Seeing that the old scholar’s shoes and robe hem were slightly damp, Bai Qingyan knew this elder had likely walked the entire way without riding in a carriage. She immediately understood the old man’s identity and bowed properly: “I greet Old Master Min.”

Master Min Qianqiu, a great scholar of the Wei State. Though Bai Qingyan had never met him, she had long heard his name and had also heard of this renowned scholar from her mentor, Old Master Guan Yongchong.

Seeing Bai Qingyan bow, Lu Ping and the other Bai family guards quickly followed suit, paying respects to Old Master Min Qianqiu.

·

The news that Old Master Min Qianqiu wanted to visit the Bai mansion was sent ahead by Lu Ping.

Fortunately, Dong Shi had prepared early, having already cleaned out an elegant, quiet courtyard in the front section for Old Master Min Qianqiu’s residence.

When Bai Qingyan’s messenger said Old Master Min Qianqiu was coming, Dong Shi calmly arranged for people to deliver Old Master Min’s favorite pastries and foods to his designated quarters.

These past few days while Old Master Min Qianqiu stayed at the inn, Dong Shi had discreetly sent people to investigate Old Master Min Qianqiu’s daily preferences and habits—what kind of servants he liked, even what tea sets he preferred and what tea he drank—everything was thoroughly investigated.

So Dong Shi’s preparations came naturally, certain to make Old Master Min feel completely at home.

The entire Bai mansion became busy because of Min Qianqiu’s arrival.

When Old Master Min’s carriage and Bai Qingyan’s horse carriage reached the front gates of the Bai mansion, Dong Shi had already brought several loyal Bai family servants to wait outside in welcome.

The sunshine rain had just passed, washing the blue bricks and green tiles until they gleamed.

Dong Shi saw the smiling Old Master Min being helped down from his carriage by his servant. She smiled and stepped forward, but before she could bow, she saw Bai Qingyan being helped down from her horse carriage by Chun Tao. Bai Qingyan smiled and made a gesture of invitation to Old Master Min: “Please, Old Master Min…”

“Please, Princess Zhenguo.” Old Master Min smiled as he spoke to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Shi was quite surprised. She had certainly heard of Old Master Min’s reputation—that he was an eccentric old man who would show displeasure regardless of whether you were imperial relatives or nobility if he wasn’t happy. Who would have thought Old Master Min would be so amiable and pleasant toward her daughter?

Seeing Bai Qingyan and Old Master Min walking side by side toward the Bai mansion, Dong Shi nodded to Old Master Min: “Old Master Min…”

Old Master Min stopped and bowed to Dong Shi: “Madam Bai.”

Dong Shi stepped aside to invite Old Master Min inside.

Old Master Min’s clothes were slightly damp, so Dong Shi sent people to escort him to change clothes and rest first.

Before parting, Bai Qingyan respectfully introduced Old Gu to Old Master Min: “Old Master Min, this is Old Gu… a loyal servant of our Bai family who grew up alongside my grandfather and knows Bai family affairs better than I do. If Old Master Min has any questions, you may freely ask Old Gu.”

Hearing this, Old Gu stepped forward and bowed deeply to Old Master Min: “If Old Master Min has any questions, please feel free to send someone to summon me.”

Min Qianqiu smiled and nodded, then bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo should go rest quickly. If Min has any needs… I will certainly request an audience with Princess Zhenguo personally.”

Bai Qingyan covered her lips with a handkerchief and coughed twice, then pressed her chest: “How unseemly of me. Please rest for a while, Old Master Min. After Bai Qingyan changes clothes and freshens up, I will come to request an audience with you.”

Watching Bai Qingyan leave in her sedan chair, Old Master Min finally followed the Bai family servants to the courtyard Dong Shi had arranged for him.

Once back at Boyun Courtyard, Bai Qingyan no longer had that sickly appearance from before. Though her chest still ached faintly, it was much better than before.

Dong Shi personally helped her daughter sit on the soft couch, lifted her skirt to sit on the other side of the small table, and asked Bai Qingyan in a lowered voice: “Did you specifically go to invite Old Master Min?”

Bai Qingyan accepted the hot tea Chun Tao handed her, took a sip, then smiled at her mother: “Not really. Old Master Min said he specifically went to see the Bai family ancestral hall today. It was a coincidence that I met him when I was leaving, so I invited him back along the way.”

Dong Shi nodded, still somewhat nervous: “This Old Master Min wants to write a biography of our Bai family. I imagine he has many things to ask you. Fortunately… given Old Master Min’s advanced age, there’s no need to avoid propriety! Mother has arranged the meeting in Shaohua Hall—the scenery there is quiet and elegant. Old Master Min is a refined man, so he should like it.”

“Thank you for troubling yourself, Mother.”

With her mother managing these affairs, Bai Qingyan never worried.

Knowing her daughter had seen Prefect Shen today, then had Bai Qingping bring someone over, followed by going to the ancestral hall, and finally bringing back Master Min Qianqiu, she must be extremely tired.

Dong Shi looked at her daughter with heartache, raised her hand to tuck the loose hair by her temples behind her ear, and said softly: “You sleep for a while. Mother will entertain Master Min, so don’t worry…”

Bai Qingyan nodded. She was someone with serious injuries and indeed couldn’t overexert herself… lest people notice any flaws.

“Mother…” Bai Qingyan called Dong Shi softly, then said in a low voice: “This afternoon, I’m afraid I’ll need to trouble Physician Hong and make quite a commotion. The person the Crown Prince sent with gifts hasn’t left yet—I must let the Crown Prince know that my daughter truly doesn’t have long to live.”

It wasn’t that the Crown Prince’s messenger hadn’t left, but Bai Qingyan needed to deliberately stage a performance to have the news carried back to the Crown Prince.

Dong Shi nodded: “Mother understands!”

That evening, Old Master Min Qianqiu was having his disciples organize the Bai family deeds they had collected among the people of Shouyang these past days. He was about to write the preface for “The Bai Chronicle” when he heard commotion outside. He sent his attendant to inquire and learned that Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan had dragged her injured, ailing body around meeting guests and traveling about today, and her condition had taken a turn for the worse.

After listening, Old Master Min Qianqiu remained silent for a moment, shook his head, took up his brush, and said softly: “Jin’s century-old military family, the Duke Zhenguo’s mansion—even their daughter has a clear, strong character like iron and bone!”

“Master…” Old Master Min Qianqiu’s disciple held a scroll of records and said: “Duke Zhenguo was soft-hearted and soft-handed toward the Bai clan members, but this Princess Zhenguo shows no mercy at all when dealing with clan members!”

Old Master Min Qianqiu, seated under the lamplight, dipped his brush in ink and asked with a smile: “Is this good or bad?”

“In this disciple’s view, Princess Zhenguo’s handling is good, but not the best! Such handling may temporarily spare the people’s suffering, but it relies entirely on Princess Zhenguo’s authority to suppress them—how long can such suppression last? Moreover, with the Bai clan members being so shameless and rampant, the Sage said… repay enmity with uprightness, repay virtue with virtue!”

The disciple set down the records in his hands and made a decisive cutting motion: “Princess Zhenguo should confess her crimes to the ancestors and request expulsion from the clan, so these people can no longer rely on Princess Zhenguo’s authority, and the common people won’t have to swallow their teeth and blood out of consideration for Princess Zhenguo’s kindness to Jin’s people! This disciple dares assert… before long, these Bai clan members will surely repeat their old habits.”