Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 60 - : Entrusting Life and Death_1
Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Entrusting Life and Death_1
Mrs. Dong tightly bit her lips, gently patted Bai Qingyan’s hand that was holding her, her nostrils flared, and she closed her eyes as tears immediately streamed down.
On the twenty-ninth of December in the Xuanjia period, heavy snowfall, the wives of the master of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion—Mrs. Dong and the second wife, Mrs. Liu, the third wife, Mrs. Li, the fourth wife, Mrs. Wang, the fifth wife, Mrs. Qi—learned one after another that all the men of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion had perished in the Southern Frontier. The pain was unbearable.
While the entire Dadu City brimmed with festive joy, the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion was shrouded in gloom. The concubines, maids, and older servants within the mansion, sensing something unusual, kept to themselves and did not dare to make noise.
In the upper room of the Eldest Princess Changshou Courtyard, Mrs. Dong, the princely heir’s wife, managed to maintain her composure. She firmly held the hand of her daughter Bai Jinse, consoling her not to be afraid.
The second wife sobbed endlessly, wiping her tears. The third wife sat there as if her soul had left, her face devoid of color.
The fourth wife, inherently weak in character, would have collapsed if it weren’t for the twin daughters, the fifth and sixth girls, holding her hands tightly.
Only the fifth wife forced herself to stay strong like Mrs. Dong, sitting upright with a straight back, her eyes red, hands protectively covering her belly, biting her lips and saying nothing.
Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, and Bai Jinse all sat by their respective mothers.
The Eldest Princess fiddled with the Buddha Beads in her hand, her eyes closed. The tears she couldn’t hold back eventually traced down her cheeks.
“Fifth son’s wife is heavily pregnant. Fourth daughter-in-law’s timid nature renders her incapable. This Duke of Zhen’s Mansion has flourished for a hundred years, and now this far, the way forward… has to rely on the eldest, second, and third daughters-in-law to support!” The Eldest Princess looked weary. “Start preparing what needs to be prepared! Do not wait until… until the news arrives to catch us off guard.”
“Yes, daughter-in-law understands!” Mrs. Dong nodded with tears.
“The Duke, the eldest, second, third, fourth, fifth sons, and… seventeen children! The coffins transported back will undoubtedly be makeshift!” The Eldest Princess kept her eyes closed, yet tears constantly flowed out. “The Duke’s coffin had long been prepared! Today is the twenty-ninth of December, the coffin shops might all be closed. Eldest daughter-in-law…”
Before the Eldest Princess could finish, Bai Qingyan spoke up: “Then we wait for the news to return, and we go borrow, we borrow from the whole world…”
The Eldest Princess slightly opened her eyes, the candlelight stinging her sore, swollen eyes.
“Grandmother, only by placing the heroic spirits in the harshest condition and letting the world see what our Bai family has done for this country and its people can we make those who wronged the Bai family feel guilty. So the current Emperor can remember our Bai family’s contributions, treat our Bai family’s widows kindly, and protect them from harm.”
Bai Qingyan knew clearly, as long as it benefitted the Bai family without revolting, her grandmother would agree.
The Eldest Princess looked at Bai Qingyan and nodded: “Do as Kid says.”
“After the major affairs are settled, if any concubines in the family wish to seek a different future, return their indentures and give them five hundred taels of silver, let them leave! Everyone should settle in your own rooms, do not trouble your eldest sister-in-law.” The Eldest Princess, with her remaining bit of compassion, hesitated for a long time before speaking again, “If you do not wish to stay in this home either, you can choose to leave then! Do not be afraid… even if you leave the Duke’s Mansion, as long as I live, the Duke’s Mansion will always be your home.”
The words of the Eldest Princess moved the second wife, Mrs. Liu, the third wife, Mrs. Li, and the fourth wife, Mrs. Wang, to tears again. The three of them covered their mouths, crying for their husbands and sons. Even though they had cried countless times, thinking again of their husbands and sons still tore at their hearts.
“Mother, I promised Big Brother. He guarded Jin for the people, I guard the Bai family for him, sharing honor and disgrace, life and death, and I will not fail in this life.” Mrs. Dong spoke of her husband with an indescribable gentleness, “Although he has died, the vow remains. I will not fail the Bai family, alive I am the Bai family’s matriarch, and dead a spirit of the Bai family.”
The Eldest Princess nodded, closing her eyes, her tears streaming, too choked to speak.
Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong’s hand, even colder than hers, gently rubbing it to warm her. In the previous life… her mother Mrs. Dong truly fulfilled what she had said.
In fact, her mother and the aunts were lucky to have a mother-in-law as understanding as her grandmother.
In this life, she no longer wanted to see her mother and aunts sacrifice themselves for the Bai family’s justice.
Perhaps her heart was too narrow, unable to let go of the deaths of her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers in both lives.
Rebirthing back… She lived solely for revenge! So she truly hoped her mother and aunts could move beyond the grief of losing their husbands and sons. Maybe even remarry.
In the mire of all Bai family’s hatred… her alone was enough.
·
From the twenty-ninth of December to New Year’s Eve, it felt exceptionally long.
Like condemned prisoners already knowing their fate, but not knowing when the executioner’s knife would fall.
Bai Qingyan was lost in thought as she sat in the pavilion by the rockery until Lu Ping came to report back on Wu Zhe’s aftermath, bringing her back to reality.
“According to Miss’s instructions, I sent the deed for two hundred acres of prime land to Wu Zhe’s parents and retrieved five hundred taels of silver from the accounts, giving them to Wu Zhe’s parents and wife. I informed them that Wu Zhe died on a mission due to banditry. The expenditure for Wu Zhe’s funeral will be fully covered by the Duke’s Mansion. Wu Zhe’s wife is due in February, and at least she will have an heir. So, Miss, please don’t feel too sad!” said Lu Ping.
Bai Qingyan nodded, looking a bit weary: “Thank you, Uncle Ping…”
Lu Ping knew why Wu Zhe had died, naturally, he also knew about the Southern Frontier battlefield. His eyes reddened.
Seeing Bai Qingyan in this state, Lu Ping, being a rough person, didn’t know how to comfort her. He only said: “Miss, Qin Shangzhi said Miss has an extraordinary vision. Where he sees ten steps, Miss sees ninety-nine steps. He also said if Miss were a man, the Bai family’s glory could continue for at least three more generations! I believe what he said! Although the Duke and others have… have left, Miss, you must hold on.”
Bai Qingyan never expected to receive praise from Qin Shangzhi. This man had always been arrogant about his talents. She hadn’t heard of him complimenting many people in her past life.
“I know, Uncle Ping, don’t worry. I will hold on!”
Being reincarnated and experiencing it twice, if she couldn’t hold on, it would betray Heaven’s good will in letting her return.
Seeing Chun Tao bringing Chen Qingsheng from the rockery, Lu Ping finally bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan and withdrew.
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Chen Qingsheng met Lu Ping at the rockery steps, exchanged polite greetings, then hurried to the pavilion.
“Miss!” Chen Qingsheng greeted.
“Today is New Year’s Eve, originally you should be with your family. But I have an urgent task that requires someone trustworthy, so forgive me for burdening you!” She held onto the hand warmer, eyes downcast, voice hoarse.
