Chapter 161: 160: A Call to Arms_1

Chapter 161: Chapter 160: A Call to Arms_1

Nanny Qin saw this and led the maids serving outside to retreat. Only then did Mrs. Dong hurriedly walk up to Bai Jinxiu, handing over the letter: “Jinzhi left a letter and ran away! She said she wants to follow Kid to the southern border! I wondered why she has been so well-behaved these past few days, not causing trouble but coming to my place every day to remind me to take care of myself… Turns out she was planning this getaway! This morning she said she wasn’t feeling well and didn’t go to see grandmother off. I thought she was really unwell! Eldest Sister-in-law… What should we do?”

“Don’t panic!” Mrs. Dong took the letter and read it carefully while asking, “When did you discover Jinzhi was missing? Have you asked everyone around her?”

“Those old women and maids said that after we saw mother off this morning, that girl took her bundle and rode off on horseback!” Mrs. Li was extremely anxious. Her husband and son were dead. How could she live if something happened to her daughter?!

After reading the letter, Mrs. Dong said, “Don’t panic. She is going to find Kid. I will order someone to bring her back! Nanny Qin…”

Nanny Qin answered and lifted the curtain to come in: “Have Lu Ping personally lead a team going south. Ensure they bring Miss Bai Jinzhi back swiftly!”

“Yes!”

Mrs. Li was startled. Was Lu Ping going personally?!

“Nanny, wait!” Mrs. Li quickly called out to Nanny Qin, who was about to leave. She stepped forward and grabbed Mrs. Dong’s hand, “Eldest Sister-in-law, the most skilled martial artist in our household is Lu Ping. If there is unforeseen trouble in Dadu, what will we do if Lu Ping is out chasing people?!”

“Who else but Lu Ping can bring Jinzhi back? Don’t worry… Jinzhi shouldn’t have gone far.” Mrs. Dong told Nanny Qin, “Go! Tell Lu Ping to act carefully and not get discovered.”

“Nanny Qin!” Mrs. Li called out again. Her throat choked up, and her eyes reddened as tears started to fall. “Lu Ping cannot leave! Forget it! Don’t chase her! Anyway… she is going to find Kid! Jinzhi has martial skills and shouldn’t endanger Kid if she encounters danger. It’s also good for her to learn by Kid’s side!”

Mrs. Li’s heart clearly ached and she was worried, yet she still steeled herself.

Although she wasn’t as wise as Mrs. Dong, who seemed to understand everything, she could still guess that Bai Qingyan’s journey to the southern border was to protect the Bai family.

Eldest Sister-in-law Mrs. Dong only had this one physically weak daughter left. Still, for the sake of the Bai family, she had to let Bai Qingyan go. Her own daughter was healthy and had recklessly run away. How could she ask her sister-in-law to send Bai family’s guards to chase her, leaving the eldest sister-in-law without a highly skilled person in case something happened in Dadu?

Mrs. Li hardened her heart, eyes filled with tears. She solemnly said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, please have someone find that troublemaker. Tell her… to ensure Kid’s safety and return. Otherwise, I will break her legs!”

Mrs. Dong’s eyes felt warm, and she gently held Mrs. Li’s hand: “Jintong went to accompany mother. If Jinzhi leaves too, you…”

Before Mrs. Dong finished, Mrs. Li shook her head: “Jinzhi has been relying on her talent to be willful for years. Now that father and brothers are gone, she needs to be trained and grow up! Besides, with her temperament, even if we tied her up and brought her back, she would find another chance to run away.”

After a long time, Mrs. Dong nodded and turned to instruct Nanny Qin, who had red-rimmed eyes at the doorway: “Send someone to find Miss Bai Jinzhi. Send her straight to Miss Bai and ask Miss Bai to protect her sister.”

·

When Bai Qingyan’s carriage reached Shili Slope south of the city, the expeditionary army had not yet arrived.

Having changed into men’s attire, Bai Qingyan had not yet alighted from the carriage when Xiao Ruohai raced over on horseback and addressed her inside the carriage, “Miss Bai, Second Miss has come to see you off!”

Jinxiu?!

She lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down… Seeing a carriage parked beside the escort team that was accompanying her to the southern border. Bai Jinxiu, wrapped in a cloak, stood beside the carriage. Seeing her eldest sister in dashing men’s attire, thinking of the past when her eldest sister wore silver armor, looked heroic and majestic. There was a smile in her tear-brimmed eyes, and she walked briskly toward Bai Qingyan.

“What brings you here?” Bai Qingyan was quite surprised.

Bai Jinxiu held her arm and walked towards the escort: “It was arranged by the Crown Prince. He told me to come to see you off. He is trying to curry favor with you. After King Xin and King Liang were imprisoned, I found the Crown Prince to be much smarter! For instance… the favor of the extremely high-ranking title for the lady of the house was earned by you but gave the Crown Prince and the Emperor a good reputation.”

“The Crown Prince has capable people by his side. It’s not surprising.” She squeezed Bai Jinxiu’s hand resting in the crook of her arm.

“However, with capable people around the Crown Prince, your trip to the southern border may be even more dangerous.” Bai Jinxiu stopped in her tracks, tears welling up as she tightly grasped Bai Qingyan’s hand, filled with worry. “Eldest Sister, is it really… unavoidable?”

Bai Jinxiu feared this journey to the southern border, the Emperor would ensure Bai Qingyan did not return alive!

She understood Bai Jinxiu’s worry and gently said, “Though the Bai family’s army was defeated, it’s like a centipede that never dies. Our true foundation does not lie in Dadu, but in the military! With a rallying cry, they would rally in unison, and no other surname could achieve that. I go to let the remaining Bai family troops know that our Bai family bloodline stands with them! Even life and death will be entrusted to the fire and steel. That… is where our Bai family should be rooted.”

She squeezed Bai Jinxiu’s hand tightly: “In turbulent times, military power is the foundation one stands on.”

Bai Jinxiu’s tears fell all at once. She quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand.

In the distance, the expeditionary army was gradually approaching. Bai Jinxiu was reluctant to part and choked up: “Eldest Sister, be careful in everything. I await your safe return!”

She looked back at the mighty expeditionary troop, the Crown Prince’s elaborate luxury carriage at the front, followed by two slightly smaller carriages, flanked by guards.

Soon, King Qi’s personal eunuch rode up quickly, dismounted, and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “The Crown Prince orders, Miss Bai’s carriage should follow his to ensure Miss Bai’s safety.”

“Thank you.” Bai Qingyan nodded slightly.

“Eldest Sister…” Bai Jinxiu’s voice choked.

“Alright, go back!”

With that, she released her sister’s hand and boarded the carriage Xiao Ruohai had prepared.

“Eldest Sister, please return safely!”

Hearing Bai Jinxiu’s tearful voice, she lifted the azure-blue curtain and nodded to Bai Jinxiu.

Xiao Ruohai took the reins and led the carriage slowly towards the expeditionary army.

The army’s messengers relayed orders back and forth, accelerating the vanguard’s speed and slowing the rear’s to let Bai Qingyan’s carriage merge in, positioned behind the Crown Prince’s carriage.

This carriage was chosen by Xiao Ruohai. Though not as luxurious and conspicuous as the Crown Prince’s, it was spacious, and the carriage compartment was made from solid wood, hard to penetrate even by the sharpest arrows.