The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 9

Bai Qingyan gazed at Qin Shangzhi and said, “If Mr Qin doesn’t refuse, I earnestly request…”

“I’ll leave once I’ve healed!” Qin Shangzhi interrupted her before she could finish, speaking hurriedly.

Qin Shangzhi understood what Bai Qingyan intended. He clasped his hands together and continued, “Eldest Miss Bai, please forgive me. I deeply regret my impulsive attempt to assassinate Prince Liang, which led to the deaths of my brothers. My lifelong ambition lies in serving the nation and the court. I am willing to devote myself wholeheartedly to preventing Prince Liang from ascending the throne. I do not wish to be confined to a backyard.”

Qin Shangzhi’s ambitions were truly lofty, otherwise he would not have entered the Crown Prince’s palace in his previous life.

Bai Qingyan did not want to force his gratitude. After a moment of silence, she spoke respectfully to Qin Shangzhi, who was about to leave, “The court is like an ocean, and you are like a dragon. Bai Qingyan wishes you all the success you deserve. May the dragon soar and rise to the heavens, bringing clouds and rain.”

Qin Shangzhi seemed surprised by Bai Qingyan’s words. He struggled to stand up, clutching his chest, and then gave a rare respectful bow to Bai Qingyan with his fists clasped.

Bai Qingyan nodded in response and took the hand warmer from Chuntao. She retraced her steps along the path she had come.

Although Qin Shangzhi was unwilling to stay and help her, his words had opened her eyes.

She thought about the letter addressed to the emperor that her mother had left behind before committing suicide in prison in her previous life. She remembered the scene where scholars and students from the capital had furiously demanded justice for the Bai family. She also thought about Prince Liang’s troubled expression as he complained about his inability to share the burden of the emperor.

The mouths of the masses could melt gold and accumulated slander could erode bones. Public opinion was a force to be reckoned with.

Even the current emperor who held supreme power, feared certain things. Fear of public opinion! Fear of public outrage! And fear of a reputation that would label him as a tyrant who harmed loyal subjects for generations to come!

Now, it was uncertain if her grandfather was alive or dead… He had possibly died in Nanjiang, and the Bai family could no longer retreat.

If they could not retreat, then she would go further and elevate the Bai family’s reputation to its highest, making the current emperor wary of touching the Bai family due to public sentiment.

In the end, even if the Great Jin Kingdom could not escape the fate of being conquered by the Great Yan Kingdom, with such prestige… She hoped the Bai family could still be preserved.

Aunty Jiang was on her way to Qinghui Courtyard to see Bai Qingyan. Unexpectedly, she ran into Bai Qingyan herself and hurriedly approached.

“Eldest Miss!” Aunty Jiang bowed and greeted her, “The Princess Dowager requests your presence.”

Bai Qingyan pursed her lips, “Does Grandmother have a plan?”

Aunty Jiang nodded, her eyes red.

Bai Qingyan followed Aunty Jiang to the Princess Dowager’s Changshou Courtyard. Along the way, she carefully inquired about her grandmother’s condition since her departure the previous day.

“Eldest Miss, don’t worry. The Princess Dowager is a legitimate daughter of the imperial family after all, she can handle it,” Aunty Jiang said, holding an umbrella for Bai Qingyan. She could not help but shed tears. “It’s you, Eldest Miss, who is still just a child…”

As they spoke, the two of them arrived at the Changshou Courtyard.

A servant girl pulled aside the curtain for Bai Qingyan. Seeing that Bai Qingyan had entered, Aunty Jiang sent away all the maidservants inside and outside, and then took the white fox fur cloak that Bai Qingyan had already taken off. “This old maid will guard outside. Eldest Miss, please have a good talk with the Princess Dowager.”

Through the beaded curtain, Bai Qingyan saw her grandmother sitting on the kang (heated brick bed), eyes closed as she moved Buddhist beads with her fingers. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Grandmother…” Bai Qingyan called softly.

The Princess Dowager opened her eyes and upon seeing Bai Qingyan draw back the bead curtain and enter, she extended her hand, “Ah Bao, come here!”

Bai Qingyan walked over to the Princess Dowager as she was told. The Princess Dowager pursed her trembling lips and took a few breaths. Then she asked with reddened eyes, “Tell Grandmother, who provided you with information that was faster than the court?”

