One of them fantasized about marrying Lu Yuanqing from Chancellor Lu’s family, while the other kept calling the never-before-met Dong Changyuan “Brother Changyuan,” saying that, as distant relatives, she could be considered Dong Changyuan’s cousin, making it possible to strengthen family ties through marriage!

Bai Jinxiu’s upbringing was so good that she didn’t sneer coldly at those two young ladies.

This year, there was an imperial examination fraud case. Although the golden list hadn’t been published, those who ranked in the top three… had quietly leaked out.

Now, Imperial Tutor Chen’s grandson Chen Zhaolu, Chancellor Lu’s grandson Lu Yuanqing, and Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue’s son Dong Changyuan were the three most popular candidates for noble ladies to discuss marriage with.

Seeing that they couldn’t reach the thresholds of Imperial Tutor Chen and Chancellor Lu’s families, the two sisters focused their attention on Dong Changyuan.

They complained to Bai Jinxiu, saying that Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing were one thing, but Dong Changyuan was their cousin – why couldn’t they strengthen family ties through marriage? They also said that as long as Bai Jinxiu was willing to speak up, nothing was impossible!

Bai Jinxiu kindly told them both that they shouldn’t set their sights too high for marriage, as it would hurt their reputation if word got out.

The two sisters then cried and made a scene, saying Bai Jinxiu held grudges and was deliberately using marriage to control them, and that without their mother to make decisions, they couldn’t even say a few words.

Bai Jinxiu never complained to Qin Lang. She only chose a day when Qin Lang was napping in his room to meet these two young ladies in the side hall. Qin Lang heard from Bai Jinxiu’s maid Cuibi that this wasn’t the first time the two Qin family daughters had caused trouble before Bai Jinxiu. Thinking that Qin Lang was working hard at his studies and shouldn’t be distracted, Bai Jinxiu didn’t let them tell Qin Lang about this. When the two sisters were making noise at the courtyard gate, Bai Jinxiu worried it would disturb Qin Lang’s rest, so she met them in the side hall.

Qin Lang was immediately furious.

That Dong Changyuan… was the legitimate second son of Dengzhou Prefect. Even Imperial Tutor Chen and Chancellor Lu wanted to marry their granddaughters to Dong Changyuan – how could it be the Qin family daughters’ turn? Didn’t they know what kind of person their mother was? Didn’t they know how their father died? Didn’t they know the Qin family no longer had a title, yet they dared to harbor such ambitions by trying to use the Bai family’s connections?

Though angry, Qin Lang still suppressed his rage and advised them, telling them that during his sister-in-law’s pregnancy, they should help support her and not cause trouble in front of her.

Later, the two sisters restrained themselves for a few days, then began pestering and making trouble again. Seeing that Bai Jinxiu had received invitations from the Dong family but wouldn’t take them to visit the Dong mansion, they were extremely annoyed.

Yesterday, Qin Lang’s two sisters cried in front of his study, saying they missed their mother. Qin Lang, annoyed by their crying, simply said that if they missed their mother so much that they came to disturb his studies daily, he would send them to reunite with their mother. Those two Qin family daughters were so frightened that they quickly went back and dared not mention it again.

Such trivial matters had been settled without Bai Jinxiu expending much effort, and weren’t worth discussing these household trifles with Bai Qingyan in detail.

Seeing the genuine smile in Bai Jinxiu’s expression, Bai Qingyan squeezed her hand firmly: “As long as Qin Lang treats you well, that’s good!”

Mentioning this, Bai Jinxiu looked at Bai Qingyan and asked: “Elder Sister… do you have feelings for that Master Xiao?”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes: “With the Bai family’s future uncertain, how dare I indulge in romantic feelings?”

How dare she?

Bai Jinxiu’s hand holding the handkerchief tightened – so Elder Sister truly did have feelings for Master Xiao.

After a moment of silence, Bai Jinxiu thought back and forth about Xiao Rongyan as a person: “Elder Sister, since we sisters are speaking privately, if Elder Sister truly has feelings for Master Xiao, wouldn’t it be good to have him marry into our Bai family?”

