The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 56

“Great!”

From within the crowd of onlookers, someone could not help but shout their approval, but quickly retracted their head, fearful of being seen by Prince Liang’s people and offending Prince Liang.

Bai Qingyan’s speech revealed the unwavering integrity and pride of the Bai family. This small glimpse revealed the whole picture, and one could see the firm and unyielding nature of the Duke’s residence. With a Duke’s residence who had cared about the citizens, had indomitable spirits and was full of majestic righteousness supporting the Great Jin Kingdom, how could the citizens of the Jin Kingdom not feel reassured?

“Eldest Miss Bai! His Highness absolutely never intended such a thing! It was all this maid acting of her own accord!” Prince Liang’s housekeeper bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, “Eldest Miss Bai must not let this maid’s actions sour the relations between the Duke’s household and Prince Liang’s residence.”

“If that is the case, I will trouble Prince Liang’s household to discipline the servants well so that they won’t come to Bai’s residence to make trouble again! As a prince, His Highness Prince Liang should act as a role model for the people. He should stand upright and straight, cultivate his moral character, act with integrity, and know what should and shouldn’t be done. Don’t bribe servants to pry into the private lives of the ladies in their private rooms, lest he tarnish the reputation of the royal family.” Bai Qingyan smiled coldly at Tong Ji. “Fourth Sister! Let her go!”

“You’re getting off easy!” Bai Jinzhi was indignant. Gritting her teeth, she shoved the kneeling Hong Qiao away. If it was not for Eldest Sister stopping her… She would have whipped this treacherous maid a hundred times.

The usually taciturn Gao Sheng noticed that Hong Qiao wanted to pick up her hairpin and commit suicide, so he quickly restrained her.

“Guard Gao, just let me die! I only acted because I knew that His Highness had feelings for Eldest Miss Bai! I thought that Eldest Miss Bai was refusing to see him because she knew I served His Highness. I never expected to cause such a misunderstanding between Miss Bai and His Highness! Eldest Miss Bai, it was not His Highness who sent me here. I came on my own… You mustn’t misunderstand His Highness!”

Hong Qiao cried miserably.

“It doesn’t matter whether it was Prince Liang’s command or your own initiative to come in front of our Duke’s residence to cause trouble! In the end… The bridging of our servants, the sending of a jade pendant, and the repeated requests to meet my Eldest Sister secretly… all originated from your Prince Liang!” Bai Jingtong said icily, then turned to Prince Liang’s housekeeper and cupped her fists, “Please keep the servants of Prince Liang’s residence in check! If the commotion continues, I’m afraid Grandmother, the Princess Dowager…”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The housekeeper of Prince Liang’s residence hastily nodded before turning to Gao Sheng. “Guard Gao, take this wretched maid away!”

Gao Sheng nodded.

Bai Qingyan stood in front of the main entrance of the Duke’s mansion, watching Gao Sheng retreat with cold eyes.

Gao Sheng was Prince Liang’s most formidable guard, while Du Zhiwei was his most skilled strategist. She wondered if the drama from Hong Qiao today had been orchestrated by Du Zhiwei. If it had… She had certainly overestimated Du Zhiwei.

“Let’s head back!” she said to Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi glared at the housekeeper of Prince Liang’s residence as he bowed in farewell. With anger in her eyes, she clenched her whip tightly as they returned to the mansion.

The closer it got to New Year’s Eve, the more uneasy Bai Qingyan became. She was frequently woken by nightmares of the men of the Bai family being annihilated on the front lines in her previous life.

It was just past 5am on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month. All was silent, and the sound of the north wind sweeping up the snow outside the window could be faintly heard.

Someone knocked on the gate of the Qinghui Courtyard. Bai Qingyan, who was a light sleeper, woke up with a start, hearing only the howling wind outside the window.

She had abruptly woken from her nightmare and her heart was still racing. Not seeing Chuntao, who kept watch by her side, she rasped out, “Chuntao…”

At the courtyard gate, Chuntao’s face had turned pale. Hearing Bai Qingyan call her, she turned her head to glance at the main house, then said to Lu Ping at the gate, “Miss is awake! Please wait a moment, I will report to Miss at once!”

Ignoring the snow and cold clinging to her clothes, Chuntao hurriedly rushed into the main house, slipping with every step.

