Bai Jinxiu nodded: “I only hope Fifth Aunt can give birth to a son! At least then there would be someone to support the Bai family’s household!”
When Bai Jinxiu mentioned giving birth to a son, she inevitably thought of that bastard son in Qingming Courtyard, feeling like a thorn in her throat: “That bastard son of my father… I’ve heard about the incident on the long street. He’s simply a scoundrel! I’m afraid he can’t be counted on!”
Bai Qingyan didn’t want to mention that bastard son again, only saying: “You needn’t concern yourself with that bastard son. He can’t cause any major waves! Whether Fifth Aunt bears a son or daughter is Heaven’s will and cannot be forced! We must plan according to the worst possible outcome.”
“Then, in the future, what should happen to our Bai family?” Bai Jinxiu choked up.
“When grandfather… and the others return, grandmother will petition the Emperor to allow our entire family to return to our ancestral home in Shuoyang. Grandmother will use the pretext of praying for Great Jin’s blessing to live quietly at Qing’an Temple, keeping your third sister Jintong by her side. Grandmother will order the third sister to disguise herself as a man and engage in commerce, secretly accumulating wealth for our Bai family…”
Hearing Bai Qingyan reveal these plans, Bai Jinxiu was immediately shocked.
Her hand tightened around Bai Qingyan’s, her heart quite confused, and her words became rash: “The entire family returning to Shuoyang? I want to go back too! Qin Lang has already moved out of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion… Shuoyang has outstanding people and beautiful scenery, perfect for studying! I…”
Compared to staying in the capital, Bai Jinxiu felt that having all the sisters together with united hearts would make things feel more stable and warm.
She patted Bai Jinxiu’s hand to steady her, then shook her head: “Not to mention that you’re already married to Qin Lang, just speaking of our Bai family… whether we can safely retreat to Shuoyang is uncertain. If we truly can retreat safely, here in the capital… we absolutely cannot be completely blind and deaf. Do you understand my meaning?”
Bai Jinxiu was startled, vaguely sensing that Bai Qingyan seemed to be planning and arranging something: “Elder sister…”
Bai Qingyan gripped Bai Jinxiu’s hand firmly: “This time, if our Bai family can retreat to Shuoyang intact, someone needs to manage things here in the capital. You’ve always been internally refined and steady. With you in the capital, elder sister can be at ease.”
Bai Jinxiu pressed her lips together, suddenly understanding Bai Qingyan’s meaning. Elder sister was planning for the Bai family’s future – the Bai family’s retreat to Shuoyang was only temporary, and in the future elder sister would lead the Bai family back!
Now knowing that Bai Qingyan had plans and arrangements, Bai Jinxiu would not be one to hold things back. She raised her eyes with a steady gaze and nodded: “Elder sister, rest assured. Jinxiu will not disappoint her elder sister’s expectations and will wait in the capital for her elder sister’s return.”
“Miss, my cousin is here!” Chun Tao said quietly outside the door.
Hearing this, Bai Jinxiu used her handkerchief to dry her tears and arranged her appearance, sitting properly beside the carved copper-screened fire brazier.
“Let Chen Qingsheng come in,” Bai Qingyan said.
Chen Qingsheng entered and, seeing Bai Jinxiu was also present, quickly bowed with his head lowered, not daring to raise it: “Greetings to First Miss, greetings to Second Miss.”
Bai Qingyan sat beside the small table on the soft couch. Without avoiding Bai Jinxiu, she asked: “Have you heard about what happened at the Duke’s mansion gate today?”
Chen Qingsheng was sharp and intelligent. Since First Miss had summoned him without avoiding Second Miss, she must not mind Second Miss knowing. He honestly replied: “I’ve heard. First Miss, please give your orders!”
She lowered her gaze and lifted the lid of the gold-inlaid incense burner, holding a plain silver stick to stir the ash in the incense burner, restraining the terrifying murderous intent in her eyes: “Those four words ‘stubborn military command’ were sent back by Prince Xin! Those behind the scenes who dare to move against our Bai family simply hope to shift the blame for Prince Xin’s military defeat and return to the capital onto our Bai family, then solidify the charge of our Bai family harming soldiers’ families, using momentum to destroy our Bai family’s reputation. Since they acted but didn’t succeed, then next our Bai family should take action, to let them know that since they’ve stirred up these waters, wanting calm seas won’t be so easy.”
