The people quietly gazed at old Lady Dong.

Just as old Lady Dong had said, the Dong Family had protected Dengzhou for generations. They would rather die in battle than abandon the city, never forsaking the people!

Even old Master Dong had died for the sake of Dengzhou’s people.

When old Master Dong died in battle that year, it was old Lady Dong who led people to hold Dengzhou city, persevering until Dong Qingyue arrived with the Bai Family army to provide reinforcement, thus preventing Dengzhou from being massacred by the Rong barbarians.

It was precisely because of this that old Lady Dong held extremely high prestige among the Dengzhou people.

Old Lady Dong thought of her husband, who had died in battle, her throat constricting as her voice became slightly choked with emotion: “My late husband, who died protecting Dengzhou, once said… the people of Dengzhou are the blood relatives and closest kin of my Dong Family! As human beings… how could we abandon our closest kin!”

“I swear to Heaven with my entire clan that the Dong Family protects and loves the people. If any of us dare harbor even the slightest intention to harm the people, may Heaven strike us down and the earth destroy us! May our entire clan end without descendants! Please, fellow neighbors… trust my Dong Family! Trust my Dong Family’s children and grandchildren!”

After speaking, old Lady Dong bowed toward the people.

“Old Lady Dong’s words are too much for us to bear! We have been protected by the Bai Family for generations – how dare we accept such a grand gesture from old Lady Dong! Though we are humble common folk, we still know the Dong Family’s love for the people. We are willing to trust the Dong Family! Willing to trust Lord Dong!”

A man dressed in a plain robe called out loudly from the crowd.

With one person responding, the people echoed one after another, clamoring that they trusted the Dong Family and trusted Dong Qingyue, making the Dengzhou drum tower ring with heated voices.

Seeing this, Dong Qingyue quickly stepped forward and clasped his fists toward the people, saying: “Since fellow neighbors are willing to trust me, Dong Qingyue, I will certainly protect everyone’s safety. Now, please return home to pack your valuables. In two hours, gather at the north gate, where my eldest son Dong Changlan and my old mother will accompany all fellow neighbors to settle in the military camp! Today, Dong Qingyue asks everyone to leave home… and in the future, Dong Qingyue will certainly bring everyone back home!”

The people responded and dispersed, all returning home to pack.

Bai Qingyan stood beside old Lady Dong, truly admiring this grandmother of hers.

“Has that Master Xiao left?” Dong Qingyue turned to ask Dong Changlan.

Dong Changlan shook his head: “No, Master Xiao said he coincidentally still has some matters to handle, and since he has a guard unit with him, he wishes to wait and leave the city together with his grandmother. After escorting his grandmother to the military camp, he will depart for Yan Kingdom. But your son has already told Master Xiao that if he doesn’t leave now, he’ll probably have to wait until the Dengzhou battle ends before he can go.”

Currently, Great Yan’s Princess Mingcheng is still in the city. I wonder whether Princess Mingcheng will evacuate Dengzhou together with us, or depart with the Beirong from Great Yan?” Bai Qingyan asked Dong Qingyue.

“Cousin sister doesn’t know – when mother took sister Rong and the two younger sisters out of the city earlier, Great Yan’s General Pei came to inquire about the situation. He once suggested that he could help persuade Beirong to send troops to attack Nanrong, thereby resolving Dengzhou’s crisis! Father refused because relying on others is not as good as relying on ourselves, and at that time proposed to transfer Princess Mingcheng together to the encampment area! General Pei also agreed! That very night, to avoid detection… she had already left the city together with mother and the others.”

“So, currently, Great Yan’s General Pei is also at the encampment?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Dong Changlan nodded: “I’ve already ordered people to watch them closely. Cousin sister can rest assured.”

Seeing the people dispersing to return home and pack their belongings, Bai Qingyan asked Dong Qingyue again: “Princess Mingcheng… did the physician say whether she could be saved?”

Dong Qingyue shook his head: “She’s merely being kept alive! But… I imagine she won’t last more than a few days! I’ve also told General Pei frankly that whoever Princess Mingcheng wishes to see should come quickly for one final meeting.”

Princess Mingcheng remained unconscious, and during her occasional moments of improvement, she would continuously call out one person’s name. It seemed her obsession ran extremely deep.

“You should also go back and pack, then leave the city together with your grandmother.” Dong Qingyue raised his hand and patted Bai Qingyan’s head. Seeing that Bai Qingyan wanted to say something more, Dong Qingyue led her to a secluded spot nearby.

Dong Qingyue looked at his niece with her composed expression and lowered his voice: “Uncle knows what you want to say. You want to use this opportunity to see A’Yu, but this battle is a feigned defeat! Your reputation as Princess Zhenguo, always victorious and never defeated, must not be damaged. This isn’t uncle caring about your empty reputation, but rather this reputation is your greatest support and confidence as a woman when the time comes to rise!”

Dong Qingyue raised his hand and patted Bai Qingyan’s shoulder: “When the counterattack comes, Uncle will certainly arrange for you to meet A’Yu. Be obedient!”

Bai Qingyan knew that Dong Qingyue’s words were truly for her good. It was already difficult for women to navigate the world, especially as a military general…

The reason she had been able to establish herself within the Bai Family army was not only because she was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai Family, but also because she had personally beheaded enemy generals with the Bai Family army and had never been defeated, which was why she was called Young Marshal Bai!

In chaotic times, the strong were revered – this applied to men.

But in chaotic times, for women to be revered, they had to surpass men by a hundred or a thousand times. Dong Qingyue deeply understood this principle, so it didn’t matter if he was defeated by Nanrong and lost the city, but he couldn’t watch his niece’s reputation as an undefeated legend be damaged.

“This time, just rest assured and hide under uncle’s protection, let uncle protect you! After all… in the future, uncle doesn’t know how much longer he can protect you. After leaving Dengzhou… the road ahead will be even more difficult and dangerous, and uncle will be far away in Dengzhou, beyond reach.”

Bai Qingyan understood Dong Qingyue’s intentions and bowed deeply to him, her heart inevitably filled with bittersweet emotions: “Then, A’Bao will entrust her safety to Uncle this time!”

Dong Qingyue showed Bai Qingyan a gentle smile and raised his hand to pat her head.

Whether A’Bao or A’Yu, his niece and nephew… were no longer the little children who needed his protection.

Dong Qingyue suddenly felt a sense of aging. The children now were stronger than they had been in their time.

Whether Bai Qingyan or Bai Qingyu, and even his son Dong Changlan.

Perhaps it was truly as Bai Qingyan had said – he should let go and entrust some matters to Dong Changlan for experience.

When Bai Qingyan accompanied old Lady Dong back to the Dong Mansion by carriage to pack their luggage and came out, she saw Xiao Rongyan standing respectfully outside the gate.

Bai Qingyan had heard that this time, Xiao Rongyan would accompany old Lady Dong out of the city.

“Old Lady Dong, Miss Bai…” Xiao Rongyan bowed to Old Lady Dong and Bai Qingyan.

Old Lady Dong looked at the outstanding, refined and handsome young man before her, smiled faintly and nodded, then took Bai Qingyan’s hand to board the carriage.

Chun Tao looked at Xiao Rongyan with complete wariness, and only after watching her young lady board the carriage did she hurriedly follow, dropping the carriage curtain like a thief-guard to block Xiao Rongyan’s view.

Seeing this, Yue Shi quietly stepped forward: “Master, did you perhaps offend Miss Chun Tao beside Miss Bai? Why does Miss Chun Tao treat you as if your nose isn’t a nose and your eyes aren’t eyes?”