What Bai Qingyan said was rather profound, but Bai Jinzhi understood it clearly. She stood up and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Jinse will remember eldest sister’s teachings.”

Looking at her youngest sister, Bai Qingyan wondered whether her sister’s precocious wisdom was truly a good thing.

She smiled at Bai Jinse: “Remember this – under the premise that the Lin imperial house remains stable, Grandmother will certainly spare no effort to protect the Bai family. Therefore, Grandmother must ensure that Miss Lu can be used by the Bai family. If you are honest with Grandmother and willing to share her burdens, Grandmother will surely agree.”

With these words from her eldest sister, Bai Jinse felt much more confident. She bowed to her eldest sister and ran toward Grandmother’s Changshou Courtyard.

Bai Qingyan believed that Grandmother’s use of Miss Lu was because Concubine Qiu in the palace belonged to Prince Liang, which forced this risky move. Grandmother understood better than Bai Qingyan how difficult the Bai family’s path ahead would be.

If there were a clear-headed and precocious child of the Bai family who could stay by Miss Lu’s side to watch her for Grandmother, Grandmother would surely feel much more at ease.

As soon as Bai Qingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jinxiu grabbed her to ask about clan matters.

“When you leave later, go through the back corner gate,” she said to Bai Jinxiu with a smile. “There’s quite a commotion at the front!”

Bai Jinxiu was startled and stood up.

“Sit down…” She pulled Bai Jinxiu to sit. “You’re with child now – why are you so easily startled?”

“Eldest sister, you’re just letting them make trouble?”

“Making trouble… I had Steward Hao lead them into making this big scene! The bigger the better!” She didn’t hide anything from Bai Jinxiu. “This way, the common people will know that the Shouyang Bai clan has been bringing disaster to Shouyang all these years, while our Capital Bai family knew nothing about it. It also serves as… a beginning for completely separating from the clan in the future.”

Bai Jinxiu was silent for a moment: “The clan should originally be blood relatives who help each other in times of trouble. But all these years… the clan has been like leeches attached to our Bai family’s head. They never helped when the Bai family was in trouble, but instead took advantage of our misfortune! If we can separate from the Shouyang clan, that would indeed be a good thing.”

She nodded: “Don’t worry about this matter – just focus on nurturing your pregnancy.”

After Bai Jinse spent an hour at Changshou Courtyard, she finally emerged. The Grand Princess had indeed agreed to let Bai Jinse remain in the capital to study medical arts with Miss Lu.

As Bai Jinse stepped over the threshold of Changshou Courtyard, her tightly tensed spine finally relaxed slightly. She clenched her fists tightly, her eyes moist with emotion – she could finally do something for this family.

When Bai Jinzhi heard that the clan elders were making trouble at the Duke’s mansion gates, she couldn’t contain herself and almost charged out with a whip, but was firmly persuaded by her maid Lingcui to go to Qinghui Courtyard instead.

When Bai Jinzhi entered, Bai Qingyan was discussing with Nanny Tong the gifts to prepare for tomorrow’s visit to her teacher, Old Master Guan.

April 12th was Old Master Guan Yongchong’s birthday celebration.

Since Bai Qingyan was in mourning, she planned to visit a day early to avoid the birthday feast.

Seeing Bai Jinzhi enter huffily, Bai Qingyan placed the rare bamboo scroll she had found for her teacher into a box and instructed Chun Tao: “Bring Fourth Miss a cup of chrysanthemum tea to cool her temper.”

After paying her respects, Bai Jinzhi found an embroidered stool to sit on: “Those clan people are too shameless! They dare to make trouble in front of the Duke’s mansion!”

She smiled: “The bigger the trouble, the better. In the future, when we remove ourselves from the clan to appease our ancestors, we won’t be criticized by the world! Just sit peacefully!”

Bai Jinzhi blinked, her expression showing delight.

