Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Admit Defeat_1 Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Admit Defeat_1 Li Zhijie’s deep almond-shaped eyes gazed at Bai Qingyan. Lowering his eyes, he said, “I, Li Zhijie, swear by the God of Xiliang, that I have never seen… nor have I ever detained the second young master of the Bai family. The thumb ring sent to the Princess of Zhen’s residence was taken from the hand of the deceased Lu Tianzhuo! If there is any falsehood… my entire clan shall not meet a good end.”

Hearing Li Zhijie’s vow, Bai Jinzhi’s pupils trembled. The hope in her heart was shattered, and the hand holding the longsword weakly fell down.

“So…” Bai Qingyan revealed the unspoken intention behind this setup, “King Yan used a thumb ring to deceive me this time, making me think my second brother was in your hands. It was meant to… make me personally deliver my fourth sister, my weakness, into your hands. If Xiliang ever invades Jin again, you Xiliang will have my weakness, making me afraid to win against Xiliang…”

The Crown Prince’s pupils trembled after hearing Bai Qingyan’s words.

The Crown Prince originally thought that as long as Bai Qingyan didn’t marry into another country, everything would be fine. Now it seemed… not only Bai Qingyan but also the daughters of the Bai family should not marry into other countries.

Otherwise, Bai Qingyan, who valued family ties, would surely leave a future disaster.

“Bah! Even if I had to marry a pig or a dog… I would never marry a Xiliang dog! Even if it means defying the Imperial Edict and slitting my throat, I would never associate with a treacherous, despicable person like Li Zhijie!” Bai Jinzhi, shaking with rage, pointed her sword at Li Zhijie and declared, “Your Highness, be my witness. If anyone tries to force me to death, they can ask His Majesty to grant me a marriage. I, Bai Jinzhi, will make sure they pay with their blood on the spot!”

Today, Li Zhijie was outsmarted by Lu Tianzhuo, ending up with losses instead of gains.

He never thought that Bai Qingyan would make the Crown Prince and the people of Jin Kingdom aware of this incident…

He assumed that Bai Qingyan, considering Bai Qingqiong’s life, wouldn’t dare to publicize it and would come quietly alone.

She did come alone. But unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan had a backup plan. Shortly after her arrival, the Crown Prince and Bai Jinzhi also came.

Bai Qingyan was one move ahead. He conceded.

“Your Highness…” Bai Qingyan solemnly bowed to the Crown Prince, “I trust the Crown Prince. Please, Your Highness, ensure justice for the Bai family.”

The Crown Prince nodded to Bai Qingyan, “Rest assured!”

With the Crown Prince’s firm response, Bai Qingyan led her sister Bai Jinzhi out of the posthouse.

At the entrance of the posthouse, besides the common people, there was also Bai Jinxiu, who had just received the news and had arrived by carriage.

Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were red. Seeing Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi come out, she hurriedly lifted her Moonlit Dress and quickly ascended the steps, choking back tears, “Eldest Young Lady! Is there any news of second brother?!”

Bai Qingqiong was Bai Jinxiu’s full-blooded brother.

Bai Qingyan shook her head and handed the thumb ring to Bai Jinxiu, “Let’s talk about it at home!”

Upon seeing Bai Qingqiong’s thumb ring, Bai Jinxiu’s tears fell like a broken string. She reached out with trembling fingers to take the thumb ring, her eyes wide open as she looked at Bai Qingyan, “Eldest Young Lady…”

When the three sisters returned to the Bai Mansion, Mrs. Dong and the second wife, Mrs. Liu, were already waiting at the door. Especially Mrs. Liu, who was anxious as if she was sitting on needles. Upon hearing that her son was still alive, Mrs. Liu couldn’t help but cry with joy.

Unable to contain herself, she had someone prepare the carriage to go to the posthouse to find out the truth, but Mrs. Dong stopped her, so she stood at the door with her.

