She suspected that Old Madam Fu might have… certain evidence of the Empress using Fu Ruoxi. If Old Madam Fu could present such evidence to the Crown Prince to prove that the Empress still had dealings with Fu Ruoxi after becoming Crown Princess, then the Empress would never have another chance to recover.

“Uncle Ping…” Bai Qingyan called.

Lu Ping stepped forward: “Young Miss, your orders!”

“Send someone to quietly follow Old Madam Fu.” Bai Qingyan said.

“Yes!” Lu Ping acknowledged and turned to relay the order.

It was already the end of the You Hour. The yellowish glow, like tea stains long unwashed on porcelain cups, shrouded the Capital City with its azure tiles and vermilion eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, reflecting the broad streets and illuminating the magnificent carriages passing to and fro. But ultimately, the sun was setting in the west, the remaining sunlight dim and dusky. Even though the layered buildings and stacked pavilions of the long commercial streets had already hung their lanterns, the Capital City was not as… bright as at noon.

Ultimately… the sun was indeed setting behind the western mountains.

Seeing Bai Qingyan standing with her hands behind her back at the main gate for quite some time, Chun Tao turned to instruct a maid to prepare food for Bai Qingyan. The maid said, “Sister Chun Tao, don’t worry. The second Madam had already had the kitchen prepare food for Young Miss long ago.”

As soon as Bai Qingyan returned, she hadn’t rested and hadn’t been able to sit down for a proper meal. This was all for the Bai Family – how could Second Madam Liu not understand? While Liu couldn’t help with other matters, she naturally took great care of these daily living details.

Hearing this, Chun Tao felt grateful to Second Madam. She lifted her skirt hem and prepared to walk up the steps to call Bai Qingyan, who was lost in thought, gazing at the long street, back to eat something.

“Sister Chun Tao!”

Chun Tao turned around and saw Cuibi from beside Bai Jinxiu hurrying over. After bowing, she said, “Yinshuang has awakened. I came to tell Young Miss.”

Chun Tao was delighted and nodded: “Good, I’ll go tell Young Miss!”

“Young Miss, Yinshuang has awakened.” Chun Tao walked to Bai Qingyan’s side and said happily.

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan nodded: “Let’s go see Yinshuang.”

As Bai Qingyan walked down the steps, she said, “Have the kitchen prepare some sweets – Yinshuang likes to eat them.”

“Young Miss, rest assured. This servant already had them prepared long ago, just waiting for little Yinshuang to wake up.”

Chun Tao responded joyfully and instinctively reached out to support Bai Qingyan down the steps, when she saw Bai Qingyan smile and say to her: “Chun Tao, my health has greatly improved. I’m no longer that sickly person who always needed your support.”

But Chun Tao insisted on supporting Bai Qingyan: “This is in the Capital City – Miss should still appear more delicate!”

Having been by Bai Qingyan’s side for so long, Chun Tao had seen how Bai Qingyan, without makeup, would deliberately use fragrant powder on her lips when meeting the Crown Prince to make herself appear more fragile.

Though Chun Tao hadn’t understood the meaning before, now she could comprehend that Bai Qingyan showed weakness to the Crown Prince to reduce his suspicions.

But since they were acting, it was necessary to perform the complete act.

Seeing Chun Tao’s determined expression, Bai Qingyan nodded and allowed Chun Tao to support her down the steps.

As soon as Yinshuang woke up, she looked for her bag of pine nut candies, sitting obediently and properly in the corridor waiting for Young Miss to return so she could give the pine nut candies to Young Miss. But she was so hungry… she really wanted to eat one.

Just as Yinshuang was having an internal struggle about whether to eat one, she saw Chun Tao supporting Bai Qingyan entering from outside Qinghui Courtyard.

“Young Miss!” Yinshuang suddenly stood up, then remembered being scolded by the two Qin family young ladies in the palace for not understanding etiquette and embarrassing Second Miss. Yinshuang hurriedly bowed to Bai Qingyan, but in her haste, the pine nut candies in her hands scattered all over the ground. “Ah!”

