When Bai Qingyan mentioned Duke Dingguo, Qin Lang immediately understood. The current farce at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion was all because of this hereditary title.

His stepmother wanted Qin Lang’s younger brother to inherit the title. Though she couldn’t speak openly due to ancestral rites and laws, she had secretly created many obstacles for Qin Lang, driving away the mentor who taught him and damaging his reputation. This time, she had even acted against Bai Jinxiu to drive a wedge between him and Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion.

Seeing Qin Lang’s pale face and his clenched fists with veins bulging, Bai Qingyan knew he understood.

Qin Lang understood the intentions of Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion’s main wife, Jiang Shi, better than Bai Qingyan did. But what use was understanding? With filial piety weighing down on him from above, even if Qin Lang had three heads and six arms, he couldn’t exert his abilities.

Bai Qingyan felt that Qin Lang wasn’t entirely beyond saving, so she spoke calmly and steadily: “Using bronze as a mirror, one can correct their appearance; using history as a mirror, one can understand rise and fall; using people as a mirror, one can discern gains and losses. In ancient times, there was the abdication of Yao and Shun. Why doesn’t the heir apparent follow their example? After all… Marquis Zhongyong has now become a mere empty title. The heir apparent has great ambitions and aspirations in his heart – why worry about not earning a bright future?”

“Elder Sister!” Bai Jinzhi looked shocked.

Qin Lang’s pupils trembled as he suddenly looked up at Bai Qingyan’s calm face. Her meaning… was for him to voluntarily request to give up his position as heir apparent. How could she say such shocking words?!

Over the years, Qin Lang had thought about resistance and countermeasures. On the surface, he mingled with the dandies of the capital, but secretly he worked hard, hoping to win first place in the imperial examinations. But this was also to solidify his position as heir apparent – he had never thought he could simply not want this position.

Not only was Bai Jinzhi shocked by Bai Qingyan’s words, but even Bai Jintong felt her heart pounding.

Lu Yuanpeng, standing at a distance with Xiao Rongyan, stared at Bai Qingyan’s grave expression and whispered to Xiao Rongyan: “Brother Xiao, can you hear what this eldest Miss Bai is saying to Qin Lang? Why does Nanny Jiang look so panicked? Could it be that she’s telling Qin Lang to divorce their second miss?”

Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved in an extremely faint smile as he brushed off withered leaves that had fallen onto his cloak in the wind. His every gesture was supremely elegant: “Forcibly entering Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion was already improper. Eavesdropping is even less befitting of a gentleman.”

Xiao Rongyan hadn’t expected that Bai Qingyan would have such breadth of vision and boldness.

Observing those in high positions in the capital, he found that few could match the perspective of Bai Qingyan, a mere daughter of a family. It was just that Qin Lang had grown up in the luxury of the capital – even if he understood the affairs of Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion clearly, it would be difficult for him to muster the courage to burn his boats. He feared that Miss Bai’s earnest efforts would be wasted.

“Second Miss is awake! Second Miss is awake…”

Clear, bell-like voices came from the rear courtyard, and the entire Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Calls of “Second Miss is awake” rose one after another.

Undisguised joy appeared in Bai Qingyan’s eyes, and the heaviness in her brow was replaced by happiness.

Qin Lang’s throat moved as he craned his neck to look toward the inner quarters of Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion.

“Elder Sister!” Bai Jinzhi turned to glance toward the inner quarters, her face full of pleasant surprise as she grabbed Bai Qingyan’s arm. “Second Sister is awake! Let’s hurry back to see her!”

A maid carrying a lantern hurried over and bowed behind Bai Qingyan: “First Miss, Third Miss, Fourth Miss, Second Miss is awake!”

Bai Qingyan nodded, then turned to look at Qin Lang: “Unable to relieve a mother’s worries is unfilial; unable to protect one’s wife completely is unrighteous! The heir apparent should know that without destruction, there can be no construction! Or perhaps… would the heir apparent truly rather be an unfilial and unrighteous person for the sake of this empty title? I’ve said all I can say – the heir apparent should conduct himself accordingly.”

After Bai Qingyan gave a shallow curtsy, she unconsciously took a deep look at Xiao Rongyan, then hurried toward the rear courtyard with Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi.

