Chapter 12: Mother_1

Mrs. Dong's facial features were extremely beautiful and exquisite, exuding an aura of nobility. Her whole demeanor commanded respect without anger.

The two young maids were startled and hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to Madam, the Eldest Young Lady instructed us to take out the sandbags used for martial training when she was little."

Mrs. Dong frowned and, without saying a word, walked toward the main house.

Chun Tao hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain for Mrs. Dong.

Mrs. Dong entered and saw Bai Qingyan leaning against the spring pillow. She removed her cloak and took the food box from a maid, walking towards Bai Qingyan. "Kid, are you tired?!"

After talking so much with Bai Jintong earlier, she was utterly exhausted.

Especially thinking about her grandmother's attitude in protecting the Jin royal family, Bai Qingyan's heart ached unbearably. Given Bai Qingyan's understanding of her grandmother... if she had indeed spoken out in defiance at that time, she would probably have been sent to the family temple by her grandmother, never to see daylight again.

Seeing her mother, Bai Qingyan almost couldn't suppress her surging emotions, nearly bursting into tears. She wanted nothing more than to rush into her mother's arms.

She held back the burning pain in her heart, quickly got up with a smile to greet her: "Such heavy snow, why did you come, mother?"

Supporting Mrs. Dong to sit on the soft couch, she stood by her mother's side, holding her hand without letting go, her eyes reddening. "Second Sister has gotten married. Mother, you have been working hard for so long. Why don't you take a good rest?"

"These days have been busy. Mother hasn't had time to come and accompany Kid!" Mrs. Dong gently stroked her daughter's black hair. "Come, sit down! This is the black chicken soup I made for you!"

Bai Qingyan nodded and sat on the other side of the small table. Watching her mother personally open the food box and place the soup cup in front of her, she used a small spoon to taste a bit. Her long eyelashes drooped, hiding her reddened eyes.

It felt so good that her mother was still there!

Bai Qingyan's nose tingled, and she quickly lowered her head for fear that Mrs. Dong would see her tears falling into the soup.

"Why did you have the young maids in the courtyard take out the sandbags?" Mrs. Dong asked softly.

Bai Qingyan kept her head low, drinking a mouthful of soup as she replied, "My body hasn't been in good shape. I've been bedridden for too long these past two years. I want to move a bit..."

"It's good to want to move around, but it's freezing in winter. You should take it slow! Wait until the spring flowers bloom before getting active again!" Mrs. Dong's brows furrowed as she advised.

When her daughter was young, the Duke raised her like a son. Every day, she wore sandbags to practice military boxing and squatted horse stances, enduring countless hardships.

In those days, when Bai Qingyan was healthy, Mrs. Dong felt heartache for her daughter. Now that Bai Qingyan's body was not well, how could Mrs. Dong have the heart to see her suffer the same hardships she did as a child?

Bai Qingyan felt warmth in her heart. She looked up with a smile. "Mother, I know my limits. I won't exhaust myself. Besides, practicing calligraphy with a wrist sandbag indoors won't make me catch a cold."

"But that's still too taxing! Mother worries you can't handle it..."

Seeing the concern in Mrs. Dong's eyes, Bai Qingyan pretended to be scalded and coughed heavily, tears streaming down her face from the discomfort.

"Hurry, bring a glass of water for your lady!" Mrs. Dong hurriedly got up, walking behind Bai Qingyan to help her breathe. "You've grown so big, how can you choke while drinking soup!"

Bai Qingyan didn't want to worry her mother. She looked up and took the handkerchief Chun Tao handed over, wiping her tears with a smile. "Mother, although I've been injured and my martial arts skills are gone, you can't spoil me like a fragile patient. I am the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhen's mansion. I must set an example for my younger siblings."

This was a phrase the Duke had often said while raising Bai Qingyan.

Mrs. Dong took out a handkerchief to wipe Bai Qingyan's mouth, sighing. "In all of Dadu City... only the daughters of the Duke of Zhen's mansion are so hardworking!"

"But with Mother making soup for me, I don't feel any hardship!" Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong's hand, rubbed her face against it affectionately, and didn't want to let go.

