The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 387: grave digging
Chapter 387 Grave Digging
The second convoy was even more spectacular than the first. Nearly a hundred high horse-drawn carriages loaded with cargo were covered with oilcloth and tied tightly with hemp ropes. The cover was so tight that it caused a lot of discussion among the people in the capital city. They all said that the Bai family in the capital city had probably sent all the ladies’ dowries back to Shuoyang and really had no intention of coming back.
Back then, when the ladies of the Bai family married into the Bai family, which one didn’t have a long wedding dress, and which one’s dowry didn’t take a whole day to carry around like flowing water?
Especially the Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi. Old Madam Qi loved her daughter like the apple of her eye. It was said that her dowry was not as grand as Mrs. Dong’s, because she was afraid that she would not get more than the Crown Prince’s wife, Mrs. Dong. But secretly, Old Madam Qi gave all the Qi family’s farms and profitable shops to Mrs. Qi, for fear that her daughter would not live comfortably in the Bai family.
The common people lined the streets to watch the Bai family’s mighty convoy of carriages and horses being escorted out of the city by the Bai Mansion’s guards. They could not help but sigh with emotion. The Bai family of Dadu, which had been glorious since Emperor Gaozu until now, ended up leaving Dadu in disgrace after King Bai Weiting and all the men of the Bai Mansion died on the battlefield.
The people of Dadu are always more informed about the news than people in other places. Everyone in Dadu knows that General Zhang Duanrui, who had just returned from Southern Xinjiang, has led his troops to Chunmu Mountain.
Once upon a time, because of the presence of the Bai family in the Duke Zhenguo Mansion, Daliang was intimidated and did not dare to invade for ten years. Now, not long after the departure of King Zhenguo Bai Weiting, Daliang began to stir. Even though the Great Jin Kingdom still had the Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan, it was probably because the Princess Zhenguo was a woman… Daliang did not take it seriously.
Indeed, when Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan returned victorious from southern Xinjiang, there was no sign that the emperor was willing to use her. After all, it was probably because Princess Zhenguo was a girl.
But if the Princess Zhenguo returns to Shuoyang and no longer gets involved in wars, and other countries invade… I wonder which general can protect the country and the people, and which family can be worthy of the title of Zhenguo.
As the Bai family’s carriage team left in a bustling manner, the long street that had been noisy just now became quiet. Although the Bai family’s people were still in the capital city, the departure of such a spectacular carriage carrying goods by the Bai family suddenly gave people a feeling… The capital of the Great Jin Dynasty was no longer as prosperous as it once was, and was already showing signs of decadence.
Seeing that the spectacular convoy of carriages had finally left, people came out in groups of three or four, laughing and chasing after them. The clear and cheerful laughter of young children, who had never known sorrow, dispelled the worries that were about to burst out of people’s hearts. The peddlers shouted at the top of their lungs, and the people who came to watch the fun then dispersed with laughter.
Qin Lang, who was standing by the railing in the private room of Yanque Tower, heard the sounds of the playboys playing in the private room. For some reason, he felt heavy in his heart.
He clenched his hands behind his back. Perhaps it was because the Duke of Zhenguo had lived in Dadu for generations and had guarded the State of Jin, and had been invincible in every battle. They had never feared invasions from other countries. Even when the war was intense at the front, the capital city was still peaceful and prosperous.
Now that the Duke Zhenguo Mansion is gone, even the people in it are leaving Dadu, which makes him inexplicably uneasy.
·
At noon on April 27, Princess Zhenguo’s carriage returned to the city.
Unlike when Princess Zhenguo left the city, she left quietly, but came back with a terrifying scene. Shen Qingzhu led the Bai family guards on horseback to lead the way, and behind them were nearly a hundred guards from the Prince’s Mansion following on horseback. The scene was very grand.
Many people did not know who the visitor was and thought that it was an envoy from some country who had come to Dadu.
