Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 483 - 480: Taking a Look_1

Chapter 483: Chapter 480: Taking a Look_1

On a typical day, the eldest young lady had already finished her morning training by this hour and would be calling for water to bathe, never missing a session. But today, she was still asleep, showing how exhausted she was from her journey to the Northern Frontier.

The servants and maids walked on tiptoe, whispering in each other’s ears, afraid to disturb the eldest young lady.

Bai Jinzhi finally returned home and had a good night’s sleep. She woke up feeling refreshed when a small girl from the Boyun Courtyard relayed that Bai Qingyan would be going to the training ground today and asked Bai Jinzhi to prepare and come over.

Bai Jinzhi was so delighted that she hurried to the Boyun Courtyard without even having breakfast.

Hearing the maids and servants inside the Boyun Courtyard calling the fourth young lady while cleaning the courtyard, Chun Tao, who was squatting and kneeling to put boots on Bai Qingyan, laughed and said, "It seems the fourth young lady is so happy she skipped breakfast and came straight to find the eldest young lady."

Bai Qingyan adjusted her sleeves, stood up, and said, "Tell the small kitchen to prepare an extra set of tableware and serve two plates of her favorite pickled dishes."

"Eldest Young Lady!" Bai Jinzhi lifted the Xiangfei bamboo curtain as she entered and saw Bai Qingyan emerging from another room. She smiled and said, "May I try out those folks’ skills at the training ground today?"

"You need to ask Uncle Ping about that..." Bai Qingyan smiled as she sat at the round table and gestured for Bai Jinzhi to sit down and have breakfast.

Shen Yanzong had already explained that the Princess of Zhen would be coming to the training ground today.

The people sent by Li Tianfu were restless. Shen Yanzong swept his gaze unnoticed over those people and then lowered his voice and said to Bai Qingping, "Make sure to keep a close watch on these people. Don’t give them any chance to get close to the Princess of Zhen. Before the Princess arrives... we should place them as far from her as possible!"

Bai Qingping nodded repeatedly. "Brother Yanzong, you are indeed considerate."

Bai Qingping ordered all the bows and arrows on the training ground to be returned to the armory and arranged for Li Tianfu’s men to be placed as far from Dianjiang Terrace as possible. Shortly after, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi arrived at the training ground accompanied by Lu Ping and the Bai Mansion guards.

Seeing Bai Qingyan riding in from outside the training ground in a neat outfit, Shen Yanzong hurriedly ran down from the high platform to greet Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi reverently.

Bai Jinzhi dismounted and glanced at the new recruits lined up properly. She said, "Eldest Young Lady, they look quite decent!"

"Princess, these people have been selected by Brother Ping and me. The princess can inspect them once more. If there are no issues, they can all be used!" Shen Yanzong said respectfully.

Bai Qingyan nodded, dismounted, and threw the black gold whip she was holding to the guard behind her. She said to Shen Yanzong, "You and Uncle Ping will inspect them together. Afterward, those who Uncle Ping deems inadequate will be left behind. The rest... after we gather intelligence on the bandits in the coming days, I’ll lead them out of the city to exterminate the bandits."

If even Lu Ping deemed someone inadequate, taking them along would be sending them to their deaths.

Bai Qingping was a bit surprised. She didn’t expect Bai Qingyan to be so urgent, wanting to send people to exterminate the bandits as soon as they gathered the intel.

"Yes!" Shen Yanzong clasped his fists and replied affirmatively.

Bai Jinzhi saw Bai Qingyan walking up the high platform and hurriedly called out, "Eldest Young Lady!"

Bai Qingyan, who had already stepped onto the high platform, turned around and saw Bai Jinzhi’s pitiful act, which made her laugh. "Go ahead! Stay by Uncle Ping’s side and don’t cause trouble!"

"Alright!" Bai Jinzhi responded cheerfully.

Bai Qingyan ascended Dianjiang Terrace. The newly trained recruits, who had been training for some days, stood silently beneath, looking up at Bai Qingyan on the terrace.

Although Bai Qingyan was a woman, she had achieved resounding victories in both the Southern and Northern Frontier battles. Such accomplishments were compelling and intimidating.

"I don’t know if you all have heard, but the bandit problem has been growing worse. Bandits come down from the mountains to burn, kill, and rob. There have been frequent incidents of them killing and kidnapping! On my way back from Dadu City, I heard of bandits in a neighboring county kidnapping children. Those who pursued them down the mountain became ghosts under the bandits’ blades!"

These rumors had reached Shuoyang City, causing the townsfolk to keep a close watch on their children recently, calling them home as soon as it got dark to prevent them from playing outside.

Bai Qingyan stood with her hands behind her back, her voice loud and resolute. "The reason for enlisting civilians was because of rampant banditry. I have the intent to exterminate the bandits and bring peace to the people. You all came forward to exterminate the bandits and protect the people. Now... you have been training for over two months, and soon, I will lead you personally. Are you willing to follow me to the mountains to eliminate the bandits?"

"Exterminate the bandits!"

"Exterminate the bandits!"

"Exterminate the bandits!"

The training ground rang with high morale.

They were to follow the Princess of Zhen, who hadn’t been defeated by even the elite enemy troops, to eliminate the bandits. This certainly inspired confidence.

Moreover, before the Princess arrived, Shen Yanzong and Bai Qingping had mentioned that those who followed the Princess to eliminate the bandits and beheaded a bandit would receive ten gold pieces. For ordinary people, this was an enormous temptation.

Even if they weren’t going to exterminate the bandits for the sake of the people, they’d definitely go for the gold!

Since ancient times, it was said that birds die for food and people perish for wealth. Indeed, heavy rewards would make the bravest of people.

Those who weren’t selected were envious beyond measure, determined to train hard to get the opportunity to earn those ten gold pieces in the future.

The messengers standing on either side of the Dianjiang Terrace waved their command flags.

The war drums roared. As the flags changed, the newly trained recruits below formed into two teams, shouting and killing.

These new recruits were not only inferior compared to the disciplined Bai family new army, but they also slightly lagged behind the Jin army’s new troops. However, this was much better than Bai Qingyan had anticipated.

Gradually, having soldiers was better than having none at all.

Those placed at the farthest point by Bai Qingping were plotting to deal with the Princess of Zhen once they were in the mountains. They thought that if they could secretly eliminate her, they could complete their mission and return smoothly.

After all, if they attempted an outright assassination, they would be apprehended by the Bai family guards before they even got close to the Princess of Zhen.

Although assassination missions were perilous, if there was a chance of survival, who wouldn’t want to live?

Bai Jinzhi, Shen Yanzong, and Lu Ping conducted their inspection until they reached the area where Li Tianfu’s men were. Bai Jinzhi stopped in front of them and asked Shen Yanzong, "You said these are the ones with excellent skills?"

Li Tianfu’s men immediately stopped their combat practice and saluted Bai Jinzhi.

"Reporting to the Commandery Princess, yes!" Shen Yanzong replied respectfully.

Bai Jinzhi squinted her eyes, noting that their saluting posture was extremely uniform, as though they had undergone special training.

Bai Jinzhi had seen common people’s salutes before. Not to mention the ordinary folks in the far southern regions away from the Imperial Clan, even in Dadu City, the commoners wouldn’t have such a standard salute unless specially trained. Moreover... these men’s salutes and kowtows were almost identical.

Her hand clenched behind her back as she scrutinized the men with an expression that was half-smiling, half-skeptical.

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