Bai Qihe glanced sideways at those clan elders whose lips were moving hesitantly. Feeling uncertain about Dong Shi’s “not standing on ceremony” and developing thoughts of retreat, he timely added fuel to the fire: “Great Madam, please speak frankly. Whatever is within our clan’s capability, we will not shirk!”

Seeing the clan leader take this stance, the other Bai clan members nodded in agreement.

Dong Shi nodded: “Although our Shouyang has Shouyang troops, they cannot compare with regular armies, so… we cannot concern ourselves with Prince Liang’s rebellion in the capital and can only seek self-preservation!”

“Chaos has already emerged in the realm. We can only do what we can to care for the people of Shouyang! Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi are currently campaigning in Great Liang, commanding heavy troops! If Prince Liang seizes the throne, he will inevitably come to Shouyang to control our Bai clan and threaten Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi!”

Dong Shi noticed that the clan members seemed to have their calculations and sneered inwardly, guessing that these people were thinking… when Prince Liang’s troops arrived at the city gates, they would hand over these orphaned widows of the capital’s Bai family.

She continued: “I won’t hide this from you all. Prince Liang harbors deep hatred for the Bai clan due to the conspiracy involving the Second Prince years ago. He is not as weak and incompetent as he usually appears, but is ruthless! He once declared… that only by exterminating the entire Bai clan could he resolve the hatred in his heart. If you have other thoughts, first consider how tough your necks are.”

Dong Shi’s words so shocked the Bai clan members that they immediately stood up and bowed deeply to her: “The Bai clan prospers together and suffers together. How dare we have other thoughts!”

Never mind anything else – Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi commanded heavy troops. If they returned to learn that these people had handed over the Bai family’s orphaned widows to seek Prince Liang’s forgiveness, their nine generations probably wouldn’t survive!

They had all witnessed Princess Zhenguo’s ruthlessness.

“That’s good! Let you all understand clearly that if we cannot work together at this time, once Prince Liang enters the city, none of us will survive!” Dong Shi’s words carried threats.

As soon as Dong Shi finished speaking, Fifth Madam Qi Shi said: “Our capital Bai family’s assets were… due to pressure from the clan, all sold and given to the clan to raise silver. Fortunately, we still have some dowries. Before you all arrived, my elder sister-in-law had already discussed with us. We’ll keep only enough from our dowry silver to raise the children and donate the rest. How much effort can the clan contribute? Please do your utmost!”

“Naturally…” Dong Shi spoke leisurely, “If Shouyang truly faces disaster this time and everyone contributes, Princess Zhenguo will certainly repay you all when she returns. As for how to repay… that will depend on who contributes more.”

Hearing Dong Shi speak thus, several clan elders’ fingers twitched slightly.

A clever one was first to stand up and say: “Madam, rest assured. We are all Bai clan members. If Shouyang faces difficulties, we will certainly not stand idly by. Even if it means bankruptcy, we will help Shouyang overcome this crisis!”

Seeing someone already currying favor, the other elders feared being left behind and also stood up, saying: “The madams are all Bai family daughters-in-law. How can their dowry silver be touched?! This matter should be handled by our Bai clan. If we truly lack the means, it won’t be too late to use the madams’ dowries then.”

Bai Qihe, who had remained silent, finally cupped his hands toward the madams: “The elders speak reasonably! Please allow the clan this opportunity to contribute, so the clan members can demonstrate their loyalty!”

Dong Shi hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “Very well! We’ll follow the clan leader’s and elders’ wishes.”

Fifth Miss Bai Jinzhao, who hadn’t yet had time to change out of her armor, stepped forward and bowed: “Great Aunt, now that Second Sister is in the capital, we must find a way to rescue her!”

Fourth Madam Wang Shi, seeing her daughter speak up, feared adding trouble for Dong Shi and quickly said: “Xiao Wu, step back! Just follow your great aunt’s instructions!”

Bai Jinzhao, who had grown into a young lady, knelt on one knee and bowed to both Dong Shi and Fourth Madam Wang Shi: “Great Aunt, Mother, Second Sister faces grave dangers in the capital. Your daughter is willing to lead troops there to meet Second Sister outside the city and escort her out!”

Seeing this, Bai Qingping quickly spoke: “Fifth Miss, don’t be hasty. Qingping believes we cannot lead troops to Shouyang now. First… if this is a trap set by Prince Liang, then the Bai family leading troops there would be treason! But if Prince Liang has truly rebelled… what he would most fear is Princess Zhenguo, who commands heavy troops and is invincible in battle!”

“So even if Prince Liang were lucky enough to truly capture Second Miss, at least until Princess Zhenguo returns… Second Miss would not be in danger! Prince Liang would certainly use the Second Miss to threaten Princess Zhenguo! Or… he would come to Shouyang to capture the Bai family and clan members, holding the entire Bai clan to threaten Princess Zhenguo.” Bai Qingping spoke at a steady pace. Upon receiving the news, he had been quietly contemplating this matter, considering the feasibility of having Shouyang troops go to the capital to rescue Bai Jinxiu. “Fifth Miss lacks actual combat experience. If she leads troops there and accidentally proves no match for the Imperial Guards in the capital, wouldn’t that just give Prince Liang another bargaining chip to threaten Princess Zhenguo?”

Bai Jinhua, Bai Jinzhao’s twin, looked up at Bai Qingping: “We Bai family members would rather die on the battlefield than become anyone’s bargaining chip! Just like Great Uncle… who shot and killed our five brothers with arrows to prevent Bai family sons from becoming bargaining chips for the Jin army, to prevent the Xiliang army from humiliating Bai family sons and disrupting our army’s morale!”

This was why Bai Jinzhao was so anxious to go to the capital to rescue Bai Jinxiu. Every Bai family descendant who entered the battlefield knew that if captured alive someday, they must prioritize the greater good.

Bai Qingping quickly cupped his fists toward Bai Jinzhao: “Qingping apologizes for any offense in his words. Please forgive me, Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss!”

“I once heard Father say…” Bai Qingping looked toward Bai Qihe, “Second Miss also accompanied the Duke of Zhenguo to the battlefields in her time. She is sharp-minded and astute, so she probably won’t be so easily captured by Prince Liang! Moreover, since Second Miss was able to send Second Madam and the child out of the city, it shows she could have left at that time, but perhaps for some purpose, she was unwilling to leave! So Qingping believes what we can and should do now is guard Shouyang well, ensuring that the entire Shouyang Bai clan doesn’t become a burden to Princess Zhenguo.”

“Fifth Sister, Bai Qingping is right!” Bai Jinhua walked to Bai Jinzhao’s side and helped her up. “I know you’re worried about Second Sister, but we must each fulfill our duties. Elder Sister has her mission, Second Sister has hers… our responsibility is to protect Shouyang City, protect our aunts and the Bai clan!”

Bai Jinzhao gritted her teeth and nodded: “Jinzhao… will follow Great Aunt’s instructions!”

·

On the twenty-seventh day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, the Grand Princess, who had been praying for the nation’s fortune and cultivating herself, returned to the capital. Officials’ families sought the Grand Princess’s protection one after another. Prince Liang led heavy troops to surround Princess Zhenguo’s residence, requesting the Grand Princess assist him in protecting the emperor.