The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 44

Chuntao did not ask why. She carefully folded the paper and placed it in her sleeve, nodding solemnly, “Rest assured, Miss.”

“Eldest Miss,” Chunyan entered through the curtain and bowed slightly. “Guard Lu Ping reports that the young master brought back from the village has been settled in Qingming Courtyard, but he won’t be able to get out of bed for at least half a month.”

Only half a month. He had gotten off lightly.

“Hmm” Bai Qingyan nodded, “I understand. Tell Uncle Ping to have someone guard the Qingming Courtyard. No one is allowed to enter or leave without permission, especially to prevent Fourth Miss from taking it upon herself to whip that mother and son. Thank Uncle Ping for his hard work today and tell him to rest early.”

Leaving the inner residence, Lu Ping took two bottles of wine and some medicine to Qin Shangzhi’s quarters. As he tended to Qin Shangzhi’s injuries, he recounted the events that unfolded at Manjiang Restaurant, his face filled with concern.

“After the incident at the entrance of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, you shook your head, saying that although Eldest Miss’ words defended the Bai family’s honour, they might further displease the Emperor! And now, after today’s scene at Manjiang Restaurant… I’m genuinely worried about the Duke’s household!” Lu Ping sighed, taking a sip of his wine, “Say, do you think there’s any way to dissuade Eldest Miss?”

Qin Shangzhi’s grip on the wine bottle tightened suddenly. He lifted his head, as if struck by a revelation. His eyes gleamed and he slapped the table, bursting into hearty laughter, “What an extraordinary Eldest Miss the Bai family has!”

Lu Ping looked at Qin Shangzhi, “Why are you laughing?!”

“Your Duke’s residence’s Eldest Miss has an exceptionally broad vision and strategic mind!” Qin Shangzhi took a sip of wine. Eyes alight with admiration, he raised his thumb, speaking quickly and excitedly, “I could only see ten steps ahead, but she has already foreseen until the final ninety-nine steps! Every move Eldest Miss makes is calculated! She’s elevating the Bai family’s prestige among the common people, rallying public support. She’s positioning the Bai family to win the hearts of the populace!”

Seeing Lu Ping’s puzzled expression, Qin Shangzhi sighed, “A true strategist seeks to shape circumstances and not depend solely on people. This way, they can leverage any situation! Your Eldest Miss is using the art of war! What she wants… is to compel the current Emperor to refrain from touching the Bai family out of fear of public opinion and judgement! Those in high positions may seem to have control, but they’re still afraid of public sentiment, outrage, and the critical eyes of future historians!”

Qin Shangzhi took another deep drink and put the bottle down heavily. His voice filled with fervour and a tinge of melancholy over his own lack of recognition, “What an incredible young woman! It’s a pity… If your Eldest Miss was a man instead, the Bai family’s glory could have been sustained for at least another three generations!”

If Bai Qingyan was not a girl, she would undoubtedly have a prominent place in the highest echelons of authority!

If Bai Qingyan was not a girl, given her extraordinary wisdom alone, Qin Shangzhi would have willingly pledged allegiance to the Bai family as an advisor! Unfortunately… She was a woman and no matter how talented she was, she was confined to the inner courtyard.

“What a pity!” Qin Shangzhi felt a pang in his heart and raised his head to drink wine. This sigh was as much for himself as it was for Bai Qingyan.

The next morning, just as Bai Qingyan finished her morning exercises and was having breakfast, Chunyan entered with a bright smile and bowed, “It was just as Eldest Miss predicted. Fourth Miss heard about yesterday’s incident on the main street. Early this morning, she grabbed a whip and stormed into Qingming Courtyard, swinging it fiercely. Fourth Miss even smashed the newly planted saplings into two. The man in bed and that concubine were so terrified they huddled together in the room, not daring to come out! I say, Eldest Miss shouldn’t have let the guards stop her… Should have let Fourth Miss give them a good beating to let them know that our Eldest Miss is not to be trifled with! Such insolence!”

Bai Qingyan lowered her head and silently continued eating her congee, while Chuntao frowned and said, “No matter what, they are still the Second Master’s illegitimate son and concubine. As servants, we shouldn’t say such things! Don’t speak like this again to avoid bringing trouble to Eldest Miss.”

Chunyan pouted unhappily but stood aside quietly.

Just as Bai Qingyan finished her meal, Aunty Jiang arrived with people from Tianxiu Boutique.

“These are imperial jade chess pieces. When the Princess Dowager was as old as Eldest Miss, the late Emperor gifted her this,” Aunty Jiang said, placing the chess box aside, “The Princess Dowager cherishes Eldest Miss, and asked this old servant to bring these to Eldest Miss.”

“Thank you, Grandmother!” She gently stroked the exquisitely crafted jade chess pieces, understanding that Aunty Jiang was there to comfort her on behalf of her grandmother, “Aunty, I know Grandmother is worried I might overthink things, but I won’t!”

Aunty Jiang’s eyes reddened. “This old servant knows Eldest Miss won’t! Eldest Miss was raised by the Princess Dowager and this old servant… We know your temperament well!”

After seeing off Aunty Jiang, Chuntao admired the intricate embroidery on Bai Qingyan’s new clothes from Tianxiu Boutique, exclaiming, “Eldest Miss, the clothes made by Tianxiu Boutique are truly exceptional. Look how beautiful they are! Which one does Eldest Miss plan to wear to the palace banquet?”

Bai Qingyan looked at the five sets of clothes from Tianxiu Boutique and pointed to a plain white one. Then she picked up a chess piece and asked, “Shen Qingzhu… How many days has she been gone?”

“Eldest Miss, Miss Shen has been gone for nine days,” Chuntao replied.

Bai Qingyan nodded, calculating that Shen Qingzhu should have reached the border city by now.

In her previous life, the news of the Bai family sons perishing in Nanjiang came back on New Year’s Eve. She had been reborn on the 14th of the 12th lunar month. She knew it was likely too late to save the Bai family sons, but she had still sent Shen Qingzhu to try.

She simply prayed to the heavens, pleading for mercy on her Bai family. Even if Shen Qingzhu could only save one man from her family, it would be a blessing!
Exhausted, she closed her eyes, steadying her breath, which was hot and wet with restrained emotion. With tears brimming, she placed the chess piece back into the box. This was not the time for sorrow. It would be New Year’s Eve soon and she had little time left to act.
Chuntao had just come out of the room after having the maid in charge of Bai Qingyan’s clothes put them away when she saw Chunyan looking unhappy. She could not help but ask, “What’s the matter now? Why are you pouting so early in the morning?”
Chunyan frowned and whispered to Chuntao, “Just now, I saw from a distance that Second Young Master Qin was bowing towards our courtyard for no apparent reason. It’s so odd!”
Inside the room, Bai Qingyan wrapped a sandbag around her wrist and began to grind the inkstone, feeling a slight sense of relief. Even the corners of her mouth hinted at a faint smile. Qin Lang had not disappointed her, he was indeed a perceptive person…
Yesterday, Qin Lang had moved out of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence into the house gifted by the Emperor. Qin Lang was a kind and intelligent man. Once Bai Jinxiu recovered, she would move into their new home. Their future life would certainly be peaceful and secure.
“You’re too nosy…” Chuntao adjusted her sleeves and said helplessly, “It’s not like Second Young Master came to disturb the Eldest Miss.”
Chunyan was about to say something when she saw an old gatekeeper woman peering curiously at the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard. Unable to hide her delight, she quickly curtsied to Chuntao and said, “Got it, Sister Chuntao! I just remembered… Sister Zhu told me yesterday to come and get some embroidery patterns from her today. I’m leaving first!”