The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 6

When Bai Jinxiu saw the sword scabbard, completely white with the carving of the Bai family army totem, she quickly got up and walked briskly to the brocade box. She carefully took out the sword, holding it in her hand with a rapidly beating heart, “Qingfeng Sword?!”

This was the Bai family’s heirloom sword!

When her elder sister returned from the battlefield with injuries, she lost her engagement to the Zhongyong Marquis family. Their grandfather feared that her elder sister would remain unmarried for life and that the sisters-in-law would not accommodate her eldest sister, so he specially passed on the heirloom sword to her elder sister.

Bai Qingyan gently tucked a strand of hair behind Bai Jinxiu’s ear and spoke softly, “The wife of the Zhongyong Marquis is the stepmother of the son. There may be conflicts in your interactions with her. Remember, you don’t have to compromise on everything. You have the backing of the Zhenguo Duke’s household.”

In her previous life, Bai Jinxiu died on the day of her marriage into the Zhong Yong Marquis’ household. Later, the eldest son of the Zhongyong Marquis, Qin Lang, married the soft-spoken second daughter of a minister from the Ministry of Personnel. She was tormented and bullied by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, leading to her dying of illness before 30 years.

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s comforting words, Bai Jinxiu, who had been anxious about marrying into an unfamiliar environment, felt a wave of relief and tears welled up in her eyes.

Bai Qingyan took out a handkerchief to wipe away Bai Jinxiu’s tears but found her hand being held by Bai Jinxiu instead. Bai Jinxiu took a step closer to Bai Qingyan, lowered her voice, and said earnestly, “Prince Liang has deep feelings for Eldest Sister. He will surely cherish and protect Eldest Sister. Eldest Sister mustn’t miss out on such a good marriage!”

Bai Qingyan thought of how in her previous life, Bai Jinxiu had begged Prince Liang to protect her well and not betray her. Thousands of emotions overwhelmed her and her eyes turned red, “Hurry and do your makeup!”

It was 9am to 11am, and firecrackers sounded outside the main gate of the mansion.

Bai Qingyan looked up at the door and idly toyed with her teacup.

“Oh my, what should we do? Second Miss hasn’t finished her dressing yet!”

“Why is the Zhongyong Marquis’ son so impatient, arriving half an hour earlier than the originally scheduled bridal welcoming time?”

“Oh no! I can’t find the earrings…”

“What about the headdress?! I can’t find the headdress either!”

Inside the boudoir, the maids and servants were in a frenzy, pushing and shoving as they searched for things everywhere.

As expected, just like in her previous life, the Zhongyong Marquis’ welcoming party had arrived half an hour early. The cousins arranged by the elders who were supposed to stop them at the gate were probably off gambling in a remote corner.

However, it did not matter. Bai Qingyan had already arranged for her fourth sister, Bai Jinzhi, to set up a chessboard at the main gate and wait. Today, their Zhenguo Duke’s household must not allow Bai Jinxiu to leave one hour early without anyone stopping her, as it had happened in her previous life… resulting in her losing her life.

At this moment, Qin Lang, the groom from the Zhongyong Marquis’ household, dismounted in front of the Zhengguo Duke’s residence. He was a young man with a handsome and heroic appearance and he seemed to be in high spirits, probably because of the joyous occasion.

The Zhengguo Duke’ daughter was marrying, and the Zhongyong Marquis’ son was taking a bride. This was the most anticipated wedding in the capital city in recent years, and even the famous playboys in the city had followed Qin Lang to join in the festivities.

“The 17 young masters of the Zhengguo Duke’s household went to the battlefield in Nanjiang. It’s too easy for our Young Master Qin to take a bride!” remarked Lu Yuanpeng, the youngest grandson of the Right Minister Lu.

Since Bai Qingyan’s grandfather, the Duke of Zhengguo, and her grandmother, the Princess Dowager, were still alive, and the Princess Dowager lived in the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion instead of her own princess residence, the Bai family had not split into separate households or residences due to filial piety. This led to the title “17 Young Masters of the Bai Family” for the Bai family’s younger generation.

Normally, Lu Yuanpeng had a close relationship with the 17 young masters of the Bai family and was not hesitant to joke with them. He shouted, “Everyone! Everyone… They say that the Zhengguo Duke’s Bai family army is invincible and they enter the enemy’s territory as if it were empty. Today, as we come to the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion for the wedding, let’s experience what it’s like to be in an empty enemy territory… Charge, everyone! Let’s go grab the bride!”

Laughter erupted outside the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion, and following Lu Yuanpeng’s command, they rushed inside.

