The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 32

Qin Shangzhi had once said to the Eldest Miss of the Bai family that to preserve the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, they had to retreat. However, looking at Eldest Miss Bai’s words and actions in the past few days, it seemed as though her mind was clouded by Second Miss Bai’s injury. She was fighting with the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, seeming to be risking everything and had placed the Zhenguo Duke’s residence on the line as well.

Qin Shangzhi initially wanted to remind her that a full moon would wane and when water was full, it would overflow. However, seeing Bai Qingyan’s clear eyes, he suspected she had other plans. He decided not to say anything more, hoping that this Eldest Miss Bai could indeed protect the loyal Bai family.

“Eldest Sister, that person…”

“He is a guest in our residence,” she replied.

Returning to the Qinghui Courtyard, she dismissed her attendants. Then she stood before the brazier, closing her eyes and recalling the words of Jiang-shi, the Zhongyong Marquis’ wife, before she had left.

The Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam could not stir up any trouble as a housewife, but what about the Marquis himself, Qin Dezhao?

Qin Dezhao was currently a herbal physician at the Ministry of Revenue. Later, news came back from Nanjiang that the Bai family was in trouble, and the combined armies of Nanyan and Xiliang were approaching the Sanleng Pass. Her grandfather’s lieutenant general, Liu Huanzhang, had asked for orders to fight. Qin Dezhao was promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue in charge of grain and supplies.

She suddenly opened her eyes, remembering the batch of military supplies that had been sent to the frontlines in Nanjiang two months ago. Instantly, her whole body felt numb.

The soldiers and horses had not yet been mobilised, but the grain and supplies had.

Grain and supplies were the foundation of an army.

The Zhongyong Marquis was in charge of provisioning grain and supplies. It was likely that he must have known early on that there would be problems with this batch of food and supplies. If there were problems, it was because Qin Dezhao had tampered with them.

Second Madam Liu-shi heard that Dong-sho had practically shredded the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam because of Bai Jinxiu. She felt indescribably grateful. She now realised that Dong-shi’s advice to carefully consider this marriage proposal back then was truly for the good of their family, and she had wrongly assumed that Dong-shi had harboured some resentment and was deliberately provoking her.

That evening, Second Madam Liu-shi settled Bai Jinxiu and then went to Dong-shi’s residence with generous gifts. The two sisters-in-law chatted until late into the night and Second Madam Liu-shi came out of Dong-shi’s place with red eyes. Perhaps due to Dong-shi’s advice, Second Madam Liu-shi could not care less about being angry now and was now preoccupied with thinking about how to arrange Qin Lang’s new residence.

She sighed deeply and said to the steward next to her, Aunty Luo: “Aunty Luo, tomorrow, instruct Aunty Pang to pick out some reliable and honest maids and servants from our family’s household. Then send them to take care of the arrangements at the mansion bestowed upon by His Majesty to our son-in-law. Then, have Aunty Wan go find skilled brokers and send them to the new residence as well!”

“Second Madam, don’t worry, this old servant will handle everything!” Aunty Luo supported Second Madam Liu-shi as they walked back to their courtyard.

“Aunty Luo, there’s something I need to discuss with you. I know you’ve been by my side for many years, and your husband and children are all in the Zhenguo Duke’s residence. But Jinxiu… I’m really worried. You see, I can’t just rush into my son-in-law’s new residence as the mother-in-law, so I want you to temporarily stay by Jinxiu’s side and assist that child! Besides you… I can’t trust anyone else! Only you can manage the matters for Jinxiu as well as you did with the dowry maids assigned to her before,” Second Madam Liu-shi stopped walking and patted Aunty Luo’s hand.

Aunty Luo’s eyes welled up with tears as Second Madam Liu-shi spoke, and she nodded repeatedly, “Second Madam, rest assured. I watched Second Miss grow up! I’ll definitely take good care of Second Sister for Madam! Moreover, you see, the Princess Dowager, Eldest Madam, Eldest Miss, and Third Miss, they’re all willing to protect Second Miss with their lives!”

Second Madam Liu-shi squeezed Aunty Luo’s hand tightly, and the two of them trudged back through the snow.

It had snowed all night. Dense snow covered the ancient blue bricks and green tiles of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence.

It was still dark before dawn, and the kitchen was already emitting wisps of steam. The servants and maids were bustling about busily.