“Before Grandfather left, I had him bring along two secret guards Grandfather previously assigned me for my protection. One of them risked his life to bring me the news with his dying breath. He said that our Bai family was betrayed by my grandfather’s deputy, Liu Huanzhang, who conspired with officials from the court! Without concrete evidence, I didn’t dare to speak out and quietly arranged for the person to be given a proper burial.”

This explanation had been prepared by Bai Qingyan yesterday before she came to the Changshou Courtyard. The Zhenguo Duke had once provided Bai Qingyan with two outstanding secret guards. When the Zhenguo Duke went off to battle… Bai Qingyan had indeed instructed the two secret guards to accompany and protect the Zhenguo Duke. However, in the previous life, those two secret guards… They had also perished alongside the Bai family’s men in Nanjiang in their attempt to save the Zhenguo Duke.

The Princess Dowager could not hold back her sorrow any longer, and her lips quivered intensely. She closed her eyes for a long while. Afterwards, she slammed her palm forcefully on the table by the kang, “The men of my Bai family may die valiantly on the battlefield, but they must not fall victim to treachery!”

“Grandmother, given the current situation, we need to plan ahead…” Bai Qingyan held the Princess Dowager’s hand. She obviously had her own considerations, “If the men of my Bai family have indeed been betrayed, it’s likely that someone wants to take the Bai family’s army!”

The Princess Dowager firmly gripped the edge of the kang.

“But the Bai family’s army has always recognised only members of the Bai family! Grandfather, Father, and the others are in grave danger. I’m afraid those who intend harm to our Bai family may have back-up plans. Grandmother… You are now the Bai family’s only reliance, the first line of defence!” Bai Qingyan gave her analysis to the Princess Dowager.

“They’re dreaming!” The Princess Dowager gritted her teeth, “Before the late emperor passed away, he entrusted me with something… An imperial guard unit available only to the emperor. For many years, they have been kept at my dowry estate and never been deployed. It seems that we have no choice but to mobilise them now.”

Bai Qingyan was quite surprised She had never heard her grandmother mention having such an imperial guard unit on hand. However, if that was the case, she no longer worried about her grandmother’s safety.

“Grandmother, even if Grandfather, Father, uncles, and brothers are no longer with us, your granddaughter is still here!” Bai Qingyan held the Princess Dowager’s hand and said solemnly, “Grandmother, please take good care of your health and stay safe! With you here, I have the confidence to do everything in my power to protect the Bai family and clear their names, preventing the unjust death of the Bai family’s men…”

The heartfelt words from Bai Qingyan brought tears to the Princess Dowager’s eyes. She hugged Bai Qingyan tightly, unable to speak.

After a long while, they both calmed down. The Princess Dowager wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and asked Bai Qingyan, “Ah Bao, have you already formulated a plan in your heart?”

“When trouble stirs within the walls, the household staff will likely face a strict investigation. However, this matter needs to be discreetly handled and I will discuss it with Mother. With Grandmother overseeing, there’s no need to worry!”

The Princess Dowager nodded.

Bai Qingyan then thought about the boy who was found by Prince Liang later on, the so-called son of her Second Uncle’s concubine outside the family. She looked up at the Princess Dowager and asked, “There’s another matter I’d like to inquire about, Grandmother. Does Second Uncle… have a concubine outside the family?”

The Second Uncle Bai Qingyan referred to was the Princess Dowager’s legitimate son, Bai Qingyan’s father’s younger brother.

The Princess Dowager pursed her lips.

Seeing the expression on the Princess Dowager’s face, Bai Qingyan’s heart sank. So, in her previous life, the boy Prince Liang had propped up was indeed the child of Second Uncle’s concubine.

“While it’s not as severe as having a concubine outside the family, your Second Uncle did wrong by your Second Aunt. When he was studying in a faraway place, he was saved by a young woman, and they developed a connection…” The Princess Dowager hesitated, as she could not reveal everything to an unmarried girl like Bai Qingyan, “Later, your Second Uncle returned home. Before he left that place, he gave a dragon-patterned jade pendant that I had given him to that woman as a token of love. He initially planned to discuss things with your Second Aunt and bring that woman into the household as a concubine. However, at the time, your Second Aunt was pregnant, so he never voiced this plan.”