The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 71

“You’re a bunch of disloyal and shameless scoundrels!” Lu Yuanpeng pointed his horsewhip at the group of greedy and ungrateful troublemakers kneeling outside the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, his indignation overflowing. “The Bai family of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence defended the peace and prosperity of this imperial capital with their bl00d and lives! Instead of being grateful, you dare to tarnish the honour of those loyal heroes over gold and silver! Are you lot even human?!”

“And you two!” His horsewhip swung towards the so-called Jianghu men, “Without the Bai family fighting off invaders on the borders, what Jianghu would you even be talking about?! Jianghu honour?! Where did you get the audacity?! The men of the Bai family died for the sake of our Great Jin. Just for money… Are you trying to force their widows to death?!”

The simmering anger of the crowd, already on the verge of boiling over, erupted at Lu Yuanpeng’s fiery words. Sleeves were rolled up, fists clenched, and the masses began to lash out…

“These despicable scoundrels! Beat these disloyal and unjust poeple to death!”

The scene outside the Zhenguo Duke’s residence descended into chaos. Even Lu Yuanpeng swung his horsewhip and joined the fight.

Only Xiao Rongyan remained still, standing apart like a figure beyond worldly concerns. After a moment, he turned to his guards and said, “Protect those two men. Don’t let them die.”

The troublemaking soldiers’ family members and the two so-called “Jianghu men” were beaten again and again by the enraged crowd all the way to the capital mayor’s office.

The capital mayor had already anticipated a difficult New Year due to the tragic loss of the Duke’s residence’s men in Nanjiang. However, he could not have imagined that by noon on New Year’s Day, the Right Prime Minister’s most beloved grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, would send him such a “grand gift,” accompanied by the citizens of the capital.

To avoid disturbing the Princess Dowager and the other elders who had just retired to rest, Bai Jintong dragged Bai Jinzhi to Bai Qingyan’s Qinghui Courtyard.

Bai Jinzhi knelt on the azure stone bricks of the courtyard, her neck stiff. She was unafraid of family punishment but she refused to submit.

Lu Ping, holding the military rod used for family discipline, stood nearby and was feeling particularly hesitant. After all, it was the others who had come to stir up trouble at the Duke’s residence first, and Fourth Miss had acted out of a desire to protect the Duke’s residence’s honour.

Third Miss Bai Jintong stood beside Bai Qingyan with her hands clasped behind her back. She glanced at Bai Jinzhi, whose eyes brimmed with tears. Lowering her voice, she pleaded, “Eldest Sister, Little Fourth knows she was wrong. After all, it was the others who provoked us first today.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s lips pressed tightly together and her gaze fixed sharply on Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jintong hurriedly added, “Little Fourth! Apologise to Eldest Sister!”

With her forehead freshly bandaged, Bai Jinxiu hurriedly entered through the gates of Qinghui Courtyard, supported by Qingshu. She glanced at Bai Jinzhi, who was kneeling in the courtyard, then walked to Bai Qingyan’s side, curtseying as she pleaded on Bai Jinzhi’s behalf, “Eldest Sister, Little Fourth was at fault, but there was a reason. Little Fourthwas trying to protect the family’s honour.”

“If Eldest Sister wants beat me, I am willing! But I refuse to submit!” Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth, tears brimming as she stared directly at Bai Qingyan, who stood under the eaves, “I acted to protect the reputation of our Duke’s residence! I did nothing wrong!”

Bai Jinzhi turned to glare at Bai Jinxiu, “But Second Sister… When those despicable scoundrels defamed the Duke’s residence, Second Sister just stood by and did nothing! Second Sister is a coward! Shame on you!”

Seeing Bai Jinzhi’s defiant expression, she felt both a stabbing pain in her heart and bitter disappointment, “Uncle Ping, wait outside the courtyard for now.”

The expansive Qinghui Courtyard grew silent, leaving only the four sisters.

