Chapter 685: Chapter 682: Polite_1

“Second Aunt, don’t worry. With Aunt Lu taking care of Third Sister, she will be fine. She just needs to stay in the mountains to recuperate and can’t come down…” Bai Jinse covered for Bai Jintong.

“Every time I go, I can’t see Jintong. Jintong not coming back is not good!” Mrs. Liu frowned deeply.

“Aunt, are you not at ease with Grandmother? It’s Grandmother who forbids Third Sister from coming down the mountain and seeing people.” Bai Jinse stepped forward and lowered her voice to speak to Second Madam Liu. “Actually, Grandmother originally didn’t want this to be said. Because Third Sister is a young lady and her face is injured, it’s not really a contagious disease. Young ladies care about their appearance, and when their faces are injured… naturally, they avoid people to recover well. Second Aunt, you must understand and give Third Sister some leeway!”

A young lady’s face is very precious!

No wonder Jintong always avoided people.

Mrs. Liu patted her hand with a handkerchief. “I wondered why Jintong didn’t even see me, her second aunt! So, her face got injured! Is it serious?”

Bai Jinse didn’t know when Bai Jintong would return, so she came up with this explanation. Otherwise, if the third young lady of the Bai family always stayed in the mountains, not even returning when the eldest young lady had an accident, people would surely suspect something strange.

Other than this, Bai Jinse wasn’t very skilled, but she could handle this small matter to relieve the Bai family’s worries.

She looked at Second Madam Liu, sighed, and shook her head. “It’s not minor, but Aunt needn’t worry excessively! The eldest young lady already knows and is gathering good medicine for Third Sister. Don’t worry! But next time you visit Grandmother, don’t insist on seeing Third Sister. It’ll just add pressure to her. Pretend… you know nothing!”

Mrs. Liu nodded anxiously. “Don’t worry, Aunt knows what to do!”

Mrs. Liu, looking at the young Bai Jinse, raised her hand to smooth Bai Jinse’s stray hair. “You must comfort your Third Sister well. Aunt will also find good medicine for her. Understood?”

“Yes!” Bai Jinse nodded.

The Eldest Princess’s carriage had already stopped in front of the Bai Mansion. Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong helped the Eldest Princess onto the carriage. Bai Jinse, having paid her respects to Mrs. Liu, held Nanny Jiang’s arm and boarded the carriage.

“Second Madam, go back! The wind is strong!” Nanny Jiang smiled.

Standing under the still-lit lanterns in front of the Bai Mansion, Mrs. Liu said to Nanny Jiang, “Mother, please take care of Nanny Jiang!”

“Second Madam, don’t worry!”

Seeing the Eldest Princess’s carriage leave, Mrs. Liu felt as if the house suddenly became colder. She sighed and, following the advice of her personal maid Qingshu, turned back inside.

*

In Bai Qingyan’s carriage, Chun Tao laid a thick cushion, trying to make Bai Qingyan more comfortable.

Hearing Bai Qingyan asking for a book, Chun Tao first added another hidden pillow behind her. She then handed the book to Bai Qingyan, busied herself lighting incense, brewing tea, and took out the snacks that Second Madam Liu had sent early from a small box in the carriage, placing them on the small table for Bai Qingyan.

“Miss…” Lu Ping rode ahead, then slowed down to walk beside Bai Qingyan’s carriage. “I’ve sent someone to deliver the message to Miss Shen. Our caravan will travel slowly and reach near Kongtong Mountain the day after tomorrow. Miss Shen will meet us at the Kongtong staging post!”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to lift the curtain and looked at Lu Ping, asking, “Did the Crown Prince’s people catch up with the Prince of Yan, Murong Li, last night?”

Lu Ping shook his head. “No, they didn’t catch up. Should I send people to continue tracking?”

Yes, they couldn’t catch up last night.

“No need.” Bai Qingyan thought for a moment and then instructed Lu Ping again. “On the first of November, Jinzhi will go to Anping Camp. After Uncle Ping returns to Shuoyang, select some skilled guards and Hidden Guards for Fourth Sister.”

“Rest assured, Miss, I will choose the best for Fourth Sister and then let you approve.”

Bai Qingyan, thinking of the now more mature Bai Jinzhi, paused for a moment and said, “After selecting the people, let Fourth Sister check them herself. If there’s anything she finds unacceptable, let her decide. I don’t need to check, but make sure they are skilled and loyal!”

“Miss, rest assured!” Lu Ping said. Looking towards the city gate, he lowered his voice, “It seems the Crown Prince’s people are waiting outside the gate to see us off. I’ve sent someone to identify who’s there.”

“The Crown Prince must be busy with state affairs and cannot leave. It should be…” Bai Qingyan thought of the clean and gentle young eunuch, “It should be Quan Yu, the Crown Prince’s personal eunuch.”

Soon, the guard Lu Ping sent to inquire returned with news that it was indeed Quan Yu waiting outside the gate.

“Eunuch Quan!” Bai Jinzhi, grateful for Quan Yu’s guidance at the Crown Prince’s residence, reined in her horse and greeted Quan Yu with a smile.

Quan Yu quickly bowed. “Greetings, Commandery Princess Gaoyi!”

“Did the Crown Prince send you to see off my eldest sister?” Bai Jinzhi, holding the whip, looked valiant.

Quan Yu looked up at Bai Jinzhi, smiling. “Yes, the Crown Prince ordered this servant to prepare snacks for the Princess and the Commandery Princess. If you don’t mind, you can enjoy them on the way.”

“Eunuch Quan, you are very considerate!” Bai Jinzhi clasped her hands towards Quan Yu.

Seeing the carriage from the Princess of Zhen’s residence approaching, Quan Yu, carrying a black lacquered and gold-plated food box, bowed to Bai Jinzhi before taking small steps to the carriage. He respectfully bowed before approaching the carriage and said, “Princess of Zhen, the Crown Prince knows you are returning to Shuoyang today. He has sent his guards to escort you safely back. I have prepared some snacks, hoping you will accept them and have some during the journey.”

Chun Tao glanced at Bai Qingyan. Seeing her nod, she quickly got off the carriage to receive the food box.

Bai Qingyan lifted the curtain and looked at Quan Yu.

She hadn’t forgotten that Bai Jinzhi had told her about Quan Yu’s advice at the Crown Prince’s residence. Smiling, she said, “Thank you, Eunuch Quan. But the Crown Prince’s guards, I cannot take them. After the recent unrest at Wude Gate, although Dadu appears peaceful, it is still unstable. The guards should protect the Crown Prince. Please convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince, but for my peace of mind, it is better to send the guards back.”

With the Crown Prince’s guards around, Bai Qingyan would be constrained in her actions.

Furthermore, Shen Qingzhu was to meet with them, which would be inconvenient with the Crown Prince’s guards.

Before Quan Yu could reply, Bai Qingyan continued, “Thank you, Eunuch Quan, for your care during my fourth sister’s visit to the Crown Prince’s residence to deliver the message. Bai Qingyan is very grateful.”

Quan Yu showed a face of modesty and replied, “Princess of Zhen, don’t mention it. I am unworthy of such praise!”

“Eunuch Quan, you deserve the gratitude! From the bottom of my heart, Bai Qingyan is grateful to you! If there is anything the Bai family can do to assist you in the future, please do not hesitate to ask.”