Later, when the border became urgent, grandfather took father and the second uncle to the front lines. When they returned victorious, three years had already passed. When they went to find that young lady after convincing the second aunt, the young lady’s hometown had suffered floods, and everyone thought she had died.

Who would have known that a few years ago, that young lady brought this boy to the side gate of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion? Seeing that her second son and daughter-in-law were harmonious as a couple, Grand Princess didn’t want Duke Zhenguo’s mansion to fall into chaos because of this woman and child, so she secretly sent them to be cared for at one of her estates without telling anyone.

Bai Qingyan felt her temples throbbing as she listened.

Thinking of how in the previous life, after Duke Zhenguo became an empty title and second uncle’s illegitimate son inherited the title, he committed acts of exploiting the people’s livelihood, forcibly seizing common women, and brutally killing tenant farmers, completely ruining the reputation that the Bai family ancestors had accumulated over generations. Even Shen Qingzhu, who was like a sister to Bai Qingyan, had been made into a beauty vessel by that bastard for people’s entertainment.

A surge of blood boiled in Bai Qingyan’s heart, and her chest felt pressed down by a mountain, making it hard to breathe. She wished she could immediately take a knife and flay that bastard alive!

Bai Qingyan unwillingly pressed further: “Are you certain he’s the second uncle’s child?”

Grand Princess’s face grew pale as she leaned against the soft pillows, sighing: “That child looks almost exactly like your second uncle did when he was young.”

Bai Qingyan’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened, her nails digging into her palm. If he weren’t the second uncle’s child, she would probably have Lu Ping eliminate this future trouble right now.

But if he was the second uncle’s offspring…

Bai Qingyan’s heart ached. After a long while, she forced herself to make a decision and looked at Grand Princess: “Then let’s bring him back!”

While the child was still young, perhaps with proper teaching, he could still be reformed. Even if he truly couldn’t be reformed… having him in her grasp was better than having him in Prince Liang’s hands.

“Good, we’ll bring him back for grandmother to personally raise and teach!” Grand Princess firmly gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand. “As for your second aunt, grandmother will also speak to her, after your second sister returns home.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, her fingertips ice-cold, forcibly suppressing the nausea and disgust in her heart as she spoke with Grand Princess about plans for Bai Jintong.

“Grandmother, after deep consideration, granddaughter feels our Bai family should leave ourselves a retreat. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows; how much more so the Bai family.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Does grandmother still remember that third sister Jintong once helped mother manage the household accounts, and in just half a year increased the shop profits by thirty percent? Mother joked at the time that if the third sister went into commerce, she might become a figure like the world’s richest merchant, Xiao Rongyan.”

Grand Princess nodded. She remembered that because of this jest, Bai Jintong had truly developed thoughts of going into commerce, which made Duke Zhenguo furious, saying that no Bai family children should willingly degrade themselves to become merchants.

“Grandmother, if the third sister is willing, then provide her with loyal and experienced stewards, let the third sister disguise herself as a man to display her talents and secretly accumulate wealth.”

“Secretly accumulate wealth? A’Bao, what are you planning to do? You…” Grand Princess looked at Bai Qingyan in shock, her hand gripping hers, trembling slightly. “Do you have a rebellious heart?”

Bai Qingyan’s fingertips ached from Grand Princess’s grip, and she shivered violently, stunned.

The atmosphere between the grandmother and granddaughter instantly became like a drawn bowstring, taut to the extreme, ready to snap at the slightest touch.

How could she forget… Grand Princess was her grandmother, but she was even more a daughter of the imperial family, the Grand Princess of Great Jin. This Great Jin realm belonged to the Lin family. In terms of protecting the Bai family, the greatest difference between her and her grandmother was that she would not hesitate to rebel for the Bai family’s sake, but her grandmother wanted to protect both the Bai family and Great Jin’s imperial dynasty.

But grandmother didn’t know that His Majesty was already displeased with the Bai family, and what the emperor… had done to the Bai family!

