Cai Ziyuan was a clever man. He knew that with Princess Zhenguo’s intelligence and ability to control the war situation, she probably didn’t need him to serve as a military strategist. Princess Zhenguo’s intention was likely to send him to Princess Gaoyi Bai Jinzhi’s side.

If Cai Ziyuan’s guess was correct, Princess Zhenguo intended to split forces with Liu Hong and Princess Gaoyi’s army into two routes, rather than going to provide reinforcement.

“Additionally, I’m afraid I must trouble Steward Hao and Steward Liu to prepare sufficient medicine for preventing and treating epidemic diseases before the army departs early tomorrow morning, just in case.” Bai Qingyan said.

“I can prepare this matter. A few days ago, I heard that the prices of medicines for treating epidemic diseases in Shouyang City had soared. Some clan members hoarded medicine, intending to profit from it, but the medicines had already been confiscated by the clan. If this batch of medicine can be used in this military campaign, it would count as the clan members making amends for their wrongs.” Bai Qihe said.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “The clan elder’s consideration is thorough. I entrust this to the clan elder.”

With matters settled, they each went their separate ways to act.

Bai Qingping returned to the military camp to review the troops and select the soldiers who would accompany Bai Qingyan on tomorrow’s expedition to Great Liang.

Shen Yancong went to the Bai family’s granary in Shouyang to requisition grain.

Magistrate Zhou, who had now been promoted to Prefecture Governor, heard the news and quickly went to find Shen Yancong… wanting to curry favor with Bai Qingyan who was about to set out on campaign, to see if there was anything he could help with.

Bai Qihe returned to the Bai family and had people summon those few clan members who had originally wanted to profit from medicinal herbs to come to the Bai family for discussion.

Pu Liu, who was delivering soup to Bai Qihe on behalf of Bai Qihe’s wife Lady Fang, heard that Bai Qihe had received the task of preparing medicinal herbs from Princess Zhenguo. She took the soup from the black lacquered and gold-painted food box and placed it in front of Bai Qihe, saying gently: “Princess Zhenguo has asked you to prepare medicinal herbs to prevent the soldiers from contracting epidemic diseases. This servant has a method that could better help the soldiers prevent disease.”

Bai Qihe looked at Pu Liu standing beside him, his expression containing a smile: “Tell me about it…”

“This servant heard that previously, someone had made the dregs from Physician Hong’s prescriptions for treating epidemic diseases into sachets, which were worn by children to prevent them from contracting diseases. Some people also wrapped handkerchiefs soaked in medicinal water around their faces to cover their mouths and noses, which was also very effective!” Pu Liu’s voice was gentle and measured. “Princess Zhenguo will set out on campaign tomorrow. You could have clan members order their household servants to work through the night making sachets – they don’t need to be beautiful, just functional – fill them with medicinal herbs for the soldiers to wear on their bodies. This would also save the manpower needed to transport the herbs. After soaking handkerchiefs in medicinal water and letting them dry, distribute them to the soldiers departing tomorrow morning. This would count as something our Bai clan does for the soldiers.”

With many hands making light work, mobilizing the entire clan to rush-make five thousand medicine pouches overnight wouldn’t be difficult, but the problem was… There might not be enough medicinal herbs, and dispersing the herbs would be disadvantageous for treating patients.

Moreover, medicinal herbs couldn’t get damp. If soldiers wore them on their bodies and encountered rain, they couldn’t store them properly, and if the herbs lost their medicinal properties, they would become useless.

“Soaking handkerchiefs in medicinal water for soldiers to cover their mouths and noses is feasible. That you could think of this is already commendable!” Bai Qihe smiled at Pu Liu. “You are thoughtful! Do this… go tell my wife to have all the idle servants in the house get busy. I remember we still have medicinal herbs for preventing epidemic diseases stored at home. Boil the white cloth together with the medicinal herbs, dry them by fire, then cut out five thousand handkerchiefs!”

“Yes!” Pu Liu’s eyes smiled. “This servant was foolish and didn’t consider everything thoroughly. Thank you for not blaming me!”

Bai Qihe smiled: “You had good intentions. How could there be any blame… go on!”

Soon, after the clan members arrived, Bai Qihe told them about tomorrow’s expedition and using those confiscated medicines for the Shouyang army. Those few clan members who had originally hoped to profit from medicinal herbs were quite perceptive and quickly said that using the medicines for the Shouyang army was making the best use of them. If there wasn’t enough, they could pool resources to buy more and send them to the front lines.

Bai Qihe then had several people return to boil the remaining stored medicines at home with white cloth, making as many face masks as possible for the soldiers departing tomorrow.

·

Dong Shi knew that this time her daughter’s expedition couldn’t be stopped, but she still couldn’t help feeling heartbroken. She sat by the bed, packing Bai Qingyan’s luggage, polishing Bai Qingyan’s armor again and again, and re-sewing the heart guard.

Bai Qingyan was still in the study, discussing matters with Lu Ping and Steward Liu.

The letters to Ji Tingyu and Shen Kunyang had to be sent out early so they could be mentally prepared.

After all, if Bai Qingyan didn’t die in Great Liang from this expedition… no matter how foolish the Crown Prince and Old Fang beside the Crown Prince were, they would probably sense something unusual and be on guard against Bai Qingyan.

If it came to that time, the Bai family would no longer have time to quietly lie dormant – there would be only one path left to take.

Everyone in the Bai family had to guard against the direction of the capital, and there was also Bai Jinxiu far away in the capital… If the day came when the truth could no longer be hidden, even if it meant forcibly snatching them, they would have to rescue Jinxiu, Wang Ge’er, and Qin Lang. Jinxiu probably understood this in her heart.

“Uncle Liu, I must trouble you to make a trip to Niujiao Mountain right now. The soldiers Ji Tingyu has been training have probably been hiding in Niujiao Mountain so long that they’ve grown fur all over! This time… It’s their chance to gain experience!” Bai Qingyan stood beside the desk, her fingers lightly tapping the sandalwood table.

Steward Liu nodded, then asked: “Bring them all?”

“Bring them all! This opportunity is rare, and we need to see what Ji Tingyu’s results are like… whether they can match the Huying Battalion!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was full of decisive killing intent, without the slightest hesitation.

“But… wouldn’t that be too attention-grabbing?” Steward Liu was somewhat worried.

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “When Quan Yu left, I didn’t tell him how many troops I would take! Over the years, Shouyang has accumulated quite a foundation, and the Crown Prince already knows much of what’s apparent. The more I take… the less suspicious the Crown Prince will be of Shouyang. After I leave, the remaining soldiers in Shouyang… Uncle Liu and Bai Qingping need to discuss moving part of them to Niujiao Mountain! If that day truly comes in the future, perhaps… the hidden troops in Niujiao Mountain will be the surprise force that can resolve Shouyang’s crisis!”

“Eldest miss, rest assured! I will arrange this matter properly!” Steward Liu cupped his hands to Bai Qingyan.

When Bai Qingyan returned to Boyun Courtyard, she saw her mother, Dong Shi, sitting on the bed sewing the heart guard more securely for her. Bai Qingyan stood under the hanging curtains, looking at her mother who was crying while sewing her heart guard. Her nose felt sour. She calmed her emotions before lifting her feet to walk in, calling out: “Mother…”

Dong Shi didn’t want her daughter to see her tears. She turned around, pretending she couldn’t see, squinted at the heart guard by the candlelight on the tall table, wiped away her tears, then turned back around. With reddened eyes downcast, she calmly finished the needlework and said: “Finished with the discussions?”