On the road back to Jinwan City, Bai Qingjue rode alongside Bai Qingyan, speaking about the day’s events in Jinwan City.

“The coroner has examined him. That butcher wasn’t subjected to private punishment. He had been drinking heavily to begin with, and during the chase with the soldiers, he was already internally injured. Because he had been drinking, the internal bleeding was faster. It didn’t flare up at the time, but after being thrown into the cell, it went unnoticed. Later, when he cried out in pain in the cell, the jailers paid no attention, and that’s how he died.” Bai Qingjue said.

Bai Qingyan acknowledged with a sound. As long as it wasn’t private punishment, that was good. She just didn’t know if the people would accept this result.

“For the sake of fairness, the coroner was recommended by the butcher’s wife herself. He’s a very famous old coroner in this area, upright and unbending in character, so the people are convinced by this result!” Bai Qingjue said.

“That’s good!” Bai Qingyan nodded.

“Also, the ones who wrote the petition for the butcher’s wife and taught her what to say were four people, all scholars… they could be considered to have some academic standing, but they didn’t participate in the last spring examinations. I investigated and found that many scholars in the Great Liang territory didn’t participate in the spring examinations. Some are waiting and watching… still holding onto Great Liang, wanting to wait for Great Liang’s restoration. Some… are unwilling to accept defeat, and others don’t think well of our Great Zhou, thinking that with the eldest sister being a woman ascending to the throne, the imperial seat probably isn’t stable, so they don’t want to waste their effort.” Bai Qingjue’s voice was steady. “Although these four aren’t from prominent families, they’re all from scholarly households, belonging to those who want to see if Great Liang will be restored, and also think the eldest sister’s position isn’t stable. They have no connections with Dongyi, but it’s not ruled out that these four might have been guided by someone with ulterior motives, so I investigated!”

“This investigation revealed what the eldest sister mentioned… the person stirring up trouble among the people. The person… is that tavern’s manager, who happened to also be in jail. All the tavern’s people were arrested, two confessed, and the rest refused to admit anything!” Bai Qingjue asked Bai Qingyan, “Should the eldest sister wait for Uncle Ping to arrive and let him interrogate, or use some other methods?”

Bai Qingyan didn’t answer immediately, only asking: “Did you see Fan Yugan, who’s recovering from injuries in the city?”

Today Bai Qingyan had many matters to attend to. Because of the imminent battle, she had to handle things one by one urgently, so she hadn’t had time to see Fan Yugan and ask about the details of what happened in Dongyi.

The reason she chose to stay in Jinwan City rather than the Bai family army camp was her concern that… if she stayed at the Bai family army camp, the naval soldiers would inevitably feel that in this emperor’s eyes, there was still a distinction between inside and outside, making them uncomfortable. With battle imminent, military morale needed to be strongly and powerfully united, not scattered.

Moreover, the reason she wanted to enter the city was also because as soon as she saw Bai Qingjue, her brother said… they had caught spies.

Furthermore, Bai Qingyan wanted to see Fan Yugan, who was recovering from injuries in the city, to ask what exactly happened in Dongyi.

Therefore, Bai Qingyan chose to enter the city.

Bai Qingjue personally went to see these four people and found that these four scholars did have talent, but they were also somewhat too proud and arrogant, with radical temperaments. Such people were easily instigated and used by others.

“Eldest sister, A’Jue wants to ask eldest sister for a favor. These four people… A’Jue wants them!” Bai Qingjue’s brows showed a hint of a smile. “After the eldest sister meets these four people, if the eldest sister permits, after annihilating Dongyi, A’Jue wants to bring these four back to the capital. Given time, I’ll let them return to benefit the people!”

Bai Qingjue not only personally went to see these four people, but also made a bet with them. These four bet that the Great Zhou emperor wouldn’t fight with Dongyi, while Bai Qingjue bet that… the Great Zhou emperor would personally lead the expedition.

Bai Qingjue promised them that if he lost, he would let the four of them go. If they lost, they would have to serve under Bai Qingjue.

“Good! I’ll do as you wish…” Bai Qingyan agreed. It was rare for Bai Qingjue to take a liking to these four people. If they were truly talented scholars going through her own brother’s connections, they could have served the court earlier.

Among the Bai family sons, Bai Qingjue’s temperament was the most steady. Bai Qingyan had no concerns.

Jinwan’s magistrate position is currently vacant. Your brother took the initiative to promote the advisor to temporarily manage things. After Dongyi is completely pacified, we’ll see about having the Ministry of Personnel transfer someone over! I’ve observed this advisor, and he’s fairly decent. According to the clerks… when the previous county magistrate was afraid of trouble and ordered arrests, the advisor tried his best to dissuade him, but unfortunately, a higher rank crushes a lower rank, and he couldn’t dissuade him!”

“A’Jue… in our family, you and your third brother have been steady since childhood. Eldest sister is very reassured by your handling of affairs.” Bai Qingyan turned to look at her brother with a smile in her eyes.

Bai Qingjue smiled and nodded, not speaking further.

He only hoped that for all matters… he could do one more part if possible, so that eldest sister could be less burdened.

Because in stabilizing the country and stabilizing people’s hearts, none of them could replace eldest sister. They could only share eldest sister’s burden in other aspects, with the whole family working together… only then could the Bai family be better, and Great Zhou be better!

Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng spurred their horses forward to ride alongside Bai Jinzhi. They used to do this before, too, and since Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping were both famous dandy young masters in the capital, ever since pacifying Xiliang and returning to the capital, everyone knew that Lu Yuanpeng, Sima Ping, and Prince Gaoyi got along like brothers. Xie Yuchang and Wei Zhong didn’t restrict them much either.

But today, Bai Jinzhi didn’t know what was wrong. No matter how Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping chattered on her left and right sides, she remained completely silent. If it weren’t for the eldest sister and the seventh brother leading at the front and controlling the pace, Bai Jinzhi would have wanted to immediately spur her horse and run three hundred li away.

“I say, Bai family’s Little Four, what’s wrong with you? When my sister left, you even went to see her off. Now my sister has no news at all, and you don’t seem worried at all!” Lu Yuanpeng said angrily. “You’re simply… simply heartless!”

“You’re the heartless one!” Bai Jinzhi had almost couldn’t help but argue with Lu Yuanpeng about Lu Fenglang’s matter, but seeing Lu Yuanpeng’s anxious appearance, she immediately didn’t want to say anything. Let him call her heartless – she just wouldn’t tell this big fool Lu Yuanpeng about his sister’s whereabouts. Let him worry to death!

Lu Fenglang had already been found, but the collision between the two boats had injured her severely. Because the fishermen had gone to sea privately without reporting, they didn’t know Lu Fenglang’s identity and didn’t dare expose their unauthorized sea trip because of rescuing someone, so they hadn’t properly called a physician to examine her. Lu Fenglang hadn’t yet awakened. The eldest sister had already had someone send Lu Fenglang back to Jinwan City to be settled. Just waiting for Physician Hong to arrive… Lu Fenglang would get better.