Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Asking for Punishment

“All members of the Bai family are loyal and upright, their characters impeccable. Whether men or women, they all stand tall and righteous, embodying a spirit of integrity!”

Occasionally, drunken men would say that a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent and that her main duty is to manage the household and educate the children. But such remarks would quickly be drowned out by the praises sung for the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

The Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

On the third day after her marriage, Second Miss Bai Jinxiu lay at death’s door. She was carried back horizontally to the mansion, causing the whole mansion to be as taut as a drawn bowstring.

Servants and maids moved in and out of the side door in an orderly manner, lighting lanterns without daring to speak loudly.

Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, stayed by Bai Jinxiu’s bedside, clutching her daughter’s cold fingers, tears streaming down as she softly called her daughter’s name.

Imperial Physician Huang, director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, along with Doctor Hong stood outside the partition, discussing the medication for Bai Jinxiu. @@novelbin@@

The Eldest Princess and other ladies of the Bai Mansion wore heavy expressions as they stayed in Bai Jinxiu’s chamber, waiting for the doctors to reach a conclusion.

Third Miss Bai Jintong, feeling oppressed by the heavy atmosphere, stepped out to catch her breath. She saw Chen Qingsheng, the cousin of Chun Tao, bowing respectfully and speaking in a low voice to Bai Qingyan, who stood under the corridor.

Noticing someone stepping out from the room, Chen Qingsheng immediately stopped speaking and stood respectfully beside Bai Qingyan, giving a salute to Bai Jintong: “Good evening, Third Miss.”

“You may go!” Bai Qingyan said to Chen Qingsheng.

Watching Chen Qingsheng hastily leave after saluting, Bai Jintong walked over to Bai Qingyan and whispered, “That looked like Chun Tao’s cousin. Did Eldest Sister give him some errand?”

Bai Qingyan adjusted her fox fur cloak and walked a few steps down the corridor with Bai Jintong. Chen Qingsheng was someone she intended to have follow Bai Jintong.

She spoke softly, “Chen Qingsheng is very adept at dealing with people. In Dadu City, whether it’s the staff and shopkeepers in teahouses and taverns or the stewards and servants in noblemen’s residences, he can get to know anyone he wants. He has ways to acquire any information. Having him by your side when you go out after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month will surely benefit you.”

“Eldest Sister…” Bai Jintong’s throat choked up as she recalled how candidly Bai Qingyan had spoken to her, analyzing the Bai family’s situation thoroughly. She felt the weight on her shoulders increase immensely.

Earlier, Bai Qingyan had instructed Chen Qingsheng to spread the news about today’s incident at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Mansion through various teahouses, taverns, and brothels, intending to elevate the reputation of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion even further.

This was a test for Chen Qingsheng. If he handled this well, Bai Qingyan would be confident in placing him by Bai Jintong’s side. Unexpectedly, Chen Qingsheng exceeded her expectations.

Without involving a single person from the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion, he spread the news through his connections, managing to keep himself completely out of it, demonstrating his experienced and efficient methods.

As Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong were talking, they saw a maid rush through the Green Bamboo Pavilion’s courtyard gate and hurry to the maid at the corridor, saying, “Please inform Nanny Jiang that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage is outside our mansion, bearing thorns and asking to be let in to apologize. He refuses to come in and is kneeling outside the mansion. The Right Prime Minister’s little grandson and several other young masters are with him, seemingly drunk. We servants don’t know what to do.”

Bai Jintong was greatly surprised and turned to look at the calmly composed Bai Qingyan.

Typically, even if a husband and wife had a severe conflict, the husband would choose an auspicious day to formally apologize to the elders. Noble families would never have a man bearing thorns to apologize, as it would publicize their family scandal.

However, Bai Jintong understood after a moment’s thought. Given the magnitude of today’s incident, if the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Mansion didn’t show a strong stance, there was no way to resolve it.

But thinking of Bai Jinxiu lying on the bed, barely breathing, Bai Jintong’s eyes reddened with anger. She gritted her teeth: “Second Sister is lying in bed, her life in the balance, and he went drinking! And only after drinking does he come to apologize and seek forgiveness. This is too lenient!”

Bai Qingyan remained silent, knowing that Qin Lang’s arrival meant there was still hope.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, Nanny Jiang came out of the room and followed the gatekeeper maid to the outside.

Bai Qingyan knew then… Grandmother and Second Aunt must have agreed to send Nanny Jiang to invite Qin Lang into the mansion.

After all, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Mansion had shown such humility. There had never been a precedent of separation in noble families in all of Dadu City. The elders, thinking of Second Sister’s future, could not let Qin Lang kneel outside the mansion indefinitely.

“Second Aunt! Have you lost your mind? Second Sister is so gravely injured, lying in bed. How can you let him step into our Duke of Zhen’s Mansion!” Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi’s angry voice came from inside the room, “If it were up to me, I would go out and whip him away! How could you invite him in?”

“What else can we do? Your Second Sister is already part of the Qin family. There is no precedent of separation among noble families in our dynasty. Do you want your sister to live a life of solitary prayer forever?” Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, was also filled with resentment and unwillingness. “My poor Jinxiu! Mother should never have agreed to let you marry into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Mansion! Such a mother-in-law, such a sister-in-law, such a husband! How will you get through the days ahead?”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, gently stroking the hand warmer in her hands, hiding the slight redness in her eyes. She was fortunate to be reborn and would absolutely not let Bai Jinxiu suffer for a lifetime. Bai Jinxiu was the sister she would protect with her life. No one could mistreat her!

“I’m going to whip him back!” Bai Jinzhi’s angry voice threatened to blow the Green Bamboo Pavilion’s roof off.

Bai Qingyan looked up to see her storming out of the room in a fury.

Third Madam, Mrs. Li, fearing her daughter would cause trouble, hurried out after her but failed to stop Bai Jinzhi, anxiously waving her handkerchief and urgently instructing the rough housemaids to tie Bai Jinzhi up and bring her back.

But Bai Jinzhi was skilled in martial arts from a young age. These few rough maids were no match for her and would likely get whipped themselves while trying to stop her.

Bai Qingyan stepped forward and curtsied to Third Madam, Mrs. Li: “Third Aunt, please don’t worry. Jintong and I will go see Fourth Sister. We won’t let her cause trouble.”

“Yes, yes! Kid… Jinzhi always listens to you! Jintong, protect your eldest sister and quickly bring that disobedient girl back for me!” Third Madam, Mrs. Li, said anxiously.

“Rest assured, Third Aunt!” Bai Qingyan hurried down the steps with Bai Jintong and swiftly walked toward the front courtyard.

·

When Nanny Jiang reached the mansion gate, she saw Qin Lang kneeling outside, bearing thorns. Several young dandies from Dadu City, who were on good terms with Qin Lang, had also come to support him.

Right Prime Minister’s little grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, smilingly gave Nanny Jiang a half bow: “Nanny, we accompanied Qin Lang to apologize with thorns and also wanted to check on Second Miss. How is she doing?”