This time, though they fell one move short and failed to put Prince Liang to death, they had at least rescued some of the children. The matter of bandit suppression could no longer be delayed. They needed to make a grand show of leaving the city to suppress bandits before the fake bandits arranged by the Wang family to come to Shouyang could escape, which would at least constitute a proper report to the Emperor and Crown Prince.

“Chun Tao, go tell Steward Hao to send someone to inform Bai Qingping and Shen Yancong that we depart tomorrow morning to suppress bandits. Remind Shen Yancong… the mountains have tall, dense forests where arrows will be of no use – the new soldiers need only carry sabers,” Bai Qingyan instructed.

“Yes, this servant will go at once.”

Bai Qingyan folded Bai Jinxiu’s letter and placed it in her sleeve before turning to return to the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Yue Shi was bending down, speaking to Xiao Rongyan about something. Seeing Bai Qingyan enter, Yue Shi quickly straightened and bowed deeply toward Bai Qingyan: “Miss…”

Yesterday, Yue Shi had already asked for clarification. His master said… for now, just address Miss Bai as “Miss.” Yue Shi didn’t understand what “for now” meant, but since his master had said so, he would address her this way for the time being. When his master told him to change the form of address someday, he could call her something else then.

Bai Qingyan nodded, walking toward the main seat while asking: “I wonder if Master Xiao knows the inside story regarding the matter between Princess Nanfu Liu Ruofu and Prince Liang?”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t hide anything from Bai Qingyan, nodding: “I know…”

Not only did he know, but Xiao Rongyan had played a role in fanning the flames. The Crown Prince naturally wanted Prince Liang to “defile” Princess Nanfu so the Emperor would suspect his intentions of coveting military power, yet didn’t want Prince Liang to gain the benefit of marrying Princess Nanfu.

But what Xiao Rongyan wanted was for Jin’s two princes to become entangled in succession struggles. The more fiercely Jin’s court fought among themselves, the more chaotic it became, the more beneficial it would be for Great Yan. So Xiao Rongyan’s people went with the flow and fanned the flames, allowing the Crown Prince’s people to help Prince Liang and Princess Nanfu become a true married couple, giving Prince Liang and Princess Nanfu the reality of husband and wife.

Thus Bai Qingyan understood. She nodded and sat down: “Later, I had someone impersonate Great Yan’s Ninth Prince to save Prince Liang’s life. By this calculation, Prince Liang should be grateful to Great Yan’s Ninth Prince.”

Xiao Rongyan only smiled without speaking.

Today is Madam’s birthday. I wonder if Yan might have the honor of personally presenting a congratulatory gift and offering birthday wishes to Madam?” Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan and asked in a low voice.

Bai Qingyan called in a maid waiting outside the door and had her go to Qinghe Courtyard to ask her mother whether she would see Master Xiao, who had come to offer birthday congratulations.

“Thank you, Miss,” Xiao Rongyan smiled.

Before long, Nanny Qin from Dong Shi’s side came personally. After smiling and bowing to Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, she placed her hands folded at her lower abdomen and said kindly: “Madam asked me to convey her words – she is grateful for Master Xiao’s thoughtfulness. The Bai family is in mourning, so Madam’s birthday will not have a banquet. Master Xiao is a guest, and if he doesn’t mind simple home cooking, please follow this old servant to Shaohua Courtyard.”

Xiao Rongyan rose gracefully and bowed to Nanny Qin: “I am deeply honored by Madam’s invitation.”

Dong Shi was also thinking that today’s family feast had no Bai family men to sit with Dong Changlan. Just as Xiao Rongyan had come, and he was someone who had shown kindness to the Bai family, it would be perfect to invite Xiao Rongyan to sit with Dong Changlan.

“Master Xiao, please…” Nanny Qin stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation to Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan nodded, then turned to look at Bai Qingyan: “Miss Bai, please…”

Nanny Qin walked in front, leading the way, while Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan maintained their distance, walking side by side, chatting along the way. Following the winding corridor, they soon arrived at Shaohua Courtyard.

