Nanny Jiang quickly stepped forward to help the Grand Princess up.

“Has A’Bao not arrived yet?” the Grand Princess asked, her countenance kind and gentle.

Nanny Jiang was as meticulous as dust—how could she not detect the anxiety in the Grand Princess’s voice? She smiled with a cheerful tone: “They should be here soon! The other day, when this old servant returned and told the Grand Princess that the eldest young lady had become much more robust after her journey to Nan Jiang, the Grand Princess didn’t believe it. When the eldest young lady arrives later… the Grand Princess will know this old servant spoke no falsehoods.”

The Grand Princess smiled. Though her accumulated dignity over the years was formidable, her expression was gentle, her voice filled with heartache: “I just don’t know how much suffering A’Bao has endured. That child has always been the most capable of bearing hardship among all her brothers and sisters since childhood.”

“Now that she’s returned from Nan Jiang and His Majesty has granted the eldest young lady the title of Princess, her days will surely get better and better!” Nanny Jiang supported the Grand Princess as they emerged from the room.

Wei Zhong hadn’t yet had time to pay his respects to the Grand Princess when he saw beyond the open courtyard gate that Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were slowly approaching, surrounded by matrons and maids.

“Grand Princess, the eldest young lady has arrived!” Wei Zhong said.

The Grand Princess’s hand hidden in her sleeve tightened slightly, grasping the prayer beads at her wrist. She turned her head toward the entrance, and her eyes immediately reddened. She instructed Wei Zhong: “Go summon Miss Lu.”

Wei Zhong acknowledged and left with lowered head and measured steps.

As soon as Bai Qingyan entered with Bai Jinzhi, she saw the Grand Princess standing in the corridor, looking at her and Bai Jinzhi with a gentle smile.

Having not seen her for several months, Grandmother appeared more gaunt than before, and considerably more haggard. Though her dignity remained unchanged, the elegant, plain-colored, luxurious clothing could no longer conceal her increasingly hunched back and frame.

Already past her sixtieth year in her twilight years, having experienced the loss of her husband… and the pain of losing all her sons and grandsons, even a grandmother as dignified, steady, and exceptionally capable would inevitably show fatigue and aged appearance after experiencing such great sorrow.

Bai Qingyan brought Bai Jinzhi to the entrance and paid respects to the Grand Princess: “Grandmother, we have returned safely.”

“Yes, safety is good…” The Grand Princess’s voice was normal, seeming to have tears hidden in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She said kindly, “Come inside, it’s a bit chilly outside.”

“Eldest young lady, fourth young lady, please come in quickly! This old servant had people brew red date milk tea early this morning. The eldest and fourth young ladies should drink a cup to warm yourselves.”

Bai Jinzhi properly followed behind Bai Qingyan, looking up at Bai Qingyan as if waiting for her instructions.

The Grand Princess of the past could never have imagined she would reach this point with the granddaughter she had cherished since childhood. She supported herself on Nanny Jiang’s hand and turned to enter the room first, sitting on a ginger-yellow cushion with Western lotus patterns.

Upon entering, when Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were about to kneel, Nanny Jiang quickly had people bring cushions.

Watching her two granddaughters kneel and solemnly kowtow three times, the Grand Princess’s eyes grew moist and red. She smiled and had Nanny Jiang help the two children up to sit: “A’Bao indeed looks more robust. How did Xiao Si become such a little charcoal fellow after this trip?”

Bai Jinzhi was always reserved in front of the Grand Princess, feeling rather embarrassed as she said quietly: “Yes! I also find it strange. Elder Sister and I both rode horses, so how is Elder Sister still fair and tender while I got so tanned?”

Nanny Jiang covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed. Seeing Miss Lu enter carrying red date milk tea, she instructed all the servant women and maids to withdraw, leaving Wei Zhong to guard outside.

Though Nanny Jiang hadn’t yet made introductions, Bai Qingyan already knew that the woman with lowered brows and sleepy eyes serving her red date milk tea was Miss Lu. She quietly observed her from the corner of her eye.

