyong Marquis’ wife, Jiang-shi, was unexpectedly so ruthless and cruel.

Chen Qingsheng continued, “To avoid being traced back to the Zhongyong Marquis’ family, Aunty Wu, who serves the Marquis’s wife, had people strip the five maids. On the snowy night, they were thrown into the mass grave in straw mats. The two servants assigned to bury the bodies didn’t know the details. They found it difficult to dig up the frozen soil and thinking it was just some maids drowned by their master, they were too lazy to dig a proper grave and simply threw the corpses into the snow, hoping that a night of heavy snowfall would bury them. They then went to drink wine. The tavern owner said that when the two left, one felt uneasy, while the other comforted him, saying that when the snow melted next year, the corpses would long have been eaten by wild animals scavenging for food in the winter.”

Anger surged in Bai Qingyan’s heart, but she forced it down after a moment and closed her eyes, “Continue!”

“This servant also found out from the manager of a brothel that yesterday, Mingyu’s elder brother… He took two prostitutes, claiming to have come across a lucky fortune. This servant kept an eye on it and have now confirmed that Miss Mingyu has been moved to the marquisate’s countryside estate owned by Jiang-shi, the wife of the Zhongyong Marquis.”

“Cousin, how could you tell Eldest Miss even the dirty things?” Chuntao blushed, speaking in a hushed voice.

“Eldest Miss, please forgive me. It was this servant’s negligence!” Chen Qingsheng quickly knelt down and apologised.

“No need to worry, you can get up!”

Chen Qingsheng was indeed clever and capable. Bai Qingyan had asked Chen Qingsheng to investigate the whereabouts of Bai Jinxiu’s dowry maids. He had done it so quickly, obtaining such detailed information.

“Go and wait at the Chuihua Gate. You may have to go on another errand later,” Bai Qingyan pondered for a moment and added, “Send someone to the unmarked gravesite and find the bodies of Second Miss’ dowry maids. Ensure they are properly guarded, then report it to the authorities. We can’t let them be desecrated by wild animals. After all, they were from our Bai family. Even if they were just maids… We can’t let them die in vain, ending up exposed in the wilderness.”

“Yes, this servant understands and will follow orders.”

Chuntao supported Bai Qingyan as they walked toward the Qingzhu Pavilion. In her heart, she could not help but sigh… Back then, when Mingyu was about to be sold into a brothel by her heartless parents, Second Miss pitied her and bought her. She kept her by her side, and even promoted her to be the chief maids, giving her a lot of face. Now, she had actually betrayed Second Miss.

Chuntao could not help but think of Chunyan again. Her heart pounded, and she looked at Bai Qingyan. She had a faint suspicion, “Eldest Miss… Do you distrust Chunyan?”

Knowing Chuntao’s keen wit and loyalty, Bai Qingyan did not hide anything, “Chunyan has grown up and become ambitious. She is overly concerned and attentive to Prince Liang’s matters. Can’t you see anything from that?”

The reason Bai Qingyan still kept Chunyan was mainly to observe what else Prince Liang would make Chunyan do. Seeing that Chunyan had close interactions with Prince Liang’s people, Bai Qingyan even suspected that the letter placed in her grandfather’s room had something to do with Chunyan.

Chuntao pursed her lips tightly. No wonder Eldest Miss had distanced herself from Chunyan recently and also alienated Prince Liang.

However, if Miss did this because of Chunyan, possibly jeopardising a good marriage for Miss, Chuntao could not help but feel that it was not worth it.

When Bai Qingyan arrived at the Qingzhu Pavilion, her sisters had already gathered around Bai Jinxiu, chatting and laughing by her bedside with her.

She stood in the courtyard, hearing the laughter and banter inside. She was in an indescribably good mood.

Bai Qingyan had experienced death once before, so in this lifetime, she could endure any hardship and sacrifice anything. In this life… Even if she were reduced to ashes, as long as she could firmly guard the safety of her elders and the carefree laughter of her sisters, she would be content.

Hearing the maids and servants outside calling out “Eldest Miss,” Bai Jinxiu quickly raised her head and looked towards the door. Bai Jintong even went outside to welcome Bai Qingyan, supporting her, and said, “Eldest Sister is here…”

“What are you talking about? I could hear laughter from afar,” Bai Qingyan said, her heart feeling warm. She handed the hand warmer to Chuntao and untied her cloak.

Chuntao quickly stepped forward to receive the cloak, then stood respectfully behind Bai Qingyan with her head lowered.

Bai Jinxiu, putting down the handful of melon seeds she was holding, stood up and greeted her with a smile, “We were just talking about how yesterday, at Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, Eldest Sister gave a good talking-to to that old Zhongyong Marquis’ wife, and it left her so angry her head was practically smoking!”