“Since Master holds the token given by Li Mingrui, there will surely be no one to obstruct you when leaving the city! Please, Master, escort my son and my mother to Bai Wo City to find my husband!” Bai Jinxiu raised her head, her eyes resolute. “Jinxiu once heard Shen Qingzhu say that Master was a close friend of my great-uncle Bai Qishan. Bai Jinxiu trusts Master – I can only ask Master to take this troublesome journey!”

Shen Baizhong was startled. He had come to tell Bai Jinxiu this news precisely to have her take the child and avoid the chaos, but Bai Jinxiu’s meaning… seemed to be that she intended to remain in the capital.

“Madam Qin is not leaving?” Shen Baizhong frowned.

Bai Jinxiu shook her head: “If I leave, there will be no one to stop Prince Liang. If Prince Liang ascends the throne… he will certainly have the entire Bai family exterminated!”

Shen Baizhong’s brow furrowed deeply. Remembering Li Mingrui’s earlier words about everyone having burdens on their shoulders, he nodded and cupped his hands toward Bai Jinxiu: “Then I shall… escort the young master to Bai Wo City to find his father!”

Bai Jinxiu turned her head and called: “Cuibi, go pack things for Wang Ge’er. You will accompany Wang Ge’er and Mother, going to Bai Wo City together with Master! Cuiyu, go tell the two young ladies and young master in the mansion to prepare – tomorrow morning they will visit their maternal grandparents’ home!”

Too many people leaving tonight would not work. Even though Shen Baizhong held a token, if too many people left it would draw attention. So… only Mother, Wang Ge’er, and Cuibi accompanying Shen Baizhong would be safe.

As for Qin Lang’s two half-sisters and younger brother, leaving the city tomorrow morning to visit relatives should also be manageable. After all, everyone in the capital knew of the discord between Bai Jinxiu and the two daughters born to Jiang Shi. If not for those two Qin family young ladies, then for the younger brother whom Qin Lang had carefully taught – if she could send them away… she would send them away!

“Miss!” Cuibi’s eyes widened. “Miss, don’t send Cuibi away! Cuibi will share the same fate as Miss!”

Cuibi had followed Bai Jinxiu for many years. Knowing that the capital was about to fall into chaos, how could she not understand what Second Miss intended to do?

“Cuibi! Wang Ge’er is my life! I’m entrusting my life to you! You must protect him for me!” Bai Jinxiu’s voice was solemn.

Cuibi could no longer argue and could only tearfully agree, then went out to pack valuables.

“Master, please wait here briefly. I’ll change clothes and accompany Master to the Bai mansion!” Bai Jinxiu said to Shen Baizhong.

Shen Baizhong nodded: “Madam Qin must be quick!”

Bai Jinxiu nodded and stepped out of the main hall. Her expression darkened as she instructed Cuiyu: “Go, have the hidden guards come see me immediately!”

When Bai Jinxiu was changing clothes in the upper room, the hidden guards had already followed Cuiyu into Bai Jinxiu’s courtyard, standing under the corridor awaiting Bai Jinxiu’s orders.

“Immediately send someone to the patrol battalion to inform General Fu… Li Mingrui and Fan Yuhuai are currently gathered at Prince Liang’s mansion. Tell General Fu to be careful on guard to prevent another Wude Gate rebellion! Then personally lead men at the fastest speed to rush to Great Liang, and deliver the news that Prince Liang is conspiring with Fan Yuhuai and Left Chancellor Li Mao to rebel into eldest sister’s hands! You must be fast! Not a moment’s delay is permitted!”

“Yes!”

The hidden guard received the order and left.

Bai Jinxiu came out after changing clothes. Cuibi had already wrapped the sleeping Wang Ge’er in a brocade quilt, with a small bundle hanging from her arm, disturbing no one.