However, before they could rush in, the well-trained maids and servants of the Zhengguo Duke’s household blocked the entrance like disciplined soldiers. This formation surprised the young masters.

“Is the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion planning to use maids to stop us?” Lu Yuanpeng asked dazedly as he observed the situation.

After a moment, the fourth miss of the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion emerged from behind the maids with a riding whip in her hand, dressed in equestrian attire with an air of confidence. With her hands behind her back, she displayed a mixture of charm and pride.

“All members of the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion, listen to my command!” Bai Jinzhi raised her riding whip.

“We obey Fourth Miss’ command!” The maids and servants of the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion responded in unison, their formation as orderly and disciplined as an army. This display actually intimidated the spoiled young masters who had come to welcome the bride.

“Eldest Sister has given orders. Those who dare to forcefully enter the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion need not be shown any mercy. Don’t let anyone think that the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion has no male descendants!” Bai Jinzhi flicked her whip to scare away the young masters who had intended to charge forward. The crack of her whip in the air had an inexplicable awe-inspiring effect.

The Zhengguo Duke’s mansion was indeed the backbone of the nation, even its young ladies exhibited a tough and resolute demeanour.

Qin Lang, the Zhongyong Marquis’ heir, stepped forward and bowed to the fourth miss, Bai Jinzhi, saying, “Fourth Miss, please don’t misunderstand. The Zhengguo Duke is the pillar of our country. We are able to sing and dance in the peace and prosperity of the capital city thanks to the Zhengguo Duke going to the bloody battlefield. Even though we may be unruly, we dare not disrespect the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion by saying there are no male heirs. We hope that Fourth Miss can allow us to enter!”

“Good!” Bai Jinzhi still appeared proud and flamboyant as ever. She put away her whip and ordered, “Bring out the chessboard!”

The servants of the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion carefully carried out a chessboard and placed it at the door along with stools.

Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi continued, “My Eldest Sister said that our Bai family is a lineage of warriors who treat the chessboard as a battlefield… If the welcoming team led by the Young Master Qin can defeat this chess game, then they are qualified to enter and marry Second Sister!”

Bai Jinzhi blocked the door forcefully. Inside the boudoir, Bai Qingyan leaned over to fasten Bai Jinxiu’s earrings and said, “Don’t worry, even if our grandfather and second uncle are not here, the Zhengguo Duke’s household will not let the Zhongyong Marquis’ household think that our Bai family has no one and look down on you.”

“Eldest Sister! Eldest Sister!” Bai Jinzhi rushed in hurriedly, panting as she played a move on the chessboard, using her hand to fan herself, “Eldest Sister, Qin Lang just made a move here, and everyone cheered. Did he break through?”

Considering the time, it had not passed the time when Prince Liang was assassinated. Bai Qingyan handed Bai Jinzhi the tea cup, wiped her sweat with a handkerchief, and then stood in front of the chessboard to examine where Qin Lang had placed his white piece.

Bai Jinzhi drank the tea like a cow, then stretched her neck to get a look at where Bai Qingyan placed her piece.

Qin Lang had placed his white piece in such a way that he not only avoided many traps on the chessboard but also did not advance recklessly. This move would secure the advantage for the white pieces and contribute to the overall situation, making it look like in the entire chess game… No matter where the black pieces were placed next, it could not rectify the state of defeat.

After pondering for a moment, Bai Qingyan held back her sleeve with her left hand, bent down, and picked up a black piece from the chess box. She placed it on the board…

Bai Jinzhi watched where Bai Qingyan had placed the piece, then rushed back to the entrance of the Zhengguo Duke’s mansion and put down a black piece on the chessboard, mimicking Bai Qingyan’s move.

Outside, there were exclamations of surprise… As the black piece was placed, the situation changed dramatically. The black pieces surged forward as if swallowing mountains and rivers, instantly taking half of the white pieces’ territory.

“Wonderful!” Lu Yuanpeng exclaimed, “This black piece is like a miraculous arrival from the heavens, so cunning! In an instant, it reversed the killing momentum, fierce and terrifying! May I ask, who is the one handling the black pieces in the Zhengguo Duke’s household?”

“Eldest Sister,” Bai Jinzhi said, looking triumphant.

For a moment, everyone thought of that person from the Zhengguo Duke’s household… The only person with a name that shared the same character “Qing” as the men in the family was the eldest daughter.

Upon hearing that it was Bai Qingyan who was handling the black pieces, Qing Lan seemed to be lost in thought.