The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 75

Yes, in this lifetime… all of the Bai family’s loyal servants are still here!

They had not yet been scattered to the ends of the earth to protect her and her sisters as they fled.

Her eyes reddened. In her previous life, when her mother received the news that Liu Huanzhang was returning to the capital to accuse her grandfather of treason and collusion with the enemy, it was her two foster brothers, Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai, who had protected and escorted Bai Jinzhi away from the Great Jin Kingdom and into Great Wei Kingdom.

Bai Jinzhi had thrown herself into the service of the Wei Kingdom and had become its most valiant generals. Xiao Ruojiang and Xiao Ruohai, had risen to be her most trusted advisors and battle-hardened commanders.

“It’s inconvenient for me to meet my two foster brothers at this hour. Nanny, please make proper arrangements for them to settle. You rushed here overnight and must be exhausted. Rest well for now! We’ll discuss everything tomorrow.” Bai Qingyan, noticing Aunty Tong’s bloodshot eyes, could tell at a glance that Aunty Tong had not had a proper rest during the journey.

Aunty Tong nodded. She had not slept at all when travelling for a full day and night without sleep. When she saw Bai Qingyan safe and sound at the Duke’s residence, she finally felt relieved. Now that her anxiety had eased, weariness crept in. At her age, she could no longer endure such exhausting journeys.

As she stepped outside, Aunty Tong caught sight of the unfamiliar Yinshuang sitting casually on the porch, munching on pine nut candy. Frowning at the apparent lack of decorum, she turned her head and asked Chuntao, “Did someone new enter the courtyard?”

Chuntao, glancing fondly at Yinshuang, quickly explained, “I forgot to mention it to you, Aunty… Yinshuang is someone Eldest Miss brought into Qinghui Courtyard. This child is not very bright, but she has considerable strength. She used to serve Miss Shen Qingzhu. Eldest Miss said that as long as she doesn’t make any serious mistakes, she need not be bound by rigid rules.”

Aunty Tong nodded slightly but felt a hint of disapproval in her heart. Without rules, there could be no order. Even if Eldest Miss personally showed favour, she should not be sitting so boldly in the courtyard while eating sweets. If others saw it, they would think that there was no discipline in Qinghui Courtyard.

Though her expression remained calm, Aunty Tong inwardly resolved to discuss the matter with Eldest Miss later. Once she had Eldest Miss’ permission, she would begin teaching the girl proper manners. In Aunty Tong’s view, it did not matter if Yinshuang was a bit slow-witted. Even if she learned slowly, patience and repeated lessons could solve that, but to indulge the girl out of pity would only harm her in the long run.

“Go and attend to Eldest Miss,” Aunty Tong instructed Chuntao.

Chuntao nodded. When she entered the room, she saw Bai Qingyan taking out a fox fur cloak and hurriedly stepped forward to help her put it on. “Is Eldest Miss going somewhere?”

“I’m going to visit Grandmother.”

As Bai Qingyan stepped into Changshou Courtyard, she saw the Princess Dowager and Aunty Jiang standing beneath the eaves, illuminated by the glow of a lantern. She quickly handed her hand warmer to Chuntao and strode forward, “Grandmother, why are you standing outside?”

The Princess Dowager’s eyes were red, as though she had been crying. Seeing Bai Qingyan approach, she curved her lips into a faint smile and pulled her granddaughter into an embrace. Pointing to the pine tree in the courtyard, she chuckled, “That pine tree, your grandfather planted it himself! That year, your grandfather and I moved into this Changshou Courtyard…”

As the Princess Dowager said this, she lowered her gaze to her granddaughter in her arms, her smile tinged with tears, “Back then, this place was called Rongshou Courtyard! But your grandfather said… he did not seek glory and longevity, but only that we, as husband and wife, could live as long as the pines and cypresses. So, with a grand sweep of his brush, he changed the name to Changshou Courtyard.”

Standing beside her, Aunty Jiang could not help but turn her face away. She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks like broken strings of pearls.

The Princess Dowager’s nostrils flared slightly, and a deep bitterness surged through her heart, as though she had bitten into an unripe plum.

“Grandmother, let’s go inside… It’s windy in the courtyard.” With moist eyes, she gently supported the Princess Dowager back into the main hall. She handed a warm handkerchief to her grandmother, who wiped her face. The Princess Dowager finally regained some composure.

