Dong Shi clutched the sheepskin map to her chest, nodding vigorously while crying and laughing: “Mother understands! Mother understands! As long as he’s alive, that’s good! What could be better than A’Yu being alive!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Your daughter still has use for the map, so I’m afraid it can’t stay with Mother…”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t copy it down, but… in this matter, Bai Qingyan didn’t want to create complications. If Mother couldn’t see A’Yu, she would inevitably take out the map daily to think of him through the object. If others saw it… It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan didn’t trust the loyal servants around Dong Shi, but the fewer people who knew about this matter, the better.

Dong Shi nodded: “Mother only needs to know that A’Yu is alive—that’s enough to fulfill my wishes!”

Dong Shi looked down repeatedly at the map in her hands, then pressed it to her heart, softly sobbing quietly. She didn’t know whether to be happy or worried, didn’t know where A’Yu had been injured in his narrow escape from death, didn’t know if A’Yu could eat his fill or stay warm.

“Mother, rest assured. A’Yu currently holds a rather noble status in Nanrong. When we met on the battlefield last time… A’Yu was in robust health, riding on horseback and shooting arrows with strength. Mother need not worry excessively!” Bai Qingyan comforted Dong Shi.

“Good, good, good!” Dong Shi laughed out loud. “Good! This is good! The Bai family sons are all meant for great things! As long as A’Yu… as long as A’Yu is alive and in robust health, that’s better than anything!”

Robust health, able to shoot arrows and ride horses—that meant all his limbs were intact. This was good! This was so good…

Dong Shi raised her hand to wipe away tears, turning to look at Bai Qingyan sitting on the soft couch by the window. Her eyes contained tears, but her expression was full of gentle warmth, appearing steadier than she, the mother. She smiled through tears as she grasped her daughter’s comforting hand, deeply grateful that her daughter could bring back news of A’Yu being alive.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, with floating dust rising and falling in the light. The shadows of the intricate carved patterns fell on Bai Qingyan’s and Dong Shi’s faces, on the black lacquered small table, and on the five-bat patterned floor mat.

Dong Shi sighed, touching her daughter’s cold hands, unable to stop her tears from flowing as she choked out: “So good! So good… before your father went to war, he promised me he would protect A’Yu and would never let anything happen to A’Yu. Your father didn’t lie to me! Your father always kept his word! But he also promised me… that when A’Yu took the position of Duke Zhenguo, he would take me traveling to see mountains and waters…”

Dong Shi looked down with a self-mocking low laugh: “I was too greedy. Having my son able to return is already Heaven’s enormous blessing. Other things… I cannot hope for more!”

“Mother!” Bai Qingyan softly called to Dong Shi. Seeing her mother’s sad, bitter, and helpless appearance made her heart ache tremendously.

Dong Shi laughed quietly: “A’Yu’s return is already an unexpected joy. I’m very satisfied!”

Dong Shi gazed at Bai Qingyan: “The Bai family has shed blood and sacrificed their lives for the people of the Jin Kingdom for generations. Heaven will surely watch over our Bai family! Mother has always believed this!”

Watch over them?

Bai Qingyan didn’t know. She only knew… she could live again, could prevent the tragic fate of her mother and aunts, could avoid her sisters being tormented by Prince Liang, could clear the Bai family name, and prevent the Bai family’s century of loyal reputation from being tarnished.

She felt… perhaps Heaven did watch over their Bai family.

Mother and daughter looked at each other through tears. Before long, they heard Nanny Qin calling from outside: “Fourth Miss has come…”

“Yes! I’ve come to report back to my elder sister!” Bai Jinzhi’s voice was cheerful.

Dong Shi quickly pulled out her handkerchief to wipe her tears, handing the sheepskin map to Bai Qingyan: “Quickly put it away!”

Bai Jinzhi had a straightforward nature and spoke without thinking. If Bai Jinzhi knew about this, she might inadvertently reveal that Bai Qingyu was alive, which could bring trouble to Bai Qingyu.

Bai Jinzhi was stopped outside the door by Chun Tao for conversation. Only after Bai Qingyan had hidden the sheepskin map in a nearby box and called out did Chun Tao hurriedly invite Bai Jinzhi inside.

She stepped into the main room, went around the screen, and saw that both Dong Shi and her elder sister had red-rimmed eyes. Thinking that Dong Shi had scolded Bai Qingyan, she said comfortingly after paying respects: “Elder aunt, please rest assured. Elder sister always acts with propriety. You… don’t be too angry with your elder sister! Elder sister will certainly not dare to do this again in the future! Right, elder sister…”

Dong Shi was amused by Bai Jinzhi and laughed, pretending to be serious as she turned to look at Bai Qingyan: “This time, for the sake of Xiao Si speaking up for you, I’ll let you off just this once!”

“Yes!” Bai Qingyan also nodded in response. “Next time, your daughter will never risk her safety again. Mother, please rest assured!”

Bai Jinzhi felt she had solved a difficult problem for her elder sister and was quite pleased with herself. She winked at Bai Qingyan before saying, “Elder sister, I didn’t meet Master Min. Master Min’s attendant said the old master went up the mountain early to admire the autumn scenery and will visit within five days to trouble us.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, looking at Dong Shi: “Since the old master said so, then I’ll trouble Mother to select a quiet courtyard for when the old master comes to stay temporarily at the Bai residence.”

“That’s not a problem.” Dong Shi nodded, supporting herself on Nanny Qin’s hand as she stood up. “You sisters chat. I’ll go check on A’Bao’s medicine.”

Watching Dong Shi leave, Bai Jinzhi plopped down across from Bai Qingyan: “How was that, elder sister? This time I helped my elder sister out of trouble, right?”

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded: “Mm, this time Xiao Si helped me out of trouble.”

“Elder sister, I just heard Mother say that if elder sister returned before your birthday, she would prepare a table on the twenty-ninth for us sisters to celebrate together. I’ve long prepared my elder sister’s birthday gift and want to give it to elder sister early today…” Bai Jinzhi turned to call outside: “Lingzhi!”

Lingzhi, who was holding a box and talking with Chun Tao, quickly responded and came in from outside, properly presenting the red gold and jade-inlaid sandalwood box carved with children playing in water, placing it on the small table before withdrawing from the inner room.

“Elder sister, tomorrow is your birthday.” Bai Jinzhi placed her hand on the box. “This box contains Xiao Si’s birthday gift for his elder sister. Xiao Si knows elder sister likes reading, so inside are several books. I hope my elder sister will like them!”

“What remarkable books would require Xiao Si to use such a precious box to contain them?” Bai Qingyan glanced over the box and had an idea. This box was probably Third Aunt’s dowry that somehow came into Bai Jinzhi’s hands, and the little girl eagerly brought it over.

“Good books! Really good books!” Bai Jinzhi pressed her hand on the box earnestly. “When your elder sister has free time, you must look at them carefully!”

The books inside were all story books that Bai Jinzhi had collected and read, thinking they were the most interesting. She eagerly brought them today because she was afraid that if elder sister opened them tomorrow in front of the other sisters, it would be embarrassing.

“Good…” Bai Qingyan nodded. “I’ll have Chun Tao put them away in a moment and look at them when I have time.”

Bai Jinzhi beamed with joy. Their elder sister was such a fine young lady, yet she preferred reading those obscure and difficult military books and ancient texts.