Chapter 266: Chapter 264: 1 Chapter 266: Chapter 264: 1 After consulting with his subordinates, he could only send people to each mansion to invite the elders and have them take their children back.

The next morning, this matter became the hottest topic at each family’s breakfast table. Even Chun Xing couldn’t help but share it with Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, rinsed her mouth, and asked, “Did they mention why the fight started?”

“I heard it’s because Young Master Lu and his group were playing and singing the Bai family’s military songs at Fanque Tower. Then someone brought up the matter of the massacre of surrendered prisoners at Wengshan, and Young Master Lu got into a fight with them.” Chun Tao’s voice was very low, clearly changing her view of Lu Yuanpeng and his friends.

Regardless of how unruly they usually were, last night’s fight was to defend their eldest sister.

“Before I came back, were many people in Dadu City discussing this matter?” she asked while wrapping iron sandbags around her body.

Chun Tao hurriedly knelt to help Bai Qingyan wrap the iron sandbags around her legs. “Before eldest sister came back, some people in the city were discussing it, but it hadn’t blown up. Moreover, the people were more concerned about eldest sister’s victory.”

Chun Xing knelt on the other side, picked up an iron sandbag, wrapped it around, looked up at Bai Qingyan, and smiled. “I heard that Young Master Lu was taken back by his father, who twisted his ear.”

Bai Qingyan smiled and straightened her sleeves. She said to Chun Xing, “Chun Xing, go to Nanny Tong and get a box of glutinous rice candy, and personally take it to the Qin Mansion for Yingshuang, reminding her not to eat too much and ruin her teeth.”

Chun Xing got up, agreed, and left the room.

Seeing Chun Xing leave, Bai Qingyan said to Chun Tao, “Go tell Uncle Ping to send more people to watch the outside movements these days. Also, investigate those Jin and Wei people beaten by Lu Yuanpeng’s group.”

Chun Tao nodded repeatedly. “Yes!”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished tidying her clothes, Nanny Tong came in and bowed, saying, “Eldest sister, Nanny Jiang from the Eldest Princess’s side has returned. After paying respects to the lady, she said she is here to see you.”

Standing in front of the bronze mirror, Bai Qingyan was silent for a moment and said, “Nanny Tong, please invite Nanny Jiang in!”

Bai Qingyan turned and sat on the soft couch by the window. She heard Nanny Jiang’s voice asking Nanny Tong about her health, getting closer and closer. She lowered her eyes and adjusted her sleeves, feeling complicated.

Nanny Jiang’s return meant that her grandmother had received news of her return to Dadu City and sent Nanny Jiang here.

Logically, she should have gone to the Imperial Qing Temple to visit her grandmother yesterday, and even informed her that her seventh and ninth brothers were still alive.

But, Bai Qingyan had not forgotten that her grandmother was first the Eldest Princess of the Jin Lin family, and then their grandmother.

Of her seventeen brothers, only two remained. She couldn’t gamble their safety on her grandmother’s kindness.

The voices of Nanny Tong and Nanny Jiang grew closer…

“Eldest sister looks much better this time back. Doctor Hong said it was wrong to advise her to rest quietly before. You can see for yourself, Nanny Jiang.”

With that, Nanny Tong lifted the curtain for Nanny Jiang to enter.

Nanny Jiang wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and then lifted her skirt and came in. When she saw Bai Qingyan sitting properly on the soft couch, her eyes turned red again.

She took small steps forward and bowed to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest sister, you’re back!”

“Nanny, no need for formalities. Chun Tao, serve Nanny Jiang tea and bring a plate of refreshing snacks.” Bai Qingyan turned her head and instructed.

Chun Tao agreed and quietly left the room.

“How is grandmother? How well does she sleep? How well does she eat?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was as calm as usual, her words following the routine, which made her seem less intimate.

Nanny Jiang knew that because of Ji Tingyu, the Eldest Princess had completely cooled Bai Qingyan’s heart. But after all, they were grandmother and granddaughter… How could there be overnight feuds? How did it come to this?

“Eldest sister, won’t you go see the Eldest Princess?” Nanny Jiang’s voice was low, almost pleading.

Chun Tao served tea to Nanny Jiang and Bai Qingyan and bowed out with a smile.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, picked up the teacup, and said softly, “I will. Today, His Majesty has a banquet, and tomorrow is His Majesty’s birthday banquet, so it was delayed. The day after tomorrow, I will take my sisters to visit grandmother.”

Nanny Jiang nodded. “The Eldest Princess sent me to tell you about the matter of the massacre of surrendered Xiliang prisoners in the southern borders. She fears someone in the court will make a big deal out of it. If it blows up, you can seek help from Prime Minister Lu.”

As she spoke, Nanny Jiang stood up and took out a hairpin wrapped in fine cotton cloth from her bosom and handed it to Bai Qingyan. “You can take this to Prime Minister Lu.”

Bai Qingyan didn’t accept it. She looked up at Nanny Jiang. “Nanny, what does this mean?”

“Back then, Prime Minister Lu owed the Eldest Princess a favor. This item is from Prime Minister Lu’s late mother. He once said… If the Eldest Princess had any instructions, he would obey.” Nanny Jiang answered honestly.

She lowered her eyes and placed the teacup beside her. “Nanny, take this back to grandmother. I can manage the situation now, and grandmother should keep such a valuable item for critical times.”

Nanny Jiang looked at Bai Qingyan. She had watched Bai Qingyan grow up and naturally knew her temperament. Since Bai Qingyan said she would not take it, she wouldn’t. Nanny Jiang could only smile, rewrap the hairpin, and say, “Okay, then wait for a critical time, and you can ask the Eldest Princess for it.”

“On the fifteenth of this month, King Liang sent a painting to His Majesty for his birthday. The next day, the person who delivered the painting was made Lady Qiu. I heard… this Lady Qiu bears some resemblance to aunt Bai Suqiu.”

Nanny Jiang was startled, only hearing Bai Qingyan slowly say, “King Liang’s ruthlessness and ambition should be clear to grandmother. If this Lady Qiu is his person, it could be detrimental to our Bai Mansion…”

Nanny Jiang knew the seriousness of the matter. Clutching the hairpin, she rose and bowed to Bai Qingyan. “I will go report to the Eldest Princess immediately!”

She nodded. “Thank you for your hard work, nanny!”

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In Dadu City, the people had already heard that the Emperor of Yan, reputed to be the most handsome man in the world, was coming with his son to celebrate the Jin Emperor’s birthday. Everyone was eagerly waiting to see this handsome man.

Some bold aristocratic ladies had booked private rooms along the main street, inviting a few close friends to await the Emperor of Yan’s carriage entering the city. They secretly hoped the Emperor of Yan would enter on horseback so they could get a closer look.

Soon, the sides of the main street were cordoned off by troops. The Yan Cavalry, dressed in Yan’s black military uniforms and wearing chain mail, were riding in. Only the pitch-black eyes of the horses could be seen as they slowly entered the city.

The noblewomen, holding round fans to cover half their faces and excitedly whispering in the private room’s railing, were the first to see the Yan iron-armored cavalry. Their voices involuntarily lowered.

For some reason, seeing this cavalry entering the city first gave a sense of imminent slaughter.