The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 29

Aunty Wu understood that the purpose of their visit today was to bring back Bai Jinxiu and prevent Qin Lang from moving out of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence. She quickly put on a smile to defuse the situation.

“Oh dear, Eldest Madam has misunderstood! Our Madam doesn’t mean that at all! No matter what happens to our Madam… We would not dare to have the Princess Dowager come to greet our Madam! Our Madam is just concerned about the Princess Dowager and our Eldest Daughter-in-law. Her intentions are good, but she’s not adept at expressing herself. How could it be an accusation?”

Maintaining her smile, Aunty Wu discreetly tugged on Jiang-shi’s sleeve, “Our Madam heard that Eldest Daughter-in-law has awakened, and today she specially came to escort Eldest Daughter-in-law back home! But since she came, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t pay respects to the Princess Dowager while she’s already here. She heard that the Princess Dowager is unwell and felt that she came at the wrong time, so she made those comments! Eldest Madam, you and our Madam have known each other since childhood. Don’t you understand our Madam’s temperament?!”

Jiang-shi suppressed her anger, nearly tearing the handkerchief in her hand before regaining her composure. She said, “That’s right! Eldest Madam, we’ve known each other since childhood. It’s just my temperament and it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Dong-shi simply could not be bothered with Jiang-shi’s explanation. With her jade bracelet-adorned hand resting on the armrest, she, as the mistress of the house, exuded an air that was undoubtedly more refined than Jiang-shi’s. She said, “In that case, Marquis’ Madam came to apologise today?”

“We also intend to bring Jinxiu back home. After all, Jinxiu is already a member of our Qin family. It’s not appropriate for her to stay at her maternal home indefinitely, making people gossip,” Jiang-shi said.

“Jiang Fengchun, don’t beat around the bush here!” Dong-shi addressed the Zhongyong Marquis’ wife directly, using her full name, “Yesterday, following the Emperor’s explicit decree, Qin Lang was granted an estate. Once Qin Lang moves out, the internal rift in your Zhongyong Marquis’ residence and the fact that your two daughters attacked our Jinxiu will be brought to light! You’re simply faced with no other options, so now you’ve come to our Duke’s residence to take Jinxiu back. You just want to control Qin Lang and prevent him from leaving your Marquis’ residence, all to save your own Marquis’ residence’s reputation, right?!”

Suddenly exposed by Dong-shi, Jiang-shi’s complexion worsened, and Aunty Wu hastily answered, “Eldest Madam, our Marquis’ wife is just doing this for the sake of the entire family. We’re one family, let’s not divide ourselves! Think about it… With both parents still alive, why would they move out?! Look at the flourishing state of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, all because you haven’t separated. That’s why the Bai family has such good fortune of having 17 sons! So… To move out while one’s parents are still alive, it might become a subject of criticism in the future for our Young Master and we’re afraid his filial piety will be criticised.”

She was just a maid, so Dong-shi saw no need to lower her status to talk to her. She just picked up her tea cup and took a sip. Bai Qingyan calmly asked, “Is this the intention of the Marquis’ Madam?”

Jiang-shi did not want to engage with Bai Qingyan either. She tried to pick up her tea for a sip, only to realise that Dong-shi had not even served her any. Fuming, she waved her handkerchief, saying, “I am doing this for the sake of Qin Lang and his wife.”

“Marquis’ Madam makes quite an audacious statement. Even though the Empress advised Brother-in-law to move to a new estate and take a new path, you’re saying that preventing him from moving out is for his own good. Do you think you are wiser than the Empress?!” Bai Jintong raised her eyebrows, questioning.

Jiang-shi’s heart sank. Given ten thousand chances, she still would not dare to question the words of the Empress. She scolded, “Don’t speak nonsense!”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze was sharp, her tone light and airy, “Marquis’ Madam came today without bringing the two young ladies from the Marquis’ residence to apologise to Second Sister. Instead, you entered the gates of our Zhenguo Duke’s residence with airs, verbally expressing your intent to take Second Sister back. Does Marquis’ Madam think our Bai family fears the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence? Or that our Bai family is foolish enough… to let Second Sister be manipulated by you?!”

