Chapter 342 - 342 339 Blood Debt Paid in Blood_1

Chapter 342: Chapter 339: Blood Debt Paid in Blood_1 Chapter 342: Chapter 339: Blood Debt Paid in Blood_1 Bai Qingyan’s three-year agreement with Yun Poxing was known to Li Zhijie.

“Then, I hope that three years later… the Emperor of Jin will allow the Commandery Princess to lead troops. Willing to waste soldiers and be defeated by Xiliang again, just to avenge your Bai family’s private enmity. Not to delay the Commandery Princess’s journey. Farewell.” Li Zhijie nodded slightly to Bai Qingyan. Turning around, his face darkened.

Chun Tao lowered the carriage curtain, secretly complaining in her heart about how the King Yan of Xiliang liked to stir up trouble. Then, she heard Li Tianfu’s voice coming from inside the carriage.

“If I do not die this time returning to Xiliang, Bai Qingyan… I will make you pay for your blood debt one day.”

Bai Jinzhi was riding a horse, just between the two carriages with the Xiliang guards. She heard it clearly.

She couldn’t help rolling her eyes at Li Tianfu’s carriage, hearing her eldest young lady say indifferently to leave, then squeezed the horse’s belly and led the way.

·

Outside the Bamboo Grove Cottage of Mr. Guan Yongchong at Anyu Mountain, Bai Qingyan waited quietly.

After a young boy went inside to report to Mr. Guan Yongchong, he hurried out to invite Bai Qingyan: “My master invites the Commandery Princess to come in.”

“Thank you!” Bai Qingyan nodded to the young boy. Bringing only Bai Jinzhi through the door, they walked through the secluded path in the bamboo forest toward the cottage built on the water.

Mr. Guan Yongchong and Mr. Cui Shiyan sat side by side. A young boy in white knelt beside them, fanning the stove to boil tea.

Although Bai Jinzhi had seen these two great scholars before, she felt somewhat nervous due to her reverence, making her actions appear slightly restrained.

Seeing Bai Qingyan kneel and bow, Bai Jinzhi quickly followed suit with three bows and salutes.

Mr. Guan Yongchong smiled and nodded at Bai Qingyan: “Good child! Stand up quickly!”

Bai Qingyan stood up and bowed deeply to the ground: “Yan, along with my fourth sister, has come to visit my mentor.”

“Sit…” Mr. Guan Yongchong, looking at his only female disciple, felt immense joy in his heart.

Bai Qingyan agreed and knelt down with Bai Jinzhi opposite Mr. Guan Yongchong and Mr. Cui Shiyan.

“Tomorrow is my mentor’s birthday. Yan, having filial duties, will be inconvenient to attend the banquet tomorrow. Today, I come in advance to visit my mentor. Wishing mentor longevity and good health, like Wei Wu (note 1).”

Mr. Guan Yongchong, with kindly eyes and brows, smiled and nodded, looking at the white-clad, resolute, and steady woman kneeling opposite. He seemed to faintly see the demeanor of an old friend in her, feeling sentimental, his eyes unexpectedly becoming moist.

“That day, your grandfather brought you to my Bamboo Grove Cottage, asking me to teach you literature. I knew… your grandfather had high expectations for you.” Mr. Guan Yongchong’s tone was long and slow, like earnest admonition. “Your grandfather passed away protecting the people of Jin. The grand aspirations of the Bai Clan should be inherited by you. With your ability… support a wise monarch, strengthen the country, expand the territory, and unify… to save the common people.”

Bai Qingyan’s lips moved slightly. She bowed toward her mentor: “Student has a question that I do not understand, and I hope mentor can enlighten me.”

“Today, both I and Brother Cui are here. You may speak freely.” Mr. Guan Yongchong said.

“That day, student dreamed of my grandfather. My grandfather asked student, why do people live in this world? Student did not understand. Why do people live in this world? I was puzzled for a long time, so I ask my mentor to enlighten me.”

It was the first time Mr. Guan Yongchong saw a look of confusion in the eyes of his most prized disciple.

