Chapter 291
Bai Qingyan did not refuse. After thanking the Eldest Princess on behalf of Ji Tingyu, she left the elegant courtyard behind the Royal Qing Temple with Bai Jinzhi.
Nanny Jiang escorted Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi to the carriage, her eyes red, trying to speak several times but unable to find the right words.
Through the curtain hanging down in the green-encircled carriage, Nanny Jiang said, “Nanny knows that Eldest Young Lady is a sensible and understanding child. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rushed to the southern border during Jin Kingdom’s crisis to relieve Jin Kingdom’s plight! But why can’t Eldest Young Lady understand her grandmother, the Eldest Princess? The Eldest Princess has cherished you dearly! She lost her husband, sons, and grandsons. The Eldest Princess is the one suffering the most!”
Rushing to the southern border, Bai Qingyan’s motive was never for the Jin Imperial Family but for the very survival of the Bai family and the pitiable border people. But such words… she could no longer tell her grandmother the truth.
Every time she thought of her grandmother, the Eldest Princess, her heart was filled with mixed emotions, hard to bear.
She knew and understood the Eldest Princess, but as a granddaughter raised personally by the Eldest Princess, sharing deep family bonds… she could not forgive her grandmother.
Bai Jinzhi turned to look at her elder sister, whose eyes were red but face remained calm, and softly called out, “Elder Sister…”
Bai Jinzhi did not understand why her elder sister did not tell their grandmother the news that their two elder brothers were still alive. If their grandmother knew… it might ease her pain.
But… Elder Sister always had her reasons for doing things, and Bai Jinzhi deeply trusted her.
“Perhaps it is because I once put all my trust and reliance on Grandmother, believing she was the most dependable person in this world, convinced she would never forsake the deep family bonds that should tie us! But Grandmother… she is first the Eldest Princess of Jin Kingdom, and only then our grandmother! Rather than believing in the deep family bonds and letting them be worn away by suspicion and calculation, turning us into ugly adversaries, it is better to cut ties swiftly.”
Nanny Jiang was stunned.
“Nanny is a loyal servant. Kid believes Nanny can take good care of Grandmother. Please comfort her so she can feel some relief,” Bai Qingyan said softly, eyes downcast. “Uncle Ping, let’s go…”
After Chun Tao and Nanny Tong bowed to Nanny Jiang, they followed the carriage on one side.
Nanny Jiang stood at the entrance of the Royal Qing Temple, watching the carriage move further away, her heart aching as if being cut by a blunt knife.
·
The carriage swayed as it entered a not-so-wide road in the estate. The children playing inside, seeing a beautiful carriage approaching, chased it, laughing and giggling.
Along the path between fields, the Bai family’s convoy moved west, stopping before a small courtyard that still had white lanterns hanging.
Nanny Tong helped Bai Qingyan off the carriage. Lu Ping went to knock on the door, and Nanny Tong ordered people to unload the food and daily necessities prepared for Ji Tingyu from the rear carriage.
Seeing nobody opening the door for a long time, Lu Ping peeked through a crack and clearly saw shadows inside.
He called, “Ji Tingyu, it’s me, Lu Ping… Eldest Young Lady is here to see you. Open the door!”
From the overgrown courtyard came Ji Tingyu’s extremely cold voice, “This humble abode is filthy and messy. I dare not trouble the Commandery Princess. Please go back!”
Lu Ping wanted to knock again, but Bai Qingyan stopped him. She stood at the door and said, “Ji Tingyu, it is the Bai family that has wronged you and the Ji family women! You risked your life for the Bai family… but the Bai family almost cost you yours. I know that even disposing of that concubine’s son cannot bring back your wife! The Bai family owes you a great deal. In this lifetime, Bai Qingyan will do her utmost to repay a bit. If you do not wish to see me, please accept these food and daily necessities.”
Bai Qingyan turned and instructed people to place the items at the door. Walking a few steps, she stuffed five hundred silver notes her grandmother had given Ji Tingyu into a folded brocade quilt.
Inside the house, Ji Tingyu’s eyes reddened.
He knew it wasn’t Eldest Young Lady’s fault. When the Eldest Princess almost ended him, it was she who risked offending people, even falling out with the Eldest Princess, to save him.
He remembered vaguely hearing Eldest Young Lady, in his delirium, instruct someone to bring Doctor Hong from Marquis Yongding’s mansion, saying he was an owed benefactor to the Bai family and whoever dared to take him away, Eldest Young Lady would annihilate their entire clan, leaving none behind.
He heard later that she commanded the doctor’s fingers to be crushed one by one…
Later still, he heard she drew a blade in the mourning hall, swearing that if the concubine’s son did not die, she herself wouldn’t fare well!
She even severed the ties of blood.
Eldest Young Lady fought so hard for justice for him. How could he hate her?
He should indeed understand. His unwavering loyalty to the Bai family was due to their noble character, their generational fidelity and courage, and their will to protect the people at all costs.
The actions of the Eldest Princess undoubtedly chilled his heart.
But do not the ladies of the Bai family embody these qualities? Are they not worth swearing allegiance to? Should he abandon his steadfast faith because of the actions of the Eldest Princess alone?
As Nanny Tong helped Bai Qingyan onto the carriage, the wooden doors creaked open slowly.
Bai Qingyan paused, halfway into the carriage, and turned to see Ji Tingyu, who had lost an arm, with bloodshot eyes stepping out.
She stood up straight and looked in Ji Tingyu’s direction, her throat tight, her eyes burning.
Ji Tingyu bit down hard, lifted his robes, and knelt before Bai Qingyan, bowing deeply.
She stepped down from the carriage and, in a hoarse voice, said to Lu Ping, “Uncle Ping, help Ji Tingyu up.”
“Yes!” Lu Ping hurried to assist Ji Tingyu.
Bai Jinzhi, looking at Lu Ping, rubbed her reddened eyes. “Ji Tingyu, won’t you invite Elder Sister and me in for a sit?”
Ji Tingyu, gazing at the tan Bai Jinzhi from the southern border, shifted his eyes to Bai Qingyan, biting his lip as he stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture.
The Ji family’s courtyard, likely untended, was overgrown. However, inside, Ji Tingyu had kept it meticulously clean.
Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi sat by the black-lacquered square table. Ji Tingyu, using one hand, held a teapot to pour water for them.
She did not stop him, only nodding in thanks and inquiring about Ji Tingyu’s health.
“Everything is fine, just very idle…” Ji Tingyu said, lowering his eyes, his voice desolate. “I lost an arm, so there are many things I can’t do. I don’t know what I can do in the future!”
Hearing this, Lu Ping hurriedly said, “Tingyu, you mustn’t think that way. It’s not that we aren’t assigning you tasks, but that we want you to heal well!”
Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together and turned to look outside, where a maid was helping to tidy Ji Tingyu’s courtyard.