The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 48

Seeing Chunyan’s fate, the five maids and servants who had taken bribes from Prince Liang’s household to deliver messages were trembling uncontrollably, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Dong-shi was so angry at Chunyan that her chest ached. She gritted her teeth, “Housekeeper Hao, follow the rules and show no leniency…”

Housekeeper Hao stepped forward immediately, efficiently dealing with the five greedy individuals. He broke their legs and had them and their families taken away by human traffickers to be sold.

With the end of the year approaching, Dong-shi, wife of the heir of the Duke’s residence, thoroughly cleaned up the household because the Duke’s residence’s gatekeepers had become involved with Prince Liang’s people. She punished those who deserved it, and sold off others who deserved to be sold. Even several stewards were implicated and suffered.

Dong-shi took bold steps to replace and adjust the stewards, and the gatekeepers were now guarded with military precision.

Dong-shi knew well that the mansion’s gatekeepers were the first line of defence and they could not afford any more mishaps.

Meanwhile, Prince Liang continued waiting outside the back gate. Tongji, hearing the commotion inside as gatekeepers were replaced, could not help but knock on the door but no one answered.

After a long while, someone came to report to Prince Liang that the Duke’s resilience had sold off several servants, and some had been carried out covered in blood. Prince Liang was nervous and realising he would not see Bai Qingyan today, ordered a retreat. Before leaving, he instructed Tongji, “Stay here. Find a way to contact Chunyan and find out what happened at the Duke’s mansion.”

“I understand!” Tongji nodded.

Back at his residence, Prince Liang was restless. Tongji returned, reporting that the gatekeepers and servants at the Duke’s residence had been replaced. He had tried bribing someone to call for Chunyan, but no one dared accept the money, all claiming that the Eldest Madam had just cleaned up the household and no one wanted to risk offending her.

Prince Liang could only close his eyes, pondering his next move.

That evening, Chunyan’s replacement as the big maid, Chunxing, stood obediently by Bai Qingyan’s side and reported the release of the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam, Jiang Fengchun from the capital mayor’s residence, “The case concluded that the five dowry maids died before their slave status was dissolved, so they were still considered slaves when they died. Thus, the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam was deemed innocent and released.”

Bai Qingyan listened, placing a piece on the chessboard, and nodded. “I see. You may go!”

Chunxing nodded and left, just as Chuntao entered with red eyes.

“Miss, shall this servant help you settle down?” Chuntao’s voice was thick with emotion.

Bai Qingyan asked, “How is Chunyan?”

Chuntao burst into tears again, overwhelmed with guilt and shame, wishing she could die, “The doctor said she’ll need about half a month to recover. The nanny who administered the punishment was lenient. Even breaking Chunyan’s legs wouldn’t have been too harsh!”

Bai Qingyan thought Chuntao being like this was endearing and patted Chuntao’s hand, “Alright! I’m not angry anymore, so you shouldn’t feel upset either! Even if you hadn’t pleaded for her, I wouldn’t have done anything too severe to Chunyan. I still have a use for her. Take good care of her, and keep this matter to yourself!”

Chuntao blinked her teary eyes. When she heard that Eldest Miss still had a use for Chunyan, she immediately brightened and assured her repeatedly, “Don’t worry, Eldest Miss. I won’t show any sign of it and will ensure Chunyan remains unaware.”

Today, after hearing Chunyan reveal so many of Miss’ private matters to Prince Liang, Chuntao felt not even a bit of sympathy for Chunyan. She would naturally follow Bai Qingyan’s instructions without question.

Meanwhile, Bai Qingxuan and his mother, who had been staying quietly in the Qingming Courtyard, heard about the major commotion in the Duke’s residence today. Almost 40 servants from five families were beaten and sold off.

The woman was so terrified and constantly dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, “We would have been better off staying quietly at that manor. At least there, we were still the masters of the place. We thought coming to the Duke’s residence would bring us a good life, but who knew you’d been beaten like this even before entering the gate? And now, being watched! Such a family that resorts to beating and killing at the slightest provocation…”

“Enough, mother! Stop talking!” Bai Qingxuan was already in pain from his wounds and could only lie on the bed. He was already frustrated and his eyes gleamed with malice, “Once I recover, we’ll see about this!”

A few days ago, the emperor had grandly rewarded and promoted Qin Lang with great fanfare, officially proclaiming him a role model for the sons of noble families. This made all the prominent families in the capital keep their wayward playboy sons at home to study diligently.

In recent days, business at the capital’s restaurants, tea houses, brothels, and pleasure boats had become increasingly bleak. The young scions of noble families, accustomed to a life of leisure and playing, were miserable at home.

It was not until the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve that these wayward sons had a good reason to gather together again. They openly shared their frustrations and boredom from staying home these days. Qin Lang, who was also at the banquet, was continuously pestered by his usual companions. He responded with a sheepish smile, bowing and toasting in apology to the one by one.

Bai Qingyan was brought by the Princess Dowager and was seated on the lower right side of the Emperor and Empress. Across from them, Prince Qi and Princess Qi immediately rose to greet the Princess Dowager. Bai Qingyan, following proper etiquette, stood behind the Princess Dowager and curtsied.

She recalled that in March of the 16th year of Xuanjia, which was next year, Prince Qi would be named Crown Prince and move into the Eastern Palace. His first task would be to preside over the trial of the Zhenguo Duke, Bai Weiting, for treason.

With Liu Huanzhang’s testimony and the letters found between the Zhenguo Duke and the Prince of Nanyan, the Bai family’s crimes were cemented by Prince Qi.

Later, when Prince Qi was already the Crown Prince, he petitioned for leniency for the Bai family women but was reprimanded by the Emperor and confined to the Eastern Palace to reflect on his actions.

At that time, she had hated Prince Qi intensely. Now, thinking back, she realised that as the Crown Prince, Prince Qi was helpless against the solid evidence.

She helped the Princess Dowager to her seat and then looked up to see Xiao Rongyan sitting behind Prince Qi. He nodded at her with a faint smile as he sat calmly. She clenched her hands and lowered her gaze, sitting upright. She was unsure if Xiao Rongyan had received her message.

Xiao Rongyan sitting behind Prince Qi was indicative of how much Prince Qi valued him.

“Chuntao…” She turned her head, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, and whispered, “Did your cousin deliver the letter?”

Kneeling beside her, Chuntao replied softly, “Rest assured, Miss. My cousin said he had a beggar deliver it to the Xiao residence, saying he had a letter for the housekeeper. He saw with his own eyes that the housekeeper received it. The beggar had no idea who my cousin was.”

Chen Qingsheng was reliable. In her previous life, Xiao Rongyan had helped her a lot. This time… She hoped to repay him a little.

As the eunuchs announced the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, she suppressed her seething hatred and helped the Princess Dowager rise to greet them.

It seemed that with Prince Liang’s recovery, the Emperor was in exceptionally good spirits.

After sitting down, she raised her cup along with the others. Her bright eyes… Looked at the Emperor, who was full of talk, giving a toast about benevolence, virtue, and peace. Her eyes were deep and unreadable.

Xiao Rongyan noticed Bai Qingyan’s composed yet unrespectful gaze at the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom and found it interesting. He lowered his eyes and recalled the note the housekeeper had shown him before he left for the banquet—”An ambush at the palace banquet, a traitor in Qi’s household.”

He raised his cup and drank with the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom, then held the cup in his hand tightly and glanced at Prince Qi, who was smiling at him. He returned the smile.