Qin Shangzhi was startled, remembering the words he had spoken when he first met this eldest daughter of the Bai family after being rescued by Lu Ping, and also recalling how Bai Qingyan had humbly bowed to request his guidance.

Now, looking back, he had only provided slight guidance, yet this eldest daughter of the Bai family had acted so magnificently without leaving herself any retreat, and… so well.

“Sir has repeatedly faced setbacks in the Crown Prince’s mansion. I wonder… are you considering leaving the Crown Prince’s mansion?” Bai Qingyan turned her head to ask Qin Shangzhi.

Qin Shangzhi’s palm tightened as he remembered Bai Qingyan’s previous words about sweeping the seat to await him. He closed his eyes and shook his head: “Although the Crown Prince lacks great talent, among His Majesty’s princes… he is already the best and will surely inherit the throne in the future! I’m not coveting the merit of supporting the dragon, but with someone like Old Fang beside the Crown Prince, if I were to leave… who knows what kind of person the Crown Prince would become. I’m unwilling to see Jin have a ruler in the future who has been led astray by Old Fang’s guidance! I’m willing to do my utmost to correct the Crown Prince, considering it my small contribution to Jin!”

Having spoken to this point, Bai Qingyan no longer tried to persuade him.

Qin Shangzhi also seemed unwilling to continue discussing this matter, saying with a smile: “After Quan Yu from the Crown Prince’s entourage returned, he vividly described the Shouyang affairs to the Crown Prince, clearly explaining how the Duke was bullied in Shouyang. I imagine when the Duke returns to Shouyang on the first day of the fifth month, His Highness should still show some gesture.”

This was something Bai Qingyan hadn’t expected—she had no particular relationship with Quan Yu.

“Is Mr. Qin testing whether I’ve bribed Quan Yu?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Qin Shangzhi was slightly stunned, seemingly surprised by Bai Qingyan’s wariness, and said respectfully: “The Duke is overthinking! Given Quan Yu’s current favor with the Crown Prince and his level of cleverness, he wouldn’t do anything to ruin his prospects in this matter.”

When the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future, Quan Yu would surely be a major eunuch beside the Emperor. Taking advantage of others at this time, if discovered by someone with ulterior motives and reported to the Crown Prince, Quan Yu’s future would be completely ruined.

In the main hall, incense burners shaped like lifelike copper cranes were placed in the four corners, with fine mist curling upward.

“If Mr. Qin has decided to stay beside the Crown Prince, you should harbor suspicions about me—only then would the Crown Prince dare to use you with confidence.” Bai Qingyan looked seriously at Qin Shangzhi. “Why does the Crown Prince trust and rely so heavily on Old Fang? Has Mr. Qin never thought about this? The Crown Prince doesn’t like his subordinates to have close relationships, especially… if his subordinates are harmonious and mutually supportive, it would instead give the Crown Prince a sense of crisis. Does Mr. Qin understand?”

Qin Shangzhi’s expression was bewildered—was Bai Qingyan pointing this out to him?

Bai Qingyan covered her tea cup and casually placed it on the side table: “If Mr. Qin wants to assist the Crown Prince, you must first understand his character. The Crown Prince’s… current methods of managing people are the same as His Majesty’s.”

Qin Shangzhi’s fingers resting on his knees slowly tightened, his heart filled with melancholy.

Knowing that such a ruler who was obsessed only with the art of balance might not have the heart to become a wise emperor, yet he had no choice.

He couldn’t abandon his homeland to serve another Kingdom and become a strategist for another nation…

Moreover, he had already chosen his master—how could he easily change?

“Thank you for the Duke’s guidance.” Qin Shangzhi thanked Bai Qingyan.

Previously in Nan Jiang, to preserve Bai Qingyan’s life, Qin Shangzhi had once humbled himself before Old Fang, but his nature was ultimately hard to change. The pride in his bones still looked down upon Old Fang’s methods, unable to repeatedly humble himself and endure such humiliation.

