It is said that after General Guanâs wife and children were killed by the Rong people, he knelt outside the Bai familyâs military camp for a whole night, pleading for them to take him in because he sought revenge. Later, my fifth uncle, moved by his persistence, accepted General Guan and let him become a Huotou Army soldier. Perhaps because his wife and children were slaughtered... just made him a Huotou Army soldier, my fifth uncle might not have investigated this General Guan thoroughly.
"Later, with the passing of General Guanâs parents and family, he joined the army, and the Guan family was no more!" Shen Qingzhu saw steps ahead, supported Bai Qingyanâs arm, and continued after helping her down a few steps, "Since we couldnât discover anything in Feng County, I took the risk and went to Xiliang, investigating General Guanâs name, Yun Lan, there, which led to some peculiar findings..."
Bai Qingyan nodded, signaling Shen Qingzhu to continue.
"I heard that this Yun family member named Yun Lan indeed existed. However, he left home at the age of thirteen claiming to go on a study trip and had not returned to Yunjing for over two decades. Coincidentally, he is similar in age to General Guan, and when the Yun family brought General Guan back to Yunjing, they falsely claimed that General Guan was Yun Lan..."
Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan paused and looked at Shen Qingzhu, whose face was flickering in the light cast by the swaying hexagonal palace lanterns...
Shen Qingzhu gave a slight nod because, after more than twenty years, the original Yun Lan had not left any portrait behind, so Shen Qingzhu couldnât find any solid evidence to prove that Guan Zhangning was Yun Lan.
Speaking of it, Yun Lan and Guan Zhangning being similar in age isnât suspicious in itself, but this Yun family member named Yun Lan left home at thirteen and never returned to Yunjing for over twenty years. Coincidentally, General Guan appeared in Feng County around the age of thirteen. Isnât this a bit too coincidental?
Besides, with Bai Qingyanâs previous suspicions about Guan Zhangning, Shen Qingzhu now felt that Guan Zhangning must not be taken lightly. Therefore... before reporting back to Bai Qingyan in Dadu City, Shen Qingzhu had already informed Bai Qingqi, the third son of the Bai family, urging him to remain cautious.
"Both were thirteen or fourteen! Sister Qingzhu, you mean... this General Guan is indeed Yun Lan!" Bai Jinzhi also caught on.
Shen Qingzhu nodded: "But itâs just a suspicion, with no concrete evidence. The Bai family army has always been one not to suspect their comrades without solid proof. However... the lesson from the battle in Southern Xinjiang was too great for the Bai family army. This time, Iâd rather suspect my comrades than witness another past tragedy! So, before I returned, I informed the third young master about this matter."
When Southern Xinjiangâs battle was mentioned, Bai Jinzhiâs hand clenched tightly into a fist...
Back then, because their grandfather trusted Liu Huanzhang wholeheartedly, it led to the downfall of the Bai family.
The wind swept past, making the beaded curtains and silk drapes on either side of the corridor sway gently. The copper hooks on the lacquered red pillars swayed, and the copper bells clashed, emitting a soft tinkling sound.
"Sister Qingzhuâs suspicion is correct! Itâs right to inform the third brother too. Itâs best if the third brother can test it out, and if General Guanâs suspicion can really be ruled out, we owe him as the Bai family, and weâll repay him later! But... neither the Bai family nor the Bai family army can afford to take risks again!" Bai Jinzhi stated firmly, "After all, trusting the wrong person... we canât afford the loss of over a hundred thousand Bai family soldiers!"
It was rare for Bai Jinzhi to think this way, indeed... grown up.
Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch Bai Jinzhiâs head because ever since they were children, they learned that comrades were as trustworthy as blood relatives.
So, for Bai Jinzhi to suspect a general within the Bai family army, especially one who had followed their fifth uncle, was like suspecting her own family, which must be deeply conflicting for her.
"So this time, when you go to Southern Xinjiang, keep an eye on this General Guan, but donât show it..." Bai Qingyan instructed Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Jinzhi was taken aback, then broke into a surprised smile: "Eldest sister, you agree to let me go to Southern Xinjiang!"
Bai Qingyan smiled softly: "Today, you gave such a heavy gift. Accepting it makes it only natural to let you go!"
Bai Jinzhi quickly bowed to Bai Qingyan: "Thank you, eldest sister, for saving me! If you donât let me go... my mother will pressure me to see a matchmaker again! I really canât stand it!"
"Leave with the troops first thing in the morning. Donât stay with me... go spend some time with your third aunt." Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch Bai Jinzhiâs head again.
Bai Jinzhi responded, smiling, lifted the hem of her clothes, and ran towards her motherâs bedchamber. If she tells her mother that it was the eldest sister who let her go to Southern Xinjiang, her mother surely wouldnât stop her.
Watching Bai Jinzhiâs joyful figure fade into the distance, Bai Qingyan, supported by Shen Qingzhuâs hand, followed her towards the bedchamber and softly said, "Have you reconciled with your foster brother?"
Supporting Bai Qingyan, Shen Qingzhu nodded, casting her eyes down: "I used to vent my frustration toward my senior brother due to my masterâs death. Now, knowing my master is still alive, Iâve let go of it..."
"Now that youâre back, take a few days to rest with your foster brother, and visit your master together."
Since the Bai family incident, neither Shen Qingzhu nor Xiao Ruohai had taken any good rest, continuously working.
"I still want to stay by the eldest young ladyâs side to await her commands. Now the grand cause is not yet accomplished, it is the time when the eldest young lady needs people, and Qingzhu cannot leave." Shen Qingzhuâs attitude was resolute.
"The grand cause is not yet accomplished, but your marriage cannot be delayed. All these years... your foster brother has always held you dear, and because of your master, youâve stopped seeing him." Bai Qingyan lifted the hem of her clothes and stepped up the corridor steps, "Even my mother says it is a pity for you two childhood sweethearts."
With her eyes downcast, Shen Qingzhu only listened to Bai Qingyan without rebutting her words. Only when Bai Qingyan finished did she say: "Ever since the eldest young lady swore to fulfill the Bai familyâs forefathersâ ambition to unify the world, Qingzhu also vowed to the Gods and Buddhas... not to marry and find another bond until Iâve ensured the eldest young ladyâs grand undertaking! Having a bond would mean not being able to give my life for the eldest young ladyâs cause! Qingzhuâs life was given by the eldest young lady, for Qingzhu... the eldest young lady is first, everything else is secondary."
Bai Qingyan paused and turned to look at Shen Qingzhu. Although she had always known that Qingzhu always put her first, hearing Shen Qingzhu solemnly say it still made Bai Qingyanâs heart ache slightly.
With Qingzhuâs exceptional martial skills, in the past life, if it werenât to leave a younger brother for her, she would not have suffered at the hands of Bai Qingxuan, that beast...
Bai Qingyan gripped Shen Qingzhuâs hand firmly, speaking to her, "Alright, then letâs wait until we repel the Tianfeng Kingdom, stabilize the world, and Iâll personally conduct the wedding for you and your foster brother!"
Shen Qingzhu merely replied, "Iâll escort the eldest young lady back to rest."
After escorting Bai Qingyan back to her bedchamber, Shen Qingzhu was just about to leave when she saw Wei Zhong bringing Xiao Ruojiang over.
Seeing Shen Qingzhu, Xiao Ruojiang first saluted her, "Miss Shen..."
Shen Qingzhu clasped her fists and returned the gesture, "Did the eldest young lady summon you back?"
Xiao Ruojiang nodded, "Perhaps for the matter of those elephants outside the camp."