Chapter 687: Chapter 6814: A Fitting Death_1

“Let’s eat!” Bai Qingyan put a piece of vegetable on Bai Jinzhi’s plate. “Finish your meal and depart early for Shuoyang. We must try to reach the city by noon tomorrow.”

After discussing the main business, Shen Qingzhu bowed to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest Young Lady, I won’t dine here. I want to see that little girl, Yingshuang, first!”

Bai Jinzhi’s face changed color. She cautiously looked at her elder sister.

“Yingshuang is still sleeping. Eat first.” Bai Qingyan said to Shen Qingzhu.

Bai Qingyan had not yet told Shen Qingzhu about Yingshuang’s injury. She had just sent Chun Tao to check, and Doctor Hong said that Yingshuang fell asleep while eating snacks and probably wouldn’t wake up for another couple of hours.

“Alright.” Shen Qingzhu nodded.

After the meal, Bai Qingyan told Shen Qingzhu about Yingshuang’s injury.

Upon learning that Yingshuang had lost an eye and often felt sleepy, Shen Qingzhu was silent for a moment. Then she consoled Bai Qingyan, “Yingshuang was seriously injured while protecting her master. She is a loyal servant. Eldest Young Lady, you don’t need to worry too much. Since we joined the Bai family and decided to follow you, we are willing to sacrifice our lives for the Bai family and you. It is something we are happy to do!”

Shen Qingzhu’s expression was solemn, and her words were sincere.

Those who had served by their master’s side since childhood were not afraid of death. They only feared dying without a cause.

“When the little girl wakes up, go see her. I plan to let Yingshuang stay with Doctor Hong in the future. First, Doctor Hong can treat her at any time. Maybe her sleepiness can be cured. Second, she can learn something from Doctor Hong as well.” Bai Qingyan said.

“This is good. She cannot serve you properly if she is sleepy all the time, which would delay things.” Shen Qingzhu nodded in agreement.

Before leaving the staging post, Bai Qingyan wrote a letter and sealed it with wax. She asked Lu Ping to send it to her uncle in Dengzhou, informing him that Bai Jinzhi would be heading to Anping Camp soon, and asked him to take care of her.

Mrs. Dong, having received the news that Bai Qingyan was returning to Shuoyang, had already made preparations.

The Earth Dragon had been fired up, and the Yingshuang charcoal was ready. They were just waiting for Bai Qingyan to come home.

Knowing that Bai Qingyan would not stand idly by during the Wude Gate chaos in Dadu City, Bai Jinzhi, worrying about her elder sister being injured, had brazenly left a letter and raced alone to Dadu.

Despite being annoyed by Bai Jinzhi’s recklessness, both Mrs. Dong and Bai Jinzhi’s mother, Mrs. Li, were pleased with the sisters’ strong bond.

The two children would return tomorrow. Mrs. Dong advised Mrs. Li to give Jinzhi a light punishment and not dwell on it.

Mrs. Li smiled and agreed, but secretly planned to break Jinzhi’s leg upon her return. Even if she didn’t, she intended to make the girl copy “Lessons for Women” thousands of times to curb her wild nature.

Kid left Shuoyang in her hands, yet she ran away, showing no sense of responsibility. If this were on the battlefield, abandoning Shuoyang after Kid entrusted it to her would lead to disaster!

Shen Qingzhu, having returned first to report, said that Bai Qingyan’s carriage would arrive at Shuoyang by noon.

Mrs. Dong was overjoyed. She instructed Nanny Qin to have the kitchen prepare Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi’s favorite dishes. She also asked Shen Qingzhu, “Did Kid get injured during the Wude Gate chaos in Dadu City?”

Shen Qingzhu clenched her fists by her side. “She got a little injured, but it’s not serious anymore.”

Mrs. Dong’s face turned pale. Containing her emotions, she said to Shen Qingzhu, “You stayed by Kid’s side all the way. You’ve worked hard… you’ve gotten quite black and thin. Go and rest!”

Shen Qingzhu bowed, saluted Mrs. Dong, and left the room.

As soon as Shen Qingzhu left, Mrs. Dong clenched her handkerchief while leaning on the kang. She lamented to Nanny Qin, “I knew it! I knew that Kid would get hurt this time! If Kid wasn’t hurt, after handling the Wude Gate chaos and leading the troops to suppress it, the Emperor and Crown Prince would have arranged a marriage to confine Kid, instead of letting her return to Shuoyang!”

Initially, Mrs. Dong couldn’t sit still. She feared that Bai Qingyan’s outstanding achievements would make the Imperial Family wary and that they would use marriage to control her daughter.

Later, when she received news that her daughter was returning to Shuoyang, she worried that her daughter might have been seriously injured. Otherwise, why would the Imperial Family let her go so easily?

“Nanny, please don’t worry. As long as Eldest Young Lady returns safely and Doctor Hong is here, everything will be fine!” Nanny Qin comforted Mrs. Dong, handing her a clean handkerchief. “Back then, when Eldest Young Lady returned injured, everyone said she wouldn’t live past eighteen. Look… tomorrow is her birthday again. Eldest Young Lady is blessed and protected by the Bai ancestors. She will be fine!”

Mrs. Dong took the handkerchief from Nanny Qin, her eyelids drooping as she wiped her tears.

“We shall make Boyun Courtyard more comfortable so that the Eldest Young Lady can nourish herself properly. Instruct Nanny Tong and the staff to serve the Eldest Young Lady meticulously to help her recover!”

Mrs. Dong nodded tearfully. “That’s all we can do!”

“Alright, Madam, please don’t cry anymore. If the Eldest Young Lady sees it, she will feel uncomfortable!” Nanny Qin told Mrs. Dong. “The Eldest Young Lady loves the soup you make the most. The ingredients are ready in the small kitchen. If you start now, it will be ready when she comes back.”

When Bai Qingping heard that Bai Qingyan was returning to Shuoyang City today, he quickly rode out to the city gates after settling matters at the camp, waiting for her return.

Eager to return home and share the news that A Yu was still alive, Bai Qingyan had rushed back. By noon on October 28, they saw the Shuoyang City gates.

From a distance, Shen Qingzhu and Magistrate Zhou, who were there to greet Bai Qingyan, stood up under the oilcloth canopy. Bai Qingping quickly mounted his horse and rode towards the approaching convoy.

After not seeing each other for two months, Bai Qingping heard about his cousin’s victories against the Nanrong Ghost General in Dengzhou, escorting the Crown Prince back to Dadu City, and pacifying the Wude Gate chaos. He was filled with admiration and respect, unable to contain his excitement. He rode towards the convoy, greeted Bai Jinzhi and Lu Ping, and then raced to Bai Qingyan’s carriage, turning his horse around and shouting, “Elder Sister!”

Reading inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan raised her hand and lifted the curtain, seeing Bai Qingping riding beside the carriage, smiling with joy.

When Bai Qingping saw his elder sister, who had lost weight and looked pale, he couldn’t keep his smile from freezing. “Elder Sister…”