The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 84

She was going to frame Prince Xin for the crime of colluding with the enemy, even if there was no such evidence on the bamboo slips! Was he the only one who knew how to wield the sword of rumour? She could too…

It did not matter whether these words were true or not. Once the people of the capital saw Ji Tingyu, barely clinging to life, and heard of the news he had risked death to bring back, who would think it was false?

Even if one day the imperial court announced the so-called truth, the people would only see it as a shameless lie meant to shield Prince Xin.

If Prince Xin dared to strike at the Bai family, then she would cut off his path to the throne, no… She would even take his life!

Ji Tingyu understood what Bai Qingyan intended. He nodded forcefully. “Don’t worry, Eldest Miss. I understand!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan straighten, her whole being exuding an air of ruthless determination, Ji Tingyu added, “Eldest Miss, General Yue Zhizhou also left a message… The Seventh and Ninth Young Masters led a cavalry assault on the Western Liang capital and have yet to return. There may still be a chance to preserve the Bai bloodline! Miss Shen and Wei Gao have already ridden ahead to find them! Eldest Miss… I beg you to take care! You mustn’t do anything that will end in disaster.”

“Eldest Sister!” Bai Jintong burst into tears of joy. “Eldest Sister was right all along! Not seeing the bodies is a good sign! Maybe they’re still alive!”

She had never thought the words spoken in comfort last night would so miraculously come true today.

Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother…

A warmth rushed from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head. A radiant light broke through the gloom in her eyes, and she finally wept aloud, the rage in her chest somewhat soothed by the sudden hope.

Grief and joy surged together, and her scalp tingled from the intensity of it all. She was overwhelmed with emotions!

Could it be that she had truly made it back in time, that she had sent Shen Qingzhu just in time to save the two of them…

That this second chance at life had not been in vain, that she had managed to snatch two lives from the hands of the King of Hell?

No. Not until she saw her two brothers with her own eyes could anything be said for certain.

May the heavens take pity on the Bai family. Pease, let Shen Qingzhu reach them in time!

A surge of strength rushed through her. Though her heart was in turmoil, her voice remained steady as she gave her orders. “Uncle Ping! Select the most elite among the Bai family’s deathsworn sacrificial soldiers. Send them to Western Liang immediately. At any cost… They must ensure the safety of the Seventh and Ninth Young Masters!”

Lu Ping bowed, “Yes!”

Her heart thudded wildly. She would have to go to Nanjiang in person, whether to receive her brothers and bring them home, or to manage the Bai family’s connections in the army. Either way, she could not delay.

With Bai Jintong’s support, Bai Qingyan stepped out of the room reeking of charred flesh. Her eyes stung so much in the bright sunlight that she could barely open them.

Though it was winter with the sun shining down, every gust of wind seemed like the cry of a crane in alarm, and the dead leaves rustled like whispers of grief.

“Eldest Sister…” Bai Jintong gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand tightly, her jaw clenched hard. “Ji Tingyu placed the six volumes of bamboo slips before the spirit tablets. Let me read them! Let the people of the capital know how brutal the frontlines were for our Bai family! Let them know the shameless, despicable face of Prince Xin! Lest… these six volumes of military records be submitted to the Emperor and he, in protecting Prince Xin, chooses to conceal them!”

“It’s not enough just to read them…” She opened her eyes, forcefully restraining all traces of sorrow in her expression.

She gazed at the fluttering white silk mourning banners filling the courtyard, her entire body radiating a murderous air so suffocating it chilled the soul. “I will bring these bamboo slips to the palace gates and strike the drum!* I will expose every word of these records to the world! I will leave scum like Prince Xin… nowhere to hide! I will use the outrage, resentment, and anguish of the people to force the Emperor to give the Bai family justice!”

*TLN: Drum placed outside the court in imperial China for people to beat and file complaints.

Her calm and clear voice rang out, resolute and powerful.

Bai Jintong’s grief and fury surged in her chest. She declared with determination, “I will go with Eldest Sister to strike the drum!”