Nanny Jiang gestured for Qin Lang to enter: “Please, you two young masters, take a seat in the hall. Your Lordship… this way please!”

“Nanny Jiang…”

Lu Yuanpeng called out, about to follow and join the excitement in the inner quarters, when Xiao Rongyan stopped him: “This is a private matter between Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion and Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion. You and I shouldn’t interfere.”

When the three Bai sisters arrived at Qingzhu Pavilion, Bai Jinxiu was leaning against the headboard, speaking softly to comfort Second Madam Liu Shi, who was crying like a tearful beauty.

As soon as they entered the room, Bai Jintong and Bai Jinzhi rushed to the bedside, asking with concern about Bai Jinxiu’s condition. Bai Qingyan stood by the screen, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Although she had known early on that Bai Jinxiu would be fine, until Bai Jinxiu woke up, there had been a knife hanging over her heart. Now that this knife was removed, she finally felt at peace.

Nanny Jiang lifted the curtain and entered, bowing to the Grand Princess before saying: “Grand Princess, the heir apparent is waiting at the hanging flower gate.”

The Grand Princess fingered her prayer beads and looked at Bai Jinxiu: “Second dear, if you don’t want to see him, then don’t.”

Having experienced this great calamity, Bai Jinxiu had already made up her mind. Her gaze was clear as she curved her bloodless lips: “Grandmother, this isn’t the heir apparent’s fault. I don’t blame him. I want to… speak with him alone.”

Since Qin Lang and Bai Jinxiu were husband and wife, meeting alone didn’t violate propriety. The Grand Princess nodded and instructed her daughter-in-law, Dong Shi: “You sisters-in-law should all disperse. After such a tiring day, let the children rest too. Nanny Jiang, you stay. Later, whether the heir apparent stays or leaves, send someone to inform Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion.”

“Yes!” Nanny Jiang responded.

Bai Jinxiu looked up to see Bai Qingyan by the screen, her smile becoming even more radiant, wanting to reassure her elder sister. Bai Qingyan didn’t approach but returned the smile, though the corners of her eyes turned red.

For Bai Qingyan, as long as Bai Jinxiu was safe, nothing else mattered.

Although Bai Jinxiu hadn’t been awake today, she knew about everything that had happened outside Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion. If Bai Qingyan hadn’t made such a big scene today, who knows what kind of torment she would have suffered from her mother-in-law at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion in the future.

After the rear courtyard ladies comforted Bai Jinxiu, they gradually left Qingzhu Pavilion. Only then did Nanny Jiang invite Qin Lang into the pavilion’s courtyard.

Bai Jinzhi stood right at the door of Bai Jinxiu’s main room, her eyes red as she glared at the entering Qin Lang, gripping the whip behind her back tightly. Seeing Nanny Jiang shake her head at her, she bit her teeth and released the whip. As she walked out from under the eaves, she still couldn’t contain her anger and deliberately rammed Qin Lang hard with her shoulder.

Qin Lang entered the room to see Bai Jinxiu leaning against the headboard, her face deathly pale and breathing weak. Overwhelmed with shame, his lips trembled as he wanted to ask if Bai Jinxiu was well, but remembering that after Bai Jinxiu was injured, he had been pressed down by Jiang Shi using filial piety and hadn’t gone to see her even once – such extreme cowardice – he suddenly found himself unable to speak.

Only when the silver frost charcoal in the room’s brazier made an extremely soft popping sound did Qin Lang hurriedly bow deeply, so choked with emotion that he couldn’t say a word.

“The heir apparent is lightly dressed. Please, Nanny Jiang, fetch a cloak for him,” Bai Jinxiu said gently.

Nanny Jiang immediately had someone remove the thorn branches from Qin Lang’s body, draped a cloak over him, served hot tea, and moved the brazier in front of Qin Lang before withdrawing with the maids to wait by the door.

Not long after, Qin Lang emerged from the main room looking lost and distracted after speaking with Bai Jinxiu. He gave a half-bow to Nanny Jiang: “Qin Lang takes his leave. Another day I’ll come again to pay respects to the Grand Princess and mother-in-law!”

After speaking, without waiting for a lantern-carrying maid, he hurried out of Qingzhu Pavilion.