“First Miss, rest assured. I know what to do! If they want to use rumors to attack our Duke’s mansion, our Duke’s mansion can certainly fight fire with fire. I’m experienced at this sort of thing, know the ropes! I definitely won’t disappoint, First Miss…” Chen Qingsheng promised.
Bai Qingyan replaced the incense burner lid and looked at Chen Qingsheng solemnly: “Thank you for your hard work! Go get busy!”
·
When Bai Jinzhi received her rod punishment, although Lu Ping showed mercy, she still inevitably suffered torn skin and flesh.
Bai Jinzhi was truly tough. Knowing she was wrong in her heart, she gritted her teeth and endured the entire punishment without a sound, not letting anyone carry her but walking back to her courtyard on her own.
When Third Miss Bai Jintong entered with wound medicine to check on Bai Jinzhi, she saw Bai Jinzhi lying on the soft couch, secretly crying. Hearing the door sound, she quickly lowered her head and quietly wiped away tears with her pillow.
“Elder sister told Uncle Ping to show mercy, so your injuries are relatively light.” Bai Jintong washed her hands and sat beside the bed, moving the fire basin closer and lifting the quilt to apply medicine to Bai Jinzhi.
“Are you convinced by your elder sister’s punishment today?” Bai Jintong glanced at Bai Jinzhi, who was lying there secretly crying, and asked.
Whether it was because Bai Jintong’s hand applying the medicine was heavy, Bai Jinzhi’s body stiffened, and she responded muffledly: “Mm, I know! I’ll change this habit of acting impulsively! From now on, I’ll think before acting.”
“Do you understand what elder sister meant by ‘spirited outwardly, steady inwardly’?” Bai Jintong intentionally guided Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Jinzhi propped herself up on one arm against the pillow and turned to look at Bai Jintong.
Bai Jintong finished applying medicine to Bai Jinzhi, covered her with the quilt, and while wiping her hands with a towel, said: “Elder sister doesn’t mean for you to change your style of action! Others all say being smooth externally and principled internally is the way to conduct oneself in the world, but you can completely do the opposite! Everyone in the capital knows you’re chivalrous and straightforward, acting impulsively. If you can use this as a disguise to play the pig and eat the tiger, you can do things others cannot, and others won’t be on guard against someone who appears to have no scheming heart.”
Hearing the words “no scheming heart,” Bai Jinzhi nearly became angry, her brow furrowing tightly.
“How outsiders view you isn’t important. What matters is that you must be clear about who you are, clear that you are the Fourth Miss of the Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, the Bai family! Since we don’t have the great wisdom of strategists, internally we must be even more cautious and steady, thinking before acting. Outwardly forthright… inwardly circumspect, being well-informed, and you’ll have great potential. Think carefully about how you should act!”
“Though countless ships pass by the sunken vessel’s side, ten thousand trees flourish before the diseased tree! Although all the Bai family men are gone, there’s still an elder sister… and there’s still us! Though we are women, we must still support the Bai family’s honor! Bai family members can die, but… our spirit cannot be extinguished, our backbone cannot be broken, our sharp edge cannot be dulled!”
Bai Jintong’s eyes, extremely similar to Bai Qingyan’s, reddened as she raised her hand and firmly gripped Bai Jinzhi’s shoulder: “Third sister knows that with everyone from grandfather down to seventeenth brother unable to return, you’re frightened, at a loss, and you hate those petty villains who intend to slander grandfather! The third sister feels the same as you! But now our Bai family is in extreme danger, tottering on the brink. We cannot be afraid, cannot be chaotic, and even more, cannot act like brutes only focused on venting anger! We must help great aunt and elder sister, not cause trouble.”
Her inner thoughts exposed, Bai Jinzhi immediately burst into tears. Thinking again of how today’s incident nearly brought great disaster to the Bai family, shame crept into her heart as she gripped the bedsheet beneath her tightly: “Third sister, rest assured! Jinzhi understands!”