Chapter 61
“Bai Qingyan, please speak! I will not shirk even in death!” Chen Qingsheng hurriedly said.
She looked up at Chen Qingsheng and spoke slowly, “Tonight, there might be war news from the southern border. Take more people to guard the city gate. Once you see the messenger carrying the eight-hundred-mile urgent military report, make sure to let the people of Dadu City know. Find a way to lead the people to gather in front of the Duke of Zhen’s residence.”
Since ancient times in the Jin Kingdom, if the news was of victory, the messenger would enter the gates of Dadu City proclaiming the victorious news to let the people celebrate.
If it was bad news, the messenger would present the report to the Emperor in the palace first.
If the leading general had died, the palace would send someone to notify the soldier’s family to prepare for mourning.
After Bai Qingyan’s previous scene, the people of the entire Dadu City were exceptionally concerned about the Bai family and the war in the southern border. If the messenger entered the city without reporting, and someone led the people… they would naturally come to the Duke of Zhen’s residence to wait for news from the palace.
When the news of the Bai family’s men dying to protect the Jin Kingdom spread, she wanted the people of Dadu City to see what the Bai family had done to protect Jin. She wanted the people to witness the Bai family’s tragedy and mourn with them!
In this way, as long as the Emperor made any move against the Bai family, it would surely incite public resentment and anger.
The Emperor always cherished his reputation. As long as he still feared the pen of the historians and the overwhelming public anger, even if he had the thought of eliminating the Bai family, he wouldn’t dare touch the Bai family’s widows.
Although Chen Qingsheng didn’t know what Bai Qingyan intended to do, he nodded in agreement, “Bai Qingyan, rest assured.”
“There is another matter. Do your best to find out, but it’s okay if you can’t.” She looked at the red plum in the snow not far away and continued, “Two months ago, the supplies sent to the southern border, which were prepared by the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, went through whose hands? I want to know the names.”
Involving the royal court, Chen Qingsheng was surprised. But knowing this batch of supplies was likely related to the southern border war, he agreed without hesitation, “Bai Qingyan, rest assured, I will fulfill my duty!”
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The sky on New Year’s Eve hadn’t fully darkened, and brilliant fireworks already bloomed in the air.
Bai Qingyan stood under the corridor, quietly looking up at the sky, waiting for the news to arrive.
Chun Tao, her eyes red, carried a thick cloak to Bai Qingyan’s back and draped it over her, “Bai Qingyan, our cousin is already at the city gate following your orders. But at this hour, the city gates of Dadu City are closed. It’s unlikely we will get any news today. Stop worrying and go have New Year’s Eve dinner with the Eldest Princess.”
“Let’s go!” Bai Qingyan adjusted her cloak, held Chun Tao’s hand, and left Qinghui Courtyard surrounded by a group of maids with downcast eyes.
Surprisingly, as soon as they stepped out, they saw Bai Jintong standing alone at the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, looking up at the sky’s fireworks in a daze.
Hearing the sound of the gate opening, Bai Jintong came to her senses and took a few steps to Bai Qingyan. In a hoarse voice, she said, “Eldest Sister…”
Bai Qingyan reached out to brush the snow off Bai Jintong’s shoulder, smiling at her, “Waiting for me here?”
Bai Jintong nodded, her reddened eyes nearly overflowing with tears. She quickly bowed her head to hide them.
She remembered last year when the Duke of Zhen’s residence was brightly lit, filled with people and children, bustling with prosperity. Maids, servants, and workers were busy going in and out of the side doors amid cheerful laughter.
The adults were drinking and chatting happily, while she and Bai Jinzhi led young children with lanterns around Qinghui Courtyard, while Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu sat under the corridor talking and laughing, displaying a scene of prosperity and vitality.
This year, the Duke of Zhen’s residence was still brightly lit. But the maids and servants, sensing the master’s somber mood, didn’t even dare speak loudly. The lack of cheerful noises made the residence feel desolate.
Knowing Bai Jintong felt sorrow, Bai Qingyan smiled and squeezed Bai Jintong’s cold hand, “Let’s go…”
Looking at the calm and composed Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong felt her Eldest Sister possessed a fearless strength, and her own heart steadied, “Okay…”
After taking two steps, they saw Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi also arriving at Qinghui Courtyard by coincidence.
Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi had come to Bai Qingyan for reassurance as well.
The four sisters stood together. Bai Jinxiu, her eyes red, stifled a laugh with a handkerchief, “What a coincidence, we all came to find Eldest Sister.”
The red lanterns illuminated the four sisters with teary smiles under the snow, a heartwarming yet sorrowful sight.
“Let’s go to Grandmother’s place…” Bai Qingyan’s voice was heavier and firmer than usual.
Chun Tao stepped forward to support Bai Qingyan, gently reminding, “The road is slippery because of the snow, my ladies. Be careful.”
Seeing Bai Qingyan already lifting her foot to move, Bai Jinxiu, her eyes filled with tears, softly said, “With Eldest Sister leading the way, no matter how slippery, we are not afraid.”
What’s to fear in the wind and snow, when the sisters walked together with determination.
Bai Jintong nodded, holding Bai Jinxiu’s outstretched hand, unable to speak from emotion.
“We sisters walk together, we fear nothing!” Bai Jinzhi wiped her tears and quickly caught up with Bai Qingyan, walking beside her.
Her vision blurred with mist. In her previous life, she walked alone. In this life, with her sisters accompanying her, what is there to fear? Bai Qingyan would brave even the mountain of swords, the sea of fire, and the molten lava.
Just as they entered the Eldest Princess’s Changshou Courtyard, a young maid guarding the main room suddenly pointed to the sky, “What is that?!”
Bai Qingyan turned. She saw slow-rising sky lanterns, followed by the second, third, and fourth…
Underneath the display of dazzling fireworks, countless sky lanterns ascended, turning the entire night sky into a warm sea of flames. The lanterns bore words like “Triumphant Return,” “Victory in War,” “Undefeated,” and “Safe Return.”
The previously silent Duke of Zhen’s residence suddenly became lively, as maids and workers paused their tasks, gathering under the corridors and in the courtyards to watch the sky lanterns. The warm orange light made everyone feel cozy inside.
Bai Qingyan turned and instructed Chun Xing beside her, “Go find out what’s happening.”
Before Chun Xing could leave, the old maid at the gate hurriedly approached. Seeing the sisters at the door, she smiled and bowed, “First Young Lady, Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady! The people moved by the loyalty and courage of our Bai family have spontaneously set up these sky lanterns in the streets and courtyards, praying for the Bai family army far in the southern border.”
Hearing this, Bai Qingyan choked with emotion. She handed the hand warmer to Chun Tao, bowed deeply to express her gratitude to the people of Dadu City.
Who said heroes go unremembered? The people whom the Bai family protected for generations remember them!
In her previous life, the Bai family did too much and spoke too little, leading to them being forgotten.
Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi, eyes filled with tears, followed suit, bowing deeply to the sky lanterns.
The lively laughter of the maids and servants in the Duke of Zhen’s residence finally alerted the elders in the main room of the Changshou Courtyard.