Dong Changlan hurriedly pulled Dong Changmao forward and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Thank you for your magnanimity, cousin sister!”

Protected by Dong Changlan, Dong Changmao felt both bitter and warm in his heart, looking at his elder brother with great gratitude.

“Fine then! Since that’s the case, we won’t punish Concubine Luo! Tell Concubine Luo to go back and reflect on her mistakes properly. She must not associate with that Luo Fugui again. If she can consider Changmao’s interests like Changlan does, then let her confine herself voluntarily!” Dong Qingyue set down his teacup, stood up, and took leave of Old Madam Dong.

The group dispersed from Old Madam Dong’s main room, and only then did Bai Qingyan bring Chun Tao back to her room. Chun Tao’s eyes were still swollen.

Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Tao, who was still sobbing but didn’t forget to bring water for her to wash her hands, and said: “In the future, be more careful with your belongings, especially when away from home. It’s not like being in our own residence – there will inevitably be those blind fools who want to use dirty tricks against you!”

Chun Tao nodded vigorously: “It’s all Chun Tao’s fault for causing trouble for Miss!”

“What kind of talk is that? When people scheme against you, how could that be you causing me trouble?” Bai Qingyan washed her hands while looking at Chun Tao, who was crying like pearls dropping. She reached out to take the handkerchief Chun Tao handed her and wiped her hands. “Alright, stop crying! I think… when Chen Qingsheng returns, we should still ask Mother to arrange your marriage early, to prevent our Chun Tao from growing more and more beautiful and attracting unwanted attention.”

“Miss!” Chun Tao’s face immediately turned red as she was crying, and she stamped her foot in embarrassment before picking up the water basin Bai Qingyan had used and heading outside.

Bai Qingyan chuckled softly, but truly took this matter to heart. She wondered when Jintong would return from her sea voyage. It had been too long since she had sent any letters, like a kite with a broken string, making Bai Qingyan feel vaguely uneasy.

Bai Qingyan had just sat down on the soft couch by the window and picked up a book, not yet having opened it, when she saw Chun Tao, who had just left with a flushed face, hurry back in. After curtsying to Bai Qingyan, she said: “Miss, Lu Ping has returned with people and requests to see Miss!”

She immediately stood up and headed outside. Lu Ping’s return meant he had brought news or had brought A’Yu back.

“Miss, please slow down!” Chun Tao hurriedly followed behind Bai Qingyan, running to keep up.

Bai Qingyan walked quickly all the way to the decorative gate of the Dong residence, where she saw Lu Ping standing there, dusty from travel. As soon as Lu Ping saw Bai Qingyan, his eyes reddened as he quickly stepped forward and knelt before her, hands clasped, choking up so much he couldn’t say a word. But his expression already let Bai Qingyan know… that Ghost Face General must be A’Yu!

Bai Qingyan’s eyes immediately filled with hot tears. She forced herself to control her emotions, standing at the decorative gate to steady her mind before lifting her skirt to step out. Her palms were covered in a layer of fine sweat that soaked into her dress, wrinkling the fabric.

She looked at Lu Ping kneeling before her, trying hard to keep her eyes wide open to prevent tears from falling, but when she opened her mouth, tears flowed before words came.

“Miss! It’s the Young Master…” Lu Ping’s voice was hoarse. This stalwart man had already shed tears countless times on the journey, but seeing Miss still couldn’t help choking up and crying.

Bai Qingyan bit her teeth tightly, tears flowing like broken strings. She didn’t make a sound, slowly bending down to help Lu Ping up. The hand gripping Lu Ping’s wrist trembled continuously, her voice hoarse beyond recognition: “He didn’t come back?”

Only then did Lu Ping hurriedly take out the sheepskin map that Bai Qingyu had given him from his chest, lowering his head respectfully to present it to Bai Qingyan: “This is what the Young Master gave to your subordinate during our brief meeting!”

Lu Ping had already cleaned the sheepskin map. Bai Qingyan gripped the map tightly in her hands, nodding but not rushing to look at it, only asking Lu Ping: “Is he well? What did you all say?”

“Meeting with the Young Master, the Rong Di army was watching, so there was no opportunity to speak. The Young Master wore a mask and only took the chance to give this map of Nan Rong! The Young Master seemed well… your subordinate vaguely saw burn marks on the Young Master’s body, and those eyes that are identical to Miss’s. Your subordinate boldly guesses… that should be the Fifth Young Master!” When Lu Ping said this, his nostrils flared as he quickly raised his hand to wipe away fallen tears.

She knew it, she knew that was A’Yu…

That must be A’Yu!

Bai Qingyan’s throat ached terribly. She nodded: “Is he… in good health?”

Lu Ping nodded, smiling through tears, patting his chest: “A real solid punch that made your subordinate’s chest hurt – he should be… in good health!”

Bai Qingyan also laughed softly, gripping the sheepskin map tightly and nodding.

It must be the grandfather and father protecting A’Yu! Letting A’Yu survive!

“Uncle Ping has worked hard. Go back and rest first!” Bai Qingyan said to Lu Ping.

Lu Ping nodded, clasped his hands, and left. Bai Qingyan found a secluded pavilion and spread out the sheepskin map to examine it carefully.

It was completely in the style of the Bai family army’s map records – where the shortcuts were, where there were water sources, where the dangerous terrain lay, all clearly marked.

The extremely small script annotations were in Bai Qingyu’s handwriting.

Bai Qingyu’s calligraphy was practiced alongside Bai Qingyan – how could she not recognize it?!

Bai Qingyan gently traced those characters, tears flowing like broken strings. If mother knew A’Yu was still alive… how happy she would be!

After a while, she suddenly held the sheepskin map up to strong light to examine it, a vague suspicion forming in her heart. Not daring to delay, she immediately ordered someone to tell Dong Qingyue and Dong Changlan that she had the most detailed map of Nan Rong.

Dong Qingyue had someone invite Bai Qingyan to the study.

Bai Qingyan took out the map and said to Dong Qingyue: “Uncle, have someone copy this map. I have other uses for this one.”

“I’ll do it!” Dong Changlan sat at the desk and personally took up his brush to copy the map.

“Did Lu Ping bring this back?” Dong Qingyue stood behind Dong Changlan, carefully examining the sheepskin map. “You sent Lu Ping to the heart of Nan Rong territory for this?”

In the study, there were only Dong Qingyue, Dong Changlan, and Bai Qingyan. Bai Qingyan spoke frankly: “This map was given to Lu Ping by… A’Yu! Uncle… A’Yu is still alive.”

Dong Qingyue was stunned, straightening up and looking at Bai Qingyan with complete disbelief, her eyes reddened again.

Dong Changlan also widened his eyes: “A’Yu… is still alive?! Father! Cousin A’Yu is still alive!”

Bai Qingyan didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Her throat worked as she nodded: “He’s alive! This map was given to Lu Ping by A’Yu!”

Dong Qingyue snatched the map and carefully examined the extremely small handwriting. Dong Qingyue also recognized Bai Qingyu’s calligraphy. Looking at the map with reddened eyes, he nodded: “It is A’Yu!”

“Where is A’Yu now? Is he safe? Is he injured?” Dong Changlan asked anxiously.

“A’Yu is the Ghost Face General of Nan Rong.”

Bai Qingyan didn’t hide anything. After all, Dengzhou was close to Nan Rong, and on future battlefields, uncle and Changlan would inevitably encounter A’Yu…