Chapter 151
Just as Bai Qingyan was about to walk to the door, the Emperor suddenly spoke: “Bai Qingyan, on this trip to the Southern Frontier, should you betray the nation midway…”
Bai Qingyan’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened slightly. Without waiting for the Emperor to finish, she turned around, bowed to the Emperor, and said, “On this journey to the Southern Frontier, I go to fulfill my duty to my ancestors and my filial duty as a child!”
Loyalty, filial piety…
Bai Weiting indeed served loyally, just as Bai Qingyan said. Bai Weiting took away all the men in the Bai family, leaving no space for the Bai family’s future generations.
The living, whenever they thought of the deceased they had wronged, remembered all the good deeds of the deceased.
Bai Weiting’s loyal heart filled the Emperor with unbearable guilt.
Looking again at Bai Weiting’s granddaughter, she must have indeed made up her mind to take revenge for the Bai family men!
The Emperor’s heart softened a bit more: “Go ahead!”
“I take my leave.”
The Eldest Princess stood at the entrance of the grand hall, beside the red lacquered pillar, her palm sweating as she gripped the tiger head cane. Her heart was in her throat, fearing that Bai Qingyan might defy the Emperor fiercely, inciting his murderous intent.
The Eldest Princess, whose thoughts were turning over and over in her mind, glanced back at the closed hall door. Her peripheral vision caught sight of the blood-stained Xiao Ruohai. Perhaps due to her own anxiety, or Xiao Ruohai’s lack of presence, the Eldest Princess only then noticed a Xiao Ruohai behind her.
She asked, “Does Kid know about today’s capture of Liu Huanzhang?”
Xiao Ruohai hastily bowed, still speaking in the calm and gentle tone used inside the hall, “In reply to the Eldest Princess, howuld the Eldest Young Lady, not being a deity, foresee it?”
Xiao Ruohai didn’t tell the truth. Because of what the Eldest Princess did by killing Ji Tingyu for the Bai family’s illegitimate son… the Eldest Young Lady had already turned against the Eldest Princess. Xiao Ruohai did not trust the Eldest Princess. His only master was the Eldest Young Lady.
After a brief moment, the hall door reopened. Bai Qingyan came out unscathed. The Eldest Princess, who had been tense with worry, finally felt at ease and quickly took two steps forward, grabbing Bai Qingyan’s slender wrist: “What did His Majesty say to you?”
“He admonished me that I can only win in the Southern Frontier, not lose. If I lose, I shouldn’tme back.”
Bai Qingyan’s tone was calm and ordinary, yet the Eldest Princess was so shocked she almost swayed: “What?!”
Upon hearing this, howuld the Eldest Princess not understand the Emperor’s intention?!
Openly sending people to negotiate peace. Secretly planning to send Bai Qingyan tounter-attack. Facing thembined forces of Nanyan and Xiliang’s grand army, if their forces were not diminished… Bai family men and Bai family troops were still there, a fight was still possible!
But now the war generals were dead, and the remaining soldiers were struggling. Howuld they resist thembined forces of Nanyan and Xiliang?!
All the Bai family men had perished in the Southern Frontier. Howuld the Emperor not spare even Bai Qingyan?!
The Eldest Princess’s hands trembled untrollably, turning to enter the hall to plead: “I will speak to the Emperor!”
“With foreign enemies glaring and no strong generals within, the nation is in peril. The Southern Frontier… I must go.”
The sky had already darkened. Under the majesticrridor of the palace, Palace Attendants were lighting the large Ruyi Palace lanterns one by one.
Bai Qingyan’s slender and frail figure stood beneath the flickering lights, her demeanor proud,mposed, and fearless.
The Eldest Princess looked at her granddaughter’s jet-black eyes, where a resilient, strongld light shone, hiding an ambitious determination and unyielding steadiness. They were filled with the grace and majesty of a general.
The Eldest Princess felt a sudden unease but recalled her granddaughter’s declaration that the Bai family had protected the people for generations anduld not turn back. Her feelings steadied yet trapped between the dilemma of family and nation.
Bai Qingxuan was bound and thrown into the woodshed, filled with anxiety.
It was already night, and no one had brought him water or food. Outside, the guards were so quiet it seemed like there were dead bodies there.
He paced back and forth in the woodshed, then leaned against the door, shouting outside: “I tell you, you’d better let me out! I am the last male of the Bai family, the only heir! You are arrogant now. Wait until I am out… I will definitely kill you! And I will kill Bai Qingyan! Wait and see!”
The guard outside, dressed in mourning, seemed deaf, silently standing guard without uttering a word.
Bai Qingxuan was agitated, thinking of the Eldest Princess’s attitude today. Surely, the title was out of the question. But… would they kill him?!
Bai Qingxuan was immediately drenched inld sweat by this thought. Surely, they wouldn’t! He was the last male of the Bai family!
Just as he was thinking, Bai Qingxuan heard footsteps outside and immediately stood up.
The woodshed door opened, Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong came in with a group of guards and servants, while Bai Qingyan stood alone outside, not entering. free𝑤ebnovel.com
Originally, dealing with this illegitimate son, Bai Jinxiu was supposed tome alone since he was her father’s illegitimate child.
But her grandmother had summoned everyone to the Changshou Courtyard, and she met her elder sister and third sister on the way.
She initially wanted her elder sister and third sister to wait for her. Unexpectedly, her third sister, Bai Jintong, dragged her elder sister along.
Bound tightly, Bai Qingxuan retreated two steps: “What do you want to do?! I am the only male heir of the Duke’s mansion! Would you… dare kill me?!”
From the first meeting at Manjiang Tower to this illegitimate sonercing Mrs. Ji Liu into smashing her head, then dismembered her body… and ordered it thrown to be fed to the dogs! This bastard’s actions had far exceeded Bai Qingyan’s tolerance.
Originally, she thought of giving him a quick death for carrying Bai family blood. But now… she wouldn’t let this bastard die so easily.
Such a ruthless beast should die by the means he used to torture others.
Tight-lipped, she held a hand warmer, standing by the door, unwilling to step into the woodshed.
“Killing you would be too easy.” Bai Jinxiu’s eyes glinted with ald light, “Heard you fancy beauty jars. In that case… I’ll turn you into one!”
Bai Qingxuan’s face turned pale, speaking with nonfidence: “You dare!”
Bai Jintong replied sternly, “Many noble sons in Dadu City are fond of such things. We will indeed send you to the best expert in this art, where someone will pamper you every day, turning you into the prettiest beauty jar for their enjoyment!”
“You dare! I am the last man of the Bai family! I am the last man of the Bai family! I am meant to inherit the King of Zhen’s title!”
Bai Qingyan’s face wasld and indifferent, not even bothering to sneer at the bastard. She looked at Bai Qingxuan as if he were a foul object, casually shaking off the snow on her cloak and looking distantly at therridor.
“Still dreaming?!” Bai Jintong’s eyes mocked him, “Grandmother has already surrendered the title. By tomorrow at the latest, the Imperial Edict will arrive! And you, the bastard who forced Bai family’s benefactor to death, tonight the Bai Mansion will announce youuldn’t endure the family law… already deceased!”