This time, Bai Qingyan had naturally made a trip to Anxi and Shuofang. The Prince Anxi’s mansion and Prince Shuofang’s mansion didn’t dare to be negligent, so Bai Qingyan naturally had to reciprocate… helping Prince Anxi and Prince Shuofang by inviting their families to come along as well, so that their families could reunite.

Bai Qingyan personally went to invite them, and she brought along the renowned Physician Hong. Even if the people from Prince Anxi’s mansion and Prince Shuofang’s mansion wanted to decline, they couldn’t find a reason and had to follow along to the capital.

Bai Jinxiu also thought of the family members from Prince Anxi’s mansion and Prince Shuofang’s mansion, and asked quietly: “Elder Sister, should we have the family members from Prince Anxi’s mansion and Prince Shuofang’s mansion show their faces in public later to intimidate these feudal princes?”

“That’s good…” Bai Qingyan looked at Nanny Jiang, who was already running toward them from ahead. “Let’s first escort grandmother back to the Bai mansion. Have Du Sanbao safely deliver the people from the two princes’ mansions to the two feudal princes. As for these feudal princes, I won’t see them this time… Let them stay alert and keep their guard up.”

“Good!” Bai Jinxiu responded, reined in her horse to slow down a step, and sent someone to relay the order to Du Sanbao.

Du Sanbao was currently at the rear of the procession, responsible for escorting the family members from Prince Anxi’s mansion and Prince Shuofang’s mansion.

As they approached the capital’s city gate, Chancellor Lu saw Bai Qingyan dismount from afar and looked toward Bai Jinse and Nanny Jiang, who were already leading the loyal Bai family servants forward to meet them. After hesitating for a moment, he led all the officials to follow closely behind the Bai family servants.

Bai Qingyan watched Bai Jinse and Nanny Jiang running toward her and stopped in her tracks…

“Elder Sister! Second Sister…” Bai Jinse’s gaze fell on the coffin, tears streaming down her face. She stepped forward two paces and knelt before the Grand Princess’s coffin, kowtowing heavily: “Bai family’s seventh daughter, Bai Jinse, welcomes grandmother home!”

“Eldest Miss, Second Miss.” Nanny Jiang’s emotions, which she had been holding back, completely collapsed the moment she saw Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu. She looked at the Grand Princess’s coffin, knelt on the ground, and cried aloud: “Grand Princess… this old servant has come to welcome you!”

Originally, when Nanny Jiang received the news of the Grand Princess’s death, she had wanted to follow the Grand Princess in death. But thinking that the Grand Princess had not yet returned, thinking that… those despicable people were slandering the eldest miss for forcing the Grand Princess to death, she had to stay alive to tell those despicable people on behalf of the Grand Princess that it was not so!

Seeing the loyal Bai family servants all kneeling and crying, the officials following behind the Bai family servants didn’t know whether they should first greet Bai Qingyan or kneel down like Bai Jinse to tearfully welcome the Grand Princess.

The officials looked at each other, and seeing that Chancellor Lu had already knelt, they quickly followed suit.

“Before the Grand Princess left the capital, she told this old servant that if she couldn’t return this time, she wanted this old servant to tell the eldest miss to be a good emperor who loves the Kingdom and the people. This old servant… hasn’t delivered the message yet, so I dare not die!”

Nanny Jiang’s voice became more choked, crying uncontrollably: “Now that the eldest miss has returned… Grand Princess, please walk a little slower. Wait for this old servant to tell the eldest miss all the words the Grand Princess asked me to convey, then this old servant… will immediately come to follow you!”

Bai Qingyan stepped forward to help Bai Jinse up, then helped Nanny Jiang up…

“Eldest Miss… this old servant knows that to save the Grand Princess, the eldest miss and second miss have already done their best. This old servant knows it all! The eldest miss and second miss risked their lives to save the Grand Princess – the Grand Princess must be very happy! All these years… the Grand Princess has felt guilty toward the Bai family and the eldest miss, because she was the legitimate princess of the Lin clan and couldn’t be the purest grandmother to the Bai family children! The Grand Princess passed away because she was ashamed to face the Bai family members. I hope the eldest miss can understand this, and please don’t be too sad!”

