“Miss, rest assured, this servant understands.” Chun Tao nodded.

“I estimate that on the tenth day, when the funeral takes place, Chun Yan will likely bring us quite a spectacle. Let’s just wait and see!” Bai Qingyan said to her two younger sisters.

Whether it was Prince Liang or Chun Yan, if they wanted to cause trouble… naturally, they would do so when Duke Mansion was at its most chaotic.

Once news of the tenth day funeral was released, either Prince Liang would seek out Chun Yan in advance, having her cause chaos while everyone at Duke Mansion was busy with funeral arrangements on the tenth, creating havoc in the confusion!

Or he would find Chun Yan on the tenth itself, having her find a way to place the letter in the grandfather’s study that very day.

No matter what, on the tenth day of the funeral, these two would certainly take action.

The black lacquered memorial tablets with golden characters in the mourning hall appeared particularly striking under the flickering candlelight.

She looked toward grandfather’s and father’s memorial tablets, only praying that if grandfather and father truly had spirits in heaven, they would bless her on the tenth day to strike down that villain Prince Liang in one fell swoop. Only then… could she feel at ease going to Nan Jiang.

·

On the ninth day, before dawn had even broken.

Grand Princess summoned all her daughters-in-law, wanting to discuss the matter of Bai Qingxuan.

The lamp wicks on the high platform were trimmed extremely high, gently swaying within their glass covers, illuminating the entire room very brightly, and clearly revealing Grand Princess’s haggard expression.

Grand Princess had not slept all night, thinking over this matter repeatedly before finally deciding to resolve it.

After all, tomorrow was the funeral, and they needed someone to break the mourning bowl.

“I know you all dislike this illegitimate son, and I don’t like him either. But he is indeed Second Son’s bloodline, the only remaining male heir of the Bai Family.” Grand Princess’s voice was measured. “In bringing this illegitimate son back this time, his mother won’t be kept. I’ll have him stay by my side and personally guide his education. If Second Son’s wife is willing, she can register him under her name. If unwilling… in the future one of you will be in Shouyang, one by my side – out of sight, out of mind.”

The several daughters-in-law looked at Grand Princess, all remaining silent, listening as Grand Princess spoke slowly.

“In any case, after tomorrow’s funeral, I will enter the palace to request the removal of the Bai Family’s noble title. I absolutely will not let the title fall to this illegitimate son, and I can make our retreat appear sufficiently graceful. In the future, if Heaven blesses our Bai Family and allows Fifth Son’s wife to bear a male child, when he grows up and enters official service, the reputation our Bai Family accumulates from today’s retreat will surely become a great advantage for him!”

“Since Mother has already considered this clearly, then let’s bring him back!” Dong Shi spoke up.

Having been Grand Princess’s daughter-in-law for so many years, Dong Shi understood Grand Princess too well. When Grand Princess spoke this way, she had already made up her mind, and further persuasion would likely be useless.

Besides, that day, her daughter Bai Qingyan had also said that when the Bai Family fell into trouble, the illegitimate son fled. Once the emperor’s edict punishing Prince Xin came down, that illegitimate son would return anyway. She had been mentally prepared for this.

“Then let it be so! I’ll have Nanny Jiang prepare a carriage to fetch him. After tomorrow, you and the children can finally rest properly.” Grand Princess’s cold fingers tightened around the prayer beads in her hand, her expression as benevolent as always. “These past days have been hard on all of you!”

·

Bai Jinzhi led the three younger sisters to replace Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinxiu, and Bai Jintong, letting them rest for a while.

Returning to Qinghui Courtyard, she washed her face but didn’t hurry to rest. She inquired about Ji Tingyu’s condition today, learning that Ji Tingyu had awakened but was still very weak from excessive blood loss. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Miss has kept vigil all night, please rest for a while!” Chun Tao looked at the Miss whose eyes were densely filled with red blood vessels, feeling deeply distressed.

She shook her head, standing behind the writing desk, wanting to write funeral eulogies for her grandfather and father. But after lifting her brush and dipping it in ink, she hesitated for a long time without putting the brush to paper.

She had a hundred chapters worth of words she wanted to say to grandfather and the others, but none could be spoken aloud – she could only say them silently in her heart.

An hour later, after Chun Tao had watched over Bai Qingyan as she slept, she quietly tiptoed out of the room.

Chun Yan, who had returned to Qinghui Courtyard and greeted Nanny Tong, saw Chun Tao emerge and approached with a smile: “Chun Tao, I’m back to keep you company again!”

“Shh…” Chun Tao made a quiet gesture. Remembering Miss’s instruction to get close to Chun Yan, she supported Chun Yan’s arm and walked to one side, lowering her voice: “Miss kept vigil all night and just went to rest. Keep your voice down. Since you’re back, don’t do anything that would hurt Miss again, or I’ll be the first to not forgive you!”

Chun Yan linked arms with Chun Tao, saying, “I still remember Miss saying you pleaded for me. I’ve wanted to thank you several times, but you’ve always been busy.”

Chun Tao felt extremely disgusted inside, but forced herself to endure it: “Tomorrow, the mansion will still be busy. If your body isn’t well, just stay in your room and don’t come out, lest you get in the way. And don’t wander around in front of Miss either!”

Normally, Chun Yan would have shown Chun Tao attitude over such words, but today she responded with a smiling face: “I understand! Nanny Tong wants me to room with that little fool Yin Shuang, but I keep thinking of our past friendship and want to room with you. After the mansion’s big event passes, could you speak with Chun Xing and have her switch with me?”

Chun Tao sneered inwardly. Her quarters were those of a first-class senior maid. Did this Chun Yan take her for a fool? She spoke of remembering past friendship and wanting to room together, but in her heart, she was coveting that first-class maid’s glory.

“We’ll see about that!” Chun Tao pulled away from Chun Yan’s linking arm. “I still have to handle Miss’s affairs. You go get settled first.”

With that, Chun Tao walked toward the outside of Qinghui Courtyard.

Chun Yan didn’t take offense. She thought of how those lowly people who had previously mistreated her looked dumbfounded when they heard she had received Miss’s permission to return to Qinghui Courtyard, and she felt satisfied.

Chun Tao was such a blockhead – how could she be as clever as herself?

Once Miss’s anger subsided, she, Chun Yan, would still be the first-class senior maid by Miss’s side.

Returning to Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Tong, considering that Chun Yan was injured, didn’t assign her any work. She only had her guide Yin Shuang in proper etiquette, and Yin Shuang obediently bowed to Chun Yan.

But seeing that little fool Yin Shuang annoyed Chun Yan. She lazily sprawled on the bed, sometimes ordering Yin Shuang to pour her water, having Yin Shuang peel melon seeds for her, and wanting Yin Shuang to massage her legs.

Yin Shuang foolishly did whatever Chun Yan told her to do, and only then did Chun Yan find her more pleasant to look at.

At noon, when Nanny Tong came to ask how Yin Shuang was learning proper etiquette, Yin Shuang honestly replied: “I learned to pour water for her, and I learned to peel melon seeds…”

Yin Shuang thought for a moment and added: “And to massage her legs!”

Chun Yan’s face flushed red. Seeing Nanny Tong’s expression darken, she guiltily scolded: “What nonsense are you spouting? Just because I had you pour water once, you’re already spreading rumors about me to Nanny Tong! Nanny Tong… I don’t dare teach proper etiquette anymore!”

Though Yin Shuang wasn’t very bright, she still had a temper. Her eyes widened as she took three steps in two, pushing the injured Chun Yan to the ground: “Eight times! Not once!”