“Prince Xin has this possibility, but others aren’t without it either. For example, County Princess Liu Ruofu of the Southern Capital, and the Southern Capital’s many soldiers… they all came to the capital with their entire families to celebrate their Southern Capital’s only County Princess’s wedding!” Bai Qingyan smiled faintly. “Moreover, Liu Ruofu is someone who will repay the smallest grievance!”

“Is Prince Xian planning to… be the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind?” Bai Jinse’s complexion immediately became very ugly.

Liu Shi couldn’t understand, but seeing Seventh Miss Bai Jinse’s expression, she knew things were dire. Yet unable to comprehend what riddles these two children were speaking, she became even more nervous: “What exactly are you two talking about?”

“Second Aunt, Xiao Qi, you needn’t worry. If someone comes to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion in a while, Xiao Qi, you take people to escort Second Aunt to hide in Grandmother’s Changshou Courtyard. No matter what happens, don’t come out! Understand?” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she turned to instruct Chun Tao, “Have the kitchen send breakfast here. I’ll eat here with Second Aunt and Xiao Qi!”

“Yes!” Chun Tao responded, lifting the curtain to go out and instruct a maidservant to fetch breakfast.

After Bai Qingyan finished breakfast and comforted Liu Shi and Bai Jinse, just as she was seeing the two out of Qinghui Courtyard’s main gate, Lu Ping returned to report.

“Eldest Miss, this subordinate has safely delivered Fu Ruoxi to the Anping Great Camp. We agreed that three smoke signals above the eastern gate of the capital would be the signal for him to lead troops directly through the eastern gate!”

Just as Lu Ping finished speaking, a hidden guard came to report: “Master, there’s movement at Prince Xian’s mansion. Someone left Prince Xian’s mansion, heading to Liu Huai Lane in the west of the city, bringing at least three hundred soldiers toward Princess Zhenguo’s mansion!”

Chun Tao’s heart jumped to her throat, clutching her handkerchief tightly.

Bai Qingyan calmly instructed: “Order the hidden guards to split into two groups—one to protect outside the Grand Princess’s Changshou Courtyard, one to go to the Qin mansion to protect Second Miss. Most of our Bai family guard army is in Shuoyang. Assign most of the remaining to guard outside the Bai mansion’s main gate, with the rest focusing on guarding Changshou Courtyard! Chun Tao, quickly notify Second Madam and Seventh Miss to take refuge in Changshou Courtyard. Guard the courtyard gate well—until I return, they absolutely cannot step outside the courtyard! I’m entrusting Second Madam and Seventh Miss to you!”

“Yes!” Chun Tao responded and jogged out of Qinghui Courtyard.

“Uncle Ping, remain in the mansion to protect Second Madam and Seventh Miss. Send ten skilled fighters to accompany me out of the mansion…” Bai Qingyan said.

Bai Qingyan wanted to leave the mansion just as the Southern Capital troops neared the Bai mansion’s front gate, to lead the Southern Capital soldiers away.

After all, the Southern Capital army’s target was Bai Qingyan. They also feared Bai Qingyan might leave the city and lead those twenty thousand Anping Great Camp soldiers to protect the Crown Prince and Emperor. This way, Second Aunt and Seventh Sister in the Bai mansion could be safe.

“Eldest Miss wants to lead away the Southern Capital troops?!” Lu Ping immediately understood Bai Qingyan’s meaning. “Eldest Miss mustn’t! The Southern Capital troops have hidden many forces throughout the capital, both openly and secretly. If Eldest Miss only takes ten people out of the mansion, the mansion will indeed be stable, but what about Eldest Miss’s safety? At least let me stay by Eldest Miss’s side!”

“Uncle Ping, rest assured. I’ll lead them in a roundabout way and then go to the Crown Prince’s mansion! The Crown Prince’s mansion has the patrol battalion protecting it—I won’t be in danger! Go make arrangements!”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan returned to the main room of Qinghui Courtyard, untied the sandbags from her body, and changed into armor.

Neither yesterday nor this morning had Bai Qingyan practiced with her spear. Though messages had arrived throughout the night, she had slept fairly peacefully in the latter half, and now she was in high spirits.

