Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Asking for Punishment

“All members of the Bai family are loyal and upright, their characters impeccable. Whether men or women, they all stand tall and righteous, embodying a spirit of integrity!”

Occasionally, drunken men would say that a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent and that her main duty is to manage the household and educate the children. But such remarks would quickly be drowned out by the praises sung for the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

The Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

On the third day after her marriage, Second Miss Bai Jinxiu lay at death’s door. She was carried back horizontally to the mansion, causing the whole mansion to be as taut as a drawn bowstring.

Servants and maids moved in and out of the side door in an orderly manner, lighting lanterns without daring to speak loudly.

Second Madam, Mrs. Liu, stayed by Bai Jinxiu’s bedside, clutching her daughter’s cold fingers, tears streaming down as she softly called her daughter’s name.

Imperial Physician Huang, director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, along with Doctor Hong stood outside the partition, discussing the medication for Bai Jinxiu.

The Eldest Princess and other ladies of the Bai Mansion wore heavy expressions as they stayed in Bai Jinxiu’s chamber, waiting for the doctors to reach a conclusion.

Third Miss Bai Jintong, feeling oppressed by the heavy atmosphere, stepped out to catch her breath. She saw Chen Qingsheng, the cousin of Chun Tao, bowing respectfully and speaking in a low voice to Bai Qingyan, who stood under the corridor.

Noticing someone stepping out from the room, Chen Qingsheng immediately stopped speaking and stood respectfully beside Bai Qingyan, giving a salute to Bai Jintong: “Good evening, Third Miss.”

“You may go!” Bai Qingyan said to Chen Qingsheng.

Watching Chen Qingsheng hastily leave after saluting, Bai Jintong walked over to Bai Qingyan and whispered, “That looked like Chun Tao’s cousin. Did Eldest Sister give him some errand?”

Bai Qingyan adjusted her fox fur cloak and walked a few steps down the corridor with Bai Jintong. Chen Qingsheng was someone she intended to have follow Bai Jintong.

She spoke softly, “Chen Qingsheng is very adept at dealing with people. In Dadu City, whether it’s the staff and shopkeepers in teahouses and taverns or the stewards and servants in noblemen’s residences, he can get to know anyone he wants. He has ways to acquire any information. Having him by your side when you go out after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month will surely benefit you.”

“Eldest Sister…” Bai Jintong’s throat choked up as she recalled how candidly Bai Qingyan had spoken to her, analyzing the Bai family’s situation thoroughly. She felt the weight on her shoulders increase immensely.

Earlier, Bai Qingyan had instructed Chen Qingsheng to spread the news about today’s incident at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s Mansion through various teahouses, taverns, and brothels, intending to elevate the reputation of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion even further.

This was a test for Chen Qingsheng. If he handled this well, Bai Qingyan would be confident in placing him by Bai Jintong’s side. Unexpectedly, Chen Qingsheng exceeded her expectations.

Without involving a single person from the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion, he spread the news through his connections, managing to keep himself completely out of it, demonstrating his experienced and efficient methods.

As Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong were talking, they saw a maid rush through the Green Bamboo Pavilion’s courtyard gate and hurry to the maid at the corridor, saying, “Please inform Nanny Jiang that the Princely Heir of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage is outside our mansion, bearing thorns and asking to be let in to apologize. He refuses to come in and is kneeling outside the mansion. The Right Prime Minister’s little grandson and several other young masters are with him, seemingly drunk. We servants don’t know what to do.”