The hidden guard reported that it was still unknown whether the Crown Princess had given birth to a boy or a girl, but the Crown Prince’s mansion was filled with joyful sounds. The Crown Prince ordered a carriage prepared to enter the palace and meet the Emperor. When he emerged from the mansion, he was beside himself with joy, as if going to announce the good news.

Whether the Crown Princess gave birth to a boy or a girl didn’t particularly concern Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu. That night, the two sat fully clothed talking, and their conversation turned to this year’s spring examinations…

After last year’s examination fraud scandal, this year’s chief examiner was changed to the highly respected Imperial Teacher Old Tan, which was indeed convincing to all. Imperial Teacher Old Tan had lived to such an advanced age that what he valued was no longer material possessions, but his reputation and integrity.

“I remember that student who beat the Denwen Drum last year, called Xue Renyi. I wonder if he’ll achieve good results this year,” Bai Qingyan recalled this person.

“Elder Sister, don’t mention it—he might make the list. A while ago, Qin Lang mentioned Xue Renyi to me. Because he beat the Denwen Drum last year to seek justice for scholars throughout the realm, Xue Renyi is highly respected by fellow students. When Qin Lang and other students who had to retake the exam this year gathered together to exchange ideas… Qin Lang said this Xue Renyi truly has substance, with unique insights on people’s livelihood and national affairs, sharp rhetoric, and often shocking statements that are truly enlightening!” Bai Jinxiu thought for a moment. “Elder Sister… are you thinking of recruiting this person?”

“No rush…” Bai Qingyan lifted her warm teacup. “This person was able to beat the Denwen Drum to expose the examination fraud scandal. He seems to be someone loyal and righteous… with an upright character. Rashly recruiting him might backfire. Let’s wait! Wait for an appropriate opportunity.”

“Good… I’ll keep watch. If this student named Xue Renyi encounters any difficulties or troubles, we can offer assistance and take it slowly…” Bai Jinxiu smiled.

“Tomorrow you should return home! You know there’s nothing wrong here with Elder Sister. The day after tomorrow, Qin Lang will enter the examination hall, so you should at least go back to help with preparations,” Bai Qingyan chuckled softly.

“Alright! I understand, Elder Sister!” Bai Jinzhi thought for a moment, then looked at Bai Qingyan and said, “Everyone’s saying that Master Xiao Rongyan has feelings as deep as the ocean for Elder Sister. I also heard from Mother that… during the Wude Gate incident, Master Xiao risked his life to protect the Bai family. Doesn’t Elder Sister’s heart stir at all?”

Just as Bai Jinxiu finished speaking, Bai Qingyan heard extremely faint footsteps outside. She made a silent gesture to Bai Jinxiu and pushed open a crack in the window lattice.

“Greetings, Master!”

Bai Qingyan saw that the hidden guard before her was the one previously responsible for watching Prince Liang’s mansion, and asked: “What matter?”

“Second Miss ordered this subordinate to watch Jiuchuan Alley. Today, this subordinate saw a carriage used by the Crown Prince’s mansion servants stop at the entrance of the Du residence in Jiuchuan Alley. Two people got off the carriage, went inside for a long time, then came out bringing two people with them…” The hidden guard kept his head lowered, his voice carrying some self-reproach. “That elderly man guarding the Du residence has extremely high martial arts skills. This subordinate didn’t dare approach easily for fear of alerting them, so I don’t know what those two people discussed with Li Mingrui. However… from a distance, this subordinate observed that of the two hooded figures who got off the Crown Prince’s carriage… one had a slightly hunched posture like an elderly person, wearing thick-soled deerskin boots. His status in the Crown Prince’s mansion must be quite high! After Li Mingrui saw off the two people, he seemed to be in very good spirits, saying much to his subordinates at the door.”

“Understood, you may go!”

