Madam Fang’s maid, Puliu, anxiously gave Madam Fang meaningful glances, signaling her to stop talking.

But Madam Fang was currently speaking enthusiastically and completely failed to notice Puliu’s signals, nor did she see Bai Qihe’s increasingly ugly expression.

“Whether you’re doing this for me or your maternal family, you know clearly in your heart!” Bai Qihe stood up, interrupting Madam Fang’s words. Without even looking at her, he said, “Madam Fang, you can seek benefits for your maternal family through me, but if you set your sights on the Duke’s Daughter and implicate our entire Bai family, then you should return to your parental home! Our Bai family’s temple is small and cannot accommodate such a great Buddha as you!”

Having said this, Bai Qihe flicked his sleeves and left.

Madam Fang stood there in stunned disbelief, unable to recover for a long while.

It wasn’t until Bai Qihe lifted the bamboo curtain and departed that Madam Fang widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at Puliu: “What does Bai Qihe mean by this? Is he saying… he wants to divorce me?”

Puliu hurriedly stepped forward and advised in a low voice: “Madam, you truly went too far today. That Duke’s Daughter is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai family’s main branch! Even our Fang family’s eldest master’s legitimate eldest son probably wouldn’t be worthy of her, let alone Second Master’s legitimate second son, who only knows how to play around. By suggesting the Second Master’s legitimate second son as a match for the Duke’s Daughter, aren’t you slapping our master in the face? She’s a Duke’s Daughter!”

“So what if she’s a Duke’s Daughter? Look at how old she is! An old maid… with difficulty having children! She still needs to take a husband into her household – what kind of person does she think she can choose? A prince or noble heir? Which prince or noble heir would marry into a household?” Madam Fang shouted indignantly.

Puliu was truly shocked into a cold sweat by Madam Fang’s wild fantasies.

“Madam, please take a good look at that Duke’s Daughter. Not to mention anything else… just her appearance alone – what kind of man would be worthy of her? Forget about princes and noble heirs – even capturing a top scholar from next February’s examinations to marry into the household would be fitting! When you opened your mouth… You wanted to pair our Fang family’s most worthless legitimate son with the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai family’s main branch. Our master is the Bai clan leader – this is an utter humiliation for him! No matter what, you must remember… both our master and the Duke’s Daughter share the surname Bai!”

When Puliu explained it this way, Madam Fang realized her mistake. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes reddening with grievance: “But he could have spoken to me nicely! Everyone says husbands should teach their wives in private. He doesn’t teach me… he just glares at me with a stern face. I was doing it for him! His position as clan leader is only temporary. If the Duke’s Daughter had someone by her side who could speak for him, wouldn’t his position as clan leader be secured?”

Puliu sighed: “Madam, listen to this servant. When the master returns tonight, you should go apologize to him and speak properly!”

“I won’t go!” Madam Fang turned away stubbornly.

“Then this servant will have someone stew pig’s feet soup tonight and send it to the master, apologizing on Madam’s behalf! Between husband and wife, someone must bow their head for the days to be harmonious.”

Madam Fang neither agreed nor refused, simply took out her handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

·

Just past noon, Bai Qihe brought his son Bai Qingping to knock on the Bai Mansion’s main gate.

When Bai Qingyan heard the servants’ report, she knew that Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping had come regarding the troop training matter.

After all, the personnel for training troops had already been decided, but Bai Jinzhi had been summoned to Chun Mushan by an imperial edict, and Lu Ping had also left.

Bai Qingyan had considered this matter. She could ask the Prefect to help find a solution, and if the Prefect temporarily couldn’t find someone to train troops, she could do it herself, personally bringing out a few people.

Bai Qingyan had already sent someone to invite the Prefect. Who knew that before the Prefect arrived, Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping had arrived first.

When they saw Bai Qingyan enter the main hall, Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping, seeing Bai Qingyan’s sharp and efficient attire for the first time, were intimidated by the decisive and lethal aura emanating from her, and their attitudes became increasingly respectful.

“Please sit!” Bai Qingyan sat down in the main seat, and after the maids served tea, she said, “I know you’ve come regarding the troop training matter. I’ve already sent someone to invite the Prefect to see if he has any way to find someone to train troops. If there’s assistance… I can personally handle the troop training.”

Bai Qingping was startled: “Personally handle it?”

She nodded.

Steward Hao hurried over and stood at the entrance of the main hall, bowing to Bai Qingyan: “First Miss, the Prefect has arrived.”

“Please invite him in quickly!”

When the Prefect entered and saw Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping, they hastily stood up to bow to him. Their respectful attitude was completely different from that toward the previous clan leader. He smiled faintly and nodded before bowing to Bai Qingyan: “This official greets the Duke’s Daughter.”

“Prefect, no need for excessive courtesy. Please sit…”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s graceful demeanor, the Prefect didn’t beat around the bush: “Before coming, this official had already heard that Princess Gaoyi, who was originally scheduled to train civilians as soldiers tomorrow, was transferred to Chun Mushan by His Majesty’s imperial edict. The Duke’s Daughter summoned this official… is it to find a replacement for troop training?”

Bai Qingyan asked: “Does the Prefect have any candidates to recommend?”

The Prefect nodded and stood up, bowing to Bai Qingyan: “What does the Duke’s Daughter think… of this official’s sons?”

Both Bai Qiyun and Bai Qingyan looked at the Prefect with considerable surprise. The Prefect’s sons could train troops?

“All three of the Prefect’s sons are not from military backgrounds!” Bai Qiyun quickly said.

Although this official’s three sons are not from military backgrounds, the Duke’s Daughter is not training elite troops but converting civilians to soldiers. My three sons can still teach the basics. If the Duke’s Daughter is interested, this official has already brought my three sons here. They’re waiting outside, and the Duke’s Daughter could give them a trial.”

Bai Qingping felt some hidden worry in his heart, yet he also felt that the Prefect seemed particularly confident in his three sons. He turned to look at Bai Qingyan, as if waiting for her decision.

Although Bai Qingping didn’t say it explicitly, he felt that… since the Bai family was paying for troop training, these troops… should be under the control of Bai family members. If the Prefect’s three sons trained the troops, wouldn’t these soldiers be under the Prefect’s control?

This Prefect had come prepared. She pondered briefly, picked up her teacup, and took a sip, then said: “Please invite the three young masters in.”

Steward Hao, standing at the door, responded and sent a servant out to summon the Prefect’s three sons.

The Prefect’s three sons had thick eyebrows and large eyes, looking remarkably similar to each other, though they didn’t much resemble the Prefect, probably taking after their mother more.

The three men crossed the threshold, knelt before Bai Qingyan, and bowed, their voices loud and powerful – clearly men who had practiced martial arts for years.

“The Prefect’s sons are all outstanding talents, but as our Bai clan leader said… the Prefect’s three sons are not from military backgrounds, and I truly cannot feel at ease.” Bai Qingyan looked at the Prefect and said, “After thinking it over, I’ll personally handle the troop training. I’ll trouble the Prefect to select one of his sons to assist Bai Qingping! We’ll have to trouble the Prefect’s son in the future…”

Bai Qingping immediately stood up and agreed.

The Prefect didn’t insist. One must guard against others – it was natural for the Duke’s Daughter to be wary.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered all local officials in Shouyang to fully assist the Duke’s Daughter in troop training. This official dares not be negligent!” the Prefect said.