Chapter 259: Chapter 257: Standing Tall_1 Chapter 259: Chapter 257: Standing Tall_1 The sound of horse hooves in the morning drew closer and closer. Mrs. Dong’s eyes filled with tears, blurring her view of her daughter’s valiant figure.

“It’s good to be back! It’s good to be back!” Mrs. Li, the third lady, watched her daughter trailing behind Bai Qingyan. She laughed and cried, pressing a handkerchief to her chest. She turned to her sisters-in-law and said, “Finally, they are back! I can finally rest my heart!”

The Bai family’s fifth, sixth, and seventh young ladies ran down the steps, waving with tears in their eyes at Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi in the distance. They shouted without any lady-like decorum, “Eldest Young Lady!” “Fourth Sister!”

As they drew closer to the Bai Mansion, the emotions churning in Bai Qingyan’s heart grew more bittersweet.

She had never felt such an overwhelming longing to return home.

Seeing her three sisters waving nonstop, and the beaming Lu Ping, Bai Qingyan hastily pulled on the reins, swiftly dismounted from the horse.

Bai Jinzhi followed suit, dismounting and looking at their mother, who was covering her mouth and weeping yet had a hint of a smile in her eyes. She choked out, “Mother…”

Lu Ping hurried forward to take Bai Qingyan’s horse, her eyes red. “Young Mistress! It’s good to see you back safe and sound!”

Bai Qingyan nodded, handed the red tassel spear to Lu Ping, and led Bai Jinzhi to the gate. They kneeled solemnly and bowed deeply to the women of the Bai family standing at the entrance.

With red-rimmed eyes, she looked up and said, “Mother, Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Fifth Aunt! Bai Qingyan has upheld the Bai family’s honor, successfully won the battle in the southern frontier, and brought Fourth Sister back safely!”

“Bai Jinzhi, the fourth daughter of the Bai family, has also returned safely!” Bai Jinzhi was also teary-eyed.

Mrs. Dong, looking at her daughter shining brilliantly in the morning light, let her tears flow freely, “Good! Good!”

She wondered if her husband, Bai Qishan, could see that today, their daughter returned victorious, just as he had once done!

Did her husband see that their daughter protected the people of the frontier that he had fought so hard to defend?

Was her husband proud of their daughter?

Kneeling before the main gate of the Bai Mansion, Bai Qingyan looked at Mrs. Dong and began choking up, “Mother, Kid brought back Father, but because the war is still ongoing, I buried him at Tianmen Pass, the place he spent his life defending!”

Mrs. Dong could no longer hold back her tears. She bit her lip and cried out, nodding vigorously.

The southern frontier was indeed the place Bai Qishan had spent his life defending.

There was already a cenotaph for Bai Qishan in Dadu City. She believed that rather than bringing her husband’s remains back, before the Bai family’s multi-generational wish for a unified world was fulfilled, he would prefer to stay at Tianmen Pass, guarding the frontier people.

“Who says our Bai family has no place in Dadu City from now on? Even if the men of the Bai family are gone, the women still remain!” Mrs. Qi, the fifth lady, looked at Bai Qingyan with tears in her eyes and a smile. She tightly clutched her handkerchief, her voice rising. “Our Bai family still stands tall!”

Bai Jinxiu, who had been standing beside Mrs. Liu, couldn’t hold back any longer. She ran down the high steps, knelt, and hugged Bai Qingyan tightly. “Eldest Young Lady!”

Qin Lang saw Bai Qingyan in her military attire and couldn’t help but remember the scene when he had sent her off to battle in the past. The daughters of the Bai family, each one of them, held their heads high.

Though the sons of the Bai family were no longer there, Bai Qingyan remained… She could still uphold the honor of the Bai family.

Though Bai Qingyan’s heart was noble and her spirit unyielding, she was not a suitable match for him.

Qin Lang’s gaze fell on Bai Jinxiu. How fortunate he was to marry a woman like her. He should cherish her.

