Chapter 4: King Liang_1

"Lu Ping's expression changed: 'Who?!'

Who could have bypassed the guards of the Bai Mansion and delivered the message to the eldest daughter in the inner quarters?

'I didn't see anyone, and I didn't mention the matter to anyone!'

Lu Ping lowered his eyes, staring at the tips of his shoes, deep in thought, his palms already sweaty.

If this message was brought in by an outsider, then their guard team truly deserved to die a thousand times over...

'I thought long and hard and still had doubts. Why would a message from the Southern Border be sent to me for no reason, instead of to the elders of the family? And why choose the day of the second young lady's wedding?'

Bai Qingyan's steps halted as she gazed steadily at Lu Ping, her expression as calm as water: 'Therefore, tomorrow I would like to ask you to go to Zuian Square and keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals...'

Bai Qingyan wanted Lu Ping to personally go to Changan Street to investigate the details of King Liang's assassination. It would be best if he could find out who the assassin was. In case Bai Jinxiu couldn't avoid King Liang's assassination, Lu Ping being there wouldn't let Bai Jinxiu lose her life.

Bai Qingyan couldn't tell Lu Ping directly about King Liang's upcoming assassination, so she came up with this idea.

'Lu Ping accepts the order.' Lu Ping said solemnly.

'Uncle Ping, be cautious in all things. Note any suspicious persons and check them thoroughly later, so that the whole Duke's mansion does not fall into someone else's trap.' Bai Qingyan warned.

'Don't worry, Miss. Lu Ping knows the gravity of this matter.'

Lu Ping handed the umbrella in his hand to Chun Tao, saluted Bai Qingyan, and then hurriedly left.

Seeing Bai Qingyan staring at Lu Ping's departing figure in a daze, Chun Tao softly reminded: 'Miss, shall we go back to the room and change into some bright-colored clothes? We'll be painted later, and the colorful clothes look good in the painting.'

She withdrew her gaze. Due to her long illness and weakness, her voice was light and faint: 'I'm tired. I won't join the fun... Let's go back.'

When Bai Qingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Shen Qingzhu was already waiting under the corridor.

Looking at the young and vibrant Shen Qingzhu in front of her, her eyes turned red.

Shen Qingzhu had grown up with Bai Qingyan. Though called master and servant, they were more like sisters.

At the age of ten, full of youthful pride, she implored her grandfather to take her to the battlefield. Her grandfather gave her two years, saying that if she could train a female guard team within those two years, she would be allowed to go to the battlefield. It was then that she chose Shen Qingzhu.

Later, this female guard team protected her several times on the battlefield. At the age of sixteen, she disguised as a man and went to the battlefield with her grandfather for the second time. She was pierced by an enemy spear and fell into the swift currents in the cold winter. Most of the guard team was annihilated, but they dragged her out of the river.

The military doctor said it was a miracle that Bai Qingyan survived, but it doomed her to be childless. Shen Qingzhu blamed herself for not protecting Bai Qingyan well. After returning, she volunteered to train in the army. She was valued by Vice Commander Shen and taken as an adopted daughter. However, after learning the skills, she resolutely returned to the Bai Mansion, devotedly guarding Bai Qingyan.

'Come in!' Bai Qingyan said.

Chun Tao personally lifted the curtain for Shen Qingzhu: 'Miss Shen, please.'

Dressed in a neat outfit, Shen Qingzhu followed Bai Qingyan inside and clasped her fist in salute: 'Miss, what are your orders?'

Seeing Bai Qingyan unfasten her cloak and hand it to Chun Tao, set down the hand warmer, and sit at the desk to write a letter, Shen Qingzhu didn't come too close, fearing the cold air might pass on to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan wrote quickly and, after putting down the writing brush, instructed Chun Tao: 'Chun Tao, keep guard outside and don't let anyone approach.'

'Yes.' Chun Tao lifted the curtain and went out.

Bai Qingyan sealed the letter, held it tightly, and walked to Shen Qingzhu: 'Qingzhu, take some trusted men and head for the Southern Border immediately. Travel as fast as you can! Deliver this letter to my Bai family! The matter is urgent, and I trust no one but you!'

