Liu Shi’s entire body trembled uncontrollably. Her heart, which had already died, was rekindled with hope because of Bai Qingjue’s return.

She remembered how Li Zhijie, the Prince Yan of Western Liang, had once used news of A’Qiong to deceive A’Bao and Xiao Si. Could it be… was A’Qiong truly alive?

Liu Shi suddenly recalled the imperial edict that Bai Qingyan had issued, ordering any remaining Bai family descendants and Bai family army survivors from the Xuanjia years to return and witness the enthronement ceremony together. She firmly believed… if A’Qiong and the others were still alive, they would return!

Their eldest sister was ascending the throne, changing heaven and earth… Now, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, no one could harm the Bai family anymore. They could all return openly and honorably!

Liu Shi didn’t know why, but at this moment, she couldn’t help wanting to cry out loud.

That year, when news came back that all the Bai family men had died in Nan Jiang, she never could have imagined that the Bai family would reach this point today…

Liu Shi looked toward Bai Qingyan, whose spine was straight as a rod, her heart filled with endless emotion. What tremendous effort must it have taken, what kind of determination… to exchange for the Bai family’s current glory? Just thinking about it made her feel mentally and physically exhausted. With A’Bao’s delicate constitution, how did she manage to hold on with a single breath to accomplish this?

Liu Shi remembered that Bai Jinxiu had once said privately when she returned to Shouyang with her and eldest sister-in-law Dong Shi, that one day… eldest sister would surely make all the Bai family members return to the capital in glory.

Liu Shi’s gaze fell on the imperial guards standing on both sides of the long street, their armor gleaming brilliantly, then on the cavalry in the distance, slowly approaching under heavy military escort.

Now the Bai family had truly returned to the capital in glory, and it was glory that could not be exceeded.

Speaking of vows, Liu Shi suddenly thought of her husband Bai Qiying. Back when father-in-law wanted to take all the children to the battlefield, Liu Shi disagreed… At that time, her husband had told her… the Bai family kept their word, and everything they promised would be fulfilled. Even on the battlefield, he would risk his life to protect the children and bring them home safely.

That should have been the only time her husband broke his word to her. This one broken promise… separated them between the living and the dead.

At the moment Liu Shi was lost in thought, she saw that the convoy had already arrived. She forcibly suppressed the urge to cry out loud, her sweaty hands gripping Nanny Luo’s fingers until they turned white.

Bai Jinse couldn’t contain herself and called out loudly: “Seventh Brother!”

Bai Qingjue, riding high on his horse, saw his eldest sister and second sister… saw his second aunt, saw his seventh sister whose smile looked worse than crying, and dismounted.

“Eldest Sister…” Bai Jinhua also dismounted, wearing full armor, heroic and spirited.

Bai Jinzhao also displayed the vigorous spirit of youth, cupping his fists toward Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Sister…”

In the blink of an eye, even Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother had grown up, able to don armor… and lead troops to defend against invading enemies atop Shouyang city walls.

Bai Qingjue raised his eyes to look at the black lacquered gold-outlined plaque hanging on the Bai residence, then knelt on one knee, saluting Liu Shi, Bai Qingyan, and Bai Jinxiu: “Second Aunt, Eldest Sister… Second Sister, the seventh son of the Bai family, Bai Qingjue… has returned safely to the capital!”

A sour sensation immediately struck Bai Qingyan’s heart, making her eyes well with tears.

The phrase “returned safely to the capital” was what the Bai family most wanted to hear.

Liu Shi’s emotions finally couldn’t hold, clutching her clothes tightly as she wailed. She was happy… extremely happy, but if her children could also return, she would be even happier. She would willingly give up twenty years of her life in exchange for her children’s words… “returned safely to the capital.”

Bai Jinse also burst into tears, and Bai Jinxiu couldn’t help but her tears flowed like broken strings. Little Wang Ge’er didn’t know what was happening, but seeing his mother crying, his little mouth turned down and he also began wailing.

Nanny Jiang cried even more uncontrollably. If the Grand Princess could see Seventh Young Master return, how happy she would be!

