The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 69

“My Bai family has held the title of Zhenguo Duke since Great-great-great-grandfather founded the kingdom! A hundred years later, in the history books… Isn’t this enough to leave a name?! My father, uncles, and brothers were all ennobled as generals! There is no higher title! There is no higher honour! What greater military merit could there be than the Bai family’s renown, which has deterred Daliang and Rongdi from invading for ten years?! What merit could possibly be worth Grandfather fighting until every man in the Bai family is dead?! If the Bai family’s descendants are only living off our ancestors’ achievements, why would we not be revelling in peace in the capital?”

Bai Qingyan pointed at the ebony imperial plaque above her with golden words, “Live for the people, die for the kingdom! The Bai family lives up to the title ‘Zhenguo’ hanging high above my head! We guard the land of the Great Jin so that its people may live without fear, with no regrets in life or death!”

“But in the end, within this prosperous and splendid capital… Those who indulge in poetry, eat, drink, and have fun can enjoy the glory! Yet, the heroes of the Bai family who died protecting the kingdom are accused of sacrificing others for personal military gain! Where’s the logic?!”

She turned sideways, gesturing to the over 20 coffins placed within the gates of the Duke’s residence, “Tell me… If my grandfather caused the death of your sons, who killed my grandfather?! Who killed the sons of my Bai family?! Even the ten-year-old children of the Bai family died bleeding on the battlefield! Which of your families has sent ten-year-olds to fight?! Which family has ten-year-old children who can ride and wield swords to slay invaders?! Which family is willing to let your ten-year-old child die fighting for the kingdom?! Which family?!”

Her voice rose with each question, each word sparkling, her voice piercing like thunder. However, the anguish tore at her heart and lungs, leaving her trembling with unbearable pain.

The commoners were moved by Bai Qingyan’s impassioned words. Their hair stood on end and many had tears streaming down their faces. The Bai family’s loyalty and righteousness made them so filled with grief that they looked at the troublemakers with indignation.

Qin Shangzhi, who was staying at the Duke’s residence to recuperate, heard that the families of the soldiers were causing a commotion at the gates of the Duke’s residence. He rushed over, intending to assist the Bai family in gratitude for their hospitality in taking him in.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived he heard Bai Qingyan’s heart-wrenching and soul-stirring words. He too was deeply moved to tears and his bl00d boiled with the desire to fight alongside the Bai men to serve the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Bai Jinxiu, whose face was streaked with bl00d, clutched her chest as she knelt and cried out to the heavens, “Grandfather, open your eyes and look… These are the people the Bai family gave their lives to protect! The Bai family sacrificed everything for the people… Eldest Sister was gravely injured in the fight against the invaders! The men of the Bai family have all perished! And yet, this is the disgrace we receive in return! Grandfather… You taught us to sacrifice our lives for the people, to love and protect the people! But who will protect our Bai family?!”

Hearing Second Miss Bai Jinxiu’s anguished cries as she knelt on the ground, Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth tightly, her long-suppressed emotions breaking through as she cried bitterly.

The Bai family servants, dressed in mourning attire, were already in tears. Some knelt on the ground, crying out in anguish for the Duke, while others clenched the wooden sticks in their hands, wishing they could beat the troublemakers to death.

The common folk gathered outside the gates of the Duke’s Residence to watch the commotion now also had tears streaming down their faces. They were moved by the Bai family’s integrity and their unwavering devotion to protecting the people of the land.

The crowd wiped their tears with their sleeves, gritting their teeth and angrily cursing the family members of the soldiers who were causing trouble in front of the Duke’s residence.

“The one causing trouble just now is Wang Ergou’s stepmother! She’s just a heartless woman who forgets loyalty for profit… Wang Ergou isn’t her own child, so of course, she hopes Wang Ergou will be dead! Every man in the Zhenguo Duke’s family has died defending the country! She’s so shameless, she has the gall to come to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence and cause a scene! She’s clearly just trying to extort money! Heartless beast…” someone in the crowd angrily cursed.

