"I kept these pieces of evidence not really planning to do anything to the General's Mansion. I just wanted to obtain a talisman for the Bai Mansion, for my father, mother, and my two younger brothers."
"Really?" Bai Nianyin looked up in astonishment.
Bai Zheng gave a faint smile. Looking at Bai Nianyin, her clear and bright eyes sparkled like water waves. "Otherwise, does Big Brother think I'm so idle all day that I deliberately pick a fight with the General's Mansion for no reason?
As long as the General's Mansion doesn't provoke the Bai Mansion or me, I, Bai Zheng, hereby promise Big Brother that I won't have any ill intentions towards the General's Mansion!"
Hearing this, Bai Nianyin's eyes were filled with complexity.
He looked at his younger sister in front of him. Although her tone was light and she seemed calm and composed when speaking, the words she said carried great weight and were trustworthy.
Suddenly, he had a teasing thought. "What if I insist on taking Nianjin away today?"
Bai Zheng took a step forward and stood beside him. They both looked at the carriage not far away that carried Bai Nianjin.
"Big Brother, if you insist on taking Nianjin away today, it means you completely disown me as your sister.
You should know that even though I'm just a young lady from the minor Minister's Mansion, I already have the ability to make the General's Mansion deserted.
One day when I marry into the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion and become the Marquis's wife, do you think the current General's Mansion still has the qualification to negotiate with me?"
Bai Zheng's words, a combination of soft persuasion and stern warning, shattered all of Bai Nianyin's psychological defenses.
He looked at Bai Zheng speechlessly and suddenly felt that everyone in the world was blind.
People all said that the two daughters of the Bai family were a pair of gems in Yongding City.
But the third young lady of the Bai family, Bai Zheng, who had always had a bad reputation for being talentless, immoral, and ugly, was actually the most powerful one in the Bai family!
Bai Nianyin heaved a deep sigh. He suddenly felt extremely exhausted.
Maybe he really shouldn't have returned to Yongding. This was not the place for him.
He should have listened to his father and returned to the battlefield. That was where an eagle like him could spread his wings and soar, and where he could realize his value as a son of the Bai family.
He lowered his head, his voice full of vicissitudes. "Since that's the case, what does Zheng'er want Big Brother to do?"
The corners of Bai Zheng's lips curled up slightly. She said loudly, "Let Nianjin go, and let Zheng'er go to take care of Uncle."
Since the Bai Mansion must send a junior to the General's Mansion to take care of the patient, no one was more suitable than herself. It would be the most reassuring.
Bai Nianyin pursed his thin lips tightly. Obviously, he was still hesitating.
Bai Zheng knew what he was hesitating about. The curve of her lips deepened. She continued to persuade him, "Big Brother only promised the General's Mansion that he would take someone back from the Bai Mansion, but he didn't specify who. So if it's Zheng'er who goes, it shouldn't be considered that Big Brother is going back on his promise."
Bai Nianyin's black eyes tightened slightly. He was in a restless mood.
Actually, he had promised Bai Di and Bai Sheng that he would take Bai Nianjin back.
But just as Bai Zheng said, now that he knew the true nature of these two younger sisters, if he still took Nianjin there and something happened to Nianjin, wouldn't he, as an elder brother, become an accomplice?
Anyway, it was only said publicly that someone from the Bai Mansion would be taken to the General's Mansion. It didn't matter who it was.
But...
"Isn't Zheng'er also in danger if she goes?"
Bai Nianyin said worriedly.
The sudden concern from the other side made Bai Zheng a little slow to react. She was slightly stunned and stared blankly at Bai Nianyin. After digesting the words, she suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at!"
Bai Zheng's eyes curved into a crescent. "Is Big Brother concerned about me?"
Bai Nianyin blushed. He said angrily, "How dare I! Zheng'er is different now. She doesn't need Big Brother anymore."
Bai Zheng shook her head with a smile. She said seriously, "Zheng'er will always be Big Brother's younger sister. How could she not need Big Brother? Not to mention the long - term things, in a few days when Zheng'er gets married, she will still trouble Big Brother to send her off!"
Bai Nianyin looked at the star - like eyes on the woman's face in front of him. He nodded and was about to agree when he suddenly thought of something. He couldn't help teasing her.
"What's this about sending the bride off or not? You're a young lady. It's really not shy of you to always talk about such things!"
"Big Brother is not an outsider. There's nothing to be shy about in front of family." Bai Zheng said indifferently.
The two looked into each other's eyes and both smiled understandingly.
A gentle breeze blew, bringing the fragrance of gardenias from somewhere. Bai Nianyin took a light sniff and felt refreshed all over.
He took Bai Zheng to the carriage. Ignoring the coachman's obstruction, he helped Bai Nianjin out of the carriage.
"Sister?" Bai Nianjin was not an ignorant child after all. At the age of twelve, he obviously had noticed something strange about the matter of taking care of the patient from Bai Zheng's performance just now. He frowned stubbornly and looked at Bai Zheng. He just refused to get on the horse that Bai Zheng had brought.
Bai Zheng tried to persuade him kindly. "Taking care of the patient has always been a matter for daughters. As the eldest son of the Bai Mansion, you bear all the hopes of our father and mother. How can you do such a small thing?
Your teacher has always had a bad temper and doesn't allow you to miss your daily lessons.
You just said that you asked for a few days' leave to send your sister off when she got married, and it made him so angry. If you ask for leave again because of taking care of the patient, do you think he will agree?"
"Sister, I'm not a child anymore!" Bai Nianjin interrupted Bai Zheng's nagging. His still - immature but handsome face was full of firm calmness. He said word by word, "I'm the eldest son of the Bai Mansion and the legitimate grandson of the Bai family. What matter of the elders of the Bai family shouldn't I go for?
You're a girl, sister. How can a girl do the hard work of taking care of the patient? A girl should just stay at home every day happily thinking about what rouge and powder to buy!"
Bai Zheng didn't expect that this twelve - year - old younger brother of hers actually had quite a heroic spirit. She suddenly felt a warm feeling in her heart and smiled.
"Sister still has a few days to take care of the patient as a daughter of the Bai Mansion. After I get married in the future, I won't have such a chance. Just let sister do it this time. Besides, Big Brother is here. Sister won't be too tired."
As Bai Zheng said, she gently nudged Bai Nianyin with her elbow. Bai Nianyin smiled but didn't say a word.
Seeing this, Qing Shao advised, "Young Master, don't worry. Qing Shao is here. With Qing Shao protecting the young lady, the young lady definitely won't be tired!"
Bai Zheng frowned. She originally wanted Qing Shao to escort Bai Nianjin back.
But then she saw that Bai Nianjin's expression began to loosen because of Qing Shao's words. She also remembered that there were secret guards from the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion protecting in the dark. Bai Nianjin didn't have to be afraid of those hidden attacks on the way back.
So she nodded and also said, "Qing Shao will go with you. Nianjin can ride a horse. Should be able to go back by himself, right?"
Seeing that things had come to this, Bai Nianjin knew that it was useless to object anymore. He reluctantly exhorted Qing Shao and Bai Nianyin several times to protect Bai Zheng's safety. Then he mounted the horse and left, looking back frequently.
Seeing Bai Nianyin leave, Bai Zheng neatly put down the carriage curtain. "Let's go!"
Qing Shao rode the horse and followed behind the carriage. They galloped all the way towards the General's Mansion.