Chapter 514 - 514 511 No Significant Harm_1

Chapter 514: Chapter 511: No Significant Harm_1 Chapter 514: Chapter 511: No Significant Harm_1 “Older Cousin?!” Dong Changlan was stunned, her expression tense. “Older Cousin, you’re hurt!”

Bai Qingyan leapt off her horse, her movements agile. She glanced at her clothes and smiled. “It’s someone else’s blood. I’m fine.”

Mrs. Cui was also frightened, her face turning pale. Hearing what Bai Qingyan said, she pressed a handkerchief to her chest, feeling her stomach churn. She quickly patted her chest to suppress the feeling. She had always been squeamish about blood.

“Changlan, Sister Rong… safe journey!” Bai Qingyan smiled.

Dong Changlan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, helped Mrs. Cui onto the carriage, and Mrs. Cui lifted the curtain to say to Bai Qingyan: “Older Cousin, find time to visit Dengzhou, Grandmother misses you very much.”

“Got it!” Bai Qingyan nodded.

“Tingzhen, you’re really not going to Dengzhou?” Mrs. Cui asked Dong Tingzhen again.

Originally, Dong Changlan and Mrs. Cui intended to take Dong Tingzhen back to Dengzhou with them. When the Dong family from Dadu City returned to Dengzhou for the new year… Dong Tingzhen could then return to Dadu City with them. However, Dong Tingzhen was very fond of Shuoyang and thought Mrs. Dong was lonely and didn’t want to leave.

Dong Tingzhen shook her head. “I want to stay and accompany Aunt more. Plus, I want to see the training grounds with Sister Jinzhi!”

This was a promise Bai Jinzhi made to Dong Tingzhen in private. Just dismounted, Bai Jinzhi heard this and quickly looked at her aunt, Mrs. Dong. Seeing no displeasure from her, she said: “It’s a small matter!”

Dong Tingzhen didn’t want to leave, and Mrs. Cui didn’t insist, only reminding her not to cause trouble for her cousin.

“Aunt, Older Cousin… Changlan is leaving now! Please take good care of yourselves and write often to Dengzhou to let Grandmother know you’re well!”

“Brother Changlan, pass along my regards to Grandmother and Second Uncle and Aunt!” Dong Tingzhen stepped forward, bowing to Dong Changlan.

Dong Changlan nodded, then bowed to Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan before getting on his horse and leaving slowly with the Dong family’s guards.

Once Dong Changlan was out of sight, Mrs. Dong took Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi by the wrists and led them to Boyun Courtyard, instructing a maid to prepare water for their baths immediately.

Dong Tingzhen covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed quietly, turning to her personal maid: “Let’s prepare some food for our cousins. They must be hungry after setting out to suppress the bandits early this morning.”

“Aunt, I really wasn’t hurt. How about… you drag Eldest Young Lady to bathe and let me return to my own courtyard?” Bai Jinzhi smiled, afraid Mrs. Dong might make her strip for inspection.

“Mother, I wasn’t hurt either,” Bai Qingyan said.

Mrs. Dong said nothing, dragging them back to Boyun Courtyard and personally checking them for injuries.

Confirming they were unharmed, Mrs. Dong breathed a sigh of relief, instructing someone to fetch clothes for Bai Jinzhi from her courtyard.

Separated by a screen, Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan each bathed. Bai Jinzhi whispered to Bai Qingyan: “I was scared to death. I thought Aunt would act like my mother, fiercely stripping my clothes to check, and if I resisted, she’d slap my arm! I didn’t expect Aunt to be so gentle. She’s so dignified and serious usually; I thought she’d be stricter than my mother.”

Bai Qingyan smiled. “I’ll tell Third Aunt about this when we get back.”

“No, no, no! Eldest Young Lady… sisters’ private gossip shouldn’t be tattled on to elders!” Bai Jinzhi exclaimed.

After their bath, Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan sat on the window-side couch, drying their hair with the maids’ help, drinking pigeon soup brought by Nanny Qin and snacks sent by Dong Tingzhen.

Bai Jinzhi looked up at Bai Qingyan, who was focused on her soup, and said: “Eldest Young Lady, let me take the two captives to deliver a message to the Crown Prince in Dadu. The results of our first bandit suppression should be reported to His Highness.”

“No need for you to go to Dadu. I’ll arrange for someone else. There’s a more important task for you.” Bai Qingyan raised her hand, signaling the maid to leave.

After placing the spoon beside her, Bai Qingyan wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief before saying: “Eldest Young Lady wants you to deal with the Bai clan members who were expelled… Bai Qiyun.”

Bai Jinzhi was startled, looking at Bai Qingyan with confusion.

“Bai Qiyun colluded with the Left Prime Minister’s mansion to harm our family. You don’t need to worry about the Left Prime Minister; just think about how to handle Bai Qiyun without causing the former Clan Leader… and those expelled to fight us to the death,” Bai Qingyan instructed Bai Jinzhi intently. “Steward Wu, beside Bai Qiyun, can be useful, but don’t trust his words entirely. Figure it out yourself; don’t resort to reckless violence. If you make mistakes, it’s fine. Consider this practice.”

She was used to following her sister’s orders. Now, being asked to manage something herself left her anxious.

Bai Jinzhi opened her mouth to ask Bai Qingyan where to start but saw her sister giving no hints, just looking at her. She closed her lips, feeling more flustered.

“Fourth Sister, it’s okay… it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t go well. Handling Bai Qiyun isn’t crucial, it’s just for practice.”

“Well… I’ll try!” Bai Jinzhi’s palms were sweaty. This was more nerve-wracking than being scolded by a teacher in Dadu City for forgetting yesterday’s lessons.

Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile. “Also, starting tomorrow, take Fifth and Sixth Sisters to practice archery on horseback.”

This delighted Bai Jinzhi. She nodded with a smile. “Eldest Young Lady, rest assured! I’ll do this well!”

·

The afternoon of the same day Bai Qingyan led the bandit suppression, Bai Qingping was summoned by his grandfather.

As soon as Bai Qingping entered the room, he saw his expelled uncle Bai Qiyun and greeted his grandfather and uncle.

“No need for formalities, Pingan. Sit… Grandfather has a few words for you!” Bai Qingping’s grandfather leaned on a shiny ebony cane, his face full of kind and gentle smiles.

Bai Qiyun also smiled, rarely showing such warmth towards Bai Qingping.

“I hear you’ve been using many of our clan brothers to help the Princess of Zhen recently, and they’ve done quite well?” Bai Qingping’s grandfather asked slowly.

A maid lifted the curtain and served tea before exiting.

“Exactly, Grandfather. If you’re interested in this matter, you might as well call Father. He knows much more about it than I do,” Bai Qingping said respectfully.

Bai Qiyun signaled his father urgently to ask serious questions right away, prepared to ask bluntly himself if his father didn’t.

Bai Qingping’s grandfather took a sip of tea, appearing indifferent, and asked casually: “I heard the Princess of Zhen led new recruits to suppress bandits earlier today. Did she… find the silver notes stolen from your uncle?”