The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 4

Lu Ping’s expression changed, “Who?!”

Who could bypass the guards of the Zhenguo Duke’s household and deliver the message to the Eldest Miss in the inner courtyard?

“I haven’t seen the person, and I haven’t spread the news either!”

Lu Ping lowered his gaze, staring at the tip of his shoe, pondering carefully. His palms were already covered in sweat.

If this news was sent in by an outsider, then their guard team truly deserved severe punishment…

“After much consideration, I still have doubts. Why would news from Nanjiang be sent to me for no apparent reason, instead of to the elders at home?! And why did they choose the day when the Second Miss is getting married?”

Bai Qingyan’s footsteps paused and she stared intently at Lu Ping, her face sinking like water, “So, I’d like to ask you to go to Zui’an Square tomorrow on my behalf, pay attention to anyone suspicious…”

Bai Qingyan wanted Lu Ping to personally visit Chang’an Street to investigate the details of the assassination attempt on Prince Liang. It would be best if he could find out who the assailant was. If Bai Jinxiu did not manage to avoid Prince Liang’s assassination, Lu Ping would make sure Bai Jinxiu did not lose her life there.

Bai Qingyan could not tell Lu Ping directly that Prince Liang was going to be assassinated. That was why she framed it this way.

“Lu Ping has received the orders,” Lu Ping replied solemnly.

“Uncle Ping, be cautious in everything you do. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, make a note of it and investigate further later so as not to let the entire Duke’s mansion fall into someone else’s trap,” Bai Qingyan warned.

“Don’t worry, Eldest Miss. Lu Ping understands the importance.”

Lu Ping handed the umbrella in his hand to Chuntao, then bowed to Bai Qingyan before quickly leaving.

Seeing Bai Qingyan lost in thought as she gazed at Lu Ping’s departing figure, Chuntao whispered a reminder, “Eldest Miss, let’s go back to the room and change into brighter clothes! Your picture will be painted later and colourful clothes will look better in the artwork.”

She withdrew her gaze. Due to her prolonged illness and weakness, her voice was soft and feeble, “I’m tired, I won’t join in the festivities… Let’s go back.”

When Bai Qingyan returned to the Qinghui Courtyard, Shen Qingzhu had been already waiting in the corridor for a while.

Looking at the youthful and vibrant Shen Qingzhu before her, Bai Qingyan’s eyes welled up with emotion.

Shen Qingzhu had been by Bai Qingyan’s side since childhood, and their relationship was more like sisters than just mistress and servant.

When she was ten years old, she impulsively begged her grandfather to take her to the battlefield. Her grandfather gave her two years, saying that if she could train a female guard within that time, he would allow her to accompany him to the battlefield. Shen Qingzhu was the one chosen by Bai Qingyan during that time.

Later, this female guard protected her on the battlefield several times. When she was 16 years old, she disguised herself as a man and went to the battlefield with her grandfather for the second time. She was impaled by an enemy’s spear and fell into a torrential river in the midst of a harsh winter. Almost the entire guard unit was wiped out before they managed to rescue her from the river.

The military doctor said it was a miracle that Bai Qingyan survived, but her chances of having children were doomed. Shen Qingzhu blamed herself for not protecting Bai Qingyan well so after they came home, she volunteered to go to the military for training. Vice General Shen valued her and took her in as his adoptive daughter, but after completing her training, she still resolutely returned to the Bai residence and devoted herself to guarding Bai Qingyan.

“Come in!” Bai Qingyan said.

Chuntao personally lifted the curtain for Shen Qingzhu, saying, “Miss Shen, please.”

Shen Qingzhu, dressed in neat attire, followed Bai Qingyan into the room and greeted with cupped fists, “Miss, what are your orders?”

Seeing Bai Qingyan take off her cloak and hand it to Chuntao, then set down her hand warmer and sit at the writing desk to pen a letter, Shen Qingzhu kept her distance, afraid that the cold air around her would be passed to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan wrote swiftly and, after setting down her wolf hair brush, instructed Chuntao, “Chuntao, stand guard outside and don’t let anyone approach.”

“Yes.” Chuntao lifted the curtain and went outside.

After sealing the letter, Bai Qingyan walked up to Shen Qingzhu while holding the letter tightly, “Qingzhu, gather a few trustworthy individuals and head to Nanjiang immediately. Move as fast as you can on the way! Deliver the letter to someone in the Bai family! The situation is urgent and I can trust no one else besides you!”

