Chapter 59: The Loyal Bones_1

“Stop! Where do you think you’re going?” Bai Qingyan didn’t even turn her head but stopped Bai Jintong.

“Heaven is unfair to my Bai family! We have been loyal and served the people for generations. How did we end up like this? I’m risking this life to kill that dog Emperor! To kill Liu Huanzhang and his whole family!” Bai Jintong’s hatred was so overwhelming that he wanted to pierce the sky, making the entire Jin Kingdom bury with the Bai family’s men.

“Can you avenge all the men of the Bai family with just your life?!” She turned her head, her bloodshot eyes staring at Bai Jintong. “And then?!”

“And then?!” Bai Jintong gritted his teeth.

“Kill Liu Huanzhang’s whole family? And do you really think you can kill King Xin? Can you really kill the Emperor? Even if you’re invincible and succeed, what will happen to the remaining women of the Bai family?! The crime of regicide… do you want the women of the Bai family to perish along with your reckless bravery?! I know you’re not afraid of death… but what about facing our grandfather after death? Facing your father?!”

Looking at Bai Jintong’s desolate and aching expression, she suppressed the immense hatred and anger in her heart, tears in her eyes as she tried to persuade him, “Grandmother is the Eldest Princess of this dynasty. How can you face her after killing King Xin and the Emperor?!”

Bai Jintong’s immense anger deflated, and he slumped against the door, kneeling softly with tears flowing, “But why do we have to suffer like this? The Bai family saved the people of Jin, but who will save the loyal souls of the Bai family?!”

“The courage of a brute… it’s common among men…” She bent down, picked up the bamboo slip from the ground, carefully rolled it up, and placed it on the redwood desk. “Killing is the easiest, and also the most foolish!”

“Eldest Young Lady, do you have a plan?” Bai Jinxiu asked hoarsely, suppressing her grief.

“The art of war says, the expert fighter seeks victory from the situation. We have no power or allies in the court. We must leverage the situation and public opinion to seek justice for the spirits of the Bai family.”

She threw the clay figure of a horse-riding swordsman into the brazier. Sparks flew and the flames burst, reflecting in her ice-cold dark pupils.

With her eyes burning with immense hatred, Bai Qingyan regained her composure, and Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu’s intense grief and anger gradually calmed down as well.

With a backbone, people no longer felt so helpless and at a loss.

Watching the flames devour the small clay figure entirely, she lowered her voice and said, “In Qinghui Courtyard, crying is enough! We have elderly Grandmother above, and young sisters below! Fifth Aunt is pregnant! We must not… cannot be weak and fall! We must stand and support Mother and the Aunts, to uphold the Bai family!”

Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu felt that although Bai Qingyan appeared weak and thin, her gaze was intense and powerful, instilling trust and reliance.

“Jintong understands!” Bai Jintong gritted his teeth.

“Jinxiu understands!” Bai Jinxiu choked out a response.

“I will talk to Mother. Jinxiu will talk to Second Aunt… and Jintong, you will talk to Third Aunt!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was weak.

Although Bai Jintong was an illegitimate child, she had been raised alongside Bai Jinzhi by Mrs. Li for years, considering Mrs. Li her birth mother.

“Do not mention the bamboo slip. It’s our most important card.” She paused, then added, “Tomorrow night, the news of Grandfather and the others’ deaths in battle will come. Be prepared!”

She closed her eyes… the New Year’s Eve when the news of their deaths arrived in her previous life. The desperate cries of the Bai family amidst the splendid fireworks. Closing her eyes brought back the desolation that enveloped the entire Duke’s mansion.

The three sisters embraced each other, tears streaming like threads.

An hour later, Bai Jintong and Bai Jinxiu emerged dazedly from Qinghui Courtyard. The maids quickly returned inside to fetch water, handle basins, and assist Bai Qingyan in washing her face and changing clothes.@@novelbin@@

This morning, Chun Tao had frantically gone to Bitong Garden to fetch Bai Jintong and then drove a group of maids and woman servants to the outside of Qinghui Courtyard. This incident had spread. Before Bai Qingyan had a chance to look for Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Dong had already arrived at Qinghui Courtyard.

Upon entering, seeing Bai Qingyan safe and sound and in the process of changing, Mrs. Dong sighed with relief, placing her hand on her chest with a handkerchief. “Did something happen this morning? Why did Chun Tao urgently go to find Jintong?”

Bai Qingyan, seeing Mrs. Dong seated on the soft couch, waved for Chun Tao and the others to leave.

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan sat close to Mrs. Dong, holding her arm. Her eyes reddened. She hesitated to speak, only calling softly, “Mother! Mother…”

“What’s wrong with you?” Mrs. Dong looked at her daughter’s tear-stifled face, her smile stiffening. A bad premonition formed in her heart. Her eldest daughter had always been composed. When had she ever cried in front of her?

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan took a deep breath and raised her head. Tears streamed down as she clung to Mrs. Dong’s arm, her voice choked. “Grandfather, Father… and Brother, they aren’t coming back! The military report will probably arrive tomorrow.”

Mrs. Dong was stunned by the news as if the world had collapsed. Her mind went blank, her face lost all color, and her spine felt weak. She almost slid off the soft couch.

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan hugged Mrs. Dong tightly. “Don’t be afraid! We still have Kid!”

She couldn’t hold back her tears in front of her mother. She thought she had returned… gained an advantage at least to fight the King of Hell, if not for a draw, at least to save one… even just one!

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s voice, Mrs. Dong snapped back, her eyes reddened, tightly clutching the handkerchief, holding back tears. After a while, she reached out, embraced Bai Qingyan, and said hoarsely, “Your father and brother were born into a family of Generals. When they went to the battlefield, I was prepared for this. When your father previously returned victorious with our son, I could hold a banquet to celebrate. Now that they rest in peace on the battlefield, I can handle the aftermath for them! Kid, do not be afraid… I am the mistress of the Duke’s mansion! I can hold up!”

In her past life, when the news arrived, Grandmother fainted… Aunts and sisters cried together. Her mother was the one who held up the collapsing sky of the Bai family. She remembered it clearly.

Although her mother didn’t know martial arts and had never been on a battlefield, she was more resilient and strong-willed than those iron-blooded men. Otherwise… she wouldn’t have left the “Asking the Emperor” letter and resolutely led the Aunts to their deaths.

But how much pain and suffering must her mother endure, losing her husband and son?! She knew her mother was holding on desperately. It wasn’t that she could hold up… but that she knew as the head of the household, she must hold up.

Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong tightly. “Mother, it’s okay… In front of Kid, you don’t have to hold up! Kid will stay with you… always stay with you.”