In the rain of arrows, she gazed at her father’s handsome and scholarly face that bore a smile as he gently raised his hand to wipe away the tears on her face: “Father’s A’Bao has grown up. You must protect your mother from your father. Don’t seek revenge, don’t harbor hatred – live the rest of your life peacefully. If you can just stay alive, that’s enough!”
Watching father’s figure dissipate like flowing sand in the wind, her heart was in complete chaos, her five organs burning with grief. She frantically reached out to grab… but could catch nothing!
“Elder sister!”
Hearing the voice, she suddenly turned back to see her brother, covered in blood, standing below the mountain of corpses. She rushed toward her brother like a madwoman: “A’Yu! A’Yu!”
She knew clearly that father and brother had long since died.
She knew this was only a dream-a heart-wrenching dream that made one’s five organs burn with grief-yet she still didn’t want to wake up!
Because her loved ones were here!
Bai Qingyu’s blood-covered face showed a remorseful smile as he choked out softly: “Elder sister, A’Yu promised that upon triumphant return, I would present elder sister with Nanjiang’s most beautiful pigeon blood ruby. A’Yu must break his word!”
She embraced her brother tightly, closed her eyes, and wailed: “Elder sister doesn’t want pigeon blood rubies! Elder sister doesn’t want them! Elder sister only wants A’Yu to be well! A’Yu… A’Yu!”
“A’Bao…”
Hearing the voice, she turned back: “Grandfather!”
Grandfather wore the clothes he usually practiced martial arts in at home, waving to her with his usual smile, his expression kind and gentle.
The hand she was gripping her brother with suddenly became empty – her brother’s figure was no longer before her. Her throat tightened as she could only walk step by step toward her grandfather with tears, grief-stricken as she knelt before her grandfather, hugging his legs and crying loudly: “Grandfather! Grandfather…”
Grandfather bent down to gently stroke her head, took her hand, his aged and kind voice gradually carrying the power to comfort hearts: “A’Bao protected her sisters and supported the Bai family… grandfather is very gratified. Grandfather is proud of A’Bao.”
She bit her teeth hard and shook her head forcefully. No… she hadn’t done well enough! She wasn’t worthy of making grandfather proud. If she could have pulled herself together earlier, not treating herself like a sickly invalid, if she could have recovered her martial arts from the beginning, she could have gone to Nanjiang alongside grandfather and the others… perhaps she could have exchanged her one death for even one or two family members’ safety.
Grandfather smiled even more warmly and kindly: “Does A’Bao know what grandfather’s lifelong wish is?”
“Peaceful seas and clear rivers, peace under heaven…”
Grandfather nodded, his voice carrying the compassionate tenderness of one who had experienced life’s vicissitudes: “Better to be a dog in times of peace than a person in times of chaos! Born in turbulent times, what the people seek… is nothing more than these two words: peace. Is A’Bao willing to inherit her grandfather’s unfulfilled will and do her part for these countless common people?”
“The Bai family has been loyal ministers and good generals for generations, upright and honorable, devoted to the people, self-sacrificing and devoted to public service, yet ended up with the master suspicious and subjects executed, the entire family wiped out. Grandfather… do you still want me to protect the Great Jin’s rivers and mountains?”
“What does A’Bao think people live for in this one lifetime?” Grandfather asked gently.
Before she could answer, the grandfather’s figure scattered in a gentle light. Her throat tightened as she reached out, trying to pull her grandfather back, but grasped only emptiness.
“Grandfather! Grandfather!” She called out her grandfather’s name in panic and confusion, but in the empty valley, only her echo remained.
“Elder sister! Elder sister…”
Bai Jintong’s calling voice reached her ears, and she suddenly opened her eyes.
“Elder sister!” Bai Jinzhi, who had been lying by the bedside, stood up.
“Elder sister!” Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were red. Seeing her elder sister open her eyes, tears immediately burst forth. She turned to shout toward the outer room: “Eldest aunt, elder sister is awake! Elder sister is awake!”