When Bai Qingyan emerged from the main gate of Qinghui Courtyard in full military attire, Lu Ping had already brought the ten carefully selected guards, holding torches high, standing before the gate of Qinghui Courtyard.

Seeing Bai Qingyan come out, Lu Ping stepped forward: “Eldest Miss, I’ve selected the men. This subordinate should still follow Eldest Miss!”

“With Uncle Ping at the Bai mansion, I can have no worries. Second Aunt and Seventh Sister still need Uncle Ping’s protection!” Bai Qingyan adjusted her wrist guards while speaking to Lu Ping. “I still have many things to do—I won’t let myself get into trouble. Rest assured.”

Lu Ping wanted to speak but stopped, only nodding and seeing Bai Qingyan to the gate.

“Dong dong dong—”

Just as Bai Qingyan’s group reached the main hall, they heard someone knocking at the main gate.

Lu Ping and the Bai family guards immediately drew their swords, protecting Bai Qingyan behind them.

The gatekeeper guard looked out through the gate’s viewing slot. Outside, Yue Shi bowed deeply to the ground, saying: “Master Xiao Rongyan requests an audience with Princess Zhenguo!”

The Bai family gatekeeper guard recognized that guard—he was indeed one of Xiao Rongyan’s people. Looking further, that Master Xiao stood beneath Princess Zhenguo’s swaying lantern, his figure upright and bearing proud.

The gatekeeper guard hurried over, bowing: “Eldest Miss, it’s Master Xiao!”

Bai Qingyan was slightly stunned. Why had Xiao Rongyan come at this time?

“Please invite him in!” Bai Qingyan said.

The gatekeeper guard opened half the gate and invited Xiao Rongyan in.

Xiao Rongyan nodded his thanks to the Bai family guard army. His profound gaze looked toward Bai Qingyan in full military attire, his brow furrowing tightly, his eyes full of worry.

Today, the capital was in chaos—Bai Qingyan would surely bear the brunt.

Whether Prince Xin or Prince Liang, the first person they would want to kill would be Bai Qingyan, who supported the Crown Prince… the war god Bai Qingyan who commanded troops like a deity.

How could Xiao Rongyan not know Bai Qingyan’s character? With most of the Bai family guard army in Shuoyang, she would use the remainder to protect her relatives!

Indeed, Xiao Rongyan saw that including Lu Ping, Bai Qingyan only had eleven people around her, and his expression became very unpleasant.

The gate of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion closed again, and only then did Lu Ping and the others sheathe their swords and step aside.

Xiao Rongyan lifted the hem of his robe and walked down from the high steps. When he reached Bai Qingyan, he bowed: “Miss Bai!”

“Master Xiao!” Lu Ping nodded.

“Why has Master Xiao come at this time?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Most of the Bai family guard army has returned to Shuoyang. Xiao thought the Bai family in the capital might be short-handed, so I brought people to help!” Xiao Rongyan pointed to Yue Shi behind him. “Miss Bai knows Yue Shi—he’s Xiao’s guard with extremely high martial skills! Xiao has traveled among various states for years and has a group of hidden guards around me, all with exceptional skills! They move silently and are all at Miss Bai’s disposal!”

Lu Ping looked at Xiao Rongyan with full gratitude, then looked at his own Eldest Miss, hoping she wouldn’t refuse.

Bai Qingyan understood that Xiao Rongyan was worried about her. Her brow and eyes smiled faintly as she nodded: “Then Bai Qingyan… thanks, Master Xiao!”

“The capital is currently in complete chaos. Master Xiao shouldn’t move around freely either. Please take refuge in the Bai mansion for now. Master Xiao’s hidden guards can stay to protect Master Xiao and my Second Aunt and Seventh Sister! Yue Shi… I’ll take with me!” Bai Qingyan said.

Xiao Rongyan’s brow tightened: “Xiao will stay at the Bai family to comprehensively protect Second Madam and Seventh Miss. Please take the hidden guards and Yue Shi with you. Xiao can guarantee with his life that he absolutely won’t let Second Madam and Seventh Miss suffer even the slightest harm!”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan was about to speak again, Xiao Rongyan bowed to Lu Ping: “Guard Lu, I’d like to speak privately with Miss Bai for a moment!”