The Grand Princess removed the prayer beads from her wrist and placed them on the small black lacquered square table, picking up the red date milk tea for a small sip: “This is Miss Lu. After Grandmother takes her as an adopted daughter, by seniority, you should address her as Little Aunt.”

Only then did Bai Qingyan properly look toward Miss Lu, seeing the woman standing beside the Grand Princess with neither servility nor arrogance. She asked: “Does she resemble her?”

Aunt Bai Suqiu had passed away too early. Bai Qingyan was still young then and had almost no impression of her aunt. But as the aunt’s birth mother, it was different—Grandmother would certainly be most familiar with and understanding of her aunt.

“The appearance is sixty to seventy percent similar. The remaining thirty to forty percent can be compensated for through dress, deportment, and behavior.” The Grand Princess set down the sky-blue glazed porcelain tea cup. “These past few days, Nanny Jiang has been training her. Though time is urgent, stability must come first.”

The Bai family had prospered for over a hundred years. Now with all sons and grandsons dead, leaving only womenfolk, the Emperor still wasn’t at ease, and Prince Liang still harbored schemes. Therefore, the Grand Princess needed to be even more cautious and prudent, planning every step.

Bai Jinzhi held her milk tea, looking at Miss Lu with curious eyes, not quite understanding what riddle Elder Sister and Grandmother were speaking in.

“Do you know medicine?” Bai Qingyan asked Miss Lu this question.

Miss Lu was slightly surprised, curtsying to Bai Qingyan before replying: “Reporting to Your Highness, this commoner’s mother’s ancestors were medical practitioners, so this commoner also knows a little.”

No wonder Grandmother had chosen this Miss Lu.

If it weren’t necessary, Grandmother probably wouldn’t have taken this step.

“Your granddaughter thinks that if His Majesty permits Grandmother to take Miss Lu as an adopted daughter, let Miss Lu stay by Grandmother’s side to attend to her daily needs. Third Sister… can return to Shuoyang with us on the first of May.” Bai Qingyan said.

As the saying goes: a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair not as good as one you can’t steal…

With such a “reincarnated Bai Suqiu” guided by Nanny Jiang and the Grand Princess, the Emperor’s heart would always be drawn here, and that Concubine Qiu in the palace would surely fall from favor.

Naturally, after “Bai Jintong” returned to Shuoyang, she would need to claim illness to the outside world.

“Counting the days, your Fifth Aunt should also be going into labor…” The Grand Princess thought of the child in Fifth Madam Qi’s belly. She placed great hopes on that child, hoping Fifth Madam Qi could bear another son for the Bai family this time, at least leaving the Bai family with a male heir. Then… A’Bao wouldn’t have to work so hard to support the family honor.

“Mother has already prepared the midwife and the delivery room. Physician Hong is also waiting at home. Fifth Aunt personally selected two wet nurses, but later discussed with Mother about wanting to nurse the child herself.” Bai Qingyan said.

She could understand Fifth Aunt’s desire to nurse personally—this was Fifth Uncle’s posthumous child and Fifth Aunt’s only flesh and blood.

The Grand Princess’s expression couldn’t hide her grief, and she seemed to nod: “Let your Fifth Aunt do as she wishes!”

Nanny Jiang had originally wanted to keep Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi for vegetarian lunch, but Bai Qingyan said, “No, we still need to go to the estate to see Ji Tingyu. After seeing Ji Tingyu, Xiao Si wants to go to the Guping Town temple fair to eat Baoxiang Duck at Baoxiang House…”

At the mention of Ji Tingyu, the Grand Princess’s lips moved. What truly caused her granddaughter’s estrangement was the matter of dealing with Ji Tingyu.

She fingered the prayer beads wound around her hand, lowering her eyes and nodding, instructing Nanny Jiang: “Go get five hundred taels in banknotes for A’Bao to take to Ji Tingyu.”