Marry in?!

Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinxiu and chuckled softly. How could Great Yan’s Ninth Prince marry into the Bai family?

“Jinxiu, with the Bai family’s future uncertain and the peaceful world our ancestors hoped for still unachieved, Elder Sister won’t consider romantic matters!” Bai Qingyan smiled. “You needn’t worry about this!”

Bai Jinxiu wanted to speak but stopped. Elder Sister’s aspirations… were not to marry, bear children, and be confined to the inner quarters. She understood.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Royal Qing Convent. Bai Qingyan helped Bai Jinxiu down from the carriage and saw the tall, upright figure of Xiao Rongyan standing under the osmanthus tree at the convent, as if surrounded by the fragrance of those osmanthus flowers. Under his high, broad brow, those deep black eyes held a smile, gazing at her with tender affection, his expression just like that night in the pavilion at Shuoyang Lake.

When Xiao Rongyan had interlaced his five fingers with hers, tightly clasping the back of her hand… the burning warmth of his palm seemed to return, making her palm itch.

Bai Qingyan steadied her mind and stepped forward to bow to Xiao Rongyan: “Thank you for escorting us all the way, Master Xiao. You’ve worked hard!”

Xiao Rongyan returned the bow: “Being able to serve Miss Bai… I find it as sweet as honey.”

After Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded to Xiao Rongyan, she followed Nanny Jiang, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jinzhi, and Bai Jinse through the convent’s main gate.

Yue Shiyi stepped forward and quietly asked Xiao Rongyan, who was watching Bai Qingyan leave, “Master, shall we go?”

“No rush…” Xiao Rongyan’s lips curved in a slight smile. He had seen Bai Qingyan’s ears turn red just now.

Bai Qingyan’s skin was extremely fair. Though she controlled herself very well, she still couldn’t hide her flushed ears.

—

It was now July, and the courtyard where the Grand Princess resided was already full of shade.

A canopy of moon-embracing gauze had been set up in the courtyard, so there was no need to worry about flying insects under the tree shade.

The Grand Princess and Miss Lu were sitting under the trees in the courtyard, playing chess. Lu Ning’e saw the Grand Princess’s gaze occasionally glancing toward the outside of the courtyard and smiled: “Today, when Big Miss and Fourth Miss return, the adoptive mother’s heart is unsettled.”

“Yes!” The Grand Princess put all the chess pieces in her hand back into the chess box. “On the battlefield, it’s nine deaths and one survival. Both children must have been injured, especially A’Bao… when she’s hurt, she never says anything, always enduring it herself, afraid we’ll worry!”

“Adoptive mother, don’t worry. When Big Miss arrives, Ning’e will first take her pulse. If Big Miss has any injuries, she definitely won’t be able to hide them!” Lu Ning’e said as she stood up and picked up the teapot. “Ning’e will go change a fresh pot of tea for adoptive mother – shall I change to… the sparrow tongue tea that Big Miss likes?”

“Good!” The Grand Princess nodded.

From afar, the Grand Princess heard the voices of Nanny Jiang talking with Bai Qingyan. She quickly supported herself on the stone table and took two steps toward the gate.

Seeing Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi, who hadn’t yet had time to change out of their armor, the Grand Princess’s eyes reddened…

Under the brilliant sunlight, that young woman in silver armor had her long hair neatly bound at the top of her head, her posture straight and tall, her steps resounding, her entire being emanating an aura of killing and battle.

For a moment, the Grand Princess thought of her husband, son, and grandsons!

Each of them had possessed such an imposing bearing that could support heaven and earth, yet in the end they had all perished in Nan Jiang.

The Grand Princess’s eyes moistened, as if seeing the spirited appearance of the seventeen sons of the Bai family when they set out in silver armor, but now… There were no longer any of the seventeen Bai sons!

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s group about to enter, the Grand Princess dabbed her tears with her handkerchief, gathered her spirits, turned back to sit at the stone table, picked up a few chess pieces from the box, clutched them in her palm… and looked at the chessboard.