“Grandmother…” Bai Qingyan raised her hand and gently grasped her grandmother’s hand. “Grandmother is in good health and will surely see Changlang and Changyuan marry and have children. My aunt has a good temperament, but her disposition is too gentle. When it comes to raising children… only Grandmother can keep them in line.”

Hearing these words, Old Madam Dong chuckled softly and patted Bai Qingyan’s hand, then gently held Bai Qingyan’s callused hands in her palms, her eyes reddening. “I’m not worried about Changlang and Changyuan. What I can’t let go of is you…”

The old madam’s voice carried a hint of choking emotion.

Since ancient times, women have lived difficult lives, especially her granddaughter who would have difficulty bearing children. How her future marriage prospects would be handled was still unknown!

If she truly never married in this lifetime, could she rely on those people from the Bai clan?

Hmph… It wasn’t that Old Madam Dong looked down on the Bai clan, but those people only bowed their heads now because they saw her granddaughter’s current strength. If her granddaughter hadn’t risen when the Bai family encountered trouble back then, who knows how badly the orphans and widows of the great Bai family would have been bullied.

Relying on the Bai clan would be worse than relying on their Dong family!

“A’Bao, Grandmother also has selfish motives. Grandmother… just wants to keep you by her side so she can protect you and prevent others from bullying you. Do you truly… look down on Changyuan?” Old Madam Dong’s eyes were severely reddened.

By all rights, Old Madam Dong shouldn’t be saying such things to an unmarried young lady like Bai Qingyan, but her granddaughter had a resilient and strong character, not to mention strong opinions. If Bai Qingyan didn’t relent, even her daughter would be helpless.

“Grandmother, A’Bao doesn’t look down on Cousin Changyuan!” Bai Qingyan shook her head. “What I seek is not this acre of backyard territory. Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and my brothers—they are all gone now, but the aspirations that the Bai family has passed down through generations of united hearts and shared goals must have someone to inherit them.”

From the moment Bai Qingyan refused to marry Dong Changyuan, used public sentiment to force the Emperor to restore the Bai family’s honor, achieved great victory in Nan Jiang, and safely brought the Bai family women back to Shuoyang, Old Madam Dong had known in her heart that Bai Qingyan harbored great ambitions like a soaring roc—she was not a woman who could be confined to the inner quarters.

But this path was too difficult. The world was already unfair to women, and if she wanted to make achievements, it would certainly be more arduous than for men.

As elders, after toiling and struggling their whole lives, didn’t they just want to smooth the path for their children and grandchildren, making their future roads more stable? Yet her granddaughter had chosen the most difficult path.

Old Madam Dong dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. “Fine, fine! Grandmother was just speaking carelessly.”

“Grandmother, this time A’Bao wants to take you to Shuoyang, because this year’s Rong Di invasion might be the fiercest year yet. If Grandmother comes with A’Bao to Dengzhou, you can live some peaceful days.” Bai Qingyan gently persuaded Old Madam Dong.

Old Madam Dong was startled and turned to look at Bai Qingyan with a serious expression. “You’ve thought the same as your uncle.”

Over these years in the Dong family, although Old Madam Dong had gradually delegated inner courtyard affairs to Cui Shi, wanting only to enjoy her remaining years in peace, she was still the backbone of the Dong family. Major matters still required Old Madam Dong’s approval, and when Uncle Dong Qingyue had uncertain or troubling matters, he still liked to come discuss them with Old Madam Dong.

In her youth, Old Madam Dong had followed Old Master Dong everywhere, and even Old Master Dong greatly valued Old Madam Dong’s opinions, let alone her son Dong Qingyue.

“Dengzhou isn’t safe. Grandmother should come with me to Shuoyang instead—consider it keeping Mother company. When Dengzhou is stable, you can return.” Seeing that Old Madam Dong was about to say something, Bai Qingyan continued, “Grandmother needn’t rush to refuse. Fortunately, A’Bao will still be staying in Dengzhou for some time. We can discuss it further with Uncle later.”

Old Madam Dong, worried that Bai Qingyan was weary from the dusty journey, urged Bai Qingyan to rest. Instead, Bai Qingyan attended to Old Madam Dong’s afternoon nap and only carefully withdrew from the inner chamber after she had settled.

With Mother far away in Shuoyang, unable to show filial piety before Grandmother, since Bai Qingyan had come to Dengzhou, she wanted to fulfill filial duties before Grandmother on Mother’s behalf.

Nanny Wang held up the pearl curtain for Bai Qingyan and escorted her out, speaking to Bai Qingyan in low voices. “A while ago, when Young Miss wasn’t in Nan Jiang, she was in Bei Jiang. Old Madam’s heart never had a day of peace, kneeling daily before the Buddha shrine to pray for blessings. Now the madam only has Young Miss left. Young Miss must take care of herself!”

The “madam” in Nanny Wang’s words referred to Bai Qingyan’s mother, Dong Shi.

Bai Qingyan nodded and thanked Nanny Wang. “With Mother not beside Grandmother, it’s thanks to Nanny Wang being able to accompany Grandmother in conversation.”

“Young Miss, what are you saying? This old servant has followed Old Madam her whole life. Old Madam is the master, and this old servant is the servant—attending to Old Madam is natural and proper!” Nanny Wang smiled as she said this. “When Young Miss arrived, I saw Old Madam’s whole spirit lifted, her complexion rosy—truly the best color she’s had in years!”

Bai Qingyan smiled and had Nanny Wang stop there. “Grandmother cannot be left alone. Please return to care for Grandmother, Nanny. The nannies and maids you’ve assigned to my side are surely all capable. If there’s anything improper, I’ll speak with you about it.”

“Yes! Good!” Nanny Wang nodded, her gaze falling on her niece Qiu Huan, who was dressed as a maid, giving her a warning glare. “If any of them serve improperly, Young Miss should feel free to have Miss Chun Tao and these nannies scold and discipline them. Don’t be soft-hearted and spoil their character.”

Bai Qingyan’s status was different—she held the honor of a princess. The maids and servants who could attend Bai Qingyan would surely have their status elevated in the future. Even when they married, maids who had served a princess would marry better than ordinary household maids.

Nanny Wang knew her niece was no easy person to handle—with a maid’s fate but a young lady’s temperament, finding this tiring and that dirty.

Originally, Nanny Wang hadn’t planned to assign this little troublemaker to serve Bai Qingyan, but who knew this girl would use her name to go through the connections of the nanny beside Madam Cui Shi, forcefully squeezing her way to the young miss’s side.

Dong Shi had thought that since Bai Qingyan wasn’t bringing Nanny Tong with her, having Shen Qingzhu would at least be acceptable. Who would have thought Bai Qingyan would leave Shen Qingzhu with Ji Tingyu? Thus Nanny Wang’s niece was promoted to Bai Qingyan’s side to personally attend her alongside Chun Tao.

Fortunately, Old Madam, feeling sorry for the young miss, had ordered her to be housed in her courtyard. Nanny Wang felt confident that with her watching, her niece wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble.

“Please be at ease, Nanny.” Bai Qingyan maintained her gentle smile.

“Serve Young Miss well,” Nanny Wang said sternly with a round face, giving cold instructions.

The maids and servants of the Dong mansion responded in unison.