Chapter 74 - 73: Adding Trouble_1

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Adding Trouble_1

Bai Jinxiu nodded, “I only hope Fifth Aunt can give birth to a boy! At least it would help sustain the Bai family’s household!”

When Bai Jinxiu mentioned the word “boy,” she couldn’t help but think of the illegitimate son in Qingming Courtyard, like a bone stuck in her throat. “That illegitimate son of my father…I’ve heard about what happened on the long street. He’s simply a worthless scoundrel! We can’t count on him!”

Bai Qingyan did not want to mention that illegitimate son again and merely said, “You don’t need to worry about that illegitimate son; he won’t cause any major trouble. Whether Fifth Aunt has a boy or a girl is up to fate. We can’t force it! We need to plan for the worst outcome.”

“Then what will happen to the Bai family in the future?” Bai Jinxiu choked.

“When Grandfather… and the others return, Grandmother will ask the Emperor to allow us to relocate the entire family back to ancestral land in Shuoyang. Grandmother will claim to be praying for the blessings of Jin and will go to Qingan Temple for worship, taking your third sister Jintong with her. Grandmother will have Third Sister dress as a man to go out and conduct business, secretly amassing wealth for the Bai family…”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s plans, Bai Jinxiu felt her heart pound with fear.

...

She tightened her grip on Bai Qingyan’s hand, her mind in turmoil, and her words became rash, “Move the whole family back to Shuoyang? I want to go back too! Qin Lang has already moved out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Household…Shuoyang is a place of outstanding people, perfect for studying! I…”

Compared to staying in Dadu, Bai Jinxiu always felt that being together with her sisters brought more security and warmth.

Bai Qingyan patted Bai Jinxiu’s hand to calm her down before shaking her head, “Leaving aside the fact that you’re already married to Qin Lang, our Bai family…may not be able to withdraw safely back to Shuoyang. If we can indeed withdraw safely, we can’t all leave Dadu City unwatched. Do you understand what I mean?”

Bai Jinxiu was taken aback, vaguely sensing that Bai Qingyan seemed to be planning something, “Eldest Young Lady…”

Bai Qingyan squeezed Bai Jinxiu’s hand tightly, “This time, if the Bai family can withdraw completely back to Shuoyang, someone needs to stay in Dadu to manage things. You have always been reserved and steady. With you in Dadu…Eldest Young Lady can feel at ease.”

Bai Jinxiu pressed her lips together and suddenly understood Bai Qingyan’s intention. Eldest Young Lady was planning for the Bai family’s future. The retreat to Shuoyang was only temporary; in the future, Eldest Young Lady still intended to bring the Bai family back!

Now that she knew Bai Qingyan had plans, Bai Jinxiu would never hold them back. She raised her eyes, a firm and steady look in them, and nodded, “Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. Jinxiu will not disappoint Eldest Young Lady’s expectations. I’ll be here in Dadu City, waiting for you to come back.”

“Big Miss, my cousin is here!” Chun Tao said softly from outside the door.

Hearing this, Bai Jinxiu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, composed herself, and sat properly by the carved bronze stove.

“Let Chen Qingsheng in,” Bai Qingyan said.

When Chen Qingsheng entered and saw Bai Jinxiu there, he hastily bowed, keeping his head lowered and not daring to lift it, “Greetings, Big Miss, greetings, Second Miss.”

Bai Qingyan sat by the soft couch’s small table, and without avoiding Bai Jinxiu, she asked, “Have you heard about what happened in front of the Duke’s mansion today?”

Chen Qingsheng, observant and perceptive, knew that since Big Miss did not avoid Second Miss when she called him over, she must not fear Second Miss knowing. He answered honestly, “I heard about it. Big Miss, just give the order!”

