The Grand Princess was in the company of Miss Lu, standing by the large fish tank in Changshou Courtyard feeding the fish. Seeing Bai Qingyan approaching, Miss Lu didn’t want to disturb their grandmother-granddaughter conversation and bowed to take her leave.

“Aunt, don’t rush to leave. Let’s accompany grandmother back to the room to chat together,” Bai Qingyan called out to Miss Lu.

Miss Lu looked toward the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess smiled kindly: “Since A’Bao wants you to stay, then stay!”

“Yes!” Miss Lu respectfully replied, supporting the Grand Princess on her other side as the three entered the main room together.

She informed the Grand Princess about the Emperor’s recent frequent headaches. The Grand Princess immediately became angry, heavily slamming her Buddhist beads on the small table beside her, her entire bearing intimidating.

“If this matter is truly Concubine Qiu’s doing, she’s truly audacious beyond measure, actually using the safety of our sovereign’s sacred body as a bargaining chip for her favor-seeking!”

Having grown up in the palace since childhood, the Grand Princess had seen what kinds of underhanded methods palace women would use to compete for favor.

“Even Imperial Physician Huang from the Imperial Medical Academy can’t diagnose the cause, so… it’s hard to say whether it’s Concubine Qiu’s method of competing for favor.” She looked toward Miss Lu as she spoke. “However, granddaughter thinks we can use this opportunity to have Miss Lu meet with His Majesty. Naturally… it wouldn’t be appropriate for the grandmother to bring this up – His Majesty must request it himself.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan say she wanted her to meet the Emperor, Miss Lu showed no panic or unease, standing there calmly with a peaceful, tranquil demeanor that was very comforting.

“Aunt, how confident are you in your medical skills?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Miss Lu bowed to Bai Qingyan before saying, “I dare not deceive Eldest Miss. Ning Ying’s medical skills dare not claim to be brilliant, but regarding acupuncture methods… at least in the capital, there’s probably no one who can surpass me.”

“Ning Ying is your aunt’s name,” the Grand Princess told Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan nodded. Lu Ning Ying’s words meant… she dared to treat the Emperor.

“If grandmother thinks it’s feasible, then use this opportunity to have Aunt meet with His Majesty. It would also be perfect for Aunt to examine His Majesty and see what’s truly causing his headaches,” Bai Qingyan said to the Grand Princess.

“Good. You arrange this matter. If you need people, just inform Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong,” the Grand Princess decided definitively.

The first batch of items the Bai family was sending back to Shouyang consisted of rarely used objects. Originally scheduled to depart on April fourteenth, but news of bandit troubles came. The old matriarch of the Ministry of Works Minister’s mansion, who was originally planning to return home to visit relatives on April twentieth, sent a daughter-in-law who was friendly with Dong Shi to ask if they could depart together, as a larger convoy would deter mountain bandits from attempting robbery.

After consulting together and re-examining the almanac, they set the date for April seventeenth, with the Bai family convoy departing together with Minister Wang’s old matriarch’s homecoming convoy.

Dong Changqing didn’t need to take the imperial examinations next year, so he volunteered, wanting to follow the Bai family convoy to tour Shouyang. He begged his father Dong Qingping to bring him to the Bai mansion to receive duties from Dong Shi.

Noble and distinguished families’ descendants at Dong Changqing’s age were supposed to travel and study abroad for a year or two. However, ever since the men of the Pacifying Prince’s household died for their Kingdom, somehow, this seemingly peaceful and prosperous era had an underlying dangerous atmosphere that people could sense. Therefore, noble families had been reluctant to send their coming-of-age sons out to study.

Now that Dong Changqing had such a rare opportunity to travel far, he naturally wouldn’t miss it. Dong Qingping also thought that since the Bai family guards would be there, it would be good for Dong Changqing to travel and broaden his horizons.

However, since Dong Changqing was nominally working for the Bai family, Bai Qingyan still brought Bai Jinzhi to see him off outside the city.

Dong Changqing’s ears reddened with embarrassment. Knowing he was borrowing the Bai family guard convoy to gain experience in Shouyang, how could he accept the Bai family’s thanks?

“Cousin sisters, you’re being too polite! I’m the one borrowing the Bai family guard army to travel. How dare I accept your thanks!” Dong Changqing smiled and quickly asked, “Do the cousin sisters want any Shouyang specialties? I’ll bring some back for you!”

“We’ll be returning to Shouyang soon, so cousin needn’t trouble himself!” Bai Jinzhi clasped her hands behind her back, displaying both feminine charm and heroic spirit.

Dong Changqing quickly lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Bai Jinzhi anymore, his ears even redder: “Then… if I see any interesting trinkets, I’ll bring some for cousin sisters!”

“Though you have the Bai family guard army with you on this trip, still be extra careful,” Bai Qingyan instructed Dong Changqing.

Dong Changqing bowed deeply: “Cousin sister, rest assured!”

“Eldest Miss, Fourth Miss, the Ministry of Works Minister’s convoy has arrived. We’re about to depart!” Lu Ping clasped his fists to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest Miss and Fourth Miss, rest assured. This subordinate will certainly protect Young Master well.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Ping,” Bai Qingyan nodded.

Dong Changqing mounted his horse alongside Lu Ping, turned back to wave his riding whip toward Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi’s direction, then slowly departed.

“Eldest sister, let’s go back too!” Bai Jinzhi said.

Bai Qingyan, thinking of how Dong Changqing had looked at Bai Jinzhi earlier, asked quietly: “Little Four, what do you think of Changqing?”

“Cousin Dong is very good!” Bai Jinzhi answered straightforwardly, with some confusion in her eyes. “Is the eldest sister planning to use Cousin Dong?”

Bai Qingyan shook her head and said no more. It seemed Bai Jinzhi had no such feelings for Dong Changqing. If she broke through this delicate situation, Little Four would probably avoid Dong Changqing in the future. Better to let everything take its natural course.

After helping Bai Qingyan into the carriage, Bai Jinzhi leaped onto her horse, and they leisurely returned to the city.

Just before turning into the alley where the Pacifying Princess’s mansion was located, Bai Jinzhi, riding on horseback, saw Left Chancellor Li Mao’s carriage.

She bent down and approached Bai Qingyan’s carriage window: “Eldest sister, the Left Chancellor’s carriage returning at this hour probably means the Emperor’s headaches have flared up again and he couldn’t attend morning court.”

These past few days, the Emperor’s headaches had become increasingly severe, and he had already missed morning court for two consecutive days.

Inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and gently touched the calluses on her palms, her expression cool as she spoke: “Block the Left Chancellor’s carriage. Tell him I have something to say.”

“Alright!” Bai Jinzhi spurred her horse forward, positioning her horse’s head directly in front of Li Mao’s carriage, blocking his path.

Bai Jinzhi had long found the Left Chancellor displeasing, especially during the earlier palace banquet when Li Mao had openly badmouthed the Bai family before the Emperor. Bai Jinzhi had wanted to give Li Mao a lashing.

The coachman driving for Left Chancellor Li Mao quickly reined in his horses, shouting: “Which family’s girl is this? Move aside quickly! How dare you block the Left Chancellor’s carriage!”

“I am County Princess Bai Jinzhi of Gaoyi. My eldest sister, the Pacifying Princess, has something to say to the Left Chancellor!”

The coachman was startled and quickly dismounted to bow.

Li Mao, who had been resting with closed eyes inside the carriage, heard these words, and his expression darkened. He lifted the carriage curtain, already wearing a full smile: “Since the Princess and County Princess have something to say, why not come sit at the Chancellor’s mansion?”