Chapter 126: 125: Article_1

Chapter 126: Chapter 125: Article_1

Between her grandson and her benefactor, she could only choose her grandson and ended up failing her benefactor.

The Eldest Princess made a decision, her tone deep like water from a ghostly well. “Anyone on the estate who knows that the new wife is dead doesn’t need to stay. Fetch that bastard back and outwardly declare, ‘The new wife of the Ji family followed that bastard back to the Duke’s mansion to take care of Ji Tingyu.’ Arrange for a woman of a similar age as the new wife of the Ji family to enter the mansion and make her act like one. Ji Tingyu is gravely injured… he has been in a coma since half past noon today. After the Duke’s burial tomorrow, Ji Tingyu, the loyal and brave knight, couldn’t hold on and went after the Duke. The new wife of the Ji family is devastated and dies from grief. Let’s end this matter just like this!”

In a few brief sentences, the Eldest Princess determined the fate of Ji Tingyu.

Nanny Jiang understood. The Eldest Princess handled this matter swiftly because she wanted to finalize everything while the Eldest Young Lady was still preoccupied with the Bai family’s funeral and couldn’t spare the energy or attention.

Nanny Jiang had followed the Eldest Princess since she was a child. She knew that once the Eldest Princess had made up her mind, no one could persuade her otherwise. She still couldn’t help but say, “Eldest Princess, if the Eldest Young Lady learns about this in the future, she might… grow estranged from you!”

“Then don’t let Kid know!” The Eldest Princess opened her bloodshot eyes, her hand trembling as she clutched the Buddha beads. “Never let Kid know!”

...

Otherwise, how would she face her granddaughter?

She had grown up in the deep palace and never dared to say her hands had never been stained with the blood of innocent people. However, the dirtiest and darkest parts of her heart were not something she wanted her most beloved granddaughter to see.

Knowing her granddaughter had already been making concessions for her everywhere, knowing the granddaughter pondered their blood bond to tolerate that bastard! Her granddaughter agreed to submit and not rebel for the land that the Bai family had guarded for generations and for her sake. Knowing that if she killed Ji Tingyu, it would drive her granddaughter to oppose her.

With Kid’s character, if she knew that the bastard Bai Qingxuan had driven Ji Tingyu’s wife to death, she wouldn’t let him live!

Despite knowing all this… she still had no choice.

Because she was greedy, harboring a sliver of hope that she could save both the bastard and her bond with Kid.

The Eldest Princess felt immense sorrow and eventually shed tears.

By the time the sky in Dadu City turned completely dark, Bai Qingxuan returned to the Duke’s mansion alone. The Eldest Princess left his biological mother on the estate.

The Eldest Princess did not meet Bai Qingxuan in person, only instructed Nanny Jiang to tell him to go to the mortuary to keep vigil. If he saw his eldest sister Bai Qingyan, he must be respectful and obedient. Should he defy his eldest sister, he would be severely punished after the Bai family’s mourning period.

Bai Qingxuan respectfully agreed on the surface and followed Nanny Jiang to the mortuary.

As soon as Bai Qingyan saw Bai Qingxuan, he bowed deeply in salute, keeping his head down to hide the scratches made by a woman’s fingernails on his face. “Greetings, Eldest Sister. Greetings, Second Sister.”

As soon as Bai Jinzhi saw Bai Qingxuan following Nanny Jiang, her anger flared up. She sneered, “Weren’t you running away? Why… now that the Emperor’s decree to posthumously honor Grandfather has come down, you shamelessly came back?”

Bai Qingxuan’s eyebrow twitched, and he lowered his gaze to hide the fierce look in his eyes, kneeling in front of the mortuary in silence.

“Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, the Eldest Princess asked Brother Xuan to keep vigil tonight. You should all go rest!”

“That’s great!” Bai Qingyan didn’t stand on ceremony, steadied herself on Chun Tao’s hand, and rose. Her gaze swept over the scratches on Bai Qingxuan’s face. She told her sisters, “Let’s go back. There’s still much to do tomorrow at the burial.”

Back at Qinghui Courtyard, Chun Xing quickly had maids bring warm water for Bai Qingyan to wash up. She also arranged for some light snacks, insisting that Bai Qingyan eat something before sleeping.

“Did Ji Tingyu wake up this afternoon?” She wiped her face with a warm towel and turned to ask Chun Tao.

Chun Tao, who was tidying up the bed, bit her lip. Suppressing her tears, she vigorously fluffed the quilt and deliberately changed the subject with a forced smile. “I heard Ji Tingyu’s wife came today to personally take care of him. I snuck a peek, and she’s a real beauty!”

Nanny Tong had instructed that Ji Tingyu’s sudden coma should not be disclosed to the Eldest Young Lady for the time being. Ji Tingyu was a hero of the Bai family. Doctor Hong would certainly do his best to save him. The Eldest Young Lady didn’t need to be unnecessarily worried. These past few days, she had only been sleeping for one or two hours daily, and that was already exhausting enough.

Ji Tingyu had married his new wife at the end of last year. She had heard about it from Lu Ping a few days ago.

She handed the towel to a maid and turned back to instruct Chun Tao. “Ji Tingyu has no elders at home. The new wife must feel uneasy being alone. It’s good to let the couple reunite. Tell the staff to treat Ji Tingyu’s wife with respect.”

“Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady. Once Madam learned Ji Tingyu’s wife had come, she had Nanny Qin personally give some guidance. The staff treated Ji Tingyu’s wife very respectfully.” Chun Tao had finished setting up the mosquito net. “Eldest Young Lady, please eat something and rest. I have lit some incense to help you sleep. Tomorrow is going to be busy!”

Since the news came on New Year’s Eve, one thing after another had come up. She was indeed exhausted. Yet she couldn’t shake off the thought of Jintong mentioning that Nanny Jiang had rushed to Grandmother’s Changshou Courtyard earlier today.

“Chun Xing, ask Nanny Tong to come in. I have something to ask her.”

“Yes!” Chun Xing curtsied and left.

She sat at the square table, took a few sips of the warm water Chun Xing had placed on the small blackened table, and just finished eating two pieces of pastry when Nanny Tong arrived.

“Eldest Young Lady.” Nanny Tong bowed.

“Have you found out the cause of the matter?” She took a sip of goat’s milk.

Now that the full management of the household had been handed over to Bai Qingyan by Mrs. Dong, Nanny Tong, who had Bai Qingyan’s trust, was efficient in investigating these matters.

“I found out. The old woman Nanny Jiang brought into the house today was from the outer courtyard and had the surname Qi. Today, Nanny Jiang sent a few women to the estate to bring back the Duke’s illegitimate son. That Granny Qi was one of them. But for some reason, Granny Qi returned alone to see Nanny Jiang. Later, Nanny Jiang took Granny Qi to Changshou Courtyard. After coming out of Changshou Courtyard, Granny Qi went back to the estate and only then brought the Duke’s illegitimate son to the house! But when I tried to find this Granny Qi again, she was gone! Both the women and the coachman who went to the estate were nowhere to be found!” Nanny Tong added, “Oh, and Ji Tingyu’s wife came back with Granny Qi and the Duke’s illegitimate son. I heard the Ji family is also on that estate.”

They went to fetch that illegitimate son… but returned alone to see her grandmother, then went back a second time to bring him. The whole thing was suspicious.

The servants who went to fetch him and the coachman were now missing. She wouldn’t believe there was nothing odd going on.

It’s not that she was paranoid, but the Bai family couldn’t afford any mistakes at this critical moment.