The situation was urgent and could not be delayed. Xiao Rongyan lit the thin paper in his hand and rose to summon Wang Jiuzhou.

His eyes were deep and calm as he dressed while giving orders: “Have horses prepared. Dispatch a team to accompany me immediately to Great Wei. Zhang Yan stays behind—rest well today, then you’ll be responsible for liaising with the Bai family regarding the mine matters. After you’ve made proper arrangements, immediately head to Great Wei without error.”

Wang Jiuzhou repeatedly acknowledged, taking a cloak to drape over Xiao Rongyan: “Master, be careful in all matters when you return to Great Wei.”

This was the first time Wang Jiuzhou couldn’t accompany his master to Wei, and he inevitably felt worried, but he knew the mine matters also required a reliable person in charge—he had to stay here for his master.

Draping on the cloak, Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Wang Jiuzhou, pressing his lips together: “If Miss asks, just say I returned to Great Wei due to urgent matters.”

Wang Jiuzhou nodded: “This subordinate understands. Master, rest assured.”

Bai Qingyan tossed and turned sleeplessly, her mind filled with countless thoughts.

The mining operation would inevitably require considerable effort to keep hidden from prying eyes. Her plan to smelt weapons on-site wasn’t particularly troubling.

But who should be entrusted with this matter?

She trusted Shen Qingzhu, but Qingzhu was too young to command authority and wasn’t particularly skilled in such matters. When Mother and Aunt returned, Lu Ping couldn’t be spared from the Bai residence’s security. As for clan members… she only dared assign them the open military training matters—she couldn’t trust them with anything else.

Steward Hao’s family had served as stewards for the Bai family for generations. Just seeing him, others would know he belonged to the capital’s Bai family—inappropriate.

Wei Zhong was capable, but Bai Qingyan dared not use him with confidence.

Currently available was the Bai family’s loyal servant Uncle Liu—Liu Wang’an, but Uncle Liu was getting on in years…

When manpower was needed, one realized how shorthanded they were. This was why Bai Qingyan had Lu Ping begin cultivating capable people after returning to Shouyang.

With her still at the Bai residence, she already felt the shortage of personnel acutely. She wondered what conditions were like around Jintong and A’Jue.

For now, she’d have Uncle Liu take charge, then find a suitable replacement later.

With major matters settled, Bai Qingyan turned over and closed her eyes… listening to the pattering rain against the window lattice. Inexplicably, Xiao Rongyan’s sharply defined features appeared before her eyes, and her heart began pounding as violently as it had in that moment when their lips touched.

Chun Tao, keeping night watch, heard Bai Qingyan tossing and turning like a pancake and asked softly: “Miss, are you having trouble with the unfamiliar bed?”

“What time is it?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was somewhat hoarse.

“Replying to Miss, it’s just past the fifth watch.” After answering, Chun Tao asked quietly, “Shall this servant bring Miss some hot tea?”

Unable to sleep, Bai Qingyan rose.

Hearing movement, Chun Tao lifted the bed curtains. Seeing Bai Qingyan sitting up, she quickly used gold-plated copper hooks to secure the curtains on both sides.

Boyun Courtyard was large and spacious. In the western chamber, Bai Qingyan had previously arranged for a room to be converted into a practice room.

Chun Tao brought hot tea and helped Bai Qingyan fasten iron sandbags all over her body. Standing aside with heartache, she watched their young miss practice with the red-tasseled spear, inevitably feeling sorry that their miss was too harsh on herself to support the Bai family.

As dawn broke, Bai Qingyan was drenched in sweat from practice. Setting aside her silver spear, having used her full strength today, her whole body ached and trembled as she untied the iron sandbags. She said to Chun Tao, “The weight isn’t enough—add more!”

Holding iron sand bags so heavy with sweat they could be wrung out, Chun Tao wanted to speak but stopped, her eyes reddening. She alone couldn’t even lift these sandbags, yet they wanted to add more weight?

