Chapter 73 - 72: Midnight by the Abyss_1

Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Midnight by the Abyss_1

She fixed her gaze on Bai Jinzhi, who knelt rigidly in the courtyard, refusing to admit her mistakes. Her chest heaved violently. “Every reckless act without considering the consequences is the helpless indulgence of a fool! Our grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers died in Nanjing; in the court, traitors with ghostly intentions glare at our Bai family like tigers eyeing their prey. The Bai family is now struggling to survive, like standing at the edge of a cliff at midnight. Do you think there’s any room for her to act recklessly?”

The atmosphere in Qinghui Courtyard became oppressive and heavy following Bai Qingyan’s stern voice. The four sisters pressed their lips together in silence.

Apart from Bai Jinzhi, Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, and Bai Jintong had all read the bamboo slips recording the military maneuvers. How could they not know the Bai family was in dire straits?

Bai Jinxiu’s eyes immediately brimmed with tears, and she turned her head, tears streaming down.

Bai Jintong clenched her fists tightly, crying with her head lowered.

The howling winter wind whipped through, making it colder under the blazing sun than on snowy days.

...

Her already sore eyes couldn’t bear the dazzling sunlight reflecting off the snow. She closed her eyelids, trying to calm the tumultuous emotions in her chest. Hoarsely, she asked, “Do you know… why your grandfather never allowed you to go to the front line for training when you begged him at ten years old?”

Bai Jinzhi no longer had her previous stubborn stance. Clenching her clothes tightly at her sides, she replied, “I don’t know.”

“Grandfather once said, among our sisters, your second sister is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, seemingly meek, but with her own measures. Your third sister is the brightest, with wisdom and strategy. And you… have the highest aptitude for martial arts among all the sisters! You’re the most like Grandfather in his youth, fiercely competitive, vengeful, and without regard for consequences. You’re inherently rebellious, and Grandfather feared that if you tasted blood, you would become even more unrestrained. That’s why he made you stay in Dadu… to study more books of sages with the tutelage of a teacher.”

Bai Jinzhi’s face paled at Bai Qingyan’s words, her back straightening rigidly.

Looking at Bai Jinzhi, she spoke with a tone of heartbreak, “Horsemanship, swordsmanship, spear techniques, archery, whip skills! You learn everything faster than others and are more proficient in everything. At just fifteen, how many people in Dadu City are your match? You should be self-restrained, planning thoughtfully before acting! Displaying recklessness on the outside while remaining calm inside. You should be making a name for yourself on the battlefield as a woman, becoming a general that future generations will admire, like Grandfather, the most glorious woman of Jin’s Duke’s mansion and Jin Kingdom! Not competing for a moment, putting yourself and the Bai family in a perilous situation!”

Bai Jinzhi’s previously proud back slumped slightly, her expression became grave, and her clenched fists trembled with force.

Unable to bear her emotions, she said weakly, “If you admit your mistake today, go find Uncle Ping and take these fifty canes! If you still think you are not wrong… then let it be.”

If she doesn’t know her mistakes, what use is punishment?

Bai Jinzhi couldn’t speak, only biting her teeth hard, then rising and leaving Qinghui Courtyard to find Lu Ping and take her punishment.

“Jintong, go tell Uncle Ping to go easy on her, considering the urgent matters of the Bai family.” She lowered her voice and instructed.

Bai Jintong nodded and quickly turned to chase after Bai Jinzhi.

“Eldest Young Lady…” Bai Jinxiu grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Xiaosi will understand that Eldest Young Lady’s harsh words are because she has high hopes for her.”

The Bai family’s men were all lost; only the women remained. It was already difficult to support the Bai family.

Bai Jinxiu was married into the Qin family. Soon Bai Jintong would also leave to do business. It wasn’t because she thought Bai Jinzhi was too young to arrange anything for her. She intended to keep Bai Jinzhi by her side and teach her for a few more years after the Bai family’s major affairs were settled, then let her follow her aspirations to showcase her talents on the battlefield.

But she forgot that the Bai family was already walking on thin ice, with a difficult and pressing road ahead. There was no long time left for a pure and free-spirited girl like Bai Jinzhi to indulge at will. After experiencing the great sorrow of losing her loved ones, Bai Jinzhi had to quickly grow up to be a strong and responsible daughter who could support a part of the Bai family.

With the clear blue skies above, she gazed into the distance with deep determination in her eyes. King Xin’s claws had dared to play tricks behind their backs, planning and plotting to overthrow the Bai family. Now that the plot was exposed… if they still hoped to retreat without a hitch, she wouldn’t make it easy for them.

Bai Qingyan, though she had lost her martial skills, would use public opinion as her sword.

Since they both wanted to use public sentiment and words as weapons to shape the situation, then let’s see who’s superior.

She called out to the anxious maids and attendants standing at the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard: “Chun Tao…”

Chun Tao heard her and quickly walked in. Seeing Bai Qingyan support Bai Jinxiu to go inside, she hurriedly lifted the curtain.

“Go call your cousin over. I have something to instruct him.”

“Yes! This maid will go now!” Chun Tao nodded.

Inside the main house, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu sat by the stove. She personally massaged Bai Jinxiu’s arm.

When blocking the Fourth Young Lady, Bai Jinzhi, in front of the Duke’s mansion gate, Bai Jinxiu was caught off guard and was pushed by Bai Jinzhi, hitting the copper-edged door frame, hurting her old injury, making her arm too painful to lift.

Perhaps it was too quiet in the room, or maybe it was just because she felt peaceful next to her eldest sister, Bai Jinxiu couldn’t help speaking…

“Eldest Young Lady…” Bai Jinxiu lowered her eyebrows, sounding particularly nasal. “This morning, Nanny Luo beside my mother sent a message from my maternal grandparents’ family. They said… the entire Bai family men are dead, my father, brothers, and younger brother have all passed away. I’ve also married. Now the Emperor’s attitude toward the Bai family is unclear. They advised my mother to make early arrangements, to ask Grandmother for a divorce paper, to avoid being implicated by the Bai family.”

In the golden-beast incense burner, light smoke swirled, filling the room with a faint fragrance.

“Aunt won’t leave.” Her voice was low, yet very certain, because in her past life… it was so.

Her aunts, though they married when the Duke’s mansion was in glory, none of them were cowards during its downfall. Not one… left the Bai family. They even threatened the Emperor with their lives for justice for the Bai family.

“I know.” Bai Jinxiu responded softly. “I just feel that life is unpredictable. In the past… Grandmother always taught my mother to be obedient and kind, to serve her in-laws well. But why, the moment something happened to the Bai family, during the time when my father’s body isn’t even cold yet, did she urge my mother to get a divorce paper? It’s really… so heartless.”

“Maternal love is all about wanting her children to live safe and prosperous lives! There’s a saying… raising children for a hundred years, always worrying ninety-nine! Don’t blame your grandmother.”

The bits of resentment and shame in Bai Jinxiu’s heart dissolved because of Bai Qingyan’s words. She turned to look at Bai Qingyan massaging her shoulder, tears streaming down her face: “I wonder if the mother’s families of my other aunts will also want them to leave the Bai family at this time.”

“Aunties, they won’t leave!” She held Bai Jinxiu’s hand, speaking earnestly. “So, we need to help Mother and our aunts support the Bai family! To show the world that even if our grandfather, father, all of the Bai men aren’t here anymore, no one can belittle the Bai family’s prestige. No one can belittle our mothers and aunts!”