Bai Qingyan looked at Qin Shangzhi: “If Master Qin does not disdain it, would you be willing to…”

“Once I recover from my injuries, I will leave!” Qin Shangzhi hastily interrupted before Bai Qingyan could finish speaking. He understood Bai Qingyan’s intention and clasped his hands: “Please forgive me, Eldest Miss. This time, I was so blinded by rage in assassinating Prince Liang that my brothers died while I still live with deep regret. My life’s ambition lies in the court and state affairs. I would sacrifice my body and bones to block Prince Liang’s path to the throne, and refuse to be confined to a back courtyard.”

Qin Shangzhi’s ambitions were indeed lofty – otherwise, he wouldn’t have entered the Crown Prince’s mansion in the previous life.

Bai Qingyan didn’t wish to use her favor to force him, and after a moment of silence, she curtsied to Qin Shangzhi: “The court is like the sea, and Master is like a dragon. Bai Qingyan here wishes Master to achieve all his expectations – may the dragon find water to summon clouds, make rain, and soar to the heavens.”

Qin Shangzhi seemed surprised that Bai Qingyan would say such words. He clutched his chest and struggled to stand, rarely showing such respectful deference as he clasped his hands and bowed to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan nodded, took the hand warmer from Chun Tao, and walked back along the path they had come.

Although Qin Shangzhi was unwilling to stay and help her, his words had already opened her mind like clearing away clouds.

She thought of her mother’s letter “Questioning the Emperor” written before her suicide in prison in the previous life, of the scene where students in the capital were filled with righteous indignation and made great protests seeking justice for the Bai family, of Prince Liang’s troubled appearance in his mansion, complaining about his inability to ease His Majesty’s worries.

When everyone speaks against someone, even metal can be melted; accumulated slander can destroy bones – public opinion is fearsome.

Even His Majesty, who wielded supreme power, had things he feared – he feared public opinion! He feared popular anger! He feared being remembered centuries later as one who persecuted loyal ministers!

Now that the grandfather’s life or death was unknown, he might even be dead on the southern frontier, the Bai family could no longer retreat.

If they couldn’t retreat, then she would advance further, pushing the Bai family’s reputation to its peak, making His Majesty fear public opinion too much to dare move against the Bai family.

Even if Great Jin ultimately couldn’t escape being destroyed by Great Yan, perhaps under the protection of great reputation… the Bai family could still be preserved.

Nanny Jiang, who had come to Qinghui Courtyard to fetch Bai Qingyan, unexpectedly encountered her on the road and hurried forward with quick steps.

“Eldest Miss!” Nanny Jiang curtsied: “Grand Princess requests your presence.”

Bai Qingyan pursed her lips: “Does grandmother have some plan?”

Nanny Jiang nodded with reddened eyes.

Only then did Bai Qingyan follow Nanny Jiang toward Grand Princess’s Changshou Courtyard, carefully inquiring about the grandmother’s condition after she had left yesterday.

“Eldest Miss, rest assured that Grand Princess is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the late emperor and late empress – she can endure it.” Nanny Jiang held an umbrella for Bai Qingyan, unable to help her eyes reddening. “It’s just that Eldest Miss is still a child…”

As they spoke, they had already reached Changshou Courtyard. A maid lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan, and seeing that she had entered, Nanny Jiang dismissed all the maids inside and out before entering to take the white fox fur cloak that Bai Qingyan had already unfastened: “This old servant will guard outside. Eldest Miss should have a good talk with Grand Princess.”

Through the bead curtain, Bai Qingyan saw her grandmother sitting on the kang with closed eyes, fingering prayer beads, and her eyes immediately reddened.

“Grandmother…” Bai Qingyan called softly.

Grand Princess opened her eyes, seeing Bai Qingyan lift the bead curtain and enter, she extended her hand: “A’Bao, come!”

Bai Qingyan obediently walked to the Grand Princess’s side. Grand Princess’s lips trembled several times before she could speak, her eyes reddening as she asked: “Tell grandmother, who gave you news that was even faster than the court’s?”

