The Grand Princess walked out, surrounded by her daughters-in-law, also startled by the bright lanterns soaring across the sky.

The young Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss leaned against the Grand Princess, pointing at the lanterns in the sky and asking: “Grandmother, what are those?!”

“Reporting to the Grand Princess and Fifth Miss!” an old woman in the courtyard answered with a beaming smile, “Those are bright lanterns that the common people spontaneously released to pray for blessings for our Bai family army.”

The Grand Princess felt a mixture of emotions in her heart, choking up as she said: “The people of the capital… they haven’t forgotten our Bai family army…”

The four Bai Qingyan sisters, seeing the Grand Princess standing under the corridor, paid their respects and accompanied her in watching the lanterns filling the sky.

It wasn’t until the bright lanterns dispersed that Bai Qingyan was about to help the Grand Princess return to her room when Lu Ping hurried in with an old woman guarding the moon gate.

Seeing that all the masters were in the courtyard, Lu Ping stepped forward and paid his respects: “Grand Princess, all the madams and misses, news has come that the south city gate has been knocked open. A messenger with arrows on his back is galloping straight to the imperial palace!”

A messenger with arrows on his back carried military reports, entering through the south gate… from Nan Jiang.

Entering the city gate without announcing news, galloping straight to the imperial palace – this was not a good omen.

Bai Qingyan’s scalp tingled, and the entire Duke’s mansion’s nerves became taut.

What was meant to come would always come.

She gripped the Grand Princess’s hand tightly, turned to look at the Grand Princess whose spine had stiffened, and said: “Grandmother, now it’s up to you, mother, and all the aunts…”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, several aunts could no longer hold back their tears. Fifth Aunt, who was pregnant, clutched her handkerchief tightly, her legs going weak.

The Grand Princess’s breathing became irregular for a moment before she steadied herself. She gripped her tiger-head cane tightly and straightened her spine: “What’s meant to come will always come. Let’s go! We’ll wait for news at the entrance!”

Led by the Grand Princess, she brought all the Bai family women to the front of the Duke’s mansion.

Outside the Duke’s mansion, quite a few common people carrying lanterns and holding umbrellas had already gathered. Having heard that the military messenger with arrows on his back had galloped straight to the imperial palace without announcing victory along the way, they had all braved the snow to gather at the Duke’s mansion entrance, waiting for news from the palace while chatting quietly among themselves.

“Second Uncle! Why did you come out in such cold weather…”

“I heard military reports came back, but didn’t hear the messenger announce anything, so I hurried to the Duke’s mansion to wait for news. Why did you come too?!”

“I also heard that the military messenger went straight to the palace. I was afraid there might be bad news, so I came to wait and listen!”

“What a coincidence! I also came after hearing the news. When messengers enter the city gates without announcing anything, it’s not good! I just pray to the heavens to open their eyes and not let anything happen to the Duke and the Bai family sons!”

Suddenly, the vermilion lacquered red doors of the Duke’s mansion, adorned with a row of magnificent red lanterns, slowly opened. The Grand Princess could be seen leading the Bai family women out to wait for news, protected by the Bai mansion guards.

“Oh! The Duke’s mansion doors opened!”

“The Duke’s mansion also came out to wait for news!”

“The tiger-head cane! Isn’t that the Grand Princess?!”

The common people hurriedly knelt and kowtowed: “Grand Princess…”

Thinking of the lanterns filling the sky just moments ago, the Grand Princess felt a pang in her heart. She handed her tiger-head cane to Nanny Jiang and led the Bai family women in bowing to the common people.

Straightening up, Bai Qingyan saw Chen Qingsheng standing among the crowd, nodding to indicate that everything was arranged. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

“Butler Hao!” Dong Shi turned back to instruct the butler: “Have the kitchen prepare hot soup and meat pies to distribute to everyone! We don’t know how long it will take for news to come from the palace. On New Year’s Eve, everyone is keeping vigil here with us – don’t let them freeze!”

