Chapter 155: 154: Arrogance_1

Chapter 155: Chapter 154: Arrogance_1

“Amidst the rain of arrows, she looked at her father’s handsome and elegant face with a smile, gently raising his hand to wipe away her tears. ‘Kid has grown up, you must take good care of your mother for me. Do not seek revenge, do not harbor resentment, live the rest of your life in peace. Just surviving is enough!’

As she watched her father’s figure disappear like sand in the wind, her heart was in turmoil, burning with pain. She reached out frantically to grab him… but caught nothing!

‘Sister!’

At the sound, she turned around abruptly and saw her brother, covered in blood, standing under the mountain of corpses. She dashed towards him madly, ‘A Yu! A Yu!’

She knew well that her father and brother had long been dead.

She knew well that this was only a dream, a heart-wrenching, soul-shattering dream. But she still did not want to wake up!

Because her loved ones were here!

Bai Qingyu’s bloodied face showed a regretful smile, choking back his sobs, ‘Sister, A Yu promised to bring you the most beautiful pigeon blood stone from South Jin. A Yu is going to break his promise!’

She hugged her brother tightly, closed her eyes, and cried out loud, ‘Sister doesn’t want the pigeon blood stone! Sister doesn’t want it! Sister only wants A Yu to be safe! A Yu… A Yu!’

‘Kid…’

Hearing the voice, she turned around, ‘Grandfather!’

Her grandfather was dressed in the clothes he usually wore for practicing at home, smiling and waving at her kindly as always.

She felt the hand she was holding suddenly empty, and her brother’s figure was no longer there. Her throat tightened as she tearfully took one step after another towards her grandfather, collapsed at his feet in extreme sorrow, and cried out loud while hugging his legs, ‘Grandfather! Grandfather…’

Her grandfather bent down and gently stroked her head, holding her hand. His old and kind voice carried a soothing strength, ‘Kid protected her sister and supported the Bai family… Grandfather is very pleased. Grandfather is proud of Kid.’

She bit her lip hard and shook her head vigorously. No… she had not done well enough! She did not deserve to make her grandfather proud. If she had pulled herself together earlier, stopped treating herself like a sickly person, and regained her martial arts skills sooner, she could have fought alongside her grandfather and the others in South Jin… perhaps sacrificing her life for even a few Bai family members’ safety.

Grandfather’s smile grew warmer and kinder, ‘Does Kid know, what was Grandfather’s lifelong wish?’

‘Peace and stability, a tranquil world…’

Grandfather nodded, his voice filled with compassionate tenderness after enduring many hardships, ‘Better to be a dog in peaceful times than a person in chaotic times! Born in a troubled world, what do the people want but peace and stability? Would Kid be willing to carry on Grandfather’s legacy and contribute to the common people?’

‘The Bai family has been a loyal and righteous lineage for generations, upright and dedicated to the people, sacrificing personal interests for the public good, yet we meet with suspicion from our masters and ruin for our loyalty. Grandfather… do you still want me to protect Jin?’

‘What does Kid think, why does a person live?’ Grandfather asked gently.

Before she could answer, Grandfather’s figure dissolved into a soft light. Her throat tightened as she reached out to grasp Grandfather but caught only emptiness.

‘Grandfather! Grandfather!’ She called out her Grandfather in panic, but there was only her echo in the empty canyon.

‘Sister! Sister…’

She heard Bai Jintong’s calls by her ear and abruptly opened her eyes.

‘Sister!’ Bai Jinzhi, who was lying at the bedside, stood up.

‘Sister!’ Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were red. When she saw her sister open her eyes, tears immediately burst out, and she turned her head to shout outside, ‘Aunt, Sister is awake! Sister is really awake!’

Mrs. Dong, who had been talking to Doctor Hong outside the screen, hurried into the inner room, lifting her skirt.

Bai Jinxiu quickly wiped away her tears and pulled Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi away from the bedside. Mrs. Dong, her throat quivering, sat by the bedside and touched Bai Qingyan’s forehead, ‘No fever! Really no fever! Thank heaven and earth!’

‘Mother…’

Bai Qingyan’s hoarse voice rang out. Mrs. Dong couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She grabbed her hand tightly, biting her lower lip hard, ‘Waking up is good! Waking up is good!’

‘Sister, you have slept for two days!’ Bai Jintong said.

Two days… no wonder she felt weak all over.

‘Sister, you scared us to death!’ Bai Jinzhi’s voice choked.

‘Yes!’ Bai Jintong let out a sigh of relief, speaking more lightly now, ‘Sister suddenly had a high fever. Even Doctor Huang and Doctor Hong were at a loss. It was Mr. Xiao who, upon hearing about it, said that his elder brother had the same symptoms when his mother died and was buried. Doctor Hong applied acupuncture according to Mr. Xiao’s method, and unexpectedly, it was so effective. Sister woke up in less than half a cup of tea’s time.’

‘The whole family was very worried about Sister. Grandmother watched over here for two days and nights, only persuaded to go back by Aunt just now.’ Bai Jinxiu whispered to Bai Qingyan with a smile, ‘Fifth sister, Sixth sister, and Seventh sister also stayed up till they couldn’t endure any longer and just left. If they had known Sister would wake up, they would have clung to here!’

Doctor Hong checked Bai Qingyan’s pulse, let out a long sigh of relief, ‘No more issues! No more issues! A narrow escape! She can recover after a few days of rest. Keep a light diet for a few days, and I will write some medicinal recipes…’

‘Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Hong!’ Chun Tao quickly opened the beaded curtain for Doctor Hong and escorted him out of the inner room to write the prescription.

After Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan wash up and had some thin porridge, she gradually felt stronger.

When everyone in the mansion heard that Bai Qingyan had awakened, they were first visited by the Eldest Princess, then several aunts and sisters came to see her, tensing their hearts before going back at ease.

Bai Jinxiu, along with Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi, sat around the fire with Bai Qingyan, talking about future matters.

‘Nowadays, King Liang’s case is linked to the South Jin’s grain case. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s mansion cannot escape involvement. Since the Marquis is dead… Qin Lang has returned to the mansion. I plan to send Grandmother to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for secluded cultivation on the fifteenth, and then return to the mansion,’ Bai Jinxiu said softly, ‘Qin Lang and I are husband and wife. Since the Bai family’s mourning period is over, it’s time to prepare for the mourning in the Marquis’ mansion.’

Bai Qingyan, her complexion pale and bloodless, lowered her eyes, taking the warm teacup in her hands, and said softly, ‘If your body can bear it, return to the mansion today. If time drags on… others might inevitably gossip about you.’

Bai Jinxiu looked at her elder sister and heard her continue softly, ‘Now, with the mansion in turmoil and leaderless, it’s the perfect moment for you to take control, seize authority, and win people’s hearts! Sister knows your filial piety to Grandmother. Grandmother is in the Imperial Qing Temple… there is a long way to go.’

This was indeed something Bai Jinxiu had thought about. She originally planned to return after the Bai family’s funeral on the tenth. Unexpectedly, her sister suddenly fell into a high fever and did not wake up, so she stayed for two more days.

Since it had come to this, she planned to stay two more days and leave after seeing off Grandmother and her third sister.

‘Yes!’ Bai Jinxiu nodded, ‘Now that I know Sister is fine, I can rest assured! I have packed my things and will leave immediately. Yingshuang will stay in the mansion temporarily. After settling things in the Marquis’ mansion, I will bring Yingshuang over.’

With that, Bai Jinxiu got up and bowed.