“I’m not afraid to speak openly to Marquis’ Madam…” Bai Jintong also spoke slowly, “On that day, when Brother-in-law came to our house to apologise, Second Sister told Brother-in-law that she endured the stone thrown at her by your daughter without retaliation, all to pave the way for Brother-in-law. If Brother-in-law doesn’t have the courage to move out and become independent from the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, then he doesn’t deserve our Bai family’s daughter and divorce will be inevitable. Even if it means breaking the net and sacrificing everything, then through divorce… Second Sister will never live with Brother-in-law again!”

Jiang-shi and Aunty Wu both widened their eyes, unable to imagine that Bai Jinxui, who appeared soft and delicate, could employ such a cunning strategy! Divorce?! How could a noble family divorce?!

Jiang-shi was so furious that her hands trembled. Bai Jinxiu’s heart was so malicious, this was clearly an attempt to force her to the brink!

Bai Qingyan’s cold gaze swept over Aunty Wu and she smiled coldly, “Now that His Majesty has issued a decree, and the Empress has explicitly advised, whoever dares to use the term ‘filial piety’ to discuss Qin Lang’s future is essentially accusing His Majesty and the Empress! Qin Lang has already packed his belongings and is waiting to move out of the Marquis’s residence. Bright days are ahead for Second Sister. As for Marquis’ Madam… After years of manipulating behind closed doors, using any means necessary, wasn’t it all for the position of the heir? Now that Qin Lang is openly stepping aside, why doesn’t Marquis’ Madam dare to boldly step forward and claim it?”

Aunty Wu broke into a cold sweat, realising she had mentioned filial piety just now.

“Dong Wanjun, today, I kindly came in person to escort Bai Jinxiu back to our residence! Have you heard of a mother-in-law as generous as me in the entire capital? Yet, you didn’t even leave any room for compromise?! Instead, I haven’t even had a cup of tea yet, and your two children from your Zhenguo Duke’s residence are trampling all over our faces!” Jiang-shi was furious and addressed Dong-shi directly by her full name. She slammed the tea table, making a loud noise, “Even if I am a stepmother, Qin Lang’s father, our Marquis, is still alive! With parents still present, how can your second daughter instigate Qin Lang to move out of our residence after just marrying him? Does she have any filial piety? If this spreads, won’t you be criticised by everyone?”

Dong-shi calmly blew on the tea in her cup, indifferent to Jiang-shi. She said, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You assume that since our Bai family’s daughter married into your residence, and you are now a legitimate mother-in-law, then all of us in the Bai family must respect you if we’re worried about having a bright future! But Jiang Fengchun… Our Bai family has a long history of being tough. It’s not something anyone can easily chew on just because they want to. You better go back and reconsider your position clearly before visiting us again.”

“Dong Wanjun!” Jiang-shi slapped the table and stood up. She threw her handkerchief aside and left, “We’ll see! There’ll be times in the future where you’ll be unlucky and cry!”

Aunty Wu struggled to restrain the infuriated Jiang-shi, giving her a meaningful glance, “Madam, Eldest Daughter-in-law is injured, and Eldest Madam is her maternal family. It’s inevitable that her words may be unpleasant when she’s angry! Your straightforward temperament might cause a lasting misunderstanding between the two families if we really leave with things unresolved!”

Bai Qingyan looked up at Jiang-shi, who was about to leave angrily, and calmly spoke, “Speaking of Second Sister’s injury, may I ask Marquis’ Madam, after Second Sister fell into the water and become unconscious… Who did you sell her dowry maids to? The parents of those five dowry maids knelt at the gates of our Duke’s residence, inquiring about their daughters. I’m also curious which family has such a powerful background that they dare take people away from Marquis’ Madam when the contracts of those five dowry maids were still in Second Sister’s possession! Or… Are the other five maids, like Mingyu, being kept at Marquis’ Madam’s countryside estate?”