She sat down in her chair, picked up her teacup, and gazed at her younger sister’s sparkling eyes, asking gently: “Do you want to learn?”

Bai Jinhua nodded vigorously: “May I?!”

“When we return to Shouyang, first learn horsemanship well with your Fourth Sister, then Eldest Sister will teach you.” Bai Qingyan said.

“Yes!” Bai Jinhua responded, turning back to look at Bai Jinzhi with joy.

“Nanny Qin, go see if the meal is ready. If so, let’s begin the feast!” Dong Shi turned her head to speak to Nanny Qin.

Nanny Qin nodded, went around the brocade jade bird screen to check, then returned to report to Dong Shi that everything was prepared.

Bai Qingyan helped Dong Shi to her seat. Dong Shi smiled and said, “We are all in mourning, so when these two children return, we cannot hold a banquet to celebrate their victory. Just having our family eat together counts as our celebration for them.”

The Bai family had no male heirs. Originally, Dong Shi had wanted to invite a few nephews from her maternal family to accompany Qin Lang, but who knew that after Qin Lang escorted Bai Jinxiu over, he claimed to have matters to attend to and took his leave, saying he would come in the evening to escort Bai Jinxiu home.

The Bai family had not yet begun to eat when a report came from the gate that the righteous merchant Xiao Rongyan, who had previously helped the Bai family, had come to pay his respects.

Although Xiao Rongyan was merely a merchant by status, he had helped the Bai family when they were being troubled by the clan, and had also saved Fourth Madam Wang Shi who had nearly crashed into a coffin. Both emotionally and logically, when Xiao Rongyan came, he should have been received.

Bai Qingyan guessed that Xiao Rongyan’s visit at this time must be related to the Crown Prince’s inquiries about Nanyan affairs, as well as matters concerning Seventh Brother Bai Qingjue.

Steward Hao had already invited Xiao Rongyan to the main hall, had someone serve him tea, and asked Xiao Rongyan to wait briefly.

Xiao Rongyan maintained his scholarly demeanor throughout, thanking them with a smile and picking up his tea cup to sip leisurely.

Soon after, Bai Qingyan entered supporting Dong Shi’s arm. Xiao Rongyan quickly put down his tea cup and bowed to Dong Shi: “Madam, Miss.”

“Master Xiao need not be so formal, please sit.” Dong Shi was very polite toward Xiao Rongyan. She sat down in her chair and said with a smile: “I heard from my eldest daughter that when they set out for the campaign, Fourth Daughter once troubled Master. Thank you for looking after Fourth Daughter.”

“Madam is too kind!” Xiao Rongyan’s smile was warm, his deep gaze turning toward Bai Qingyan. “This visit is to bring some congratulatory gifts to celebrate Miss and Fourth Miss’s great victory in Nan Jiang. The gifts have been delivered, so I won’t stay long…”

“Mother, I’ll see Master Xiao out.” Bai Qingyan curtsied to Dong Shi.

Dong Shi was slightly startled, then nodded: “Go ahead, return quickly!”

Bai Qingyan gestured for Xiao Rongyan to proceed.

“Thank you for the trouble, Miss.”

The two walked along the covered walkway at an unhurried pace. Chun Tao led the servants and maids following at a distance, not disturbing their conversation.

“After meeting the Crown Prince today, there were some words from His Highness that I couldn’t quite understand. I came specially to consult with Miss lest I answer incorrectly in the future before His Highness.”

Bai Qingyan’s steps paused, and Chun Tao and the others also stopped.

She curtsied to Xiao Rongyan: “Thank you for your tolerance, Master Xiao.”

“It’s nothing…” Xiao Rongyan’s brows carried a faint smile, yet he was extremely handsome.

“When the Crown Prince learned that my milk brother Xiao Ruojiang had been to Nan Jiang, I had my milk brother deflect by saying it was because of Master… sending horses and messages. My milk brother felt Master was being rash, so he went to admonish Master to conduct himself properly.” Bai Qingyan felt guilty in her heart, her ears faintly reddening as she lowered her eyes and bowed again. “This happened suddenly. I hope Master will be understanding.”

