Chapter 117
Qin Lang’s eyes widened. “Does that mean someone is behind Father?! Who is it?! King Qi?! No… King Qi is a magnanimous person. Even if he competes with King Xin for the throne, he wouldn’t do such a thing! Is it King Xin?!”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyelids. See… no one would guess that the person behind the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was the notoriously timid King Liang.
“It doesn’t matter who it is. The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage hasn’t explicitly said. This is not something you should question.” She slowly raised her gaze and looked at the pale-faced Qin Lang. “You are a smart person. Since you were a child, you have been the Princely Heir of the Marquis. You should know that the responsibility of a Princely Heir is to prioritize the honor of the entire family over personal life and death! The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage gave you this list, hoping you could take on the heavy responsibility of your family.”
No matter what, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was still Qin Lang’s father. Frankly speaking, she couldn’t trust Qin Lang enough to believe he would abandon his biological father for the sake of the Bai family’s justice.
Even though this father once allowed his stepmother to make things difficult for him, once… considered him insignificant.
“Eldest Young Lady.” Qin Lang’s throat moved, “Did Father say anything else?”
…
“The Marquis only said… he feels guilty toward the Bai family. He said nothing else. But on the way back, I pondered carefully. I’m afraid it won’t be hidden that I visited the Marquis today. The people on this list should be those the Marquis sent to silence others. There will be traces to follow. If you want to maintain the glory of the Marquis Mansion, you need to think carefully about the personnel movements in the mansion in recent days and ask about it as the Eldest Young Master. Then, quickly take this list to the Court of Judicial Review!”
Qin Lang’s face was as white as paper. He tried to calm himself and calculate.
Reveal his father to the Court of Judicial Review? But… what will happen to Father?!
He tampered with military supplies, causing all the Bai family’s men to die in the southern border. Not to mention, tens of thousands of soldiers also died.
Moreover, Liu Huanzhang… used the granary to deceive King Xin and the Duke of Zhen!
Provisions…
Qin Lang almost collapsed to the ground. If it wasn’t for the stone table he grabbed, his legs would have given out.
Liu Huanzhang’s treason was a crime that would wipe out the entire clan!
“Seeing your reaction, you should have figured out the connection between your father’s case and Liu Huanzhang!” Bai Qingyan’s eyebrows were frosty. “This is why I went to the Court of Judicial Review to see your father. After all… my second sister is married to you. If the Qin family gets into trouble, my second sister can’t escape either. So… even if there’s a problem with the military provisions, even if I hate the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, I must go for my sister’s sake. My grandmother was right: the dead are already gone, and the living are more important.”
Qin Lang came to his senses, and with a pale face, he bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan. “Thank you, Eldest Young Lady! I will repay your great kindness to the Qin family in this lifetime.”
He stood up, glanced at Bai Jinxiu, who was sitting on a cushioned stone stool, and made a firm decision. “How about I write a divorce paper and sign it first? If the Qin family gets into trouble, it could…”
“Eldest Young Master, what are you saying?!” Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were even redder. “Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest. Will they fly separately when disaster strikes? When rumors were spreading in Dadu City that the Bai family was in trouble a few days ago, why didn’t you give me a divorce paper then?!”
Seeing Qin Lang still treating Bai Jinxiu with affection, she felt somewhat relieved. “If you and Jinxiu remain husband and wife, the emperor might show mercy to the Marquis Mansion for the sacrifices made by our grandmother and the Bai family. Do you understand?!”
“I understand!” Qin Lang nodded.
He looked at Bai Jinxiu. “Jinxiu, I owe you a lot. I just don’t want to implicate you!”
As he spoke, Qin Lang’s eyes reddened. “Besides, what Father did this time has caused the Bai family to suffer. I feel deeply guilty towards the Bai family!”
“We are husband and wife. What does it matter who is implicated?! What Father-in-law did has nothing to do with you! I married you to live together, not to live with Father-in-law! You can move out of the Marquis Mansion for me. How can I abandon you in your time of need? The children of the Bai family have been raised with loyalty and righteousness, and I can’t abandon you in times of danger! With you… we have marital affection, and I can’t let go!” Bai Jinxiu’s tone was very firm.
“Qin Lang, now is the time for you to take on the burden of the Marquis Mansion! This time, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage will undoubtedly face death, but the glory of the Marquis Mansion still has a chance to survive.” She held the hand warmer calmly. “If you act quickly, perhaps you can alarm the emperor before the person behind your father finishes silencing others. As long as the emperor pays attention to this case and summons your father for questioning, he might live a few more days to atone for his sins.”
Qin Lang gritted his teeth and nodded. “I understand. Thank you for the advice, Eldest Young Lady! I’ll return to the Marquis Mansion now.”
Bai Qingyan nodded.
After Qin Lang left, Bai Jinxiu turned to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest Sister… is that list really from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage?”
She gazed in the direction where Qin Lang had disappeared and spoke softly. “Luckily… the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage isn’t close to Qin Lang. A son doesn’t fully know his father, and a father doesn’t fully know his son. Otherwise, today’s lie wouldn’t have fooled Qin Lang.”
In Qin Lang’s mind, even though his father favored the younger son more, he still saw him as a lofty figure.
Now, Bai Qingyan had fabricated a story about Qin Dezhao’s repentance and his willingness to sacrifice himself to ensure the family’s peace. Qin Lang, seeing his father through his own values, believed it without question. How could he not?!
It indeed fooled Qin Lang, Bai Jinxiu sighed. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
She didn’t understand the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, but she knew her eldest sister all too well. The problem with the provisions had cost the Bai family’s men their lives. Her eldest sister would never let Qin Dezhao go.
Besides, her eldest sister said she wanted to push Qin Lang to the position of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage. She must have a plan in mind.
“Do you think Eldest Sister’s actions now are no different from those of Qin Dezhao and his ilk? Even her brother-in-law isn’t excluded from her calculations…”
Bai Jinxiu shook her head. “It’s this world. Everyone is scheming, forcing even someone as upright and loyal as Eldest Sister to resort to scheming.”
Bai Qingyan tilted her head towards Bai Jinxiu, with a faint smile. “Grandmother said to keep the funeral simple. It’s time to think about how to write the eulogy. Once everything is settled, everything will get better.”
Since she left the mansion for the Court of Judicial Review today, Gao Sheng had been following her. By now, he must have reported back to King Liang, who would undoubtedly take action.
She guessed that with King Liang’s cautious nature, Qin Dezhao would not survive to see tonight’s moon.
Next, if Mrs. Dong, the matron of the Duke Mansion, collapsed from exhaustion, the Duke Mansion would be thrown into disarray. King Liang would see it as an opportunity…
If in this lifetime, he still intended to falsely accuse her grandfather of communicating with the enemy, he would surely make his move.