“Before grandfather left, granddaughter had the two shadow guards that grandfather previously gave me accompany him for protection. One of them used his last breath to return and give his granddaughter the news, saying that our Bai family was harmed by the grandfather’s deputy general Liu Huanzhang in league with people in the court! Granddaughter had no solid evidence and dared not speak out, so she quietly arranged for his burial.”

This explanation was what Bai Qingyan had thought up before coming to Changshou Courtyard yesterday. Duke Zhenguo had indeed given Bai Qingyan two exceptional shadow guards, and when Duke Zhenguo went on campaign… Bai Qingyan had indeed sent the two shadow guards to accompany and protect Duke Zhenguo. Only in the previous life, those two shadow guards… had also perished in the southern frontier along with the Bai family men while trying to save Duke Zhenguo.

Grand Princess couldn’t help her grief, her lips trembling violently. After a long while, she closed her eyes and slammed her palm on the kang table: “My Bai family men can die in battle and be wrapped in horse hide, but absolutely cannot perish from the harm of treacherous officials!”

“Grandmother, now that things have come to this, we still need to make plans early…” Bai Qingyan grasped the Grand Princess’s hand, clearly having her considerations. “If our Bai family men are truly all harmed, I fear someone wants to seize the Bai family army from our hands!”

Grand Princess’s hand gripped the edge of the kang table tightly.

“But the Bai family army has always only recognized Bai family members! Grandfather and father are in grave danger, and I fear those who harm our Bai family still have other schemes. Grandmother… now you are the Bai family’s only support, bearing the brunt!” Bai Qingyan analyzed with the Grand Princess.

“They’re dreaming!” Grand Princess gritted her teeth. “Years ago, before the late empress passed away, she left me a royal shadow guard unit that only the emperor and empress could have. After marrying your grandfather, I felt it would be overstepping to use this shadow guard unit again, so for many years I’ve kept them at my dowry estate and never used them. It seems now I have no choice but to use them.”

Bai Qingyan was quite surprised. In her previous life, she had never heard her grandmother mention having such a shadow guard unit. If this were the case, Bai Qingyan wasn’t worried about her grandmother’s safety.

“Grandmother, even if grandfather, father, uncles, and elder and younger brothers are all gone! There’s still a granddaughter here!” Bai Qingyan grasped the Grand Princess’s hand solemnly. “Grandmother must take care of your health and stay safe! With her grandmother here, the granddaughter has confidence. Granddaughter will do everything possible to protect our Bai family completely, and not let our Bai family men die unjustly…”

Grand Princess was moved to tears by Bai Qingyan’s words, holding Bai Qingyan in her arms, choked with emotion and unable to speak.

After they had both calmed down for a long while, Grand Princess used a handkerchief to dab the tears at the corners of her eyes and asked Bai Qingyan, “A’Bao, do you already have a plan in mind?”

“The trouble starts from within – the servants in the house probably need a thorough investigation, but this matter must be investigated secretly. Granddaughter will discuss with her mother to handle it. Grandmother just needs to oversee things and needn’t worry!”

Grand Princess nodded.

Bai Qingyan thought of the son supposedly born to second uncle’s mistress that Prince Liang later brought forward, and looked up at Grand Princess: “There’s one more matter I’d like to ask grandmother about – does second uncle… have a mistress?”

The second uncle Bai Qingyan spoke of was Grand Princess’s second legitimate son, Bai Qingyan’s father’s younger brother.

Grand Princess pursed her lips.

Seeing Grand Princess’s expression, Bai Qingyan’s heart also sank. So the person Prince Liang had supported in the previous life really was second uncle’s son by his mistress.

“It’s not as serious as having a mistress, but your second uncle did wrong by your second aunt. When your second uncle was traveling for his studies, he was rescued by a young lady, and the two developed feelings…” Grand Princess hesitated to continue. After all, Bai Qingyan was an unmarried young lady, and some things couldn’t be spoken plainly to her. “Later, when your second uncle returned to the mansion, before leaving, he gave that young lady the dragon-patterned jade pendant that grandmother had given him as a token, planning to return to the mansion and discuss with your second aunt before bringing that young lady into the mansion as a concubine. But at that time, your second aunt was pregnant, so he never spoke of this matter.”