The farmers who came to deliver vegetables and meat to the Duke’s residence gathered at the brightly lit back door of the residence as they entered and exited, chatting and gossiping. They tried to glean some information about the Duke’s residence and the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence.

Between 5 to 7 am, lights began to appear one by one in the rooms of the servants’ quarters in each courtyard.

The sturdy old servant women emerged from the rooms, their breath visible in the cold winter air. The midwinter breeze woke them up. They saw Chuntao accompanying Eldest Miss Bai as usual, practising the horse stance in the courtyard. Eldest Miss Bai looked like she had just been fished from hot water with steam rising from her head. The old servant women bowed respectfully as usual and did not dare to disturb them. They picked up brooms and swept the courtyard.

After Bai Qingyan finished her breakfast, she leaned against the window, reading a book while resting on a pillow embroidered with auspicious clouds in gold thread. Tingzhu, the maid beside her mother, Dong-shi, approached Qinghui Courtyard .

Hearing the old maids outside greeting Tingzhu cheerfully, Chuntao hurried out to meet her. She saw Tingzhu standing under the eaves and asked with a smile, “Sister Tingzhu looks so happy! Did something good happen?!”

Tingzhu was indeed happy. Rubbing her cold arms, she smiled as she replied to Chuntao, “This year, the Grand Madam and Second Master of the Dong family in Dengzhou are here in the capital to spend the New Year. They arrived in the city yesterday evening. The Grand Madam was afraid that our Madam would be anxious, so she didn’t send anyone over. Early this morning, the Grand Madam told Second Master and his wife to bring generous gifts to pay respects to the Princess Dowager. They are currently chatting in Changshou Courtyard, and I was specifically sent to invite Eldest Miss Bai to join them.”

“That’s really good news! Our Madam hasn’t seen the Grand Madam of the Dong family in years. She must be so happy now!” Chuntao lifted the heavy curtain for Tingzhu.

“Yes, indeed!” Tingzhu entered with a smile.

Hearing Tingzhu’s words from outside the partition, Bai Qingyan closed her book and instructed Chunyan to help her change clothes.

She remembered that in her previous life, her uncle, Second Uncle Dong Qingyue, had brought her grandmother to the capital on the 19th day of the 12th lunar month. However, at that time, Bai Jinxiu had just passed away, and she was seriously ill, so she had not met her Second Uncle when they visited.

Later, when the Duke’s residence encountered trouble, her other aunts all shunned her mother. However, her Second Uncle Dong Qingyue, the Governor of Dengzhou, risked his life to petition for justice on behalf of the Bai family. Her Eldest Uncle, Dong Qingping, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, and his entire family wore mourning attire and mourned for the Bai family.

Countless memories from her past life flooded Bai Qingyan’s mind, causing her eyes to redden. She felt as if she were submerged in bitter memories and she could not wait to go and see her only uncle who had stood up for the Bai family.

Separated by screens adorned with jade and emerald, Tingzhu saw that Chunyan had already dressed Bai Qingyan in a fox fur cloak. Smiling, she approached to pay her respects, “Eldest Miss, Second Master and Second Madam from the Dong family in Dengzhou have come to pay their respects to the Princess Dowager. Madam sent me to invite Eldest Miss to join them.”

Bai Qingyan smiled and accepted the hand warmer that Chunyan had just filled with charcoal, “I heard you, let’s go!”

As soon as they entered Changshou Courtyard, Bai Qingyan hurriedly proceeded without changing her shoes and socks into the warm pavilion and went straight inside. A maid, dressed in a deep blue cotton jacket, quickly opened the curtain for Bai Qingyan and informed the inner rooms that Eldest Miss had arrived.

Bai Qingyan stood at the doorway, handing the hand warmer to Chunyan with one hand while reaching to remove her cloak with the other. Chuntao had just stepped forward to help Bai Qingyan take off her fur cloak when she saw Bai Qingyan was already hurriedly stepping into the main upper room.

Chuntao had never seen Bai Qingyan hurry like this before. She quickly handed the fur cloak she was holding to Chunyan and followed Bai Qingyan into the room.

Inside the main room, the Princess Dowager was leaning against a gold thread embroidered auspicious cloud pillow. Smiling, she said, “Ah Bao, you’ve come so quickly today. I suppose you’re missing your uncle and aunt!”