The midday light slanted down, illuminating her brows and eyes… and her neck that was crystalline as jade, casting her flawless features in a layer of warm tones, making her beauty even more breathtaking.

Xiao Rongyan looked down at the stunning woman before him whose ears were tinged red, his hands clasped behind his back tightening slightly. The smile in his deep eyes deepened, his voice remaining as richly deep as before: “It’s nothing. However… the Crown Prince seems to have developed an interest in playing matchmaker for us on the front lines.”

She looked up at the extraordinarily handsome man before her, whose eyes held a smile, her palms tightening slightly.

Xiao Rongyan stepped forward first, looking straight ahead: “Although I deflected the topic today, there’s no guarantee the Crown Prince won’t take action. After all… Miss has now openly joined the Crown Prince’s faction. If I could form a good match with Miss, the Crown Prince would gain an additional money bag.”

This temptation was indeed enough to make the Crown Prince take pains to bring her and Xiao Rongyan together.

“Since I now understand how Miss Bai informed the Crown Prince, then… I will certainly play the role of admiring Miss Bai well. Miss Bai need not worry.” Xiao Rongyan glanced sideways at Bai Qingyan walking alongside him, then continued before she could speak: “Also, regarding the young man from Jin I rescued, he insisted on repaying the favor, so I had him stay in Nanyan to do three things for me. A few days ago, I received a letter saying that the young man’s family seems to have arrived in Nanyan.”

This was news about Bai Qingjue. Xiao Rongyan didn’t directly reveal Bai Qingjue’s identity, apparently not wishing to use his favor to demand repayment.

Bai Qingyan looked at Xiao Rongyan, nodded, and still spoke her thanks: “Thank you!”

Seeing they were almost at the gate, Xiao Rongyan bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Miss, please stop here.”

“Master Xiao, take care.”

At the end of the You hour, the long streets of the capital were brilliantly lit with lanterns, bustling and prosperous throughout, with everyone discussing the great victory in Nan Jiang.

Even the patrons in the pleasure quarters, gathered in groups of two or three with arms around courtesans, were discussing this southern campaign.

Lu Yuanpeng was in high spirits today, having invited his usual fair-weather friends, lavishly hiring the top courtesan Miss Yingluan from Fanque Tower to play music for entertainment, boasting about how he would ride horses and wield swords to kill bandits in the future, just like the Bai family sisters.

Sima Ping, already drunk, hooked his arm around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck and turned to Miss Yingluan: “Miss Yingluan, can you play the tune of the Bai Family Army’s military song?”

Miss Yingluan smiled with some difficulty: “Young Master Sima, you’re making things difficult for this humble woman. I am… lowly born, how would I know the Bai Family Army’s songs?”

“I’ll do it!” Sima Ping swayed unsteadily to Miss Yingluan’s side, drunkenly tilting and sitting down.

The maid serving Miss Yingluan quickly protected her mistress, helping Miss Yingluan to stand and leaving the qin for Sima Ping.

Sima Ping plucked a few notes with his fingers, then began playing properly. Young masters from aristocratic families were generally well-versed in music.

Lu Yuanpeng became excited and walked to the bronze bells, picking up wooden mallets to strike them as well.

“Don our protective armor, sharing the same enemies and hatred with you.”

The resonant bronze bell sounds, qin music, and the man’s rough singing voice rose, drowning out the decadent music and playful sounds from downstairs.

Whether it was the courtesans sitting in patrons’ laps or the patrons themselves embracing left and right, all were startled by this sudden song and music, looking up toward the upper floor.

The powerful, rhythmic qin music and the magnificent, expansive bronze bell sounds commanded respect.

“Grasp the long blade that kills enemies, sharing life and death with you.”

“Defend rivers and mountains, protect the people, fearless true warriors.”

“Fight to the death, never remove armor, fine sons of home and Kingdom.”