The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 99

Thinking of his son becoming the Zhenguo Duke, Bai Qiyun was overjoyed, his bl00d boiling with excitement. His mind was filled only with the thought that his son was going to be the Zhenguo Duke! The glory of the Zhenguo Duke title went without saying, and the Zhenguo Duke’s residence had accumulated much wealth over years of campaigning. Soon, all of this would belong to their family. This was truly a great blessing.

Bai Qiyun had been so happy he could hardly sleep at night.

Who could have known that, just after he set out from Shuoyang, along the way he heard that the Duke’s second son actually had an illegitimate son outside. This illegitimate son had only just been brought back to the Duke’s residence and for looking down on the common people as if they were worthless, had been firmly beaten in the middle of the street by the legitimate eldest daughter, Bai Qingyan. Everyone said the Duke’s title was going to fall to this illegitimate child, and they all lamented at the pity of it.

When Bai Qiyun heard this, he was so angry that he fell ill on the road, stifled with rage. Not once had the servants of the Duke’s residence who returned to Shuoyang with the funeral notice mentioned that the second son had an illegitimate child outside.

Originally, Bai Qiyun was ready to turn back home, but he was stopped by Steward Wu. Steward Wu said, since they had already set out, they might as well at least go offer incense to the late Duke. Perhaps a turn of events might happen, but if they did not go at all, then there would certainly be no chance of it.

Bai Qiyun had agreed reluctantly. Steward Wu then sent someone ahead to the Duke’s residence to inquire about that illegitimate child.

That very afternoon, when Bai Qiyun and Steward Wu arrived at the capital, the Princess Dowager and her granddaughters were forcing Prince Xin to his death before the Wude Gate.

When Bai Qiyun heard this news, he trembled with fear, terrified that the Bai family would incur the wrath of the emperor and be destroyed, dragging them down with it. He immediately sent orders for his two half-cousins to withdraw at once.

Who knew that just after the messenger left, the men Steward Wu had sent to the capital for news returned, saying that the Duke’s second son’s illegitimate child had already packed his belongings and was ready to flee at any moment.

Steward Wu quickly thought it over and came up with another plan for Bai Qiyun.

Steward Wu said that the Bai family, having forced the emperor’s legitimate son to death, would surely face a disastrous end in the future. However, at the moment, with the people’s support, the Duke’s residence would likely be safe for now. Now that this illegitimate child sensed danger and was about to flee, their Shuoyang Bai clan naturally must not be foolish enough to give a son to be adopted into the Duke’s residence, throwing him into a pit of fire.

However, once this illegitimate child left, the Duke’s residence would have no male heirs. If the clan refused again to give them a son to adopt, then the women would most likely have to return to Shuoyang and rely on the clan.

Whether in the future the Duke’s residence would return to Shuoyang, or beg the clan to adopt a son, in any case it would be the Duke’s residence asking for favours from the clan. They could seize this opportunity to use excuses such as purchasing land for the clan, rebuilding the ancestral hall, ancestral temple, ancestral graves, school, and hiring scholars to teach, to demand a sum of money.

The Madam of the Duke’s residence, Dong-shi, was a clever woman. If she knew that in the future she would have to rely on the clan’s protection, she surely would not dare to refuse.

Before coming to the Duke’s residence, Steward Wu had also reminded Bai Qiyun to carry himself with a higher attitude when he spoke. After all, in the future, the women of the Duke’s residence might have to depend on the clan. While the widows and orphans of the residence were still in the capital, the clan must give them a show of force, so that once they returned to Shuoyang, it would be easier for the clan to demand benefits from Dong-shi on their behalf.

Bai Qiyun thought Steward Wu’s reasoning was sound. With his own resentment piled on top, his words inevitably carried arrogance and oppression.

Standing in the corridor, Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then tilted her head slightly and said softly to Chuntao, “Go and call Third Miss and Fourth Miss over. Don’t let Second Miss know…”

Chuntao nodded and was about to leave, but Bai Qingyan pulled her back and whispered in her ear, “Also, go ask your cousin to ride quickly to the Xiao residence, meet with Xiao Rongyan, and tell him I wish to borrow his name as the richest merchant to conduct a transaction. I will not cause him any loss in the slightest. If he can help me, I will be deeply grateful.”

“Understood!” Chuntao answered, and hurried off toward the mourning hall.

The reason she sent Chen Qingsheng to Xiao Rongyan was simply because it was Chen Qingsheng who had delivered the letter to Xiao Rongyan before. Bai Qingyan hoped that for the sake of that past favor, Xiao Rongyan would allow her to use his name.

Aunty Tong was a perceptive person. The moment Bai Qingyan said not to call Second Miss, she understood that Bai Qingyan was planning something that might damage her reputation. Frowning with concern, she said, “Eldest Miss, whatever orders you have, let this old servant handle them! You and Third Miss, Fourth Miss are still unmarried maidens, so it’s best not to get involved in certain matters…”

“I already dared to force Prince Xin to his death, what reputation do I have left to worry about?” Bai Qingyan smiled at Aunty Tong and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, Aunty, I know my limits in moderation.”

Inside the hall, Bai Qiyun slammed the table and stood up, saying furiously, “The Princess Dowager is in the back courtyard of the Duke’s residence, and you… You refuse to let servants take me to her, how then am I supposed to meet the Princess Dowager?!”

Dong-shi set down her teacup heavily, her sharp eyes fixing on Bai Qiyun as she smiled coldly, “So you still know this is the Duke’s residence! You still know that I am its Madam! I’ll make it clear today. If you Shuoyang Bai clansmen are here to offer condolences, our Duke’s residence welcomes you. But if you are here for money, then wait until after my Bai family’s great mourning is over, and we will speak of it then! If you cannot wait, you may leave this moment and return to Shuoyang, or else, stand at our Duke’s residence’s gates and let the people judge! Let the whole world see what kind of unrighteous, shameless thoughts the Shuoyang clan harbors at the very hour of my Bai family’s grief.”

“You!” Bai Qiyun’s face flushed red with fury as he stood and pointed at Dong-shi.

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the hall was as taut as drawn swords.

Aunty Qin, standing by Dong-shi’s side, lifted her chin slightly and said with a kindly smile, “Sir, I advise you to put that finger away. Our First Madam is a titled first rank lady, appointed by the imperial court. To be disrespectful to her is a crime punishable by imprisonment! Moreover, our Duke’s residence is a family of generations of military commanders and our servants known for their hot-bloodedness. Seeing you pointing at our mistress like that, if they lose control, I fear you may lose that finger of yours.”

Frightened by Aunty Qin’s words, Bai Qiyun’s stiff finger pointing at Dong-shi bent slightly. He then flung his sleeve and hid his hands behind his back, looking down at Dong-shi with arrogance, “Dong-shi, think carefully. That illegitimate son of the Duke’s residence’s Second Master has already packed and is ready to run! With no one to inherit the title, you women will still have to return to Shuoyang and seek protection from the clan! You’re now shirking responsibility for clan matters, which is only cutting off your own escape route!”

Having received Chuntao’s message, Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi slipped away from the mourning hall under some excuse. Before they could even speak to Bai Qingyan, they heard Bai Qiyun’s overbearing voice from inside.

At once, fury surged in Bai Jinzhi’s chest. She lifted her foot to rush in, but after two steps, she stopped herself. Trying to control her anger, she gritted her teeth and turned around.

Seeing her eldest and third sisters watching her, she knew she had nearly lost control and caused trouble again. Her ears flushed red as she returned and asked, “Eldest Sister, what do you need Third Sister and me to do?!”