“I submit!” At this moment, Du Sanbao’s heart was surging. He turned to face the direction of the great tent and bowed deeply to the ground, then raised his head and shouted: “General Bai! Miss Ji! Du Sanbao knows his error! I will accept punishment immediately! From today on, Du Sanbao will start as an ordinary soldier and will find my original heart again!”
Bai Qingyan’s words made Du Sanbao remember when he first enlisted—it was because Shu had killed Jin border civilians and violated Jin women. As a hot-blooded Jin man, hearing of the border people’s suffering, he was furious and wanted to sacrifice himself to kill the bandits, so he joined the army.
Four words… Protect the nation, protect the people!
These four words had once been Du Sanbao’s original intention in enlisting.
But later, as he was promoted from squad leader to unit leader… to today’s centurion, his military rank grew higher while his original heart grew smaller.
Today, General Bai’s words were like thunder awakening the deaf.
This punishment—he, Du Sanbao, accepted it!
Bai Qingyan looked back toward the outside of the tent, seeing Ji Langhua lowering her eyes to wipe tears while tightly hugging that cloak in her arms. She spoke softly: “This cloak…”
Ji Langhua bit her lip, very reluctantly stroking the cloak, then tearfully held it up and offered it to Bai Qingyan, choking as she spoke: “This belongs to General Bai Qingming. When I was defiled by Xiliang soldiers, the General saved me. I originally wanted to keep this cloak as a memento, but now I should… return it to Little Marshal Bai!”
She reached out to gently touch the cloak Ji Langhua held up. The cloak had been cleaned thoroughly, and even the torn places had been carefully mended. Her eyes moistened for a moment—so it was A’Ming’s. No wonder… it looked so familiar.
She looked at Ji Langhua and said, “Since you want to keep it as a memento, then keep it. Live well!”
With tears brimming in her eyes, Ji Langhua bit her lip hard and hugged the cloak tightly, looking at Bai Qingyan with gratitude: “Thank you… Little Marshal Bai! I will live well and will never be unworthy of the life-protecting grace of General Bai Qingming and the Bai family army soldiers.”
Bai Qingyan nodded and asked Ji Langhua, “Are you leaving?”
Ji Langhua nodded: “The alliance treaty between the two countries has been signed. Since this war is over, I should return.”
“It’s not safe to travel at night. What would you do if you encountered wolves? Rest well first, and tomorrow travel with the returning army. After reaching Tianmen Pass, I’ll send someone to escort you back.” Seeing Ji Langhua about to refuse, Bai Qingyan said: “These past few days, I still need to entrust you with changing the dressing on my wounds.”
Ji Langhua looked at Bai Qingyan’s refined and distinct features, hugged the cloak in her arms tightly, and nodded with immense gratitude.
Xiao Ruojiang had already awakened and was sitting by the window, letting the army physician change his dressing. Seeing Bai Qingyan enter, he hurriedly pulled his clothes over himself and roughly put them on. The movement pulled at his wounds, making him frown in pain. After hastily fastening his clothes, he bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss!”
“Are you feeling better today?”
Xiao Ruojiang nodded: “Much better!”
“We return to the capital with the Crown Prince tomorrow. The journey will be arduous, and with your injuries, you probably can’t endure the strain. Why don’t you stay here to recover… and return to the capital after you’ve healed?”
Xiao Ruojiang looked up at Bai Qingyan, seeing her eyes deep and clear. He glanced around, then moved closer to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss, please instruct me!”
“Before returning to the capital, if Xiao Jiu’s injuries can bear it, I want to see him.”
Now that Bai Qingjue was with Xiao Rongyan, she feared she wouldn’t be able to see him this time. But Xiao Jiu was in Shaoyang Prefecture and might be reachable, but this matter needed someone to arrange it. No one was more suitable than Xiao Ruojiang.
Xiao Ruojiang nodded.