“Yes!” Shen Qingzhu did not ask further and received the letter with both hands. She was about to leave when Bai Qingyan grabbed her wrist.

“Do you have any other orders, Miss?”

Bai Qingyan’s grip was strong and her eyes were filled with boundless resentment, “If… if no one in the Bai family is left, you must retrieve the records of the march and battle situations from the Bai family historian who accompanies the army! Hand this letter to your adoptive father, General Shen. Then find my grandfather’s lieutenant, Liu Huanzhang… and kill him.”

Shen Qingzhu looked at Bai Qingyan in shock, her face turning pale. What did it mean if no one in the Bai family was left?!

Bai Qingyan’s expression was grave and Shen Qingzhu knew that it was a matter of utmost importance. She nodded solemnly, “Qingzhu will follow your orders!”

Seeing Shen Qingzhu emerge from the room with a pale face, Chuntao hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered, concern evident in her brows, “Eldest Miss…”

Bai Qingyan stood by the hearth, gazing at the flickering fire with lowered eyes, gradually calming the tumultuous emotions within her.

Do what you can… and leave the rest to fate!

“Chuntao, I’m tired,” Bai Qingyan’s expression seemed somewhat dazed.

“This servant will attend to you, Eldest Miss, so you can rest for a while.”

Chuntao assisted Bai Qingyan in removing the pearl hairpin from her head and changing into a more comfortable attire. She rested on the bed for a while before being awakened by Aunty Qin with a bowl of bitter medicine.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s frown and discomfort after drinking the bitter medicine, Aunty Qin felt her heart ache. She quickly brought warm water for Bai Qingyan to rinse her mouth, saying, “Eldest Miss, endure a little longer. Physician Hong said that after drinking this medicine for another month or so, Eldest Miss’ cold illness should improve!”

Bai Qingyan pressed the corners of her lips with a handkerchief. She felt slightly better after eating a preserved plum from the snack box that Chuny an was holding.

“Tomorrow, Second Sister will be married, and Mother will have many things to attend to. You’re Mother’s capable helper, and she can’t do without you. You don’t need to make four or five trips here in a day. Please inform Mother not to worry about me.”

Aunty Qin nodded, “Alright, Eldest Miss, you can rest assured. This old servant will definitely convey your message.”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan had picked up a military book from the kang table, Chuntao cleverly put down the snack box and smiled, “Aunty, Chuntao will accompany you.”

Aunty Qin curtseyed to Bai Qingyan. As she was leaving, instructed Chuntao, “An event is happening tomorrow and tonight, the maids and servants will likely be preoccupied with the festivities and neglect their duties. The maid in charge for Eldest Miss won’t return to the mansion until tomorrow. Remember to remind the caretaker in charge of the braziers to add charcoal to the fire and keep the room warm. The fire in this room must be kept strong! Eldest Miss is sensitive to the cold, so the maids on night duty must be vigilant!”

“Rest assured, Aunty Qin!” Chuntao smiled and held the curtain for Aunty Qin. “Chuntao will personally keep a close watch.”

After seeing off Aunty Qin, Chuntao stood in the corridor. She had not yet entered the room when she saw Chunyan, whose hair was covered in snow, rushing in from the entrance. Chunyan patted off the snowflakes on her body and asked Chuntao, “Has Eldest Miss woken up?”

“She’s awake and has just drank her medicine. She’s currently reading a book.” Chuntao brushed the snow off Chunyan’s hair and scolded, “Why did you go out like that and make yourself all cold? Aren’t you afraid of passing it to Miss?”

Chunyan smirked mysteriously, “I have good news. I’m going to inform Miss. She will definitely feel better!”

Saying this, Chunyan hurriedly opened the curtain and entered the room without giving Chuntao a chance to stop her.

“Miss!” Chunyan saw Bai Qingyan reading a book while leaning against the large cushion embroidered with golden clouds. After giving a respectful curtsey, she smiled and said, “Miss, Prince Liang received news early this morning that Physician Hong had entered the mansion. He was afraid that Miss might not be feeling well, so he came quietly through the back gate of our mansion. This maid received a message and went over. Prince Liang hesitated and said he came to retrieve the military strategy books annotated by the Duke…”

Upon hearing the words “Prince Liang,” Bai Qingyan’s body stiffened and she almost could not suppress her emotions. The hand resting on the kang table clenched so tightly that her nails nearly embedded themselves in the wenge wood. In her previous life, she had indeed handed over the military strategy books annotated by her grandfather to Prince Liang in this way.