In the end, Dong Shi couldn’t bring herself to voice the words to stop her daughter from going to Chun Mushan. Her lips trembled wordlessly, tears flowing before she could speak. She suppressed her anguish: “Nanny Qin, bring A’Bao a cloak. Though it’s already summer, mornings and evenings are still somewhat cool!”

Nanny Qin wiped her tears and hurriedly brought a plain-colored cloak. Just as she was about to drape it over Bai Qingyan, Dong Shi, sitting upright on the soft couch, personally fastened the cloak ties for Bai Qingyan, choking back sobs as she instructed: “You must… be careful! You must return safely with Xiao Si!”

“I’ll leave the household to Mother! I must reach Xiao Si’s side as quickly as possible!”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to wipe the tears from Dong Shi’s face. She straightened to leave but was pulled back by Dong Shi, who could no longer contain herself and cried aloud, gritting her teeth as she instructed: “You must be careful! Do you understand?!”

Bai Qingyan’s eyes grew even redder. She nodded: “Mother, rest assured!”

Shouldering her Shooting Sun bow and taking up her silver spear, she took one last deep look at Dong Shi before walking outside.

Dong Shi had wanted to rise and see her daughter to the door, but watching her daughter’s retreating figure, she realized her legs had gone weak and she couldn’t stand up, tears flowing like silk threads.

Just as Bai Qingyan reached the screen wall, she saw Steward Hao, Steward Liu, and Zeng Shanru already waiting for her inside the entrance. All three knew of Bai Qingyan’s plan to go to Chun Mushan, their expressions solemn yet inevitably worried.

Steward Hao quickly walked down the steps toward Bai Qingyan: “Miss, twenty guards are all equipped and waiting at the entrance! The horses are also prepared.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and stepped up: “I entrust the household to Steward Hao’s care!”

Steward Liu followed Bai Qingyan as they walked outside, speaking rapidly: “This old servant and Zeng Shanru will not disappoint Miss’s expectations and will handle matters properly. If there are issues we cannot resolve, we will discuss and then decide!”

Steward Liu spoke quite vaguely—not because Steward Hao couldn’t be trusted, but because the fewer people who knew about mining mountains and forging weapons, the safer the Bai family would be. Bai Qingyan had called them together only because time was urgent, but matters that couldn’t be spoken of publicly, Steward Liu would rather die than reveal even the slightest detail. This was the rule the Bai family should observe.

“Uncle Liu, you can hand over your current duties to Zeng Shanru and from today take charge of supervising the military recruitment. Zeng Shanru, when you encounter problems, you can discuss with Uncle Liu and Wang Jiuzhou. Wang Jiuzhou will not and dare not let our Bai family suffer losses.” Bai Qingyan stepped over the threshold, looking at Steward Hao, Steward Liu, and Zeng Shanru. “I entrust Shouyang to you three.”

Having spoken, Bai Qingyan leaped onto her horse and departed with twenty guards in a cloud of dust, her plain cloak billowing and fluttering.

“Take care, Miss!” Steward Hao bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru also hurriedly bowed in salute, respectfully seeing off the Bai family’s eldest miss.

The news of Bai Qingyan’s departure from Shouyang City only became known throughout the Bai mansion at noon that day.

Before leaving, Bai Qingyan had instructed Dong Shi to keep this from Third Madam Li Shi. Dong Shi had no choice but to compose herself and tell Third Madam Li Shi, “A’Bao went to Chun Mushan. General Zhang Duanrui died in battle, and A’Bao fears that Lu Ping and Shen Qingzhu can’t control Xiao Si, so she went personally!”

Even with this explanation, Third Madam Li Shi’s heart leaped to her throat, and she was so panicked she could barely sit still.

“General Zhang Duanrui died in battle?!” Li Shi’s throat constricted as she grabbed Dong Shi’s hand. “Then what must the battle situation at Chun Mushan be like? Sister-in-law… did something happen to Xiao Si? Otherwise, why would A’Bao leave so urgently? I’m Xiao Si’s birth mother—Sister-in-law, please don’t hide anything from me!”

“It’s precisely because we feared you’d panic that A’Bao didn’t tell you!” Dong Shi patted Li Shi’s hand. “Rest assured, with A’Bao there… would she let anything happen to Xiao Si?”

