Chapter 290 - 290 288 Sorrow_1

Chapter 290: Chapter 288: Sorrow_1 Chapter 290: Chapter 288: Sorrow_1 Nanny Jiang hurriedly stepped forward and helped the Eldest Princess up.

“Kid hasn’t arrived yet?” the Eldest Princess asked, her expression kind.

Nanny Jiang, insightful as she was, noticed the unease in the Eldest Princess’s voice. She smiled and replied cheerfully, “She should be here soon! Just the other day, when I returned and told the Eldest Princess that the Eldest Young Lady’s trip to the Southern Border made her much stronger, the Eldest Princess didn’t believe me. When she arrives later, the Eldest Princess will see that I wasn’t exaggerating.”

The Eldest Princess smiled. Although her majestic presence remained overpowering after so many years, her demeanor was gentle, and her voice was full of concern, “I just don’t know how much Kid has suffered again. That child has always been the most resilient among her siblings since childhood.”

“Now that she’s back from the Southern Border and the Emperor has conferred on the Eldest Young Lady the title of Commandery Princess, her days will surely get better and better!” Nanny Jiang said, supporting the Eldest Princess as they stepped out of the house.

Wei Zhong had not yet managed to pay his respects to the Eldest Princess when he saw Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi slowly entering the courtyard, surrounded by maids.

“Eldest Princess, the Eldest Young Lady has arrived!” Wei Zhong announced.

The Eldest Princess’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, slightly tightened around the Buddha Beads on her wrist. She glanced toward the entrance, tears welling up in her eyes. She instructed Wei Zhong, “Go and fetch Miss Lu.”

Wei Zhong bowed and left.

As soon as Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi stepped through the door, they saw the Eldest Princess standing under the corridor, smiling gently at them.

After several months apart, Grandmother appeared even more emaciated and weary. Though her dignified aura remained, the elegant clothes she wore could no longer conceal her increasingly hunched back.

Already in her twilight years, having experienced the loss of her husband and the pain of losing her children and grandchildren, even such a dignified and adept grandmother couldn’t help but show signs of exhaustion and age after such immense sorrow.

Bai Qingyan led Bai Jinzhi to the entrance and bowed to the Eldest Princess. “Grandmother, we have returned safely.”

“Hmm, being safe is good,” the Eldest Princess responded, her voice steady, although tears glistened in the corners of her eyes. Affectionately, she added, “Come inside. It’s a bit chilly outside.”

“Eldest Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, come inside quickly! Early this morning, I had someone prepare red date milk tea. Eldest Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady, have a cup to warm yourselves.”

Bai Jinzhi obediently followed behind Bai Qingyan, looking up at her as if waiting for instructions.

The Eldest Princess could never have imagined that she would find herself in such a situation with the granddaughter she had doted on since childhood. She turned around first, holding Nanny Jiang’s hand, and went indoors, taking a seat on a yellow cushion with passionflower patterns.

As they entered, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi prepared to kneel. Nanny Jiang quickly ordered someone to bring a kneeling cushion.

Watching her two granddaughters solemnly perform three kowtows, the Eldest Princess’s eyes reddened with tears. Smiling, she had Nanny Jiang help the two children up to sit. “Kid indeed looks healthier, but how did Little Four end up looking like a coal boy after this trip?”

Bai Jinzhi always felt uneasy in front of the Eldest Princess. Feeling embarrassed, she softly replied, “Yes, it’s strange. Even though both my eldest sister and I rode horses, she’s still fair-skinned, but I turned so dark.”

Nanny Jiang covered her mouth with a handkerchief, hiding her laughter. Seeing Miss Lu bring in red date milk tea, she ordered the maids to leave and have Wei Zhong guard outside.

Although Nanny Jiang hadn’t introduced her yet, Bai Qingyan already knew that the woman serving her red date milk tea was Miss Lu. She discreetly observed her.

The Eldest Princess took off her Buddha Beads and placed them on a small ebony side table. Picking up her cup of red date milk tea, she took a small sip. “This is Miss Lu. Once Grandmother adopts her, you’ll call her Aunt according to the family hierarchy.”

Bai Qingyan then seriously looked at Miss Lu. Seeing that she stood neither arrogantly nor humbly by the Eldest Princess’s side, she asked, “Does she resemble her?”

Bai Suqiu, her aunt, had passed away too early. Bai Qingyan was too young to remember much about her. However, as her aunt’s birth mother, Grandmother knew her best.

“Her appearance is about seventy percent similar. The other thirty percent can be made up with attire and behavior.” The Eldest Princess put down the sky-blue glazed porcelain tea cup. “Nanny Jiang has been training her these past few days. Although time is tight, we must proceed cautiously.”

The Bai family thrived for over a hundred years. Now, with all the sons lost, only a group of women remained. The Emperor still felt uneasy, and King Liang held ambitions. Thus, the Eldest Princess had to be extra cautious and plan meticulously.

Bai Jinzhi, holding her bowl of milk tea, curiously looked at Miss Lu, not understanding what her eldest sister and grandmother were hinting at.

“Does she know medicine?” Bai Qingyan asked Miss Lu.

Miss Lu, slightly surprised, bowed to Bai Qingyan and answered, “Replying to the Commandery Princess, my mother’s ancestors were practitioners of medicine. Therefore, I know a bit as well.”

No wonder Grandmother chose this Miss Lu.

If it weren’t a last resort, Grandmother wouldn’t have taken this step.

“Granddaughter thinks if the Emperor permits Grandmother to adopt Miss Lu as her daughter, it would be good to have Miss Lu look after Grandmother’s daily needs. Third Sister… could return to Shuoyang with us on the first of May.” Bai Qingyan suggested.

It’s said that wives are not as good as concubines, concubines are not as good as stolen lovers, and stolen lovers are not as good as those unattainable…

With someone like this, guided by Nanny Jiang and the Eldest Princess, a “reincarnated Bai Suqiu” will keep the Emperor’s heart longing here. The concubine Lady Qiu in the palace will surely fall out of favor.

Naturally, “Bai Jintong” would have to pretend to be ill after returning to Shuoyang.

“By my calculations, your fifth aunt should be in labor soon…” The Eldest Princess thought of Mrs. Qi’s child. She had high hopes for this child, wishing that Mrs. Qi could give the Bai family another son this time. At least that way, Kid wouldn’t have to work so hard to uphold the family name.

“Mother has prepared a midwife and a birthing room. Doctor Hong is also on standby at home. Fifth Aunt personally selected two wet nurses and then discussed with Mother her desire to breastfeed the child herself,” Bai Qingyan said.

She understood her fifth aunt’s feelings. It was her uncle’s only son and her fifth aunt’s only child.

The Eldest Princess couldn’t hide her sorrow. She seemed to nod slightly, “Let your fifth aunt do as she wishes!”

Nanny Jiang originally wanted to keep Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi for a vegetarian lunch. Bai Qingyan, however, said, “No, I still need to visit the estate to check on Ji Tingyu. After seeing Ji Tingyu, Little Four wants to go to the Guping Town temple fair to eat the Baoxiang Tower’s Baoxiang Duck….”

Mentioning Ji Tingyu, the Eldest Princess’s lips moved slightly. The true reason for their estrangement was how Ji Tingyu was handled.

She fiddled with the Buddha Beads wrapped around her hand, closed her eyes, and nodded, instructing Nanny Jiang, “Go fetch a five hundred tael silver note for Kid to take to Ji Tingyu.”