As Qin Shangzhi had said, in the previous life, the Bai family’s fate of destruction was entirely His Majesty’s will. With such a ruler… if he truly forced the Bai family to the same fate as the previous life, why shouldn’t she rebel?

She closed her eyes, her breathing disordered. If not for the Great Jin emperor, why would all the Bai family men die without exception? Why would Mother lead all the aunts in hanging themselves? Why would the fifth aunt, who had just given birth, despair to the point of committing suicide with a coffin at the palace gates?!

Every time Bai Qingyan thought of these things, her heart felt cut by knives, like bone-deep burns that were bloody and raw, painful enough to make her whole body tremble.

“A’Bao!” Grand Princess saw the towering hatred in Bai Qingyan’s eyes and widened her own, pulling Bai Qingyan close, her gaze cold and terrifying. “You want to rebel?!”

Grand Princess knew Bai Qingyan’s capabilities. Though she had stayed within the inner quarters for years, she had once commanded extremely high prestige in the Bai family army. If she truly developed rebellious intentions and raised her arm… The Great Jin would surely fall into chaos.

Grand Princess didn’t dare even think of such a scene. If her most beloved granddaughter truly wanted to rebel…

Grand Princess gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with bloodshot lines. If Bai Qingyan truly wanted to rebel, as Great Jin’s Grand Princess, she absolutely could not stand by and watch. Even if it meant imprisoning Bai Qingyan for life, or even… she absolutely could not allow anything that would shake the Lin family’s imperial power to happen.

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, firmly pressing down the towering hatred in her heart. After a long while, she spoke quietly: “Grandmother, the Bai family ancestral teachings are loyalty and righteousness, with personal honor, disgrace, and life coming last. Granddaughter would never dare violate the ancestral teachings! Nor would I dare tarnish the Bai family’s century-long reputation for loyalty and courage. Third sister enjoys this path – let her change her name and disguise herself as a man, staying far from the capital. If the Bai family truly faces troubles in the future, at least the third sister can be preserved! Moreover, if the third sister has wealth from commerce, money can pave the way and help with the Bai family’s connections.”

Seeing grandmother’s piercing gaze fixed on her as if still doubting, she continued: “These past few days, granddaughter has repeatedly considered – if grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers cannot return, granddaughter hopes grandmother will allow the entire family to move back to our ancestral home of Shouyang. The capital is full of treacherous undercurrents. Grandfather’s upright nature has offended many corrupt officials. Our Bai family has no one in court. When everyone speaks against someone, even metal can be melted; accumulated slander destroys bones. Only by retreating to Shouyang can we preserve our Bai family.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, Grand Princess was silent for a moment before releasing her and nodding as she fingered her prayer beads.

What Bai Qingyan said was correct… public opinion was fearsome. In recent days, as victory reports frequently arrived, the corrupt officials in court openly praised Duke Zhenguo’s invincibility, but their underlying meaning darkly suggested that Duke Zhenguo’s achievements overshadowed his master, and he didn’t know restraint. Grand Princess was not unaware of these things.

Grand Princess spoke earnestly: “A’Bao, you must remember that you are the granddaughter of Great Jin’s Grand Princess, and imperial blood also flows in your veins. You absolutely must not develop rebellious intentions!”

She lowered her eyes to look at her fingertips that had lost all color from Grand Princess’s grip, unable to suppress the swelling weariness and coldness in her heart, answering hoarsely: “Granddaughter remembers.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s appearance, Grand Princess’s heart softened, and she lovingly raised her hand to gently stroke her head: “Yesterday, the painter delivered the portraits he painted of you sisters to me. Why don’t I see yours?”

“Granddaughter doesn’t like joining in such festivities.” Bai Qingyan said quietly.

If even the Bai family couldn’t be preserved, what use was keeping a portrait?

After speaking with Grand Princess for a while longer, Bai Qingyan rose to bid farewell. Just as she reached the entrance of Changshou Courtyard, she heard Nanny Jiang dispatching grandmother’s chief maid Lian Xin to summon Third Miss.