“Bah! Shameless thing! The Zhenguo Duke’s family protected the citizens of Great Jin with their lives. Their household is mourning a tragedy as vast as the heavens, yet she has the nerve to extort money from them! They should throw all these troublemakers kneeling at the gates to the battle frontlines, let them face the torment of the armies of Western Liang and Nanyan! Only then would they understand the worth of the Duke’s residence!”

“The sons of the Zhenguo Duke’s family have all perished, and now the allied forces of Western Liang and Nanyan have broken through Nanjiang. Daliang and Rongdi are eyeing us like hungry wolves. In the future… who will protect our Great Jin?”

“What are you afraid of?! The sons and daughters of the Duke’s family are all heroes of the highest order! Eldest Miss, Second Miss, and Third Miss had once fought alongside the Duke on the battlefield are still here! Eldest Miss even personally slew General Pang Pingguo of the Shu Kingdom and crushed the Shu Kingdom that humiliated our Great Jin!”

As the speaker finished, the crowd looked toward Bai Qingyan who stood at the top of the steps. Bai Qingyan’s eyes were brimming with tears, her face as cold as frost. By her side, Bai Jinxiu, with an injury on her head, clutched her chest tightly and wept so hard that she needed the support of two maids just to stand. The people’s hearts ached at the sight. No matter how powerful the Bai family’s Eldest Miss, Second Miss, and Third Miss were, they were still only young women in the prime of their youth…

“These despicable dogs have no sense of respect for the deceased. To cause trouble at the Duke’s residence during such a time, is there no shame for the grief of the Duke’s widows?!”

Some of the commoners began to sob aloud, their emotions spreading throughout the crowd. Anger grew, and they glared fiercely at the group kneeling in front of the Duke’s residence who were causing trouble and demanding justice. Those kneeling at the back began to quietly shuffle backward, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

The most aggressive troublemaker, Wang Ergou’s stepmother, was now trembling with fear.

Surrounded by furious gazes that seemed ready to tear her apart, she darted her eyes left and right, finding no place to hide. Feigning defiance, she declared loudly, “Your Duke’s residence sure has great merits! But who would ever complain about having too many merits?! The more the better, of course!”

Bai Jintong, with tears in her eyes, stepped forward and gritted her teeth, “How dare you bring up military merit! What kind of merit is it that leaves my Bai family with over 20 coffins, too many to even fit in the hall, forcing us to place them out here under the open sky? Tell me, what kind of merit is this?! To leave my elderly grandmother bereft of her husband, her sons, and her grandsons?! Since you’ve come to the gates of the Duke’s residence to make a scene, then tell me… What kind of military merit did my grandfather desire?!”

The onlookers were moved by Bai Jintong’s words and grew increasingly agitated. Some young men, their faces red with anger, rolled up their sleeves and cursed, wishing they could tear the troublemakers apart.

“Damn it! Their entire family’s men sacrificed themselves for the nation and the people, and you still won’t stop causing trouble here! Believe it or not, I will beat you to death!”

Meanwhile, Lu Yuanpeng and Xiao Rongyan were with a group of guards as they approached the Duke’s residence, dragging along two bloodied criminals bound tightly with ropes and leading their horses at a leisurely pace.

As the two discussed how to report the incident to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, Lu Yuanpeng spotted the large crowd gathered in front of the gates from a distance.

“Brother Xiao! I’ll go ahead and take a look! You bring the men over after me! And don’t steal my credit!” With that, Lu Yuanpeng leapt onto his horse and spurred it into a gallop.

Xiao Rongyan’s lips held a faint smile, but his gaze was sharp and profound. He had already noticed Bai Qingyan standing at the gates of the Duke’s residence, clad in mourning attire. Turning slightly, he instructed, “Send two guards ahead to bring those two prisoners to the front.”

“Understood!” Xiao Rongyan’s subordinate replied promptly.

As thoughts of the note surfaced in his mind, the dark colour in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes grew even deeper.