The Crown Prince was furious beyond measure. He let out a cold laugh, his voice rising sharply: “I forgot… what need does she have for military seals to command the Bai family army? With one word from her, the entire Bai family army obeys without question!”

Soon, Quan Yu’s trembling voice came from outside the door: “Your Highness, the messenger who was sent by fast horse to Youhua Road last night has returned!”

“Let him in!” The Crown Prince stood there with a tense expression.

Soon, two plainclothes guards returned and, after bowing to the Crown Prince, said: “Your Highness, we were ordered to go to Youhua Road last night. Before we even reached the Jing River, we encountered a messenger returning to report to Your Highness…”

The messenger knelt and kowtowed before speaking: “Your Highness, Lord Lu sent me to report to the Crown Prince that Xiao Ruojiang, who was recuperating from his injuries in Youhua Road, has disappeared!”

The Crown Prince’s expression became even more unsightly, that feeling of being made a fool of growing ever stronger: “Good! Very good indeed!”

He had submitted a memorial to Father Emperor vouching for Bai Qingyan, claiming he could keep her in check, and even requested merit for her, asking to ennoble her as a princess with additional favors!

He had lost face before the Father Emperor. If Father Emperor found out, he would surely be scolded to death!

The Crown Prince swept his arm across the table, sending bowls and dishes crashing to the floor. The exquisite porcelain shattered with a crackling sound, frightening the eunuchs outside into kneeling.

“Crown Prince, don’t let King Yan of Xi Liang hear this! Moreover, this matter should wait until General Bai returns, then Your Highness can personally question her and have her give you an explanation! If she cannot provide one, it won’t be too late for Your Highness to punish her and be angry! After all, these are all our speculations. Perhaps… General Bai didn’t burn those Jin-disguised death warriors because she pitied them for being Jin people?”

“A person who burned alive one hundred thousand surrendered soldiers, and you tell me she has a heart of compassion?” The Crown Prince stood up and threw his handkerchief onto the mess-strewn black lacquered table.

Qin Shangzhi was stunned: “Your Highness, in the Battle of Weng Mountain, we were vastly outnumbered. If those surrendered soldiers weren’t killed and were released… if Xi Liang counterattacked, how could the Great Jin have achieved such a great victory? Your Highness… You led troops to campaign in Nan Jiang this time, so you should understand better than anyone how critical the situation was then. Speaking such words would chill General Bai’s heart!”

“A general who has no regard for me in her heart – why should I fear chilling her heart!” The Crown Prince seemed to hear a great joke. Quite enraged, he clenched his fists, his eyes showing not only anger but also unwillingness. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke: “Go call Zhang Duanrui! I… want to personally follow Bai Qingyan and see exactly what she intends to do!”

Qin Shangzhi was somewhat incredulous: “Your Highness, do you mean the army should remain at Tianmen Pass today?”

“The army advances normally. Have Zhang Duanrui bring more men!” the Crown Prince said.

“But Your Highness, this might not be safe!” Qin Shangzhi dared not let the Crown Prince take such risks.

“On Jin territory, who could harm me?” The Crown Prince’s decision was final.

Qin Shangzhi, seeing the anger between the Crown Prince’s brows and knowing he was still in a rage and not suitable for further persuasion, looked toward the window with considerable worry.

·

Feng County, which had likewise endured the baptism of war, was in no better condition than Phoenix City. However, the people of Feng County maintained good spirits, with even children joining the ranks of those rebuilding Feng County. Unable to do heavy work, they busied themselves helping adults fetch tea and water.

For convenience, both Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi had removed their armor and changed into ordinary men’s clothing.

Yet the two riding horses into the city still attracted considerable attention.

The general guarding the city knew that the visitors were the young commanders of the Bai family army, who had come specifically to pay respects to fallen brothers in Feng County. He quickly summoned the city defense general. General Zhou treated Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi with extreme courtesy. Originally wanting to accompany them in paying respects, when he heard they had already burned paper offerings outside the city, General Zhou invited them to dine at his residence.

After Bai Qingyan declined General Zhou’s invitation, she suddenly turned to look at Ji Langhua, who was getting off the carriage: “That Miss Ji traveled to the front lines to bandage wounded soldiers, working extremely hard! In the future, within Feng County… I hope General Zhou will take good care of her!”

General Zhou was a perceptive man and immediately gave his assurance.

Seeing Ji Langhua, who had already disembarked, bow to her, Bai Qingyan nodded in acknowledgment. She had already noticed the plainclothes people who had followed them into the city.

She cupped her fists toward General Zhou: “I still need to look around Feng County. General Zhou has pressing military duties, so there’s no need to accompany us!”

General Zhou nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, yes!”

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi entered a tavern with sparse business. Following the waiter to a private room on the second floor, Bai Jinzhi casually tossed a piece of broken silver to tip the waiter, asking him to bring their establishment’s best dishes and specifically instructing him to hurry, as they still needed to travel after eating.

After closing the door to the private room, Bai Jinzhi’s heart was racing. She quickly walked to the window, her gaze moving from the thatched tea stall outside toward the direction of the city gate entrance: “Elder Sister… there really are people following us! Those people arrived in Feng County before us! They were sitting downstairs just now, and when we entered this tavern, they came in too! There are more people behind…”

Bai Qingyan poured a cup of tea for Bai Jinzhi: “Xiao Si, come drink some tea.”

Bai Jinzhi, whose palms were sweating from tension, finally returned to Bai Qingyan’s side: “Elder Sister, with the Crown Prince’s people following us, can we meet Jiu Ge? Jiu Ge’s leg… what if he’s discovered?”

Bai Jinzhi worried that Bai Qiyun’s mobility was limited, and if caught red-handed by the Crown Prince’s people, Jiu Ge might not survive.

“Don’t be afraid!” She looked at the nervous Bai Jinzhi with a composed and gentle smile, raising her hand to tuck the stray hair by her temples behind her ear. “There won’t be any danger. Trust Elder Sister… Elder Sister won’t put you in harm’s way!”

When paying respects to their father in Phoenix City, the brief encounter with Xiao Ruohai had led Bai Qingyan to make a bold and risky… but certain decision.

Qin Shangzhi had restrained himself these past days from seeking her out, probably because he hadn’t figured out what she was doing when she took those death warriors and the Huying Battalion to Qiushan Pass. Clever people are all self-confident; he probably wanted to understand everything clearly before coming to negotiate with her.

But several days had already passed. Qin Shangzhi should no longer be able to restrain himself. Even if he could patiently continue pondering, she could also have sought him out before departing for Feng County.

From her rebirth until now, even though Bai Qingyan had temporarily protected the Bai family and achieved great victory over Xi Liang’s Yun Poxing, she had never relaxed because of this. She had always kept herself in a state of urgency and clarity.

Hatred was an inextinguishable raging fire in her chest, and her grandfather’s dying wish was scalding hot oil boiling in her heart, constantly reminding her… to cherish this opportunity to start over, not to disappoint the mercy that had allowed her to return. She must be cautious, be steady, not take risks, not act rashly.

She could not put the family members she must protect with her life into danger.

She pinched Bai Jinzhi’s sun-darkened, thin face: “Eat well in a moment!”

Perhaps Elder Sister’s gentle and peaceful voice was too reassuring, for Bai Jinzhi’s originally sweaty palms gradually calmed down.