“You are my milk brother. If you stay here to recover, the Crown Prince will surely send people to watch you. You must be extremely careful in your actions. Even if we cannot meet this time… it must be done safely!”
“Eldest Miss, rest assured!”
“On this return journey, I will report to the Crown Prince that I want to stop along the way to pay respects at the places where Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and brothers died. If we can meet… signal with the bone whistle!”
“Eunuch Quan Yu, what brings you here?”
Before Bai Qingyan could finish speaking, Bai Jinzhi’s voice came from outside the tent.
Quan Yu, who was approaching the tent entrance, turned back to see the heroic Bai Jinzhi walking toward the tent with her hands behind her back. He smiled and bowed to Bai Jinzhi before saying: “His Highness the Crown Prince has matters to discuss with General Bai, so this servant came personally to invite her…”
Bai Jinzhi walked over with light steps, her hands clasped behind her back, lowering her voice to ask: “Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince also knows my elder sister lost her temper here? His Highness won’t blame my elder sister, will he?”
Quan Yu smiled: “Fourth Miss worries too much. How could that be?”
“So he does know?” Bai Jinzhi put on a worried expression.
Quan Yu looked up to see Bai Qingyan coming out and quickly bowed: “General Bai, His Highness summons General Bai and the loyal Bai family servant who has been at General Bai’s side.”
She tightened her grip on her sword. The loyal Bai family servant must refer to Xiao Ruojiang.
“The loyal Bai family servant at my side?” She pretended not to know. “Are you referring to my milk brother?”
“Exactly!” Quan Yu’s manner was very respectful. He stepped forward two paces and lowered his voice to Bai Qingyan: “His Highness has been somewhat displeased since meeting with the Bai family army generals. General Bai should hurry and not delay!”
Quan Yu was giving Bai Qingyan a warning.
She nodded to Quan Yu in thanks: “Thank you for the reminder!”
“Xiao Si, go tell Xiao Ruojiang… His Highness wants to see him. Have him quickly change clothes and go over. I’ll go ahead with Eunuch Quan Yu.” Bai Qingyan made a gesture for Quan Yu to lead the way, and Quan Yu quickly nodded and led the path.
Bai Jinzhi watched her elder sister’s gaze toward her and nodded lightly.
Seeing Bai Qingyan leave with Quan Yu, Bai Jinzhi hurriedly rushed into the tent.
All the way there, as Bai Qingyan followed Quan Yu, her feet never stopped moving, nor did her mind.
Quan Yu said the Crown Prince had been somewhat displeased after meeting with the Bai family army generals. Was it because the Bai family army wanted to see her and those around her, or because of something else?
If it concerned the Bai family army, why summon Xiao Ruojiang from her side?
It was about the Qiushan Pass matter—there were still questions to ask.
Or perhaps the Crown Prince had discovered that Xiao Ruohai, who previously served at her side, had been replaced by Xiao Ruojiang, and was concerned about the personnel changes around her?
Could it be that Zhang Duirui and the others hadn’t reported this matter to the Crown Prince early on? Why would the Crown Prince only think to investigate this now?
Soon, Bai Qingyan arrived at the Crown Prince’s tent.
“I pay respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!” Bai Qingyan bowed respectfully, and seeing Old Fang sitting beside the Crown Prince, she smiled and bowed to Old Fang as well.
The Crown Prince was sitting before a chessboard, showing no signs of displeasure, only staring at the board as he said to Bai Qingyan: “Where is that servant of yours?”
“Your Highness, that is Yan’s milk brother, not a Bai family servant.” Bai Qingyan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Quan Yu, standing to the side, looked up at the Crown Prince and then at Bai Qingyan, inwardly breaking into a cold sweat for Bai Qingyan. He had warned her before coming that the Crown Prince was displeased, so why was Eldest Miss Bai still speaking so directly to His Highness, without knowing how to speak diplomatically and soothingly!
The Crown Prince threw all the chess pieces in his hand into the chess box and turned to look at Bai Qingyan.