Chapter 1021: Chapter 1016: Push the door straight in
Bai Jinzhi, fearing the family rules, obeyed Lu Ping’s words, put away the whip, and shouted, "In the future, stop saying things like you disdain serving alongside women in court. Don’t say that you haven’t yet entered the court to serve; if you have the guts... say this in front of the Empress after you become a tribute student and rank first in the palace examination. Only then will I, Bai Jinzhi, believe you have courage! Just boasting is cowardice!"
The men who were hiding and dodging Bai Jinzhi’s whip, running with their heads down, only cautiously peeked out after seeing Lu Ping wearing official robes stopping Bai Jinzhi. Only then did they boldly shout, "Sir, intervene with this mad woman. We were talking, and this mad woman came up and whipped us without a word! We all have titles and even at the Government Office we need not kneel before Lord Qitian. We can’t be punished! This mad woman dared to whip us!"
"Indeed! Right here in Dadu at the foot of the Emperor! Sir, you must address this!"
Although Bai Jinzhi had put away the whip, she raised it again, accurately striking the mouth of the man shouting.
Lu Ping was already unhappy upon hearing the word "mad woman," so he didn’t stop Bai Jinzhi from whipping them this time. Instead, he stepped aside to block the door, tidied his sleeves, and stood calmly: "You three, speaking against the Empress’s new policies is already a crime. Yet you also spoke disrespectfully about the Commandery Princess Gaoyi, who generously grants you a few whips... not sending you to face official punishment is already leniency."
Hearing Lu Ping supporting her, Bai Jinzhi swung the whip even more joyfully, filling the room with cracking sounds, sending a glistening redwood table flying far away with her blows.
These three recalled the famed Bai family fourth daughter, Bai Jinzhi, whom Dadu City residents once called "Lady Hero," daring even to whip sons of nobility, let alone them.
With the Bai family enduring hardships and then moving back to their hometown Shuoyang, Bai Jinzhi had been away from Dadu City for years, and people gradually forgot this fiery, chivalrous, and hot-tempered Bai family fourth daughter.
Now, this Bai family fourth daughter had returned...
Outside, the onlookers discussed animatedly, but most were genuinely happy about this Bai family fourth daughter’s return. She inherited the Bai family’s spirit, fiercely protecting the people, often wielding her whip for the people’s sake, never acting against their interests. How could the people not be pleased?
Moreover, this Bai family fourth daughter fought on the battlefield at a young age to protect her country, contributing greatly to defeating Liang, earning genuine respect and awe.
The screams from inside the shop lasted a while. Lu Ping, seeing it was about enough, called softly, "Fourth Young Lady! Fourth Young Lady... that’s enough! It’s just to teach them a lesson; the Eldest Young Lady is waiting..."
Upon hearing this, the panting Bai Jinzhi put the whip away at her waist and said, "If you dare slander the Empress’s new policies again, slander this Monarch again, being beaten is a small matter... but if you slander the new policies, affecting their implementation, you could suffer imprisonment. Since you are scholars, you should know slandering the new policies, affecting their implementation, will affect future examinations. This Monarch considers you scholars and does not want to sever your future prospects. I am giving you this chance to prove that your years of study truly surpass that of women! But do not disappoint this Commandery Princess!"
Bai Jinzhi’s words made Lu Ping see her in a new light. The former Fourth Miss would just whip around impulsively; he had never expected her to speak with such reason and logic.
"Next spring examination... you three! This Commandery Princess will watch and see if you are truly better than women!"
Outside, someone heard these words and suddenly cheered. Bai Jinzhi, feeling refreshed, turned and walked out of the shop.
Having left the shop, Bai Jinzhi suddenly realized she hadn’t chosen a suitable gift for her little nephew or niece, furrowed her brow, and turned her head...
The three who had just been whipped by Bai Jinzhi, afraid of implicating their family’s young lords, huddled together and retreated, terrified that Bai Jinzhi might come in with the whip again.
Bai Jinzhi lost interest in choosing a gift, deciding to wait for a suitable opportunity to choose something for her nephew and niece.
She glanced at the man in black athletic wear waiting for her with a horse, a subtle smile tugging at her lips, her eyes showing sweetness as her face turned slightly red. With a bold leap onto the horse, she seized the reins and said, "Let’s go! To see the Eldest Young Lady!"
The man in black respectfully nodded, lowering his head without hiding the smile on his lips.
Lu Ping noticed something unusual, sizing up the man in black with his hair tied with a black satin ribbon without revealing his emotions. It seemed... an investigation into this young man’s identity was necessary, lest he deceive their innocent Fourth Young Lady.
Bai Jinzhi had been to the Imperial Palace before, but never had her steps been so light. Eager to see her Eldest Young Lady, she sped along the way.
Noticing Bai Jinzhi approaching from afar, Wei Zhong, standing outside the grand hall doors, smiled and hurried forward to greet her, "Fourth Young Lady..."
"Wei Zhong?" Bai Jinzhi, seemingly surprised that Grandmother’s Wei Zhong was now serving Bai Qingyan, showed shock for a moment and said, "I’ve come to see the Eldest Young Lady!"
"His Majesty already knows. He said there’s no need to announce Fourth Young Lady’s arrival; you may enter directly..."
Smiling, Bai Jinzhi removed her whip from her waist and tossed it to Wei Zhong, then trotted up to the grand hall door, first quietly pushing it open a crack and peering inside...
She saw her Eldest Young Lady sitting at the agarwood table, reviewing memorials, yet before she spoke, the Eldest Young Lady’s voice rang out, "Entering Dadu City and swinging your whip wildly, yet now you’re calm?"
Hearing this, Bai Jinzhi chuckled, entered, shut the hall door, and ran to Bai Qingyan, saluting before sitting opposite her, "Originally, I went to choose a meeting gift for the future little nephew and niece! But got disrupted... quite infuriating!"
Seeing the table full of memorials, Bai Jinzhi added, "Eldest Young Lady! You’re pregnant; how can you labor so much?"
Bai Qingyan dipped her brush in ink and directly handed it to Bai Jinzhi, "You can help Eldest Young Lady..."
Bai Jinzhi, opening her mouth and smiling awkwardly, said, "Perhaps not! It’s not that I am unwilling to help Eldest Young Lady, but when it comes to leading troops... Little Fourth wouldn’t shy away. But if it’s about penmanship, I can’t in good conscience say I’m skilled!"
Bai Qingyan, amused by Bai Jinzhi, put her pen down on the memorial, "Then speak sincerely with me; how did you leave General Zhao and return first?"