Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 343 - 340: Pingan Returns to the Capital_1

Chapter 343: Chapter 340: Pingan Returns to the Capital_1

In her heart, Mr. Cui and her grandfather were the same type of person. They were the ones who could stand tall with a clear conscience and look no one in the face with shame. She could not emulate the demeanor and bearing of their generation, but she respected and admired them deeply from the bottom of her heart.

That day, Mr. Cui’s words had cleared up Bai Qingyan’s doubts.

"I understand now. I won’t speak recklessly again."

As soon as Bai Jinzhi finished speaking, Bai Qingyan sensed a sharp sound breaking through the air from behind her. Her scalp tightened as she quickly pulled Bai Jinzhi and bent down to dodge.

A stone wrapped in paper grazed Bai Jinzhi’s back and fell on the steps, rolling down.

Bai Jinzhi drew her long whip from her waist and swiftly positioned herself in front of Bai Qingyan to protect her.

The guards who followed Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi drew their swords in response, with one group guarding the steps below and another quickly rushing up the higher steps.

Bai Qingyan saw a shadow dart into the distant forest and disappear, her gaze falling on the stone wrapped in paper rolling down the steps.

Bai Jinzhi noticed and focused her attention on the stone. She quickly stepped down a few levels to pick up the stone, unwrapping it to reveal the crumpled paper inside.

Holding the wrinkled paper, she hastily stepped over to Bai Qingyan and handed it to her. "Eldest Young Lady..."

"Eldest Young Lady, please meet at the Qing Temple on the northern peak of Anyu Mountain."

The handwriting belonged to Bai Qingjue.

Bai Qingyan’s heartbeat quickened. She quickly crumpled the paper and tightly clenched it in her palm.

Bai Jinzhi’s emotions surged, her eyes turning red. "Eldest Young Lady, it’s..."

Bai Qingyan firmly grasped Bai Jinzhi’s hand, signaling for her to stay calm. She said calmly, "Let’s go!"

Bai Jinzhi bit her lip and remained silent, striving to control her expression to avoid showing her emotions.

Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan into the carriage. Only then did Bai Jinzhi hear the Eldest Young Lady say, "Since we have come to Anyu Mountain, let’s go to the Qing Temple to see if Third Sister has improved. I’ve heard the Haitang flowers at Anyu Temple are quite beautiful. Let’s bring a branch or two back for Grandmother."

Bai Jinzhi mounted her horse with a leap, gripping the reins tightly, and said, "To the Qing Temple..."

Inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan unwrapped the paper again, placed it on the table, and smoothed out every wrinkle with her hand, feeling a lump in her throat.

She should have burned this message immediately. Yet Ah Jue had no way of meeting the Fourth Aunt now. This was proof that Ah Jue was alive, and she wanted to at least let the Fourth Aunt see it once.

She folded the paper carefully, placed it close to her heart, and closed her eyes, her lashes already damp.

At the entrance of the Qing Temple, Bai Qingyan got off the carriage and instructed Chun Tao and the guards to wait outside. She and Bai Jinzhi went inside to see Bai Jintong.

The Qing Temple, located on the northern peak of Anyu Mountain, was a place where the presence of men was conspicuous. However, with the Haitang flowers in bloom and occasional scholars and literati coming for outings, it was not unusual.

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi walked around their grandmother’s retreat courtyard before exiting through the back door of the Qing Temple. They followed hidden marks leading to a secluded pavilion on the northern peak.

Bai Jinzhi looked up and saw in the pavilion, a tall figure in blue-gray robes, standing with hands behind, the figure was upright. She wanted to call out but felt her throat choked, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Bai Qingyan paused, her eyes reddened, and a sour feeling welled up in her eyes and nose. The mist blurred her vision.

Seeing the living Bai Qingjue so close, she profoundly felt that he was truly alive.

Unlike Bai Qingyun, who had been rescued from Qiushan Pass, covered in blood and injuries. Bai Qingjue, with his tall and slender figure standing at the high place, seemed as if he had never experienced life or death and destruction. He was still the dazzling scholar of the Bai family in Dadu, as if... everything from before had been just a nightmare for Bai Qingyan.

She gritted her teeth, her hands sweaty and tightly gripping her skirt, stepping towards the pavilion.

"Eldest Young Lady, be careful!" Bai Jinzhi quickly supported the stumbling Bai Qingyan.

Hearing the sound, Bai Qingjue turned sharply and hurried to the pavilion entrance. He spotted his eldest sister Bai Qingyan at the steps. His eyes turned hot, and he rushed down. Stopping two steps from her, he lifted his robes and knelt with a solemn bow, no longer able to hold back his tears.

It was said that a true man didn’t easily shed tears. But facing his eldest sister, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Looking up, Bai Qingjue’s travel-worn face did nothing to mar his handsome features. His throat moved up and down as he choked out, "Eldest Young Lady..."

She had thought she would never hear that address again.

It should have been a moment of joy, but her heart felt stifled and pained as if cut by a blunt knife.

She gazed at Bai Qingjue’s firm features, bearing a close resemblance to their Fourth Uncle. The once free-spirited youth of the Bai family had now grown into a resolute and strong man.

Despite the great disaster, his vigor remained undiminished.

Through life and death, his unyielding character persisted.

This... was the true man of the Bai family!

She released Bai Jinzhi’s hand and leaned forward to help Bai Qingjue up.

Bai Qingjue grasped her calloused hand, feeling a heart-wrenching pain. He did not rise but tightly held her hand, looking up at her reddened eyes. "Bai family’s Seventh Scholar of the Youlong Cavalry Camp... Bai Qingjue, has returned safely."

At once, her tears poured forth like a spring.

When her grandfather returned from war safely, the first thing he did was lead the Bai family to offer incense to their ancestors, letting every Bai descendant inform them of their safe return.

Now, only Bai Qingjue had returned.

It wasn’t at the Bai family’s ancestral hall, but for Bai Qingjue... wherever family was, was the Bai family!

Where there were relatives to hear, the ancestors would hear as well.

"Eldest Young Lady, I couldn’t return in time to protect Fifth Brother. I didn’t... protect Fifth Brother." Bai Qingjue bit his teeth hard, feeling a heavy burden on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

On the battlefield, the one who most needed protection was not him, but the true heir of the Bai family... the Princely Heir of the Duke’s Residence, Bai Qishan’s son, Bai Qingyu!

Hearing Bai Qingjue mention A Yu, her heart felt torn apart, the pain spreading to her bones.

She tightly grasped Bai Qingjue’s hand, bent down, and embraced him, lightly patting his back. Her voice hoarse, she said, "You and A Yun being alive, Eldest Young Lady... Eldest Young Lady is already very relieved. At least my Bai family’s men did not all perish in the southern border! Being alive is good enough..."

"Seventh Brother!" Bai Jinzhi knelt beside Bai Qingjue, crying out his name and hugging him tightly, sobbing until she couldn’t breathe.

"Fourth Sister..." Bai Qingjue embraced Bai Jinzhi, closing his eyes but unable to stop his tears.

Kneeling on the ground, Bai Qingjue let his guard down in the embrace of his loved ones and couldn’t hold back his grief any longer. He bit his lip to suppress his sobs, but his tears still soaked the eldest sister’s clothes.

The three siblings cried together for a long time before sitting in the pavilion, listening to Bai Qingjue recounting the events in the southern border.

Bai Qingjue and Bai Qingyun were ordered to lead the cavalry through Chuanling, directly attacking Yunjing in Xiliang, catching Xiliang off guard.