Bai Qingyu still maintained that gentle, smiling demeanor and said: “I’ll listen to elder sister…”

Bai Jinzhao pretended to be angry and stamped her foot: “Since none of you will support me, I’ll have Kangle and Xile support me in a moment!”

“Little niece and little nephew are still babies, our little five really knows how to find people…” Bai Qingjue said with a laugh.

Nanny Qin came up from the stairs, and after smiling and bowing, said: “All the madams, young masters, and young ladies, the lunch has been prepared and is ready to be served!”

“Look at that, our A’Bao and Ah Yu are like they had someone watching Nanny Qin – as soon as lunch was ready, she came over!” Li Shi covered her lips with a handkerchief and joked with a smile.

Today, with the triumphant return of the Bai family sons, all the Bai family madams were very happy. Second Madam Liu Shi was also happy, but beneath her joy was a touch of melancholy and anxiety.

“Mother…” Bai Jinxiu walked to Liu Shi’s side, supporting her and gently grasping Liu Shi’s hand. “Let’s go!”

“Second aunt, be careful!” Bai Qingqi stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for Liu Shi.

Tears immediately welled up in Liu Shi’s eyes as she smiled and responded: “Alright…”

The Bai family members sat around a round table like ordinary common folk, without any regard for formalities… chatting and laughing as they ate their meal.

Just as they finished lunch, Nanny Qin served everyone plum soup. Before they could finish drinking it, Xiao Ba, little Wang, Kangle, and Xile were brought to the Bai mansion, and the residence immediately became lively.

As soon as little Kangle and little Xile arrived, their uncles and aunts didn’t know how to shower them with enough affection, crowding together with everyone wanting to hold them.

Fortunately, the two little ones weren’t shy at all, blinking their big eyes as they looked at their uncles and aunts.

Bai Qingyu very much wanted to hold his nephew and niece, but he was afraid that the frightening scars on his face would scare the two children. He stood behind Bai Jinzhi with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling as he watched the two children without moving.

Every time someone else took a turn holding the children, he carefully stepped back two paces, afraid that the children would be frightened to tears upon seeing him.

After all the uncles and aunts had held them and stuffed the meeting gifts they had prepared for the children into their little arms, Bai Qingyan finally said to Nanny Tong: “Nanny, let Ah Yu hold the children too.”

Bai Qingyu was startled and hurriedly declined: “No need, I’ll frighten the two children.”

Xiao Ba and little Wang were older, and the nanny had repeatedly instructed them before coming that when they saw their fifth brother and fifth uncle, they must not be afraid – those were medals of honor that Bai Qingyu had earned saving the border people. Therefore, when the two children saw Bai Qingyu, not only were they not afraid, but they were quite reverent.

But Kangle and Xile… were too young.

Even though Bai Qingyu could hardly suppress the love in his heart upon seeing the two children for the first time, he didn’t dare hold them, not wanting to make the two children cry.

Today was a joyous family reunion for the Bai family – there should be no more tears.

However, Nanny Tong wouldn’t take no for an answer and placed little Princess into Bai Qingyu’s arms. Bai Qingyu stepped back in panic, at a loss.

“Why did you arrive so late…” Bai Qingyan didn’t look at Bai Qingyu, only asking Nanny Tong.

“We should have arrived much earlier, but who knew we’d encounter Physician Hong halfway. When Chun Zhi called out, Physician Hong heard and, knowing that the carriage carried Eighth Miss, little young master, little prince, and little princess, he examined each of their pulses.” Nanny Tong placed the little princess in Bai Qingyu’s arms, unable to help but smile. “After Physician Hong examined the little princess’s pulse, his expression seemed to soften somewhat, and he went with Lu Ping to find Imperial Physician Huang.”

Bai Qingyu nervously looked at the delicate, soft little person in his arms. Seeing that Kangle’s watery eyes were looking at him without crying, her little mouth moving as she stared at him unblinkingly without crying…

“Physician Hong just returned. How did he offend Imperial Physician Huang?” Bai Jinzhao asked in confusion.

“It seems to be about a few medicines used incorrectly when treating A’Bao’s body.” Li Shi covered her lips with a handkerchief, speaking with a smile.

Bai Qingyan glanced sideways at Bai Qingyu’s rigid posture as he held the child, smiling as she lowered her gaze to drink her tea.

After half a day of liveliness, Xiao Ba, Kangle, and Xile had all tired themselves out and fallen asleep. Only little Wang was still energetic, clinging to Jinxiu’s embrace as if he could never get enough closeness with his mother, telling her in his halting speech about the fun things that had happened in the palace these past days.

Bai Qingyan sat by the carved openwork window lattice, drinking tea, watching the setting sun paint the pavilion, the gracefully swaying willows, and tall sophora trees the color of tea stains. Then, turning back to look at her family’s laughter and conversation, she felt that she had no more desires in this life.

“On the way back to the capital, we took the Bai family army to pay respects at the monument that elder sister had erected by the Jing River for the fallen Bai family army soldiers.” Bai Qingqi, sitting beside Bai Qingyan, spoke in measured tones. “The Bai family army soldiers were all very encouraged. Those who survived the battle in Nan Jiang… the Bai family army soldiers who remain to this day are also very grateful. Some Bai family army soldiers have expressed interest in moving their families to the newly conquered Xiliang cities, to guard… the Nan Jiang territory that our Bai family army brothers sacrificed their lives to protect.”

Hearing these words, Bai Qingyan felt indescribable emotions, her nose tingling with sourness. She asked: “Have all the wounded been properly settled?”

“Elder sister, rest assured. Those with light injuries have all returned, and those seriously wounded remain in Yun Jing to recover. They’ll return after their wounds heal.” Bai Qingyu also spoke to his elder sister.

“In a moment, I want to visit the military camp.” Bai Qingyan held her teacup. Although she hadn’t been present for this battle to destroy Xiliang, she was concerned about the soldiers.

Now that the Great Zhou army and Bai family army had returned in triumph, although the imperial edict of rewards had already been delivered to the military camp by uncle Dong Qingping on her behalf, she still wanted to go see for herself, especially those few remaining Bai family army soldiers from the Nan Jiang battle.

Furthermore, Ah Yu had just mentioned that there were quite a few complaints in the army about her gambling with the nation and entrusting military authority to Prince Hancheng. She should go personally to resolve their doubts, especially since General Cheng must be both angry and anxious.

Today at the capital city gates, Bai Qingyan hadn’t seen General Cheng and the others. She supposed they must have been restrained by General Wei Zhaonian; otherwise, with General Cheng’s impulsive nature, he would certainly have questioned her about gambling the nation and giving military authority to Prince Hancheng the moment he saw her.

“I’ll accompany my elder sister.” Bai Jinxiu, still holding little Wang who was eating pastries, turned to Bai Qingyan upon hearing this.

“You’ve just returned, spend some quality time with little Wang. Our little Wang… has been missing mother for a long time, haven’t you?” Bai Qingyan smiled as she looked at little Wang.

Xiao Ba and little Wang spent their days in the palace with Bai Qingyan and weren’t afraid of their aunt who was the emperor. Their eyes and lips curved with sweet smiles: “Yes, little Wang misses mother every day.”

“Let Ah Qi, Ah Yu, and Xiao Si accompany me!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Bai Qingjue and Bai Qingyun, who were supporting their heads with one hand, eyes closed in sleep, with faint smiles still lingering at the corners of their lips.