“I know! I know everything!” She hugged her mother tightly with reddened eyes, choking back tears as she spoke, “Mother, rest assured, I will definitely bring myself back to you completely intact. Please trust me!”

Dong Shi handed Bai Qingyan a white jade pendant for commanding the Dong family’s death warriors: “This is the token for commanding the Dong family’s death warriors.”

She accepted it and said in a low voice, “I’m still in heavy mourning, otherwise I would visit Grandmother and Uncle personally to thank them!”

“Your grandmother and uncle don’t mind such things! You should properly pack your luggage at home! Make it as thorough as possible! Your second aunt just brought me the heart-protecting mirror that was custom-made before the New Year, asking me to pass it to you to take to Nanjiang! I examined it, and the materials are extremely solid—it’s a good piece! Take it with you!” Dong Shi tucked the loose hair behind her daughter’s temples behind her ear.

“Mm!” She nodded with a light smile, “With Mother, Grandmother, Uncle, and all the aunts thinking of me, I will certainly do my best to return before going back to Shuoyang!”

“Good!” Dong Shi let out a long breath, her heart filled with endless melancholy.

After Dong Shi left, Bai Qingyan arranged various matters for Qinghui Courtyard.

Nanny Tong, Chun Tao, and Yin Shuang were quietly called in, standing properly and watching Bai Qingyan, who sat warming herself by the bronze brazier.

“After I leave, you must listen more to Nanny Tong’s words, especially you, Yin Shuang!”

The naive Yin Shuang nodded.

“This old servant would like to request a favor from First Miss.” Nanny Tong glanced at the silly Yin Shuang and said, “This old servant has no daughter and would like to take Yin Shuang as a goddaughter. Although this old servant’s status is not high… I am still the managing nanny besides First Miss. If Yin Shuang becomes this old servant’s goddaughter, the other household servants surely won’t dare bully her at will.”

Bai Qingyan hadn’t yet told Nanny Tong that she planned to have Yin Shuang go to her second sister.

“Nanny, I was planning to have you teach Yin Shuang for some time, and once matters at Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion are settled, send Yin Shuang to Second Sister…”

Nanny Tong was quite surprised. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly said: “That’s no problem either. This old servant is just afraid others might bully Yin Shuang.”

“Good. If Yin Shuang is willing, you can discuss this matter with her!”

Chun Tao’s tears streamed down as she knelt before Bai Qingyan, crawling forward two steps on her knees to kowtow, placing both hands on Bai Qingyan’s knees: “First Miss, please let this servant follow First Miss! This servant guarantees not to cause trouble for First Miss! At least… let this servant accompany you to take care of all your meals and daily needs, please?!”

How could she not know Chun Tao’s loyalty? But in this life, she couldn’t let Chun Tao follow her to a war-torn land. In her previous life, Chun Tao had died because of her. In this life, she must protect Chun Tao’s safety.

“If you leave, who will guard Qinghui Courtyard for me?” She smiled as she helped Chun Tao up, gripping her hand firmly, “In Qinghui Courtyard, I only trust you all. Once Yin Shuang leaves, if Nanny Tong falls ill due to her age, what if someone takes advantage of the situation? Hmm?”

Chun Tao bit her lower lip hard, tears flowing like broken pearls.

“Don’t be afraid, I still need to come back to see you off at your wedding!” she said to Chun Tao with a smile.

This wasn’t a joke. In her previous life, she had owed Chun Tao a wedding; in this life, she must ensure she marries in grand style.

“Miss, at a time like this, you’re still talking about such things!” Chun Tao choked back tears.

“I’ve been to battlefields before. This time, following beside the Crown Prince, it’s merely providing counsel and strategy. What is there to fear?!”

Knowing her mistress had made up her mind, Chun Tao could only help Bai Qingyan pack while shedding tears, feeling extremely distressed.

For several consecutive days, the Duke’s mansion carried boxes upon boxes of account books in and out through the back gate. Today, all accounts were finally cleared and handed over to Xiao Rongyan.

