The morning market stalls were lined up in rows, smoke curling into the sky, and inside the oilcloth tents hung with paper lanterns, people sat crowded together, talking and laughing, enjoying breakfast. The hawkers’ calls and the joyful chatter of the common folk about the victory in the war against Xiliang lded into a cacophony, the marketplace bustling with noise.
Little guard dogs, released early by their owners from the courtyard, squeezed between breakfast stalls and people’s legs, sniffing around in search of accidentally fallen at buns or other food, only to be shooed away by the stall owners with soup ladles, causing them to flee with tails between their legs, provoking laughter from all as the recently departed Tianfeng Kingdom was likened to these young dogs.
The subjects of Tianfeng Kingdom, remaining in the Capital to wait for the return of the Great Shaman’s disciples, mingled among the crowds, and upon hearing the Zhou citizens compare Tianfeng to these pups, felt a surge of anger, yet knew they were now in Zhou’s territory and could not start trouble, so they endured the insult silently, though their expressions showed displeasure.
The children or noble daughters from prestigious families, upon learning the date of the army’s return, disdained joining the throngs on the long streets with commoners. Instead, they reserved private rooms along the main street at various family restaurants, invited classmates or close friends to sip tea while waiting, eager to witness the grace of the Bai family’s remaining sons and daughters.
Mrs. Dong clutched Bai Qingyan’s hand, standing atop the southern gate of Dadu City, gazing into the distance.
"Why aren’t they back yet? Didn’t the letter say... they’ll arrive when the gates open?" Mrs. Qi asked, anxiously.
"Indeed..." The Third Lady, Mrs. Li, craned her neck towards the horizon, "Perhaps there were delays along the way."
"A Yu could only estimate the return ti; any delays due to slow travel on the road are entirely possible!" Though anxious herself, Mrs. Dong reassured her sisters-in-law.
Second Lady, Mrs. Liu, felt indescribable emotions as she ca to welco her daughter but also wished, like her sister-in-law, to stand here and greet... her A Qiong, her A Wei, Ah Hui, Ah Feng.
The second branch of the family had yet to receive word of any surviving sons.
Mrs. Liu knew she should remain patient, for her son could rely be injured, unable to return, or perhaps... unable to walk like A Yun, stranded in so remote area or mountain, unaware of their eldest sister’s ascent to the throne, or possibly suffering a head injury with amnesia.
Her husband would surely protect their sons, and soday they would return safely. Her sons were sowhere out there, and they would surely co back soday.
At this mont, the sun rose, the dawn initially faint, increasingly radiant from east to west.
At the horizon where light t ground, a black sail white python flag erged leisurely, followed closely by more flags billowing in the splendid sunlight.
Bai Qingyu, clad in silver armor and riding a black steed, appeared first before the eyes of the gathering crowd; Bai Qingqi, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, Bai Jinhua, Bai Jinse, even Bai Qingyun, all dressed in silver armor astride their horses beside Bai Qingyu... riding abreast with Bai Qingyan.
With silver armor adorned, the sons and daughters of the Bai family held reins in one hand and grasped waist swords or silver spears with the other, every one of them tall and straight, their deanor noble and resolute, marching through sunlight like returning war gods.
No one could have imagined that after the battle in the southern lands during the Xuanjia period, the sight of the Bai family’s sons splendidly returning could still be seen.
The entire Dadu City believed that the illustrious Bai family of the capital, thriving for a century, would now vanish in the river of history, into ashes.
Who could have predicted that at the turn of events, Bai family generals, accompanied by the Bai family army... and Zhou’s army, would defeat Xiliang and further expand Zhou’s territory?
Who could have envisaged that this family representing loyalty, integrity, and uprightness, embodying valor and righteousness, would shine brighter than ever before?
Who could have imagined witnessing the Bai family’s sons returning victoriously to the court, seeing once again the Bai family’s outstanding offspring renowned in Dadu City?
"They’re here!" Mrs. Dong couldn’t contain her excitent, grasping her daughter’s hand tightly, "They’re here!"
Upon seeing the children appear in sight, the Fifth Lady Mrs. Qi’s tears fell like a broken string; the Fourth Lady Mrs. Wang cried out loud. Mrs. Li, supporting Mrs. Wang, intended to laugh but inexplicably... though it was a joyous occasion, she cried when she opened her mouth.
Conversely, the usually outspoken Second Lady simply stood silently shedding tears, praying to the heavens for her son’s return...
Bai Qingyan stood amid the morning sun, gazing at her siblings clad in silver armor shimring with golden light, a faint smile gracing her lips, squinting as if witnessing her grandfather leading her father and uncles back triumphantly again.
Now, she could honorably tell her grandfather, father, and uncles that the Bai family’s next generation, their siblings have at last... upheld the family na, her siblings can now each take the mantel from the previous generation and bear the Bai family army’s black sail white python flag.
Weathered through vast changes and pain, the Bai family offspring’s vigor remained, their sharp spirit persevered, living up to the Bai family’s ancestral teachings.
Bai Qingyu, unmasked, seeing from afar his elder sister, mother, and aunts, a lump choked in his throat, his eyes moist and red.
He could see his mother and aunts suppressing joyful sobs behind handkerchiefs, while his elder sister just stood quietly atop the city wall, watching them...
His elder sister was their steadfast pillar, constantly behind them, supporting them, creating a haven for her younger siblings.
Bai Qingyu understood that his elder sister... originally belonged to the battlefield, the battlefield strategist of the Bai family army, Young General Xiao Bai. On the battlefield, she was dazzling, his sister was truly invincible!
Now, his elder sister sits on the Emperor’s throne in Dadu City, and besides inheriting the Bai family’s duty to protect the country and its people, she ensures... that the Bai family’s tragedy doesn’t repeat with them.
In his youth, Bai Qingyu didn’t understand why his grandfather had the second-born protect the heir or why elder sister emphasized the heavy burden of the eldest child.
Watching his sister, he realized the importance of the eldest child — to uphold the family legacy.
"Quick! Quickly! Let’s go down and welco the children!" The concerned Fourth Lady Mrs. Wang was ready to descend from the tower, turning around worried about propriety, quickly suggesting to Mrs. Dong, "Eldest Sister-in-Law! Let’s go down and greet the children!"
"Alright! Let’s go greet the children!" Mrs. Dong squeezed Bai Qingyan’s hand, "Let’s go welco your siblings!"
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