This was the first time Bai Jinzhi had traveled far from home alone since she was born, and she was going to a battlefield. She was afraid… yet also excited. She wanted to achieve merit and establish her career, wanted to prove to her eldest sister… that she too was a worthy daughter of the Bai family. Even if she went to the battlefield alone, she would surely bring glory to the Bai family.
Bai Jinzhi smiled at her mother, Madam Li, then quickly walked down the steps, leaped up, and mounted her horse in one fluid motion.
Lu Ping bowed, then mounted his horse and looked in Bai Qingyan’s direction. Seeing Bai Qingyan nod at him, he nodded back, squeezed his legs against the horse’s flanks, and galloped away from Shouyang City following Bai Jinzhi.
“Xiao Si!” Third Madam Li cried out, chasing down the steps. “Be careful!”
Bai Jinzhi did not turn back. She raised the whip in her hand and waved it, then rode away in a cloud of dust.
Bai Qingyan stood outside the door, watching her fourth sister’s retreating figure on horseback, her fists at her sides clenching involuntarily.
When the imperial edict had just been issued, while Bai Jinzhi went to pack and change clothes, Bai Qingyan had called Lu Ping over.
She instructed Lu Ping that before reaching the capital, he should send someone ahead to the capital… to have Bai Jinxiu divide half of her hidden guards to follow Bai Jinzhi to Chun Mushan and protect Bai Jinzhi’s safety.
Bai Qingyan understood Bai Jinzhi’s temperament all too well. Although the battle at Qiushan Pass to rescue Bai Qingyun had been Bai Jinzhi’s first taste of battlefield cruelty, leaving shadows in her heart that still frightened her when she recalled them, compared to achieving merit and establishing her career, this fear was not enough to deter Bai Jinzhi.
To be safe, Bai Qingyan needed to arrange sufficient personnel around Bai Jinzhi.
The troops could remain untrained, but Bai Jinzhi’s safety… could not go unprotected.
Any member of the Bai family still alive now, she would not allow a single one to come to harm! Not a single one!
“Third Aunt…” Bai Qingyan walked to Third Madam Li’s side and gently grasped her hand. “With Uncle Ping and Shen Qingzhu accompanying her, Xiao Si will be fine.”
Third Madam Li looked at Bai Qingyan with tears in her eyes and nodded.
The news that Bai Jinzhi had departed for Chun Mushan due to an imperial edict quickly spread throughout Shouyang City.
Clan Elder Bai Qihe, remembering the matter of training troops, recalled that Bai Qingyan had originally said that Princess Gaoyi Bai Jinzhi and a Bai Mansion guard would be responsible for it. Now that Bai Jinzhi had been ordered to Chun Mushan, who would be responsible for training the troops still needed Bai Qingyan’s decision.
Right after lunch, Bai Qihe sent someone to summon his son, Bai Qingping, to accompany him to the Bai Mansion.
When Madam Fang heard this, her mind turned several corners. Looking at Bai Qihe, who was rinsing his mouth, she said: “Since we’re going to see the Duke’s Daughter, why not bring both our daughters along? Let them also get close to the Duke’s Daughter and share sisterly affection!”
The more Madam Fang thought about it, the more she felt this was a good idea. She put down her chopsticks and said excitedly: “Wasn’t Princess Gaoyi just sent to Chun Mushan by His Majesty? The Duke’s Daughter must be worried about Princess Gaoyi and certainly in a bad mood. If our two daughters go, they might be able to help the Duke’s Daughter feel better. If our daughters become regular guests at the Bai Mansion in the future, when it comes time to arrange marriages… matchmakers could say they’re like real sisters with the Duke’s Daughter. Wouldn’t that sound good?”
