Chapter 196: Chapter 194: Confidence_1 Chapter 196: Chapter 194: Confidence_1 Xiao Ruojiang’s voice trembled with excitement: “However, my brother asked me to inform you, Miss Bai, that he had no time to report to you and took people out of the camp to chase after that person. He said he wanted to help Miss Shen find the Seventh and Ninth Young Masters as soon as possible!”

Because she received news that her two younger brothers had survived, Bai Qingyan rarely showed joy on her face. She tightly clenched her fist and nodded: “I understand. If my milk brother sends someone back with a message, quietly bring the person to me immediately!”

“Understood!” Xiao Ruojiang nodded.

This time, the situation was indeed sudden. Xiao Ruojiang was overwhelmed by the news and didn’t have time to detain the person. It was his brother Xiao Ruohai who responded first when he learned about it. Using the excuse that he was investigating the Xiliang army’s layout around, he took the dead men of the Dong family who had been secretly following Bai Qingyan to chase after them.

She turned her head and instructed Bai Jinzhi again: “You just need to know about this matter. Don’t let others know… Otherwise, if the Crown Prince hears about it and reports back to the Capital, our grandmother is now in the Imperial Qing Temple… the Bai family will surely suffer!”

How could Bai Jinzhi not know the seriousness of the situation? The Emperor’s hostility towards the Bai family was already very evident during the palace banquet.

“Don’t worry, Eldest Sister! Before this matter is settled, I will remain calm. Even if it rots in my belly, I won’t say a word!” Bai Jinzhi said excitedly, finally understanding that her eldest sister came to the southern border not only to expand the Bai family’s influence in the military but also probably to rescue the Seventh and Ninth Brothers!

Although Bai Jinzhi said she would remain calm, she couldn’t help but tear up and ask Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Sister, am I dreaming? Is it really possible that the Seventh and Ninth Brothers are still alive?”

After all, Bai Jinzhi was still a child. Tears kept welling up in her eyes. The fact that she managed to hold back her tears already impressed Bai Qingyan greatly!

She nodded, squeezed Bai Jinzhi’s small hand, and softly said: “There’s no one else here at Jinghe. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry. If anyone asks, just say you miss your grandfather and father!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Bai Jinzhi’s tears spilled over. It was wonderful… The Seventh and Ninth Brothers were still alive. If Fourth Aunt knew that the Seventh Brother was alive, she wouldn’t be living like a walking corpse and desperately seeking death. She would definitely live a long and healthy life for the Seventh Brother!

After crying by the Jinghe River, Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan had just returned to the camp when they received the news that the Crown Prince would arrive in half an hour.

Bai Qingyan did not expect the Crown Prince to arrive so quickly, almost at the same time as Qin Shangzhi’s message.

To show her gratitude and loyalty to the Crown Prince, she ordered someone to take out a supreme sword obtained after seizing Tianmen Pass, intending to present it to the Crown Prince as a token of loyalty.

Bai Qingyan sat in the command tent, looking at the cold shining blade that could cut hair when blown upon. She remembered her younger brother A Yu, who was the best at using swords. In Dadu City, he had no match.

She recalled that during her first expedition, the height of A Yu did not even reach her chest. He held her reins, looked up with a toothless mouth revealing pink gums, and smiled: “Sister, if you capture an enemy general’s sword, please save it for A Yu!”

At that time, she promised A Yu a sword, but after that, she never found one worthy of A Yu. Now that she found one… But A Yu was no longer there.

She couldn’t fulfill her promise to give A Yu a sword, and A Yu couldn’t fulfill his promise to give her the most beautiful pigeon blood stone in the southern region!

Feelings of sorrow surged in her heart, and she clutched the sword with reddened eyes.

Hearing Xiao Ruojiang report that the Crown Prince’s carriage was approaching the camp’s entrance, she sheathed the sword and closed her eyes to calm her emotions.

Soon, she would have to perform well in front of the Crown Prince!

Since she sincerely appreciated the Crown Prince and knew he was coming, she had to go far out to welcome him.

Placing the sword on the most prominent rack in the command tent, she took her men and galloped on horseback toward the Crown Prince’s carriage.

Quan Yu, sitting in the carriage, saw the heroic Bai Qingyan leading a team of armored soldiers to greet him. He couldn’t help but turn his head into the carriage and say: “Your Highness, General Bai is here to welcome you! It shows that you are in her heart!”

Even though Quan Yu had served by the Crown Prince’s side since he was the King of Qi, those noble gentlemen or ladies always looked down on eunuchs! Those trying to curry favor with the King of Qi might call him kindly to his face, but they still mocked him as a castrated man behind his back.

Noblewomen like Bai Qingyan from the Duke’s household did not look at him like an object but as a person, with respectful instead of flattering eyes. This moved Quan Yu deeply, making him feel like a normal person under Bai Qingyan’s gaze.

Especially later, when Bai Qingyan, clad in armor, fought for the country and greatly defeated the allied forces of Xiliang and Yan, Quan Yu admired her even more. Thinking of the Bai family’s generations of loyal and heroic men from the Duke of Zhen’s household, although he was lowly, he still had a fervent heart. So, for the first time, without receiving silver, Quan Yu was willing to say good things about Bai Qingyan in front of the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince leaned against the round cushion in the carriage, feeling slightly unwilling about giving up military merit. However, hearing Quan Yu say this made him feel a bit more comfortable.

Soon, the sound of hooves approached closer, and the sound of reining in horses rang out. The Crown Prince knew Bai Qingyan had dismounted.

“Forgive me for not welcoming you from afar, Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan’s attitude was respectful. Her words were well-spoken without being flattering, displaying neither arrogance nor servility.

“General Bai!” Quan Yu smiled and greeted Bai Qingyan, “Congratulations on your repeated victories, General Bai!”

“Thank you…” Bai Qingyan nodded slightly, showing neither a superiority complex nor disdain for Quan Yu.

Quan Yu’s mood improved significantly, with a deeper smile in his eyes.

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The Crown Prince lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the heroic Bai Qingyan standing outside, smiling: “I just came for a look, not on any important matter. How could I trouble Miss Bai to welcome me? But… It’s good that Miss Bai is here. Accompany me for a walk along the Jinghe River.”

To win someone over, you must first bestow favors to make them realize your goodness, letting them understand their precarious situation and that they could only survive by relying on you.

The Crown Prince smiled and held Quan Yu’s hand to dismount from the carriage. His gaze swept over the team led by Bai Qingyan… to Bai Jinzhi, who held Bai Qingyan’s reins, finally landing on Bai Qingyan, standing in her military gear with a dignified presence.

Perhaps it was Bai Qingyan’s military attire that inexplicably reminded the Crown Prince of the King of Zhen, Bai Weiting, and Duke of Zhen, Bai Qishan. Though it was ridiculous, he feared the killing authority of these two men since childhood, even though he was a prince. Facing Bai Qingyan now, he unconsciously felt a bit less confident than when he first arrived.

Bai Qingyan followed the Crown Prince half a step behind, accompanying him along the Jinghe River.