“I have seen him!” Bai Qingping replied, then saw the refreshments Chun Tao brought and quickly nodded his thanks.

Chun Tao curtsied respectfully and withdrew.

“By the way, Sister, this time… I brought Elder Gu from the old Bai family estate in Shouyang. Elder Gu is advanced in years. Previously, when Sister married and gave birth, Elder Gu was ill and couldn’t make it in time. This time coming, he said…” Bai Qingping paused in his speech, “He said he wanted to see Miss and the two young masters, to fulfill an old man’s wish. But due to the exhaustion of travel, the old man couldn’t endure it and became very weak, so I entrusted Father to take Elder Gu back to the Bai mansion first.”

Elder Gu’s original words were that he felt he didn’t have many days left and would soon go below to serve Duke Zhenguo, so he wanted to see Miss and the two young masters once more. When he went underground later, he could properly tell Duke Zhenguo that Miss had two young masters, which would also resolve one of Duke Zhenguo’s regrets.

“Good, thank you for your trouble…” Bai Qingyan smiled and replied.

Elder Gu was the Bai family’s most senior loyal servant, having followed Grandfather since childhood. Bai Qingyan also held him in great respect, regarding him as half an elder, just like Physician Hong.

Moreover, Elder Gu had always been an old man who was reluctant to trouble others. For him to follow Bai Qingping to the capital this time, it seemed… his health probably wasn’t very good either.

Bai Qingyan was just thinking in her heart about finding time today to quietly return to the Bai mansion to see Elder Gu first, when she saw Wei Zhong taking small steps through the side door into the hall, walking to her side and saying in a low voice: “Your Majesty, news came from Marquis Dingyong’s mansion that an hour ago, Marquis Dingyong passed away.”

She was stunned upon hearing this, and after a long moment replied: “Go prepare. We’ll travel light and simple. I’ll personally go to offer incense.”

“Chun Tao, bring me a set of mourning clothes.” Bai Qingyan turned to instruct.

Hearing this, Bai Qingping stood up: “Sister, has something happened?”

“Marquis Dingyong has passed away. When the Bai family was in distress, Marquis Dingyong extended aid to our family. I must go see.” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Qingping. “Originally, since you just arrived in the capital, I should have kept you for lunch today…”

“Sister, go ahead with your business. Now that Qingping has come to the capital, we siblings will have plenty of time to gather.” Bai Qingping bowed formally and took his leave.

Bai Qingyan had not forgotten that when the Bai family was in distress, on New Year’s Eve, Marquis Dingyong had sent his heir to inquire at the Bai family, then later had his steward bring the coffin he had prepared to lend to the Bai family. When others dared not come to the Bai mansion to pay respects due to fear of the Jin Emperor, it was her teacher and Elder Cui who came first, followed closely by Marquis Dingyong, who also came to the Bai mansion to offer incense.

Bai Qingyan kept in her heart and never forgot those who had not kicked the Bai family when they were down during their difficult times, and had even helped them.

Bai Qingyan changed into mourning clothes and left the palace with only Wei Zhong, Chun Tao, and Chun Zhi.

Although Bai Qingyan now held the honor of emperor, she was not entirely powerless, and Wei Zhong was exceptionally skilled in martial arts. The group of four quietly leaving the palace did not attract attention.

Marquis Dingyong did hold a noble title, and the nobles in the capital all knew that when the Bai family was in distress, Marquis Dingyong had sent his coffin to the Bai family, essentially helping when the current emperor was in decline. Therefore, knowing that Marquis Dingyong had passed away, nobles came one after another to pay their respects.

When Bai Qingyan arrived, the entire Marquis Dingyong’s mansion was already draped in white silk mourning cloth, with white lanterns hanging high in front of the gate.

As soon as she got off the carriage, she could hear the heart-wrenching cries of the women inside.

“Miss…” Chun Tao reached out to help their Miss down from the carriage.

Seeing Marquis Dingyong’s mansion covered in white mourning silk, Bai Qingyan was reminded of the scene when the Bai family held funeral rites that year…

The servants and attendants of Marquis Dingyong’s mansion had already changed their clothes and stood with their hands hanging at the gate. Seeing another carriage approach, the steward with red eyes lifted the hem of his mourning clothes and came down from the high steps to greet them. Wei Zhong stepped forward and whispered something in the steward’s ear. The steward was so frightened his legs went weak, hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, then quickly sent someone to inform the masters. Not daring to announce Bai Qingyan’s identity aloud, he could only respectfully invite Bai Qingyan’s party inside with the utmost courtesy.

In the mourning hall, upon hearing that the current emperor had come, the heir of Marquis Dingyong was shocked and stood up, hurriedly supporting the old Marchioness with his wife on either side, bringing the second and third branches of the family and the grandchildren to rush out to greet them, followed by a crowd of relatives and nobles who had come to pay respects.

Seeing Bai Qingyan already holding Chun Tao’s hand and lifting her skirt to step through the main gate of Marquis Dingyong’s mansion, the Marchioness quickly put down her walking stick and immediately led her children and grandchildren to kneel and bow: “This old woman pays respects to Your Majesty!”

The nobles behind also knelt and bowed. Those who were observant noticed that Bai Qingyan was wearing mourning clothes and couldn’t help but begin estimating the weight of Marquis Dingyong’s mansion in Bai Qingyan’s heart.

“Not knowing Your Majesty would grace us with your presence, this humble official failed to welcome you properly!” the heir of Marquis Dingyong said hurriedly.

“Marchioness, please rise quickly!” Bai Qingyan stepped forward to help the Marchioness up. Looking at the red-eyed, tearful old lady, she had the heir and everyone else rise, softly comforting the old Marchioness: “Old Madam, please accept my condolences!”

Hearing these words, the Marchioness burst into tears again: “Actually, the old Marquis lived to this age – it can be considered a joyful funeral! This old woman… is not heartbroken. The old Marquis didn’t suffer when he passed! If the old Marquis knew that after his death, Your Majesty would personally come to see him off… he would surely be moved to tears of gratitude!”

“What talk of gratitude – when the Bai family was in distress… fortunately, Marquis Dingyong righteously lent his coffin to the Bai family. That kindness… I have never forgotten!” Bai Qingyan supported the Marchioness as they slowly walked toward the mourning hall. “Now that the old Marquis has passed, as a junior, I must come to see the old Marquis off no matter what!”

Hearing the current emperor’s words, how could the Marchioness not feel warmed in her heart?

The current emperor was one who remembered old kindnesses. Back then, when the old Marquis insisted on sending his coffin to the Bai family, that decision was right.

The group accompanied Bai Qingyan into the mourning hall. After Bai Qingyan personally offered incense, someone came from outside to report that the Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom had arrived…

The heir’s wife shuddered and instinctively glanced toward Bai Qingyan, but seeing that Bai Qingyan seemed unconcerned, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom was a guest, but this guest… had no dealings with Marquis Dingyong’s mansion!

This was also at the crucial moment when the two countries were discussing the national wager. With the father-in-law having passed away and the Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom coming to pay respects, if Your Majesty thought they had dealings with Yan Kingdom, it would be minor for Marquis Dingyong’s mansion to be reprimanded, but they feared their future official careers would be cut off!

Having made up her mind, the heir’s wife deliberately turned to ask the Marchioness: “Mother, this Ninth Prince of Yan Kingdom… has never had dealings with our family! Why has he come to pay respects?”