“Moreover, since Elder Sister ascended the throne, she has suppressed giving rewards to the Bai clan members, and they’re already very dissatisfied.” Bai Qingjue slowly blew on the tea in his cup, speaking carelessly. “If we don’t give them a chance to perform at this family banquet, they’ll likely harbor resentment in their hearts. Over time… they might inevitably do something that would trouble us to clean up after them.”

“Speaking of it… the clever Bai clan members should understand that staying in Shouyang would be more comfortable, and having their sons take the imperial examinations would be best! But they insist on relying on Elder Sister becoming emperor to hope that she’ll grant them some hereditary titles or take care of the Bai clan, preferably bringing all Bai clan members to become officials!” Bai Jinzhao curled her lips. “It’s simply ridiculous!”

“You can’t condemn everyone with one stroke!” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinzhao, who was puffed up like an angry little squirrel, and laughed. “There are good people among the Bai clan, too. Besides Bai Qingping, some have gone to join the army, and those who have begun studying diligently!”

She held her teacup, using the lid to press down the tea leaves floating on the clear tea, and after thinking said: “Now that Great Zhou is promoting literacy and enlightening the people, and most of our Bai clan members have already come to the capital, why not have the clan leader tell the clan members to set an example by attending the schools established by the government?”

“That’s a good idea! Previously, we encouraged women to study, and each family has already hired tutors for their women to study alongside the men! Among the common people… those who can send women to study are still in the minority. The Bai clan can serve as an example!” Bai Qingjue smiled and spoke. “Who knows, we might even find useful people within the clan!”

Bai Qingqi also nodded in agreement.

“Has Shen Tianzhi sent any memorials? Does he need any assistance recently?” Bai Qingyan asked Bai Qingyu and Bai Qingqi.

“Shen Tianzhi is capable!” Bai Qingyu spoke methodically. “After all, every time Shen Tianzhi requests assistance from the court, it has to go through the state of Yan, so to avoid giving Yan grounds for criticism, Shen Tianzhi resolves what he can by himself.”

“So Yan has been causing trouble for Shen Tianzhi?” She looked up at her brother, her eyes carrying a gentle smile.

“Yan causing trouble was expected!” Bai Qingyun rubbed his leg and smiled. “When Yan causes trouble for Shen Tianzhi, Third Brother can also cause trouble for Yan in return – mutual harm…”

Bai Qingyan had Bai Qingqi and Bai Qingyu handle the gambling state affairs. The two worked together in division of labor – Bai Qingyu was responsible for Great Zhou’s territory on Yan’s side, while Bai Qingqi was responsible for Yan’s territory on Great Zhou’s side.

Bai Jinse was amused by Bai Qingyun’s words: “Ninth Brother’s words make him sound like a rogue.”

Bai Qingyun’s smile grew even broader as he turned to look at his elder sister: “Elder Sister, speaking of encouraging people to study and become enlightened, I think of paper. Now that Yan wants to use papermaking techniques to do exclusive business in our Great Zhou and has already spread out in Great Zhou, it’s time for us to counterattack!”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan shook her head: “No rush. Let’s wait another two or three months. After they invest more from Yan, then we’ll make our move!”

Bai Qingyun had learned many things at Luopan Mountain, and papermaking was just one of them. The papermaking technology at Bai Jintong’s place came from Bai Qingyun. Previously, Bai Qingyun had been devoted to improving weapons to increase their destructive power. Now that the war had ended, Bai Qingyun had readjusted the papermaking technique, making it simpler and lower in cost than the papermaking technology Bai Jintong currently possessed.

Bai Qingyun planned to promote it throughout the Great Zhou, which would impact Yan. He turned to ask Bai Jinxiu about the situation of paper in Yan, as grasped by the School Affairs Bureau.

Bai Qingqi and Bai Qingyu held their teacups, discussing how to set a trap for Yan without leaving traces. Bai Jinse sat quietly to the side, listening carefully.

Bai Jinzhi, Bai Jinzhao, and Bai Jinhua discussed coastal affairs, analyzing in a serious manner whether the same tactics could be used if Great Zhou and Dongyi really went to war, considering that naval battles were different from land battles.

“Elder Sister, seeing that you’ve been reading so many naval warfare military books collected from Dongyi recently, what do you think of what I said?” Bai Jinzhi called out to Bai Qingyan.

“Little Fourth is right!” Her smile deepened in her eyes. “Recently, Little Fourth has been working hard. She borrowed more than half of the naval warfare military books from me.”

“I’m learning from Elder Sister! I heard Nanny Tong complaining that Elder Sister has to review memorials every day and read those military books. After finishing the military books, she has people collect more naval warfare books from Dongyi. I can’t match all of Elder Sister’s abilities, but I must have half of them. Otherwise, how can I be Prince Gaoyi, and how can I set an example for my sisters?” Bai Jinzhi raised her chin, her voice full of a young lady’s charm.

Bai Qingyan smiled and patted Bai Jinzhi’s head. She had never felt so relaxed before. With her younger brothers and sisters at her side, gradually taking over the burdens from her shoulders, it made her feel as if she had returned to the prosperous days of the Bai family when she could spend her days peacefully with a chess board.

On the sixth day of the ninth month, during the Hour of the Ox.

A messenger with command flags on his back galloped frantically to the north gate of the capital. Enduring the dizziness from traveling day and night without rest, he shouted: “Eight hundred li urgent dispatch, coastal battle report! Quickly open the city gate!”

The guard commander of the capital’s north gate hurriedly came down from the city wall. After verifying the authenticity, he shouted: “Open the city gate!”

The messenger did not dismount but spurred his horse and charged through.

At this time in the capital, the night was so deep and quiet that there wasn’t even a dog barking. The sound of hoofbeats and copper bells rang out from the main street straight toward the palace.

When Wei Zhong heard that an urgent coastal report had arrived, he dared not delay. While having people bring the messenger into the palace, he went to summon Bai Qingyan.

Upon hearing the news, Bai Qingyan threw on an outer robe and got up. Without even time to tie up her hair, she hurried toward the study.

The two words “battle report” already let Bai Qingyan know that Dongyi and the Great Zhou had started fighting. As she walked quickly, she said: “Send people to tell Prince Huguo, Prince Zhenguo, Prince Fuguo, Prince Zhongguo, Prince Gaoyi, Grand Marshal Lu, and Minister Dong to enter the palace with utmost speed!”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong responded and immediately instructed people to send messages quickly.

Just saying it was a battle report without yet knowing what kind of battle report it was, Bai Qingyan already had an extremely bad premonition in her heart.

She dared not slow her steps, even running to the front hall.

The messenger who had returned with the battle report knelt outside the great hall, holding a bamboo tube high with both hands, waiting for Bai Qingyan.

She took the bamboo tube from the messenger’s hands, breaking the seal while saying: “Rise and speak! Have someone bring him water and food!”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong responded.

Bai Qingyan drew the battle report from the bamboo tube.