Chapter 68 - 67: A Century of Renown_1

She spoke these words from the bottom of her heart; she would not rebel unless absolutely necessary. The Bai family had always been loyal and brave, never for the sake of the Imperial Family, but for the tens of thousands of people in the Jin Kingdom!

The Eldest Princess’s eyes, like a torch, stared intensely at Bai Qingyan, her suspicions unresolved, fearing that her treasured granddaughter was deceiving her.

She held the Eldest Princess’s hand and slowly began to speak, “When I was five, I heard Grandfather and Father discuss the debate between the two great scholars, Cui Shiyan and Guan Yongchong, at Wenxian Hall about whether the First Emperor was a wise ruler or a tyrant. I said that if the First Emperor could ensure that the people were well-fed and clothed, then he would be a wise and holy ruler.”

“When I was eight, Grandfather did his utmost to reopen the old case of Imperial Censor Jian Congwen, where Consort Tong and her maternal family were imprisoned for framing a loyal minister. Imperial Censor Jian Congwen was exonerated, but the Nine Clans had already been exterminated. Even Jian Yushi’s four-year-old grandson was beheaded along with the family, an innocent child thinking he was playing a game with his family, begging his mother for sweets before he was executed.”

Her voice choked with emotion, “On the day Imperial Censor Jian Congwen was exonerated, Grandfather asked me what made a wise ruler. I replied that ruling with compassion and not allowing the people to suffer wrongful accusations made a wise ruler!”

“When I was thirteen, I returned from the battlefield with Grandfather. He asked again what made a wise ruler. I had seen mountains of bones, rivers of blood, and the decimation of the populace, families torn apart. I understood the invaluable nature of peace, and I said… a ruler who could bring peace to the world was a wise ruler.”

“Now, although the people of the Jin Kingdom are generally well-fed, except for those at the border suffering from years of war, the country is relatively stable and peaceful. If I were to rebel out of personal vendetta, what would happen to the people? What of the generations of loyalty and sacrifice of the Bai family? What of our family creed? I do not seek rebellion but justice for the Bai family! I want to ensure that the slanderous words ‘recklessly using the army’ do not tarnish the heroic and loyal spirits of the Bai family! I want the current Emperor, ridden with doubts and suspicions, to acknowledge our contributions and spare the Bai family widows a path to survival, instead of eradicating us completely. Am I wrong?”

She could not contain her grief-stricken emotions, her voice escalating. By the time she finished, tears were streaming down her face. The Eldest Princess, overwhelmed with sorrow, pulled her granddaughter into her arms, choking back her tears and eventually weeping aloud.

She did not want to lie to her grandmother, but she did not necessarily have to reveal everything.

Yes, she did not plan to rebel now, but she was already paving the way for it!

Bai Qingyan could refrain from rebelling, but the Bai family could not remain without a mighty force capable of shaking the Imperial Family.

Grandfather wanted a peaceful world, and so did she!

Grandfather did not dare to seek the power to intimidate the ruler, but she did!

The Bai family could bow and serve the Lin Imperial power, but she also wanted the Imperial Family to understand that the Bai family’s popular support and virtue could also replace the Lin Imperial power!

Was the Emperor not afraid that the Bai family’s achievements would overshadow the ruler’s prestige and arrogantly seize control of the court? Then she would show the Emperor exactly how they could seize control! Make him fear!

She wanted a change in imperial power… and the Bai family would decide! The people of the world would decide!

“Kid did nothing wrong! It was Grandmother who was wrong! Grandmother should not have doubted you! Grandmother was wrong…”

Outside, Nanny Jiang heard this heart-to-heart between grandmother and granddaughter. She cried tears of relief and happiness, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The Eldest Princess, worn out from her old age and the emotional pain, was physically exhausted. Thus, Bai Qingyan and Nanny Jiang helped her to rest.

As Bai Qingyan exited the Changshou Courtyard, Steward Hao, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, approached and reported, “Miss Bai, a group of ruffians claiming to be the parents of Bai family soldiers suddenly gathered at our gates, crying and cursing. They claim that the Duke of Zhen recklessly used the army, causing the death of tens of thousands of Bai family soldiers, and they demand justice from the Bai family!”

She paused her steps. Though many people had waited outside the National Duke’s residence for news from Nanjing last night, these soldiers’ relatives would not dare confirm their sons’ deaths so assuredly without someone’s instigation, nor would they gather to cause a commotion today just based on last night’s rumors without someone’s behind-the-scenes manipulation.

“How should we deal with those soldiers’ parents? This old servant dared not decide on her own. The Princely Heir’s wife has just rested, and Nanny Qin did not want to disturb her, so I came to seek your advice,” Steward Hao said with a furrowed brow.

Bai Qingyan always believed that, while public opinion could be terrifying, if used and guided properly, it could become a powerful force, even a weapon, she could rely on!

Now, someone intended to use public opinion to harm the Bai family? Excellent!

Unfortunately for them, she already had the marching records in her possession.

Her eyes darkened, and within a flash, she grasped the hidden threads, becoming suddenly enlightened…

Wu Zhe had risked his life to bring back the marching records. He had mentioned that someone had tried to kill Tiger Camp’s commander, Fang Yan, who was escorting the bamboo slip, and by a twist of fate, Fang Yan had been saved by Shen Qingzhu’s group and acquired the bamboo slip.

King Xin’s hounds likely did not obtain the five volumes of marching records and were now attempting to test the Bai family to see if they had them, possibly forcing them to produce the records today for self-exoneration.

The masterminds must have prepared methods to ensure that as soon as the Bai family claimed to have the records, the Emperor would immediately demand their surrender to prevent them from being publicly revealed.

She closed her eyes, pondering what she would do if she were King Xin’s advisor.

She would gather a crowd to create a disturbance at the Duke of Zhen’s residence to test whether the Bai family had the records while tarnishing their century-old reputation.

If her heart were even crueler, she would secretly kill one or two troublemakers after inciting a mob, spreading rumors that the Duke of Zhen’s residence killed the martyrs’ relatives. She would ensure that the Duke of Zhen’s residence could only accept praise and not tolerate criticism, putting them in the public’s ire. This way, when King Xin returned to the city, the Bai family would not be blamed by the public if they had obtained the records.

Steward Hao saw Bai Qingyan’s long silence, as if her soul had wandered away, and softly called, “Miss Bai…”@@novelbin@@

“Send people to keep an eye on the onlookers for anyone suspicious. Arrest and interrogate them immediately!”

Steward Hao instantly understood that Miss Bai meant someone had instigated the soldiers’ relatives to cause trouble, targeting the Duke of Zhen’s residence.

Steward Hao replied with a guarded expression, “Rest assured, Miss Bai!”

“Let’s go outside and take a look.”

“Miss Bai, please wait. I will call Lu Ping to guard us, just in case,” Steward Hao said cautiously.

She nodded.

When Bai Qingyan arrived at the front courtyard, accompanied by Steward Hao and Lu Ping, they heard the angry, hysterical voice of Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi from outside the gates.

“Even the late Emperor said that no one in the Bai family is worthless; all are capable generals! My grandfather despised recklessness and greed for achievements in his lifetime! That so-called ‘recklessly using the army’ is nonsense! If you ignorant fools continue to spout nonsense in front of our gates, I’ll whip you to the West!”