Nanny Tong’s expression was spirited as she curtsied to Bai Qingyan and hurried away.

Hearing her eldest miss’s words, Chun Tao felt greatly invigorated, clenching her fists as her eyes reddened.

“Such a clan—it’s better to take this opportunity to separate from them!” Dong Shi gritted her teeth in anger. “When you returned, how did you describe those shameless clan members tarnishing your reputation?”

“Precisely because I knew Mother would be so angry that A’Bao didn’t mention it.” She smiled lightly and patted Dong Shi’s arm. “When Heaven wishes to destroy someone, it first makes them mad. The clan’s fortune is nearly exhausted. Mother, rest assured—A’Bao will handle this matter properly. But if Mother’s health suffers from anger over this matter, the loss would outweigh the gain.”

“This time, the clan slandered me as having private relations with the Crown Prince. I can overlook it, but His Highness the Crown Prince cannot overlook it. If this matter reaches the Emperor’s ears, given the Emperor’s suspicious nature, he’ll inevitably suspect the Crown Prince’s intentions in winning me over. Even to clear his name, the Crown Prince will have to make some gesture. At that time… without me, the County Princess, standing behind the Bai clan, no one will be able to protect the Shouyang Bai clan.”

Hearing her daughter’s explanation, Dong Shi’s anger subsided somewhat.

“I must go tell your grandmother about this matter to get a definitive answer from her. If it comes to confessing our sins to our ancestors and leading the capital Bai family women to leave the clan, your grandmother must agree.” Dong Shi squeezed her daughter’s hand, her mind already made up. She was no longer willing to entangle herself with these greedy clan members.

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Bai Jinxiu was still waiting for her in Qinghui Courtyard. After parting with her mother, Bai Qingyan and Chun Tao returned to Qinghui Courtyard.

Unexpectedly, on the way, they encountered the seventh sister Bai Jinse coming toward them with Miss Lu.

“These past few days, this servant has heard the servants and wives in the residence saying that Seventh Miss often spends time with Miss Lu, and they seem quite compatible.” Chun Tao lowered her voice to tell Bai Qingyan.

The veiled Miss Lu saw Bai Qingyan first, composedly stopped, and curtsied: “County Princess.”

Bai Jinse looked at Bai Qingyan with a smile, her eyes showing both joy and nervousness as she curtsied: “Elder sister…”

“Miss Lu need not be so formal. Are you going to Grandmother’s?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Indeed…” Miss Lu’s eyes held a faint smile as she glanced at the seventh Miss Bai Jinse. “Then this commoner will go to Changshou Courtyard first.”

Bai Jinse curtsied to Miss Lu.

After watching Miss Lu leave, Bai Qingyan looked at seventh sister Bai Jinse’s straight-backed posture and asked with a smile: “What mischief have you done to be so nervous seeing elder sister?”

Bai Jinse’s ears turned red as she ran to Bai Qingyan, glancing at Chun Tao with clear intent, wanting Chun Tao to step aside.

Chun Tao tactfully curtsied to Bai Jinse and withdrew to one side.

“Elder sister!” Bai Jinse performed a deep bow to Bai Qingyan. “Xiao Qi has a request.”

“Related to Miss Lu?” Bai Qingyan smiled lightly, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Though this Miss Lu was said to be useful, if she harbored thoughts of using her sister, she would not let it slide easily.

“Yes…” Bai Jinse answered frankly. She straightened up, her clear black and white pupils gazing at Bai Qingyan with a serious expression. “Elder sister, I want to stay in the capital and learn medicine from Miss Lu.”

She stepped forward to Bai Jinse, took her small hand, and walked forward while gently inquiring: “Why do you want to learn medicine from Miss Lu? When Physician Hong returns from his travels, wouldn’t it be good to study medicine with him?”

Bai Jinse lowered her eyes halfway, staring at her moon-white dress hem swaying as she walked: “I originally wanted to travel and study with Physician Hong, but Mother didn’t agree.”

So Bai Jinse settled for the next best option, choosing Miss Lu, who knew medicine.

“You wanted to go with Physician Hong?” Bai Qingyan was quite surprised.

Bai Jinse shook her head and gathered great courage to say: “Elder sister, I don’t want to be a useless person, and I don’t want to be treated as an ignorant child. You support this household with great difficulty, elder sister. Xiao Qi also wants to do something for this family! Xiao Qi knows what elder sister fears… elder sister fears that Xiao Qi is too young and will be used by Miss Lu.”

She gazed deeply at her youngest sister without speaking.

“Elder sister, Miss Lu is Grandmother’s chess piece. Xiao Qi can see that.” Bai Jinse had never concealed her precocious intelligence before her elder sister Bai Qingyan. “This chess piece might have great use for the Bai family someday. Xiao Qi is precisely at the age of a naive child… staying by this Miss Lu’s side is perfect… for not being guarded against.”

Bai Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat as she led Bai Jinse toward the pavilion ahead: “So you requested to travel with Physician Hong from Mother as a fallback plan, to naturally stay in the capital to study medicine with Miss Lu? But how could you be certain that Mother would let you, so young, stay in the capital?”

“I originally thought that with Grandmother in the capital, if Grandmother agreed, Mother would certainly let me stay in the capital! Later… I was afraid Grandmother wouldn’t let me stay.” Bai Jinse’s palms were covered with fine sweat.

This was the first time Bai Jinse had used her intelligence to plan something, so inner nervousness was inevitable.

“So you came to confess to your elder sister?” Bai Qingyan looked at the youngest sister, who was the first among the Bai family children to mature after experiencing great hardship, her heart filled with complex emotions.

Bai Jinse nodded.

She took out her handkerchief and wiped the sticky sweat from Bai Jinse’s palm: “Actually, you should go confess to Grandmother about this matter, not to elder sister.”

She sat down with Bai Jinse in the pavilion, patiently guiding her: “To shoot a man, first shoot his horse; to capture bandits, first capture their king. A direct approach is fastest and most likely to achieve your goal—no need for too many detours. Grandmother is the key to whether you can stay in the capital, so you should confess your thoughts and wishes to Grandmother. There are only two possible outcomes: first… Grandmother agrees, second… Grandmother refuses.”

“If Grandmother agrees, that’s best. If Grandmother refuses, then you come to your elder sister to persuade her! Otherwise, if you speak to your elder sister today and your elder sister thinks you’re too young and refuses, she’ll mention this matter to Grandmother first. If your elder sister disagrees, even if Grandmother wants to keep you… She’ll first consider family harmony, and you’ll have no retreat.”

“If you approach Grandmother first and she refuses, your elder sister becomes your backup plan. If Grandmother agrees, using the reason of keeping you by her side to serve her, with filial piety taking precedence, who could say no?”

Bai Jinse’s bright eyes looked at Bai Qingyan as she nodded vigorously.

“In the future, when you have a goal you hope to achieve, think clearly about the result you want, identify the key factors, and after making your plans, carefully consider the two possible consequences of success and failure. If you fail… You must have the means to turn the tide or backup plans. Remember, for the sake of prudence, you must avoid complications and unexpected developments, lest you stray too far from your original expectations.”