Bai Jinxiu carefully took Wang Ge’er from Cuibi’s hands, pressed her cheek against the little one’s face, kissed him, then carried Wang Ge’er outside, instructing Cuibi in a low voice: “Cuibi has always been clever. After leaving the city… You must find ways to spread the word that Prince Liang is conspiring with Left Chancellor Li Mao and Commander of Imperial Guards Fan Yuhuai to rebel, intending to kill the Crown Prince and His Majesty to usurp the throne! I will ask that Master Shen, after leaving the city, take you to Qing An to report this matter to Grandmother and take Xiao Qi away together. You have Xiao Qi send someone to Shouyang with a message, telling Great Aunt to be on guard! Do you understand?”

Cuibi nervously swallowed and nodded: “Second Miss, rest assured!”

When Bai Jinxiu and Shen Baizhong first took the carriage to the side gate of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, Liu Shi had already gone to sleep. Hearing that Bai Jinxiu had brought Wang Ge’er, she was startled and hurriedly got up. Not bothering with grooming, she turned to stare at the lanterns swaying incessantly under the corridor outside the window, urging Nanny Luo to go out first and receive them.

She had just lifted the curtain and stepped across the threshold of the upper room when a cold wind struck her, making it hard to keep her eyes open.

After recovering, she saw the courtyard gate was open, with Nanny Luo waiting at the entrance to welcome them.

Liu Shi’s brow tightened, fearing something had happened to her daughter or grandson. She hurriedly supported herself on a maid’s hand and walked toward the gate.

Looking into the distance, she could see a nanny carrying a lantern bending over to lead the way, with Bai Jinxiu walking quickly in this direction.

Seeing that Liu Shi had come out of the courtyard gate, Bai Jinxiu waved to dismiss the lantern-carrying nanny and hurried toward Liu Shi: “Mother…”

“Jinxiu! Nanny Luo said you brought Wang Ge’er? Where is Wang Ge’er?” Liu Shi’s heart leaped to her throat. She hurriedly grasped Bai Jinxiu’s ice-cold hands, rubbing them back and forth, then looked back searching for Wang Ge’er’s figure. “At this hour, with such strong wind, what urgent matter happened to make you so anxious?”

“Mother, forgive me!”

After Bai Jinxiu spoke, she didn’t explain in detail but directly knocked Liu Shi unconscious, frightening Nanny Luo, who stared with terrified, wide eyes and hurriedly supported Liu Shi.

Bai Jinxiu knew her mother’s temperament. If Mother knew the capital was falling into chaos, she would certainly drag her along to leave. If she wouldn’t go… Mother would not leave, which would only waste time needlessly.

“Nanny Luo, the capital is about to fall into chaos! I feared Mother wouldn’t be willing to leave, so I could only knock Mother unconscious! Don’t worry… Cuibi will take care of Mother and Wang Ge’er! Too many people cannot leave; otherwise, no one will be able to go. Nanny, please come with me to the Qin mansion!”

Nanny Luo was startled, remembering the Wude Gate rebellion. Cold sweat broke out on her back as she nodded repeatedly: “This old servant obeys!”

After settling Liu Shi in the carriage waiting at the back corner gate, Bai Jinxiu kissed the sleeping Wang Ge’er again, got down from the carriage and said to Shen Baizhong: “If Master can safely leave the city, I hope Master can also report to my grandmother and take my seventh sister away! Let my grandmother be mentally prepared as well.”

After leaving the city, bringing people away would not be difficult.

“Shen Baizhong will not fail this trust!” Shen Baizhong bowed to Bai Jinxiu and spoke these words reflexively. In his mind, a voice seemed to overlap with his current voice.

In Shen Baizhong’s mind, he recalled Bai Qishan’s refined and handsome features. His pupils trembled slightly, and an extremely deep emotion surged in his heart. He looked again at Bai Jinxiu and said solemnly: “Madam Qin, rest assured!”

Watching Shen Baizhong drive the carriage away, Bai Jinxiu stood under the swaying lantern at the small side gate of Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, her fists clenched tight, motionless for a long time.

She only hoped that Mother and Wang Ge’er could leave the city smoothly.

She still needed to make a trip to the Crown Prince’s mansion. Just sending hidden guards to deliver a message to eldest sister was not enough – she also needed to ask the Crown Prince to immediately send someone to find a way out of the city, preferably carrying the Crown Prince’s seal, which would be more legitimate and proper.