Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 137: Chapter 136: Live Together, Die Together_1

The servant who came galloping quickly dismounted from afar to avoid attracting attention and hurriedly walked up behind Bai Qingyan. In a low voice, he said, “Eldest Young Lady, the servant from King Liang’s side has come. He spent a large sum to ask the gatekeeper to send a message to Chun Yan to meet her outside the mansion! That woman is waiting in the mansion, and Nanny Tong ordered me to come quickly and ask the Eldest Young Lady how to handle it.”

So they’ve come indeed…

She knew King Liang couldn’t wait and would definitely take advantage of today’s Bai family funeral to stir up trouble.

With her hands overlapped in front of her lower abdomen, she straightened her back and stared at the tombstones of her grandfather, father, and the others from the Bai family. Slowly, she asked, “The people from King Liang’s side won’t leave without seeing Chun Yan. Tell Nanny Tong not to worry. After the funeral procession has entered the long street, let the gatekeeper inform Chun Yan that Tongji is waiting outside to meet her! If they are just talking, have someone pay close attention to what they say. If they exchange any items, make sure to bind the two of them in plain sight and present them to the Eldest Princess and everyone else.”

“Yes!” The servant responded and then kowtowed three times to the tombstone before quickly leaving.

There were still five days left before Bai Jintong left the house. She felt uneasy. “Eldest Sister… in five days, I will leave the house. I am worried that something might happen at home while I’m not here…”

“Don’t be afraid. Mother is at home; nothing will happen!” Bai Qingyan said.

As long as today’s matter regarding King Liang was properly handled, there would be no major issues for the Bai family.

Bai Jintong looked up and gazed at Mrs. Dong, who stood like a stabilizing force at the front of the crowd, her eyes filled with tears.

Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Li, and Mrs. Qi were all weeping uncontrollably. Mrs. Wang was lost and dazed, unable to express her sorrow or joy. Mrs. Dong remained upright, calm, and composed.

Thinking about these past days, her aunt had single-handedly supported the Bai family. Even in the face of catastrophic disasters, when the Bai family was in chaos, her aunt managed everything in an orderly manner. What else was there to worry about?!

Dong Qingyue, dressed in military uniform, personally buried the loyal bones of the Bai family. He thrust the shovel into the frozen ground at his feet, looking at the tombstone of Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting, with tears in his eyes as he spoke, “Protect me with your armor, fight the enemy with me…”

It was the Bai family army’s song!

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“Protect me with your armor, fight the enemy with me.” As soon as these lines were spoken, Bai Qingyan felt as if she had bitten into a sour apricot; the bitterness and sorrow surged, making her vision blur.

“Wield the long blade to kill the enemy, live and die together…”

More generals followed Dong Qingyue, transforming their grief into heart-shaking singing.

She looked up at her uncle, and the tears that had been gathering in her eyes suddenly burst forth like a dam breaking.

“Guard the mountains and rivers, protect the people, fearless elite soldiers. Don’t die on the battlefield, don’t take off your armor, good sons of the homeland…”

Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong, who had been holding on, finally couldn’t bear it anymore and cried out loudly.

This song, which they had heard and learned since birth, seemed to pull them back to that passionate battlefield, back to that night before the expedition when they vowed to fight to the death in their battle armor.

The Eldest Princess’s hand trembled so much that she couldn’t hold the cane anymore, tears streaming down…

Do not die on the battlefield, do not take off your armor!

The men of the Bai family all accomplished it!

Even the young children like the seventeenth son followed through!

Looking at the whole world, who else could be as loyal and courageous as the Bai family, loving their country and people so deeply?

At this moment, the Eldest Princess deeply regretted it. Once, her brother asked her who among the sons could be made the Crown Prince. She recommended the current emperor because she thought he was kind-hearted and generous. But she never expected that after ascending to the throne, he would become so suspicious and paranoid.

The Bai family’s carriage arrived early, and the servants helped the grieving masters onto the carriage. The people’s cries grew quieter than when they arrived, following behind the slow-moving carriage.

Leaning on the bolster inside the carriage, the Eldest Princess couldn’t stop her tears.

Nanny Jiang, also with tears streaming down her face, poured a cup of hot tea for the Eldest Princess, advising, “Eldest Princess, please stop crying, or else your eyes will be ruined.”

The Eldest Princess shook her head with her eyes closed, her throat swollen and painful. She couldn’t even drink the tea.

Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi, the four sisters, shared a carriage.

Since Bai Jinzhi didn’t join the military expedition and sing this military song with the soldiers, hearing this song made her sad. However, it wasn’t as heart-wrenching as it was for Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, and Bai Jintong; their memories were deeply etched with pain at the sound of the song.

Seeing her three sisters with reddened eyes and silent sorrow, Bai Jinzhi felt distressed. “Eldest Sister…”

Bai Qingyan slowly opened her eyes and said to Bai Jinzhi, “When we return to the city, Nanny Qin and Nanny Tong will capture Chun Yan, who had a private meeting with a servant from King Liang’s side. If they are exchanging letters or similar items, Little Four… after they explain clearly, you will tear open the letter and read it aloud.”

“That wretched maid Chun Yan dares to associate with people from King Liang’s mansion?!” Bai Jinzhi was furious and punched the soft pillow beside her. “In my opinion, Eldest Sister, you shouldn’t have kept her! She should have been beaten to death with sticks from the start!”

“Eldest Sister said keeping Chun Yan would be useful, was it for today?” Bai Jinxiu looked at Bai Qingyan and asked.

She nodded. “If there is indeed a letter today… you will know who is behind trying to destroy our Bai family after you hear it!”

“Eldest Sister, do you mean… King Liang?!” Bai Jintong widened her eyes.

Bai Jinzhi also couldn’t believe it. “But King Liang is just a cowardly and incompetent prince! Being enfeoffed as a king was the latest among all the princes. If it weren’t for the envoy from Xiliang misaddressing him at the palace banquet the year before last, the emperor wouldn’t even remember to enfeoff him!”

“This is exactly what you should learn from King Liang!” She looked piercingly at her fourth sister, Bai Jinzhi. “King Liang was able to disguise himself flawlessly with his cowardice and incompetence! With the cover of being weak and useless… many things would not be suspected to be his doing, allowing him to do whatever he wanted in the dark. Little Four… do you understand?”

Bai Jinxiu looked at the sharp, cold killing intent in her eldest sister’s eyes, her face gradually turning pale. She thought… King Liang was deeply in love with her eldest sister, even disregarding her thin prospects for children and earnestly sought to marry her. “Eldest Sister… is there some kind of misunderstanding?!”

“Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, we will know soon.”

·

At the back gate of the Duke’s residence, Tongji had his hands tucked into his sleeves, stomping his feet to keep warm, rubbing his nearly frostbitten ears.

“Uncle Tong… perhaps you should wait in the carriage?” The coachman from King Liang’s residence softly advised Tongji.

Tongji shook his head. Prince Liang had ordered him to handle this matter properly, or he would be driven away. He was anxious… how could he sit in the carriage when this matter was not resolved?

Thinking of this, Tongji’s eyes reddened, and he turned away to wipe his tears. “I will wait right here!”