Chun Tao, carrying chrysanthemum tea and lifting the door curtain to enter, bowed and said: “First Miss, Fourth Miss, Yinshuang has returned!”

Bai Jinxiu had just left with Yinshuang not long ago – why had Yinshuang returned so soon?

“Let her come in,” Bai Qingyan said.

“Yes!” Chun Tao served Bai Jinzhi her tea and stepped out to wave Yinshuang over.

Yinshuang entered and bowed properly, then hurriedly took out a letter from her chest and handed it to Bai Qingyan.

“Thank you for your hard work, Yinshuang!” Bai Qingyan smiled as she accepted the neatly folded note, unfolding it while saying to Chun Tao, “Take Yinshuang to have some snacks.”

“Second Miss is still at the tea house…” Yinshuang showed her white teeth to Bai Qingyan, grinning innocently. “When I return, Second Miss will give me osmanthus cakes to eat.”

“Good! Go on… be careful on the road!” Bai Qingyan instructed Yinshuang.

“Yes!” Yinshuang responded.

As Yinshuang turned to leave, Bai Qingyan suddenly called her back.

Yinshuang’s bright black and white eyes looked at Bai Qingyan, who said: “Second Miss is with child and cannot be away from you. From now on, send others to deliver messages – you must stay by Second Miss’s side at all times! I know your Sister Qingzhu taught you some martial arts. I’m entrusting Second Miss to you – please protect her and the child.”

“Sister Qingzhu told me to listen to First Miss’s words, and I will obey!” Yinshuang looked determined.

Bai Qingyan smiled: “From now on, you listen to Second Miss!”

“Mm! Second Miss is good to Yinshuang! Yinshuang will listen to Second Miss, too!”

“Go on…”

Yinshuang nodded and hurried out of Qinghui Courtyard. She had to go guard Second Miss, well, First Miss said… never leave her side.

Bai Jinzhi set down her teacup and craned her neck to look at the letter in Bai Qingyan’s hands: “What urgent matter does Second Sister have that she just left but already sent Yinshuang back with a message?”

Before Bai Qingyan finished reading the letter, someone outside announced that Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong from the Grand Princess’s side had come together.

She guessed that what Grandmother had sent Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong to discuss was the same as the message Bai Jinxiu had sent back – both about the great famine in Yanwo.

“Let Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong come in,” Bai Qingyan said, handing the letter to Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi quickly took it to read carefully.

After Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong entered and paid their respects, Nanny Jiang glanced at Bai Jinzhi, who was still sitting beside Bai Qingyan reading the letter, seeming to hesitate whether this matter should be known to Bai Jinzhi.

“Nanny, have you come about the great famine in Yanwo?” Bai Qingyan’s expression remained calm. “Within an hour, this matter will be known throughout the capital city. Speak freely.”

The implication was that there was no need to hide it from Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi looked up, her eyes settling on Wei Zhong.

Wei Zhong immediately stepped forward and spoke respectfully: “Yanwo suffered a great drought in the seventh month of last year. It’s county magistrate, Min Zhongsheng… because he was to be promoted to prefect at year’s end, did not want any complications midway, so he concealed the disaster. The grain requisition for the Southern Border War completely emptied the people’s homes. When the new county magistrate took office, Min Zhongsheng forced him to clean up the mess and forbade reporting the disaster!”

“Min Zhongsheng originally hoped Yanwo could recover, but who knew that in winter Yanwo suffered snow disasters again, and in the third month, there were torrential rains for a month, causing floods that submerged fertile fields with no harvest at all. The government repeatedly failed to provide grain for disaster relief, and refugees fled everywhere, pouring into Pingyang, Guangling, Luohong, and Hushui. Wherever the refugees went, not even tree bark remained. This has already caused over ten murder cases. Only then did the magistrates of the four surrounding areas learn of Yanwo’s famine. The memorial has now been sent to the palace, and I hear the Crown Prince has also entered the palace.”

Yanwo was indeed not far from Great Yan.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “I understand…”