Outsiders saw the bustle, but what was actually in those boxes was known only to Dong Shi’s confidants and Xiao Rongyan’s trusted people.

When the clan had pressured the Bai family, Xiao Rongyan had stepped in to help. By both reason and sentiment, after this matter concluded, they should host a banquet for Xiao Rongyan.

However, the Bai family had no men. Having stewards or managers represent them would be too low in status. Though it might be sufficient for Xiao Rongyan’s merchant status, it would be inadequate for a benefactor of the Bai family.

On this day when the accounts were cleared, Dong Qingyue brought his son Dong Changyuan to represent Dong Shi in hosting a banquet for Xiao Rongyan at the Duke’s mansion, which made Xiao Rongyan feel greatly honored.

Xiao Rongyan had heard about Dong Shi’s plan to betroth Bai Qingyan to Dong Changyuan. Dong Changyuan was a young jieyuan scholar with upright bearing and exceptional learning—truly a rare, fine young man.

However, in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, Dong Changyuan was still too immature to match Bai Qingyan.

Though Bai Qingyan was a woman, she harbored great ambitions with a broad and generous heart. Her strategic wisdom was unparalleled, and she possessed abilities in military command and state governance. Such a woman… could only be matched by a contemporary hero.

Dong Changyuan accompanied his father to host the banquet for Xiao Rongyan. Though he looked down on Xiao Rongyan’s merchant status, since he had shown kindness to the Bai family, he came.

Who would have thought that after several rounds of conversation, Dong Changyuan would be won over by Xiao Rongyan’s breadth of mind, knowledge, eloquence, and bearing, feeling this man was truly a gentle gentleman.

Dong Qingyue raised his cup to toast on behalf of Dong Shi: “Raising this cup today, I offer four thanks to you, sir! First, I thank you for blocking Prince Xin’s path south of the city! Second, I thank you for saving the Bai family’s Fourth Madam! Third, I thank you for helping when the Bai family widows were being pressured! Fourth, I thank you for guiding Physician Hong’s needlework so that Qingyan could awaken! I toast Master Xiao on behalf of my elder sister.”

“Master Dong, you flatter this junior too much. How dare this junior accept such thanks—it was merely a coincidence!” Xiao Rongyan raised his cup slightly lower than Dong Qingyue’s, his posture respectful, “The Bai family’s kindness to Yan is profound. I hope there will be future opportunities to repay even a fraction of it. If there is any request… Yan will spare no effort.”

Dong Qingyue smiled as he drained his cup: “To gain Master Xiao’s promise today is most fortunate.”

Looking at the young man before him, whose every gesture exuded noble and graceful bearing, Dong Qingyue felt that the younger generation was formidable.

Having observed people for many years, he knew this person was no ordinary man. Gaining such a promise would only benefit the Bai family without harm.

“I hear that you will be leaving the capital soon?” Dong Changyuan asked.

“His Majesty has decreed that this year’s Lantern Festival will not be held, with the entire nation mourning for the Duke. I will not remain in the capital,” Xiao Rongyan replied.

The jade-like, gentle gentleman Dong Changyuan smiled and raised his cup: “Then I wish you a safe journey, sir.”

The fifteenth day of the first month, before dawn.

The Bai family members escorted the Grand Princess to the Imperial Pure Nunnery for spiritual cultivation. The procession of carriages and horses departed from the Bai family’s main gate grandly, ascending the mountain as the first light of dawn appeared, stopping before the imposing high steps.

Dong Shi personally supported the Grand Princess as they climbed the high steps. Third Madam Li Shi still didn’t know that Bai Jintong would be leaving the capital, earnestly instructing her to take good care of the Grand Princess and not to neglect her morning and evening attendance or concern for grandmother’s health.

Bai Jintong accepted all these instructions.

“You all go back! No need to escort me further! Just let A’Bao accompany me inside.” The Grand Princess gently squeezed Dong Shi’s hand, “In the future, there’s no need to visit me unless necessary. Live your own lives well!”

Several daughters-in-law stood at the nunnery entrance, respectfully bowing as they watched the Grand Princess enter, then returned to the front hall to burn incense and pray.