If Shen Qingzhu saw that Yinshuang had lost an eye, she would surely be even more heartbroken than herself.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s distress, Bai Jinxiu also felt uncomfortable. She stepped closer to Bai Qingyan, gently stroking her arm and saying softly: “Elder Sister… from now on I’ll take good care of Yinshuang, treating her like my own younger sister to make amends to her.”

Bai Qingyan stood beside the bed, looking at Yinshuang, her hands at her sides slowly clenching into fists.

Her eyes were sharp with fierce killing intent: “The Empress dared to strike at our Bai family members. This matter absolutely cannot be let go, otherwise the Empress will think our Bai family are soft persimmons for her to squeeze at will!”

She had once said that whoever dared lay hands on the Bai family would experience the pain of having their hands severed.

Li Mao was one, and so was the Empress…

Not to mention, the Empress had nearly taken the lives of Jinxiu and Wang Ge’er!

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on the pine nut candy embroidered on Yinshuang’s eyepatch, her expression dark as water. She wanted to maintain a stable situation, but this stability had to be based on the premise that no one could… dared to strike at Bai family members. Since the Empress didn’t want peace, no one should have peace.

“Are there people watching Prince Xin’s mansion?” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were cold as frost.

“Prince Xin’s return to the capital was sudden, so there wasn’t time to arrange for people to infiltrate. But… Prince Xin’s mansion isn’t impregnable. Especially when Prince Xin was demoted to commoner status and left the capital, though Prince Xin’s mansion was preserved under the Empress’s protection, during that period, the mansion’s servants lived difficult lives. The steward of Qin mansion’s accounting office has become familiar with the accountant steward of Prince Xin’s mansion, planning to see if we can find a suitable opportunity to discreetly send our people in.”

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “Sending people to Prince Xin’s mansion at this time – outsiders going in probably couldn’t even reach the inner gate.”

After thinking, Bai Qingyan said: “Money can make ghosts turn millstones… I’m afraid for this matter, we’ll need to spend some silver.”

Bai Jinxiu looked at Elder Sister’s calm gaze directed at her, knowing that this time Elder Sister truly couldn’t suppress her anger: “Elder Sister, acting this way might lack prudence.”

“Don’t involve yourself in this matter. Prince Xin’s return to the capital troubles the Crown Prince most. I’ll discuss this with the Crown Prince and have him handle it,” Bai Qingyan had already made up her mind.

Looking at the main room of Qinghui Courtyard, where the maids had already prepared warm bath water, Chun Tao entered with small steps, lifting the curtain and bowing: “Young Lady, the water is ready! Please go bathe first, this servant will watch over Yinshuang.”

Chun Tao had only just learned about Yinshuang’s situation from Cuibi in the courtyard, and her eyes were still red.

“Sister Chun Tao just returned too, please rest first! Don’t worry… I’m here!” Cuibi said with a smile.

Bai Qingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard to bathe and change clothes. Picking up her teacup for a sip, just as she was about to ask Chun Tao whether Yinshuang had awakened, she heard that Physician Hong had been waiting in the courtyard for quite some time.

“Quickly invite Physician Hong in!” Bai Qingyan set down her teacup.

Before examining Bai Qingyan’s pulse, Physician Hong first took a small porcelain bottle from his medicine box and placed it on the table, smiling: “Young Lady, this injury on your ear… no matter how well you cover it with fine powder, you can’t hide it from these old eyes. You still need to apply medicine properly.”

Bai Qingyan hadn’t thought she could fool Physician Hong, so she agreed: “Physician Hong, rest assured, I’ll apply the medicine properly.”

Physician Hong nodded and examined Bai Qingyan’s pulse, greatly surprised. Though Bai Qingyan’s cold syndrome persisted, her physical constitution was indeed far superior to before.

Physician Hong smiled and nodded: “Indeed, one cannot just rest quietly – one must exercise! Previously, this old physician blindly made the Young Lady stay in bed for quiet recovery, nearly harming her!”

“Physician Hong, what are you saying? If not for Physician Hong back then, I might already be gone from this world.” Bai Qingyan arranged her sleeves and asked Physician Hong: “Physician Hong also saved the lives of Jinxiu, Wang Ge’er, and Yinshuang. I just wonder if there’s any way to treat Yinshuang’s sleeping condition?”

Mentioning Yinshuang, Physician Hong sighed and shook his head: “The medicine has been continuously given to young Yinshuang, but after changing several prescriptions, there’s not much improvement.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s grim expression, Physician Hong put the pulse pillow into his medicine box and said, “The situation was urgent then. Second Miss was hemorrhaging severely, so this old physician and Miss Lu prioritized Second Miss. When Second Miss was stable, and this old physician and Miss Lu went to check on young Yinshuang, to save her life, I could only remove Yinshuang’s eyeball. If I could have been one step earlier… perhaps I could have preserved it.”

Bai Qingyan clenched her teeth. She understood that in that emergency, Physician Hong and Lu Ning’e naturally had to prioritize the pregnant Jinxiu: “You couldn’t be in two places at once. This doesn’t blame you!”

“Speaking of young Yinshuang, this old physician wants to request a favor from the Young Lady. How about letting young Yinshuang stay with this old physician? First, her days would be more stable, and second, keeping her by my side would allow me to constantly change her prescriptions – perhaps I could cure her…”

Physician Hong genuinely liked the young girl Yinshuang. Everyone said Yinshuang was simple-minded, but Physician Hong felt this child had a pure heart and was a good child. When she woke up, her first concern wasn’t her eye but finding Second Miss, saying she would guard Second Miss constantly. Several people couldn’t stop her – she was covered in blood, but only fainted after seeing that Bai Jinxiu and her child were safe.

“Yinshuang… is the lifesaver of Jinxiu and Wang Ge’er, and also a benefactor of our Bai family! If Yinshuang could stay with you, I’d be very reassured.” Bai Qingyan smiled at Physician Hong. “But we still need to ask Yinshuang’s opinion, to see whether she wants to guard Jinxiu and Wang Ge’er or go with you.”

“That’s natural!” Physician Hong nodded repeatedly.

Chun Tao entered carrying a black lacquered tray with gold trim. On the tray was a silver cup containing a cheese drink. She passed through the tea-white curtain, placed the small silver cup on the table, and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Young Lady, Lu Ping has returned and requests an audience outside the courtyard!”

Physician Hong had already packed his medicine box. Hearing Chun Tao say Lu Ping had come, he knew Bai Qingyan and Lu Ping probably had official business to discuss, so he picked up his medicine box and rose to take his leave.

“Chun Tao, escort Physician Hong…” Bai Qingyan instructed.

“Yes!” Chun Tao smiled in response, bowed to Physician Hong, and made a gesture of invitation.

Lu Ping, waiting outside Qinghui Courtyard, saw Physician Hong emerge and greeted him. Without time for more than a few words, he hurriedly entered to report to Bai Qingyan about the day’s military dispatch to the Ministry of War.

“Young Lady, today a border military report arrived. Great Yan and Northern Rong… are attacking Nanrong! This subordinate didn’t have time to ask for specific dates, but Young Lady… the Young Master is in Nanrong!”

Bai Qingyan’s hand, stroking the table, suddenly tightened.

Lu Ping was filled with worry, growing somewhat agitated: “After the battle at Dengzhou City, Nanrong’s military strength suffered considerable losses. I don’t know if this battle will harm the Young Master!”

Bai Qingyan asked again: “Who leads the troops?”

Lu Ping shook his head: “Haven’t discovered that yet. When this subordinate heard the news, I hurried back to report to the Young Lady!”