Chapter 663: Chapter 660: Dead End_1 Chapter 663: Chapter 660: Dead End_1 Bai Qingyan had already discussed the matter of sending Bai Jinzhi to Anping Camp with Bai Jinxiu.

Bai Jinxiu still had some objections. After all, Bai Jinzhi was young, an innocent and pure little girl, not as calm as Little Seven. She was reckless and might cause trouble if not kept close. She thought Bai Jinzhi needed a few more years of experience.

When this matter was mentioned, Bai Jinzhi raised her hand to touch her nose, fearing the reprimand from her eldest and second sister, her voice lacked confidence: “I almost messed it up; it was our aunt who cleaned up the mess! I had planned everything, but the person pretending to be a wealthy merchant didn’t play the part well and got exposed! But I really don’t like these convoluted schemes. Eldest sister, just give me orders and I’ll carry them out. I can’t handle brainwork…”

Bai Jinxiu turned her head to look at Bai Qingyan, the meaning was obvious… Bai Jinzhi was not suitable to be sent to Anping Camp.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Bai Jinzhi, and she said with a smile, “Little Four, this is… like poor navigation making one dread the turns of the river!”

Bai Jinzhi opened her eyes wide and looked at Bai Qingyan: “Oh! Aunt said the same thing when she scolded me!”

It was clear that Bai Jinzhi really angered her mother.

Bai Jinxiu covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.

“Little Four, I plan to send you to Anping Camp. But if you really dislike these convoluted schemes, how can I trust that… you will grasp control of Anping Camp and not be overwhelmed by others?” Bai Qingyan asked Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi suddenly stood up, her face flashing with surprise, followed by some excitement, her ears turning red: “Eldest sister… are you really letting me go to Anping Camp to lead troops?!”

“But you dislike those convoluted things and are straightforward and easily angered. If I let you go… the small matter of not being able to control Anping Camp is one thing, but I fear you might cause bigger trouble.” Bai Qingyan leaned on the ginger-colored pillow embroidered with magpies, her tone slow and unhurried.

Bai Jinzhi became anxious: “No, eldest sister, I don’t like it, but I can learn! As long as I can lead troops, I am willing to do anything.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, her gentle eyebrows showing a smile: “Since that’s the case, I will leave the investigation of the sand found in the Northern Frontier military provisions to you. We will set off to return to Shuoyang on October 25. You have five days, and members of the Bai Mansion are at your disposal. If you run out of money, come to me for more. I want results in five days. If successful… you will depart for Anping Camp in November; if not… obediently follow me back to Shuoyang and study a few more years.”

“Eldest sister…” Bai Jinxiu was worried.

But Bai Qingyan raised her hand to signal Bai Jinxiu to be at ease: “Let her try!”

No one can do their best at their first attempt. Bai Jinzhi might have had shortcomings in handling the matter with Bai Qiyun, but who doesn’t grow slowly?

Chun Tao received a signal from her young lady and brought a gilded phoenix tsubaki wood box from Bai Qingyan’s yellow rosewood dressing table and respectfully handed it to Bai Jinzhi: “Fourth young lady, this is the only bit of private savings our young lady has. She is giving it all to you today! Don’t disappoint her.”

Bai Jinzhi’s palms were sweating nervously. She wiped her palms on her skirt before reaching out to take the heavy tsubaki wood box.

She thought it was money, but when she opened it…

Oh my, inside was an uncut ruby the size of a fist. At the bottom were silver notes, along with some extremely intricate jewelry that Bai Jinzhi had never seen before.

“The items inside have nothing to do with the Bai family… even if you use them, they can’t be traced back to the Bai family. The road is paved until here… what happens next depends on you.” Bai Qingyan’s gentle eyebrows smiled. Though she seemed warm and kind, Bai Jinzhi felt an inexplicably strong sense of pressure.

Bai Jinxiu bit her tightly held handkerchief. She couldn’t say a word. The matter of military provisions was no small issue, and it really worried Bai Jinxiu that her elder sister gave it to Bai Jinzhi to practice.

But since elder sister dared to let Little Four handle it, she should be able… to clean up the mess if necessary.

Bai Jinzhi thought about Anping Camp, about the opportunity to lead soldiers and showcase her skills. She made up her mind, closed the tsubaki wood box, held it tightly under her arm, and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest sister, Little Four will definitely get it done!”

After the sun set, the last trace of light in the sky disappeared, and the sky quickly darkened. Yellow lanterns lit up on the long streets of Dadu City.

In the most secluded courtyard at the end of Jiuzhou Alley, a dim and dark yellow light shone through the narrow lattice windows, casting shadows at the base of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

In the damp and cold room, Liu Ruofu had just taken her medicine and lay on a hard bed, shivering with cold hands and feet. The charcoal in the brazier had long gone out, the bed warmer at her feet was cold, and only a dim oil lamp flickered unsteadily.

Five days ago, Liu Ruofu learned that King Xian’s rebellion failed, and Bai Qingyan killed him with a silver spear. King Liang even cowardly pushed all the blame onto her father to save his own life. Whenever Liu Ruofu thought of the child in her belly being King Liang’s, she was filled with hatred, her teeth chattering.

Yesterday afternoon, she ordered medicine, drank it all at once, and got rid of the fetus in her womb.

When she escaped that day, Liu Ruofu did not bring a single maid with her. All the Hidden Guards arranged by King Xian to protect Liu Ruofu were men. They couldn’t attend to her closely, and Liu Ruofu was now in a dire situation. However, due to her pride as a Commandery Princess, she couldn’t bring herself to call the guards inside.

Liu Ruofu hated… She hated Bai Qingyan and hated King Liang even more. If she got the chance, she would skin and dismember King Liang.

Suddenly, the Hidden Guard called out to the Commandery Princess and then pushed open the door, rushing to her bedside.

Liu Ruofu, clutching her abdomen and trembling under the blanket, gritted her teeth and roared: “How dare you! Who allowed you to come in!”

The leader of the Hidden Guard team wrapped Liu Ruofu in a quilt: “Commandery Princess, forgive me! The Patrol Camp is surrounding us. I must take you away.”

Liu Ruofu wrapped one arm around the Hidden Guard’s neck. As he carried her out of the decrepit, damp room, she saw all the Hidden Guards her father had left to protect her crouching under the earthen walls like they were facing a formidable enemy, blades in hand, holding their breaths.

In the distance, the sound of a large force approaching echoed like thunder. At least a hundred men were coming.

Liu Ruofu’s breath caught, and her heart pounded. She felt blood pouring out uncontrollably from beneath her. She clutched her belly tightly, gritting her teeth… but had no idea where in this vast world she could escape to.

All four gates of Dadu City were sealed. Liu Ruofu, without wings, couldn’t possibly fly back to Nandu City.

Even if she could fly back, all the Nandu soldiers had perished in Dadu City. Who would protect her?

Moreover… five days had passed, and the Emperor and Crown Prince must have sent troops to Nandu by now. Even if she miraculously returned, she would only see the corpses of the Liu family.

The autumn wind was bleak, the chill biting. Liu Ruofu couldn’t shake off the feeling… of being homeless and at the end of the road.