“It is late and windy, did you come because something is wrong?” The Princess Dowager passed the warm handkerchief to Aunty Jiang. Then she took Bai Qingyan’s hand and had her sit beside her. She instructed Aunty Jiang to bring Bai Qingyan a bowl of hot ginger soup.

“It’s about Second Uncle’s illegitimate son. The entire household is now spreading rumours that Bai Qingxuan will inherit the title of Zhenguo Duke. Grandfather, Father, all my uncles and younger brothers will return in three days. I came to ask what Grandmother plans to do with this child.”

The Princess Dowager’s thoughts were in turmoil. She recalled the discussion between her daughters-in-law earlier that day, where no conclusion had been reached. Instead of answering, she asked Bai Qingyan, “What do you think, Ah Bao?”

Holding the Princess Dowager’s hand, Bai Qingyan spoke steadily, “That boy… He has a violent disposition and lacks kindness and integrity. He is unworthy of the Zhenguo Duke title. If he was placed in such a position, not only would the Bai family’s century-old reputation be ruined in an instant, but he could even bring disaster upon our Bai family!”

The Princess Dowager nodded, but her heart wavered. The Bai family had endured generations of sacrifice, shedding bl00d and giving their lives to earn the Zhenguo Duke title. Were they going to give it up just like this?!

“The incident where someone bribed the soldiers’ families to cause a scene at our Duke’s residence’ gates has served as a warning to our Duke’s residence that someone is secretly watching our Bai family, seeking to frame us and bring us to ruin! I believe that the Bai family’s honour resides in the hearts of the people. The best course of action is to voluntarily relinquish the Zhenguo Duke title to ensure the Bai family’s survival!”

“To relinquish the title…” The Princess Dowager had considered this possibility before.

She nodded. “To hold a position is to fulfil its duties. Bai Qingxuan does not have the ability to bear this title. Rather than allowing the Zhenguo Duke title to become an empty honour, it would be better to bravely retreat and return to our ancestral home in Shuoyang. This would show His Majesty our family’s willingness to step back, preserving the lives of our kin and safeguarding our Bai family’s century-old reputation.”

“As for Bai Qingxuan, if Grandmother has the energy… It may do well to keep him by your side to educate him. If he manages to achieve something in the future and secures a path for himself through his own abilities, then the good reputation our Bai family gains from stepping back today will become a great asset to him in his future career! Even if Bai Qingxuan turns out to be beyond saving, we still have Fifth Aunt’s unborn child. If she gives birth to a son, then the day of the Bai family’s resurgence will not be far away!”

Bai Qingyan’s words made the Princess Dowager suddenly see things in a new light. Yes… how had she forgotten about her fifth daughter-in-law’s child?!

If they retreated, the Bai family would have another path forward! If they did not… Even if they fought to the death and managed to secure the title for that illegitimate son, he might still fail to uphold the Bai family’s honour.

The Princess Dowager nodded. She gazed with reddened eyes at Bai Qingyan, who spoke so softly yet with such conviction. She raised a hand and gently stroked her granddaughter’s ebony black hair, signing in her heart. Her granddaughter possessed both literary and martial talent! She possessed wisdom, strategy, and ambition that far surpassed others. If only her eldest granddaughter had been born a male, the Bai family would have no fears about its future!

When Bai Qingyan left the Princess Dowager’s courtyard, she initially intended to visit Dong-shi. When she reached the entrance of her mother’s courtyard, she did not tell Aunty Qin to announce her arrival. Just as she lifted the curtain to enter, she heard her mother’s muffled weeping.

Through the twelve-panel green jade nanmu wood screen, Bai Qingyan caught a vague glimpse of her mother sitting before a bronze mirror, clutching a hairpin that her father had personally crafted for her birthday in one hand, while hugging the newly made set of clothes meant for her younger brother, Bai Qingyu. Her sobs were barely restrained.

Her mother’s quiet crying pierced Bai Qingyan’s heart. A woman as strong-willed as her mother had lost both her husband and son overnight. What kind of unbearable agony must she be enduring?

She did not disturb her mother. Instead, she stood behind the screen for the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, before silently turning and leaving the room.