Seeing that Dong Shi was truly heartbroken, Bai Qingyan pulled out her handkerchief to wipe Dong Shi’s tears, coaxing her gently: “But matters of fate are unpredictable. If in the future I encounter someone suitable who would marry into our family, and if your daughter takes a fancy to him, I absolutely won’t hide it from Mother! I’ll tell Mother first thing, alright?”

“Really?” Dong Shi took the handkerchief from Bai Qingyan’s hand to dab at her tears.

She nodded: “When has A’Bao ever deceived Mother?”

Not daring to upset Dong Shi further, she changed the subject and asked: “Tomorrow is the palace examination. Both Qin Lang and younger brother Changyuan will be taking it—one is our Bai family’s son-in-law, and the other is Mother’s nephew. Has Mother prepared gifts for them?”

“I sent people to deliver them yesterday.” Speaking of this, Dong Shi sighed, “I hope Changyuan won’t be distracted this time. Chancellor Lu’s two legitimate grandsons and Grand Tutor Chen’s legitimate grandson are all popular candidates for this palace examination, but as long as Changyuan performs steadily… taking first place in the second rank shouldn’t be a problem!”

Grand Tutor Chen was himself a top scholar, and his son, the Secretariat Attendant, was also a top scholar in his year. If his grandson could also win the championship this time, it would be a wonderful story—a family of top scholars.

As for Chancellor Lu, there was no need to elaborate. Born to a prestigious family, he was the most handsome third-place scholar of his year, and his sons were all ranked in the second tier.

“Cousin Changyuan studied under the great scholar Master Lu. I think cousin Changyuan can at least take third place.” Bai Qingyan took Dong Shi’s arm and spoke in low, comforting tones, “So Mother should peacefully prepare congratulatory gifts for cousin Changyuan and second brother-in-law!”

Since ancient times, third-place scholars have all been handsome. Dong Changyuan’s talent went without saying, and he was moreover a youth with jade-carved elegance, though he was rather young.

But precisely because he was young, his future potential was limitless.

She believed that without the Bai family’s troubles dragging down her two uncles and the Dong family, the Dong family would certainly prosper more and more.

Bai Qingyan escorted Dong Shi back to her courtyard. Just as she emerged, she saw a little maid from Qinghui Courtyard hurrying over to find her.

Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, the little maid immediately curtsied and said: “First Miss, the gatehouse sent word that the palace has dispatched someone saying there’s urgent military intelligence, requesting First Miss to enter the palace.”

Urgent military intelligence?

Now that Xiliang had already made peace, the Rong Di were in internal strife, Great Yan had hostage princes, and even the Yan Emperor was currently in the capital city.

Then… it could only be Great Wei.

She remembered that previously, when they had returned triumphant from the campaign, the Crown Prince had mentioned that Great Wei was mobilizing troops approaching the border with Jin, their intentions unclear. It seemed that during this period, their intentions had become apparent, targeting Jin.

However, Great Wei’s Fourth Prince was still in the capital. For Great Wei to make moves at this time… weren’t they afraid that Great Jin would detain their prince?

Chun Tao looked up at the thoughtful Bai Qingyan, privately unwilling for Bai Qingyan to go, fearing that once she left, she would have to go to war again.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Understood.”

She turned to look at Chun Tao: “After I leave, tell Mother not to worry. I’ll try to return early.”

Chun Tao nodded: “Yes!”

Since the palace messenger said the military situation was urgent, Bai Qingyan rode quickly into the palace.

When she arrived, the Crown Prince, Zhang Duanrui, Left Chancellor Li Mao, the elderly Chancellor Lu, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing, the Vice Minister of War, and the Vice Minister of Revenue were all present.

Minister of War Shen Jingzhong and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing stood before a map that two eunuchs had unrolled and displayed vertically, arguing heatedly.

Vice Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, whose voice was naturally loud, was shouting at Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing until his face was red and his neck thick: “Great Wei has stationed troops at Hong Queshan on our two countries’ border, and the scouts they sent to investigate our Jin Kingdom’s military strength and defenses at Chun Mushan have all been captured. You’re telling me we can’t afford to fight?!”

Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing, having been sprayed with spittle, flicked his sleeve and moved several steps away from Vice Minister of War Shen Jingzhong before saying: “In this Southern Border war, your Ministry of War said yourselves… how many soldiers died? Don’t these soldiers’ compensation payments need to be issued? Xiliang’s reparations haven’t arrived yet. For His Majesty’s birthday this time, when various countries come to offer congratulations, we can’t treat the visiting princes and envoys poorly, not to mention the Yan Emperor’s visit! To avoid being looked down upon by other nations, the Ministry of Revenue is already struggling to support everything! When your Ministry of War asks for provisions… where am I supposed to get them for you?”

“Your Majesty, Miss Bai has arrived.” Gao Demao stepped forward and spoke quietly beside the Emperor’s ear, who was clutching a memorial and suffering from a headache.

The Emperor irritably threw the memorial in his hand onto the desk and impatiently waved his hand: “Bring her in!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan enter, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong stopped arguing and stepped aside, watching as Bai Qingyan properly kowtowed and paid her respects.

The Crown Prince glanced at the Emperor, saw him nod, and quickly said: “County Princess, please rise! The Father Emperor just received a secret report saying that Great Wei has stationed troops at Hong Queshan and sent scouts to investigate our Jin Kingdom’s military strength and defenses at Chun Mushan. The ministers have debated several times without reaching an agreement, so I petitioned Father Emperor to invite the County Princess here, so we could all give Father Emperor advice together.”

Just outside the hall, Bai Qingyan had heard Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing crying poverty.

Bai Qingyan thought briefly…

She considered Great Yan’s deployment of troops to assist the Northern Rong, speculating whether these so-called captured Great Wei scouts… might be one of Xiao Rongyan’s chess moves, intended to drag Great Jin into entanglement with Great Wei… so that Great Yan could boldly resolve the Rong Di matter without worrying about their rear.

If Great Yan assisted the Rong Di, what they feared most would be Jin and Great Wei. If Great Wei and Great Jin started fighting, these two countries would neither have hands free to take advantage of Great Yan when their main forces were all with the Rong Di to cause trouble for Great Yan, nor would they be able to prevent Great Yan and Great Wei from both suffering losses. Even if Great Yan wanted to station troops with the Rong Di in the future, both Great Jin and Great Wei would be mostly exhausted and certainly wouldn’t be able to spare attention… or rather, wouldn’t have the ability to pay attention to Great Yan’s movements.

Bai Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat.

Bai Qingyan wasn’t afraid of war, but she feared that once war started, the common people would suffer.

War meant fighting with silver, fighting with grain, fighting with people…

If the Ministry of Revenue had no money, it would have to raise the people’s taxes.

If the Ministry of War had no people, it would have to conscript soldiers.

This battle was not one that Jin had to fight.

“The territory of Hong Queshan borders our Jin Kingdom, but it also borders the Rong Di. Perhaps Great Wei is preparing to send troops to assist the Northern Rong.” Bai Qingyan stood to one side and spoke softly.

“That shouldn’t be the case. The Yan Emperor has already agreed to assist the Northern Rong in restoring orthodoxy, and the Yan Emperor has already discussed this matter with Father Emperor. Great Yan’s main forces intend to depart from Huyi, traveling along our Kingdom’s border and borrowing passage to go to the Northern Rong.” The Crown Prince stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at the Emperor before speaking, “Originally, I was worried that the Yan Emperor’s assistance to the Rong Di was because he wanted to swallow up the Rong Di, but Father Emperor’s brilliant wisdom guided me… The Yan Emperor has held hostage his legitimate son to Jin, and his Kingdom is weak, with poor people. He probably just wants to help the Rong Di restore orthodoxy and gain some benefits.”

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and sighed inwardly. How brilliantly wise indeed! Could this be considered arrogant ignorance?

The reason Great Yan hostaged their legitimate son to Jin was precisely to reduce Jin’s suspicions.

Whether it was the Yan Emperor or Xiao Rongyan, both Great Yan leaders were ambitious and sufficiently ruthless characters.