“Let’s eat!” Bai Qingyan picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it on Bai Jinzhi’s plate. “After we finish eating, let’s depart early for Shouyang and try to enter the city before noon tomorrow.”

With business matters concluded, Shen Qingzhu cupped her hands toward Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss, I won’t dine here. I want to go see that little girl Yinshuang first!”

Bai Jinzhi’s expression changed, and she carefully looked toward her eldest sister.

“Yinshuang is still sleeping. Eat first…” Bai Qingyan said to Shen Qingzhu.

Bai Qingyan hadn’t yet told Shen Qingzhu about Yinshuang’s injury. Earlier, Bai Qingyan had sent Chun Tao to check, and Physician Hong said… Yinshuang had been eating pastries when she fell asleep, and likely wouldn’t wake up for another two hours.

“Alright then.” Shen Qingzhu nodded.

After the meal, Bai Qingyan told Shen Qingzhu about Yinshuang’s injury.

Learning that Yinshuang had lost an eye and was prone to excessive sleeping, Shen Qingzhu was silent for a moment, then instead comforted Bai Qingyan: “Yinshuang was severely injured protecting her master – she can be considered a loyal servant. Eldest Miss needn’t worry too much about this. Since we all entered the Bai family and decided to follow Eldest Miss, being able to sacrifice our lives for the Bai family and Eldest Miss would make us happy!”

When Shen Qingzhu said this, her expression was solemn, and her words came from the heart.

Those of them who had served by their master’s side since childhood weren’t afraid of death… they just feared not dying with honor.

“When the little girl wakes up later, go see her. I plan to have Yinshuang stay by Physician Hong’s side from now on. First… Physician Hong can provide treatment at any time, and perhaps Yinshuang’s excessive sleeping can be cured. Second, she can also learn something from Physician Hong.” Bai Qingyan said.

“That’s quite good. With her current condition of sleeping excessively all day, it’s not good for her to serve by Eldest Miss’s side – it might delay important matters.” Shen Qingzhu nodded in agreement.

Before departing from the courier station, Bai Qingyan wrote a letter, sealed it with wax, and had Lu Ping send someone to deliver it to her uncle far away in Dengzhou, telling her uncle that Bai Jinzhi would soon go to Anping Military Camp and hoping her uncle could provide extra care.

Dong Shi received news of Bai Qingyan’s return to Shouyang and had preparations made early.

The underfloor heating had been started, silver frost charcoal was prepared, just waiting for Bai Qingyan to come home.

Regarding the chaos at Wude Gate in the capital, Dong Shi knew Bai Qingyan would never stand by and do nothing. Sure enough… Bai Jinzhi, worried that Bai Qingyan was injured and concealing it, boldly left a letter and rode alone to the capital.

Although Bai Jinzhi’s reckless behavior had angered both Dong Shi and Bai Jinzhi’s mother, Li Shi, since it was because Bai Jinzhi worried about her eldest sister and their sisterly bond was so strong, Dong Shi and Li Shi were happy in their hearts.

With the two children returning tomorrow, Dong Shi had also advised Li Shi that after giving Bai Jinzhi a small punishment as a lesson, she shouldn’t hold onto it forever.

Li Shi smiled and agreed verbally, but in her heart she was planning that when Bai Jinzhi returned, she must break her legs, or if not breaking her legs… she would make that girl copy “Women’s Precepts” several thousand times to properly temper that monkey-like nature of hers.

Before A’Bao left, she entrusted Shouyang to her, but she… abandoned Shouyang and ran off. Where was her sense of responsibility? If this were on a battlefield and A’Bao entrusted the rear to Xiao Si, but she acted impulsively, wouldn’t that ruin everything?

Shen Qingzhu returned ahead to report that Bai Qingyan’s carriage would reach Shouyang by noon.

Dong Shi was extremely happy, instructing Nanny Qin to have the kitchen prepare dishes that both Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi liked to eat, then pressed Shen Qingzhu: “During the chaos at Wude Gate in the capital, was A’Bao injured?”

