Seeing her elder brother’s expression, which seemed as though he might indeed captivate the young maid, Concubine Luo asked again, “Are you certain… that Princess Zhenguo’s maid has feelings for you?”

“Of course! Your brother here has seen countless women! That little girl’s eyes are practically glued to your brother!” Luo Fugui exaggerated with a smug, triumphant expression. “She’s smitten with me!”

Though Concubine Luo was somewhat skeptical, trying wouldn’t cost them anything. Perhaps that little maid did fancy their family’s elder brother?

“I’ll give it a try!” Concubine Luo looked up at her brother. “During this period, don’t cause me any trouble. Princess Zhenguo just arrived today… I imagine Master won’t have time to see you either. Go back for now… wait for my news!”

“Excellent! Big brother knows that in our family, you’re the one who loves big brother the most! If this succeeds, big brother will repay little sister properly!” Luo Fugui patted his chest in assurance.

·

That evening, Dong Qingyue personally went to see Old Madam Dong, suggesting that Old Madam Dong accompany Bai Qingyan to Shouyang, which would also serve to keep Dong Shi company.

After a moment’s hesitation, Old Madam Dong replied, “Mother cannot leave. If Mother leaves… when the Rong Di attack, what will the people think of you as the Governor of Dengzhou? Mother has lived in Dengzhou her entire life… and still has some prestige. When you evacuate the people, though Mother may not be of great help… having Mother call upon the people to leave with her before the Rong Di arrive, there’s still some confidence in that! Otherwise, if you ask the people to leave their homes with empty words, those elderly folks… I’m afraid they won’t be willing!”

The young people of Dengzhou might be manageable—perhaps seeing the Dong family’s womenfolk beginning to evacuate, they would follow suit. But those aged… elderly who couldn’t move well would cling to false hope and be unwilling to budge.

“After all, these are places they’ve lived their entire lives. The elderly… fear they might die and never return!” Old Madam Dong sighed.

The elderly all cherish the idea of returning to their roots. Once this war begins, who knows when it will end, and Dong Qingyue couldn’t reveal the entire plan to the people.

In the room, the candlelight flickered, making the deep lines on Old Madam Dong’s face appear even more pronounced. She turned to look at her second son and smiled, “With Mother here, at least… I can still command some respect from you. Mother’s age increases year by year, and the chances of helping you grow fewer. I don’t wish to watch my son and grandson fighting desperately on the front lines while I, this old thing, hide away in Shouyang.”

“Mother…” Dong Qingyue most disliked hearing his mother speak of death and dying.

“Alright, alright! I won’t say it anymore! Mother knows you don’t like to hear it… Your elder sister doesn’t like hearing it either, nor does your elder brother! Then Mother will live well…” Old Madam Dong smiled with kind and gentle eyes. “Until I see A’Bao settled in life, then I can close my eyes in peace.”

When all was said and done, Old Madam Dong was most concerned about Bai Qingyan.

Dong Qingyue reached out and grasped Old Madam Dong’s hand, “Mother, A’Bao has inherited the spirit of Duke Zhenguo, and her strategic vision and capability even surpass his. Her aspirations are not confined to the inner quarters… but Mother can witness the day when A’Bao achieves fame and success as a woman. Perhaps… when that day comes, there will be more women like Mother… like A’Bao, whose talent and wisdom far exceed men’s by countless measures, who will have broader horizons! Mother, imagine… what kind of scene that would be!”

When news of the Western Liang Empress’s ascension reached them, Old Madam Dong was deeply moved, directly stating that the Western Liang Empress’s ascension would allow talented women of Western Liang to enter the court and serve the nation. If Western Liang had no internal strife, it would surely become increasingly prosperous.

“You mean…” Old Madam Dong’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up toward the outside of the nanmu screen decorated with hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix, saw the bright outer room was empty, then lowered her voice and asked, “You’re saying… A’Bao has the heart to emulate the Western Liang Empress?”

“Whether or not A’Bao has the heart to emulate the Western Liang Empress, A’Bao certainly has the heart to pacify the realm! She also has the wisdom to save the people. Your son… wishes to lend A’Bao a helping hand. If what A’Bao seeks is truly this unprecedented achievement, your son doesn’t wish to stand aside. If it succeeds… it would mean not living this life in vain.”

Dong Qingyue had grown up at his mother’s side since childhood and knew what kind of wisdom his mother possessed. When father couldn’t make decisions, he would seek mother’s opinion.

Under his mother’s guidance, he never looked down upon any woman, nor did he believe women should be confined to the inner quarters, supporting husbands and educating children. There were many women in this world like his mother, elder sister, and A’Bao, but most were bound by worldly propriety and could only be trapped in the inner quarters of their entire lives.

Just like his mother, though she was capable, she couldn’t step forward like men could. What Dong Qingyue felt was mostly regret and heartache.

Old Madam Dong bit her lip and gripped her son’s hand tightly, “These words, keep them in your heart. Never speak them aloud. A’Bao trusts you as her uncle and tells you these things, but you must always keep this matter in your heart to avoid bringing calamity upon A’Bao!”

“Mother, your son understands everything you’ve said!” Dong Qingyue responded. “A’Bao came to Dengzhou this time precisely to meet with me, to say what needed to be said. She planned to take Mother back with her to Shouyang. Now that Mother won’t leave… I’m afraid A’Bao won’t be able to stay many more days.”

Old Madam Dong nodded, “There are still matters waiting for her in Shouyang. Naturally, she cannot stay here long!”

·

Bai Qingyan sat on the window-side soft couch reading military treatises and ancient texts, while Chun Tao was wringing out her hair.

On the tall table, colorful light emanated from the glazed lamp, illuminating the beauty carved like white jade—a very pleasing scene.

Qiu Huan, having finished scenting the bed with incense, saw this and put down the incense in her hands, hurrying forward with outstretched hands to replace Chun Tao in wringing Bai Qingyan’s hair, “Sister Chun Tao, let me!”

Seeing Chun Tao’s brow furrow, Qiu Huan feared Chun Tao might say something refusing, so she quickly grasped the cloth with both hands and twisted it tight…

“Hiss…”

Bai Qingyan’s hair was yanked, causing her to draw in a sharp breath.

Seeing this, Qiu Huan panicked and knelt down, “Princess, spare this servant’s life! This servant only thought that Sister Chun Tao had worked hard serving the Princess’s bath and wanted to help wring the Princess’s hair. Who knew that Sister Chun Tao might be holding a grudge from what happened outside Master’s study today…”

Before Qiu Huan could finish, Bai Qingyan heavily placed the ancient text in her hands on the small table and looked down at Qiu Huan, who knelt on the ground pretending to be frightened and uneasy. She found this little maid’s petty schemes quite tiresome.

“Chun Tao, go ask Nanny Wang to come here!” Bai Qingyan said.

Qiu Huan was frightened into trembling and looked up at Bai Qingyan’s calm, indifferent expression, quickly kowtowing, “Princess, spare this servant’s life!”

Having followed Bai Qingyan for so long and having experienced the betrayals of Chun Yan and Chun Xing, how could Chun Tao not see what kind of scheming Qiu Huan was playing?

Chun Tao acknowledged the order, glanced at Qiu Huan kneeling on the ground, and walked around the screen to summon Nanny Wang from Old Madam Dong’s room.