Bai Qingyan had been raised under the care of the Eldest Princess and the Duke of Zhen, growing up with a mature demeanor. Even when she was young, she seldom acted spoiled with Mrs. Dong.

Today, her sudden display of affection and childishness made Mrs. Dong's eyes well up. She laughed softly and tapped Bai Qingyan's forehead with her finger. "The older you get, the more childish you become, acting spoiled with Mother!"

"Mother, no matter how old I get, I am still your daughter..." Bai Qingyan said warmly, though her heart was filled with sadness.

In this life, she would never allow her mother to reach the point of taking her life. She would sacrifice herself if necessary!

All the maids and nannies in the room watched Bai Qingyan's tender display, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs to stifle their laughter.

"I know what you're up to. You must want my permission to act recklessly!" Mrs. Dong shook her handkerchief and sat on the other side of the small table again, pushing the soup in front of Bai Qingyan. "Alright, go ahead and practice if you must. Just remember not to overdo it and don't push yourself too hard!"

Bai Qingyan obediently nodded. "Kid understands."

Mrs. Dong did not see Nanny Tong, who managed Bai Qingyan's room, in the Qinghui Courtyard, so she asked, "Hasn't Nanny Tong come back yet?"

"Nanny Tong's son was seriously injured this time. Before lunch, I had Chun Yan take some Silver to Nanny Tong's home and tell her to return after her son has fully recovered."

Seeing the motherly compassion, Mrs. Dong nodded. "Your room cannot be without a managing nanny. Before Nanny Tong returns…"

"Mother, although Nanny Tong is not here, Chun Tao is calm and experienced enough to be relied upon. I want Chun Tao to gain more experience during this time. Please don't worry about the matters in my room!"

Hearing Bai Qingyan's words, Chun Tao was both surprised and honored. She hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Eldest Young Lady, for your trust. I will live up to your expectations."

Mrs. Dong nodded. "Chun Tao is indeed reliable."

"You flatter me, Madam. I am humbled." Chun Tao became increasingly respectful.

Mrs. Dong glanced at Bai Qingyan, who had a smile at the corner of her lips, and thought of Bai Jinxiu's grand wedding today. Her own daughter's marriage seemed far off, filling her with an unbearable sadness. Afraid that her daughter would notice her sorrow and become upset, Mrs. Dong only stayed a short while before leaving.

The next day, at the early hour of cockcrow, a cleaning maid came out with a wooden basin, yawning. She saw Bai Qingyan practicing horse stance in the courtyard and immediately stopped yawning, bowing in respect. "Eldest Young Lady!"

"Do what you need to do and mind your own business!" Chun Tao instructed.

Bai Qingyan wore thin training clothes, sweat dripping from her chin and steam rising from her head and body. Chun Tao stood by, looking worried but not daring to say a word, constantly wringing the handkerchief in her hands and glancing at the water clock, hoping time would pass quickly.

Bai Qingyan was soaked in sweat, her clothes half-wet. She had been holding the horse stance for half an hour and hadn't even started with the sandbags yet. She seemed to be at her limit.

Now, to regain her lost martial arts skills, Bai Qingyan had to endure the same hardships she did as a child. No matter how difficult, she had to persevere!

In her past life, to be able to fight on the battlefield again, she had endured even greater hardships, nearly losing her life several times, but she survived on sheer hatred.

In this life, with her beloved family still around, even if she had to endure a thousand times more suffering than before, she could bear it and had to. She couldn't be a useless person when the Bai family faced difficulties, only to fight back desperately then.

Heaven had mercy, allowing her and the Bai family to return. It wasn't to let her come back and be mediocre, letting the Bai family fall again.

Bai Qingyan clung to that determination with all her willpower.

When an hour passed, Chun Tao quickly ran up to support Bai Qingyan. "Eldest Young Lady, an hour has passed!"

Bai Qingyan was drenched, her legs weak like jelly. She almost stumbled as she stood up.

"Careful, Eldest Young Lady!" Chun Tao's eyes reddened with heartache.

"Prepare some water!" Bai Qingyan ordered hoarsely.

"Yes…" Chun Tao responded immediately.