Could it be… that Xiao Rongyan was injured?

Before Bai Qingyan could think further, Nanny Tong brought Zeng Shanru through the courtyard gate. Today, Zeng Shanru had originally planned to come report to Bai Qingyan about the mine affairs and was already heading to Boyun Courtyard when… he heard that Bai Qingyan was summoning him, so he hurried over.

“Miss, Zeng Shanru has arrived!” Chun Tao whispered to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan frowned and instructed Lu Ping: “Uncle Ping, go watch the front. If there’s any news, have someone bring it immediately!”

“Yes!” Lu Ping acknowledged and left.

Bai Qingyan sat restlessly, but as Lu Ping had said, the front courtyard had many people with many eyes. If she went out like this and the news reached the Crown Prince, it would likely cause another disturbance.

Zeng Shanru entered and bowed to Bai Qingyan through the gauze screen: “Miss, Mr. Xiao’s people came again, saying they urgently need this batch of weapons… This subordinate took the liberty of giving them to him. After all, we just transported away one batch, and we can’t use this current batch right now.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, signaling Chun Tao to give the box containing the ink powder and the formula to Zeng Shanru behind the gauze screen, then said: “This box contains something called black powder. I heard that when used in weapon forging, it makes weapons indestructible. You can try it! There’s also a blacksmith master staying outside the courtyard. Go find Steward Hao later – take the man with you! But this person doesn’t speak our language… You may need to put in extra effort.”

Zeng Shanru opened the ink powder to take a look, pinched a small amount between his fingers, and sniffed it under his nose. He looked up at Bai Qingyan and said, “This ink powder… seems to be recorded in some miscellaneous collection. The Yan Kingdom once used a powder from Empress Ji’s hands called refined steel powder. The records say that any weapon forged with this refined steel powder was indestructible. Originally, Empress Ji had planned to create an invincible force for Yan Kingdom’s great general, but unfortunately… the foolish Yan Emperor suddenly came to his senses and killed Empress Ji, and the refined steel powder formula was lost.”

Zeng Shanru quickly closed the box and bowed: “Oh, and in Mr. Min Qianqiu’s biography ‘Wei: Marquis Yongle,’ it’s recorded that Marquis Yongle was once fortunate enough to receive a blade passed down from Great Yan’s imperial court, which was indeed indestructible. If Miss is interested, you could ask Mr. Min Qianqiu, who is staying as a guest in our mansion.”

“Yan Kingdom once used this?” Bai Qingyan’s fingers traced back and forth. Whether this matter was true or false, she’d probably need to ask Xiao Rongyan.

“Exactly!” Zeng Shanru responded.

“Understood. Take the ink powder formula and the blacksmith we’ve invited to the mountains first to try it… If it works, we’ll use this method to forge weapons in the future.” Bai Qingyan instructed.

“Yes!” Zeng Shanru bowed and properly withdrew from the main room of Boyun Courtyard.

Just as he stepped outside, Zeng Shanru saw Yue Shi being supported by someone, following behind Physician Hong into Boyun Courtyard. He remembered that Yue Shi was that simple-minded guard from Mr. Xiao’s side.

Zeng Shanru had always been amiable. After smiling and greeting Physician Hong, he nodded to Yue Shi in acknowledgment.

But Yue Shi’s face was tightly drawn, and he only nodded slightly to Zeng Shanru.

Seeing Physician Hong bring Yue Shi into the main room, Zeng Shanru said something to Nanny Tong and went to find Steward Hao to collect the person.

Yue Shi was supported as he entered, and immediately heard Bai Qingyan instruct Chun Tao to take everyone out and guard the door to prevent others from entering.

Yue Shi’s complexion was poor, his lips cracked and dry. As soon as the others left, he heard Bai Qingyan ask: “Has something happened to your master?”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s voice, Yue Shi’s eyes reddened as he knelt and kowtowed: “I beg Miss Bai to save our Emperor!”

With Yue Shi saying this, the injured person wasn’t Xiao Rongyan after all. Bai Qingyan’s hand that had been tightly gripping the sandalwood table slowly relaxed as she asked: “I heard that the Yan Emperor was injured…”

“Exactly!” Physician Hong nodded. “The medicine I prescribed for the Yan Emperor makes wounds difficult to coagulate and heal. Before I left, I warned him thousands of times that the Yan Emperor must not be injured! Who would have thought…”

Bai Qingyan understood. Xiao Rongyan had sent Yue Shi ahead, presumably to fetch Physician Hong.

“Physician Hong, could you trouble yourself to make the journey with Yue Shi?” Bai Qingyan asked Physician Hong.

Yue Shi hadn’t expected that before he could even speak, Miss Bai would already be asking Physician Hong to go with him. His gratitude was evident: “Miss Bai’s kindness, Yue Shi will never forget for as long as he lives!”

“There’s no problem with that!” Physician Hong said. “It’s just that little Yinshuang – this old man won’t bring her along. Please take extra care of her, Miss!”

“Naturally! Physician Hong, please go pack now. To outsiders, we’ll say… this time, Physician Hong is going out to search for medicine for me.” Bai Qingyan said.

Physician Hong acknowledged, rose, and bowed, then left first.

Bai Qingyan looked at Yue Shi, who remained kneeling behind the gauze screen, and asked again: “We haven’t had news of your master for several months. I wonder if your master is well?”

“In response to Miss Bai, Master is perfectly well!” Yue Shi replied.

With this, Bai Qingyan felt relieved.

She nodded: “Yue Shi must have traveled day and night to get here. Go eat something and rest. Travel with Physician Hong by carriage!”

“Yes!” Yue Shi kowtowed three times heavily to Bai Qingyan, then rose unsteadily and left the main room of Boyun Courtyard, again being supported as he walked toward the courtyard exit.

Chun Tao entered through the door curtain carrying hot tea and asked Bai Qingyan: “Is that guard from Mr. Xiao’s side injured? Or is Mr. Xiao injured? Why such urgency in requesting Physician Hong…”

“Not really…” Bai Qingyan smiled. “Mr. Xiao discovered a medicinal herb and thought it would be good for my cold condition. Physician Hong examined the herb but found it couldn’t be used because it wasn’t properly preserved. Physician Hong is about to set out to gather the medicine.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s explanation, Chun Tao looked enlightened and then smiled: “This Mr. Xiao is truly thoughtful!”

Hearing the teasing tone in Chun Tao’s voice, Bai Qingyan casually pushed the red wooden box containing the jade pendant toward Chun Tao: “This is something cousin asked someone to bring back for you! Take a look…”

Hearing the word “cousin,” Chun Tao forgot about being shy and hurriedly picked up the box, asking: “My cousin? Is it cousin Qingsheng?”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Chun Tao’s ears immediately turned red with embarrassment. She opened the box and looked…

Bai Qingyan saw that the jade inside was of transparent quality and extremely precious, knowing that Chen Qingsheng had put thought into it.

Though Chun Tao didn’t understand jade as well as Bai Qingyan, the fact that her cousin had sent something back meant that her cousin and Third Miss were certainly safe, and she could feel at ease.

“Miss…” Chun Tao’s eyes couldn’t hide her shyness as she asked quietly with embarrassment, “Cousin, did he… bring back any message?”

“He only said to give you the jade pendant. However, before Chen Qingsheng left… he did say that when he returns, he’ll marry you and bring you into the family!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes contained a smile. “When Chen Qingsheng returns, we’ll arrange your wedding! This way you won’t always be worried!”