Yinshuang exclaimed and quickly crouched down to pick up the pine nut candies on the ground.

Cuibi glanced at Bai Qingyan and hurried over to help Yinshuang pick up the pine nut candies, saying as she picked them up: “Yinshuang, these candies are all dirty. Be good! Sister Cuibi will get you more later…”

Before Cuibi could finish speaking, she saw Yinshuang had already run toward Bai Qingyan, holding the gathered pine nut candies, joyfully blowing them clean and offering them to Bai Qingyan: “Young Miss… eat candy!”

Looking at Yinshuang, who had only one eye remaining yet still showed her a brilliant smile, Bai Qingyan felt a surge of bitterness. Yinshuang had lost her eye to save Jinxiu and Wang Ge’er’s lives.

She lowered her gaze to look at the pine nut candies in Yinshuang’s hands.

Cuibi was startled and hurried over to stop Yinshuang – how could she give Young Miss dirty pine nut candies to eat!

But before Cuibi could stop her, Bai Qingyan had already picked up a pine nut candy and put it in her mouth, smiling at Yinshuang: “Mm, very sweet!”

Cuibi looked at Young Miss in disbelief and swallowed back the words that had reached her lips.

Yinshuang grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, looking extremely happy.

Sister Qing Zhu had once told her that Young Miss lived a hard life, so Yinshuang wanted to make Young Miss happy.

Bai Qingyan raised her hand and patted Yinshuang’s head, then took Yinshuang’s hand and walked toward the main room, instructing Chun Tao: “Go get some pastries and milk…”

After bringing Yinshuang into the main room, Chun Tao had someone bring up the food and the pastries prepared for Yinshuang.

Watching Yinshuang eat many pastries, Bai Qingyan smiled and handed Yinshuang a handkerchief to wipe her hands, asking: “Yinshuang, would you be willing to follow Physician Hong in the future?”

Yinshuang swallowed the steamed cake in her mouth, took the handkerchief, and looked quite puzzled: “Didn’t Young Miss say to stay close to Second Miss at all times?”

After thinking, Yinshuang added: “Not needed in the mansion, but follow when going out – Yinshuang remembers!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Yes! You did very well, so… that’s why I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to follow Physician Hong and return to Shuoyang with me?”

Yinshuang’s eye lit up. The words “willing” almost slipped out, but she swallowed them back and asked: “Then… who will stay with Second Miss and Wang Ge’er? If Yinshuang isn’t there and someone kicks Second Miss’s belly again, or is fierce and wants to stab Second Miss with a knife, what will happen?”

Bai Qingyan’s heart clenched tightly. Bai Jinxiu had never revealed to Bai Qingyan the details of the danger she faced in the palace. She knew Jinxiu didn’t want her to worry, but hearing Yinshuang say this… Bai Qingyan realized how perilous the situation had been.

Bai Qingyan bit her teeth, her eyes becoming even more somber.

Yinshuang thought for a moment and said, “Sister Qing Zhu said that taking good care of Second Miss would put Young Miss at ease. Yinshuang should still take care of Second Miss, and Wang Ge’er too…”

Hearing Yinshuang’s simple-minded words, Cuibi’s eyes also reddened: “Silly Yinshuang, Sister Cuiyu and I can both take care of Second Miss!”

“You’re not as capable as I!” Yinshuang said seriously.

“You can’t take care of both Second Miss and Wang Ge’er by yourself, and now you’re drowsy like a little kitten!” Cuibi said with a laugh. “What if you fall asleep while following Second Miss out? If Second Miss encounters danger, she’d have to find a way to protect you, too. Don’t you think so?”

Yinshuang thought about it and nodded: “Then I’ll listen to Young Miss’s instructions.”

“Then follow Physician Hong. In a few days, come back to Shuoyang with me – you’ll also be closer to Qing Zhu.”