After the nanny saw Bai Qingyan and performed her proper courtesies, she put on airs and hemmed and hawed about her purpose for coming…

The meaning was clear: the Crown Princess also knew that her brother’s tampering with military provisions was wrong. This time, fortunately, it was Bai Jinzhi who discovered the matter and informed the Crown Prince, which was better than outsiders knowing and making a big fuss about it. The Crown Princess had already reprimanded her maternal family’s brother, and such things would not happen again. There was also a strong implication warning Bai Qingyan not to meddle in affairs that didn’t concern her.

She sarcastically reminded Bai Qingyan that healing her injuries was most important and that she shouldn’t go looking for trouble.

Bai Qingyan weakly leaned against the hidden pillow, merely watching as the nanny prattled on with a stern face. Then she suddenly frowned, covered her chest, and began coughing violently.

“Elder sister!” Bai Jinzhi pushed aside the nanny who was standing in front of Bai Qingyan, blocking the light, and hurried over to help soothe Bai Qingyan’s chest. But she was afraid of touching Bai Qingyan’s wound and sat on the bedside, not knowing what to do.

“First Miss!” Chun Tao hurriedly handed over a handkerchief, quietly nodding to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan took the handkerchief and covered her lips, forcefully crushing the fish bladder wrapped inside the white handkerchief. When she opened her hand, the white handkerchief was stained with startlingly bright red. Bai Jinzhi felt her mind go blank with a buzzing sound, as if covered by vast white snowflakes, and suddenly felt empty and hollow.

The nanny’s face turned pale, and she was at a loss: “This… this has nothing to do with me!”

“First Miss!” Chun Tao cried out in alarm.

Bai Jinzhi, who didn’t know the inside story, was immediately frightened to tears: “Elder sister! Elder sister, are you alright? Chun Tao! Quickly go call Physician Hong! Quickly call Physician Hong!”

“Don’t… don’t alarm grandmother and second aunt!” Bai Qingyan gasped as she gave instructions.

Qinghui Courtyard immediately fell into chaos. Chun Tao rushed out to fetch Physician Hong, while Bai Jinzhi helped Bai Qingyan lie down, crying loudly in fright, then turned to glare at the Crown Princess’s nanny with fierce, dark eyes.

Before long, Physician Hong was carried in by guards, followed by Lu Ninghui and red-eyed Bai Jinse.

This crowd of people squeezed in, pushing the nanny who had been putting on airs outside the screen. The nanny could only peer inside through the gauze screen.

Chun Tao emerged from behind the screen and, with reddened eyes, bowed to the nanny before saying: “Forgive us, nanny. Our First Miss has coughed up blood and truly has no strength left to listen to the nanny’s instructions. Please return to the residence first. When our First Miss is better, she will certainly visit to apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The nanny’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this. Today, after the Crown Prince met with the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess sent her with generous gifts to thank Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi for their willingness to stop investigating the military provisions matter and spare her brother this once.

But she was the Crown Princess’s wet nurse… She believed there was no reason for the dignified Crown Princess to thank a princess and county princess. The Crown Princess was the future empress mother… she was the sovereign, while Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi, even if they were enfeoffed as princess and county princess… were still subjects! Why should the Crown Princess lower herself to curry favor with Princess Zhenguo’s residence!

Therefore, when this nanny spoke, she inevitably used barbed words, putting on airs to lecture Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi, wanting them to understand that the Crown Princess was the master, and since this matter concerned the Crown Princess’s own brother, they could not continue investigating.

Who could have expected that Bai Qingyan would cough up blood?!

If Bai Qingyan were to go to the Crown Prince to apologize, the Crown Prince would probably skin her alive for the sake of Bai Qingyan, his life-saving benefactor.

The nanny’s earlier towering arrogance immediately wilted. She hurriedly said, “Such a small matter hardly warrants Princess Zhenguo to personally visit and apologize. It’s this old servant who came at an inappropriate time! Miss, please quickly go care for Princess Zhenguo! This old servant will take her leave now!”

After bowing, the nanny fled from Qinghui Courtyard, having the servant woman who had brought her there escort her out, her heart filled with unease.

Only after seeing the Crown Princess’s nanny leave did Chun Tao turn around, lift the curtain, and enter the main room, hurriedly saying: “She’s gone, she’s gone! That nanny has left…”

Inside the main room, Bai Qingyan was leaning against the hidden pillow, having rinsed her mouth and was wiping the blood traces from her lips with a handkerchief. Bai Jinzhi was staring at her elder sister in stunned silence, tears seeming frozen in her eyes.

Bai Jinse spread out the bloodied handkerchief and used her finger to pick up a tiny broken fish bladder that had been stained red.

Physician Hong was also leisurely drinking tea.

“In this way, the news that elder sister is seriously injured can be sent to the Crown Prince’s residence, and the Crown Prince… will certainly no longer suspect elder sister.” Bai Jinse wrapped the fish bladder in the bloody handkerchief and handed it to Bai Jinzhi to see, then took the handkerchief Chun Tao offered and wiped her hands, her expression full of smiles.

Bai Jinzhi had truly been frightened, unprepared to see her elder sister coughing up blood. She almost couldn’t help but want to hack that nanny to pieces, only to discover after all the commotion that it was fake.

“This blood pouch was originally intended for use when the Crown Prince visited someday, but unexpectedly it came in handy today.”

“First Miss, quickly drink the sweet plum tea to get rid of the taste in your mouth.” Chun Tao offered the teacup.

Bai Qingyan took the tea cup Chun Tao handed her and lightly sipped it. She saw Bai Jinzhi pick up the fish bladder and rub it in her hand: “It really… is a fish bladder!”

Chun Tao covered her mouth and smiled: “This servant saw that the nanny was quite frightened! When this servant said that First Miss would certainly visit the Crown Prince to apologize when she was better, that nanny completely lost her high and mighty attitude.”

“Fourth Sister handled this matter very well, effortlessly… revealing the whole story of this affair.” Bai Qingyan smiled at Bai Jinzhi. “Thus, on October first, you can pack your belongings and go to Anping Military Camp!”

Bai Jinzhi wiped away the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, her expression full of joy: “Thank you, elder sister! Elder sister, rest assured! I will definitely…”

Bai Jinzhi suddenly saw Lu Ninghui standing to one side organizing her medicine box, swallowed her words, and changed her response: “I will do well!”

“But elder sister, what about the military provisions matter?” Bai Jinzhi asked again.

“Since the Crown Prince says he will handle it, let’s trust the Crown Prince once. After returning to Shuoyang, we’ll send someone to the northern frontier to investigate. If… the soldiers’ provisions are still like this, then we’ll find another way.” Bai Qingyan said.

“And the method we think of must not implicate Princess Zhenguo’s residence, otherwise… the Crown Prince will be unhappy again!” Bai Jinzhi, thinking of what Quan Yu had said today, added through gritted teeth, “But… looking at the Crown Prince’s attitude, unless cities are lost and the matter reaches the Emperor’s attention, otherwise… heh…”

“In this matter, Ninghui can be of service!” Lu Ninghui turned around with a gentle smile. “The palace has already sent word that I’m to enter the palace the day after tomorrow to perform acupuncture for His Majesty. Ninghui could mention it to His Majesty, or… have the person sent by His Majesty mention it. This shouldn’t implicate Princess Zhenguo’s residence.”

Lu Ninghui had a special status—she was considered part of Princess Zhenguo’s residence, yet also not quite. If they wanted the Emperor to know… using Lu Ninghui’s mouth would not be a bad method.