She lowered her eyes to the shining blue bricks beneath the long corridor, and said with a trace of melancholy, “Go to Changshou Courtyard and summon Grandmother. Tell her… Elder Master Cui Shiyan and Master Guan Yongchong have come! Let Grandmother hear with her own ears what kind of beast this imperial family she defends has turned out to be.”

Let their grandmother hear for herself how these beasts were responsible for the deaths of her husband, her sons, and her grandsons!

Watching Bai Qingyan’s resolute steps as she headed for the front courtyard, Bai Jintong clenched her fists, swallowed back her tears and pain, and turned to head toward Changshou Courtyard.

Since her eldest sister had chosen not to tell Grandmother about Seventh Brother and Ninth Brother, then she too would remain silent.

How could someone as perceptive as Bai Jintong fail to sense the subtle tension and rift between Grandmother and Eldest Sister?

However, their grandmother was the current Princess Dowager of the dynasty, she surely had her difficulties. Bai Jintong could understand that. However, after reading the military records and seeing the vile acts committed by Prince Xin…

Bai Jintong clenched her fists tightly. Her feelings toward her grandmother were full of both reverence and admiration. She would not hesitate to give her life for Grandmother, but if Grandmother insisted on shielding the imperial family, then she could only disappoint Grandmother.

In the mourning hall at the front courtyard.

Bai Jinxiu saw Bai Qingyan return with a pale complexion and kneel beside her once more. In a low voice, she asked, “Eldest Sister, if you’re unwell, don’t push yourself.”

Bai Qingyan shook her head. When she looked up, she saw an ornate carriage carved with the insignia of Prince Qi’s residence slowly come to a stop before the gates of the Duke’s residence. The hand hidden inside her sleeve clenched tightly, faintly trembling.

In her previous life, during the Bai family’s great funeral, even while gravely ill, she had heard that Prince Qi had never come. Could it be… Xiao Rongyan?!

Perfect timing!

She was only afraid the matter would not be loud enough, that not enough people would know!

A handsome young eunuch supported Prince Qi down from the carriage step. He had just crossed the bronze-edged threshold of the Bai residence and was about to solemnly bow toward the mourning hall at the entrance when a horse suddenly galloped out of nowhere, charging straight up the high steps of the Bai residence. Ji Tingyu, covered in bl00d, rode in at full speed and collapsed from his horse…

“Protect His Highness!” The guards of Prince Qi’s residence drew their swords in unison, forming a protective barrier in front of the deathly pale prince as they quickly retreated.

The horse neighed in fright, its hooves flailing mid-air until Lu Ping, with quick reflexes, darted forward and seized the reins, managing to restrain the bl00d-soaked steed.

At the gates, the gathered commoners cried out in alarm, stumbling backwards as they stared wide-eyed at the man who had just fallen from the saddle. His entire body was drenched in bl00d and he was now sprawled motionless on the ground, seemingly no longer breathing.

“It’s Ji Tingyu! First Madam, Eldest Miss! It’s our household’s Ji Tingyu!” Lu Ping, still gripping the reins tightly, lifted his head and shouted.

Bai Jintong, who was escorting the Princess Dowager through the corridor, felt her throat tighten at the sound of Lu Ping’s cry. She quickly said, “Grandmother, I’ll go check!”

The Princess Dowager nodded, “Go quickly!”

Bai Jintong released her hold on the Princess Dowager and ran toward the front courtyard.

At the same time, Bai Qingyan, who had been kneeling before the spirit tablets, stood and brushed past the Prince Qi’s residence’s guards who blocking her way, hurrying forward with wide, astonished eyes…

Just moments ago, Ji Tingyu had not been this gravely injured!

Physician Hong had clearly staunched the bleeding in his arm, how could it be…

Realisation dawned in her heart: Ji Tingyu was gambling with his life, all to win justice for the Bai family!

What kind of imperial court was this? A court that forced a noble family of such wealth and honour to rely on a loyal servant risking his very life just to demand fairness!

“Ji Tingyu?” She knelt and cradled him, only to see that the arm which had already been broken was now visibly shorter. Her eyes stung sharply from the surge of sour anguish that hit her.