Bai Qingjueâs eyes burned painfully, moving slowly as he dismounted, his throat seemed blocked, unable to make a sound, he just fixed his eyes on Bai Jinzhao running swiftly towards him. He quickly raised a hand to embrace Bai Jinzhao in his arms.
"Seventh Brother! Seventh Brother, youâre finally back! Mother and we all thought you were gone! Little Seventeen is gone... The march records said you were gone too, Mother had no will to live, spending her days fasting and chanting Buddha..."
Listening to his sister cry in his arms, he tightly grasped the reins with one hand, gently stroking his sisterâs head with the other, softly apologizing, "Itâs Seventh Brotherâs fault, Iâve returned too late! Made you all worried!"
·
Mrs. Fang was sitting in the mansion, sipping tea, when she suddenly heard the news of Bai Qingjueâs return from the dead, startling her to stand up: "What did you say?! The Seventh Son of the Bai family?! The Bai familyâs Seventh Son... is the legitimate son of Bai Qichuan, Bai Qingjue?!"
Puliu, who had originally been smiling while delivering the news, was startled by Mrs. Fangâs reaction, nodded and said, "Indeed! The master wants the madam to prepare a gift from the storeroom, to personally deliver it to the Bai Mansion this afternoon..."
Hearing this, Mrs. Fang slumped back onto the couch: "The Seventh Son of the Bai family is back..."
"Madam?" Puliu saw Mrs. Fangâs pale face, thinking she felt unwell, hurriedly approached, "Madam, whatâs wrong?"
"This... with the return of the Seventh Son of the Bai family, doesnât it mean thereâs no place for my A Ping on the throne in the future?!" Mrs. Fangâs eyes suddenly turned red, tears about to fall. A Ping and Bai Qingyan were so close; even if A Ping wasnât chosen, once heâs married and has children, his offspring could be adopted to become the Emperor!
Ever since Bai Qingyanâs ascension to the throne was announced, Mrs. Fang had been plotting within the clan, believing that if Bai Qingyan were to pass on the throne, it should be to Bai Qingping, or if she preferred to choose an adopted child from within the clan, it should be a child of someone close to her, which would still be Bai Qingping.
Thus, a few days ago, Mrs. Fang had already sent someone back to discuss this matter with her brother, hoping he would marry off his legitimate daughter to Bai Qingping so they could marry and have a son soon, so her grandson could become the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty in the future.
But now, with Bai Qingjueâs return, considering both bloodline and emotional ties... the relationship between the Seventh Son of the Bai family and Bai Qingyan would undoubtedly surpass that of Bai Qingyan and Bai Qingping. Even if someone were to be adopted, certainly Bai Qingyan would adopt Bai Qingjueâs child, so what should be done?
If thatâs the case, wonât the throne that seemed within reach be lost?
Puliu listened to Mrs. Fangâs words, eyes wide in disbelief: "Madam, even if the Seventh Son of the Bai family didnât return, that throne has nothing to do with the young master!"
Where did such wishful thinking come from!
"What do you know! Among those Bai Qingyan is close to in the clan, thereâs only my A Ping! Back then she had nowhere to turn, could only rely on my A Ping, but now with Bai Qingjue back, my A Ping wonât be pushed aside?!"
"Madam!" Puliu exclaimed, "That is His Majesty, how can you directly call him by name!"
Mrs. Fang felt aggrieved, waving her handkerchief, choking up, "Whatâs wrong with saying it in my own house!"
Puliu saw Mrs. Fangâs face full of grievances, tears falling, and refrained from advising further, quietly stood to one side, not making a sound.
Bai Mansion.
Mrs. Wang, the fourth wife, received the news that Bai Qingjue was back, both surprised and delighted she rushed to the front courtyard, and upon seeing Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Qi already there, she hurriedly wiped her tears with a handkerchief and saluted Mrs. Dong: "Heard that Ah Jue is back, I... I..."
"Alright!" Mrs. Dong gently patted Mrs. Wangâs hand, helping her rise, "Letâs go to the gate to welcome the child!"
Mrs. Wang nodded, tears like a broken string, and together with the other ladies walked to the outside of the Bai Mansion, awaiting the return of the Bai familyâs son, Bai Qingjue, who had been gone for three years and risen from the dead.
The news of Bai Qingjueâs return quickly spread throughout Shuoyang City. Upon hearing the news, the people of Shuoyang gathered at the gates of the Bai Mansion, along with several Bai family ladies, wanting to see what outstanding demeanor the Bai familyâs Seventh Son had.
Fourth wife Mrs. Wang kept craning her neck to look into the distance, suddenly hearing the crowd shout "Here they come! Here they come!", Mrs. Wang hurriedly picked up her moonlit skirtâs hem and stepped down from the steps at the front of the Bai Mansion, indeed seeing at the end of the long street illuminated by the bright sun, three people riding fine horses approaching.
One was Bai Jinzhao, another was Shen Kunyang... and the third was her son, Bai Qingjue.
As soon as Mrs. Wang saw her sonâs silhouette, she couldnât hold back her tears anymore. It was obviously a happy event, yet why did her heart feel so sorrowful? She tightly clutched the clothes in front of her chest, tears flowing down in a rush.
Bai Qingjue saw his mother, saw the people of the Bai family standing at the gate of the Bai Mansion, his eyes stung, his vision blurred, he couldnât help but speed up and rush towards his mother... towards home.
Bai Qingjue was the first to reach the Bai Mansionâs gate, reining in his horse, looking towards his mother and all the aunts and uncles, his throat ached, letting go of the reins, leaped off the horse, took a few steps forward, knelt down at the gate of the Bai Mansion, placed his helmet beside him, solemnly bowed, held back tears, choked up and loudly said, "Youlong Cavalry Campâs Bai familyâs Seventh Son... Bai Qingjue, returns home safely."
Fourth wife Mrs. Wang, upon hearing her sonâs safe return, quickly ran down from the high steps.
Bai Qingjue stood tall, meeting his motherâs eyes, finally unable to hold back his tears, choking out a call, "Mother..."
Mrs. Wang wanted to respond to her son, but her heart felt like it was being shredded by a knife for some reason, she could only let out a heart-wrenching cry, she embraced her son, crying loudly, kneeling together with him.
Sweaty hands cradling her sonâs face, carefully examining the increasingly similar features to his father, repeatedly stroking... as if afraid this was all just a dream.
She thought sheâd never hear her son call her mother again, she thought her husband couldnât protect their children, leaving them all in the southern frontier...
"Mother..." Bai Qingjue raised his hand to wipe away his motherâs tears, "Son is back! Son returned late..."
They say men shouldnât cry easily, but after facing life and death and seeing family again, Bai Qingjue couldnât hold it in, his nostrils flaring, unable to stop the tears.
Mrs. Wangâs heart was about to break, tightly holding her son in her arms, looking up and weeping.
She once hated the heavens so much, but now she is so grateful to the heavens, she thanks the heavens for giving her Ah Jue back!
Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Qi stood at the door wiping tears with handkerchiefs. It was Mrs. Dong who spoke first: "Alright! Itâs not right to be crying outside like this. The child has finally returned, letâs go inside! Weâll talk in the house!"