Upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Grand Princess’s body stiffened and all color drained from her face. Nanny Jiang hurried to pour out the life-saving pill bestowed by the Empress Dowager and brought water to Grand Princess: “Grand Princess…”

Grand Princess waved her hand at Nanny Jiang and comforted Bai Qingyan: “Silly child, it’s just a dream. Dreams are always the opposite of reality.”

“This dream was too real, too terrifying! Grandmother… in my dream, I watched the entire court bully our Bai family for having no men, bully us for having no one to protect us. I watched as Mother hurriedly sent my sisters away to change their names and identities, never to contact us again for life. I watched Mother, having no way to clear the Bai family’s injustice… bringing all the aunts to hang themselves in prison, leaving behind blood-written testimonies! I was truly terrified.”

Speaking of what truly moved Bai Qingyan’s emotions, the hatred and sorrow in her eyes… startled Grand Princess.

“A’Bao, don’t be afraid!” Grand Princess held Bai Qingyan tightly, “Don’t be afraid! Grandmother is here!”

Bai Qingyan stayed and talked with the Grand Princess for a while. No sooner had she left than Grand Princess could no longer hold on, clutching desperately at the clothes on her chest and spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood before collapsing onto the soft couch.

“Princess!” Nanny Jiang hurried to support Grand Princess, using a handkerchief to wipe the blood from her lips while crying out in panic, “Someone come! Quickly fetch Imperial Physician Huang!”

Grand Princess grabbed Nanny Jiang and shook her head, asking through tears: “Has A’Bao gone far?”

“Grand Princess, don’t worry. Miss has gone far away…” Nanny Jiang’s voice carried a sobbing tone.

Grand Princess’s grip on Nanny Jiang’s hand loosened somewhat, and tears fell like broken strings: “A’Bao is a child I raised and taught. Don’t I know her temperament? She must be afraid that I won’t be able to bear it when I suddenly receive news in the future, so she used this dream story. Otherwise, how could she bring such ethereal matters before me, making me worry and fear along with her!”

Nanny Jiang also began to cry, gripping Grand Princess’s hand tightly: “Princess, you must hold on! What if Miss’s dream is true? Our Duke’s mansion will still depend on you!”

“Hold on! Of course, I must hold on!” Grand Princess’s reddened eyes blazed like torches as she propped her elbow on the corner of the kang table and forced herself to sit straight. “If all the Bai family men have truly died wrapped in horse leather, and I also collapse from being unable to bear it, Duke’s mansion will truly be at the mercy of others! For the sake of A’Bao and these children, I must hold on!”

Nanny Jiang nodded repeatedly: “Grand Princess, Imperial Physician Huang has arrived. Let him come in to check your pulse! Your health cannot have any problems now!”

Grand Princess nodded, closing her swollen and painful eyes. Thinking that her husband, son, and grandsons might have already perished in Nanjiang, her liver and gallbladder felt about to split, the pain tearing at her heart.

But she had no time for grief now. She had to think carefully before the definitive news reached the capital – if this news was true, what should become of their Duke’s mansion in the future?

When Bai Qingyan came out from Grand Princess’s place, she encountered Fourth Miss leading Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss returning on horseback.

In the pristine white snow, three young ladies in dark red riding attire came talking and laughing with heroic bearing, their clear, bell-like, carefree laughter seeming able to sweep away all gloom from one’s heart.

Everyone in the capital knew that the young ladies of the Duke’s mansion were different from the refined daughters of other mansions. Duke’s mansion never confined their daughters to doing needlework at home or playing with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The young ladies of Duke’s mansion each wore fine clothes and rode spirited horses with bright and bold personalities.

Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi saw Bai Qingyan standing in the corridor hung with red silk, her eyes lit up as she ran quickly toward her: “Elder sister!”

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss’s eyes also lit up as they ran over, calling out crisply: “Elder sister…”

Chun Tao smiled and wiped down the corridor railing for Bai Qingyan, helping her sit down.

“Elder sister, is your health all better? You can even come out on snowy days!” Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi sat beside Bai Qingyan with concern filling her eyes. “Does that mean when spring comes, elder sister can take us horseback riding! The riding instructor is so boring – he doesn’t dare let me ride by myself!”

Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss were twin sisters, both just over ten years old, adorable like carved jade with two blessing buns on their heads that made them especially cute.

Looking at these three little girls who were still the young ladies of Duke’s mansion, thinking of her previous life… Third sister Bai Jintong who lived under a false identity, Fourth sister Bai Jinzhi who defected to enemy countries swearing to avenge the Bai family and destroy Great Jin, Fifth sister Bai Jinzhao who trained hard in martial arts to assassinate Prince Liang but died by her sword, Sixth sister Bai Jinhua and Seventh sister Bai Jinse who were sent to brothels by Prince Liang…

Fortunately, at this moment, they were all still well before her eyes.

Bai Qingyan’s nose tingled as she gazed at the three spirited young ladies before her and smiled gently.

“Elder sister, were the plum blossoms Little Five sent you yesterday beautiful?” Fifth Miss Bai Jinzhao leaned toward Bai Qingyan with a proud expression. “My mother said my elder sister fears cold and cannot go to very cold places. I saw those red plums blooming so beautifully that I broke off some red plum branches and put them in a white jade vase to send to my elder sister. Did your elder sister like them?”

“I loved them! The flowers our Little Five picked are the most beautiful. Elder sister saw them first thing when she woke up this morning…” Bai Qingyan coaxed the child.

“And me! And me! I also cut paper window decorations for my elder sister! They look so beautiful pasted on windows on snowy days! I also gave window decorations to the Fifth Aunt. My mother said Fifth Aunt has a baby in her belly, and now with Fifth Uncle and brothers all away on campaign, Fifth Aunt inevitably worries, so she told me and my sister to cheer up Fifth Aunt!”

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded: “Mm, elder sister loves those two chubby babies you cut. Fifth Aunt must love them too!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinzhi: “Tomorrow Jinxiu leaves for her wedding. Elder sister has something to entrust to you.”

Bai Jinzhi patted her chest with the hand holding her riding whip: “Elder sister’s orders – Little Four will risk life and limb!”

“Tomorrow, when Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion comes to fetch the bride, if no one helps block the door, you should lead the household maids and servants to form a line and block them. We cannot let the heir of Marquis Zhongyong think that with our Duke’s mansion’s men away, he can simply take your second sister away and damage our Duke’s mansion’s prestige.”

“Elder sister, rest assured! When it comes to making things difficult for people, in all the capital, if I Bai Jinzhi claims to be first, no one dares claim to be second!” Fourth Miss patted her chest in guarantee.

Bai Qingyan saw Lu Ping in the distance and smiled at the three children: “Alright, you should quickly go groom yourselves and prepare. Grandmother has invited court painters to paint portraits of us sisters before your second sister’s wedding tomorrow. Remember to dress up beautifully!”

The three little girls respectfully bowed to Bai Qingyan before leaving.

Lu Ping was not yet forty years old, but his appearance looked especially mature and stern. He clasped his fists and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Miss, you were looking for me.”

“Uncle Ping, let’s walk and talk.” Bai Qingyan stood up and walked out of the corridor.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s solemn expression, Lu Ping gathered his spirits and took the umbrella from Chun Tao’s hands to hold it over Bai Qingyan’s head, following properly at her side.

Bai Qingyan gripped the hand warmer tightly, her steps steady. Avoiding the servants sweeping snow in the courtyard, she slowly began to speak: “Last night someone anonymously sent me a message, asking me to meet tomorrow at the hour of the Snake at Zui’an Workshop on Chang’an Street, saying they have news from Nanjiang to give me!”