Dong Shi, who had been talking with Physician Hong outside the screen, immediately lifted her skirt hem and hurried into the inner room upon hearing this.
Bai Jinxiu quickly wiped her tears and pulled Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi aside to make room at the bedside. Dong Shi’s throat moved as she sat by the bed and raised her hand to feel Bai Qingyan’s forehead: “No more fever! Really, no more fever! Thank Heaven and Earth!”
“Mother…”
Bai Qingyan’s hoarse voice sounded. Dong Shi’s tears immediately broke loose and fell. She gripped her hand tightly, biting her lower lip hard: “It’s good that you’re awake! It’s good that you’re awake!”
“Elder sister, you’ve been sleeping for two days!” Bai Jintong said.
Two days… no wonder her whole body felt weak and powerless.
“Elder sister, you scared us to death!” Bai Jinzhi’s voice choked up.
“That’s right!” Bai Jintong felt relieved in her heart, and her speech became lighter: “Elder sister suddenly developed a high fever, and even Imperial Physician Huang and Physician Hong were helpless. It was Master Xiao who, upon hearing about it, said his elder brother had similar symptoms to his elder sister’s after their mother’s death and burial. Physician Hong applied acupuncture according to what Master Xiao said, and unexpectedly it was so effective – elder sister woke up in less than half a cup of tea’s time.”
“Everyone in the household was very worried about the elder sister. Grandmother stayed here for two days and one night, and the eldest aunt just persuaded her to go back,” Bai Jinxiu said to Bai Qingyan with a smile in a low voice. “Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Qi also couldn’t hold out any longer and just left. If they knew their elder sister would wake up, they would stay here!”
Physician Hong took Bai Qingyan’s pulse and let out a long breath: “No problem now! No problem now! A close call without danger! Rest for two days and you’ll recover. Eat lightly these few days, and I’ll write a few medicinal food recipes…”
“Thank you for your hard work, Physician Hong!” Chun Tao quickly held up the pearl curtain to escort Physician Hong out of the inner room to write prescriptions.
After Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan wash up and have some light congee, she gradually regained some strength.
When everyone in the mansion learned that Bai Qingyan had awakened, first the Grand Princess, then the various aunts and sisters all came to visit before feeling at ease.
Bai Jinxiu, along with Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi, accompanied Bai Qingyan sitting around the fire stove, discussing future matters.
“Now that Prince Liang’s case has implicated the Nanjiang grain supply case, the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion definitely can’t escape involvement. Marquis Zhongyong is already dead… Qin Lang has returned to the marquis’ mansion. I plan to also return to the Marquis Mansion after seeing grandmother off to the imperial nunnery for spiritual cultivation on the fifteenth!” Bai Jinxiu spoke slowly: “Qin Lang and I are husband and wife. Now that the Bai family’s funeral affairs are concluded, it’s time to prepare for the Marquis Mansion’s funeral.”
Bai Qingyan’s face was pale and bloodless. She lowered her eyes and picked up the warm teacup beside her to warm her hands, speaking softly: “If your body can bear it, return to the marquis’ mansion today. If time drags on too long… others will inevitably have opinions about you.”
Bai Jinxiu looked at her elder sister, only hearing her elder sister continue slowly: “At this time, when the marquis mansion is in chaos without a leader, it’s precisely when you can manipulate and arrange things, grasping power and people’s hearts into your hands! Your elder sister knows your filial devotion to your grandmother. Grandmother is right there at the imperial nunnery… There will be time in the future.”
Bai Jinxiu had thought of this. She originally planned to return after the Bai family funeral on the tenth, but then her elder sister suddenly developed a high fever and wouldn’t wake up, so she stayed two extra days.
Since it had already come to today, she wanted to stay two more days to see grandmother and her third sister off before leaving.
“Yes!” Bai Jinxiu nodded: “Knowing elder sister is fine, I can also feel at ease! I’ve already packed my things and will leave immediately. I’ll leave Yinshuang in the mansion for now. After everything at the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion is settled, I’ll bring Yinshuang over.”
After speaking, Bai Jinxiu rose and bowed.