The steward of the Princess Zhenguo’s Mansion came with guards to greet them outside the city gate early. When they saw Bai Qingyan’s carriage slowly stop, Butler Hao saw that the eunuch Quan Yu from the Prince’s Mansion had already got off the carriage and stood in front of Bai Qingyan’s carriage in a formal manner to say goodbye to Bai Qingyan. Butler Hao hurriedly came forward with his servants.
Bai Qingyan lifted the curtain and smiled at Quan Yu, saying, “Thank you for your trouble, eunuch. Tomorrow, Bai Qingyan will come to thank the prince in person!”
Butler Hao stepped forward and bowed to Bai Qingyan, then smiled and said to Quan Yu: “Eunuch, you have worked hard. The Princess’ Mansion is grateful. I heard that you like to collect some exquisitely crafted tea sets. Madam has specially ordered this old servant to give this set of tea sets to you. I hope you will not refuse.”
The servant following behind Butler Hao stepped forward and opened the brocade box. Inside was a set of jade tea sets with extremely fine water content. The most valuable thing was that the carvings were unique and exquisite, and it was obvious at first glance that they were not ordinary items.
Quan Yu hastily declined, and then he heard Bai Qingyan speak: “Eunuch, please accept it! The Bai family is now in decline in Dadu… The clan members can bully us, an orphan and a widow, all thanks to the support of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Eunuch Quan Yu also put on a high pedestal in front of the clan members. I know it in my heart! If it weren’t for your carefulness… I’m afraid the clan’s affairs wouldn’t be resolved so smoothly!”
“But this is really too precious! Quan Yu is willing to serve the princess…!” Quan Yu looked at Bai Qingyan seriously.
Quan Yu admired Bai Qingyan from the bottom of his heart, and was indeed willing to do things for Bai Qingyan. He admitted that he was a snob, but his heart was pure. He did not want to have such a financial relationship with Bai Qingyan and turn his pure feelings into a transaction.
Bai Qingyan looked deeply into Quanyu’s serious eyes and nodded: “In this case, I won’t force you. Thank you for your help on this trip… I will remember it in my heart.”
Upon hearing this, Butler Hao asked his servant to put the brocade box away.
Quan Yu hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan and said, “This is all Quan Yu’s job, I don’t deserve the princess’s thanks.”
Watching Bai Qingyan’s carriage enter the city, Quan Yu’s eyes were filled with a gentle smile. He turned around, got on the carriage, and led the team back to the Prince’s Mansion.
Butler Hao followed Bai Qingyan’s carriage and whispered to Bai Qingyan about what happened last night.
“The guards who were guarding the tomb at night caught this girl and saw that she was about to dig up the Sixth Young Master’s tomb. They beat her half to death without any mercy. As soon as the city gates opened this morning, they forced her into the city and sent her to our house. When Madam asked her why she was digging the tomb, she refused to say anything. Madam was so angry that she ordered the servants to keep it a secret from the Third Madam and had the girl sent to the authorities. However, this girl only wanted to dig up the tomb but did not actually do so. The authorities gave her a warning and released her!”
Bai Qingyan opened the curtain and looked at Butler Hao with cold eyes: “Go on…”
“Who knew that the woman would make a scene in front of the government office, saying that she had a elixir that could bring the dead back to life. She didn’t want to dig up the grave, but the Sixth Young Master had done her a favor, and she wanted to save him! The government officials saw that she was talking nonsense and drove her away, but she actually knelt at the gate of our government office, begging to see the eldest lady… She said she could save the Sixth Young Master, and she is still kneeling at the gate now!”
Butler Hao looked up at Bai Qingyan who seemed to be thinking deeply. “There are many people watching the fun. I think… this girl seems to be trying to use the Zhenguo Princess Mansion to make herself famous.”
She was caught when she failed to dig a grave. When Princess Zhenguo’s mother asked her why she was digging a grave, she kept silent. Instead, she made a scene in front of the government office and said that she had a medicine that could bring the dead back to life.
Has anyone guessed who it is?