Chapter 693: Chapter 690: Deciding_1

She secretly prepared some interesting storybooks for her Eldest Young Lady, hoping that she could read them occasionally to refresh her mind.

This might also help her Eldest Young Lady become more open-minded, making it easier for Mr. Xiao to join the Bai family.

Bai Jinzhi had already reported back to her Eldest Young Lady that the gift had been delivered. She got up and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Sister, the gift has been delivered. I need to go back and copy books. My mother is still angry with me for leaving without notice. I need to go back and appease her…”

Bai Qingyan was left both amused and helpless. She could only nod: “Go on, go on then…”

“Eldest Sister, please rest well! If you need anything, have Sister Chun Tao call me!” Bai Jinzhi bowed with a bright smile and then left Boyun Courtyard to go back and pretend to be copying books to placate her mother.

Just as Bai Jinzhi left, Chun Tao brought a cup of hot tea to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Young Lady, you must be tired from the journey. Nanny Tong instructed me to warm the bed before she went to check on Yingshuang. She insisted that you get some rest. Would you like to nap for a while?”

“Keep the box that Xiao Si brought here safe.” Bai Qingyan sipped her tea. “Go and see if Zeng Shanru and Steward Liu have arrived. I guess Nanny Tong might have stopped them outside. If they have arrived, invite them in.”

As Bai Qingyan suspected, both Zeng Shanru and Steward Liu had hurried back when they heard that the Eldest Young Lady had returned.

But Nanny Tong, worried about Bai Qingyan’s injuries from the journey, had stopped them as a matter of course.

Before Nanny Tong had left with pastries to check on Yingshuang, she had also reminded Chun Tao and the others to ensure that the Eldest Young Lady took a nap once she left.

“Eldest Young Lady, please take a nap. I’ll send for them. It might take a while.” Chun Tao coaxed Bai Qingyan like a child.

“No, I’ll just doze off here for a bit. Go call them!” Bai Qingyan rubbed her temples.

Chun Tao responded and left.

Perhaps it was the comfort of being home. Bai Qingyan felt much more relaxed, propped her head up with one hand, and leaned back… soon she fell asleep.

When Chun Tao sent someone to call for Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru and they came in to report, they saw their Eldest Young Lady sleeping soundly against her pillow. Chun Tao quietly approached Bai Qingyan, tucked her in with a soft woolen blanket, and then quietly left.

Seeing the bright sun shining, Chun Tao ordered the hanging bamboo curtains under the corridor to be brought down to block the sunlight. She then respectfully greeted Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru who were standing in the courtyard: “Eldest Young Lady fell asleep leaning against her pillow. Please trouble yourselves to have tea in the side room and wait for a while. The Eldest Young Lady is injured and exhausted from the journey.”

Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru were aware of Bai Qingyan’s wounds from saving the emperor. Hearing that their Eldest Young Lady had fallen asleep from exhaustion, they nodded repeatedly. Steward Liu quickly said: “Do not disturb the Eldest Young Lady. Shanru and I will have tea in the side room.”

“Thank you both for your understanding.” Chun Tao bowed.

Knowing that the Eldest Young Lady was asleep, everyone in Boyun Courtyard walked on tiptoes, speaking softly.

Even Mrs. Dong, who personally brewed medicine and brought it over, did not wake Bai Qingyan upon hearing she was asleep. She simply ordered someone to keep the medicine warm with a small heater, to be used once Bai Qingyan woke up and had something to eat.

Bai Qingyan slept deeply and was only woken up by hunger during the evening, at the hour of Xu.

Chun Tao, who was sitting on a small stool by the high table, embroidering with a frame, heard the rustling sounds from Bai Qingyan waking up. She quickly put the embroidery frame into a basket and stood up: “Eldest Young Lady is awake!”

Bai Qingyan, still groggy, opened her eyes and looked outside the window. It was already pitch dark, but the lanterns under the corridor of Boyun Courtyard were not yet lit, probably to avoid disturbing her rest.

Even inside her room, only the glass lamp on the high table was lit.

Bai Qingyan propped herself up and saw Chun Tao lighting the lamp on the small lacquered table beside her: “It’s so dark… You’re doing embroidery work without hurting your eyes?”

“It’s fine. I’m sitting under the high table, where it’s bright enough! Eldest Young Lady must be hungry… Mrs. Dong had the kitchen keep the food warm, just waiting for you to wake up to serve it.” Chun Tao lit the lamp and covered it with a glass shade, brightening up the room.

“What time is it?” Bai Qingyan asked Chun Tao.

“Responding to the Eldest Young Lady, it’s already the hour of Xu!” Chun Tao said, standing on her toes to light the lamp on the high table beside Bai Qingyan, smiling. “Steward Liu and Steward Zeng saw you sleeping so soundly, so they went to the front courtyard. They’re waiting in the mansion. Once you finish eating, I’ll send for both stewards.”

Seeing the light in Bai Qingyan’s room, Nanny Tong hurriedly ordered people to prepare a meal. The servants and maids in Qinghui Courtyard bustled about. The maids lit the lanterns under the corridor, while Nanny Tong came in to help Chun Tao light the lamps.

Bai Qingyan asked about the young girl Yingshuang, and Nanny Tong said the girl, although she had lost an eye, was content when fed well, so there was no need to waste effort comforting her.

Shortly after Bai Qingyan finished her meal, Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru arrived at Boyun Courtyard.

Chun Tao invited them in, but since Bai Qingyan was unwell and hadn’t changed clothes, Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru sat behind a screen, talking to Bai Qingyan through a clouded glass screen.

“Eldest Young Lady, rest assured, everything went smoothly in the mountains. The people on Mr. Xiao’s side were very easy to deal with.” Zeng Shanru lowered his voice, speaking cautiously due to the sensitive nature of the matter. “However, a few days ago, people from Mr. Xiao’s side requested that the first batch of weapons be given to them as soon as it’s made. They promised not to take the next batch. Since I couldn’t decide, I came back to discuss it with Steward Liu first. No response has been given yet.”

Holding a sweet white porcelain tea cup with gold inlay and bamboo painting, Bai Qingyan stirred the floating tea leaves absentmindedly without speaking.

Zeng Shanru, uncertain if he had said something wrong, glanced at the steady and calm Steward Liu. Seeing there was no adverse reaction and he was leisurely drinking tea, Zeng Shanru silently waited for Bai Qingyan’s instructions.

Daliang and the Wei Kingdom were planning to attack Yan. At present, Yan needed weapons.

After a moment, Bai Qingyan said, “Give them.”

“Understood!” Zeng Shanru responded and added, “There is one more matter. Since it wasn’t significant, the subordinates agreed on their own. The people from Mr. Xiao’s side gave us molds for making arrowheads. They want us to produce arrowheads according to their designs. I saw the mold was very intricate… with barbed designs and internal channels that cause severe bleeding if hit by the arrows. It ensures that trying to remove the arrow would lead to severe injuries. I approved it!”

Bai Qingyan nodded, “This matter was entrusted to you. If you find it feasible, you have the authority to make decisions.”