Bai Qihe covered his mouth with his sleeve, spat out the mouthwash, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, then looked sideways at the delighted Madam Fang: “Do you think the Duke’s Daughter is the type to share sisterly affection with her clan sisters? I understand your little schemes, so put them away! Don’t treat the Duke’s Daughter like an ordinary boudoir lady. Even if you send the two children to the Duke’s Daughter’s mansion, you still won’t be able to gather any information! Moreover, the Duke’s Daughter doesn’t tolerate any nonsense. If she knew these two children were trying to gather information at the Duke’s mansion, I’m afraid our entire family would be disgraced!”
When Madam Fang heard what Bai Qihe said, her face immediately fell: “What do you mean by that? I just wanted our two daughters to befriend Bai Qingyan at the Duke’s Daughter’s mansion and find out about Bai Qingyan’s preferences, so I could arrange a match for her! After all, she’s our junior, and it’s perfectly normal for me, as an elder, to show concern, isn’t it? How does it sound like I have ill intentions when you say it?”
“We won’t mention that the Duke’s Daughter hasn’t finished her mourning period yet, but don’t you know that the Duke’s Daughter has already sworn never to marry in this lifetime?” Bai Qihe’s frown deepened.
“Of course! Of course I know that!” Madam Fang clapped her hands. “That’s exactly why I, as her aunt, need to worry about her! Although she won’t marry… the Duke’s Daughter can take a husband who moves into her household! Look… the main branch of the capital Bai family only has daughters left! Taking a husband to continue the bloodline of the Bai family’s main branch – isn’t that the right path?”
When Bai Qihe heard Madam Fang say this, he seemed to think it made some sense.
The capital Bai family was the orthodox main bloodline of the Bai clan, and Fifth Madam Qi had only given birth to one daughter. If she didn’t take a husband into the household, then this branch of the capital Bai family would end.
Or perhaps adopt from a side branch?
But looking at the Duke’s Daughter’s attitude, she probably wouldn’t accept adopting children from side branches.
Bai Qihe knew clearly that the capital Bai family was now under the Duke’s Daughter’s authority.
Seeing Bai Qihe’s thoughtful expression, Madam Fang’s eyes brightened even more. She moved closer to Bai Qihe and lowered her voice: “Look, my maternal family’s second brother’s legitimate second son…”
Before Madam Fang could finish speaking, Bai Qihe’s sharp eyes glared at her, startling her.
Bai Qihe was usually gentle and had never looked at her with such a frightening gaze. Madam Fang’s remaining words got stuck in her throat, and she could only stare at Bai Qihe.
“Don’t you know what kind of person your second brother’s legitimate second son is?” Bai Qihe suddenly felt a belly full of anger. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to benefit your maternal family, but don’t go too far!”
Madam Fang’s second brother’s legitimate second son was a genuine wastrel who spent his days eating, drinking, and playing, constantly consorting with prostitutes without any proper behavior. Such a person, let alone marrying into the Bai family, wasn’t even worthy of carrying the Duke’s Daughter’s shoes, yet Madam Fang had the nerve to mention him!
Madam Fang twisted the handkerchief in her hands, her face looking terrible, stubbornly arguing with Bai Qihe: “How is that the same? He would be a good man marrying into the family. No matter what… he’s still my second brother’s legitimate son!”
“In that case, why don’t you go arrange a match for your eldest sister’s family and see if your eldest sister would be willing to betroth her own daughter to your second brother’s legitimate second son!” Bai Qihe was truly angry, though his handsome face showed no expression, his tone was clearly annoyed.
He had originally thought that after Bai Qingyan’s intervention this time, cleanly and efficiently dealt with the clan matters, his wife Madam Fang would surely see clearly that the Bai clan now needed to depend on the Duke’s Daughter and would restrain her attitude. Unexpectedly, she still dared to scheme regarding the Duke’s Daughter.
Madam Fang’s face alternated between pale and red as she clutched her handkerchief tightly, looking as if she wanted to cry: “Aren’t I doing this for you? If Bai Qingyan and my second brother’s legitimate second son were to become a match…”