“Is Master Xiao also leaving?” Bai Jinzhi looked toward Xiao Rongyan. Without giving Xiao Rongyan a chance to answer, she said: “I’ll see Master Xiao out.”

Xiao Rongyan, who was holding his teacup: “…”

Xiao Rongyan put down his teacup and decided to wait until nightfall to personally visit Bai Qingyan’s chamber. He stood up with a warm smile and bowed to Bai Jinzhi: “Fourth Miss Bai is too kind, please don’t trouble yourself!”

Bai Jinzhi smiled as she saw off Murong Li and Xiao Rongyan one after another, then secretly let out a breath of relief. She slumped unceremoniously in her chair, deeply feeling that her elder sister, second sister, and third sister were all too amazing – how could they sit so properly for so long?

After completing her mission, Bai Jinzhi rested for a while before getting up and running toward Qinghui Courtyard to tell Bai Qingyan what she had learned from Murong Li about the military provisions matter.

·

Lu Ping arrived at Yanque Tower and, revealing his identity as Princess Zhenguo’s guard, asked the shopkeeper about the guest who had reserved the Heaven Number One private room for tomorrow. The shopkeeper didn’t dare conceal anything, saying it was Miss Liu who had reserved the room. When the miss’s maid came to pay the deposit, she didn’t have enough silver. Originally, they had given an address for the shopkeeper to send a servant with them to fetch the silver.

But when the shopkeeper heard it was in Nine River Alley, thinking it wasn’t where wealthy people lived, he didn’t agree. Who knew that the maid went out for less than a quarter hour and returned with the silver to make up the difference?

“Do you know which specific house in Nine River Alley?”

“The last house at the end of Nine River Alley with a black gate and rammed earth walls…” The Yanque Tower shopkeeper recalled, then added: “Oh… right, that miss also said their courtyard has osmanthus flowers planted, very fragrant, and you could find it by following the scent!”

Coming out of Yanque Tower, Lu Ping stared at the bustling main street of the capital, suddenly growing suspicious. Was it necessary to describe one’s location so clearly just to reserve a private room?

Having already sensed deception, Lu Ping didn’t delay. He first sent a guard back to deliver a message to Bai Qingyan, then followed Bai Qingyan’s instructions, mounted his horse, and rode to the Crown Prince’s mansion.

After the Crown Prince read the letter Lu Ping delivered and heard what Lu Ping had learned from the Yanque Tower shopkeeper, Old Fang’s eyes rolled as he looked toward the Crown Prince: “Your Highness… could it be Liu Ruofu, whom the Magistrate of Jingzhao still hasn’t found?!”

The Crown Prince was startled and looked toward Old Fang.

“Now that the entire capital is under martial law, Liu Ruofu certainly can’t escape. If she’s sending a letter to Princess Zhenguo at this time, perhaps… either she wants to negotiate some conditions with Princess Zhenguo to spare her life, or she wants to perish together with Princess Zhenguo! As for the maid, the shopkeeper mentioned… could it be that knowing Liu Ruofu faces certain death, she doesn’t want to die together with Liu Ruofu, so she deliberately gave hints to the shopkeeper, hoping someone would discover the clues?”

After pondering for a moment, the Crown Prince said, “This way, Old Fang, you send people to notify the patrol battalion. Have the patrol battalion bring men to go with you and Guard Lu. If Liu Ruofu is there, capture her immediately without error.”

“Yes!” Lu Ping clasped his fists in acknowledgment.

The Crown Prince looked again at Lu Ping: “Princess Zhenguo’s injuries are too severe. In the future, don’t trouble Princess Zhenguo with such matters. Let Princess Zhenguo focus on recovery! You go back and tell Princess Zhenguo that with me handling everything, let her rest and recover peacefully. After she’s well, I… still count on her to advise me and guide me on the righteous path.”

Lu Ping put on a grateful appearance and knelt to kowtow: “Lu Ping will certainly convey Your Highness’s words. If Eldest Miss knew Your Highness values her so highly, she would recover well and get better soon!”

Old Fang’s hand hidden in his sleeve tightened slightly, but on the surface, he still had to show a pleased expression and nod with a smile.

Nine River Alley, surname Liu… When such information reached Bai Qingyan, she suspected someone knew Liu Ruofu’s hiding place and was deliberately revealing this information to her.

Bai Qingyan held a soup bowl containing medicinal cuisine, gently stroking the soup spoon…

This person either wanted to use her hand to capture Liu Ruofu.

Or they wanted to curry favor with her.

Bai Qingyan leaned more toward the second possibility.

Bai Jinxiu had also figured out the key points, though she suspected Xiao Rongyan: “Elder Sister… could it be Master Xiao?”

In the past… Bai Qingyan would have suspected Xiao Rongyan, but now that her relationship with Xiao Rongyan was completely different, Xiao Rongyan would speak directly and wouldn’t use such methods.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and shook her head: “Regardless of who it is, since they’re currying favor, we’ll accept their kindness… naturally someone will reveal themselves. No rush.”

“Elder Sister! I’ve found out clearly!” Bai Jinzhi burst in recklessly, walked around the screen, and plopped down on a small embroidered stool: “Those wastrels weren’t lying. There really should be sand mixed in the rice sent to the northern frontier.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan fell silent. Sand mixed in was still acceptable – she feared the grain sent was moldy… if it made the frontier soldiers sick, that would be fatal.

“This matter isn’t hard to investigate. I’ll send people to ask about the source of that batch of rice sent to the northern frontier, check the people who handled it, and we’ll always find where the problem lies.” Bai Jinxiu said.

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan turned to look at Bai Jinxiu, who had been caring for her tirelessly these days: “You’ve worked so hard caring for me these days. Now that Xiao Si is also here, when Qin Lang comes later… You should go back to the Qin mansion with him! Wang Ge’er misses you too.”

Bai Jinxiu was worried: “Xiao Si is reckless like a child. I should stay!”

“Second Sister, don’t stay home anymore. Elder Sister has me care for her! Otherwise, others will gossip about this.” Bai Jinzhi was straightforward: “Just when I came in, I heard Sister Cuibi say those two misses from the Qin mansion love to find fault with Second Sister and spread gossip everywhere, like long-tongued shrews.”

“Xiao Si!” Bai Jinxiu frowned.

Bai Qingyan chuckled softly: “We should let Xiao Si stay at the Qin mansion for a few days to properly deal with those two Miss Qins.”

“Young ladies aren’t important. They’re both of age – once suitable families are found for them to marry into, that’s that. Now Qin Lang has also brought his younger brother to his side to care for him, not letting the two have contact with their younger brother. Children are young, and their temperaments can easily be corrected. He’s become much more proper these days! Those sisters can’t see their brother and don’t dare make trouble with Qin Lang, so they can only gossip about my affairs… others won’t believe it.”

Bai Jinxiu wasn’t angry at all, handling these matters with calm composure and great skill. At least Bai Jinxiu’s reputation in the capital was well-established – she had never abandoned the Qin family even when they were in dire straits, and she was a First Rank Lady. Even if someone wanted to gossip… who would dare say it to Bai Jinxiu’s face?

“As for Xiao Si, I heard that before Elder Sister left Shouyang, she assigned you a task. Have you completed it?” Bai Jinxiu asked.