“Thank you for both gentlemen taking the trouble to welcome us here, cough cough…” Bai Qingyan pressed her hand to her chest, coughing lightly twice, appearing weak and listless.

Magistrate Zhou’s heart skipped a beat. This time, Princess Zhenguo had performed meritorious service in rescuing the Emperor, but could it truly be as the rumors he had heard suggested—that her life was coming to an end?

“Princess Zhenguo must take good care of yourself!” Magistrate Zhou spoke with genuine sincerity.

Looking up again, tears began to well up in Magistrate Zhou’s eyes, as if the next moment he might burst into tears. His emotional control was perfectly calibrated as he choked out: “We people of Shouyang still depend on the Princess to lead us in training troops and suppressing bandits. We only hope Princess Zhenguo will recuperate well and recover soon.”

“Thank you for Magistrate Zhou’s concern. As for training troops and suppressing bandits… before my injuries heal, I shall entrust this matter to Bai Qingping. I hope Magistrate Zhou will provide him with much assistance!” Bai Qingyan turned her head to look at Bai Qingping.

Bai Qingping respectfully bowed deeply to Magistrate Zhou, who quickly waved his hands: “Not at all, not at all! Whatever Young Master Bai commands, this official will naturally comply. Moreover, the son of the Prefect has been helping with the troop training matter all along, so this official’s assistance probably won’t be needed.”

Magistrate Zhou bowed toward the Prefect’s direction.

Bai Qingyan only smiled without speaking, her gaze falling on Prefect Shen: “If the Prefect has time in a few days, you may come sit at the Bai residence.”

Prefect Shen knew what Bai Qingyan was referring to and quickly bowed: “Princess Zhenguo, rest assured. Within three days… this official will certainly pay a visit.”

Magistrate Zhou didn’t understand what riddle Prefect Shen and Princess Zhenguo were playing, but he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to curry favor with Princess Zhenguo, so he also said: “This official will certainly call as well to visit Princess Zhenguo.”

Bai Qingyan weakly covered her chest, using a handkerchief to cover her mouth as she gasped for a moment, then signaled for Chun Tao to release the curtain she had been holding open with her hand. From within the carriage came the sound of violent coughing.

“Both gentlemen, my elder sister is severely injured and cannot remain outside the city for long. We must depart now. Please forgive us!” Bai Jinzhi sat high on her horse, gripping the reins as she cupped her hands toward Prefect Shen and Magistrate Zhou.

Prefect Shen quickly stepped aside: “Respectfully seeing off Princess Zhenguo, respectfully seeing off Princess Gaoyi!”

Magistrate Zhou followed suit, stepping aside and bowing deeply: “Respectfully seeing off Princess Zhenguo, respectfully seeing off Princess Gaoyi!”

“Enter the city!” Bai Jinzhi shouted.

The carriage convoy slowly began to move. Only after Princess Zhenguo’s entire entourage had entered the city did Magistrate Zhou finally straighten his already stiff old back. Turning around to see that Prefect Shen was about to board his sedan chair, Magistrate Zhou quickly supported his waist and trotted toward Prefect Shen: “Prefect! Prefect, please wait for this official!”

Prefect Shen turned to look at Magistrate Zhou running toward him and stopped his motion of boarding the sedan chair, straightening up: “Does Magistrate Zhou have business?”

“Prefect, aren’t you going to the Bai residence within three days? You see… which day are you planning to go?” Magistrate Zhou smiled at Prefect Shen, speaking without any reserve: “This official would like to accompany you… It would be good to have a companion!”

Such a good opportunity to visit Princess Zhenguo and curry favor shouldn’t be monopolized by the Prefect alone!

If he went too early, it would be inappropriate to disturb Princess Zhenguo’s recovery. If he went a bit later, the Prefect would have already curried favor, and going second would seem utterly insincere.

Moreover, Princess Zhenguo had invited the Prefect to sit at Princess Zhenguo’s residence, but hadn’t called him. The Prefect going wouldn’t count as disturbing her, but if he went… that would count as disturbing her.

So after thinking it over, Magistrate Zhou felt… it would be better to go together with the Prefect.

