She remembered that Xiao Rongyan had once said that Yanwo relied on the Grand River Canal to become fertile land. When the State of Yan built the Grand River Canal, it lacked sufficient manpower and financial resources. Master Sima Sheng, a hydraulic engineering expert, worried that flooding would harm the people, so during construction, he devised an ingenious design—the Grand River Canal would only have abundant water during the flood season of the Niuliang River. However, this method of building the Grand River Canal could only be maintained for twenty years at most.

To make the Grand River Canal beneficial for millennia, it would be necessary to completely renovate and rebuild it after twenty years, expanding and extending it to connect with the Long River.

If Bai Qingyan could persuade the Crown Prince to rebuild the Grand River Canal and connect it to the Long River… turning Yanwo back into fertile land and then having Shen Tianzhi govern it, it would be equivalent to grasping the granary in her own hands.

If Bai Qingyan remembered correctly, after the spring examinations, the official performance evaluations should begin.

“Three years of performance assessment, three evaluations, promoting the worthy and demoting the incompetent…” Bai Qingyan moved aside the lampshade and burned the message Ji Tingyu had sent back. “Our Bai family has reached this point, this stage—we can now arrange our people at various grain routes, granaries, and fertile lands.”

Bai Jinxiu’s palms tightened. With Elder Sister controlling troops and now wanting to control key routes, granaries, and fertile fields, what she intended required no explicit statement—through years of tacit understanding, Bai Jinxiu already understood clearly.

The Great Jin imperial family was foolish and incompetent, treating the people like grass and dogs. When the ruler is unkind and the heir unworthy, rebellion is justified!

Hearing the sound of Shen Qingzhu choking on snacks and pounding her chest outside the screen, Bai Qingyan looked toward the screen: “Have someone bring Qingzhu another pot of tea—it seems she’s choking!”

Shen Qingzhu was uncomfortable from choking, forcefully pounding her chest. After burping once, she felt much better and quickly bowed: “Eldest Miss, there’s no need—I’m fine now…”

“You must have traveled day and night without rest to deliver this message. Go to the warm pavilion and sleep for a while. I’ll have the small kitchen prepare a bowl of hot noodle soup for you. Eat it and then sleep some more!” Bai Qingyan said.

Shen Qingzhu was indeed both tired and hungry. She nodded, but just as she was about to go rest in the warm pavilion, she remembered Dong Shi’s instructions before departure. After bowing to Bai Qingyan, she said: “Eldest Miss, Madam asked me to bring a message to you—if Eldest Miss returns injured again this time, don’t bother coming back to Shouyang City to see her.”

Bai Qingyan: “…”

Bai Jinxiu, who had originally maintained a solemn expression, saw her elder sister stunned and covered her lips with her hand, laughing softly: “Those words… sound like what Third Aunt usually says to Xiao Si. Who would have thought that First Aunt would also have Qingzhu bring such words to Elder Sister!”

Later, when the kitchen prepared hot noodle soup for Shen Qingzhu, they couldn’t wake her up.

After Bai Qingyan wrote a letter and had the Bai family guards deliver it to Shouyang for Prefect Shen Tianzhi, she went to check on Shen Qingzhu, tucked in her blanket, and instructed everyone in Qinghui Courtyard to move quietly so as not to disturb Shen Qingzhu’s rest.

The news of the Crown Princess giving birth to an imperial grandson was already known to all the noble families in the capital. To prevent miscellaneous people from visiting and disturbing the Crown Princess’s rest, the Crown Prince specifically sent word to the Crown Princess’s natal family that only family members should visit the Crown Prince’s mansion—they must not bring others.

Having received word, the Crown Princess’s mother went to the Crown Prince’s mansion early this morning.

Since others couldn’t visit the Crown Prince’s mansion to see the Crown Princess, they naturally thought of Bai Qingyan, whom the Crown Prince valued. Just as Bai Qingyan had told Fu Ruoxi last night, many people came to the Bai mansion today to visit Bai Qingyan, keeping Second Madam Liu busy entertaining guests in the front courtyard.

