Chapter 56: The Evil One_1

“Good!”

Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but shout out in approval, then quickly pulled back their head, afraid of being seen by King Liang’s men and offending him.

Bai Qingyan’s words showed the pride and integrity of the Bai family. They gave people a glimpse into the righteous backbone of the Duke of Zhen’s household. With such honest and upright people protecting Jin Kingdom, how could the citizens not feel at ease?

“Miss Bai! His Highness never intended for things to be this way! It was all this maid’s own doing!” The steward of King Liang’s mansion bowed solemnly to Bai Qingyan. “Miss Bai, please do not let this maid harm the harmony between the Duke of Zhen’s household and King Liang’s mansion.”

“In that case, please ensure that King Liang’s mansion properly disciplines their servants. Do not come to my Bai Mansion causing trouble! His Highness, as a prince, should set an example for the people, stand upright, cultivate his character, and act with integrity. He should know what can and cannot be done. He must not engage in lowly actions like bribing other household servants to spy on the private matters of daughters, thus tarnishing the Imperial Family’s reputation.” Bai Qingyan sneered at Tongji, “Fourth Sister! Let her go!”

“You’re lucky!” Bai Jinzhi, full of resentment, pushed away the kneeling Hongqiao with gritted teeth. If it weren’t for her elder sister stopping her… she would have whipped this lowly maid a hundred times.

The normally silent Gao Sheng saw that Hongqiao seemed about to pick up her hairpin and commit suicide. He immediately stopped her.

“Guard Gao, let me die! His Highness has always admired Miss Bai. I thought Miss Bai knew I was serving His Highness, which is why she wouldn’t see him. I never expected to cause such a misunderstanding between Miss Bai and His Highness! Miss Bai, it wasn’t His Highness who sent me, I came on my own… You cannot misunderstand His Highness!”

Hongqiao wept bitterly.

“Whether you caused trouble at the Duke of Zhen’s mansion on King Liang’s orders or out of your own selfishness, it doesn’t matter! Bribing our household servants, sending a jade pendant, and secretly requesting to see my elder sister… these were the actions of King Liang!” Bai Jintong said coldly, bowing to the steward of King Liang’s mansion. “Please discipline the servants of King Liang’s mansion! If this continues, it might alarm my grandmother, the Eldest Princess…”@@novelbin@@

“Yes, yes!” The steward of King Liang’s mansion hurriedly turned to Gao Sheng, “Guard Gao, take this lowly maid away!”

Gao Sheng nodded.

Bai Qingyan stood at the main gate of the Duke of Zhen’s mansion, watching Gao Sheng walk away, her eyes cold.

Gao Sheng was King Liang’s most skilled guard, and Du Zhiwei was King Liang’s most adept counselor. She wondered if today’s act by Hongqiao was arranged by Du Zhiwei. If so… she really overestimated Du Zhiwei.

“Let’s go back!” she said to Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi watched the steward of King Liang’s mansion bow and leave, her eyes filled with undisguised hatred. She tightly gripped her whip as she returned to the mansion.

·

As the New Year’s Eve approached, Bai Qingyan felt increasingly uneasy, often waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares of the Bai family’s men all perishing on the front lines in her previous life.

Just past 3 AM on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, all was silent. Outside the window, the north wind howled, and the sound of falling snow could be faintly heard.

Someone knocked on the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, waking the lightly sleeping Bai Qingyan. She listened to the howling wind outside the window.

Waking from a nightmare, her heart pounded. Missing her night guard, Chun Tao, she hoarsely called out, “Chun Tao…”

At the gate, Chun Tao, pale-faced, heard Bai Qingyan call her, glanced back at the main house, and said to Lu Ping at the gate, “The young lady is awake! Please wait a moment, I will inform the young lady!”

Ignoring the snow and cold, Chun Tao hurriedly ran into the main house.

Seeing Bai Qingyan already sitting by the bed, Chun Tao bowed and said, “Miss, Miss Shen sent Wu Zhe to deliver a message. Wu Zhe is bleeding profusely, and I’m afraid he doesn’t have much time left. Lu Ping didn’t want to delay your important matters and came to call on you in the middle of the night!”

Her scalp tightened, and she quickly stood up, her voice trembling uncontrollably. “Bring me my cloak! Quickly!”

Bai Qingyan, dressed in white undergarments, put on her cloak and stepped out into the wind.

The cold wind, like a knife, wrapped the snow and hit her, instantly piercing through her.

“Miss!” Lu Ping bowed deeply.

She grabbed Lu Ping, “Where is he? Take me to him quickly!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s stern face, Lu Ping did not dare delay. He lit a lantern and led the way. Holding Chun Tao’s hand tightly, they hurriedly made their way through the snow to the side gate.

The wind and snow beat against her face and eyes like knives, but she didn’t feel the pain, only the chaos in her heart.

When they reached the side gate, the wind and snow had made Bai Qingyan frozen and pale.

The guard by Wu Zhe’s bedside saw her and struggled to stand up, “Miss!”

“Miss…” Wu Zhe struggled to get up, blood dripping from his mouth with every word, a sight that was shocking.

Her eyes turned red, and disregarding proper etiquette, she rushed forward and held Wu Zhe with her icy hands, “I’m here…”

Lu Ping hurriedly placed a cushion behind Wu Zhe.

After regaining some composure, Wu Zhe spoke hurriedly, “We traveled day and night to the Southern Borders. Just after crossing Chongluan Ridge, we encountered General Fang Yan of the Bai family’s Tiger Camp being pursued. We fought desperately but only managed to save the bamboo slip recording the battle conditions that General Fang Yan protected with his life! General Fang Yan said treacherous officials had harmed the Bai family’s army… then he died! Assassins kept coming, and Miss Shen led Ji Tingyu and Wei Gao to divert them, instructing us to deliver the bamboo slip to you in Dadu no matter what, even if we died!”

Wu Zhe lowered his head, his hands, crusted with dried blood, trembled as he untied his clothing. The bamboo slip, stained with his blood, was firmly tied to his body. “Wu Zhe, mission accomplished!”

Chun Tao covered her mouth, shuddering as she saw the bamboo slip almost embedded in Wu Zhe’s bloody flesh.

“The bamboo slip, protected with my comrades’ lives, has been safely delivered. Wu Zhe can now face them in the afterlife!”

She clenched her teeth, her eyes shifting from the bamboo slip, feeling a surge of grief as she looked at Wu Zhe’s smiling face.

“Miss, Wu Zhe is not afraid of death. I only ask the Eldest Princess and you never to let the traitors who killed the Bai family’s army go unpunished!”

Her lips tightened into a line as uncontrollable tears streamed down. Struggling to maintain her composure, she gently patted Wu Zhe’s shoulder, choked with emotion, “On behalf of the tens of thousands of Bai family soldiers, thank you! Rest well. I will ensure you see justice done for the wicked!”

With a weak smile, Wu Zhe said, “Miss, in the next life… Wu Zhe will still serve the Bai family!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth.

She held onto Wu Zhe, her scalp tightening, and shouted, “Uncle Ping! Get Doctor Hong! Get Doctor Hong immediately!”

Wu Zhe slumped in her arms. Through his blurred vision, he saw Bai Qingyan’s white fox fur stained with his blood. He opened his mouth to apologize, but words failed him as he took his last breath.

“Miss, Wu Zhe is gone!” Lu Ping knelt on the ground, looking up at Bai Qingyan with tears.