“Yes!” Zhen Guang curtsied and hurriedly left Qinghui Courtyard.

Bai Qingyan knew the most crucial aspect of this matter was getting the timing exactly right – too fast wouldn’t work… too slow wouldn’t work either. This affair was simple if you said it was simple, difficult if you said it was difficult. It all depended on whether her subordinates could be relied upon.

When Bai Jinxiu left, she had left Cuibi and Cuiyu behind. Bai Qingyan instructed Cuibi: “Cuibi, go tell a small squad of guards to wait for orders around Qinghui Courtyard.”

“Yes! This servant will go right away!” Cuibi responded and also left the main room of Qinghui Courtyard, her palms covered in fine sweat. This was her first time handling affairs for the eldest miss, and she desperately didn’t want to make any mistakes.

Bai Qingyan looked at the little maid Zhen Ming, who eagerly stepped forward, saying: “Zhen Ming, go arrange for several quick-footed gatekeeping old women to guard the necessary path from the main gate to Qinghui Courtyard. Wherever Second Miss brings people… you must quickly come report!”

“Yes!” Zhen Ming received her orders and ran out of the courtyard like a wisp of smoke.

As soon as Bai Jinxiu brought the Crown Prince’s mansion nanny and imperial physician into Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, news continuously flowed to Qinghui Courtyard.

Servants and maids came and went from Qinghui Courtyard. Sometimes an old woman came to report that Second Miss had reached the hanging flower gate, sometimes a servant came to say Second Miss had reached Stone Mountain Hall, sometimes a maid also hurriedly ran over gasping to say Second Miss had passed Misty Rain Pavilion.

Bai Qingyan sat upright behind the screen, holding hot tea and waiting quietly until a servant brought word that Bai Jinxiu had reached Lanshan Courtyard. Bai Qingyan put down her teacup and said to Cuibi, whose palms were clenched tightly: “Cuiyu, go tell the guards… they can send word to Zhen Guang to have her bring the person to Qinghui Courtyard.”

“Yes!” Cuiyu was suddenly called upon and startled. Not daring to delay a moment, she ran outside.

The eldest miss had given countless instructions – the most important thing for accomplishing this matter was that the timing couldn’t be off by even a bit. The moment the messenger entered Qinghui Courtyard, the next moment… Second Miss would bring the Crown Prince’s mansion people and the imperial physician in, letting that physician and the Crown Prince’s mansion people hear the conversation between the eldest miss and that messenger boy.

From childhood to now, this was also Cuiyu’s first time handling such matters, her heart taut like a bowstring.

Shortly after, when the Bai mansion’s patrolling guards passed by Zhen Guang, who was leading Li Mingrui’s messenger boy in circles around Qinghui Courtyard, they quietly nodded to Zhen Guang.

Zhen Guang turned to Li Mingrui’s messenger boy: “This way, please…”

Just as Zhen Guang brought Li Mingrui’s messenger boy into the main room, Bai Jinxiu also stepped through Qinghui Courtyard’s main gate.

Zhen Ming, standing guard in the corridor, lightly tapped the window lattice, signaling to the maid inside that she could lift the hanging curtains to let the boy speak with Bai Qingyan. She then hurriedly went forward with an anxious expression: “Second Miss, someone came to our mansion… saying they have important matters that they must personally tell the eldest miss. Even in her condition, the eldest miss insisted on getting up to summon the person over! Please persuade the eldest miss!”

“Isn’t this nonsense! What matter under heaven is more important than elder sister’s health?!” Bai Jinxiu turned to invite the imperial physician first: “Imperial Physician, please go first and quickly examine my elder sister! My elder sister… is too willful!”

The imperial physician repeatedly responded, carrying his medicine box as he followed Bai Jinxiu up the corridor steps in quick strides. They heard the messenger boy inside respectfully saying: “My master sent me to report to Princess Zhenguo that Wang Qiulu has close dealings with Prince Liang’s mansion. Please be extremely careful and guard against this!”

