The two elderly servants knelt on the ground, kowtowing while crying and laughing simultaneously, saying repeatedly that it was the Bai family ancestors providing protection. The entire Bai household was even more jubilant and excited about the return of Bai Qingyu, the legitimate son of Duke Zhenguo Bai Qishan, and they were also invigorated by the fact that the Bai family sons had worked together wholeheartedly to lead the Bai family army in destroying Xiliang. After all, after Prince Zhenguo, Duke Zhenguo, and Second Master had passed away… even though the eldest young lady had ascended to the emperor’s position, others still said that the invincible Bai family army would probably never regain its former glory.
But now, their Bai family’s young masters and young ladies had still managed to support the Bai family army! They had not let the black banner with the white python of the Bai family army fall, so how could these loyal servants who had retired from the Bai family army not be delighted?
As soon as Physician Hong arrived at the Bai mansion, after a brief rest and changing into a fresh set of clothes, he hurriedly went to take Bai Qingyan’s pulse. While examining her pulse, he simultaneously scolded Bai Qingyu, who stood to one side not daring to make a sound, and along with that, he also berated his junior martial brother… Imperial Physician Huang from the Imperial Medical Academy.
He scolded Bai Qingyu for remembering how Bai Qingyu had been bold and reckless, daring to risk his own life in a scheme without notifying his family, which had caused Bai Qingyan, whose health was already not very good, to give birth prematurely.
He berated Imperial Physician Huang because he had noticed that when Imperial Physician Huang had been prescribing medicine for Bai Qingyan, several of the medicinal ingredients he used were not particularly appropriate, leading to Bai Qingyan’s body being strong on the outside but weak on the inside. He cursed Imperial Physician Huang for his lack of medical skill, calling him a quack who harmed people, making Bai Qingyan not know whether to laugh or cry.
After Physician Hong returned this time, he examined each member of the Bai family’s pulse individually. He was so angry that he wanted to discipline his junior martial brother, and he didn’t even stay to share the noon meal. He said that after examining Old Gu’s pulse, he had to go to Imperial Physician Huang’s residence. Bai Qingyan had no choice but to have Lu Ping escort Physician Hong there.
That afternoon, they offered incense to their grandfather, father, and uncles. Bai Qingyan remained at the Bai residence for the meal.
Bai Qingyu and Bai Qingyan, the brother and sister, walked side by side. On their way to Shaohua Courtyard, Wei Zhong, Chun Tao, and the lame-legged Wang Dong followed ten paces behind the siblings.
“Now that Great Zhou and Yan are gambling their nations, just sending Shen Tianzhi alone won’t work. Although her elder sister trusts people without suspicion and dares to entrust military authority entirely to Shen Tianzhi’s command, human hearts are unpredictable. With military power in his grasp, it’s hard to guarantee he won’t develop other thoughts.” Bai Qingyu walked slowly along the corridor with his hands clasped behind his back alongside Bai Qingyan, his voice measured and deliberate. “I think that now, after pacifying Xiliang, we also need to guard against Tianfeng Kingdom and that so-called Dongyi Kingdom.”
Seeing that they had reached the corridor steps ahead, Bai Qingyu extended his hand to support his elder sister. After the siblings ascended the steps, Bai Qingyu continued: “If it comes to naval warfare, our Bai family army won’t be of much use. Among us brothers and sisters, only the second sister is somewhat familiar with it. The territory south of the snow mountains, where Tianfeng Kingdom connects to Xiliang, with our Bai family army guarding it, will certainly have no problems! It can be entrusted to the third brother!”
“You want to go to Yan?” Bai Qingyan paused in her steps, turning her head to look at her younger brother, who was now much taller than her.
Bai Qingyu, wearing a jade crown, turned to look seriously at his elder sister, his gaze earnest: “Going to Yan, if there’s the slightest carelessness… perhaps Yan will capture and hold the person as a hostage. I wouldn’t feel at ease letting other brothers and sisters go, so this matter… it would be better for me to go.”
