She secretly prepared some interesting storybooks for her elder sister, occasionally letting her elder sister read them to give her brain a change of pace.

This way, elder sister would be more likely to become enlightened, and Master Xiao marrying into the Bai family would be easier too.

Having completed her report to her elder sister and delivered the gift, Bai Jinzhi stood up and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Elder sister, the gift has been delivered. I need to go back and copy books. My mother is still angry about my leaving a note and departing without permission, so I need to go back and put on a show to coax my mother…”

Bai Qingyan was amused to tears, having no choice but to nod: “Go on, go on…”

“Elder sister, rest well! If there’s anything you need, just have Sister Chun Tao call me!” Bai Jinzhi bowed with a bright smile, then left Boyun Courtyard to return and copy books as a show to coax her mother.

Just after Bai Jinzhi left, Chun Tao brought Bai Qingyan a cup of hot tea: “First Miss has been tired from this journey. Earlier, before Nanny Tong went to see Silver Frost, she instructed this servant to warm the bed and make sure First Miss rests. Would First Miss like to take a nap?”

“Put away the box Xiao Si brought.” Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup and took a sip. “Go ask if Zeng Shanru and Manager Liu have arrived. I suspect they might have come, but were blocked outside by Nanny Tong. If they’ve arrived… have someone invite them over.”

As Bai Qingyan predicted, upon hearing that First Miss had returned, Zeng Shanru and Manager Liu were eager to come see Bai Qingyan.

But Nanny Tong, feeling sorry for Bai Qingyan being injured and jolted on the journey, had blocked them as usual.

Earlier, before Nanny Tong went to see Silver Frost carrying pastries, she had even instructed Chun Tao and the others that once Madam left, they must make First Miss sleep for a while.

“First Miss, sleep for a bit first. This servant will send someone to invite them—it will probably take a while anyway.” Chun Tao coaxed Bai Qingyan like coaxing a child.

“No need, I’ll just rest here for a moment. Go call them!” Bai Qingyan raised her hand to rub her forehead.

Chun Tao responded and withdrew.

Perhaps because she was back home, Bai Qingyan’s heart felt much more relaxed. Supporting her head with one hand and leaning back against the cushions, she… fell asleep.

When Chun Tao sent someone to summon Manager Liu and Zeng Shanru, and came in to announce them, she saw their First Miss already fast asleep, leaning against the cushions. Chun Tao lightened her steps, walked to Bai Qingyan’s side, covered her with a fine wool blanket, then quietly withdrew.

Seeing the bright sunshine today, Chun Tao ordered the bamboo curtains hanging under the corridors to be lowered to block the sunlight, then bowed to Manager Liu and Zeng Shanru standing in the courtyard: “First Miss fell asleep leaning against the cushions. I trouble Manager Liu and Manager Zeng to drink tea in the side room and wait a moment. Let First Miss rest—she’s been injured these past days, and the journey back by carriage has been exhausting. She’s truly tired.”

Manager Liu and Zeng Shanru knew about Bai Qingyan being injured while rescuing the Emperor. Hearing that their First Miss was so tired she fell asleep, both nodded repeatedly. Manager Liu quickly said, “No need to disturb First Miss.. Shanru and I can just drink tea in the side room!”

“Thank you both for your understanding.” Chun Tao bowed.

Knowing First Miss was asleep, everyone in Boyun Courtyard dared not speak loudly, walking on tiptoes for fear of disturbing First Miss.

Even when Dong Shi personally prepared the medicine and brought it over, hearing that Bai Qingyan was sleeping, she didn’t have anyone wake her. She only ordered the medicine to be kept warm on a small stove, waiting for Bai Qingyan to wake up and have something in her stomach before taking it.

Bai Qingyan slept deeply until the xu hour, when she was awakened by hunger from her empty stomach.

Chun Tao was sitting on an embroidered stool under the tall table’s lamp, holding an embroidery frame and embroidering flowers. Hearing the rustling sounds of Bai Qingyan waking, she quickly put the embroidery frame in the basket and stood up: “First Miss is awake!”

Bai Qingyan groggily opened her eyes and looked out the window, seeing it was already completely dark outside. The lanterns under Boyun Courtyard’s corridors hadn’t been lit yet, probably to avoid affecting Bai Qingyan’s rest.

Even inside the main room, only the glass lamp on the tall table was lit.

Bai Qingyan propped herself up, seeing Chun Tao using a fire stick to light the lamp on the black lacquered small square table in front of her: “It’s so dark… aren’t you afraid of hurting your eyes doing embroidery?”

“It’s fine. This servant was sitting under the tall table, where it was bright! Is First Miss hungry… Madam had the kitchen keep food warm, just waiting for First Miss to wake up before serving the meal!” Chun Tao lit the lamp and covered it with a glass shade, immediately brightening the room.

“What time is it?” Bai Qingyan asked Chun Tao.

“Reporting to First Miss, it’s already the Xu hour!” Chun Tao said on tiptoes, lighting the lamp on the tall table to Bai Qingyan’s right side with a smile. “Manager Liu and Manager Zeng saw First Miss sleeping soundly, so they went to the front courtyard and are waiting in the residence. After First Miss has her meal, this servant will send someone to summon both managers.”

Seeing the light in the main room, Nanny Tong quickly ordered food to be served. The servants and maids of Qinghui Courtyard all became busy—servants lit the lanterns under the corridors while Nanny Tong came in to help Chun Tao light lamps with fire sticks.

Bai Qingyan asked about the little girl, Silver Frost. Nanny Tong said that although the little girl had lost one eye, she was content as long as she had food, so Nanny Tong didn’t need to worry about comforting her.

Not long after Bai Qingyan finished her meal, Manager Liu and Zeng Shanru came to Boyun Courtyard.

Chun Tao invited them in. Since Bai Qingyan hadn’t changed clothes during her illness, Manager Liu and Zeng Shanru sat behind the screen, speaking with Bai Qingyan through a mica screen.

“First Miss, rest assured, everything in the mountains is going smoothly. Master Xiao’s people are all very easy to deal with.” Zeng Shanru felt the matter was confidential, so his voice was inevitably quieter. “However, a couple of days ago, Master Xiao’s people came to say they hoped that after this batch of weapons is completed, they could be prioritized and allowed to take them all away. They won’t take from the next batch. This servant didn’t dare make the decision arbitrarily and said I would discuss with Manager Liu before responding. I haven’t given a reply until now.”

Bai Qingyan held a sweet white porcelain tea cup with gold-traced bamboo paintings, looking down and intermittently using the lid to press down the tea leaf stems floating on the clear tea surface, without speaking.

Zeng Shanru didn’t know if he had said something wrong somewhere. He looked sideways at the steady and experienced Manager Liu, seeing that Manager Liu’s expression showed no change as he calmly drank tea. Only then did Zeng Shanru calm down and wait for Bai Qingyan’s instructions.

The Great Liang and Wei Kingdoms were going to attack Yan. The Yan Kingdom currently needed weapons.

After a moment, Bai Qingyan said: “Give them to them…”

“Yes!” After Zeng Shanru responded, he continued: “There’s one more matter. Because it wasn’t a big issue… this servant took the liberty of agreeing. Master Xiao’s people gave us molds for making arrowheads, wanting us to make arrowheads according to their molds. This servant observed that the arrowhead molds were made very exquisitely… with barbs on the body and hidden channels inside that could make people bleed continuously after being struck by arrows. If one wanted to pull out the arrow, it would take skin and flesh with it, greatly increasing the arrowheads’ lethality! This servant approved it!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “This matter was entrusted to you in the first place. If you think it’s acceptable, you may decide on this matter.”