Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Eldest Legitimate Daughter _1

The son of the Imperial Censor, Sima Ping, seeing Lu Yuanpeng’s drunken stupor, quickly tugged at Lu Yuanpeng’s sleeve, almost causing the already unsteady Lu Yuanpeng to fall.

Sima Ping could only deeply bow to Nanny Jiang and apologize, “Nanny Jiang, please forgive us. Yuanpeng drank too much today. We beg for your understanding.”

Xiao Rongyan, draped in a gray squirrel coat, stood upright in front of a carriage not far away. Even in the shadows, he was so distinguished that he was hard to ignore.

Seeing Nanny Jiang, who was beside the Eldest Princess, come out personally, Xiao Rongyan’s lips curled into a smile. His deep-set eyes were full of calm and composure.

Qin Lang, reeking slightly of alcohol but not overly drunk, knew that Nanny Jiang represented the Eldest Princess. He gave a heavy bow, “Qin Lang is here to apologize to the Eldest Princess and my mother-in-law!”

“Hurry, help the Crown Prince up!” Nanny Jiang instructed the servants behind her.

A servant stepped forward quickly from behind Nanny Jiang, bowing respectfully as he helped Qin Lang up.

“Heavy snow hasn’t stopped. The Crown Prince drank too much. I have already sent someone to inform the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence. The Crown Prince should come inside, sit for a while, and drink some sober-up soup. The mansion will send someone to fetch you shortly. Please…”

Seeing the servants of the Duke of Zhen mansion supporting the hunched Qin Lang inside, Xiao Rongyan slowly turned around, about to board his carriage, but was pulled back by Lu Yuanpeng, who had squeezed out of the crowd.

“Brother Xiao, it was your idea. You can’t just leave! We must see it to the end…”

With that, the drunken Lu Yuanpeng dragged Xiao Rongyan towards the steps of the Duke of Zhen mansion, “Hey, hey, hey! Don’t close the door, don’t close the door! Nanny Jiang, Nanny Jiang… I finally made it here. I must pay my respects to the old ancestor!”

Sima Ping and a group of playboys shouted after Lu Yuanpeng.

“Yuanpeng!”

“Yuanpeng, don’t drag Brother Xiao into your nonsense!”

“Lu Yuanpeng…”

Lu Yuanpeng paid no heed, displaying none of a gentleman’s demeanor. He pulled Xiao Rongyan, forcefully squeezing through the gates of the Duke of Zhen mansion like a hooligan.

Who knew, just as Lu Yuanpeng pulled Xiao Rongyan through the gates of the Duke of Zhen mansion, Bai Jinzhi rushed out of the brightly lit corridor with a face full of rage, raising her whip towards Qin Lang.

Startled, Lu Yuanpeng immediately burped.

“Fourth sister!”

Bai Jintong, with excellent skills, had already shielded Qin Lang just as Bai Jinzhi’s whip swung. He firmly caught the fierce whip, wielded it with a deft twist, and held it in his hand, his expression solemn. “Don’t be rude! Step back!”

Nanny Jiang was also shocked, clutching her handkerchief against her beating heart. When she saw Bai Qingyan in the corner of her eye, her heart settled down.

“Third sister! Why are you stopping me?” Bai Jinzhi’s eyes were red, pointing at Qin Lang. “Second sister is lying on the bed, life and death uncertain, and he still went to the poetry gathering and drank! The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion is full of black-hearted scoundrels. He is heartless too!”

Qin Lang was deeply ashamed, his fists clenched, “Third Miss doesn’t need to stop her. This whip, I deserve it.”

Through the falling snow, Xiao Rongyan glanced casually at the figure gradually approaching from the corridor, calm and unhurried.

Bai Qingyan stood beneath the corridor, draped in a fox fur. The red lanterns reflected the falling snow, illuminating her clean and exquisite features. Her eyes were dark and indifferent, her whole person tranquil and serene, sharply contrasting with the assertive demeanor she displayed in front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion earlier today.