Shen Qingzhu clenched her fists at her sides: “She was injured a little, but it’s no longer serious.”

Dong Shi’s face paled, and she suppressed the surging emotions in her heart as she said to Shen Qingzhu: “You’ve worked hard protecting A’Bao along the way… you’ve become quite dark and thin. Go rest quickly!”

Shen Qingzhu cupped her hands in acknowledgment, bowed to Dong Shi, and withdrew from the main room.

After Shen Qingzhu left, Dong Shi clutched her handkerchief tightly and leaned back against the cushion, chattering to Nanny Qin: “I knew it! I knew A’Bao must have been injured this time! If A’Bao wasn’t injured, after leading troops to quell the chaos at Wude Gate, the Emperor and Crown Prince would probably arrange a marriage for A’Bao to restrain her. How could they possibly let A’Bao return to Shouyang!”

Dong Shi had initially been restless… fearing that Bai Qingyan’s brilliance was too exposed this time, causing the imperial family to become wary and use marriage to control her daughter.

Later, when she received word that her daughter would return to Shouyang, she was again filled with trepidation, fearing her daughter was injured – and probably severely injured at that – otherwise how could the imperial family so easily release her!

“Madam, please don’t worry. As long as Eldest Miss can return safely, with Physician Hong here… nothing will happen!” Nanny Qin comforted Dong Shi, taking a clean handkerchief to give to Dong Shi. “That year, when Eldest Miss returned injured, everyone said Eldest Miss wouldn’t live past eighteen. Look… tomorrow is Eldest Miss’s birthday again. Our Eldest Miss is a person of great fortune, and with the protection of all the Bai family ancestors! She will be fine!”

Dong Shi took the handkerchief Nanny Qin handed her, lowered her eyelids, tears falling straight down, and folded the handkerchief neatly to wipe her tears.

“We should make Boyun Courtyard even more comfortable, let Eldest Miss rest and recover comfortably, and instruct Nanny Tong and the people below to serve Eldest Miss even more carefully from now on. We can nurse Eldest Miss back to health!”

Dong Shi nodded through her tears: “That’s all we can do!”

“Alright, Madam, please stop crying. If Eldest Miss sees this, she’ll feel bad!” Nanny Qin said to Dong Shi. “Eldest Miss loves the soup Madam makes by hand the most. This servant has already ordered the small kitchen to prepare the ingredients. If Madam starts now, when Eldest Miss returns… she’ll be able to drink it right away.”

Hearing that Bai Qingyan would return to Shouyang city today, Bai Qingping settled matters at the military camp and then rode straight outside the city to wait for Bai Qingyan’s return.

Bai Qingyan was eager to return home, thinking of her mother at home and wanting to quickly bring the news that A’Yu was still alive to her mother. Therefore, after the carriages moved away from the capital, their speed increased, and by noon on October 28th, they could see the gates of Shouyang city.

Seeing the convoy from afar, Prefect Shen and County Magistrate Zhou, who had come to welcome Bai Qingyan under an oiled cloth canopy, stood up. Bai Qingping even leaped onto his horse and rode swiftly toward the convoy.

After two months apart, Bai Qingping had heard that this clan sister of his had first defeated the Nanrong’s Ghost-Face General in Dengzhou, then escorted the Crown Prince back to the capital, and quelled the chaos at Wude Gate. His heart was filled with admiration and respect that he couldn’t control. Unable to restrain himself, he spurred his horse toward the procession heading to Shouyang city. After greeting Bai Jinzhi and Lu Ping, who were leading on horseback, he rode straight to Bai Qingyan’s carriage, turned his horse around, and called out: “Sister!”

Bai Qingyan, who was reading in the carriage, raised her hand and lifted the curtain, seeing Bai Qingping riding alongside the carriage with a face full of smiles.

Seeing Bai Qingyan, who had lost a full circle of weight with a pale complexion and increasingly distinct facial features, Bai Qingping’s smile froze: “Sister…”