“Yes, Madam!” Butler Hao hurriedly turned back to the mansion to have preparations made.

Before long, two horses could be seen galloping toward the Duke’s mansion. Everyone’s hearts rose, but they saw that the dismounting riders were Bai Qingyan’s two uncles, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue.

Dong Qingping handed his horse’s reins to a Duke’s mansion servant. Glancing at the common people standing at the entrance, Dong Qingping and Dong Qingyue climbed the Duke’s mansion steps and paid their respects to the Grand Princess.

“Brother, Qingyue, why did you come?!” Dong Shi’s eyes reddened.

“We just received news that an arrow messenger knocked open the south city gate but entered without reporting the battle situation. Mother was worried and sent my brother and me to come see!” Dong Qingping gripped his riding whip, his mouth corners tight as he spoke.

Bai Qingyan’s heart warmed as she respectfully curtsied to her two uncles.

Dong Qingping smiled at Bai Qingyan and stood aside with the Bai family women, waiting for news.

Dong Qingyue walked up to Bai Qingyan, raised his hand to pat the top of her head: “Don’t worry, your father and brothers will be fine!”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, Qin Lang also arrived on horseback. After respectfully paying his respects to the elders, he walked to Bai Jinxiu’s side to support her, seeing her red-rimmed eyes, and gently comforting her.

On New Year’s Eve, the long streets with red lanterns should normally be empty, with everyone at home reuniting and keeping vigil.

But in front of the Duke’s mansion, common people who had heard the news kept arriving, along with young masters from noble families coming to gather information for their grandfathers or fathers. When the heir of Marquis Dingyong arrived at the Bai mansion entrance, he truly hadn’t expected that so many people were already standing at the Duke’s mansion gates…

Before long, the third son of Earl Mingda also arrived.

Bai Qingyan looked at these noble families who had braved the snow to come, looked at the common people throughout the city who were standing with them in the wind and snow. She knew… the situation she could rely on to protect the Bai family and pressure the current emperor… had arrived!

On the second floor of Tianxiang Tower, separated by windows, Xiao Rongyan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Duke’s mansion amid the sea of lights at the end of the long street. Below, groups of two or three common people occasionally passed by carrying lanterns, and horses galloped straight toward the Duke’s mansion.

He fingered the jade cicada in his hand, his expression deep and contemplative.

Xiao Rongyan had never believed in winning hearts or popular support. Without someone dedicating all their energy and scheming carefully, how could the Bai family have achieved such magnificent momentum and united hearts?

The Bai family’s current situation of popular support looked exactly like something that Miss Bai had orchestrated single-handedly.

From when Bai Qingyan persuaded Qin Lang to voluntarily request removal from his heir position, Xiao Rongyan knew this Miss Bai was someone who could accomplish great things.

It was just such a pity that the Bai family, full of military talent… had been killed by Great Jin’s muddle-headed monarch and incompetent princes in Nan Jiang. If his Great Yan could have loyal and brave generational ministers like the Bai family, why would they worry about not prospering? What a true pity…

“Master, this subordinate is incompetent. The deadline you gave has arrived, but this subordinate could only roughly trace the source of the information!”

Hearing the voice, Xiao Rongyan didn’t turn around: “Speak…”

“The beggar who delivered the message to the butler said he didn’t recognize the person who asked him to deliver it, but he had seen the Manjiang Tower shopkeeper greet that person from afar – they seemed to be acquaintances. This subordinate went to inquire with the Manjiang Tower shopkeeper, but his eyes flickered as he claimed not to know who this subordinate was talking about. Later, this subordinate had people continuously watch Manjiang Tower. This afternoon, we saw the Manjiang Tower shopkeeper mysteriously discussing this matter with someone, telling that person to be more careful. This subordinate then inquired with the shop assistant, who said that person was from the Duke’s mansion. He wasn’t clear whether that person was a steward, only knowing he worked for the Bai family’s eldest miss.”