Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Returning Hearts of the Masses_1

The Eldest Princess walked out, escorted by her daughters-in-law, stunned by the sight of flying sky lanterns.

The young Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss leaned against the Eldest Princess and pointed at the sky lanterns, asking, “Grandmother, what is that?!”

“Reporting to the Eldest Princess, Fifth Miss,” replied a maid in the courtyard with a smile, “those are sky lanterns released by the townspeople to pray for the Bai family army.”

The Eldest Princess felt a myriad of emotions well up inside her. She choked out, “The people of Dadu have not forgotten our Bai family army…”

Bai Qingyan and her three sisters saw the Eldest Princess standing under the corridor. They paid their respects and stood with the Eldest Princess, watching the sky lanterns.

As the sky lanterns began to disperse, and just when Bai Qingyan was about to help the Eldest Princess back indoors, Lu Ping hurried in with a maid from the Chuihua gate.

Seeing their masters in the courtyard, Lu Ping stepped forward and bowed. “Eldest Princess, ladies, and misses, news has arrived. The southern city gate has been opened, and a messenger with a command arrow on his back is rushing straight to the Imperial Palace on horseback!”

A command arrow on his back indicated a military report. Entering from the southern city gate meant it came from the southern borders.

Not reporting upon entering the city gate and heading straight to the Imperial Palace was not a good omen.

Bai Qingyan felt a scalp-numbing chill, and the entire Duke of Zhen Mansion tensed up.

What was meant to come would always come.

She tightly gripped the Eldest Princess’s hand, turned to look at the stiff-backed Eldest Princess, and said, “Grandmother, you, Mother, and the aunts should prepare yourselves…”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, a few aunts could no longer hold back their tears. The fifth aunt, heavily pregnant, clutched her handkerchief tightly, her legs weakening.

The Eldest Princess’s breathing faltered for a moment but then steadied. She firmly gripped the tiger head cane, straightened her spine, and said, “What is meant to come will always come. Let’s go! We will wait at the entrance!”

The Eldest Princess led the procession of Bai family women to the front of the Duke of Zhen Mansion.

Outside the mansion, a crowd of townsfolk with lanterns and umbrellas had already gathered. They had heard about the messenger with the command arrow who did not shout a report upon entering the city gate. Braving the snow, they had come to wait for news at the mansion’s entrance, whispering among themselves.

“Second Uncle! What brings you out in this cold weather…” @@novelbin@@

“I heard there’s a military report, and the messenger didn’t report upon entering the city gate, so I came here to wait for news. Why are you here?!”

“I also heard about the military report. I was afraid of bad news, so I came to wait and hear!”

“Just a coincidence! I also came because of the news. The messenger not reporting upon entering the city gate is not a good sign! Let’s hope nothing happens to the Duke and the men of the Bai Mansion!”

Suddenly, the red lacquered door of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, adorned with a row of majestic red lanterns, opened slowly. The Eldest Princess, along with the Bai family women, came out personally under the protection of the Bai Mansion guards to wait for news.

“Oh! The Duke’s door has opened!”

“The Duke’s family must be waiting for news too!”

“The tiger head cane! Isn’t that the Eldest Princess?!”

The crowd hastily knelt and bowed, “Eldest Princess…”

The Eldest Princess, remembering the sky lanterns from earlier, felt an ache in her heart. She handed the tiger head cane to Nanny Jiang and led the Bai family women in a bow to the townspeople.

As she straightened up, Bai Qingyan saw Chen Qingsheng standing among the crowd. He nodded to indicate everything was arranged. She slightly nodded back.

“Steward Hao,” Mrs. Dong turned around to instruct the steward, “have the kitchen prepare hot soup and meat pies. Distribute them to everyone! We don’t know how long the news from the palace will take. It’s New Year’s Eve, and everyone is here with us. Don’t let them freeze!”

“Yes, madam!” Steward Hao quickly turned back to the mansion to give the orders.

Soon, two galloping horses were seen approaching the Duke of Zhen Mansion. Everyone grew tense, but it turned out to be Bai Qingyan’s two uncles, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue.

Dong Qingping handed the reins to a mansion servant. Glancing at the townsfolk at the entrance, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue climbed the mansion steps and bowed to the Eldest Princess.

“Brother, Qingyue, why are you here?!” Mrs. Dong’s eyes reddened.

“We received news that the command arrow messenger entered the southern city gate without reporting the battle situation. Mother was worried, so she sent me and my brother to check!” Dong Qingping, holding a whip, spoke with a grim expression.

Bai Qingyan felt warmth in her heart and respectfully bowed to her two uncles.

Dong Qingping smiled at Bai Qingyan and stood next to the Bai family women, waiting for news.

Dong Qingyue walked up to Bai Qingyan, raised his hand, and gently patted her head. “Don’t worry. Your father and brother will be fine!”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Within less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Qin Lang also galloped in. After respectfully greeting the elders, he walked up to Bai Jinxiu, holding her as he softly comforted her, seeing her eyes red from crying.

On New Year’s Eve, the red light street should have been empty, with everyone at home celebrating together.

But in front of the Duke of Zhen Mansion, more and more townspeople and aristocratic family members kept arriving to inquire about the news. When the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Dingyong arrived at the Bai Mansion entrance, he was surprised to see so many people already gathered.

Not long after, the third son of Ming Dabo also arrived.

Bai Qingyan looked at these aristocratic families and common folk braving the snow to stand with them. She knew… the situation she could rely on to protect the Bai family and force the current emperor’s hand had arrived!

On the second floor of Tianxiang Tower, Xiao Rongyan stood by the window, looking at the Duke of Zhen Mansion, which was lit up at the end of the long street. Below, townspeople passed by in small groups with lanterns, and occasionally a horse would gallop straight to the mansion.

He played with the jade cicada in his hand, his eyebrows deeply furrowed.

Xiao Rongyan never believed in winning the hearts and minds of the people or becoming widely respected. Without someone’s meticulous planning and effort, how could the Bai family have garnered such unanimous support?

The current state of the Bai family, with the populace supporting them, seemed to be orchestrated by that Miss Bai.

From the moment Bai Qingyan persuaded Qin Lang to request the position of Princely Heir, Xiao Rongyan knew that Miss Bai was destined for great things.

But it was a pity that the entire Bai family, with its talented generals, had been ruined by the foolish emperor and the incompetent prince of Jin. If his Yan Kingdom had loyal, brave families like the Bai family, how could it not thrive? What a pity…

“My lord, I am incompetent. The deadline you set has passed, and I could only gather some general information!”

Xiao Rongyan did not turn around. “Speak…”

“A beggar who delivered a message to the steward said he didn’t recognize the sender. But he saw the shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower greeting the person, indicating familiarity. When I questioned the shopkeeper, he feigned ignorance. Later, I had someone keep watch at Manjiang Tower. This afternoon, the shopkeeper was seen discussing the matter with someone in a secretive manner, cautioning that person to be careful. Upon inquiry, a shop assistant said that person was from the Duke of Zhen Mansion, unsure if he was a steward, only mentioning he worked for Miss Bai.”