But Dong Shi’s words didn’t reassure Li Shi. She was extremely anxious and restless, not knowing what to do. She could only go to Fourth Madam Wang Shi’s quarters and kneel together with Wang Shi before the Buddhist shrine, praying to the gods and Buddha to protect both Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan’s safe return.

The journey from Shouyang to Chun Mushan was vast and distant. Bai Qingyan changed horses along the way without resting, arriving at the capital before dawn on the second day. Bai Qingyan needed a suitable excuse for suddenly returning to the capital, so she sent someone straight to the Royal Pure Nunnery to inform the Grand Princess that Bai Qingyan had returned to the capital today, using as a pretext the Grand Princess’s message sent to Shouyang several days ago about feeling unwell.

Bai Qingyan herself entered the city and headed straight for the Crown Prince’s mansion.

The Crown Prince had just risen and hadn’t yet changed into court robes when the gatekeeper reported that the Princess Zhenguo was outside the mansion requesting an audience. The Crown Prince immediately said, “Quickly invite the Princess Zhenguo in!”

Bai Qingyan stood in the main hall of the Crown Prince’s mansion. Seeing the Crown Prince hurrying over and entering the hall, she took two steps forward to greet him: “Your Highness!”

“You received the imperial decree so quickly?” The Crown Prince was quite surprised. Even if the eunuch sent to deliver the decree traveled day and night without rest, he shouldn’t have reached Shouyang yet.

Bai Qingyan pretended ignorance while understanding perfectly: “Imperial decree?”

“You haven’t received the imperial decree yet? Then how did you return to the capital?” the Crown Prince asked.

“Several days ago, Grandmother sent word to Shouyang saying she felt unwell, so I hurried back to the capital. Who knew that before even entering the capital, I heard about General Zhang Duanrui’s death in battle, so I came specifically to ask about Xiao Si’s situation!” Bai Qingyan acted as if she had just learned of this, her eyes full of anxiety. “Your Highness, how is my fourth sister?”

“Don’t be anxious first!” The Crown Prince comforted Bai Qingyan, gesturing for her to sit. “There’s no news of County Princess Gaoyi yet, but Father Emperor has already sent Zhen Zeping, Liu Hong, and Xie Yuchang with twenty thousand troops to reinforce Chun Mushan, plus thirty thousand troops transferred from guarding the Rong-Di border! I knew you would worry about County Princess Gaoyi, so that very night, I petitioned Father Emperor to allow you to go to Chun Mushan. Father Emperor has already agreed and issued the decree—you must have missed the eunuch delivering the decree.”

Bai Qingyan cupped her hands and bowed to the Crown Prince: “In that case, I won’t delay and will depart for Chun Mushan immediately!”

Knowing Bai Qingyan was anxious to save her sister, the Crown Prince instructed Quan Yu, who was standing outside: “Quan Yu, go lead out that precious horse Father Emperor bestowed upon me and present it to the Princess!”

“Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!” Bai Qingyan’s gratitude was evident in her expression.

Upon leaving the Crown Prince’s mansion, Bai Qingyan’s mount had been replaced with the precious horse gifted by the Crown Prince. Quan Yu bowed and cautioned: “Princess Zhenguo, please be extremely careful!”

Bai Qingyan nodded to Quan Yu and galloped frantically toward the city outskirts with her subordinates.

When thirsty, she drank water on horseback; when hungry, she ate dry rations on horseback. After racing for three days and nights, even the guards following her couldn’t endure it. Only then did Bai Qingyan order them to dismount for rest. She dozed for one hour, then mounted again to continue. She wished she could sprout wings and fly to Bai Jinzhi’s side, grab Bai Jinzhi by the ear, and severely scold her—but the prerequisite was finding Bai Jinzhi.

In Lu Ping’s heart, the four words “no news whatsoever” were like gritty sand in the eyes, constantly grinding at Bai Qingyan’s heart, making her restless and unable to sit still.

At this moment, Bai Qingyan finally understood why her father had scolded her when she returned carrying Pang Pingguo’s severed head.

To ensure the fastest possible arrival at Chun Mushan, whenever they reached a relay station, Bai Qingyan’s party would change horses and replenish dry provisions and water.