Bai Qingyan looked deeply at her younger brother, then lowered her gaze and continued walking with Bai Qingyu toward Shaohua Courtyard, saying: “Your second sister has little Wang, and I don’t want her to travel around anymore. Qin Lang is also about to return, so once Qin Lang comes back… let your second sister have a few days of peaceful life. Otherwise, with both parents not by her side, little Wang would be the most pitiful. Furthermore, the Bureau of Military Intelligence should still be handed over to your second sister.”
Bai Qingyu nodded, deeply feeling that what Bai Qingyan said made sense. Now that he, the third brother, the seventh younger brother, and the ninth younger brother had all returned, there was no reason to let the second sister work so hard anymore.
“The coastal area will be entrusted to Prince Hancheng. You probably haven’t met Prince Hancheng yet. Elder sister thinks very highly of this Prince Hancheng. A prince who could bear the infamy of being a ruler who lost his country and leave the city to surrender to Xiao Si for the sake of the people must certainly be a prince who cares for the people. After all, not everyone dares to bear such infamy!” Bai Qingyan’s expression carried a light smile. “I’m willing to trust Prince Hancheng. Now that Great Zhou’s territory is so vast, if we had to use only our family members for everything, wouldn’t that exhaust our people? The trust that should be given still needs to be given.”
“But… even if Prince Hancheng doesn’t want to rebel, with military authority in his hands, I’m afraid those former Liang dynasty subjects who dream of restoring their country might develop other thoughts.” Bai Qingyu was still worried. “Moreover, in the army, there are quite a few complaints about the Great Zhou and Yan gambling their nations, as well as the elder sister entrusting military authority to Prince Hancheng. Our Bai family army especially… has reacted quite strongly.”
“A ruler governing a country… doesn’t do everything personally or only assign trusted associates. Using people according to their abilities… allows talents to display their capabilities to the fullest. For naval forces… I dare say that among our Bai family, we couldn’t find anyone superior to Prince Hancheng.” Bai Qingyan looked at her younger brother, whose brow was tightly furrowed. “Since we’re using Prince Hancheng, we must be able to bear the thoughts and actions of former Liang dynasty subjects wanting to restore their country. But… I believe Prince Hancheng can handle it well. There’s no need to worry too much about this!”
“Speaking of Shen Tianzhi…” When Bai Qingyan mentioned Shen Tianzhi, she thought of how Shen Tianzhi was the path of retreat that her father had left for their Bai family in Shouyang, and a light smile appeared on her face. “Shen Tianzhi… was originally his father’s close friend. He is the path of retreat that Father left for our Bai family in Shouyang.”
Bai Qingyan told Bai Qingyu everything about the relationship between Shen Tianzhi and their father.
“Shen Tianzhi is a person of extraordinary ability, yet he could remain in Shouyang as a prefect for the sake of a promise. He is a gentleman who values his word. Using such a gentleman, I feel more at ease than using Prince Hancheng!” Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze. “Moreover, I trust father’s judgment. Father would not entrust the Bai family’s path of retreat to someone unworthy of trust.”
After hearing Bai Qingyan explain Shen Tianzhi’s background, Bai Qingyu walked silently beside Bai Qingyan for a few steps before saying, “I also trust father’s judgment.”
“Furthermore, Jintong is in Yan, and I will have someone deliver Great Zhou’s military tally to Jintong, just in case something happens…” Bai Qingyan was guarding against the Yan Empress Dowager.
If it were according to Bai Qingyan’s nature, this Yan Empress Dowager’s life could not be spared. But after all… she was Murong Yan’s sister-in-law, Murong Li’s mother, and also Murong Yu’s wife.
However, if the day truly came when Yan lost but the Yan Empress Dowager was unwilling to accept defeat and still wanted to struggle desperately, Bai Qingyan giving the military tally to Bai Jintong would allow her to command the Great Zhou forces in Yan and the Great Zhou forces at the Yan border. This was to prepare for any eventuality, and also to protect Bai Jintong’s life.
Bai Qingqi had already told Bai Qingyu about Bai Jintong’s situation in Yan.
As the two talked, they stepped into the shade-filled Shaohua Courtyard, where hundreds of flowers bloomed together, their rich fragrance carrying a cool breeze that rushed toward them.
As the wind passed, the sound of bronze bells approached from far to near, and the canopy-like green trees overhead rustled.