“Please instruct me clearly, Young Miss, how should this Li Mingrui be dealt with?” Lu Ping frowned tightly, always feeling that Li Mingrui was excessively clever.

She leaned against the tasseled cushion, looking toward Lu Ping: “No need to concern ourselves with him for now. Uncle Ping has worked hard—after being busy all day, Uncle Ping should go rest first!”

Sending someone to deliver a message to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, if she knew who was coming to deliver the message and what the purpose was, she would certainly send people to investigate Yanque Tower, and would naturally discover Liu Ruofu.

But none of these was Li Mingrui’s true purpose. Li Mingrui wanted to tell her that he had his own channels and methods, as well as capabilities.

Since the Li family had weaknesses in their hands, then… Li Mingrui was either declaring war on her or surrendering to her.

If declaring war, he could well act secretly in the shadows—why would he need to request an audience?

It seemed… There was only one possibility: surrender.

In Bai Qingyan’s view, Li Mingrui was clever, but his character was too calculating and opportunistic. In comparison, Bai Qingyan felt that… even Liu Ruofu, who always tirelessly and openly opposed her, was more trustworthy than Li Mingrui.

In the small kitchen, Chun Tao was holding a fan embroidered with butterflies, fanning the medicine bowl—the medicine was too hot… Bai Qingyan couldn’t drink it yet.

Chun Tao tested the temperature and felt it was about right, then placed the medicine bowl on a black lacquered, gold-decorated square tray. Just as she was about to go to the main room, she saw Lu Ping coming out. Chun Tao smiled and bowed: “Guard Lu…”

Lu Ping’s gaze fell on the medicine bowl Chun Tao was carrying: “Thank you for your hard work, Miss Chun Tao!”

Chun Tao stepped aside to let him pass, watching Lu Ping leave Qinghui Courtyard before lifting the curtain to enter, handing the medicine to Bai Qingyan: “Physician Hong said this blood and qi replenishing medicine to be taken before sleep might need to be taken by Young Miss continuously. It’s just a bit troublesome. When we return to Shouyang, Physician Hong plans to teach Xiao Yinshuang to make medicine pills, so Young Miss can take pills in the future, which will be more convenient.”

Bai Qingyan had long grown accustomed to taking medicine. She picked up the medicine bowl and drank it clean. Chun Tao quickly held up the rinse water, and after Bai Qingyan rinsed her mouth and wiped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, Chun Tao offered preserved fruits to change the taste in her mouth.

“How has Yinshuang been adapting these past few days following Physician Hong?” Bai Qingyan asked Chun Tao.

“Young Miss can rest assured. Yinshuang has already learned quite a lot following Physician Hong. Physician Hong says Yinshuang is clever and learns everything quickly. It’s just that several times she got delicious treats from Physician Hong and wanted to bring them to Young Miss, but we all stopped her. We also haven’t told Yinshuang about Young Miss’s injury, fearing the little girl would worry.”

Yinshuang had probably been starved in childhood and was very protective of food. That she could remember to bring delicious treats to Young Miss showed her loyalty to Bai Qingyan.

Though the little girl was full of childish spirit, her bones held loyalty and courage.

“These days, the little girl has been eating and sleeping well. I see she’s become much rounder and looks very adorable!” Chun Tao held the black lacquered, gold-decorated square tray, thinking of Yinshuang’s chubby cheeks, her eyes smiling and curved.

Bai Qingyan remembered that both Yinshuang and Xiao Si loved sweets, and said to Chun Tao: “The kitchen’s honey-preserved hawthorns taste quite good. Tomorrow, you will give Xiao Yinshuang a small dish. If Yinshuang likes them… when we return to Shouyang, we’ll bring the cook who makes these preserved hawthorns back to Shouyang.”

“Yes!” Chun Tao smiled in response. “First thing tomorrow morning, this servant will go, and I’ll also bring the little girl a box of pine nut candy.”

“Don’t bring too much at once, lest she ruin her teeth. Wrap up a little… when she finishes eating, then give her more.”

Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, someone outside reported that Lu Ping had returned.

She supported herself with one hand, adjusting her sitting position to lean against the cushion, her expression solemn, having Chun Tao invited Lu Ping in.

