Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Immortal _1

The moment Chun Tao, who had been waiting at the gate of the courtyard, and Bai Jintong’s personal maid Danzhi saw the two ladies come out, they quickly opened their umbrellas and hurried over to greet them.

Bai Jintong took the umbrella from Danzhi’s hand, held it over Bai Qingyan’s head, and said, “You two can go back. I’ll take a walk with the eldest young lady…”

“Hand me the lantern,” Bai Qingyan took the lantern from Chun Tao’s hand.

The sisters walked along the snow-covered bluestone path, conversing as they headed toward Yifeng Pavilion.

“I heard from our grandmother that she arranged several life stories for you to choose from. Have you made your selection?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“I have, I chose the name Cui Fengnian. It sounds pleasant, and the Cui family was originally a merchant family, though they fell into decline about a dozen years ago. There’s still a blind and mentally unclear grandmother in the family, so no one would suspect my identity is false.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, “People selected by Uncle Ping, after the matter is handled, I intend to have them follow you, to obey your commands.”

“Eldest young lady, Grandmother has already assigned many people to me!” Bai Jintong said.

Bai Qingyan paused her steps, turned her head, and firmly looked at Bai Jintong, “Those are the people Grandmother has given; you should use them well. But certain matters… require that you have people who answer only to you. You should always have your own people!”

Bai Jintong pursed her lips, wondering if the eldest young lady was subtly advising her to be wary of their grandmother.

“Don’t overthink it. I just don’t want Grandmother to be heartbroken.” Bai Qingyan held Bai Jintong’s hand and walked forward again, “After all, Grandmother is getting older. She prefers to see the Duke’s Mansion and the Imperial Family in harmony, on the surface. If you do things beyond her expectation, Grandmother will certainly not ignore it. Remember, Grandmother is not only our grandmother but also the eldest princess of Jin.”

“I understand, eldest young lady. I will make sure to show Grandmother what she wants to see,” Bai Jintong said.

Since Lu Ping thoroughly trusted his subordinates, he carefully selected the ten most trustworthy ones. He handed the roster to Bai Qingyan to report.

Bai Qingyan handed the roster to Bai Jintong, “You will use these people in the future. Do you want to meet them?”

“Since Uncle Ping picked them, I’m at ease. There’s always a time to meet,” Bai Jintong said.

Bai Qingyan nodded, glanced at Lu Ping with deep eyes, and spoke steadily, “If they are to play the role of bandits, they must be convincing. Do not leave any flaws, and there’s no need to intentionally spare the lives of Bai Qiyun’s party. After the task is done, don’t return to report back. Split into two groups. One group will head straight to Wudaopo and invite Mr. Liu Zhengyu from Liu Jiabao in my father’s name. The others will enter Shuoyang disguised as ordinary merchant stewards and house servants to purchase white tea for the young master Cui Fengnian for overseas trading. From now on, they will obey the third miss’s commands.”

“Yes!” Lu Ping nodded.

It was already midnight. Outside the gate of Changshou Courtyard, the umbrella-holding Nanny Jiang, after hearing the report from the old maid of the outer courtyard, gave a purse as a reward and hurried back into the room lifting her skirts.

The white-haired Eldest Princess, with closed eyes, leaned against the headboard with a double-flower pillow for support, covered with a dark purple quilt embroidered with peonies. She fingered the Buddha beads, half-hidden in the shadows beyond the candlelight, as the curtains were not yet lowered.

“Eldest Princess…” Nanny Jiang walked to her side and whispered, “The second master’s illegitimate son has been settled in the village. The necessary words have been conveyed. At this festive time, the mother and son have nowhere else to go. Having received the Eldest Princess’s promise of safety, and relying on being the only bloodline of the Duke’s Mansion, going to the village for settlement is more beneficial to him. Once they move in, the woman will surely not come out alive.”

The Eldest Princess sighed, “Don’t let Kid find out about this!”

At these words, Nanny Jiang’s eyes reddened, “Actually, the eldest young lady did not consider the illegitimate son’s life.”

Tears welled in the corner of the Eldest Princess’s closed eyes, “I’m not afraid of Kid wanting the illegitimate son’s life. I don’t want her hands stained with the blood of that filthy woman! Kid, so young… has done too much for this family. Let this old woman, soon to be buried in the earth, handle such dirty deeds.”

Nanny Jiang responded and knelt by the Eldest Princess’s bedside, gently holding her hand, “I knew it. The Eldest Princess still loves the eldest young lady the most!”

The next morning, as Bai Qingyan had predicted, Bai Qiyun left the city with silver notes worth 450,000 taels and his entourage, heading back to Shuoyang.

Before leaving, Bai Qiyun instructed his two half-brothers to visit the Duke’s Mansion one more day and return to Shuoyang the next.

Before noon, four Imperial Edicts were issued from the Imperial City. The contents made the people of Dadu kneel and bow, praising the Emperor’s wisdom.

The first edict ordered the Minister of Judicial Review to arrest and investigate Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, regarding the grain issue in the southern border.

The second edict condemned Liu Huanzhang for treason, confiscating property and exterminating his clan.

The third edict decreed King Xin would receive a hundred lashes, be demoted to a commoner, and be exiled to Yongzhou for life, never to return to court. His descendants were also demoted to commoners and confined to King Xin’s estate.

The fourth edict posthumously honored the Duke of Zhen as King of Zhen and his heir as the new Duke of Zhen.

The Eldest Princess personally led the Bai family widows to kneel at the door to receive the edicts. The two remaining half-brothers of the Bai family were shocked, their faces turning pale as they exchanged worried glances.

The Emperor’s posthumous honor of the Duke of Zhen as King of Zhen indicated that not only did he not disregard the Duke’s Mansion but intended to bestow favor upon it!

Bestowing a royal title! Though posthumous… it was an honor beyond reach!

Bai Qingyan, kneeling before the ancestral shrine, placed an incense stick for the Duke of Zhen, bowed solemnly, and lifted her head with tear-filled eyes, her heart heavy with sorrow.

“Grandfather! Father! The traitor Liu Huanzhang’s family has been exterminated, and King Xin has been demoted and exiled to Yongzhou for life! Heaven has finally returned my Bai family’s honor. Each man of the Bai family has stood tall and upright, unashamed before the people! Though their flesh may perish, their spirits shall live on forever! Uncles, brothers, you may now rest in peace!”

She bowed deeply.

The sisters of the Bai family knelt behind Bai Qingyan, tears streaming, also bowing.

The common people outside the gates of the Duke’s Mansion, upon hearing the words “rest in peace,” beat their chests and wept. Their cries of shared grief were deafening, resonating with the deep pain in their hearts.

In this life, she had ensured her grandfather would not be buried in disgrace, bearing the stigma of “reckless military use” and a lifetime of infamy.

But what use was a posthumous royal title?! Could it bring back her loyal and righteous brothers of the Bai family?!

Never again would she entrust the survival or honor of the Bai family to others.

She needed power! Influence!

She would never let the Bai family be weak again.

This time, the Emperor’s punishment of King Xin was harsher than what he had discussed with her in the grand hall.

She was certain the Emperor had decided to send her to the southern border. Hence, he made this gesture of goodwill, even conceding and compromising.