Qin Shangzhi’s visit today was originally about the Yanwo disaster relief matter, but after hearing Bai Qingyan say she had already advised the Crown Prince to no avail and that she had no intention of sending people to intervene, he had to think of another way. After sitting briefly, he returned.

Before sunset that day, Nanny Tong delivered to Bai Qingyan a list of servants from Qinghui Courtyard who would accompany her back to Shouyang this time, as well as those who would remain to guard Qinghui Courtyard.

Sitting under the glass lamp, Bai Qingyan was quite surprised to suddenly see Nanny Tong’s name among those returning to Shouyang. She looked up at Nanny Tong: “Nanny?”

Nanny Tong smiled happily: “Originally, My Lady considerately arranged for this old slave to remain in the capital, but this old slave still can’t feel at ease about Miss. Though Chun Tao is mature, she’s still a child after all. Speaking as an old servant who relies on her age, when Miss was just born and as small as a kitten, this old slave was the one who cared for her. This old slave truly can’t feel at ease!”

“So today, this old slave asked My Lady for a favor. My son has already recovered, and this old slave requested My Lady to transfer him back from the estate to serve at Miss’s side. My Lady has already agreed.” Nanny Tong said, “If Miss is free tomorrow, this old slave will have that boy come pay his respects to Miss.”

Nanny Tong’s entire family was house-born servants of the Bai family. Though her son Zeng Shanru was young, due to Nanny Tong’s competence and his abilities, he had already become an estate manager at a young age. Last year, matchmakers proposing marriages to the Zeng family had nearly worn down their doorstep, but Zeng Shanru hadn’t agreed to any of them, focusing wholeheartedly on improving agricultural yields.

If Zeng Shanru were transferred to Bai Qingyan’s side, it would be like falling from heaven into mud.

But neither Nanny Tong nor Zeng Shanru felt it was a loss. As servants, shouldn’t they do whatever their master needed? As long as one had the ability and the master noticed, wouldn’t the master provide opportunities?

Nanny Tong hadn’t told Bai Qingyan that she had already instructed her son that when serving beside Miss, there was only one rule: be quick with your hands and tight with your lips. Never say what shouldn’t be said, fulfill the duties of a loyal servant, and Miss would never treat him unfairly.

Though Nanny Tong knew nothing about what Bai Qingyan was planning, she could see Bai Qingyan’s hardships. She hoped her son could follow orders beside Bai Qingyan and share some of her burdens.

Bai Qingyan was moved in her heart, her eyes reddening with moisture as she nodded: “Good, then I’ll meet him tomorrow. After returning to Shouyang, I’ll have to trouble you, Nanny.”

Early morning on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month, Nanny Jiang stepped through the gates of Qinghui Courtyard. Seeing that Bai Qingyan had just finished her morning practice and bath and was sitting on the soft couch by the window, wringing her hair, she said with a smile: “This old slave comes at just the right time. The Grand Princess has ordered the small kitchen to prepare foods that the eldest miss loves and sent this old slave to invite the eldest miss to have breakfast together. She has matters to discuss with the eldest miss.”

Bai Qingyan set down the ancient bamboo scroll in her hand and had Chun Tao help her change clothes.

Nanny Jiang helped Bai Qingyan arrange her hair. Seeing Chun Tao wrap extremely heavy iron sandbags around Bai Qingyan’s body, her lips moved, but ultimately she said nothing.

After Bai Qingyan paid her respects to the Grand Princess, the nanny serving the Grand Princess’s meals instructed the maids standing in the corridor to bring the food.

More than ten maids carried dishes in a single file, properly arranging various side dishes for porridge and exquisite pastries before retreating with small steps.

Nanny Jiang passed through the bead curtain, walked around the screen, and after bowing said: “Grand Princess, Miss, Miss Lu, breakfast has been prepared and you may dine now.”

Miss Lu was about to step forward to help the Grand Princess go for her meal when sounds came from the courtyard.