Seeing Liu Shi crying until she could barely stand, Bai Qingyan walked down the high steps with tearful eyes carrying the faintest smile, helping Bai Qingjue to his feet…

“Eldest Sister, A’Jue returned late!”

The current Bai Qingjue had grown taller than when Bai Qingyan last saw him. Seeing the carriages had slowly stopped, she shook her head and said with a smile: “Go help Fourth Aunt down from the carriage! First go burn incense for Grandmother… let Grandmother know you’ve returned safely!”

Bai Qingjue nodded.

The various Bai family ladies had already changed into mourning clothes in the carriages. Dong Shi, supporting Nanny Qin’s hand, had just emerged from the carriage when she saw Bai Qingyan had already walked to the carriage side, extending her hand to help her down.

Chun Tao and Nanny Tong, who were beside Dong Shi’s carriage, immediately reddened their eyes upon seeing Bai Qingyan.

“First Miss!” Chun Tao hurried to bow, seeing that her young lady had grown thinner again, tears streaming down continuously.

Dong Shi’s eyes reddened as she took her daughter’s hand to step down from the carriage, only to hear her daughter speak…

“Mother, originally the Ministry of Rites wanted to interfere with Grandmother’s funeral, but Grandmother had Nanny Jiang relay a message saying the funeral should be kept simple, wanting only to join Grandfather in the same grave as soon as possible. So A’Bao didn’t let the Ministry of Rites interfere. Mother has had a tiring journey and should rest well after burning incense for Grandmother, but it seems that won’t be possible now. Grandmother’s funeral still needs Mother to oversee.”

“As your grandmother’s daughter-in-law, overseeing your grandmother’s funeral rites is naturally my proper duty!” After Dong Shi finished speaking, she gripped her daughter’s hand firmly and said in a low voice, “Your grandmother passed away… because she was the Grand Princess of the Jin Dynasty, the legitimate daughter of Emperor Jin Wuxuan! Mother doesn’t want you to get caught up in endless worrying…”

Who knows a daughter better than her mother? How could Dong Shi not understand how deep Bai Qingyan’s feelings for the Grand Princess were?

Her daughter valued emotions deeply, and the Grand Princess had passed away at this critical juncture when her daughter was about to ascend the throne, which would inevitably make her overthink.

“A’Bao understands! Mother need not worry… Grandmother had her pride, A’Bao understands it all!” Bai Qingyan supported Dong Shi as they walked up the high steps of the Bai residence.

Dong Shi patted her daughter’s hand, saying nothing more, only hoping her daughter truly understood in her heart.

“Elder Sister-in-law…” Second Madam Liu Shi came down from the steps to greet them, bowing to Dong Shi before grasping her hand, full of guilt: “I’ve wronged Elder Sister-in-law. When Shouyang faced disaster, I wasn’t together with Elder Sister-in-law and the younger sisters-in-law!”

“What kind of talk is this!” Dong Shi patted Liu Shi’s hand, “As long as we’re all safe, that’s what matters!”

Third Madam Li Shi, Fourth Madam Wang Shi, and Fifth Madam Qi Shi descended from the carriage with the Bai family’s eighth daughter, Bai Wanqing.

Bai Wanqing was just over two years and two months old. Though young, she spoke quite clearly, though her pronunciation wasn’t entirely crisp. The little girl was held by Nanny Zhai, her black grape-like eyes rolling around. Seeing Wang Ge’er being held by his wet nurse, the little chubby finger pointed at Wang Ge’er and said: “Little brother!”

Fifth Madam Qi Shi took Bai Wanqing from Nanny Zhai’s arms, set her down, and said tearfully: “Little Eighth, greet your eldest sister and second sister.”

Bai Wanqing heard her mother and Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister talk about the eldest sister, and second sister, and Fourth Sister leading troops in battle almost daily. Although… when Bai Qingyan left, Bai Wanqing was still too young to remember, and Bai Jinxiu had never returned to Shouyang, seeing Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinxiu now, the blood relationship also made Bai Wanqing feel close to them.