Soon, Lu Ping hurriedly entered the main room again, kneeling on one knee, his trembling hands holding up a jade pendant, his eyes reddening: “Young Miss!”

The moment Bai Qingyan saw that jade pendant, she was so shocked she sat up, pulling at her wound, her chest aching as if someone had torn it open.

“Young Miss…” Lu Ping’s voice trembled lightly, “This belongs to Fourth Master!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan throw back the covers, Chun Tao quickly stepped forward to support her.

She bit her teeth tightly, blood rushing to her head in waves. She snatched the jade pendant and examined it repeatedly under the lamplight. A sour, sharp sensation surged to her nose and eyes, wave after wave making Bai Qingyan dizzy: “Where did this come from?!”

Could Fourth Uncle… still be alive?!

Could it be that Fourth Uncle knew she was severely injured and hanging between life and death, so he had returned?!

Hundreds of thoughts turned in her heart, hundreds of emotions colliding in her chest, instantly filling Bai Qingyan’s eyes with tears, each question more urgent than the last: “Where did this come from! Where exactly did this come from?!”

“Young Miss!” Lu Ping couldn’t care about propriety and quickly supported the swaying Bai Qingyan. “Young Miss, this was delivered by a jailer! He said a severely injured defeated general of Nandu, Wang Jianghai, entrusted him to deliver it to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion. Originally he didn’t want to deliver it, but Wang Jianghai said… this was something belonging to the Bai family’s Fourth Master, so that jailer made the trip for Wang Jianghai.”

Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the jade pendant, tears suspended on her eyelashes. She bit her teeth tightly and asked: “What message did he bring?”

Lu Ping looked at Bai Qingyan solemnly: “Wang Jianghai said he wants to see Young Miss!”

“Prepare the carriage!” Bai Qingyan had no hesitation whatsoever.

“Young Miss!” Chun Tao cried out in alarm, “How can Young Miss travel in this condition?!”

Bai Qingyan gripped the jade pendant tightly in her palm. Wang Jianghai had someone deliver the jade pendant and said he wanted to see her… she had to go. Since he had Fourth Uncle’s jade pendant, he must have news of Fourth Uncle.

Grandfather had five sons and one daughter, each having such a jade pendant that never left their person.

For example, Second Uncle’s jade pendant was given to Bai Qingxuan and his mother as Second Uncle’s promise to Bai Qingxuan’s mother.

Wang Jianghai having Fourth Uncle’s jade pendant in his possession—whether it was some promise Fourth Uncle had once made to Wang Jianghai, or Wang Jianghai had news of Fourth Uncle—Bai Qingyan had to make this trip.

She steadied her mind, looked deeply at the jade pendant once, then raised her eyes… her gaze cold, calm, and profound, giving orders methodically: “Uncle Ping, you accompany me. Chun Tao, after Uncle Ping and I leave, you go tell Xiao Si that after one incense stick’s time, she should depart for the Crown Prince’s mansion… to meet with the Crown Prince. Tell the Crown Prince that Wang Jianghai had a jailer deliver Fourth Uncle’s jade pendant to our Bai mansion requesting to see me, that Xiao Si couldn’t stop me, that I disregarded my physical condition and insisted on going to the prison to see Wang Jianghai, and she had no choice but to come inform the Crown Prince!”

Though this happened suddenly, Bai Qingyan could use this incident to let the Crown Prince discover… that Bai Jinzhi, who could be seen through at a glance, was loyal to him. In the future when Bai Jinzhi went to Anping Military Camp, the Crown Prince would also take extra care of her.

Moreover, informing the Crown Prince of this matter was better than having the Crown Prince investigate afterward and then become suspicious of her.

“Change clothes…” Bai Qingyan covered her chest wound, “Uncle Ping, go prepare the carriage!”

Lu Ping acknowledged the order and strode quickly out of Qinghui Courtyard’s main entrance.

Chun Tao knew that once her young miss decided on something, even ten oxen couldn’t pull her back, especially when this concerned the Fifth Master. She could only turn to fetch clothes for Bai Qingyan to change into.