These words from Nanny Jiang were meant for everyone present to hear…

She wanted these people to know that the eldest miss would never harm the Grand Princess, and that the Grand Princess had always felt guilty toward the eldest miss and would never commit suicide to drive a nail into the eldest miss’s heart.

“The Grand Princess once instructed this old servant that if she passed away this time, all funeral ceremonies should be kept simple. She only wanted to be buried together with Duke Zhenguo as soon as possible. I hope the eldest miss can fulfill the Grand Princess’s final wish!”

Bai Qingyan gripped Nanny Jiang’s hand tightly. She had never doubted Nanny Jiang’s loyalty to grandmother…

In her previous life, Nanny Jiang had committed suicide after her grandmother’s death.

But in this life, Bai Qingyan didn’t want Nanny Jiang to repeat the same mistake.

She said quietly to Nanny Jiang, “Before grandmother passed, what she worried about most was Nanny. Grandmother wanted Nanny to take care of Little Eight for her!”

Nanny Jiang was stunned: “Eighth Miss…”

She nodded: “Among the sisters, grandmother spent the least time with Little Eight. I hope Nanny Jiang can take good care of Little Eight for the grandmother!”

Bai Jinxiu glanced at Bai Qingyan, knowing that Bai Qingyan was afraid that Nanny Jiang would follow grandmother in death, so she said this. She followed along: “Yes, Nanny Jiang, Little Eight… still needs your help taking care of her.”

Seeing that Nanny Jiang and Bai Qingyan had finished talking, Chancellor Lu stood up and led the officials forward, kneeling again to pay respects to Bai Qingyan: “We greet Your Majesty!”

“Chancellor Lu… everyone, please rise quickly, no need for ceremony!” Bai Qingyan gestured to help Chancellor Lu up and spoke sincerely: “During my absence, Chancellor Lu has worked hard!”

“It’s a minister’s duty, this is all as it should be…” After Chancellor Lu finished speaking, he continued: “According to Your Majesty’s instructions, the Grand Princess’s coffin will be sent to the Bai mansion. The Ministry of Rites has already prepared everything as ordered. We respectfully welcome the Grand Princess back to the capital.”

The five feudal princes saw this and prepared to step forward to respectfully greet Bai Qingyan. Who would have thought… Bai Qingyan didn’t even look at them, leaving them standing there ignored.

The five feudal princes were shocked, understanding in their hearts that this was not a good omen.

The Great Zhou Female Emperor personally escorted the coffin, while Great Zhou officials and commoners knelt to welcome her. All the way… they protected the Grand Princess as she proceeded to the Bai mansion.

It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan didn’t want to give the Grand Princess the greatest dignity and honor after death, but she knew that compared to holding the funeral in the palace, the grandmother might prefer to be at the Bai family…

In life, the grandmother had devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Jin Kingdom. At least in death… she hoped to be able to be their pure grandmother as her grandmother had wished.

Keep the funeral ceremonies simple…

Even if they were kept simple, they would at least have to wait for Mother and the others to come from Shouyang!

At the very least, they would have to wait for A’Jue to come and see grandmother off on her final journey.

After escorting the Grand Princess back to the Bai mansion, there was still a mountain of government affairs waiting for Bai Qingyan…

Uncle Dong Qingping assigned his two sons to help at the Bai mansion, and together with Chancellor Lu and Lu Jinxian, Lu Jin, and Shen Jingzhong, they gathered in Bai Qingyan’s study, discussing the mountainous pile of government affairs that had accumulated during this period.

Bai Jinxiu stayed outside the study. She was concerned that Bai Qingyan had started handling government affairs without eating, so she had someone prepare hot tea and pastries for Bai Qingyan. Her brow was furrowed with deep unease.

After the grandmother’s death, the elder sister had been too calm… which seemed unusual instead.