Chapter 110: 109: Boundless Wealth and Glory_1

Chapter 110: Chapter 109: Boundless Wealth and Glory_1

Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi had just left the main hall of Changshou Courtyard when they were met by heavy snowfall.

The maids held lanterns and umbrellas, accompanying them slowly as they walked.

“Today, Eldest Young Lady had me and Third Sister cause such a commotion. Even though this ensures the clan will not trouble us when we return to Shuoyang, it is truly vexing to give them 450,000 taels,” Bai Jinzhi fumed, “Given their leech-like behavior, I’d rather spend that money to set up a porridge kitchen to help the poor than give it to them.”

“The Duke’s estate now only has women left. Consider it spending money for peace,” Bai Jinxiu said with a smile, patting Bai Jinzhi on the head.

“But that Mr. Xiao was truly noble!” Bai Jinzhi mentioned Xiao Rongyan with a hint of admiration in her eyes, “He was so dignified and pure, completely different from the merchants full of the stench of money that I have met before. He seemed like a young master from an aristocratic family.”

Xiao Rongyan was not a real merchant, so naturally, he did not have the stench of copper.

...

Just as they exited Changshou Courtyard, they saw a young maid holding an umbrella assisting Nanny Luo, who served Mrs. Liu, hurrying over. Nanny Luo said Mrs. Liu had sent her to call for Bai Jinxiu.

“Eldest Young Lady, Third Sister, Fourth Sister, I will go to Mother first and then to the mourning hall…”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Bai Jinxiu bowed and left with Nanny Luo in a hurry, asking continuously if Mrs. Liu was feeling unwell.

The cold wind whistled. She turned to look at her two younger sisters: “I will go see Ji Tingyu. You two go to the mourning hall first.”

“Let me accompany Eldest Young Lady! Fourth Sister, you go to the mourning hall. They need someone there,” Bai Jintong sent Bai Jinzhi away to keep her from seeing Ji Tingyu’s ghastly state.

“Alright…” Bai Jinzhi nodded.

When Bai Jintong accompanied Bai Qingyan to see Ji Tingyu, Ji Tingyu had already fallen asleep. Doctor Hong said Ji Tingyu woke up from pain earlier, took some medicine, and went back to sleep.

“Being able to sleep is good!” Doctor Hong, who was sitting at the square table keeping watch, stroked his goatee, “It won’t hurt as much when he’s asleep.”

Looking at the pale-as-paper Ji Tingyu lying on the bed, Bai Qingyan, eyes red, came out from the inner room and asked Lu Ping: “Do Ji Tingyu’s family know?”

“Ji Tingyu just returned today. Steward Hao sent someone to inform Ji Tingyu’s sister at the estate,” Lu Ping nodded, holding the curtain for Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong.

“Didn’t you send someone to inform Ji Tingyu’s parents, wife, and children?” Bai Jintong asked.

Lu Ping, standing under the porch, slowly replied: “When the bandits in Zhangzhou attacked, Ji Tingyu’s father died. His mother also passed away five years ago. Ji Tingyu just married a wife in early December, but she is still young. Steward Hao sent a steward to inform Ji Tingyu’s brother-in-law since there are no elders in the Ji family, and the new wife might not handle it well.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and, after a moment of silence, turned to Lu Ping and said: “Uncle Ping, there’s something I need you to do quietly.”

“Whatever the Eldest Young Lady commands!” Lu Ping replied, clasping his fists.

“I surmise that by early tomorrow morning, my cousin Bai Qiyun will be carrying silver notes and heading back to Shuoyang.” She gently rubbed the handwarmer in her hand and said leisurely, “Choose ten loyal and skillful men who can keep their mouths shut, have them follow him secretly. When they near the Shuoyang border, have them disguise as bandits and rob Bai Qiyun.”

Bai Jintong was stunned: “Eldest Young Lady?!”

“Yes!” Lu Ping responded.

“Uncle Ping, please select the men now. Once you’ve chosen, come and inform me at Yifeng Pavilion.”

Lu Ping clasped his fists and left in a hurry.

“I thought Eldest Young Lady had me and Fourth Sister put on that show just to justify ourselves before the world, to save face, and would give the silver to the clan despite it. Fourth Sister was quite unhappy about it,” Bai Jintong said with a hidden smile. This robbery plan reminded her very much of Fourth Sister.

Just the thought of Bai Qiyun crying out after being robbed made Bai Jintong feel satisfied.

“You need to justify yourself, save face, but also gain tangible benefits. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to you and Fourth Sister’s efforts.” She watched Lu Ping’s hurried departure and said to Bai Jintong, “They say a poor family needs a wealthy traveling companion. Remember to thank our cousin Bai Qiyun for the 450,000 taels you’ll have on hand…”

“Eldest Young Lady is right.”

Looking at the snow-covered ground, she turned and asked Bai Jintong seriously: “Are you planning to venture out to sea?”

Since returning from the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve, Bai Jintong had been considering this every day.

If it weren’t for the Emperor’s question to Eldest Young Lady at the palace that day, if Bai family’s men hadn’t all died in the South, she would have willingly followed the path set by her grandmother to slowly amass hidden wealth for the Bai family.

But watching Xiao Rongyan, the richest merchant in Wei behind King Qi, she finally understood that wealth could indeed reach the heavens.

Bai Jintong didn’t know how Eldest Young Lady planned for the Bai family’s future, but she could sense from Eldest Young Lady’s few words a desire to intimidate the Imperial Family.

Otherwise, why would Eldest Young Lady stir up such a storm in Dadu, pressing the Emperor with public sentiment and resentment, only ever mentioning the Duke’s mansion’s love and loyalty for the people and its great duty to protect the nation, never mentioning loyalty to the Lin family’s imperial authority?

Thus, Bai Jintong guessed, Eldest Young Lady would never surrender the military power of the Bai family.

With military power in one hand and immense wealth in the other, how would the Bai family’s position in Jin, and even the world, look?

Bai Jintong longed to see that day.

That day in Qinghui Courtyard, Eldest Young Lady told her that how far she could go depended on her abilities, which was both her blessing and the Bai family’s blessing. Hence, she must strive without reservation to seek immense wealth, laying a solid foundation for the future.

Some words, Bai Qingyan never explicitly said to Bai Jintong, but Bai Jintong was wise and perceptive, knowing well the Bai family’s future path.

“Great wealth comes with great risks; there’s no unearned wealth in this world.” Bai Jintong stood with her hands behind her back, her brows exuding heroic spirit, “Venturing out to sea is highly risky, but the profits are incredibly tempting! To be honest, Eldest Young Lady, I have already sent most of the stewards Grandma assigned to buy ships and hire men at the port. After the fifteenth, I will personally lead people to gather goods. With continuous voyages, as long as Heaven favors us, within five years… I dare not claim the world, but I am confident to become the richest merchant in Jin.”

She looked at her Third Sister with deep emotion and said, “Fortunately, they were born into the Duke’s Mansion Bai family. Grandfather and Father never looked down on them for being daughters; they learned as much as any son, carrying a fighting spirit instead of fear and submissiveness.”

“My father had an advisor named Liu. His ancestors made a living by the sea and had a unique ability to predict the weather, quite remarkable. I will invite him to come assist you,” Bai Qingyan said, holding Bai Jintong’s hand as they walked down the steps.