“Mother, rest assured. On this trip… I will be the safest,” Bai Qingyan analyzed for Dong Shi. “The rulers of Great Zhou, Yan, and Western Liang will all be present. If Tianfeng acts during the alliance meeting, setting aside Western Liang, it would certainly provoke the people’s anger in both the Great Zhou and Yan. At that time… the soldiers of both nations would fight to the death. Tianfeng, relying solely on their elephant army, would find it hard to fight with two fists against four hands… they probably couldn’t prevail. No matter how arrogant Tianfeng is, they wouldn’t dare act this way before understanding Great Zhou and Yan’s true strength!”

Dong Shi nodded. She didn’t understand battlefield matters, but she trusted Bai Qingyan: “No matter what, you must remember you’re carrying two lives. You must be extremely careful!”

“Mother, rest assured!” Bai Qingyan grasped her mother’s hand and smiled. “How are the preparations for Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao’s wedding going?”

“Nanny Qin and Nanny Tong have both gone to help. Don’t worry… Chun Tao’s dowry is all prepared. In two days, we’ll give Chun Tao a splendid wedding.” Dong Shi gently patted Bai Qingyan’s hand. Chun Tao’s marriage would settle one of Dong Shi’s concerns, giving her an account of her wet nurse.

Speaking of this, after Chun Tao and her husband marry, you must give Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao more time together. Don’t send Chen Qingsheng away again right after the newlyweds wed,” Dong Shi instructed.

“Mother, rest assured! This time, I’ll let Chen Qingsheng properly accompany Chun Tao and not separate the couple,” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.

November twenty-third was auspicious for marriage – the day of Chun Tao’s wedding.

Dong Shi’s wet nurse had already passed away. Chun Tao had grown up in the Bai household since childhood. For Chun Tao, the eldest miss and the Bai family’s various madams were her relatives.

Bai Qingyan had asked Chun Tao where she wanted to marry from, and Chun Tao said she wanted to marry from the Bai mansion.

Firstly, she feared marrying from the palace would cause trouble for Bai Qingyan. Secondly, having grown up in the Bai mansion, she had feelings for it. So Bai Qingyan granted Chun Tao’s request.

Since Bai Qingyan couldn’t easily leave the palace, the day before the wedding, she specially summoned Chen Qingsheng to the palace to instruct him to treat Chun Tao well.

After the morning court session, without Chun Tao’s companionship, she inevitably felt empty.

Even the Bai family’s old servants… including Shen Qingzhu, had returned to the Bai mansion to see Chun Tao off.

Standing in the corridor, she squinted at the brilliant autumn sun. Calculating that there was still time, despite Wei Zhong’s dissuasion, she changed into ordinary clothes and quietly took a carriage back to the Bai mansion to see Chun Tao off.

The Bai mansion was very lively that day. Although Chun Tao was only a maid, she was the daughter of Empress Dowager Dong Shi’s wet nurse and had grown up with the current empress. Though the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty couldn’t leave the palace, they had repeatedly instructed that Chun Tao’s wedding must be well arranged. How could the Bai household not put their hearts into it?

The various madams had sent their most capable and steady nannies. Nanny Qin from the Empress Dowager’s side and Nanny Tong from the Empress’s side were both present, bringing additional dowry gifts from the Empress Dowager and Empress for Chun Tao’s face-painting ceremony.

Privately, Nanny Tong also slipped Chun Tao the property deeds, shop deeds, house contracts, land contracts, and bank notes that Bai Qingyan had privately given. Chun Tao hurriedly refused, saying the dowry was all arranged by the Grand Madam through Nanny Qin, and she had also prepared additional gifts, plus the eldest miss had already added to it.

But Nanny Tong patted Chun Tao’s hand and said: “Good child, the public additional dowry is one thing, but this is what the eldest miss gives you for security! The eldest miss said you needn’t rush back to the palace to serve her after marriage – rest well for a few months.”

Chun Tao held the red sandalwood box carved with the Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern that the eldest miss had Nanny Tong bring, containing property deeds, real estate, shops, and bank notes. Tears fell drop by drop as she clutched the box to her chest.

“Oh my! My little mistress!” Seeing this, Nanny Tong quickly pulled out a handkerchief to gently dab Chun Tao’s tears. “This is a joyous day – crying isn’t allowed! It’s not like you won’t be able to serve the eldest miss after marriage. Stop crying quickly. No matter what, you’re still part of the Bai family! In the future… living well would repay the madam and eldest miss’s kindness to you!”

“Nanny…” Chun Tao looked up at Nanny Tong. “The madam and eldest miss are so good to Chun Tao… Chun Tao doesn’t know how to repay them!”

“Alright, don’t cry!” Nanny Tong smiled. “Our Chun Tao is grateful. Just serve the eldest miss more carefully in the future! This nanny’s health gets worse each day, and she can’t always accompany the eldest miss. When this nanny can no longer serve by the eldest miss’s side, it will be hard work for you!”

“Chun Tao knows!” Chun Tao nodded vigorously. “In the future, Chun Tao will learn more carefully from the nanny!”

Chun Tao dried her tears and sat before the bronze mirror. The nannies were bustling about arranging her hair, speaking an auspicious phrase with each stroke. Chun Tao’s face was flushed, her eyelashes trembling nervously.

Chun Zhi held the bridal veil, standing by the red curtains, looking enviously at the beautifully made-up Chun Tao, anticipating her own wedding day. She gripped the black lacquered gold-traced square tray tightly, knowing that as long as she faithfully served the eldest miss… the eldest miss would surely not mistreat her in the future.

Suddenly hearing repeated calls of “Eldest Miss” from outside, Chun Tao, sitting before the bronze mirror, turned her head to see Bai Qingyan in casual dress lifting the curtain and entering.

“Eldest Miss!” Chun Zhi quickly paid respects.

“Eldest Miss!” Chun Tao was so shocked that she stood up, her eyes immediately reddening.

The eldest miss was now the revered empress, yet she had specially left the palace to see her off. What if… what if she encountered danger? Seeing Shen Qingzhu following behind Bai Qingyan, Chun Tao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at Chun Tao in her wedding dress, made up skillfully by the nannies, her delicate features now had a mature and dignified bearing.

Bai Qingyan smiled and walked to Chun Tao’s side, pressing her shoulders to sit down: “Today is your joyous day – crying isn’t allowed…”

“Eldest Miss!” Chun Tao tightly grasped Bai Qingyan’s hands on her shoulders, choking back a sob, tears falling uncontrollably.

In Bai Qingyan’s heart, Chun Tao and Shen Qingzhu were the same – both like sisters to her. She couldn’t not come to Chun Tao’s wedding.

“Alright, it’s not like you’ll disappear forever after marriage. Take this opportunity to rest for a while, gather your strength, and return to the palace refreshed,” Bai Qingyan said.

Only then did Chun Tao quickly dab away her tears with a handkerchief, vowing solemnly: “Absolutely! Even after Chun Tao marries… she must serve the eldest miss for life!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Tao and gently stroked the top of her head. In this lifetime… Chun Tao was still alive and well, marrying the man of her heart.

Her Chun Tao would surely get better and better in the future…

Chen Qingsheng keenly sensed Bai Qingyan’s sudden arrival at the Bai mansion but didn’t dare make a fuss. He knew the eldest miss valued their Chun Tao highly, but hadn’t expected such importance.