“Your Second Sister is a coward? If your Second Sister was a coward, how could she have nearly lost an arm saving your third brother but still killed the enemy’s vanguard with her own hands?! Since childhood, your Second Sister took the blame for you countless times and has suffered at least two hundred lashes in your place. Is that cowardice?! Just now at the gates of our Duke’s residence, if your Second Sister had not chosen the perfect moment to cry, do you think the citizens would have rallied behind the Bai family and overlooked your actions with the whip? At the Qin family of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, your Second Sister stayed silent when needed, but when she acted… She cornered Qin Lang until he risked everything and left the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence! You think your Second Sister is a coward, but do you think you’re a hero because you hurt others and flaunted violence?!”

Bai Jinzhi turned her head stubbornly, still unwilling to submit.

“When your Second Sister held you back, did she not warn you that those people causing trouble at the gates of the Duke’s residence might have ulterior motives and that you must not act impulsively?!” She asked harshly, “Brandishing a whip at the Duke’s gates and shouting threats of killing, how impressive of you! If it weren’t for Lu Yuanpeng capturing those two criminals and coming to the gates of the Duke’s residence to expose their plot, did you even consider the consequences of your actions?!”

Bai Jinzhi recalled Lu Yuanpeng’s words about the two men planning to kill the soldiers’ families and frame the Zhenguo Duke’s residence. Unease crept into her heart, but she stubbornly still refused to admit she was wrong.

Bai Qingyan pointed towards the gates of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence, “If those people had been silenced after going back, the capital mayor’s office would have arrested you first!”

The thought of the Bai family’s good reputation and public support being completely destroyed by this incident sent terror through her.

Public sentiment and reputation were the only tools Bai Qingyan could rely on to save the Bai family.

“I’m righteous and have nothing to fear! So be it if they arrest me! I’m not scared! At worst, I’ll just go to prison, then the capital mayor will eventually uncover the truth and clear my name!” Bai Jinzhi looked as if she was ready to face death.

Bai Qingyan’s sharp gaze pierced her obstinate and conceited younger sister. A surge of fury ignited, “Naive! This matter was a carefully crafted trap by someone. Do you think that once you enter the capital mayor’s office, you can get away with it?! As long as they can pin the blame on us and solidify the charge, they’ll destroy the Bai family’s reputation among the people! And dismantle the advantageous position that protects our Bai family! And you… Ignoring your Second Sister’s warnings, you dove headfirst into their scheme and even fought Second Sister over it!”

“Today’s events… If not for Lu Yuanpeng capturing those criminals and exposing their plot, those soldiers’ families would have been killed. Just the crime of killing soldiers’ families out of sheer spite… would be enough to obliterate the Bai family’s centuries of accomplishments! Do you not understand the principle that a single misstep can undo a hundred good deeds?! Once you are in jail, the schemers behind this plot would only seize the opportunity to fan the flames, spread rumours, then take advantage of the situation to frame the Bai family for a crime warranting full family extermination. With all the Bai family’s men sacrificed in battle, we already have no support in the imperial court and our position is already precarious. Without the support of the people, it would be utter ruin! This… is the outcome of our Bai family those manipulators behind the plot are striving for!”

Bai Jinzhi clenched the fabric of her robe tightly, cold sweat covering her body. She gritted her teeth and remained silent, lowering her eyes and not daring to meet Bai Qingyan’s piercingly clear gaze.

She was so disappointed that her voice rose involuntarily, “Regardless of your character or your actions, you may reveal your talents, but only if you possess the ability and strategy to control the situation! But just look at you… Brawling with an old shrew, competing for ferocity! Competing with those who betray principles for profit! You disregarded the bigger picture, recklessly vented your personal grievances, were stubborn and arrogant, swinging your whip for a fleeting satisfaction without any foresight or plan!”

Watching Bai Jinzhi crying under Bai Qingyan’s severe reprimanding, Bai Jinxiu’s heart ached. She softly pleaded, “Eldest Sister… Little Fourth is still young and straightforward in nature. This time, her impulsiveness stemmed from a desire to protect the Duke’s residence’s reputation. As long as Little Fourth knows she was wrong and has learnt her lesson, perhaps this can end here!”