'Yes!' Shen Qingzhu took the letter with both hands without asking any questions. Just as she was about to leave, Bai Qingyan grabbed her wrist.

'Does the young lady have any other instructions?'

Bai Qingyan's grip was strong, and her eyes were filled with immense hatred: 'If... If all my Bai family members are gone, you must obtain the records of the marching routes and battle conditions from the Bai family's official historian! Deliver this letter to your adoptive father General Shen and find my grandfather's vice commander, Liu Huanzhang... and kill him.'

Shen Qingzhu was shocked, looking at Bai Qingyan. What did she mean, all of the Bai family members being gone?

Bai Qingyan's face was grim. Shen Qingzhu knew the matter was significant and solemnly nodded: 'Qingzhu accepts the order!'

Seeing Shen Qingzhu's pale face as she left the room, Chun Tao hurried in with concern: 'Miss...'

Bai Qingyan stood by the brazier, staring at the flickering charcoal, calming her turbulent emotions.

Do your best... Leave the rest to fate.

'Chun Tao, I'm tired.' Bai Qingyan's expression was somewhat dazed.

'I will attend to you, Miss, so you can rest a bit.'

Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan remove her hairpin and change into comfortable clothes. She lay down on the couch for a short nap but was soon awakened by Nanny Qin, who had come on behalf of Mrs. Dong, to drink a bowl of bitter medicine.

Seeing Bai Qingyan frown painfully after drinking, Nanny Qin felt distressed and quickly offered hot water for her to rinse her mouth: 'Miss, bear with it a little longer. Doctor Hong said after drinking this medicine for another month, your cold illness will improve!'

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips with a handkerchief and picked a preserved plum from the box Chun Yan held, which made her feel better.

'Tomorrow is the second sister's wedding. Mother has many things to attend to. Nanny Qin, you are mother's right hand. She cannot do without you. You don't need to make four or five trips to me daily. Please tell mother not to worry about me.'

Nanny Qin nodded: 'Alright, Miss, don't worry. This old servant will convey your message.'

Seeing Bai Qingyan already picking up the military book on the small table by the couch, Chun Tao tactfully put down the box and smiled: 'Nanny, let me see you out.'

Nanny Qin saluted Bai Qingyan and, while leaving, instructed Chun Tao: 'With the festivities in the mansion tomorrow, the maids and servants might not be diligent. The steward nanny who usually attends to Miss will only return tomorrow. Remember to remind the women tending the Earth Dragon to keep the fire burning and ensure this room's brazier is warm! Miss is sensitive to cold. The girls keeping watch at night must stay alert!'

'Don't worry, Nanny Qin!' Chun Tao smiled as she saw Nanny Qin out. 'I'll personally oversee it.'

No sooner had Chun Tao seen Nanny Qin off, she saw Chun Yan with snow all over her head, running in from the entrance and quickly asking, 'Is the miss awake?'

'Awake. She just took her medicine and is reading now.' Chun Tao brushed the snow off Chun Yan's hair. 'Where did you go to get so cold? Aren't you afraid of passing it on to the miss?'

Chun Yan mysteriously smiled: 'Good news. I'll report to the miss first. It will surely cheer her up!'

Saying this, Chun Yan excitedly entered the room with the curtain, even though Chun Tao could not stop her.

'Miss!' Chun Yan saw Bai Qingyan leaning against the golden-cloud embroidered pillow, reading a book. She curtsied and said with a smile, 'Miss, His Highness King Liang, upon hearing this morning that Doctor Hong had visited, feared you might be unwell. He secretly came to the back gate of our mansion. I got the news and went to see him. His Highness, rather hesitantly, said he came to fetch the military books annotated by the Duke...'

Hearing 'King Liang,' Bai Qingyan's whole body stiffened. She almost couldn't maintain her composure, the hand on the small table gripping tightly, her nails nearly digging into the hardwood. In her past life, this was how she personally handed the annotated military books to King Liang.