Just as Bai Qingyan was about to close the window, she heard the hidden guard continue: “Master, many hidden guards have suddenly appeared outside Princess Zhenguo’s mansion for surveillance. This subordinate had great difficulty entering and hopes Master will be extra careful.”

“Understood. Be careful when you leave,” Bai Qingyan instructed.

“Yes!”

After closing the window, Bai Jinxiu asked Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, Li Mingrui… has colluded with people from the Crown Prince’s mansion. Might this be disadvantageous to our Bai family?”

Bai Qingyan half-lowered her eyes, connecting today’s several incidents.

Wang Qiulu was rescued by Li Mingrui at Bai Qingyan’s instruction. Today, Wang Qiulu went to Prince Liang’s mansion deliberately to be seen by Fu Ruoxi. Li Mingrui also met with people from the Crown Prince’s mansion, and those people from the Crown Prince’s mansion took away two people. Many more hidden guards appeared outside Princess Zhenguo’s mansion for surveillance…

It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan was being paranoid, but connecting these incidents, she couldn’t help feeling… this time the target was her.

Otherwise, why would Wang Qiulu deliberately let Fu Ruoxi see him going to Prince Liang’s mansion?

Bai Qingyan looked up, gazing at the flickering flames in the glazed lamp: “I’m afraid some clever person has guessed that Fu Ruoxi is one of ours, deliberately letting Fu Ruoxi see Wang Qiulu enter Prince Liang’s mansion to see whether Fu Ruoxi would come to tell me about this matter, which is why hidden guards were positioned outside Princess Zhenguo’s mansion.”

“Li Mingrui?!” Bai Jinxiu said.

“Wang Qiulu was rescued by him. Who else could it be?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was calm as still water, the warm candlelight reflecting on her features and deep eyes.

“Li Mingrui did this to test whether General Fu is Elder Sister’s person?” Bai Jinxiu lowered her gaze in thought, sitting down to analyze with Bai Qingyan.

“I don’t think it’s that simple. If it were to test Fu Ruoxi… how would tonight’s meeting between people from the Crown Prince’s mansion and Li Mingrui be explained?” Bai Qingyan narrowed her eyes in thought.

Perhaps Wang Qiulu was among the people taken away by the Crown Prince’s mansion tonight.

But was Wang Qiulu seeking death? Why would he cooperate with Li Mingrui… first letting Fu Ruoxi discover he was still alive, then leaving with people from the Crown Prince’s mansion?

Was Wang Qiulu being controlled by some weakness or leverage, or did he think she was loyal to the Crown Prince, so he went with the Crown Prince’s people?

Bai Qingyan’s fingers tapped intermittently on the sandalwood table.

“Miss, are you asleep?” The gatekeeper at Qinghui Courtyard asked softly at the door.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan was still in deep thought, Bai Jinxiu called out: “What is it?”

“Second Miss, there’s someone outside our mansion claiming to be a servant of Lord Li Mingrui, saying Lord Li has extremely urgent business… and ordered him to report to the Miss! He also said his master instructed that he must confirm the message reaches the Miss,” the gatekeeper said.

Bai Qingyan’s hand tapping on the sandalwood table paused. A flash of insight crossed her mind as she suddenly understood the scheme, chuckling softly. Li Mingrui had played his manipulations to this extent, wanting to be the good person on both sides while toying with her in the palm of his hand…

“Understood. Tell him to wait outside. Say that since it’s urgent business, he should wait properly. My weak constitution makes it difficult to rise, so tell him… he must wait.” After finishing, Bai Qingyan added, “If he tries to leave, you must stop him. Tell him that since it’s urgent business… he must personally tell me!”

“Yes!” The gatekeeper acknowledged and went to convey the Miss’s meaning to the woman outside Qinghui Courtyard.

“Elder Sister? What are you laughing about?” Bai Jinxiu asked.

“Our Bai family holds letters proving that Left Chancellor Li Mao incited the Second Prince to rebel. Li Mingrui’s heart is still uneasy!”