“Miss, please speak! This humble one will face death without hesitation!” Chen Qingsheng said hurriedly.

She raised her eyes to look at Chen Qingsheng, speaking deliberately and methodically: “Tonight, there may be battle reports from Nan Jiang transmitted back. You should take more people to guard the city gate. Once you see a messenger with urgent dispatches marked with arrows returning at eight hundred li speed, you must ensure that all the common people of the capital know about it. Find a way to guide the people to come before the Duke’s mansion gates.”

Since ancient times in the Great Jin, if there were victory reports, the messenger would loudly proclaim the good news and battle situation upon entering the capital’s gates, letting the people know so they could celebrate together.

If it were dire news, the messenger would only present the military report after entering the palace and having an audience with the emperor.

If the main general died, the palace would send someone to notify the deceased general’s family to prepare for mourning.

After Bai Qingyan’s previous commotion, the entire capital’s common people now paid extraordinary attention to the Bai family and the southern frontier war situation. If the messenger entered the city without reporting, and someone with ulterior motives guided them… the people would naturally come before the Duke’s mansion gates to wait for the palace to send someone to notify the Duke’s mansion of the battle situation.

When news came that all the Bai family men had perished, she wanted the capital’s common people to see with their own eyes what lengths the Bai family had gone to in protecting Great Jin. She wanted the people to witness the Bai family’s tragic fate… and grieve together with the Bai family!

In this way, if the emperor made even the slightest move against the Bai family, it would certainly incite popular resentment and anger.

The emperor had always loved his reputation. As long as he still feared the historian’s impartial brush and dreaded overwhelming popular resentment, even if he harbored thoughts of eliminating all threats, he would not dare to harm the Bai family’s widows.

Though Chen Qingsheng didn’t know what Bai Qingyan intended to do, he still nodded and agreed: “Miss, please rest assured.”

“There’s another matter. Do your best to investigate it. If you can’t find out clearly, that’s also fine.” She glanced at the red plum blossoms in the distant snow and said, “The grain and provisions prepared for Nan Jiang two months ago under Marquis Zhongyong’s responsibility – I want to know whose hands they passed through. I want their names.”

This involved court matters, so Chen Qingsheng was quite surprised. But knowing this batch of provisions was probably related to the southern frontier war, he agreed without hesitation: “Miss, please rest assured. This humble one will not fail in this mission!”

The sky on New Year’s Eve had not yet turned completely dark, but brilliant fireworks were already blooming in the air.

Bai Qingyan stood in the corridor, quietly looking up at the sky, waiting for news to return.

Chun Tao, her eyes red with tears, came behind Bai Qingyan carrying a thick cloak, draping it over her as she said: “Miss, your cousin has already personally led people to guard the city gate according to your instructions. However, at this hour, the capital’s city gates have all been closed. I’m afraid there can’t be any news today. There’s no use in your worrying! You should go to the Grand Princess’s place for New Year’s Eve dinner first…”

“Let’s go!” Bai Qingyan pulled the cloak tighter and, supported by Chun Tao’s hand, walked out of Qinghui Courtyard’s main gate surrounded by a group of maids with lowered eyes and submissive expressions.

Unexpectedly, just as she came out, she saw Bai Jintong standing alone at the entrance of Qinghui Courtyard, looking up at the fireworks in the sky in a daze.

Probably hearing the sound of the courtyard gate opening, Bai Jintong came back to her senses, moved two steps closer to Bai Qingyan, and spoke with a hoarse voice: “Elder sister…”

She raised her hand to brush away the fallen snow on Bai Jintong’s shoulder, smiled at her, and said: “Were you waiting for me here?”

Bai Jintong nodded. Her reddened eyes could barely hold back her tears, so she quickly lowered her head to hide them.

She just remembered that last year, the Duke’s mansion had been brightly lit. Because there were many people and many children, it was filled with prosperity and vitality. The servants, maids, and attendants busily went in and out through the side gates, and everywhere there were sounds of noisy laughter.

