Chapter 248: Chapter 246: A Compassionate Heart_1 Chapter 248: Chapter 246: A Compassionate Heart_1 The Crown Prince was extremely furious. He laughed coldly, and his voice raised, “I almost forgot… Why would Bai family army need any Commander’s Seal? With just one order from her, the Bai family army would obey without question!”

Soon, Quan Yu’s trembling voice came from outside the door, “Your Highness, the men we sent to Youhua Road last night have returned!”

“Let him in!” The Crown Prince stood there, his face taut.

Shortly, two guards in plain clothes entered. After saluting the Crown Prince, they reported, “Your Highness, we were ordered to go to Youhua Road last night. Before reaching Jinghe, we encountered a messenger returning with news for you…”
The messenger knelt and, after kowtowing, spoke, “Your Highness, Minister Lu sent me to inform you that Xiao Ruojiang, who was recuperating at Youhua Road, has disappeared!”

The Crown Prince’s face turned even more grim. The feeling of being made a fool of grew stronger, “Good! Very good!”

He even wrote to the Emperor to express his support for Bai Qingyan, claiming he could control her, and requested the Emperor to reward her with the title of Princess for her achievements!

He had lost face in front of the Emperor. If the Emperor found out, the Emperor would undoubtedly scold him harshly!

The Crown Prince swept the bowls and plates off the table, and the delicate porcelain shattered all over the floor, causing the eunuchs outside the door to kneel in fear.

“Crown Prince, don’t let King Yan of Xiliang hear this! Let’s wait until General Bai returns. Then, Your Highness can personally inquire and demand an explanation from her. If she can’t provide one, it’s not too late to punish and be angry! After all, these are our speculations. Perhaps… General Bai didn’t burn the Jin-dressed dead soldiers out of pity for them as fellow countrymen?”

“A person who burned ten thousand surrendered soldiers alive, and you tell me she has a compassionate heart?” The Crown Prince stood up and threw his handkerchief onto the messy black lacquer table.

Qin Shangzhi was stunned, “Your Highness, at the Battle of Wengshan, the enemy outnumbered us. If she didn’t kill those surrendered soldiers and let them go, Xiliang would have counterattacked. There would have been no such great victory for our Jin. Your Highness, since you led the troops to conquer the southern border, you should be more aware than anyone of the dire situation then. Saying such words would alienate General Bai!”

“A general who doesn’t consider ‘me,’ why would I fear alienating her?” The Crown Prince sounded like he had heard the biggest joke. Probably extremely angered, he clenched his fist and, besides anger, there was also unwillingness in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke, “Go call Zhang Duanrui! I… will personally follow Bai Qingyan and see what she’s up to!”

Qin Shangzhi was somewhat incredulous, “Your Highness, do you mean the army will halt at Tianmen Pass today?”

“The army will proceed as usual. Have Zhang Duanrui bring more men!” The Crown Prince ordered.

“But Your Highness, doing so might be unsafe!” Qin Shangzhi did not dare let the Crown Prince risk it.

“On the land of Jin Kingdom, who could possibly harm me?” The Crown Prince decisively concluded.

Seeing the anger in the Crown Prince’s face, Qin Shangzhi knew it was not the right time to persuade him further. He looked out the window with some concern.

Similarly ravaged by the flames of war, Feng County was hardly better off than Fengcheng. Fortunately, the will of the people in Feng County remained strong. Even the children joined in the rebuilding efforts, doing what they could by bringing tea and water to the adults.

For convenience, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi both took off their armor and changed into ordinary men’s clothes.

Yet, as the two rode into the city, they still attracted considerable attention.

The guarding general knew the visitors were young General Bai from the Bai family’s army, here to pay respects to the fallen brethren in Feng County. He quickly called the city guard. The city guard, surnamed Zhou, was extremely polite to Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi. He initially wanted to accompany them to the memorial, but upon hearing they already burned paper outside the city, General Zhou invited them to dine at his residence.

After declining General Zhou’s invitation, Bai Qingyan suddenly looked back at Ji Langhua, who was dismounting from the carriage, “Miss Ji, who worked tirelessly bandaging the wounded on the front lines, deserves commendation! In the future, within Feng County… I hope General Zhou will take good care of her.”

General Zhou, being perceptive, immediately assured them he would.

Seeing Ji Langhua, who had just alighted from the carriage, salute her, Bai Qingyan nodded back. She had already noticed the people in plain clothes entering the city with them,
She cupped her fists towards General Zhou, “I need to look around Feng County a bit. There’s no need for General Zhou to accompany me!”

General Zhou repeatedly nodded, “Yes, yes, yes!”

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi entered a deserted tavern and followed a waiter to a private room on the second floor. Bai Jinzhi casually tossed a piece of silver to the waiter as a tip, instructed him to serve the best dishes quickly, and stressed that they were in a hurry.

After closing the private room door, Bai Jinzhi’s heart was pounding. She quickly walked to the window, and her eyes scanned from the straw-covered tea stall outside to the city gate, “Elder sister… indeed someone has followed us! They arrived in Feng County before us! They were sitting below just now, and when we entered this tavern, they followed in as well! There are more behind…”

Bai Qingyan poured a cup of tea for Bai Jinzhi, “Little Fourth, come over and drink some tea.”

Bai Jinzhi, whose palms were sweating with nervousness, returned to Bai Qingyan’s side, “Elder sister, with the Crown Prince’s men following us, can we really meet Ninth Brother? What if his leg… what if they discover him?”

Bai Jinzhi worried it would be difficult for Bai Qingyun to move. If the Crown Prince’s men caught him, Ninth Brother might not survive.

“Don’t be afraid!” Bai Qingyan’s serene, gentle smile eased Bai Jinzhi’s tension. She raised her hand and tucked Bai Jinzhi’s loose hair behind her ear, “There will be no danger. Trust in your elder sister… I won’t put you in harm’s way!”

Meeting Xiao Ruohai briefly while paying respects to their father in Fengcheng had emboldened Bai Qingyan to make a daring but certain decision.

Qin Shangzhi restrained himself these days from seeking her out, probably because he couldn’t figure out why she took those dead soldiers and the Huying Camp to Qiushan Pass. Smart people are often arrogant; he probably wanted to understand fully before confronting her.

But after several days, Qin Shangzhi should already be growing impatient. Even if he could endure and ponder carefully, she could have sought him out before departing for Feng County.

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Since her rebirth till now, even though Bai Qingyan temporarily protected the Bai family and achieved a great victory over Xiliang at Yun Poxing, she never once relaxed. She always kept herself alert and clear-headed.

Hatred was an unextinguishable fire in her chest. Her grandfather’s dying wish was boiling oil in her heart, constantly reminding her… to cherish this chance to live anew. She could not let down Heaven’s mercy in bringing her back. She had to proceed carefully and cautiously, avoiding risks and rash actions.

She couldn’t let her family, whom she needed to protect with her life, fall into danger.

She pinched Bai Jinzhi’s sun-kissed, thin face, “Eat well when the food arrives!”

Elder sister’s gentle, reassuring voice calmed Bai Jinzhi’s sweating palms, and gradually, she too felt a sense of peace.