Chapter 672: Chapter 669: Joining the Army Foolishly_1

“Are you laughing at your fourth sister for being a fool? Be careful, or I’ll report you to the eldest young lady, and you’ll be forbidden from eating snacks for ten days!” Bai Jinzhi pretended to be angry, reaching out to tickle Bai Jinse’s soft spots.

Bai Jinse was afraid of being tickled. She dodged around the stone table in the pavilion while laughing and pleading, “Please, forgive your younger sister, Fourth Sister. Ah! Fourth Sister! Hahaha… I’ll make it up to you!”

The girls’ laughter, clear and pleasant like wind chimes, brightened the mood of those who heard it. The Bai Mansion had not heard such joyous laughter for a long time.

They both ended up with a fine sweat from playing. The maid and servants brought over fruits, snacks, and hot tea, then quietly retreated outside the pavilion.

Bai Jinse handed a handkerchief to Bai Jinzhi to wipe her sweat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wei Zhong following the maids from Qinghui Courtyard and smiled as she signaled Bai Jinzhi to look towards the rockery. “Fourth Sister, look, that’s Wei Zhong, being led by the little maid from the Qinghui Courtyard. He’s likely heading there!”

Bai Jinzhi glanced towards the rockery and nodded. “Probably.”

“Fourth Sister, our eldest young lady always employs people based on their strengths. For instance, this Wei Zhong, whom the eldest young lady has used several times to investigate matters, and his investigations were always thorough and excellent. Yet, other than investigating, the eldest young lady never tasked him with anything else!”

“And Uncle Ping, who has been loyal to our family for years, is entrusted by the eldest young lady with matters concerning the Bai family’s survival!”

Bai Jinzhi attentively listened to her younger sister speak.

“Then there’s Steward Liu. He’s been managing our family’s business matters for years. So when it involves household business, the eldest young lady has Steward Liu handle it!” Bai Jinse poured tea for Bai Jinzhi and served her a cup. “If the eldest young lady did everything herself, even if she had three heads and six arms, she couldn’t manage it all!”

Bai Jinse put down the teapot and pushed the teacup towards Bai Jinzhi, saying, “So, Fourth Sister, instead of worrying about what you should do, think about how to use the people around you to achieve your goals.”

Bai Jinzhi looked at her young sister, suddenly feeling that she had grown up, appearing steadier than the younger members of their family.

Bai Jinse, a concubine-born daughter of the main family, had become more composed since Bai Qingyan’s injury, having spent much time by her side.

“Did you come up with all of this yourself?” Bai Jinse felt a sudden pang of shame, realizing she was not as insightful as her younger sister.

Bai Jinse shook her head. “I overheard our eldest young lady talking to our elder brother when I was young. I didn’t understand much then, but now I do.”

Bai Jinse referred to their elder brother, Bai Qingluo, Bai Jinzhi’s full-brother.

Thinking of her brother brought tears to Bai Jinzhi’s eyes. As she bowed her head in sorrow, she suddenly looked up as if something had dawned on her. “Right! How did I not think of that?”

Bai Jinse, holding a silver chopstick to serve Bai Jinzhi some snacks, was startled. “Fourth Sister?”

Bai Jinzhi grabbed the whip on the stone stool and started walking out while saying, “You enjoy the snacks. Fourth Sister has something important to do.”

Recalling her sister’s words about using the people around her, Bai Jinzhi immediately thought of the Crown Prince!

What could be more justified than receiving a direct order from the Crown Prince to investigate matters?

Seeing her fourth sister running off happily, Bai Jinse knew she had figured something out, which made Bai Jinse happy too. She then tried a new snack she found quite tasty and ordered the maid to send a box to Qinghui Courtyard. She specifically instructed, “Quietly give the snacks to Sister Chun Tao. Don’t disturb the eldest young lady!”

Since the eldest young lady was injured and bedridden, she was never idle.

Just earlier, the eldest young lady had sent someone to summon Wei Zhong to Qinghui Courtyard, likely to instruct him to investigate something.

Bai Jinse turned to gaze at the ginkgo tree where Bai Jinzhi had been looking. She hoped she could grow up quickly so she could help her eldest sister, making her less burdened.

*

Bai Jinzhi rode swiftly to the Crown Prince’s residence.

Since the two kings forced the Emperor to hand over the reins of government to the Crown Prince at Wude Gate, and the Emperor focused on recuperating, all government affairs had moved to the Crown Prince’s residence. When Bai Jinzhi arrived, a group of court officials had just left.

Although Commandery Princess Liu Ruofu’s maternal grandfather, Minister of Rites Master Wang, did not participate in the rebellion, he was still King Xian’s father-in-law. To save face, he presented a letter of resignation, citing old age and frailty. The Crown Prince, disinterested in maintaining pretense, approved it without objection.

Just earlier, a group of court officials had been debating the new candidate for Minister of Rites, arguing without reaching a conclusion. The Crown Prince, hearing that Bai Jinzhi had arrived, sent Quan Yu to summon her.

“Bai Jinzhi greets the Crown Prince Cousin!” Bai Jinzhi saluted the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince liked Bai Jinzhi’s straightforward nature and the Bai family’s closeness. He smiled and told Quan Yu, “Bring out the snacks the Crown Princess Consort sent earlier for Commandery Princess Gaoyi to taste!”

“Oh! Snacks made by the Crown Princess Consort! I’m fortunate today!” Bai Jinzhi, feeling at home, sat down boldly and stated her purpose without hesitation, “Crown Prince Cousin, I’m not here just for the snacks! Have you heard the talk in Dadu City about the young nobles joining the Northern Frontier army?”

The Crown Prince laughed, placing his teacup aside and tapping the table as he said, “How could I not? It’s absurd! They take such obvious fake names like Yu San, Ma San, Lu San. Just a short while there, and they couldn’t handle it, begging their families to find ways to bring them back!”

“I heard that the training hardship was acceptable. The problem was the grain was impure, with grit in every bite of rice, so coarse it hurt their throats!” Bai Jinzhi frowned. “Crown Prince Cousin, as someone born into a military family who has campaigned in the south and fought in the north, you and I know the hardships of battle. But those pampered in Dadu City, sleeping in comfort, don’t understand.”

The Crown Prince, hearing her mention this, lowered his gaze, gently touching his nose in silence…