Seeing Bai Qingyan already sitting on the edge of the bed, Chuntao bowed and said, “Eldest Miss, Miss Shen Qingzhu has sent Wu Zhe to deliver a letter to Miss. Wu Zhe is bleeding rapidly, it’s likely he won’t live long. Guard Lu Ping was afraid of delaying Miss’ important matters, so he could only come to request for Miss in the middle of the night!”

Her scalp tightened. She abruptly stood up, her voice trembling uncontrollably, “Bring me my cloak! Hurry!”

Dressed in plain white undergarments, Bai Qingyan threw on her cloak and strode out into the wind.

The cold wind was like a knife, and the snow rushed towards her, piercing through her whole body at once.

“Eldest Miss!” Lu Ping bowed deeply.

She quickly pulled up Lu Ping by the arm. “Where have you placed him? Take me there immediately!”

Seeing the iron determination on Bai Qingyan’s face, Lu Ping dared not delay and led the way with a lamp. Clinging tightly to Chuntao’s hand, she slipped repeatedly as they hurried through the snow with Lu Ping to the courtyard’s side gate.

The fierce wind and snow lashed against her face and eyes… Even though it was like a knife, she did not feel the pain, only a chaotic storm within her heart.

By the time the three of them reached the side gate, Bai Qingyan was already frozen stiff, her face turning blue from the cold.

The guard who was by Wu Zhe’s bedside saw her and struggled to stand up, “Eldest Miss!”

“Eldest… Eldest Miss!” Wu Zhe tried to get up, but each word brought blood pouring from his mouth, a shocking sight to behold.

Her eyes reddened and she rushed forward, ignoring all propriety and etiquette, her ice-cold hands supporting Wu Zhe, “I’m here…”

Lu Ping hurriedly placed a cushion behind Wu Zhe.

After a moment of respite, Wu Zhe urgently spoke, “We travelled day and night to Nanjiang. Just after crossing the Chongluan Range, we encountered the Bai family’s Tiger Battalion’s Commander, Fang Yan, being pursued by assassins, cough, cough! I risked my life but could only save what General Fang Yan had been protecting… The bamboo slips on which the official historian kept recorded the war events! General Fang Yan uttered one last sentence, saying that treachery has destroyed our Bai Family Army… Cough, cough, cough, and then he died! The assassins kept coming, but in order to protect the bamboo slips, Miss Shen Qingzhu led Ji Tingyu and Wei Gao to divert them. She instructed us that even if we die, we must deliver the bamboo slips safely to the capital and hand them over to Miss!”

As Wu Zhe spoke, he lowered his head. His hands were already crusted with dried blood and they trembled as he undid his clothing to reveal the bamboo slips, stained red with his blood and tightly bound to his body, “Wu Zhe has fulfilled his duty!”

Chuntao covered her mouth. When she saw how the bamboo slips had almost embedded themselves into Wu Zhe’s bloody flesh, she had goosebumps all over her body.

“The bamboo slips, protected by the lives of my brothers, have been delivered safely. Wu Zhe can now meet them in the afterlife with honour! Cough, cough…”

She gritted her teeth, looking away from the bamboo slips, her heart twisting with sorrow. She shifted her gaze to Wu Zhe, who had a faint smile on his face.

“Eldest Miss, Wu Zhe does not fear death. I only ask that the Princess Dowager and Eldest Miss never let the traitors who destroyed our Bai Family Army go unpunished!”

Her lips tightened into a thin line, tears falling uncontrollably like broken strings of pearls. Struggling to control her emotions, she gently patted Wu Zhe on the shoulder with trembling hands and said with a sob, “On behalf of the tens of thousands of Bai Family soldiers, I thank you! Rest and recover well. I will make sure you live to see the traitors receive their retribution!”

Wu Zhe smiled weakly, “Eldest Miss, in the next life… Wu Zhe will still serve the Bai Family!”

Just as he finished speaking, a mouthful of blood burst from Wu Zhe’s mouth.

She held him, her scalp tingling, and shouted, “Uncle Ping! Go and get Physician Hong! Get Physician Hong Immediately!”

Wu Zhe slumped against Bai Qingyan, his blurred vision catching sight of Bai Qingyan’s white fox fur cloak stained with his blood. He opened his mouth and wanted to apologise, but in the end, he said nothing more and took his final breath.

“Eldest Miss, Wu Zhe is gone!” Lu Ping knelt on one knee, looking up at Bai Qingyan, his voice choking with emotion.