In her heart, Old Master Cui and Grandfather were the same type of people – they were truly those who could face Heaven without shame above and face people without embarrassment below. The character and bearing of their generation were something she admitted she could not achieve, yet she deeply admired and respected from the bottom of her heart.

Moreover, today, Old Master Cui’s words had resolved the confusion in Bai Qingyan’s heart.

“Little Four understands. I won’t speak carelessly again.”

Just as Bai Jinzhi finished speaking, Bai Qingyan felt the sluggish sound of something cutting through the air rushing rapidly from behind. Her scalp tightened as she grabbed Bai Jinzhi, pressing down her head and bending to dodge.

A stone wrapped in paper grazed past Bai Jinzhi’s back, crashed onto the stone steps, and rolled down the stairs.

Bai Jinzhi drew the long whip from her waist, quickly positioning herself to protect Bai Qingyan behind her.

The guards who had followed Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi immediately drew their swords – one team guarding at the bottom of the steps, another rushing swiftly up the higher steps.

Bai Qingyan looked toward the distant forest where a black shadow had quickly darted into the woods and disappeared. Her gaze fell on the paper-wrapped stone that had rolled down the steps.

Seeing this, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes also fell on the paper-wrapped stone. She quickly went down several steps, picked up the stone, unwrapped the paper, and her pupils trembled.

Holding the crumpled paper, she quickly stepped up to Bai Qingyan in two or three strides and handed her the unfolded paper: “Eldest sister…”

[Eldest Sister, please meet at Anyu Clear Nunnery on the north peak of An Yushan.]

It was Bai Qingjue’s handwriting.

Bai Qingyan’s heartbeat quickened several beats as she quickly crumpled the paper into a ball and clutched it tightly in her palm.

Bai Jinzhi was emotionally overwhelmed, her eyes reddening: “Eldest sister, it’s…”

She tightly grasped Bai Jinzhi’s hand, squeezing firmly to signal her to stay calm, and said plainly: “Let’s go!”

Bai Jinzhi bit her teeth and remained silent, struggling to keep her expression composed to avoid revealing her emotions.

As Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan into the carriage, Bai Jinzhi heard eldest sister say: “Since we’ve come to An Yushan, let’s visit Anyu Clear Nunnery to see if Third Sister has improved. I heard the crabapple flowers at Anyu Temple are all blooming beautifully – we should bring back a branch or two for Grandmother.”

Bai Jinzhi leaped onto her horse, gripping the reins tightly: “To Anyu Clear Nunnery…”

Inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan unfolded the paper again, placed it on the small table, and smoothed out every wrinkle with her hands, her throat choking with emotion.

She should have immediately burned this message, but since A’Jue had no way to see Fourth Aunt now, this was proof that A’Jue was alive. She wanted Fourth Aunt to see it at least once.

She refolded the paper and placed it close to her heart, closing her eyes as her lashes grew moist.

In front of Anyu Clear Nunnery, Bai Qingyan got down from the carriage and instructed Chun Tao and the guard escort to wait outside while she and Bai Jinzhi went in to see Bai Jintong.

Anyu Clear Nunnery was on the north peak of An Yushan. Men coming and going in the nunnery would be too conspicuous, but with the crabapple flowers blooming on the north peak of An Yushan, occasional scholars and refined gentlemen came for spring outings, so it wasn’t unusual.

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi visited the courtyard where Grandmother was staying for her spiritual retreat, then exited through the back door of Anyu Clear Nunnery, following secret markers toward a pavilion in a secluded corner of the north peak.

Looking up, Bai Jinzhi immediately saw in the pavilion a tall, straight figure in azure-gray robes standing with hands clasped behind his back. She wanted to call out… but her throat seemed blocked by something, unable to make a sound, tears streaming down her face.

Bai Qingyan’s steps faltered, her eyes reddening as acidic sensations rushed to her eyes and nose, waves of mist blurring her vision.

