Chapter 399
Bai Qingyan walked through the hanging tapestry and bamboo curtain, bypassing the nanmu emerald screen as she entered. The Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, teased Bai Jinxiu: “Your grandmother gave you these pomegranates as a sign of good luck with many children. Don’t refuse them. Accept them and remember to fulfill her wish for you to have many children!”
The Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, looked at the pair of ruby pomegranates, each as big as a small melon. They were not only rare in quality but also intricately carved to look just like real ones. Such treasures would be more than enough to be heirlooms in an ordinary noble household.
Bai Jinxiu held a black lacquered box with gold designs, her face flushed. She stood up and bowed to the Eldest Princess: “Thank you, Grandmother.”
“What does Kid want?” The Eldest Princess looked at Bai Qingyan, who had just returned, and asked with a smile.
She smiled and replied, “Kid only wishes for the safety of the Bai family members.”
Especially those out of sight, Ah Jue and A Yun. She hoped they would be safe, healthy, and successful.
The Eldest Princess looked at her granddaughter, whose expression was serene, and her palm slightly clenched. Her eyes suddenly turned red.
Yes, what could be better than having the Bai family all safe and sound…
On the first day of May, before dawn, with the bright stars and the moon still up, the servants stood correctly beside the carriage in front of the Princess of Zhen’s mansion, waiting for their masters to board.
As the morning light gradually increased, rising slowly from the east to the west, the outline of the moon at the horizon had already faded.
In front of the Princess of Zhen’s mansion, Nanny Jiang instructed the servants staying in the Capital to put the steamed cakes and seasonal fruits prepared in the kitchen early this morning into the carriage.
The Eldest Princess held a shiny black tiger head cane in one hand and tightly grasped Bai Qingyan’s hand with the other. She held back her tears as she stood at the door, reminding her: “Be careful on the way back. It’s not safe lately!”
Bai Qingyan looked at the wrinkled hand of the Eldest Princess and nodded at her. “Don’t worry, Grandmother. Once I arrive home safely, I will send someone back to inform you.”
“Mother, rest assured!” Mrs. Dong placed her hand on Bai Qingyan’s shoulder and smiled at the Eldest Princess, saying, “The Crown Prince has sent guards to escort us. Nothing will happen.”
“Mother, Eldest Young Lady…” Bai Jinse bowed to Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan, tears uncontrollably streaming down. “Mother and Eldest Young Lady, please take care. I will take good care of Grandmother and study medicine diligently with Aunt Lu.”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and gently touched her younger sister’s head. Her gaze then fell on the tearful Bai Jinxiu.
Bai Jinxiu slightly nodded. She knew that someday, Eldest Young Lady would return with glory for the Bai family! freёwebnoѵel.com
Eldest Young Lady was making a significant move, and she must be prepared to assist her in the future.
“Let’s go! Let’s go…” The Eldest Princess squeezed Bai Qingyan’s hand and choked out.
Mrs. Dong, the Third Madam, Mrs. Li, the Fourth Madam, Mrs. Wang, and the Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, along with Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinhua, bid farewell to the Eldest Princess and the Second Madam, Mrs. Liu.
The Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Sister-in-law, I will return as soon as Jinxiu safely gives birth.”
Mrs. Dong patted Mrs. Liu’s hand and nodded with a smile. With the help of Nanny Qin, she was the first to get on the carriage.
“Eldest Young Lady…” Lu Ninghuan finally found an opportunity to speak to Bai Qingyan. “Langhua… is entrusted to you!”
Bai Qingyan nodded. “Grandmother and the seventh sister will need your care.”
“Rest assured, Eldest Young Lady!” Lu Ninghuan nodded.
Yesterday, Ji Langhua had followed Bai Qingyan’s instructions and told the Emperor. That pill was examined by the Imperial Medical Bureau and found to be just a common tonic. The Emperor was greatly disappointed, and Ji Langhua wept, insisting it was impossible.
Seeing the almost crazed Ji Langhua, the Emperor remarked that she was pitiful and let Lu Ninghuan take her away, which allowed Ji Langhua to pass this hurdle.
The Eldest Princess could no longer hold back as she watched Bai Qingyan lift her skirt to get on the carriage. Leaning on her cane, she took a step forward, her voice hoarse and choked: “Kid…”
Today’s farewell made the Eldest Princess unsure if she would ever see her granddaughter again. She was already old and didn’t know how many days she had left.
Hearing the Eldest Princess’s sorrowful call, catching the controlled cry in her trailing voice, Bai Qingyan halted her steps.
Her Grandmother, the Eldest Princess, had been strong her whole life, always composed and dignified in front of others and servants, never once showing such fragility and sorrow.
She turned and saw the Eldest Princess, her silver hair blowing in the wind, unable to hold back her tears, clutching her chest and looking at her with teary eyes.
Memories flashed through her mind like a lantern show.
Her grandmother’s gentle smile as she held her hand, teaching her to write in red ink.
Her grandmother’s tearful prayer at the altar when she had a high fever, begging to shorten her own life by ten years in exchange for Bai Qingyan’s safety.
She lifted her skirt and descended from the carriage, her gaze steady and determined.
“Kid…” The Eldest Princess called softly, her teary eyes on Bai Qingyan. She was about to step down from the high steps when she saw Bai Qingyan kneel in her direction.
Bai Qingyan kowtowed three times to her grandmother and then, with Chun Tao’s help, stood up and boarded the carriage…
“Kid…” The Eldest Princess’s throat was choked, struggling to suppress her sobs.
“Grandmother, don’t worry. Eldest Young Lady and the others will reach Shuoyang safely.” Bai Jinse stepped forward to support the Eldest Princess.
With a shout of “Set off,” the convoy of the Princess of Zhen’s carriage slowly started to move.
The Eldest Princess and the others stood at the gate until the sky brightened, illuminating the entire Capital. The convoy disappeared from sight, and only then did the Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, step forward and gently persuade the Eldest Princess: “Mother, let’s go back!”
The Eldest Princess wiped her tears, nodded, turned, and walked towards the Princess of Zhen’s mansion, instructing Nanny Jiang: “Prepare… we will return to Qing Temple!”
Nanny Jiang nodded: “Yes!”
Outside the gates of Capital, Lu Yuanpeng, along with Sima Ping and a group of people, waited. Spotting the convoy from the Princess of Zhen’s mansion from afar, a man dressed in the Princess of Zhen’s mansion guard uniform rode quickly to Lu Yuanpeng, dismounted, and saluted Lu Yuanpeng and his group of friends: “Young Master Lu, the Commandery Princess sent me to inform you that due to the large number of carriages, they will not stop outside the city gate. Please take care.”
As Lu Yuanpeng was eagerly about to speak, Sima Ping pulled him back and smiled at the Princess of Zhen’s mansion guard, saying: “There will be future opportunities to meet with the Bai family elder sister. Don’t forget… the Bai family elder sister promised you a silver spear.”
Hearing Sima Ping’s words, Lu Yuanpeng’s clenched fist at his side relaxed. After his grandmother’s birthday, he would depart for Southern Xinjiang to join the Bai family army. He planned to make a name for himself before meeting the Bai family elder sister again. At that time, getting the silver spear would be more fitting.
Lu Yuanpeng said to the Bai family guard: “Please convey to the Bai family elder sister to take care!”