The gatekeeper woman said to the maid guarding outside: “Please trouble you to inform Nanny Jiang that someone from the palace has come, saying they’re here to escort Miss Lu into the palace.”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Jiang hurried out to inquire about the situation.

The Grand Princess turned her head to look out the window lattice, her brow furrowing: “Could it be that His Majesty is feeling unwell again?”

Miss Lu stood to the side with downcast eyes: “I have already instructed His Majesty to exercise restraint in bedroom matters. These past days, His Majesty hasn’t touched that medicine at all. Even if His Majesty used that medicine again last night, he shouldn’t be feeling unwell today!”

Bai Qingyan could roughly guess the reason. She raised her eyes to look at Miss Lu, her tone certain: “His Majesty summoning you to the palace is most likely about the life-restoring elixir in Miss Ji’s hands.”

Yesterday, Ji Langhua had made such a big commotion that even now, the people in the capital were still hotly discussing that life-restoring elixir. It would be hard for it not to reach the Emperor’s ears.

“How did yesterday’s conversation between you and Miss Ji go?” Bai Qingyan asked Lu Ning’e.

Lu Ning’e shook her head.

“What are you two keeping to yourselves?” The Grand Princess naturally knew about the scene Ji Langhua had caused yesterday, but didn’t know the relationship between Ji Langhua and Lu Ning’e.

“I haven’t had time to report to the Grand Princess yet—Ji Langhua… is my cousin, my maternal grandfather’s legitimate granddaughter.” Lu Ning’e said respectfully.

The Grand Princess was slightly startled: “So Ji Langhua’s commotion about the life-restoring elixir was aimed at the Emperor?”

Lu Ning’e hesitantly nodded: “Please don’t blame her, Grand Princess. She’s still young…”

The Grand Princess wouldn’t blame her, but she asked: “Is she seeking revenge for her grandfather… to kill the Emperor?”

“Langhua said that the young generals of the Bai family died protecting the Kingdom and its people, their loyalty and righteousness moving heaven and earth. As a commoner, she was fortunate to be saved by the Bai family’s young generals and is willing to sacrifice her life to seek justice for the dead.”

Lu Ning’e glanced at Bai Qingyan, then lowered her eyes. She didn’t dare tell the Grand Princess that Ji Langhua’s original words were… willing to sacrifice her life to seek justice for the dead and kill the tyrant for the people of the world.

The Grand Princess closed her eyes, her eye sockets reddening severely. Even a small girl knew the Bai family’s loyalty and righteousness and thought the Emperor was a tyrant!

Nanny Jiang walked around the screen, bowed, and said: “The palace has sent someone, saying they’re here to escort Miss Lu into the palace.”

“Go then!” the Grand Princess said. “If His Majesty asks about that life-restoring elixir, say it’s nonsense…”

Lu Ning’e replied: “I understand.”

After Lu Ning’e left, the Grand Princess had lost her appetite. Bai Qingyan could guess it was because… Grandmother saw that a weak woman with no connection to the Bai family, powerless and without influence, was using her intelligence to plot revenge for the Bai family, while she, as a wife, mother, and grandmother, had no choice but to protect the Lin imperial power.

“Grandmother, breakfast is getting cold. Please eat first!” Bai Qingyan said.

The Grand Princess nodded, hoping that… when the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future, he would do better.

At noon, news came back that the carriage convoy that had left for Shouyang on the twenty-sixth from the Duke’s mansion had been robbed. Like water poured into hot oil, it exploded throughout the capital.

“My heavens! I heard that everything the Duke was transporting back to Shouyang this time was the dowries of various ladies!”

“I’ve long heard that the area around Shouyang was plagued by bandits, but I didn’t expect them to be so rampant! How magnificent the Duke’s carriage convoy looked when it departed! The guards protecting the convoy all looked tall and strong!”

“Indeed! I heard that… they had previously robbed the goods of that Great Wei merchant known as the world’s richest man, and they still haven’t been recovered!”

“Why has it been so chaotic lately?”

“It must be because they were too conspicuous, so those bandits risked their lives to rob them!”

“They even dare to rob the Duke’s convoy—shouldn’t the court send troops to quell the rebellion?”

“That’s hard to say!” A man pretentiously shook his head with a know-it-all air. “Now that Great Liang has troops massed at the border between the two countries, the court probably can’t spare forces to deal with the bandit troubles. But these bandits won’t reach our capital anyway, so we don’t need to worry about it.”

“Oh my, with all this bandit trouble, I wonder if the Duke will still return to Shouyang?”

“I don’t think she’ll dare!”

At the Duke’s mansion.

“We fought desperately to protect everything. Those bandits only managed to take away a very small portion—we protected most of it. Lord Lu had people take advantage of the night to quickly transport most of it back to the Shouyang ancestral home by fast horse. Lord Lu will transport the remaining small portion back during the day.” The guard who came to report followed Lu Ping’s instructions and reported to Dong Shi: “Lord Lu said this is to prevent the clan members from using any shameless tricks to force the Bai family to give them money. He told us to claim publicly that… most of it was robbed, and only the small portion sent back during the day is what remains.”

Hearing the guard’s report, Dong Shi’s heart finally settled: “Lu Ping is being too cautious. Everyone knows… the Bai family’s properties have been sold to the clan, and what’s left is all our dowries. How could the Bai clan members have the nerve to covet our dowries? Besides, now that the clan leader has been changed, there’s no need to be so careful.”

“It’s still better to be cautious!” Second Madam Liu put down the handkerchief she had been pressing to her chest and picked up her teacup. “That bunch from the clan—would they ever think they have too much money?”

“You’ve worked hard! Go rest well!” Dong Shi said to the guard.

The guard acknowledged and withdrew. Dong Shi then asked Second Madam Liu: “Have you decided on everyone who’s returning to Shouyang? What are your plans for Nanny Luo’s family?”

“I’d feel more at ease leaving Nanny Luo by Jinxiu’s side.” Second Madam Liu sighed. “Otherwise, with all of us in Shouyang and Jinxiu alone in the capital while pregnant, I really can’t feel at ease!”

“I’ve thought about this too.” Dong Shi, being a mother herself, naturally understood Second Madam’s feelings. She said, “You can return to Shouyang after Jinxiu safely gives birth. Otherwise, you won’t be able to rest easy either.”

Second Madam Liu looked at Dong Shi, her eyes brightening: “Would… that be acceptable?”

“Of course it would.” Dong Shi smiled at Second Madam Liu. “The Qin mansion currently has no elders—how could there be no one to oversee things when Jinxiu gives birth?”

Liu finally showed a smile. Because of having to return to Shouyang while Bai Jinxiu was pregnant, she hadn’t been able to sleep well or eat properly for a long time, and had lost a full circle of weight. After all, when a woman gives birth, she has one foot in the gates of death—how could a mother not worry?

Now, having received confirmation from Dong Shi, Liu’s heart immediately felt at ease.

“Then, after Jinxiu safely gives birth, I’ll immediately return to Shouyang!” Liu beamed with joy.

Dong Shi shook her head: “Why be in such a hurry? When the child reaches the full month, the Bai family will certainly come to the capital, and we can all return together then.”

“Good, I’ll listen to my sister-in-law!” Liu’s smile became even brighter.

At this time, Bai Qingyan was meeting Nanny Tong’s son… Zeng Shanru in the pavilion.