“Bai Jinzhi, step back.”

Hearing the voice, Bai Jinzhi turned to see Bai Qingyan. She glared at Qin Lang with tear-filled eyes before reluctantly stepping back beside Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan, seeing Bai Jinxiu lying on the bed, hated both the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage mansion and Qin Lang. However, she could still understand Qin Lang’s difficult situation, having to contend with a stepmother like Mrs. Jiang and the pressures of filial duty.

With the courage from the alcohol, Qin Lang finally dared to look directly at Bai Qingyan. Whether it was because he had been drinking, Bai Qingyan’s stunning beauty came into full view. Qin Lang’s emotions were complicated, and he clenched the jade pendant at his waist in guilt, his palm becoming sticky. He quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look at Bai Qingyan.

“Is that the Duke of Zhen mansion’s eldest daughter?!” Lu Yuanpeng was dumbfounded, completely unaware of the snow falling on his eyelashes.

With profound eyes, Xiao Rongyan remained calm. His hand, hidden under his gray squirrel coat, rubbed the jade cicada leisurely, responding faintly, “Yes.”

As Bai Qingyan stepped out of the corridor, she met Xiao Rongyan’s calm gaze, her steps momentarily faltering.

Xiao Rongyan’s overly deep eyes held a smile. He nodded at her gently, exuding warmth and steadiness. @@novelbin@@

Bai Qingyan’s hand, holding the hand-warmer, tightened instinctively. Her heartbeat quickened inexplicably, breathing a bit unevenly.

In her previous life, Bai Qingyan had privately faced countless fierce opponents on the battlefield. Few had left a lasting impression on her; even fewer had instilled fear. But no one ever gave her such a strong sense of dread as Xiao Rongyan did.

Beneath Xiao Rongyan’s steady and refined exterior was the ambition of a wolf, with the ability to annex other countries while casually conversing, his depth never fully grasped by Bai Qingyan until her death.

Seeing Lu Yuanpeng, Bai Qingyan understood why Xiao Rongyan came with Qin Lang.

She closed her eyes momentarily, suppressing her unease and excessive concern for Xiao Rongyan. She then stepped out of the corridor.

Nanny Jiang quickly turned, took the umbrella from a servant, opened it, and supported Bai Qingyan.

“Crown Prince Qin,” Bai Qingyan maintained a cautious distance from Qin Lang as she gave a shallow bow, “Crown Prince, bearing a light garment and a bundle of sticks for the sin, do you have a solution in mind?”

Qin Lang, bowing his head in shame, replied, “I… I do not.”

Bai Qingyan’s heart sank, her internal fury growing, no wonder Qin Lang couldn’t protect his wife in the previous life. Apologies alone were useless!

Unable to hold back her anger, her voice rose, “Crown Prince, is this how you will answer my grandmother and second aunt? Then I must ask, Crown Prince, what sin are you atoning for today? Apologizing for the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s wife, the two young ladies in your mansion, or for yourself?”

The cold wind blew the snow through the gaps.

Qin Lang’s eyes reddened, his lips trembled, but he said nothing. Instead, he bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, “Qin Lang is ashamed. I have no words.”

That day at the Duke of Zhen mansion, when Qin Lang came to greet her for the wedding, she saw his strategy was not of a cowardly person without vision.

Through chess, one could see the person… Bai Qingyan thought Qin Lang had ambition and the strategy to match.

After a moment of thought, Bai Qingyan’s hand holding the hand-warmer tightened, pressing down her anger slowly. She spoke methodically, “When our Jin Kingdom was founded, those who made significant contributions were granted titles. The Marquis of Dingguo’s title was hereditary. By law, the eldest son should inherit the title, but the Marquis favored his younger son, causing family strife and brotherly discord. When the Marquis of Dingguo died, the elder son inherited. The younger son, holding a grudge, killed his mother and brother, resulting in a tragedy.”