Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 387 - 384: Myriad Thoughts_1

Chapter 387: Chapter 384: Myriad Thoughts_1

The situation was urgent and could not tolerate any delay. Xiao Rongyan lit the thin paper in his hand, stood up, and ordered someone to call Wang Jiuzhou over.

His eyes were deep and calm. While changing his clothes, he instructed, "Prepare the horses and send a team to travel with me to Wei immediately. Zhang Yan will stay behind. Rest well today. Afterward, you will be responsible for negotiating the mining matters with the Bai family. Once you have given your instructions, head to Wei without delay."

Wang Jiuzhou repeatedly agreed, taking a cloak and putting it on Xiao Rongyan. "Master, be careful on your way back to Wei."

This was the first time that Wang Jiuzhou was unable to follow Xiao Rongyan to Wei, and he couldn’t help but worry. But he knew that the mining matters needed a reliable person, so he had to stay behind for his master.

After putting on the cloak, Xiao Rongyan turned to Wang Jiuzhou and said with a slight press of his lips, "If Miss Bai asks, just tell her that I had urgent business back in Wei."

Wang Jiuzhou nodded. "I understand, Master. Rest assured."

·

Bai Qingyan tossed and turned, unable to sleep, with countless thoughts running through her mind.

The mining operation needed to be done discreetly, which would surely require effort. She planned to forge weapons on-site, which wasn’t a troublesome affair.

But who should be entrusted with this task?

She trusted Shen Qingzhu, but Qingzhu was too young to command the situation and wasn’t particularly skilled in this area. With her mother and aunts away, Bai Mansion relied heavily on Lu Ping for stability. The clansmen... she only dared to give them the task of training soldiers openly. She couldn’t trust them with anything else.

Steward Hao’s family had served the Bai family for generations. Just standing there, others knew he was from the Bai family in Dadu, making him unsuitable.

Wei Zhong was a capable person, but Bai Qingyan absolutely dared not use him without reservation.

Currently, the only available person was the Bai family’s loyal servant, Uncle Liu, Liu Wangan. But Uncle Liu was old...

When you need manpower, you realize the shortage. That was why Bai Qingyan started training usable people after Lu Ping returned to Shuoyang.

Even though she was still in the Bai family, she already deeply felt the shortage of manpower. She wondered what it was like for Jintong and Ah Jue.

For now, she decided to let Uncle Liu take over the matter and later replace him with a more suitable person.

Having made the decision, Bai Qingyan turned over and closed her eyes. Listening to the pattering rain outside the window, the chiseled features of Xiao Rongyan inexplicably appeared before her eyes, causing her heart to beat as fiercely as it did the moment their lips touched.

Chun Tao, who was keeping watch, heard Bai Qingyan tossing and turning like flipping a pancake and asked softly, "Miss, is it the bed?"

"What time is it?" Bai Qingyan’s voice was a little hoarse.

"Miss, it’s just dawn," Chun Tao replied and then asked softly, "Shall I pour you a cup of hot tea?"

Unable to sleep, Bai Qingyan got up.

Chun Tao, hearing the movement, lifted the curtain and saw Bai Qingyan sitting up. She quickly used a gold-plated copper hook to secure the curtains on both sides.

The Boyun Courtyard was large and spacious. The west room had been instructed by Bai Qingyan to be made into a practice room.

Chun Tao brought hot tea over and helped Bai Qingyan put on the iron sandbags, watching with a heart full of pity as their young lady practiced with the red tassel spear. She couldn’t help but feel heartache for how harshly her lady treated herself to support the Bai family.

At dawn, Bai Qingyan was drenched in sweat from practicing. She placed the silver spear aside. Today, she had exerted all her strength, making her whole body sore and weak. Trembling, she unfastened the iron sandbags and said to Chun Tao, "Not enough weight, add more!"

Holding the iron sandbag that could be squeezed out of water, Chun Tao hesitated, her eyes turning red. The sandbag was already heavy enough for her to carry alone, and now more weight?

"The maid has already asked the servants to heat water. After bathing and having breakfast, how about resting on the couch for a while? We can leave for Dadu in the afternoon," Chun Tao said softly.

"I can rest on the carriage."

After raining all night, it had stopped. The bluestone floor was covered with fallen leaves, and the big tree was still dripping with water.

The Bai family’s carriage team, along with over a hundred guards sent by the Crown Prince, stood neatly outside the ancestral home, waiting for Bai Qingyan to board the intricately crafted four-horse carriage. Then, they set off towards Shuoyang City.

When Bai Qingyan returned to Shuoyang, the local Governor and Magistrate Zhou welcomed her at the city gate. When she departed, they also came to see her off at the city gate.

Magistrate Zhou found it a bit too coincidental that the Governor’s news was so timely. He arrived earlier than him and quickly went into the bamboo-framed oilcloth shelter, bowing, "After the rain, the air outside the city is filled with dampness. Sir, you came as well. The Commandery Princess just returned from Dadu and now is leaving. You even took the trouble to come and see her off."

The Governor, sitting steadily under the shelter, drinking tea, replied, "Magistrate Zhou, with a pile of cases to judge and apologies to write, you still found the leisure to come over."

Magistrate Zhou, with a face full of embarrassment, did not hide it before the Governor and said, "I dare not deceive the sir. I hope that Commandery Princess and Eunuch Quan Yu from the Crown Prince’s side will speak on my behalf before the Crown Prince. I have prepared a small gift."

The Governor shook his head, putting down his cup. "I advise you to forgo the gift. Handle the Commandery Princess’s matters well, and you will have a bright future."

Though the Governor didn’t explain why, Magistrate Zhou knew his superior, despite being accommodating, had never sabotaged anyone. Skeptical but deciding not to present the gift, he resolved.

Seeing the horse team led by Shen Qingzhu slowly exiting the city gate, the Governor and Magistrate Zhou stood up and walked towards the gate.

Bai Jinzhi saw the two officials approaching and gestured for the team to stop. They hurriedly went forward to salute Bai Qingyan’s carriage. "Farewell Commandery Princess, County Lord."

Bai Qingyan’s slender, jade-like fingers lifted the canopy curtain to look at the Governor and Magistrate Zhou. "Magistrate Zhou, the Bai Clan case is in your hands."

"The Commandery Princess is too polite. It’s my duty. I am deeply ashamed for not doing my duty before and holding court for the people!" Magistrate Zhou replied hastily, his voice choked with emotion.

"To recognize one’s wrongs and correct them is commendable." Bai Qingyan said lightly and then looked at the Governor. "The Governor seems quite leisurely."

The Governor replied respectfully, "Not really leisurely. I just hope to serve the Commandery Princess."

Bai Qingyan studied the respectful Governor and smiled. "I will be staying in Shuoyang for a long time. There will be plenty of opportunities for the Governor to work hard."

With that, Bai Qingyan let down the canopy.

The wheels of the carriage began to turn slowly, and the majestic team moved again.

The Governor and Magistrate Zhou stood aside, bowing to see Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi off. Seeing Quan Yu’s carriage passing by, Magistrate Zhou bent over humbly and shouted, "Farewell Eunuch Quan Yu."

The Governor raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at Magistrate Zhou bowing deeply, almost refusing to rise until the whole team passed, then turned and left first.

·

On April 26, Lu Ping set off grandly with the second batch of items to be sent back to Shuoyang’s ancestral home.

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