The Bai family’s character, their virtue of caring for all people under heaven, their compassionate righteousness, and broad-minded benevolence – these were the qualities a ruler should possess.

Whether Miss was paving the way for the Seventh Young Master Bai Qingjue of the Bai family, or intended to become Empress herself, Ji Tingyu was willing to sacrifice his flesh and blood to pave the way for Miss, with no regrets in life or death.

When Bai Qingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Physician Hong had already been waiting there for a long time.

“First Miss, Physician Hong has come…” Nanny Tong stepped forward to greet Bai Qingyan.

Learning that Bai Qingyan had returned, Physician Hong stepped out from the threshold and bowed to her: “Princess.”

Chun Tao couldn’t help but cover her lips and laugh softly: “In our residence now, people address our Miss inconsistently – sometimes Princess, sometimes First Miss.”

Bai Qingyan smiled and made a welcoming gesture to Physician Hong: “Physician Hong should just call me Miss!”

After entering, the absent-minded Chun Xing served tea to Physician Hong, then withdrew from the main room with Nanny Tong, while Chun Tao waited by the door for instructions.

After taking Bai Qingyan’s pulse, Physician Hong lowered his voice: “The poison in the Emperor of Great Yan’s body is very strange. The symptoms when it flares up resemble a poison called ‘Entering Tribulation,’ but also like Seven Star Powder, and the pulse seems to indicate he’s also been poisoned with Soul-Hooking Grass. This old man suspects that the reason previous physicians couldn’t diagnose the Emperor of Yan’s condition is that these three poisons interact and merge in his body, forming a new type of poison. That’s why no one could diagnose exactly what poison it is, and trying to detoxify it… is quite tricky. If even a slight amount of medicine is used incorrectly, it could kill the Emperor of Yan in an instant.”

This involved the secrets of the Yan imperial family…

Bai Qingyan’s fingers tapped intermittently on the table surface: “Does Physician Hong have a way to treat it?”

“Yes…” Physician Hong nodded and put away his pulse pillow. “But using it on the Emperor of Great Yan would be risking an entire nation. I am a Jin person… presumably, the Emperor of Yan still has doubts. Although the Emperor of Yan said he would consider it for a few days, this old man thinks the Emperor of Yan won’t agree in the end.”

Bai Qingyan didn’t think so necessarily. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, then asked: “If the Emperor of Yan requests Physician Hong’s treatment, how confident are you?”

Under the bright candlelight filling the room, Physician Hong held up two fingers: “Twenty percent.”

“Physician Hong should still prepare. In case the Emperor of Yan truly requests your treatment, you won’t be caught off guard.” She looked up at Physician Hong. “Does Physician Hong have other matters to discuss?”

Physician Hong spoke in a low voice: “Today at the Emperor of Yan’s place, this old man saw disguised Rong-Di people. When I entered… that Rong-Di person disguised as a vegetable vendor was expressing profuse gratitude as he left. I estimate… Great Yan is going to assist the Rong-Di, just don’t know whether Great Yan plans to help the Northern Rong or Nanrong.”

After hearing this, Bai Qingyan’s expression remained calm.

With Xiao Rongyan’s intelligence, if she could think of the benefits of sending troops to assist the Rong-Di at this time, he could naturally think of it too.

Currently, envoys from both Northern and Nanrong were in the capital city. The Jin Emperor’s attitude was ambiguous – he neither said he would send troops to help Northern Rong nor agreed to remain neutral. Nanrong sat stable… so Northern Rong naturally couldn’t remain calm and sought aid everywhere.

The Jin Emperor’s vision wasn’t of the world – he only wished to preserve the current prosperous glory, so he dared not gamble… and could not gamble!

But Great Yan was different. Xiao Rongyan’s vision and strategic thinking were broad, his eyes set on the world – he dared to gamble.

As for whether Great Yan would help Southern or Northern Rong, this wasn’t hard to guess.

The Rong-Di Emperor died from serious hunting injuries at the Snow Palace. By rights, the Crown Prince should have succeeded to the throne, but the Rong-Di Emperor’s brother A’Fumu held an edict ordering his succession and declared himself king – his claim was neither legitimate nor justified.

When Great Yan recovered Southern Yan, they fought under the banner of restoring orthodox rule. Therefore, Great Yan could only assist the legitimate Northern Rong – this way it would be more logical.

But for Great Yan, this was also a great gamble. If Great Yan sent troops to Rong-Di territory at this time and other nations attacked… Great Yan would be in danger.

It was a pity that she currently had no available troops; otherwise, this would be a good time to gain advantage in Rong-Di territory, taking the opportunity amid chaos to insert her forces into Rong-Di lands.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened. Opportunities were fleeting and wouldn’t come again, but with no one at hand… she really couldn’t spare the attention. If she forced people to go to Rong-Di territory, she’d likely be stretched too thin.

She sighed softly: “Physician Hong has worked hard today. Go back and rest early!”

Physician Hong nodded and advised Bai Qingyan: “Although Miss’s health has recovered somewhat, you’re still weaker than ordinary people. Later, this old man will write out some medicinal recipes for Nanny Tong to prepare for Miss daily.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Physician Hong.” She smiled and called Chun Tao to escort Physician Hong back, then summoned Nanny Tong inside.

Nanny Tong brought in a plate of bird’s nest cakes, coaxing Bai Qingyan to eat some like coaxing a child.

“During the days I was away, how do you think Chun Xing performed her duties?” Bai Qingyan ate a piece of bird’s nest cake and asked Nanny Tong in a low voice while picking up her teacup.

“This girl is good enough. She’s dutiful in her proper duties, but absolutely won’t do anything beyond her responsibilities.”

Nanny Tong’s words carried meaning. “Absolutely won’t do anything beyond her responsibilities” meant that if an oil bottle fell over and it wasn’t her job to right it, she absolutely wouldn’t reach out to help.

Such a servant at one’s side could only serve people – nothing else could be expected of her.

What she needed was… a useful maid. Although Chun Xing was faultless, she wasn’t suitable to serve at her side.

After Chun Xing married, the position of head maid would be vacant and could be filled by someone more suitable.

She sipped her tea and, after a moment of silence, asked: “I notice Chun Xing is sixteen this year?”

“Replying to First Miss, she’s seventeen…” Nanny Tong immediately understood Bai Qingyan’s meaning. “Does First Miss want to find a family to release Chun Xing to?”

She nodded, her fingers caressing the teacup. Thinking of Chun Xing’s family situation, she smiled slightly: “I trust Nanny’s ability to judge people. Find Chun Xing an honest, dutiful family with simple household members, some wealth, and easy-to-get-along-with in-laws. But it must be after Chun Xing has seen them and is satisfied.”

“First Miss, rest assured. This old servant will take Chun Xing’s matter to heart.”

Before sleeping, Bai Qingyan added weight to the iron sandbags on her arms and practiced horse stance in the courtyard, wanting to pick up her silver spear again as soon as possible.

After Bai Qingyan finished practicing, Chun Tao had people prepare water to serve Bai Qingyan’s bath as usual.

Although Chun Xing wasn’t on duty tonight, she unusually didn’t go to rest but volunteered to help Bai Qingyan wring out her hair.

Chun Xing had heard from Nanny Tong about First Miss asking her to find a family for her. At first hearing, her face went pale, thinking First Miss had grown tired of her. But then she learned that Nanny Tong said First Miss had instructed that she must see and approve first, which made Chun Xing extremely happy.

Since First Miss had vowed never to marry in this lifetime, her hope of accompanying Miss as part of her dowry to become a concubine was gone, so she didn’t want to continue wasting time staying by First Miss’s side.