Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Today was Bai Jinxiu's third-day return to her parents' home after marriage. Second Lady, Mrs. Liu, had gotten up early to arrange her daughter's return to the mansion. Although she was sitting in the Eldest Princess's room, her mind was already outside the mansion gate, constantly craning her neck and looking out, waiting for the servants to report that her daughter and son-in-law had arrived.

"Why aren't they back yet at this hour?" Mrs. Liu put down the tea in her hand and turned to send her maid Qingshu to the front to meet them.

Fifth Lady, Mrs. Qi, who was heavily pregnant, couldn't help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and laugh: "Sister-in-law, you're too anxious. Second Sister and her new husband are newlyweds. It's understandable if they got up late. We all have been through this, you know."

"Look at Fifth Sister-in-law, daring to talk recklessly even in front of Mother," Third Lady, Mrs. Li, teased.

Mrs. Dong, sitting below the Eldest Princess, smiled without speaking, just lowering her eyes to touch the jade bracelet on her wrist, feeling a bit uncomfortable as this marriage was supposed to be for her daughter.

The girls of the Bai family were all sitting on small stools, chatting lively.

Bai Qingyan, watching the bustling room, felt both warm and happy inside.

Soon, Qingshu, who was by Mrs. Liu's side, hurriedly stepped into the Changshou Courtyard, followed by Nanny Wu from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion.

Nanny Wu was the most favored nanny of the Marquess. When she saw Nanny Jiang standing under the corridor, she hurriedly walked up to her and bowed: "Old sister..."

"Why did Nanny Wu come today? Did our Second Miss and her husband get up late?" Nanny Jiang politely pulled up Nanny Wu and asked with a smile.

Nanny Wu's face turned even worse. She awkwardly replied: "Our eldest young lady slipped while playing with our mansion's girls yesterday, fell into the lake, and coughed up water. It wasn't serious, but this morning she suddenly developed a fever! So, she won't be able to return today..."

Nanny Jiang was startled inside and quickly said: "Nanny Wu, please wait a moment while I report to the Eldest Princess."

Inside the room, Second Lady Mrs. Liu was so shocked by the news that she stood up: "What?! What is going on with the Qin family?! Jinxiu fell into the lake yesterday, and they only reported it to us today. Are they bullying because our Duke and Jinxiu's father are not around?"

Bai Qingyan gripped the teacup tightly, lifted her eyes to look through the partition at Nanny Wu outside, who was twisting her handkerchief. Instantly, she clenched her teeth in a rage.

In her previous life, the legitimate second daughter of the Chief of Staff to the Ministry of Personnel married into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion. She did not return on the third day, reportedly because she slipped while playing and fell into the lake.

She remembered that the Chief of Staff's legitimate second daughter ended up dying of depression before the age of thirty. She squeezed the teacup hard, her face slightly pale.

Could it be that Bai Jinxiu wouldn't escape this fate even after marrying into the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion?

Bai Qingyan's hand holding the teacup trembled with weakness. She did not know whether it was due to over-exercising in recent days or because she was too angry.

"Second Aunt, don't panic!" Bai Qingyan steadied herself, put down the teacup, and stood up: "Grandmother, let Second Aunt take Doctor Hong to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion to check on Second Sister!"

"But... just married, would it be too arrogant for us from the Zhen Kingdom's Duke's mansion to bring a doctor to the in-laws? Wouldn't the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion resent us?" Fourth Lady Mrs. Wang, who had a docile nature, asked cautiously.

"Second Sister is skilled in martial arts and a good swimmer! Saying she slipped while playing and fell into the lake and choked on water—is that believable? There must be more to it." Bai Qingyan raised her voice, unable to hide her anger, "Grandmother, you and Mother, one is the reigning Eldest Princess, and the other holds a royal title. It is indeed unsuitable for you to take Doctor Hong! But if Second Aunt, out of maternal concern, brings him, then it is not so surprising."

"I want to go too!" Fourth Girl Bai Jinzhi stood up and bowed to the Eldest Princess, "Grandmother, I'm worried about Second Sister! I want to go too!"

"Grandmother, I want to go too!" Third Girl Bai Jintong also stood up.

"I want to go! I want to go!"

Inside the room, several girls clamored to go see Bai Jinxiu.

"Mother!" Second Lady Mrs. Liu's eyes turned red, "Please let me go! I'm worried about Jinxiu!"

The Eldest Princess, with a stern face, fiddled with the sandalwood Buddha beads in her hand. Her second daughter-in-law had an impulsive nature, and the younger children were too young to stay calm. This incident clearly had more to it. Perhaps Bai Jinxiu had suffered some grievances. If more people went... it would also let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion know that the Zhen Kingdom's Duke's mansion was not to be bullied.

She looked towards Bai Qingyan, and after a while, spoke: "Second daughter-in-law, you take a few of our girls to check on Jinxiu. Kid... you go too, to find out what happened. The girls of the Zhen Kingdom's Duke's mansion are not to be wronged at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion! Nanny Jiang, you go with the second daughter-in-law."

Nanny Jiang bowed in acceptance.

Second Lady Mrs. Liu gratefully bowed to the Eldest Princess. Nanny Jiang, to some extent, represented the Eldest Princess. Having Nanny Jiang accompany... would also let the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion know how much the Eldest Princess valued Bai Jinxiu.

Mrs. Dong, hearing that her daughter was to go, quickly said: "Mother, Kid's health..."

"Mother, I am fine. I wouldn't be at ease if you did not let me go to see Second Sister!" Bai Qingyan reassured Mrs. Dong. Her heart was like an oven at the moment. If she did not go, how could she know how Bai Jinxiu was doing, or whether she could stay at the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion?

In the Bai family, Bai Qingyan was the legitimate eldest daughter. When there were no children in the Bai family, Second Lady Mrs. Liu also doted on Bai Qingyan. Naturally, she knew Bai Qingyan's calm and meticulous nature. With Bai Qingyan accompanying... if Bai Jinxiu was reluctant to speak to her mother, she would definitely speak to Bai Qingyan.

Despite her unwillingness, Mrs. Dong still asked Nanny Qin beside her to prepare the carriage and horses.

When Nanny Wu from the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage heard that Second Lady Mrs. Liu was bringing a doctor, along with the girls of the Zhen Kingdom's Duke's mansion, to see Bai Jinxiu, she panicked and quickly said she would return to report back so that their Marchioness could be prepared, then hurriedly left by carriage.

Mrs. Dong returned with Bai Qingyan to Qinghui Courtyard, selected a very dense fur cloak for Bai Qingyan, and tied it for her before sending her out: "Mother didn't want you to go to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion, but you insisted! Once there, don't be too aggressive... otherwise, people will say you are narrow-minded and can't stand seeing Second Sister married to the Princely Heir. Understand?"

"Mother, don't worry! I know what to do!"

At the corner gate of the Zhen Kingdom's Duke's mansion, several spacious and luxurious carriages began to move slowly towards the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion.

·

At the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage's mansion, Second Lady Mrs. Liu saw her daughter lying in bed, pale, and almost fainted with weak knees. She sat by the bed, holding her daughter's hand, calling her name: "Jinxiu! Jinxiu... Mother is here! Open your eyes and look at Mother!"

Nanny Luo, the housekeeper by Mrs. Liu's side, held Mrs. Liu and said with reddened eyes, "Second Lady, let Doctor Hong check on Second Miss first."

Bai Qingyan saw Bai Jinxiu barely breathing, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly in anger, shaking with uncontrollable rage boiling in her blood, wishing she could take a knife and cut down the Marquis's wife, that heartless viper.