Only now, seeing the living Bai Qingjue just steps away, did she truly feel that Bai Qingjue was alive…

Unlike Bai Qingyun, whom they had rescued at Qiushan Pass, all bloody and mangled, Bai Qingjue’s tall form stood upright in the heights, as if he had never experienced life and death or devastation. He was still that Seventh Young Master of the Bai family whose talent had shone throughout the capital, as if… everything before had been Bai Qingyan’s nightmare.

She bit her teeth tightly, her sweaty hands gripping her skirt as she lifted her feet toward the pavilion.

“Eldest sister, be careful!” Bai Jinzhi quickly supported Bai Qingyan, who had nearly stumbled.

Hearing the sound, Bai Qingjue spun around abruptly and walked to the pavilion entrance in several steps. He immediately saw his eldest sister, Bai Qingyan, below on the high steps. His eyes grew hot as he strode down quickly, stopping two steps away from Bai Qingyan. He lifted the hem of his robes and knelt solemnly, tears already uncontrollable.

They say men don’t shed tears lightly, but facing his eldest sister, he could no longer hold back.

Bai Qingjue looked up, his face dusty from travel, yet not diminishing his handsome features at all. His throat moved up and down as he choked out: “Eldest sister…”

This call of “eldest sister” – she had thought she would never hear it again.

It should have been joyful, yet her heart felt suffocatingly painful, like being cut by a dull knife.

She looked at Bai Qingjue with his prominent features, facial contours very similar to Fourth Uncle’s. The once carefree and spirited young master of the Bai family had now grown into a resolute and strong young man.

Having survived great calamity, his spirit remained unextinguished.

Having experienced life and death, his character still endured.

This… was truly a fine son of their Bai family!

She released Bai Jinzhi’s hand and stepped forward to help Bai Qingjue up.

Bai Qingjue grasped Bai Qingyan’s hands, which were covered with calluses, feeling as if his heart was being carved out. He didn’t rise but gripped Bai Qingyan’s hands tightly, looking up at her reddened eyes: “Wandering Dragon Cavalry Battalion, Seventh Young Master of the Bai family… Bai Qingjue safely returned to the capital.”

Tears immediately flowed like a fountain.

When Grandfather returned safely from campaigns, the first thing he would do was bring the Bai family members to offer incense to their ancestors, having each Bai family descendant tell their ancestors they had safely returned to the capital.

Now, only Bai Qingjue had returned alone.

Though this wasn’t at the Bai family home offering incense after bathing, to Bai Qingjue… wherever family was, that was the Bai home!

With relatives to hear it, the ancestors would hear it too.

“Eldest sister, I couldn’t return in time to protect Fifth Brother. I didn’t… protect Fifth Brother.” Bai Qingjue bit his teeth hard; this matter weighed on his heart like a great stone, making it impossible for him to breathe at times.

On the battlefield, the one who should have been protected most wasn’t him, but the true heir of the Bai family… the legitimate son of Duke Zhenguo’s heir, eldest uncle Bai Qishan – Bai Qingyu!

Hearing Bai Qingjue mention A’Yu, her heart felt as if pierced by knives, the pain making her bones numb.

She gripped Bai Qingjue’s hands forcefully, bent down to embrace him, and gently stroked his back, saying in a hoarse voice: “That you and A’Yun could survive, eldest sister… eldest sister is already very comforted. At least our Bai family men were not all lost on the Southern Border! It’s good that you’re alive…”

“Seventh Brother!” Bai Jinzhi knelt beside Bai Qingjue, crying and calling his name, embracing her brother and sobbing until she couldn’t breathe.

“Little Four…” Bai Qingjue embraced Bai Jinzhi with one arm, closing his eyes but still unable to hold back his tears.

Bai Qingjue remained kneeling, and because of his family’s embrace, he could no longer restrain the grief in his heart. He bit his teeth tightly, not wanting to cry aloud, yet still soaked his eldest sister’s clothes with tears.

The three siblings cried together in a huddle. After a long while, they sat in the pavilion listening to Bai Qingjue recount the events in the Southern Border.

Bai Qingjue and Bai Qingyun had been ordered to lead cavalry around Chuan Ridge and charge straight to Xiliang’s Cloud Capital, catching Xiliang completely off guard.