She lowered her eyes, opened the lid of the gilded incense burner, and used a plain silver stick to stir the ashes, restraining the overwhelming murderous intent in her eyes, “The words ‘arrogant and reckless in using the military’ were sent by King Xin! The ones behind this want to blame the Bai family for King Xin’s defeat in the capital, further cementing the accusation that the Bai family harmed the soldiers’ families, thus ruining our reputation completely. Since they failed in their attempt, the Bai family must act, showing them that once they stir up trouble in this pool, it won’t calm down easily.”

“Rest assured, Big Miss. I know what to do! They want to use rumors to attack our Duke’s mansion; we can hit back in kind. I’m skilled at this and won’t disappoint you…” Chen Qingsheng promised.

Bai Qingyan closed the incense burner lid and looked solemnly at Chen Qingsheng, “Thank you for your hard work! Go on with your tasks!”

·

Despite Lu Ping’s leniency, Bai Jinzhi, who took the beating, still ended up with welt-laden skin.

Bai Jinzhi was tough and knew she was wrong. She bit her teeth and took the beating without uttering a sound, walking back to the courtyard herself without letting anyone help.

When Bai Jintong came to treat Bai Jinzhi with golden sore medicine, she saw Bai Jinzhi lying on the soft couch, secretly shedding tears. Hearing the door open, Bai Jinzhi quickly wiped her tears with a pillow.

“Eldest Young Lady had Uncle Ping go easy on you. Your injury is considered light.” Bai Jintong washed her hands and sat by the bed, moved the brazier closer, and opened the blanket to apply medicine to Bai Jinzhi.

“Do you accept your punishment today from Eldest Young Lady?” Bai Jintong asked, glancing at Bai Jinzhi, who was secretly crying.

Maybe Bai Jintong’s hand was too heavy while applying the medicine, making Bai Jinzhi’s body stiffen. She muttered, “Yes, I know! I’ll fix my impulsiveness! I’ll plan before acting from now on.”

“Do you understand what Eldest Young Lady meant by ‘outwardly straightforward, inwardly steady’?” Bai Jintong deliberately asked.

Bai Jinzhi propped herself up on one arm and looked back at Bai Jintong.

After applying the medicine and covering Bai Jinzhi with the blanket, Bai Jintong wiped her hands with a towel, “Eldest Young Lady doesn’t want you to change your way of doing things! Everyone says that being outwardly accommodating and inwardly principled is the way to deal with the world, but you can go the opposite way! Everyone in Dadu City knows about your righteous and straightforward nature. If you use this to disguise yourself as a pig to eat the tiger, you can achieve what others can’t, and they won’t be guarded against someone who seems so simple-minded.”

Hearing the term “simple-minded,” Bai Jinzhi almost got angry, frowning deeply.

“How others perceive you doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know in your heart who you are—you are the Bai family’s fourth girl from the Duke of Zhen’s mansion! We may lack a counselor’s wisdom. So, we must be internally cautious and steady, planning before action. Being outwardly firm yet inwardly flexible, knowing your own strengths, means you can achieve great things. Reflect well on what you should do!”

“On the side of the sinking ship, a thousand sails pass; before the sick tree, a thousand trees bloom! Though the Bai men are gone, we still have Eldest Young Lady… and us! We may be women, but we must support the Bai family’s honor! A member of the Bai family may die, but the spirit cannot be extinguished, the resilience cannot be broken, and the sharpness must not be dulled!”

Bai Jintong’s eyes, very similar to Bai Qingyan’s, reddened. She firmly grasped Bai Jinzhi’s shoulder, “Third Sister understands that from Grandfather to our youngest brother, none will return. You are scared, confused, and hate those who try to slander Grandfather! I feel the same! But now, the Bai family is like eggs in a broken basket, teetering on the edge. We can’t be afraid, can’t be reckless, and can’t act like brutes just to vent our anger! We must help our aunt and Eldest Young Lady, not cause further trouble.”

Bai Jinzhi, her heartache exposed, immediately burst into tears. Reflecting on today’s events that nearly caused a disaster for the Bai family, she felt deep shame and tightly clenched the bedsheet beneath her, “Third Sister, don’t worry! I understand now!”