During the time Bai Qingyan had been in the southern frontier, Bai Jinxiu had worried endlessly. Now, seeing her eldest sister return safely, she could no longer hold back her tears. “Eldest Young Lady, were you injured?!”

“No… I wasn’t hurt. Little Fourth stayed by my side, protecting me!” Bai Qingyan raised her hand to wipe the tears off Bai Jinxiu’s face.

Bai Jinxiu then wrapped her arms around Bai Jinzhi. “It’s good to be back! It’s good to be back!”

“Eldest Young Lady!”

“Eldest Young Lady!”

“Eldest Young Lady!”

The Bai family’s fifth, sixth, and seventh young ladies ran over.

The sisters knelt together in a group, the younger ones crying uncontrollably.

Though they were clearly happy, they could not stop their tears and sobs.

“Alright, alright! Why are you all crying at the gate? Quickly, get up, let your Eldest Young Lady and Little Fourth go in to wash and change! We’ll sit and talk after that!” Mrs. Liu, the second lady, wiped her tears with a handkerchief and came down the high steps. She personally helped Bai Jinxiu and Bai Qingyan up.

The loyal servants, maids, and nannies of the Bai Mansion all gathered inside the gate. Seeing the Young Mistress and Fourth Young Lady return, they were overjoyed.

Bai Qingyan looked toward the direction of the Fourth Aunt. She saw that within two months, Mrs. Wang seemed to have aged by decades. Her once bright eyes were now dull, her back slightly hunched, and she held Buddha Beads, looking detached and indifferent, like still water.

Grieving for the loss of her husband and son, Mrs. Wang had always been frail. If not for her two young daughters, she might have already joined her husband and son. This time, Bai Qingyan brought news that Bai Qingjue was still alive, hoping it would give Mrs. Wang strength.

“Quick! Let’s go back and talk!” Mrs. Dong came down the steps and grasped her daughter’s hand, squeezing tightly. Feeling the calluses in her daughter’s palm, her eyes reddened even more. “Let’s go home!”

“Yes!” Bai Qingyan nodded.

Yingshuang, who had come with Bai Jinxiu, saw the Eldest Young Lady looking at her. She grinned at Bai Qingyan and pulled out some candy she had saved for a long time from her pocket. “Eldest Young Lady, have some candy!”

“You silly girl!” Nanny Luo couldn’t help but smile, tapping Yingshuang on the head.

In Qinghui Courtyard,
Nanny Tong was in the courtyard, overseeing the maids and servants as they cleaned.

“Move faster! The Eldest Young Lady will be back soon! We need to make sure she returns to a spotless courtyard!”

Chun Tao was in the small kitchen, personally stewing bird’s nest soup for Bai Qingyan. She fanned the fire and, hearing the commotion outside, came out of the kitchen. Seeing it wasn’t Bai Qingyan entering the courtyard, she returned to the kitchen, anxiety filling her heart, wondering if the Eldest Young Lady was injured.

Every time the Eldest Young Lady returned from battle, she was covered in wounds.

Especially that one year, although she returned victorious, she had been carried back to Qinghui Courtyard unconscious. Chun Tao had been scared out of her wits.

“Oh, heavenly gods, bless the Eldest Young Lady with safety and no injuries! If my wish is granted, I, Chun Tao, am willing to give ten years of my life and eat vegetarian forever…”

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She had recited this prayer countless times from Bai Qingyan’s departure until now.

“Nanny Tong! The Eldest Young Lady is back! The Eldest Young Lady is back! She’s already at the Chuihua gate! She will be at Qinghui Courtyard soon!”

A young maid, sent by Nanny Tong to wait for news at the front courtyard, joyfully rushed in, shouting.

Qinghui Courtyard instantly became as lively as hot oil poured into water.

“What is all this commotion?!” Nanny Tong contained her joy, deliberately putting on a stern face as she scolded.