Bai Qingyan burned Xiao Rongyan’s letter to ash, roughly guessing that Xiao Rongyan’s trip to the Rong-Di territory was likely to deliver grain to the Great Yan garrison stationed there.

After all, winter was about to arrive. Although the Beirong might send grain to the Great Yan soldiers, Xiao Rongyan’s cautious nature would certainly make comprehensive preparations to ensure the Great Yan army wouldn’t be constrained by food shortages.

Watching the azure flames gradually consume the letter paper, she couldn’t help but think of Dengzhou again. She wondered whether she should personally make a trip to Dengzhou for a heart-to-heart conversation with her uncle. Given her uncle’s broad-mindedness, if he knew how incompetent the imperial family had become and how they already showed signs of a dynasty’s fall, he would certainly plan and find ways to protect the people of Dengzhou amid the chaos.

That day, she hadn’t spoken more explicitly with Dong Changlan because having someone relay messages risked misunderstandings.

But she couldn’t easily leave Shuoyang. The moment she departed, someone would immediately report her movements to the capital.

Bai Qingyan stared at the letter paper that had burned to ash, pondering carefully.

Next month would be the Mid-Autumn Festival. She could discuss with her mother the possibility of using the pretext of sending Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to her maternal grandmother and uncle in Dengzhou, or going to bring her grandmother to Shuoyang for a short stay, to make the trip to Dengzhou.

Before departing for Dengzhou, she could send word to the Crown Prince, telling him that to prevent him from wasting time sending urgent messages to Shuoyang, only to find she wasn’t there, and then having to dispatch them to Dengzhou. This would be reasonable and proper.

That evening, while having dinner with Dong Shi, Bai Qingyan mentioned her idea of going to Dengzhou to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts and bring back her maternal grandmother, Old Madam Dong, for a visit.

Dong Tingzhen was quite surprised: “When Brother Changlan left, didn’t Aunt already have the Mid-Autumn gifts sent back? Are you going to Dengzhou because you’re worried about the Rong-Di autumn raids?”

Dong Tingzhen was intelligent, and after the Prince Liang incident, she regarded Bai Qingyan as her sister, speaking without reserve before Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan nodded and said to Dong Shi, “That day I didn’t speak deeply enough with Changlan, and I fear miscommunication if messages are relayed. It would be best to make the trip personally.”

“You just returned from the northern frontier a few days ago, and now you’re planning to leave again…” Dong Shi frowned, quite displeased.

“The northern frontier was a battlefield. Dengzhou is my maternal family’s home—how can they be the same?” Bai Qingyan smiled and served Dong Shi a slice of bamboo shoot.

Dong Tingzhen gripped her chopsticks tightly: “That day when Brother Changlan left, many people saw that the convoy was fully loaded. Why doesn’t Cousin just say… I’m throwing a tantrum and want to go to Dengzhou, and you’re escorting me there! Or… you could say Little Four and I had a spat!”

“Sisters quarreling? If word of that gets out, what will become of your reputation!” Dong Shi disapproved.

Dong Tingzhen thought for a moment, then looked up: “Then let’s say Cousin is escorting me to Dengzhou, claiming I dreamed of Grandmother and miss her…”

“Zhenzhen shouldn’t go. I’ll travel fast by horse—the bumpy journey would be too much for you to bear.” Bai Qingyan had made up her mind. “You stay in Shuoyang and keep Mother company. I’ll bring Grandmother back quickly.”

“Are you taking Little Four this time, too?” Dong Shi knew her daughter’s temperament—once she decided on something, no one could stop her. “Take Lu Ping and Steward Liu as well!”

“This time I won’t take Little Four. I’ll bring Uncle Ping and Qing Zhu!” Bai Qingyan thought it better to leave Steward Liu for Bai Jinzhi to use.

Dong Shi felt a tightness in her chest but nodded: “Go then!”

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan grasped Dong Shi’s hand and smiled at her. “This year, the Rong-Di will certainly come to raid, and Dengzhou will inevitably be unstable. I truly plan to bring Grandmother to stay in Shuoyang for a while. What do you think?”

“When you reach Dengzhou, ask your grandmother’s opinion and see if she’s willing to come!” Dong Shi said.

With the matter settled, Bai Qingyan spread word that she would go to Dengzhou on her mother’s behalf to bring back Old Madam Dong for a visit, and sent someone to the capital to inform the Crown Prince that if he had urgent matters, he should send messages directly toward Dengzhou to avoid delays from the capital to Shuoyang and then to Dengzhou.

On the journey, Bai Qingyan also wanted to meet with Ji Tingyu to ask specifically whether the method she had once used to train her female guard unit was showing results when applied to training recruits.

Early the next morning, before dawn, a fine misty rain enveloped Shuoyang City like fog, the air carrying a slightly cool, humid chill.

The gentle rain silently washed the upturned eaves and tiles until they gleamed slate-blue. The layered green plants in the Bai family courtyard had water droplets hanging precariously from their leaf tips, and the fragrant curtains and bronze hooks hanging outside the ornately decorated nine-turn corridor were also covered with a layer of moisture. When the wind passed, the scattered tiny bell sounds rang dully.

Bai Qingyan finished her usual morning practice, bathed, and had Chun Tao help her change into practical clothes.

“Is Eldest Miss going out?” Chun Tao knelt to secure the iron sand weights for Bai Qingyan. “It’s raining outside. Though it’s not heavy, the morning chill is still quite strong.”

“Just bring me a cloak. I’m riding out of the city for a circuit and will stop by the training ground, then return shortly.” Bai Qingyan adjusted the sleeves at her wrists, looked down thoughtfully for a moment, then took the jade hairpin carved with wild geese from a box and inserted it into her bound hair before leaving Boyun Courtyard.

When Bai Qingyan emerged from the main gate of the Bai mansion, Lu Ping was standing at the bottom of the high steps holding horses. Seeing Bai Qingyan come out, he bowed.

Bai Qingyan held the black-gold riding whip handed to her by a servant, draped in her cloak as she descended the steps, asking: “Uncle Ping, you’re waiting here—is there something you need to tell me?”

“Ji Tingyu sent word…” Lu Ping’s voice was extremely low. “It seems Eldest Miss’s bandit suppression alarmed those opportunistic bandits, and they went to join Ji Tingyu. Ji Tingyu’s meaning is that he’ll accept these people, but if Eldest Miss wants to suppress more bandits, you’ll have to find another opportunity.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and mounted her horse: “Understood.”

With that, Bai Qingyan spurred her horse and galloped toward the main street.

She had just ridden out of the alley when she heard the urgent sound of bronze bells and hoofbeats approaching. When Bai Qingyan saw the figure emerging from the rain and mist, she quickly reined in her horse. The movement was so abrupt that her mount spun in a circle.

Xiao Rongyan, riding through the thin rain mist, also looked surprised to see Bai Qingyan and pulled his reins to halt his horse.

Their eyes met. Seeing Bai Qingyan’s attire, Xiao Rongyan realized she was planning to ride out to see him off. An uncontrollable smile appeared in his profound eyes as he gently spurred his horse and slowly rode up to Bai Qingyan.

The black and white horses faced each other, perhaps curious as they looked at one another. They took small steps forward, bringing their wet noses close to each other, then both suddenly snorted white breath in each other’s faces and shook their heads to dodge aside.

Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan hurriedly pulled their reins. Once the horses settled, the two riders were extremely close, sitting opposite each other with their shoulders nearly touching.