Why do people live in this world?

Mr. Guan Yongchong looked at Cui Yanshi, only to see Cui Yanshi’s sharp eyes deeply gazing at the slightly bewildered Bai Qingyan.

“Human existence begins with desire. The desire for warmth and food… to sustain the physical body. The lustful desire… to propagate offspring. Then for power, wealth, beauty! These are what ordinary people pursue in their lifetimes.” Mr. Cui Shiyan spoke with a resolute tone.

“However, descendants of aristocratic families, living a lifetime, should transcend worldly desires. They should live… for the inheritance of their character and virtues, for the unwavering spirit of their family, for dignity, for faith, for their aspirations, for promises they cannot fail. These are things that are more precious than life to aristocratic families. Aristocratic families that can stand for centuries without falling are those where generations are united and willing to die for these values.”

Mr. Cui Shiyan, born into an aristocratic family, understood better than Mr. Guan Yongchong what sustains and inherits the traditions of aristocratic families.

Bai Qingyan’s hands on her knees clenched slightly. She lowered her eyes, hiding her red and wet eyes.

For a promise…

So, even in a dream, her grandfather, due to his promise, asked her to protect Jin’s rivers and mountains.

The Emperor was unjust, but her grandfather valued his promise and could not be disloyal.

For relatives who cannot be failed in life and death…

So, her grandfather was not ruthless enough to abandon the Shuoyang Bai Clan.

She closed her eyes, suppressing the overwhelming sour and bitter feeling in her heart.

But she was not her grandfather.

She had never promised the Imperial Family. Her relatives were only the Bai family in Dadu.

Mr. Cui’s words were pointing it out to her.

Mr. Cui must have known about the incident caused by the Shuoyang Bai Clan in Dadu.

Mr. Cui was a great scholar. In Mr. Cui’s view… education should be available to all. He believed she should not abandon her relatives of the Shuoyang Clan but should guide and enlighten them to the right path.

However, she did not have the time and energy to waste on those ungrateful people. Living in the mundane world, her mindset was far less broad than Mr. Cui’s.

Bai Qingyan solemnly bowed to the two great scholars: “What Mr. Cui said has enlightened Bai Qingyan.”

“Alright, alright! Stand up!”

Mr. Cui Shiyan was always stern. Guan Yongchong, feeling sorry for his disciple, did not want to dwell on this heavy topic any longer, and asked instead: “Have you set the date for returning to Shuoyang?”

The young boy served tea. Bai Qingyan nodded in thanks and respectfully replied: “On the first of next month. If in the future, I can return to Dadu, I will certainly come to visit my mentor.”

“You will!” Mr. Cui Shiyan said solemnly.

Bai Qingyan nodded at Mr. Cui.

Leaving Mr. Guan’s Bamboo Grove Cottage, Bai Jinzhi watched the young boy who escorted them to the door and then turned back. Her mood became much heavier. Following Bai Qingyan down the steps, she asked, “Eldest Young Lady, did Mr. Cui specifically mention relatives because he knew about the Shuoyang Clan?”

She nodded: “Let’s go…”

“Mr. Cui doesn’t know what those people of the clan have done. It’s easy for him to talk…” Bai Jinzhi whispered, “Can’t compare with Mr. Guan!”

She looked back at the pouting Bai Jinzhi, and said in a low voice: “Mr. Cui is a great scholar. His mindset is different from ours as ordinary people. Mr. Cui has his own integrity and faith, repaying grievances with virtue, being a good teacher, and teaching without discrimination. This is the demeanor of a great scholar.”

Bai Jinzhi, realizing her mistake, awkwardly pulled at her lips. She bowed to Bai Qingyan: “I misspoke, Fourth Sister.”

She raised her hand and patted Bai Jinzhi’s head: “Anyone called a great scholar must be widely knowledgeable. However, those who can be regarded as the greatest scholars of our time, in addition to having extensive learning, must also possess the virtue of educating others. Mr. Cui can become the revered literary giant that scholars admire today, and he must have the reasons to achieve his prestige today.”