Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 444 - 441: Elixir_1

Chapter 444: Chapter 441: Elixir_1

"Eldest Young Lady, just now, Kid told me in the carriage that Lu Yuanpeng and his group of playboys have enlisted and gone to the Northern Frontier! I think they should be among the new troops stationed at the border when we returned!" Bai Jinzhi said cheerfully.

"That’s right!" Bai Jinse obediently replied. "When Lu Yuanpeng left, it caused quite a stir. A large group of their playboy friends in the Capital all went to the military camp! Later, Lord Shoushan and Patrol Camp Commander Fan Yuhuai both went to the Prime Minister Lu’s residence, asking him to take control of Lu Yuanpeng. Several officials even went to the military camp to take their children back. But Lu Yuanpeng righteously said it was everyone’s duty to defend the country, citing that even the daughters of the Bai family were risking their lives at the front lines for the nation. How could these high-ranking officials, who lived off the common people’s taxes, intend to keep their own passionate sons at home to embroider and get married?"

Bai Jinzhi’s eyes widened upon hearing this: "That playboy Lu Yuanpeng could say something like that?"

After thinking about it, Bai Jinzhi felt something was odd and furrowed her brow: "Why do I feel that Lu Yuanpeng’s words imply that our Bai family daughters should be at home embroidering and getting married?"

Bai Jinxiu covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed softly: "But Lu Yuanpeng’s words did change the public’s perception of these playboys in Dadu City. Even the Emperor praised them as impassioned young men of Jin Kingdom, despite their frivolities."

"Later, those who used their power to forcibly retrieve their children from the military camp quickly sent them back! It was all in vain, as Prime Minister Lu had to apologize to each of them," Bai Jinse said, recalling the scene with a smile.

Although Lu Yuanpeng enjoyed frolicking, he had a good heart beneath his carefree demeanor. Otherwise, the sons of the Bai family wouldn’t have been close to him.

Seeing that they were about to reach the small courtyard, Wei Zhong quickly stepped forward and lifted the Tianpeng’s curtain for Bai Qingyan and her party.

The Eldest Princess, with her meticulously combed silver hair, wore a simple gold and jade hairpin and a summer dress from last year, embroidered with osmanthus patterns, making her appear comfortable yet regal. She sat at a stone table in the courtyard, holding a chess piece while observing the board with downcast eyes. The faint sunlight streamed through the leaves, casting a hazy glow on the white porcelain vase with a few stems of osmanthus nearby.

Compared to their last meeting, the Eldest Princess seemed much thinner. Perhaps her vegetarian diet had taken its toll, hollowing her cheeks and deepening her eye sockets.

Bai Qingyan led her three sisters in, kowtowed respectfully three times to the Eldest Princess, then stood up and asked: "Grandmother, I wish you well! Nanny Jiang said you were ill. Have you recovered?"

The Eldest Princess placed the chess piece back into the box and hoarsely asked: "Did you get hurt during the Northern Frontier expedition? Is your fourth sister’s hand okay?"

"Grandmother, it’s just a minor injury on the back of the hand, nothing serious!" Bai Jinzhi responded as instructed by Bai Qingyan, her eyes bright and innocent, still filled with childishness.

The Eldest Princess looked towards Bai Qingyan, wanting to call her to her side. But seeing her in full battle armor, thinking of her children and grandchildren, guilt gripped her heart, and her hand, clutching the Buddha beads, couldn’t be lifted.

A breeze rustled the leaves. The blue-green tablecloth with spiral patterns on the stone table was lifted at one corner.

The Eldest Princess softly asked: "Kid, how about you?"

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Kid is well in all respects!" Bai Qingyan replied.

The Eldest Princess nodded, then saw Lu Ninghuan lift the bamboo curtain and come out of the side room, holding a black lacquered gold-plated tray with thumb-sized, delicately crafted osmanthus flower pastries and a bottle of long-warmed osmanthus syrup.

Lu Ninghuan greeted everyone with a smile and said: "Today, the eldest young lady and the fourth young lady have returned victorious. The Eldest Princess has specially prepared a pot of osmanthus syrup as wine to congratulate the two young ladies!"

There was no Bai family’s ancestral hall here, nor did she bring the Bai family army on this expedition.

But today, the Eldest Princess seemed to recall the bustling scenes of the Bai family returning victorious, reporting peace and safety to their ancestors.

Bai Qingyan stepped forward, nodded to Lu Ninghuan, and picked up a wine cup from the tray, drinking the osmanthus syrup, then knelt to the Eldest Princess, paying her respects: "Bai family’s eldest daughter Bai Qingyan has returned safely."

Bai Jinzhi’s eyes welled up, remembering the day she saw her seventh brother kneel before their eldest sister, announcing his safe return. She wished every son of the Bai family could come back, kneel before their grandmother, and inform their ancestors of their safe return.

Bai Jinzhi followed suit, stepping forward to drink the sweet osmanthus syrup, then knelt to pay her respects to the Eldest Princess: "Bai family’s fourth daughter Bai Jinzhi has returned safely!"

The Eldest Princess, with tears in her eyes, nodded: "Good! Safe is good!"

Nanny Jiang brought out the tea Lu Ninghuan had brewed, placing soft cushions on the stone stools.

Bai Jinxiu, being pregnant, was given a cup of fragrant osmanthus tea by Nanny Jiang.

"Kid, you take your fourth sister to pick some osmanthus flowers. Your eldest sister is here today! For tonight’s dinner, let Nanny Jiang cook your eldest sister’s favorite osmanthus yam."

The Eldest Princess intentionally sent Bai Jinzhi and Bai Jinse away. Bai Jinzhi understood and nodded, pulling Bai Jinse along: "Alright! It’s been a long time since I had Nanny Jiang’s osmanthus yam, I really miss it!"

After Bai Jinzhi and Bai Jinse left, the Eldest Princess gestured for Lu Ninghuan to sit.

After a moment, the Eldest Princess began with a pained expression: "The Emperor has become more and more reckless!"

Lu Ninghuan stood up and saluted before speaking: "Recently, when I took the Emperor’s pulse, I found his spirit was high, but his pulse seemed strange, like he had consumed cinnabar elixir!"

"Are you saying the Emperor is taking elixir?" Bai Jinxiu exclaimed, looking at Lu Ninghuan.

"Exactly! But elixirs are said to have become popular among aristocratic families in Wei in recent years. They can make one appear healthy and spirited, and there are even claims of prolonged life. While cinnabar is a medicinal substance, when taken in moderate amounts, it can treat heart palpitations, insomnia, epilepsy, and hysteria. However, it is not suitable for regular or prolonged consumption."

The popularity of longevity elixirs actually started in Jin Kingdom. The Eldest Princess’s grandfather, Emperor Wende, died because of these longevity elixirs. After that, the Eldest Princess’s father ascended to the throne and immediately banned the Imperial Family from consuming such elixirs unless needed for illness.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes in deep thought. So, King Liang must have presented the elixir to the Emperor, which earned the Emperor’s favor?

Lu Ninghuan looked at the Eldest Princess before continuing: "If the Emperor keeps taking these elixirs, combined with Xiliang’s aphrodisiac, I’m afraid he won’t last two years."