Bai Qingyan had already discussed with Bai Jinxiu her plan to send Bai Jinzhi to Anping Military Camp.

Bai Jinxiu still somewhat disagreed. Bai Jinzhi was still young after all, childish like a ball of innocence, pure as bright moon and clear wind. She wasn’t as steady as Xiao Qi, being reckless and impulsive. If not kept close by, she would inevitably cause trouble. Bai Jinxiu felt Bai Jinzhi still needed several more years of training.

When this matter was mentioned, Bai Jinzhi raised her hand to touch her nose, afraid of being scolded by her elder sister and second sister. Her voice lacked confidence: “I almost botched it, and it was still Eldest Aunt who cleaned up the mess! Originally, I had it all planned out, but I didn’t expect that person pretending to be a wealthy merchant wouldn’t be chosen well and give himself away! But I don’t like all these twists and turns. Just give me Elder Sister’s orders and I’ll complete them. I can’t handle things that require too much thinking…”

Bai Jinxiu turned to look at Bai Qingyan, her meaning obvious… Bai Jinzhi wasn’t suitable to be sent to Anping Military Camp.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Bai Jinzhi as she smiled and said: “Xiao Si, this is… being unskilled at steering a boat, you blame the river’s curves!”

Bai Jinzhi opened her eyes wide, looking at Bai Qingyan: “Hey! That’s exactly what Eldest Aunt said when she scolded me!”

It was clear Bai Jinzhi had angered their mother.

Bai Jinxiu covered her lips and chuckled softly.

“Xiao Si, Elder Sister plans to send you to Anping Military Camp, but if you truly dislike all these twists and turns, how can I trust… that you’ll hold Anping Military Camp in your palm instead of being firmly suppressed by others?” Bai Qingyan asked Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi suddenly stood up, surprise flashing across her face, followed by excitement in her expression, her ears turning red: “Elder Sister… Elder Sister, are you letting me go to Anping Military Camp to lead troops?!”

“But you dislike those twists and turns; your temperament is straightforward and prone to anger. If I send you… Being unable to control Anping Military Camp is a small matter, but I fear you might ruin things.” Bai Qingyan leaned against the ginger-yellow pillow embroidered with magpies, speaking in measured tones.

Bai Jinzhi immediately became anxious: “No, Elder Sister, I don’t like it, but I can learn! As long as I can lead troops, I’m willing to do anything.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, her gentle features smiling: “If that’s the case, then this matter of sand in the northern frontier military provisions is entrusted to you to investigate. We depart to return to Shouyang on October 25th. You have five days. The Bai mansion’s people are at your disposal. If you run out of silver, you can come ask Elder Sister for more. After five days, I want results. If you succeed, you’ll depart for Anping Military Camp in November. If you fail… obediently return to Shouyang with Elder Sister and study properly for a few more years.”

“Elder Sister…” Bai Jinxiu was worried.

But Bai Qingyan raised her hand to signal Bai Jinxiu to be at ease: “Let her try!”

No one could do everything perfectly on the first attempt. Perhaps Bai Jinzhi had shortcomings in handling Bai Qiyun’s matter, but who doesn’t grow slowly?

At her eldest miss’s signal, Chun Tao took a gold-inlaid phoenix-carved purple sandalwood box from Bai Qingyan’s yellow rosewood dressing table and respectfully handed it to Bai Jinzhi: “Fourth Miss, this is all the private funds Eldest Miss has on hand, and today she’s giving it all to you! You must not disappoint Eldest Miss.”

Bai Jinzhi’s palms sweated nervously. She wiped the sweat from her palms on her skirt before raising her hands to receive the heavy purple sandalwood box.

She had originally thought it was silver, but when she opened it to look…

My goodness, inside was also a ruby the size of a fist that hadn’t yet been carved, banknotes were pressed at the bottom, and there were some jewelry pieces with extremely complex and exquisite craftsmanship that Bai Jinzhi had never seen before.

“The things inside have nothing to do with the Bai family… even if you use them, they can’t be traced back to the Bai family. The path has been paved for you this far… what to do next depends on yourself.” Bai Qingyan’s features held a smile, clearly gentle and amiable, yet somehow made Bai Jinzhi feel immense pressure.

Bai Jinxiu frowned tightly, clutching her handkerchief, wanting to speak but stopping herself. The military provisions weren’t a small issue. For Elder Sister to just hand it over to Bai Jinzhi for practice, Bai Jinxiu was truly worried.

But since Elder Sister dared to let Xiao Si handle it freely, she should… be able to clean up any mess Xiao Si made.

Thinking of Anping Military Camp, thinking of being able to lead troops and demonstrate her abilities there, Bai Jinzhi made up her mind. She closed the purple sandalwood box, tucked it under her arm, and clasped her hands toward Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, Xiao Si will handle it well!”

After the sun set, the last traces of color disappeared from the horizon. The sky quickly darkened, and the golden lanterns on the capital’s main streets lit up.

In the courtyard at the very end of the remote Nine River Alley, dim yellowish light seeped through the narrow window lattice, casting shadows on the roots of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

In the damp, cold room, Liu Ruofu had just finished taking her medicine and lay on the hard bed, her hands and feet ice-cold and trembling. The charcoal in the brazier had long since died out, the warming bottles at her feet had also grown cold, leaving only an oil lamp flickering as if about to go out.

Five days ago, Liu Ruofu learned that Prince Xian’s uprising had failed, that he had been killed by Bai Qingyan with a silver spear, and that Prince Liang was so useless he had pushed everything onto his father to save his own life. Whenever Liu Ruofu thought of the child in her womb being Prince Liang’s, she ground her teeth in hatred.

Yesterday afternoon, she had someone fetch a dose of medicine, drank it all in one gulp, and sent away the bastard child in her womb.

When Liu Ruofu fled that day, she hadn’t brought a single maid. The hidden guards Prince Xian had arranged to protect Liu Ruofu were all men who couldn’t provide personal service. Liu Ruofu was now in such a wretched state, but out of her pride as a princess, she couldn’t bring herself to call the guards inside.

Liu Ruofu hated… hated Bai Qingyan, and hated Prince Liang even more. If given the chance, Liu Ruofu would want to skin Prince Liang alive and tear him apart.

Suddenly, a hidden guard called out “Princess” and pushed the door open, rushing straight to the bedside.

Liu Ruofu, who was covering her abdomen and shivering under the blanket, gritted her teeth and roared: “Insolent! Who told you to come in?”

The hidden guard squad leader wrapped Liu Ruofu in the cotton quilt: “Princess, forgive me! The patrol battalion has surrounded us; this subordinate must take you away.”

With one hand around the guard’s neck, as Liu Ruofu was carried out of that broken, damp room, she saw all the hidden guards her father had left her on high alert, crouching half-hidden beneath the rammed earth walls, gripping sharp blades, holding their breath in wait.

In the distance was the sound of a large force approaching, like rolling thunder – at least a hundred men.

Liu Ruofu’s breathing caught, her heart rate quickened, and she felt fresh blood gushing out below. She pressed tightly against her abdomen, gritting her teeth… but didn’t know where in this vast world she should flee.

All four gates of the capital were completely sealed. Liu Ruofu had no wings and simply couldn’t fly back to the southern capital.

Even if she could fly back, all the southern capital’s troops had been lost in the capital – who could protect her?

Moreover, it had already been five days. The Emperor and Crown Prince had certainly sent troops to the southern capital. Even if she miraculously escaped back to the southern capital, she could only see the corpses of the Liu family members.

The autumn wind was bleak and chilling. Liu Ruofu felt a sense of… homeless desperation at the end of her road.