Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 135: Chapter 134: Disloyalty and Filial Piety_1

Tears, slid down the corner of the Eldest Princess’s eyes.

“My father, born as the Princely Heir, always led by example whenever war broke out. My mother often worried and couldn’t sleep at night, constantly advising him. My father said, ‘If the country is at war or the people suffer, it is the responsibility of the Bai family’s children to take the lead, sacrifice themselves to protect the people. This is the spirit and integrity of the Bai family, just like the Bai family army’s black sail and white python flag, which must never fall. Only then can we boost morale and defeat the invaders who harm our people of Jin.'”

“I was born as the eldest legitimate child. Seventeen children all my brothers. Although born at different times, bound by the same aspirations. If someone asked about my life’s pursuit, I would answer, ‘to see a peaceful world with clear skies and calm seas.'”

“The Bai family’s descendants inherit the family’s integrity, loyal, upright, and steadfast, worthy of Heaven, without shame before men. They repay the Jin people’s support with their bodies, protecting the citizens with their lives, securing a chance of survival for those at the borders.”

Outside the door, the Bai relatives, nobility, and generals all had tears in their eyes. Some cried out loud, some wiped their tears with their sleeves, and others stood tall with misty eyes.

The loyalty of the Bai family was well-known. Heaven and earth bore witness, along with men and gods.

Bai Qingyan read the eulogy huskily, with tears, knelt before the fire basin, and threw the eulogy into the fire.

The Eldest Princess turned her head and whispered, “Nanny Jiang… bring them in!”

Someone had to smash the mourning basin; after smashing it, the Eldest Princess would hand the illegitimate child to Bai Qingyan. Whether to kill or maim him was up to her.

Nanny Jiang nodded in agreement and shouted to those outside the mourning hall, “Bring them in!”

Soon, two burly guards came in with the illegitimate child.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Bai Qingxuan entered the main hall, before he could reach the Eldest Princess to pay his respects, a group of guards unknown to him suddenly appeared and captured Bai Qingxuan, forcing him to kneel in the hall.

The sudden tension scared Nanny Jiang, who quickly shielded the Eldest Princess. The loyal servants by the various ladies’ sides also moved to protect their masters.

Even Dong Qingyue and the other generals kneeling outside stood up in shock, grabbing the hilts of their swords, ready to draw and enter.

The Eldest Princess held up Nanny Jiang’s raised arm shielding her, looking at Bai Qingyan’s calm and unperturbed demeanor. The Eldest Princess realized immediately that this was Bai Qingyan’s arrangement.

“Who are you?! What do you want?! I am the only grandson of the Bai family! The future King of Zhen! How dare you touch me?! Let go of me! Otherwise, when I inherit the title, I will make sure you have no place to bury your bodies!”

Hearing the illegitimate child’s arrogant shouts, the Eldest Princess trembled, closed her eyes, releasing her grip on Nanny Jiang’s hand slowly.

To be so arrogant in front of so many Bai family members! This insolent brat, truly… deserved to die!

Bai Qingyan’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. She gritted her back teeth, glaring coldly at Bai Qingxuan as if looking at a piece of rotten meat filled with venom, disgust and anger intertwined in her eyes. “King of Zhen?! The character for ‘king’… has three horizontal strokes and one vertical stroke. The top reaches the heavens, embodying virtues of great merit and radiant character. The bottom touches the earth, capable of great achievements in pacifying the nation and caring for the people. With you… you dare to call yourself King of Zhen?!”

Bai Qingxuan was forced to kneel in the mourning hall, extremely unwilling. Several times he tried to struggle up, only to be forced back down, biting his teeth in anger, with a hint of pride. “Hah… I am now the only male in the Duke’s mansion! Whether you like it or not, I am the King of Zhen! When I inherit the title, I want you… to kneel and beg for mercy.”

His latter words were swallowed back.

What he relied on was the fact that he was now the only male of the Bai family, so he dared to be so arrogant!

However, the Eldest Princess had summoned him back to the Duke’s mansion yesterday, explicitly having Nanny Jiang convey to him to respect his eldest sister. For now, he bore the humiliation silently, intending to arrange a very good… very good ending for his infertile eldest sister in the future, to compensate for the humiliation he suffered today!

“What do you wish for my eldest sister?! Bai Jinzhi stepped forward, gritting her teeth, ready to kill the illegitimate child immediately if he dared to speak disrespectfully.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze swept past the Eldest Princess, finally landing on Bai Qingxuan, speaking coldly, “What kind of virtues it takes to hold a certain position. You, without talent, virtue, knowledge of propriety and integrity. Cruel and ruthless, worse than an animal. What qualifications do you have to be King of Zhen?! Not being able to protect the people is one thing! Even if you were a dignified scoundrel, the Duke’s mansion would recognize you! But you, with your cruel and vicious methods, intended to defile the wife of Ji Tingyu who risked his life to bring justice for the Bai family. Mrs. Ji Liu chose to die, smashing her head against a pillar, only for you to destroy her body and have someone feed her corpse to the dogs! How can an animal like you deserve to bear the Bai name?! You dare claim to be King of Zhen?!”

The common people outside all knew of Ji Tingyu. That day, Ji Tingyu, missing an arm and covered in blood, fell off a fast horse, barely alive, bringing back the bamboo slip recording military movements for the Bai family. This… cleared the Duke of Zhen’s name, allowing figures like King Xin to be brought to justice!

The common people were shocked, what kind of monster was this illegitimate child? The Bai family had suffered such a great loss, being the only male, instead of showing filial piety before the spirit, he sought to force himself on a widow, driving her to suicide and then destroying the body. And he intended to inherit the title of King of Zhen after being exposed! Was he not afraid of retribution? Not afraid that Mrs. Ji Liu would turn into a vengeful spirit and seek his life?!

All the men of the Bai family were loyal, how could such an ungrateful and disloyal wretch emerge?!

Bai Qingxuan, upon seeing the enraged common people outside, panicked and looked to the Eldest Princess for help, hoping she would save him. After all, he was the last male of the Bai family, and Bai Qingyan’s public revelation meant he couldn’t live, which meant the Bai family couldn’t survive, right? Would his grandmother tolerate this?!

Bai Jintong stepped forward, blocking Bai Qingxuan’s view of his grandmother, looking coldly at the illegitimate child.

Bai Qingxuan felt uneasy, but with a tough exterior, he raised his neck, “I know… you all look down on me because I am illegitimate! But I am now the last bloodline of the Duke of Zhen, the only grandson of Bai Weiting! How dare you treat me like this?! Don’t you fear grandfather won’t rest in peace, and the Bai family won’t have descendants?!”

Bai Jintong coldly said, “If you were to inherit the title, grandfather truly wouldn’t rest in peace! All the descendants of the Bai family, after fighting on the battlefield, protecting the country, only then do they accept the people’s reverence! Grandfather led all Bai family men into battle, is it to pave the way for a monster like you to enjoy life on their merits?!”

The Eldest Princess felt heart-wrenching pain, gripping her tiger head cane tightly, seeing the illegitimate child’s arrogance, feeling regret…

Kid was right, such a wretch… leaving him alive would be the Bai family’s downfall!