Later, fortunately, Lu Jin’s daughter, Lu Baohua, learned of this matter. After returning home, she spoke to her father about it, hoping that if it was convenient, her father could help Fan Yugan.

Lu Jin took this matter to heart. The next day, he happened to encounter Fan Yugan on the street. Since Fan Yugan had once caused trouble daily with those dandies like Lu Yuanpeng, teasing cats and provoking dogs, he was quite familiar with Lu Jin. Lu Jin called out to Fan Yugan and asked him why he insisted on taking the imperial examinations.

Fan Yugan said… although Bai Qingyan hadn’t taken his father’s life, his father was still imprisoned, and now his old illness had flared up again – he didn’t know how long he could hold on.

The prison guards knew his father had once been a rebel minister of the former dynasty. To avoid being implicated, their family relatives were unwilling to associate with their family. He wanted his father to live better in prison, so he could only take the imperial examinations.

He didn’t dare hope that having an official position could save his father, only that… after having an official position, those prison guards might, out of respect for his official status, let his father live better in prison.

After hearing this, Lu Jin scolded Fan Yugan – how could he use his official position for personal gain? If he harbored such thoughts when taking the imperial examinations, it would be better not to take them at all.

But scolding aside, Lu Jin still remembered Fan Yugan’s pure nature and spoke to Grand Marshal Lu, hoping Grand Marshal Lu would have his subordinates be lenient and give Fan Yugan a chance.

After all, Fan Yugan had a filial heart, and his nature was pure and kind – he wasn’t a deeply scheming villain with evil intentions.

This time Fan Yugan was also among the second tier, considered the best performer among that group of dandies including Lu Yuanpeng.

At the end of March in the second year of Yuanhe, the combined armies of Great Zhou and Yan broke through Yunjing. Western Liang Emperor Li Tianjiao died by poison for her country, and Western Liang, which had occupied the southern territories for a hundred years, was destroyed.

At this time, Bai Qingyu lay on the bed, burning with fever and constantly speaking deliriously, calling out for grandfather… calling for father, calling the names of his brothers, as if he had returned to that year’s Nan Jiang battlefield.

Bai Jinzhao lay beside Bai Qingyu, continuously changing cold cloths for him, tears rolling in her eyes as she occasionally turned to look at Physician Hong, who was examining medicine dregs while preparing medicine for Bai Qingyu.

Xiao Qi still hadn’t been found, and Fifth Brother’s fever wouldn’t break – how could Bai Jinzhao not feel sad and worried?

Bai Qingyu, lying on the bed, suddenly showed an extremely pained expression. His entire body suddenly stiffened as he murmured: “Fire… run quickly! Don’t mind me…”

“Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother, I’m Jinzhao! Fifth Brother… don’t be afraid, there’s no fire!” Bai Jinzhao could no longer hold back her tears as they fell drop by drop.

“Elder Sister, save me! Elder Sister… save me…” Bai Qingyu called out weakly.

Bai Qingqi frowned tightly, remembering when he had searched through that camp burned to ashes and found the charred “Bai Qingyu.” He turned and walked to the outer room to ask Physician Hong, “Physician Hong… why has Fifth Brother become even hotter after taking the medicine?”

“It’s all because Xiao Ruohai acted recklessly! Doesn’t he know that some medicines conflict with each other? If we hadn’t found the medicine dregs that Western Liang’s imperial physician gave Fifth Young Master, I don’t know what Xiao Ruohai would have done!” Physician Hong said, glancing toward the door.

Fortunately, Xiao Ruohai had been careful. After Bai Qingyu fainted, he ran to the palace where Western Liang had previously housed Bai Qingyu and found the medicine dregs from the Western Liang imperial physician’s decoctions. Otherwise, even a physician as skilled as Physician Hong would have needed considerable effort.

Xiao Ruohai was kneeling outside the door, feeling extremely distressed. He would rather be the one lying on the bed suffering than have it be the Fifth Young Master.

Everyone in the Bai family knew how much suffering Fifth Young Master had endured to return, and he hadn’t even properly announced his safe return to the Bai family.

This time Xiao Ruohai had stayed by Fifth Young Master’s side precisely to protect him, but who knew he would end up protecting him in this state? He had failed the deputy commander… failed First Miss!

And Seventh Miss – he hadn’t protected Seventh Miss either. He didn’t know if Qing Zhu had found Seventh Miss.

Kneeling under the blazing sun, Xiao Ruohai’s face grew paler and paler.

“Xiao Ruohai, get up. This matter can’t be blamed on you!” Bai Jinxiu came over carrying freshly prepared medicine. Seeing Xiao Ruohai still kneeling here, she thought for a moment and said, “Rather than kneeling here, why don’t you go out and look for Xiao Qi? Yunjing City has been nearly turned upside down by the Bai family army and Yan army, but they still haven’t found Xiao Qi! I’m afraid Xiao Qi was taken by those refugees and is in constant danger!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruohai immediately understood. The Western Liang refugees who hadn’t yet entered the Western Liang cities occupied by the Great Zhou were no different from wild beasts, resorting to eating their children. Bai Jinse was a young lady raised in the capital’s Bai family. Even though she had come to the battlefield for training, her delicate skin and tender flesh would be excellent reserve food for those Western Liang refugees… or even food itself!

It was precisely because of this that Bai Qingjue and Bai Jinhua had already led large numbers of troops out to search for Bai Jinse.

Xiao Ruohai’s scalp tightened. He suddenly stood up, nearly stumbling back down, fortunately caught by a quick-eyed Bai family army soldier.

“Don’t be anxious. Rest well first before going!” Bai Jinxiu looked at Xiao Ruohai. “I once heard Uncle tell my father that you two brothers are not only excellent at mapping but also at finding people – you’re rare talents!”

Hearing the deputy commander and Second Master praise their brothers, Xiao Ruohai’s throat moved, feeling even more unworthy of the deputy commander’s trust.

Bai Jinxiu didn’t delay. After finishing her words, she lifted the curtain and carried the medicine inside.

“Second Miss, this medicine is no longer needed…” Physician Hong had fine sweat on his forehead. “I was so busy I forgot to have someone tell Second Miss. I’ll prepare the medicine personally. Thank you for your trouble, Second Miss!”

Bai Jinxiu glanced into the room and casually set aside the now-unneeded medicine, nodding: “Good! Thank you for your hard work, Physician Hong!”

Shen Kunyang and Bai Jinzhi had also learned where Bai Qingqi and the others were staying in the imperial palace and hurried over with their people…

Bai Jinzhi appeared very excited. This time, she had participated in destroying Western Liang. Even though she hadn’t personally killed her way to the imperial palace to finish off Li Tianjiao and Cui Shanzhong, being able to participate in this great battle already made Bai Jinzhi very satisfied.

Just as Bai Jinzhi was happily entering with Shen Kunyang, Cheng Yuanzhi, and the others, they encountered Wei Zhaonian and Zhao Sheng, who were leading people to clean up the battlefield. Upon hearing about Bai Qingyu’s situation, Bai Jinzhi said nothing and rushed here.

Before Bai Jinzhi arrived, her voice had already reached them: “Fifth Brother!”

The impetuous Bai Jinzhi rushed in and threw herself into the arms of Bai Jinxiu, who had been about to go out and greet her. Bai Jinxiu covered her heart and gently scolded: “You’re already leading troops independently – how can you still be so rash!”

“Second Sister, Third Brother! How is Fifth Brother?” Bai Jinzhi looked at Bai Jinxiu and Bai Qingqi, her eyes reddening.