The adults drank and made merry, while she and Bai Jinzhi led little Seventeen and a group of children carrying lanterns, making noise in Bai Qingyan’s Qinghui Courtyard. Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu sat under the corridor chatting and laughing – a scene of thriving prosperity and vigorous life.

This year, the entire Duke’s mansion was still brightly lit, but… the servants and maids, seeing their masters in poor spirits, didn’t even dare to speak loudly. Without the sounds of merriment, the Duke’s mansion was so quiet it felt desolate.

Knowing that Bai Jintong felt distressed, she smiled and grasped Bai Jintong’s ice-cold hand: “Let’s go…”

Looking at the composed and peaceful Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong felt as if her elder sister was filled with an unshakeable, fearless strength, and her heart also became steady: “Alright…”

She and Bai Jintong had just taken two steps when they saw Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi, who had also coincidentally come to Qinghui Courtyard.

Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi had also come to Bai Qingyan’s place to find their pillar of strength.

The four sisters stood facing each other. Bai Jinxiu, with reddened eyes, covered her face with a handkerchief and laughed softly: “What a coincidence – we all came looking for elder sister.”

Under the bright red lanterns, with snow reflecting the tearful yet smiling faces of the four young ladies, the scene was particularly heartwarming yet particularly heart-wrenching.

“Let’s go! To grandmother’s place…” Bai Qingyan’s voice was heavier than usual, but also more resolute.

Chun Tao stepped forward to support Bai Qingyan, gently instructing: “The snowy roads are slippery. Please be careful, all four misses.”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan had already begun walking forward, Bai Jinxiu said through tearful, blurred vision in a soft, gentle voice: “With elder sister leading the way ahead, no matter how slippery it gets… we’re not afraid.”

What was there to fear from wind and snow along the way? The sisters would simply join hands and forge ahead through adversity.

Bai Jintong nodded, grasping the hand Bai Jinxiu extended, too choked up to speak.

“We sisters walk together – we fear nothing!” Bai Jinzhi wiped away her tears and quickly caught up to Bai Qingyan, walking shoulder to shoulder with her.

Her eyes were blurred by mist. In her previous life, she had walked alone, but in this life, with sisters accompanying her, what was there to fear, no matter how difficult the road ahead?! Even through mountains of knives and seas of fire, through molten lava and raging flames, Bai Qingyan would dare to forge through.

Just as they entered the Grand Princess’s Changshou Courtyard, a little maid guarding the door of the main room suddenly pointed at the sky: “What is that?!”

She turned back and saw a bright lantern slowly rising into the air, followed by a second one, a third one, a fourth one…

Under the brilliant fireworks exploding across the sky, countless bright lanterns rose into the air, turning the entire night sky into a warm sea of fire. The lantern surfaces were covered with words like “Triumphant Return,” “Victorious Homecoming,” “Victorious in Every Battle,” and “Safe Return.”

The Duke’s mansion, which had been deathly quiet just moments before, suddenly became lively. The maids and servants all stopped their work in hand and crowded under the corridors and in the courtyards to watch the lanterns filling the sky. That orange light warmed people’s hearts.

Bai Qingyan turned around and instructed Chun Xing beside her: “Go ask what’s happening?”

Before Chun Xing could leave, they saw an old woman hurrying from the entrance. Seeing several young ladies standing at the door, she smiled and curtsied: “First Miss, Second Miss, Third Miss, Fourth Miss! The common people, moved by our Bai family’s loyalty and courage, are spontaneously releasing bright lanterns on the long streets and in courtyards to pray for blessings for the Bai family army far away in Nan Jiang.”

Hearing this, her throat constricted with emotion. She handed her hand warmer to Chun Tao and solemnly bowed deeply… to thank all the common people of the capital.

Who said heroes are remembered by no one? These common people, protected by the Bai family for generations, remembered the Bai family!

In her previous life, the Bai family had simply done too much and spoken too little, which led to them being forgotten…

Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jintong, and Bai Jinzhi, with tears in their eyes, followed suit, also bowing deeply to the lanterns filling the sky.

The sudden sounds of joyful laughter from the servants of the Duke’s mansion finally disturbed the elders in the main room of Changshou Courtyard.