Hearing these words, the imperial physician’s steps faltered. This… was Princess Zhenguo’s mansion’s private affairs. Wouldn’t he get into trouble by going in like this?

The nanny beside the Crown Princess immediately perked up her ears upon hearing the words “Prince Liang,” inconspicuously listening carefully to the movements inside.

From inside came Bai Qingyan’s thread-like coughing, after which her breathing became rapid, angrily questioning the messenger boy like rapid-fire: “Wang Qiulu? Which Wang Qiulu? Could it be… that treasonous criminal Wang Qiulu who should have already been executed?!”

Bai Jinxiu raised her hand to stop Zhen Guang from lifting the curtain, standing outside, listening carefully.

The messenger boy confirmed it was so.

Rustling sounds came from the room, and Bai Qingyan’s weak voice carried anger: “Wasn’t Wang Qiulu already executed? What do you mean by close dealings with Prince Liang?! Who is your master?! Did your master save this criminal who deserves ten thousand deaths?! Or did Prince Liang save Wang Qiulu?!”

Hearing the maid inside cry out in alarm about the eldest miss, Bai Jinxiu’s face turned deathly pale as she hurriedly brought the imperial physician rushing in.

Bai Jinxiu’s eyes blazed with murderous intent as she glared at the messenger boy kneeling on the ground with a shocked expression, shouting: “Someone! Drag this dog away!”

The messenger boy only felt that Bai Qingyan’s condition inside the hanging curtains seemed bad. Seeing the guards about to seize him, he was so frightened that his whole body trembled. He hastily crawled forward on his knees, knocking his head against the ground and crying loudly: “Princess Zhenguo, spare my life! Princess Zhenguo, spare my life! My master is the Left Chancellor’s eldest son, Li Mingrui! This lowly one is just a servant by my master’s side, knowing nothing. This lowly one only came to deliver a message!”

The imperial physician and the Crown Prince’s mansion nanny followed Bai Jinxiu rushing into the hanging curtains, only to see that the blood Bai Qingyan had vomited had stained the clothes on her chest red. Her pale, bluish complexion illuminated by the dim candlelight was shocking to behold.

“Elder sister! Elder sister!” Though Bai Jinxiu knew this was fake, seeing her elder sister in this condition, she still couldn’t help crying out: “Elder sister, how are you?! Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician, quickly come see my elder sister…”

The imperial physician hurriedly took out a pulse pillow from his medicine box, kneeling on the huanghuali wood footstool beside the bed to take Bai Qingyan’s pulse.

“Imperial Physician…” Bai Jinxiu supported Bai Qingyan, asking the imperial physician with tearful urgency: “Imperial Physician, how is my elder sister?”

“I’m fine! Jinxiu… you must immediately, immediately take this messenger boy to see the Crown Prince. Tell the Crown Prince that the treasonous criminal Wang Jianghai’s son Wang Qiulu may still be alive. This person’s martial arts are considerable… tell the Crown Prince to be extremely careful! He must capture Wang Qiulu! Go quickly!”

Bai Qingyan tightly gripped Bai Jinxiu’s wrist, breathing rapidly.

“Elder sister! The Crown Prince has his guards for protection. You should worry more about your health!” Bai Jinxiu held Bai Qingyan’s hand, tears streaming down her face.

“Jinxiu…”

Seeing the barely breathing Bai Qingyan struggling to get up again, Bai Jinxiu hurriedly pressed her down, choking with emotion: “Alright, alright! I understand, elder sister! Rest assured, after the imperial physician finishes his examination, I will take that messenger boy to see His Highness the Crown Prince…”

The imperial physician, kneeling to one side, taking her pulse, couldn’t help but feel moved. Princess Zhenguo, even in her current condition, was still worried about the Crown Prince’s safety. She was truly loyal and unwavering.

“Imperial Physician, what exactly is wrong with my elder sister?” Bai Jinxiu asked with red-rimmed eyes, choking with emotion.

The old imperial physician packed away his pulse pillow while looking at Bai Jinxiu and gently shaking his head: “This old servant’s medical skills are shallow, but I can make Princess Zhenguo more comfortable…”