Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 83 - 82: The Loyal Soul of the National Scholar_1

Chapter 83: Chapter 82: The Loyal Soul of the National Scholar_1

Bai Qingxuan repeatedly thought about King Xin’s attitude towards the Bai family. After a long time, he finally made up his mind and nodded. “Alright! Mother, pack our things now. The Bai family’s men have all died. Such a large funeral won’t have time to take care of us! Pick some valuable items and smuggle them out over the next few days. Once I’ve recovered sufficiently, we’ll leave!”

Seeing that her son had made up his mind, the woman nodded repeatedly. “I will prepare right away!”

•

Lady Wang, who had always been frail, was determined to stay with her son’s coffin despite anyone’s persuasion. She clung to the coffin tightly, refusing to let go.

As a mother herself, Mrs. Dong understood Lady Wang’s feelings. She ordered someone to bring a fire basin and draped a thick fox fur cloak over Lady Wang to ward off the cold.

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It wasn’t until Lady Wang fainted from exhaustion that Mrs. Dong had her carried back.

...

Late at night, Bai Qingyan persuaded her mother and several aunts to rest. The seven sisters knelt vigilantly by the coffin throughout the night. Bai Qingxuan, however, Bai Qingyan had sent someone to fetch him, but he claimed to have a persistent high fever and worsening wounds and refused to come.

Although the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Sisters were young, their immense grief and sorrow turned into strength, supporting them as they knelt by the coffins, waiting silently for the souls of their grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers to return.

The darkness before dawn was the deepest and coldest. Despite being wrapped in a fox fur cloak, the chill had already crept up Bai Qingyan’s waist.

The flickering candlelight made a slight popping sound. She saw the Seventh Sister Bai Jinse swaying and gently opened her fox fur cloak to embrace the now-sleeping Bai Jinse, wrapping her snugly. She asked Chun Tao to stir the coals in the fire basin to make the fire burn brighter.

Bai Jinxiu protected the drowsy Fifth Sister as well, instructing someone to bring a quilt to cover the Fifth and Sixth Sisters.

“Fourth Sister, you are injured. Go to sleep!” she said to Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi knelt on the mat, silently shaking her head. All the men in the family were gone, and they couldn’t even retrieve their bodies. How could she sleep?

Bai Jinzhi’s thoughts were written all over her face. Seeing her eyes reddened, Bai Jinxiu felt deeply pained. She lowered her eyes and said softly, “Since we haven’t seen the bodies of our uncles and brothers, everything still has room to turn around. Isn’t that… also a kind of hope?”

Tears welled up in Bai Jinzhi’s eyes as she looked at her eldest sister. She wiped her tears with her sleeve, and a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her heart. She nodded with a choked voice, saying, “Yes!”

As dawn broke, commoners had already come to the Duke’s mansion to pay their respects. Some came to watch the excitement, hoping to see any prominent figures coming to offer condolences.

The morning light penetrated the white mist, reflecting on the snow-covered blue bricks and green tiles.

A luxurious carriage with elm wood inlaid in brass stopped in front of the Duke’s mansion.

Xiao Rongyan’s guard took a stool and helped him down from the carriage.

He lifted his robe and walked calmly up the high steps of the Duke’s mansion, removing his cloak and handing it to the guard standing to the side. Under Bai Qingyan’s slightly surprised gaze, he respectfully bowed to the twenty-some memorial tablets of the Bai family.

Mrs. Dong and the children returned the courtesy.

The handsome and elegant young man, dressed in a white robe, looked all the more noble and extraordinary.

His gaze turned to Bai Qingyan, then he calmly and solemnly bowed deeply to Mrs. Dong. His eyes were warm and profound. “The Duke, the Crown Prince, and all the gentlemen of the Bai Mansion are heroes of the Jin Kingdom. Although I, Xiao, am a Wei person, I feel deeply moved! I hope the Crown Princess can hold back her grief. The loyal souls of national heroes live in the people’s hearts.”