Xiao Rongyan had visited Shaohua Courtyard once before, but crossing the threshold, he couldn’t help but praise the scenery of Shaohua Courtyard again. No wonder the now-expelled Fifth Master of the Bai family had previously wanted to seize the Bai family ancestral residence.

The winding path was cool, flowers fragrant like brocade, green clouds like canopies, shade filling the entire garden, cicadas singing and birds calling, flowing water babbling, fish leaping joyfully.

Such scenery would truly be hard to find elsewhere.

Dong Shi and her group had already arrived at Shaohua Courtyard and were sitting on the second floor, chatting and laughing.

Dong Changlan was drinking tea and occasionally mentioning amusing incidents from Dengzhou, causing several children to exclaim in admiration and clamor about wanting to visit Dengzhou if they had the chance.

Seeing Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan enter, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes lit up. She set down her teacup and rose, calling out: “Elder Sister! Master Xiao…”

Dong Changlan turned around and also quickly rose with a smile: “Cousin Sister, Master Xiao.”

Xiao Rongyan stepped forward two paces and respectfully greeted Dong Shi and the other Bai family members.

Fourth Madam Wang Shi, seeing Xiao Rongyan, felt grateful in her heart. Her hand that had been moving the sandalwood prayer beads paused, and she rose with a smile and nodded to Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan had Yue Shi bring over the brocade box containing the birthday gift prepared for Dong Shi. Yue Shi opened it, revealing an extremely exquisite carved jade sculpture of an auspicious beast. The jade was translucent, not ordinary. What was even more surprising were the two luminous pearls embedded in the auspicious beast’s eyes and the gemstones embedded in its claws. No one could tell how they had been set in place – the craftsmanship was extremely ingenious.

“Yan once heard that when in Longyang City, there was a rumor… saying that Master Xiao’s residence in Longyang City had a person-high golden carved auspicious beast, its entire body embedded with gemstones. Yan thought this statue was probably what they were referring to, but the rumors outside were somewhat exaggerated,” Xiao Rongyan said with a smile, glancing toward Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to gaze at the clear tea in her cup, appearing unconcerned.

Bai Jinzhi turned to look at her elder sister. Others might not know how this news spread, but the generals from the Northern Border campaign all knew! That was just her elder sister’s deception of the Liang army.

“Master Xiao, this item is too precious. Please take it back!” Dong Shi said with a smile.

“Please, Madam, do not refuse!” Xiao Rongyan rose and bowed deeply to Dong Shi. “Having this item in Yan’s possession would only invite trouble due to possessing precious jade. It would be better to present it to Madam. May Madam enjoy health and peace.”

Xiao Rongyan’s tone was sincere, making it difficult for Dong Shi to refuse. She thought she could simply return a generous gift in the future.

Though such back-and-forth would create a relationship over time, and while Xiao Rongyan bore the identity of a merchant, his character was noble. Dong Shi didn’t mind – social interaction would be harmless.

She smiled and said, “In that case, I thank Master Xiao! Nanny Qin, put it away!”

Only then did Xiao Rongyan sit down with a smile.

“Has Master Xiao been to Dengzhou before?” Bai Jinzhi asked with a smile.

“I have not…” Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Dong Changlan, then continued, “However, Yan has heard that the counties ahead of Dengzhou, because they are close to the Rong and Di tribes, suffer raids from the Rong and Di almost every autumn.”

Dong Changlan nodded: “The Rong and Di mostly live by nomadic herding. When winter food supplies are insufficient, they naturally come out to raid.”

Xiao Rongyan thought for a moment, set down his teacup, and said to Dong Changlan with a smile: “Yan is a merchant, and speaking commercially, why doesn’t Dengzhou open border markets? Like Great Yan’s Meng City… they open border markets every year where some Western Liang herdsmen can exchange for grain at the markets, and Meng City people can trade for leather goods and horses. Thus, each gets what they need. If Dengzhou did this, wouldn’t it minimize Rong and Di raids to the greatest extent?”