Prefect Shen looked Magistrate Zhou up and down, smiling but not quite smiling: “Do you know… why Princess Zhenguo asked me to come to the Bai residence? If you want to curry favor and flatter, I advise you to choose another day; otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll have to take a beating alongside me!”

Having said this, Prefect Shen bent down and boarded his sedan chair, departing.

Magistrate Zhou looked somewhat bewildered at Prefect Shen’s departing sedan chair, wondering in his heart what Prefect Shen had done to offend Princess Zhenguo.

Magistrate Zhou didn’t doubt at all that Prefect Shen was deceiving him… planning to secretly go curry favor with Princess Zhenguo alone. After all, this superior of his had sat in the Prefect position for so many years and had never played tricks on his subordinates.

Magistrate Zhou stroked his mustache, thinking that he should wait until after the Prefect visited the Bai residence, then wait another two or three days before going himself. This way, he could avoid being implicated in bad luck if the Prefect touched Princess Zhenguo’s sore spot. These few days, he should try to find ways to meet Master Min Qianqiu. If he could obtain a piece of calligraphy from this great scholar’s hand, it would be worth a fortune in the future!

Upon hearing that Princess Zhenguo’s carriage had turned into the alley, Dong Shi and Third Madam Li Shi, Fourth Madam Wang Shi, Fifth Madam Qi Shi, along with the Bai family’s Fifth Miss Bai Jinzhao, Sixth Miss Bai Jinhua, Eighth Miss Bai Wanqing held in Fifth Madam Qi Shi’s arms, and the visiting cousin Miss Dong Tingzhen, all stood together in front of the imposing red lacquered doors of the magnificent Bai residence to welcome them.

Currently, everyone in the Bai residence knew that Bai Qingyan had been injured, but no one knew how severe the injuries were until they saw her in person.

Dong Shi’s heart had been clenched with worry; thankfully, Dong Tingzhen was beside her, offering gentle comfort.

Seeing Bai Jinzhi dismount, Dong Shi quickly called out: “Xiao Si… how are your elder sister’s injuries?”

Bai Jinzhi first paid respects to the elders, then asked: “Does elder sister-in-law have a sedan chair prepared at home to carry elder sister?”

Hearing that Bai Qingyan needed to be carried, Dong Shi nearly couldn’t support herself, her face instantly turning deathly pale: “Your elder sister…”

“Aunt!” Dong Tingzhen quickly supported Dong Shi, also panicking. Could it be that the cousin was truly severely injured?!

Fearing Dong Shi would worry, Bai Jinzhi winked at her and cleared her throat, deliberately speaking loudly: “Elder sister was severely injured this time while rescuing the Crown Prince. I’m afraid she cannot walk from the gate back to Boyun Courtyard on her own. Please quickly prepare a sedan chair to carry your elder sister back.”

Li Shi, seeing Bai Jinzhi’s winking, knew there must be complications involved. She looked back at Fourth Madam Wang Shi and Fifth Madam Qi Shi.

Qi Shi was the first to react, saying to Dong Shi, “Elder sister-in-law, have them prepare a sedan chair! Regardless of how A’Bao is injured, we can’t discuss it at the gate. First, carry A’Bao back to Boyun Courtyard!”

Dong Shi’s heart was suspended in worry. She nodded and had Nanny Qin prepare the sedan chair. Seeing the carriage slowly stop at the gate, Dong Shi lifted her dark purple skirt with one hand and supported herself on her maid Ting Zhu’s hand with the other, walking down the high steps toward the carriage.

Chun Tao was the first to emerge from the carriage, bowing with red eyes toward Dong Shi: “Madam!”

The sedan chair had not yet arrived, but Dong Shi couldn’t contain herself. She stepped onto the carriage while asking: “How is the eldest miss? Where was she injured?”

Dong Shi’s voice trembled slightly at the end, unable to hide her worry.

Although Dong Tingzhen was also concerned about Bai Qingyan, she didn’t join the crowd in boarding the carriage.

Bai Qingyan had been leaning against the cushions, but seeing Dong Shi board the carriage, she quickly sat up straight, not daring to continue her weak act lest she worry her mother. With a smile at the corner of her lips, she called out: “Mother…”