Mrs. Dong, unable to hold back her tears because of the words “the loyal souls of national heroes live in the people’s hearts,” solemnly returned the bow to Xiao Rongyan. “Thank you for your comforting words, Mr. Xiao.”

Xiao Rongyan returned the bow and looked at Bai Qingyan. “Miss Bai, my condolences.”

She straightened her spine, slightly bowed her head, and half-closed her eyes. Her long lashes, like fans, concealed a sharpness that was hidden beneath her seemingly fragile demeanor.

The Bai family’s steward invited Xiao Rongyan to the rear hall and ordered someone to serve tea. Xiao Rongyan had just lifted his cup when he heard that the two renowned scholars of the time, Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong, had come to pay their respects.

Mr. Cui Shiyan and Mr. Guan Yongchong were close friends of the Duke of Zhen, Bai Weiting. Now that Bai Weiting had suddenly passed away, how could his two dear friends not come to mourn?

The two elders were advanced in years, especially Mr. Cui Shiyan, who was over seventy. Supported by the family servants and Mr. Guan Yongchong, he trembled as he stepped over the threshold, shedding tears as he called out, “Buyu,” unable to control his sobs. “Buyu, I am seven years older than you, yet I have not passed on. How could you leave before me…”

“Buyu” was the courtesy name of her grandfather, Bai Weiting.

Her grandfather aspired to return peace to the people, to establish peace in the world, and swore unwavering commitment to this goal until his death.

She clenched her fist tightly and knelt heavily in gratitude, tears that had been suppressed in her eyes flowed freely, something rising straight up to her throat, blocking any sound from escaping.

The mourning hall, which had resembled a dead lake, was filled with cries due to Mr. Cui Shiyan’s tearful exclamation. Even the commoners outside began to wail.

Xiao Rongyan stood under the corridor, seeing the two literary giants, the erudites of the era, bowing to the Bai family’s widows. Bai Qingyan’s return of… was a master’s bow.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. Could it be that this eldest Miss Bai was actually a disciple of the two erudites?!

Guan Yongchong helped Bai Qingyan up, his red-rimmed eyes looking at her and nodding repeatedly. Recently, he had heard a bit about Bai Qingyan’s deeds, which moved his heart greatly.

When Bai Qingyan was four, she had been a cute and small little girl. His dear friend, Bai Weiting, holding his young daughter’s hand, had brought her to his little hermitage in the forest to ask him to teach her literature.

He had said, “A woman’s virtue lies in being unlearned. Why trouble her with studies?”

The morning light had filtered through the densely packed leaves, rustling in the breeze.

His dear friend had smiled lightly, patting his daughter’s head. His voice was gentle. “Learning to understand courtesy, virtue, righteousness, and shame! I do not wish for my granddaughter to be renowned throughout the world. I only hope she knows courtesy, virtue, righteousness, and shame; to be a person of integrity, who is unashamed when standing between heaven and earth.”

Honorable, magnanimous!

Loving and protecting the people, knowing courtesy and virtue, and understanding shame and righteousness. Bai Qingyan had done exceptionally well.

Mr. Cui Shiyan nodded tearfully, as if in comfort or perhaps regret. “Your grandfather did not misjudge you. You have indeed grown into what he hoped for you…”

She could not hide her choking, bowing again in respect.

“Good child! Take care of… your grandmother, mother, and sisters!” Guan Yongchong’s voice was thick with sorrow.

She nodded in agreement.

News of the two literary Titans coming to the Bai family to pay respects spread. Nobles from prestigious families gradually came to offer their condolences. The once dead-silent Duke of Zhen’s mansion now echoed with the sounds of mourning, with elegant carriages coming one after another.

The elderly Marquis of Dingyong arrived with his entire family. Just one mention of “Brother Buyu” had him in tears.

Bai Qingyan bowed in return. As soon as she straightened up, she saw Chun Tao, lifting her skirt, hurriedly squeezing past people to her side, panting. In a low, suppressed voice, she said, “Miss Bai! Lu Ping has sent a message. Ji Tingyu has returned!”