The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 46

She circled around the desk and instructed Chuntao to fetch her fox fur cloak.

Chuntao quickly wiped her tears and put the fox fur cloak on Bai Qingyan. As they stepped out, Chuntao asked hesitantly, “Eldest Miss, how should we deal with Chunyan?! Should we… send her away?”

She took a deep breath to suppress her anger. It was not the right time yet. Chunyan still had her uses.

She knew Prince Liang’s viciousness all too well, and also the tactics used by his strategist Du Zhiwei. If she sent Chunyan away now, Du Zhiwei and Prince Liang would find someone else in the Duke’s residence to bribe. Human nature was the most fragile. She could not afford to gamble, especially at such a critical moment.

In her previous life, she had prided herself on her wisdom, but she had been blind. She believed that Chunyan, who worked against her interests while pretending to be loyal, was only speaking well of Prince Liang for her sake.

Standing in the corridor, Bai Qingyan clenched the hand warmer tightly. She thought for a moment before her eyes flashed coldly, “I won’t take her life. Bring her to the front courtyard.”

Chuntao’s eyes filled with tears when she heard this, thinking that it was because of her previous plea that was causing Bai Qingyan difficulty. She choked up and said, “Eldest Miss, I…”

She had a severe headache and a strong sense of fatigue overwhelmed her. She did not want to continue dwelling on Chunyan’s issue. Tightening her cloak, she steeled herself and walked towards the front courtyard.

Prince Liang had sent someone to deliver a jade pendant, promising her the position of primary consort. He had even come personally despite his severe injuries. It was clear he would not stop at using her to gain military merits.

With her constitution, it was tough for Prince Liang to show such “perseverance” towards her, but she would rather die than serve him again!

Since the shamelessly ruthless villain Prince Liang’s warm-hearted tactics were ineffective, she had to prevent them from using her reputation to force her into Prince Liang’s residence. In order to do this, she had to make public the fact that Prince Liang had bribed the servants in their house and repeatedly asked to see her. She also had to ensure everyone knew she was not leaving room for anyone else, so that everyone could see her disdain for Prince Liang’s shameless tactics, and so Prince Liang’s thoughts could be thoroughly crushed, making him not dare to act rashly.

Outside the back gate of the Duke’s residence, a seemingly ordinary carriage was parked by a tree with coughing sounds occasionally coming from within.

Tongji kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, pressing his head against the back corner gate of the Duke’s residence. He eagerly peered through the gap in the gate but saw no signs of anyone coming. Cold and impatient, he stomped his feet.

From inside the carriage came another fit of heart-wrenching coughs. Tongji hurriedly climbed back into the carriage and gently patted Prince Liang’s back, his face showing displeasure, “This Eldest Miss Bai truly doesn’t know how to appreciate others’ kindness. Your Highness offered the position of primary consort to someone who might not even bear children, and she still dared to refuse! If Your Highness really wants this Eldest Miss Bai… Just ask the Empress to decree her as a secondary consort. You are so gravely injured, why bother coming in person today?! It’s flattering her so much that she has no idea of the limitations of her own abilities!”

Prince Liang clenched his fist and coughed a few times. Then he pulled the brocade quilt over himself and stretched out a hand to warm it by the fire. He whispered, “You don’t understand anything!”

Unless absolutely necessary, he could not force Bai Qingyan into Prince Liang’s residence. He needed Bai Qingyan for her skills and thus had to make her willingly submit to him.

Yesterday on the main street, Bai Qingyan had swiftly handled the illegitimate son of the Duke’s residence who was not even included in the family register. Now it was widely said that Bai Qingyan was a heroine with a steely resolve. He could not neglect Bai Qingyan anymore.

Thinking about Bai Qingyan’s recent aloofness, Prince Liang felt something was amiss. He could not rest easy without seeing her in person.

While Prince Liang was still waiting in the carriage outside the back corner gate, the stewards, servants, old and young maids of the Duke’s residence gathered in the front courtyard. Wooden boards were prepared, and the servants were all panicking, glancing at each other, and wondering what major problem had occurred. They felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.

A steward approached and asked Housekeeper Hao, but Hao remained silent, standing high on the steps.

Bai Qingyan had not hidden anything about Prince Liang’s repeated attempts to meet her in secret at the back gate through asking her servants, including the jade gift, from her mother Dong-shi.

At first, Dong-shi felt quite pleased, but upon deeper reflection, she realised that if Prince Liang genuinely had feelings for Bai Qingyan, he would openly visit the Duke’s residence to seek the elders’ consent, and after finding out that Bai Qingyan had no engagements, he would send someone to arrange a proper proposal. This would show respect for Bai Qingyan. However, he frequently bribed the mansion’s servants for private meetings. This was disrespecting her daughter. If the matter got out of hand, Bai Qingyan’s reputation would definitely be ruined. Dong-shi broke into a cold sweat at the thought.

Considering the Duke’s residence, Dong-shi was the head of the family and knew the seriousness of the matter all too well. Troubles always started from within the family. Although the end of the year was approaching, those who deserved punishment needed to be dealt with severely.

Dong-shi made the prompt decision and ordered several slave traders to be summoned before she headed to the front courtyard with Bai Qingyan.

The vast front courtyard was filled with stewards, servants, old and young maids. Seeing Aunty Qin supporting Eldest Madam Dong-shi followed by Eldest Miss Bai Qingyan, they hurriedly bowed and curtseyed in respect.

Dong-shi’s sharp phoenix eyes swept over the courtyard full of servants and maids. She sat down on a chair under the veranda and asked, “Have the slave traders arrived?”

Housekeeper Hao stepped forward and bowed to Dong-shi, “Madam, they are waiting.”

Dong-shi nodded and turned to instruct Housekeeper Hao, “Bring the people up!”

Soon, the young servant who had gone to tip off Prince Liang’s residence, the old woman who had passed the jade pendant to Chunyan, and the woman who Yinshuang had knocked out earlier were all brought in, tightly bound.

Seeing the situation, the young servant’s legs began to tremble and he immediately knelt down, crying and begging, “Eldest Madam, please have mercy! This servant was greedy for money. Other than passing a message between Prince Liang’s residence and Miss Chunyan, this servant truly has not done anything to harm our Duke’s residence!”

The old woman who had been knocked out that morning banged her head on the floor, pleading, “This old servant… This old servant also only accepted Prince Liang’s money to pass a message from his servant to Miss Chunyan!”

“This old servant also only called for Miss Chunyan on behalf of Prince Liang’s servant! This old servant only called for Miss Chunyan that one time!” The old woman who had passed the jade pendant to Chunyan knelt and crawled a couple of steps, “Miss Chunyan! Miss Chunyan, say something!”

Standing beside Bai Qingyan, Chunyan recalled what Chuntao had said earlier about Mingyu. She felt her legs go weak and she immediately knelt down, sweating profusely. “Madam, Eldest Miss! This servant… this servant…”

Dong-shi picked up the tea Aunty Qin offered her. She glanced at Chunyan, burning with anger. If it were not for her daughter’s plea before coming… She would have ordered people to drag Chunyan, this wretched servant, away and have her beaten to death today!

“What messages have you all passed to Chunyan, and what has Chunyan asked you to relay back to Prince Liang’s residence? Tell me everything truthfully,” Bai Qingyan did not seem annoyed at all as she gracefully took her seat and said slowly.