When she saw Bai Jinxiu’s carriage return, Mrs. Liu lifted her skirt and came down from the high steps. Seeing Bai Qingyan, she asked, “Kid! Is A Qiong still alive? Was he captured by the people of Xiliang? What conditions are the people of Xiliang planning to demand to threaten the Jin Kingdom?”

Looking at Mrs. Liu, who was full of hope, Bai Qingyan remained silent for a long time. What is more cruel than giving hope to someone in despair and then shattering it again?

“Mother… let’s talk about it inside!” Bai Jinxiu got off the carriage and grabbed Mrs. Liu’s hand.

Mrs. Liu, with tears in her eyes, filled with anticipation and unease, nodded hurriedly. “Yes, yes! Let’s talk about it inside! We’ll talk about it inside!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Mrs. Dong, who was also filled with anticipation, and gently shook her head at her mother. Mrs. Dong’s throat tightened, and tears streamed down like a dam breaking.

Just now, Mrs. Dong was aware of how happy the second daughter-in-law was when she received the news. If this joy turned out to be a false hope, it would be another torture for the second daughter-in-law.

Bai Jinxiu tightly held the thumb ring left by her brother. She decided to leave a glimmer of hope for her mother. She turned her gaze to her eldest sister and nodded slightly to indicate it.

Bai Qingyan nodded, understanding that Bai Jinxiu wanted her to be vague with her words, to leave some hope for the second aunt.

No mother would wish for her child not to be alive. Even if Bai Qingyan spoke vaguely, Mrs. Liu could find clues to believe Bai Qingqiong was still alive.

So, when she told her second aunt that Bai Qingqiong’s thumb ring was given by Li Zhijie’s subordinate, the adopted son of Pang Pingguo, who used the thumb ring in a scheme to kill her but ended up being killed by her, the King Yan of Xiliang did not know Bai Qingqiong’s whereabouts.

Mrs. Liu remained silent for a long time, tightly clutching the handkerchief in her hand, and said, “Maybe… A Qiong has already escaped, so they could only use the thumb ring to set a trap, trying to harm Kid! The worst-case scenario is that Xiliang doesn’t want to hand over A Qiong, planning to use him in the future for some purpose. But it doesn’t matter, as long as A Qiong is still alive…”

Bai Jinxiu grabbed her mother’s hand and nodded, “I believe the heavens will protect our brother! He is intelligent and brave. He must have escaped… but now Dadu City is full of deceit. He must be plotting something in another place. As long as he is alive, we will reunite one day!”

“Yes! You are right…” the second wife, Mrs. Liu, wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

*
Inside the posthouse.

Li Tianfu went mad and smashed everything in the room. When the room finally quieted down, her personal palace maid entered with food and found Li Tianfu had hanged herself. The palace maid was scared out of her wits.

Fortunately, Li Zhijie arrived in time and saved Li Tianfu, but there was a dark purple mark on her neck.

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“Since Princess woke up, she hasn’t said a word. She sat in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees, clutching the earrings Lu Tianzhuo gave her. She couldn’t even cry, as if she had lost her soul. She refused to eat or drink, determined to starve herself to death and follow Lu Tianzhuo…” The personal palace maid, trembling all over, knelt on the ground and reported Li Tianfu’s condition to Li Zhijie.

Dawn was breaking, and the banquet for the Emperor of Jin Kingdom was approaching. How could Li Tianfu attend the banquet in such a state to perform?

Li Zhijie’s temples throbbed, and his wound seemed to reopen. He closed his eyes and pressed on his wound…

Li Zhijie’s mistake was bringing Lu Tianzhuo by his side, completely trusting him and giving him power, despite knowing his identity. In the end, Lu Tianzhuo betrayed him before dying.

The Empress Dowager had long warned Li Zhijie to change his habit of judging people by appearances, but Li Zhijie always let it go in one ear and out the other. This time, Lu Tianzhuo gave him a severe lesson.