“Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!” The prefect bowed deeply.

Xiao Ruohai nodded. He still had some favorable feelings toward this ungreedy prefect. He continued: “By the way, I’ll also need to trouble you to go to the side room first and write down in detail what the prefect’s wife and your daughter usually like, as well as what habits your wife has in daily life!”

“Yes, once this official finishes writing, I’ll have someone deliver it to you, my lord!” The prefect hurriedly bowed to Xiao Ruohai.

When Xiao Ruohai returned, Chun Zhi had already prepared the copper pot according to Wei Zhong’s instructions.

The evening meal was arranged in the flower hall. Steam rose from the mutton soup copper pot, along with the appetizing aroma of mutton broth wafting over.

Seeing Xiao Ruohai arrive, Bai Jinzhao smiled and said: “Xiao Ruohai is here! We can finally eat! I’m famished!”

“Thank you for your hard work, milk brother. Let’s eat and talk…” Bai Qingyan smiled and said to Xiao Ruohai, “Qing Zhu doesn’t like eating mutton, and there are many matters in the city, so she left first!”

Xiao Ruohai’s ears reddened as he quickly responded, then paid respects to each member of the Bai family in turn before sitting down next to General Wei Zhaonian. Since they were all military people and family, when away from home, they didn’t observe the custom of men and women dining separately.

Xiao Ruohai handed the jade pendant to Wei Zhong, asking Wei Zhong to pass it to Bai Qingyan, then slowly began to speak: “This jade pendant was given to the prefect’s wife by the personal attendant beside General Ye Shouguan back then. The prefect’s wife said that… as long as her daughter carries the jade pendant to find the personal attendant beside General Ye Shouguan, she’ll be able to steal the token! Because her daughter looks very similar to how she looked when she was young. But the prefect later said some things to this subordinate, meaning that… his daughter doesn’t resemble the prefect’s wife in her youth, and his daughter has a scheming mind. If she develops other thoughts midway, it will cause trouble and cost the entire family their lives.”

“How old is his daughter? Why don’t I disguise myself as that prefect’s wife’s daughter and carry the jade pendant to infiltrate Yecheng Pass to find the person?” Bai Jinzhao quickly turned to look at her eldest sister, requesting orders. “Eldest sister, let me try!”

“Fifth Miss probably isn’t suitable. This prefect’s daughter was raised in the inner chambers, unlike Fifth Miss, who is so valiant in battle and killing enemies. You carry an aura of killing intent that would probably be exposed.” Xiao Ruohai spoke very tactfully. Fifth Miss had been so tanned black from training and campaigning – which pampered young lady from a good family would be tanned to this degree?

Only their Bai family didn’t treat their daughters like typical daughters, requiring both sons and daughters to go to the battlefield for training.

Speaking of this, Xiao Ruohai still felt very sorry for their eldest miss… and the other Bai family misses.

“Should I go then?” Bai Jinhua seemed somewhat reserved. “But I’m not very good at acting!”

“Is this mission dangerous?” Bai Jinse frowned and asked Xiao Ruohai. “If there’s no danger, I have a candidate in mind!”

Bai Qingqi looked up at his seventh sister, knowing he had the same candidate in mind. This person’s acting skills could be described as masterful – she had been pretending to have amnesia ever since Aunt Lu picked her up, even fooling his younger brothers and sisters.

Hearing Bai Jinse say this, Lu Ning’e knew she was talking about Lu Liaichen, and felt somewhat worried: “But… but Liaichen’s identity is still unclear. It’s all my fault – I originally thought this little girl was helpless and alone and couldn’t remember anything, so…”

“Aunt Lu needn’t be like this! Aunt’s kind heart is a good thing!” Bai Qingyan smiled and said to Lu Ning’e.

“Lu Liaichen should be called Sima Ruodan…” Bai Qingqi slowly spoke. “She’s from the Sima family of the capital city, and is a cousin of that Sima Ping who came to serve in our Bai family army.”

“So Third Brother knew all along!” Bai Jinzhao’s eyes widened.

“Otherwise, do you think Third Brother would keep someone in our Bai family army?” Bai Qingyun smiled.

“That’s true…” Bai Jinzhao smiled and scratched her head.

“The Sima family – is that Imperial Censor Sima?” Lu Ning’e had been by the Grand Princess’s side when in the capital, so she was clear about the officials in the capital city, especially this Imperial Censor Sima, who had been quite shrewd back then. Before Prince Liang caused trouble, he had already requested leave to stay home… completely avoiding Prince Liang’s murky waters.

Later, because of his relationship with the Qin Lang family, when the new dynasty was established, he wasn’t dismissed from office and remained in his position as Imperial Censor.

“Could she be from the Sima family clan?”

Just as Lu Ning’e finished speaking, someone came to report that Lu Liaichen requested an audience.

Bai Qingyan smiled and wiped her hands with a hot towel, then placed the towel back on the black lacquered square tray that Chun Zhi was holding: “It seems she’s thought things through. Let her come in, and add a set of bowls and chopsticks for Miss Liaichen.”

“It seems eldest sister likes Liaichen… Miss Sima!” Bai Jinzhao said with a smile.

Chun Zhi invited Sima Ruodan in. At this time, Sima Ruodan had already changed into the concubine-colored silk embroidered tea-white jacket with pink orchid flowers that she had been wearing when Aunt Lu Ning’e rescued her. The collar overlapped in layers, with a frost-colored underskirt below. Her hair was adorned with only a white jade hairpin, making her look very quiet and elegant. Her black, bright eyes were red-rimmed.

She had made up her mind before coming to find Bai Qingyan. She truly hadn’t expected that Bai Qingyan, as a nation’s ruler, would be so approachable – not only did she not punish her for the crime of deceiving the sovereign, but she even told her master that she must have her difficulties.

Sima Ruodan’s eyes were moist and red. She didn’t want to deceive Bai Qingyan either. Steeling her heart, she had changed clothes and packed her belongings, preparing to reveal the truth and then leave.

Upon entering, her gaze first fell on Bai Qingqi. Seeing that Bai Qingqi’s expression toward her remained as calm and unruffled as before, she solemnly kowtowed to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, this common woman pretended to have amnesia and followed my master to the frontier because, after escaping from that family, I had nowhere to go.”

Lu Ning’e’s heart lifted – so it was still a story of a rich family’s daughter running away. This foolish girl must have read too many storybooks!

“I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Liaichen is the daughter of the Sima family. Imperial Censor Sima Yan is Liaichen’s second uncle. This common woman’s original name is Sima Ruodan…” Sima Ruodan kept her head lowered, not daring to look up. Just speaking to this point, her voice was already choked with emotion.

Imperial Censor Sima Yan was Sima Ping’s father. Sima Yan and Qin Lang’s fathers were proper cousins. If this were the case, Sima Ruodan was Sima Ping’s cousin and also Qin Lang’s cousin. But Bai Qingyan remembered that this Sima Yan… was supposed to be the Sima family’s only son. How did he become the second uncle?

If it were according to clan generational ranking, Sima Ruodan wouldn’t have specifically mentioned Sima Yan, since there was more than just Sima Yan among the living, powerful members of the Sima family.

Wei Zhong, who was changing hot tea for Bai Qingyan, heard this and whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear: “Speaking of Imperial Censor Sima’s family, this old servant does know something. Although Imperial Censor Sima is the Sima family’s only son, before him… Old Master Sima had once adopted a son.”