“This servant has already had the servants heat water. After Miss bathes and has breakfast, please rest on the couch for a while. Shall we depart for the capital this afternoon instead?” Chun Tao said gently.

“I can rest a bit in the carriage.”

The night’s rain had stopped. Fallen leaves covered the bluestone floor, and water droplets still dripped from the lush tree branches.

The Bai family’s carriage and horse procession, along with over a hundred guards sent by the Crown Prince, stood beside fine horses in perfect formation outside the ancestral residence, waiting only for Bai Qingyan to board her exquisite elm four-horse azure-curtained carriage before departing magnificently toward Shouyang’s outskirts.

When Bai Qingyan had returned to Shouyang, the local Prefect and Magistrate Zhou had greeted her outside the city gates. Now, as she departed, both men coincidentally came to the city gates again to see her off.

Magistrate Zhou felt this Prefect’s information network was rather too well-informed, arriving even earlier than he. He quickly approached with a smiling face, entering the oil-cloth shelter supported by bamboo poles, and bowed: “Having just rained, the area outside the city is full of muddy, damp earth. Sir has also come, and though the Princess will return to the capital in just a few days, Sir has taken the trouble to come see her off.”

The Prefect sat calmly under the shelter, drinking tea: “Magistrate Zhou has a pile of cases to judge and petition letters to write, yet finds leisure time to come here.”

Magistrate Zhou’s face was full of embarrassment, but he didn’t hide his intentions from the Prefect: “I dare not deceive Sir. This subordinate hopes the Princess and Eunuch Quan Yu beside His Highness might put in a good word for this subordinate before the Crown Prince. I’ve prepared modest gifts.”

The Prefect shook his head and set down his teacup: “I advise you to forgo the gifts. Handle the Princess’s affairs beautifully, and your prospects will naturally follow.”

Though the Prefect didn’t explain why, Magistrate Zhou knew his superior had served in office thus far, while also engaging in flattery and horse-trading, he’d never sabotaged anyone. Half-believing, he ultimately decided not to present gifts later.

Seeing the cavalry led by Shen Qingzhu slowly emerging from the city gates, the Prefect and Magistrate Zhou rose and walked toward the gate.

Bai Jinzhi saw the two officials approaching and raised her hand to signal the procession to halt. The two officials quickly stepped forward and bowed toward Bai Qingyan’s carriage: “Respectfully seeing off the Princess and County Princess.”

Bai Qingyan’s delicate, jade-white fingers lifted the carriage curtain as she looked toward the Prefect and Magistrate Zhou: “Magistrate Zhou, I’ll trouble you with the Bai clan case.”

“Princess is too kind—it’s proper duty! Previously being threatened and failing to petition for the people and punish evildoers, this subordinate is truly deeply ashamed!” Magistrate Zhou quickly replied, his voice choked with what seemed like extreme guilt.

“Knowing one’s errors and being able to correct them—nothing is better than this.” Bai Qingyan said with a half-smile, then looked toward the Prefect: “The Prefect seems quite leisurely.”

The Prefect’s attitude was respectful: “Not exactly leisurely—I’m hoping to serve the Princess in some capacity.”

Bai Qingyan studied the extremely respectful Prefect and smiled: “I’ll be residing long-term in Shouyang in the future—there will be plenty of opportunities to trouble the Prefect.”

Finished speaking, Bai Qingyan lowered the curtain.

The carriage wheels slowly began turning, and the impressive procession moved again.

The Prefect and Magistrate Zhou stood aside, bowing respectfully to see off Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi. Seeing Quan Yu’s carriage pass by, Magistrate Zhou was indeed willing to humble himself and lose face, bowing deeply to the ground and shouting: “Respectfully seeing off Eunuch Quan Yu.”

The Prefect raised his eyebrows, watching with a half-smile as Magistrate Zhou bowed to the ground, apparently unwilling to rise until the entire procession passed. He turned and left first.

On April 26th, Lu Ping departed magnificently, escorting the second batch of items being sent back to their Shouyang hometown.