To show his regard for Bai Qingyan, after morning court the Crown Prince returned to his mansion to change clothes, visited the Crown Princess and the little imperial grandson, then had Quan Yu select precious supplements and went to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion to visit Bai Qingyan.

Hearing that the Crown Prince had come to visit, Bai Qingyan dragged her ailing body up and went to greet him outside Princess Zhenguo’s mansion gates. This way… others could clearly see Bai Qingyan’s pallid complexion and frail form that seemed like it would topple in the wind, finally understanding… Princess Zhenguo was indeed seriously injured this time.

The Crown Prince quickly supported Bai Qingyan and entered the main hall with her.

At this morning’s court session, the Crown Prince had already petitioned the Emperor… to have Fu Ruoxi appointed as commander of the patrol battalion. All the court officials praised the Crown Prince for his magnanimity in accepting talented people.

The Crown Prince told Bai Qingyan about this matter, and receiving Bai Qingyan’s praise, the Crown Prince was satisfied. But before the Crown Prince could be happy for long, he heard Bai Qingyan say: “Does Your Highness know… about this year’s snow disaster in Yanwo?”

The Crown Prince’s hand holding the teacup paused. He set down the teacup and nodded: “I didn’t expect Princess Zhenguo to know as well. I had already received the memorial while still in the New Year period, but because the war with Great Liang was urgent, and Huayang City and Qinhuai City had successively suffered sudden epidemics. As for Yanwo, because of last year’s great famine, the people had already fled with their families. Although Prince Liang provided disaster relief later, not many people returned. So I thought to set it aside for now.”

Bai Qingyan pursed her lips and rose to bow to the Crown Prince.

“Why is Princess Zhenguo being so formal before me?” the Crown Prince said quickly. “Please sit down!”

After Bai Qingyan nodded and sat down, she said: “This year Jin Kingdom has many troubles, and I know the national treasury is strained. So I originally intended to purchase a batch of grain… to send to Huayang and Qinhuai cities. Though it would be a drop in the bucket, it represents my utmost effort to serve Your Highness loyally! Now with Yanwo’s snow disaster, I was thinking… why not have me purchase a batch of grain and send it to Yanwo in Your Highness’s name! This would also help Your Highness win hearts and minds.”

Hearing that Bai Qingyan wanted to spend her silver to help him win hearts and minds, the Crown Prince was moved: “How can I let you spend your silver on this? This matter… I will naturally handle it!”

Waiting for the Crown Prince to handle it—who knew when that would be.

Bai Qingyan smiled: “This is my small gesture of loyalty—I hope Your Highness won’t decline. Additionally, Yanwo’s current prefect is probably not a capable minister. Otherwise, having had snow disasters last year, why couldn’t he prepare for prevention this year? He should be replaced. The current Shouyang Prefect Shen Tianzhi… I observe him to be a useful person, but I don’t know why he’s remained in the Shouyang prefect position for so many years. During this official performance evaluation and reassignment, why not have Shen Tianzhi clean up this mess and see what abilities he has?”

The Crown Prince wondered inwardly whether this Shouyang Prefect Shen Tianzhi had offended Bai Qingyan; otherwise, why would Bai Qingyan want to send Shen Tianzhi to the currently disaster-stricken Yanwo?

“Since Princess Zhenguo considers this person capable, then let’s transfer him to Yanwo!” the Crown Prince agreed with a smile.

“There’s also the Grand River Canal—no matter how strained the national treasury, it must still be repaired. Yanwo has always been the place with the best grain production in our Jin Kingdom, with fertile soil and good fields. Such a fine place cannot be lost!” Bai Qingyan gazed at the Crown Prince. “Your Highness can return and discuss this matter with Old Fang and Master Qin, conscripting people or troops to begin canal construction. Otherwise… I fear it will trigger floods again, and our Jin Kingdom will lose fertile land. Not only will the national treasury lose income, but we’ll also have to expend national strength and finances on disaster relief!”

The Crown Prince nodded.