Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 520 - 517: Good Intentions_1

Chapter 520: Chapter 517: Good Intentions_1

The counselor in green did not hear Bai Qingyan’s response. He dared not lift his head.

Chun Tao carried a teacup around the dark lacquered, gold-embellished sandalwood pillar and served tea to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup and said, "I thought breaking Li Mingtang’s leg last time would have taught Li Mao a lesson. He should know by now what to do and what not to do!"

The counselor in green kowtowed. "This matter was all my doing. I beg the princess to quell her anger."

"Li Mao shoved you into this. Is he not afraid I’ll kill you?" Bai Qingyan rubbed the edge of the teacup with her fingers. She stared half-smiling at the green-clad counselor kneeling on the ground.

"The idea came from me. I deserved to be punished! Even if the princess kills me, it would be justified!" The counselor in green responded earnestly.

"Tell me, what originally prepared evidence with the Bai Clan members who were expelled... to catch my weakness?" Bai Qingyan leisurely blew hot air into her cup.

"Our people are unfamiliar with Shuoyang. So, we just wanted to see if the expelled Bai Clan members had any methods. But their ideas were petty and trivial, mainly trying to seize on women’s chastity. Filthy and not worth mentioning," the counselor in green answered truthfully.

Bai Qingyan nodded. "Since Li Mao sent you here, stay."

The counselor in green was taken aback, not understanding if Bai Qingyan meant to spare his life or something else.

"What is your name?" Bai Qingyan asked.

"Replying to the princess, I am... Cai Ziyuan," Cai Ziyuan responded in a low voice.

"Since you are Li Mao’s advisor, you must be quite knowledgeable. Stay in the military camp and teach the new recruits," Bai Qingyan ordered Chun Tao, "No need for the two guards following Mr. Cai to leave. Let them stay and keep Mr. Cai company, so he won’t feel lonely and unfamiliar with the place."

Cai Ziyuan closed his eyes briefly, understanding... As an advisor who entered Shuoyang City and saw the situation of the Bai family, hearing the locals eagerly sending their men and children to the new military camp, it was clear to Bai Qingyan what she aimed for in the future. Cai Ziyuan returned to see the Left Prime Minister, suggesting ways to catch Bai Qingyan’s weaknesses. She naturally wouldn’t let him go.

"Mr. Cai, is this arrangement satisfactory?" Bai Qingyan asked with a smile.

"I adhere to the princess’s instructions!" Cai Ziyuan kowtowed.

"Then I’ll send someone to inform the Left Prime Minister and thank him for his kind gesture in sending Mr. Cai," Bai Qingyan put down the teacup and walked out of the main hall unhurriedly.

Steward Hao saw Bai Qingyan’s gaze and quickly approached, "Eldest Young Lady..."

"Send someone to stay close and take good care of Mr. Cai. And the two guards from the Left Prime Minister’s residence, send them to the new recruits’ camp and have Shen Yanzong take good care of them!" Bai Qingyan said, then looked back at Cai Ziyuan still kneeling, "Send someone to the Left Prime Minister’s residence to inform them. Mr. Cai will stay in Shuoyang from now on. Thank the Left Prime Minister for his kindness. I am very grateful."

"Following Eldest Young Lady’s instructions!" Steward Hao replied.

In Bai Qingyan’s military camp, there was a scarcity of teachers for literacy and capable hands to train new recruits. Since Li Mao had sent people to Shuoyang, not using them would not do justice to his intentions.

Bai Qingyan’s mind was filled with past incidents of Rong plundering. They typically happened around September, when the Jin Kingdom’s people were done with autumn harvest, and the Rong people were preparing for winter. They took advantage of their robust warhorses to raid.

It was already late July. In less than two months, the Dengzhou Army would likely face a hard battle. Whether her uncle would follow her advice to evacuate civilians and abandon the city remained unknown.

When Bai Qingyan returned to Boyun Courtyard from the front yard, Bai Jinzhi was sitting anxiously under a tree in the courtyard, waiting for Bai Qingyan.

Seeing Bai Qingyan return, Bai Jinzhi hurriedly put down the sweet white porcelain bowl holding sour plum soup and ran towards Bai Qingyan, "Eldest Young Lady!"

"Waiting here specifically for me?" Bai Qingyan walked towards the main room with Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi nodded, obediently lifting the Xiangfei bamboo curtain. After Bai Qingyan went inside, she followed in. "Last time, Eldest Young Lady asked me to deal with Bai Qiyun and not to confront the clan members directly, right?"

Seeing Bai Qingyan sitting by the soft couch by the window, Bai Jinzhi also approached and sat opposite her. Leaning carelessly on the black lacquered table, she said, "I’ve been racking my brains these days and finally thought of a good plan! I plan to have Uncle Liu set a trap to lure Bai Qiyun out of the city... and have someone pretend to be bandits to kill Bai Qiyun in one strike! Bai Qiyun died under the bandit’s knife, so it has nothing to do with us!"

Bai Qingyan did not discourage Bai Jinzhi but asked, "Bai Qiyun was previously robbed by bandits. Would he willingly leave the city? What kind of trap do you intend to have Uncle Liu set? How will you set it up? Have you thought about it?"

Bai Jinzhi was a bit stumped by Bai Qingyan’s questions. After thinking it over, she said, "This Steward Wu said that Bai Qiyun seems very interested in knowing if we found the two silver notes that he had swindled from our Bai family back in Dadu City during our last bandit eradication. How about I use this matter to set the trap?"

Bai Qingyan nodded, "Of course you can. Take your time to think about how to set the trap. No need to rush. You can use Steward Hao and Uncle Liu. I trust you."

Hearing Bai Qingyan say "I trust you," Bai Jinzhi couldn’t help but straighten her back. The warmth in her elder sister’s eyes was not merely to coax her but genuine trust, as always. She had to do well to live up to it.

"Oh! I almost forgot about the main matter!" Bai Jinzhi quickly pulled out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Bai Qingyan. "I went to the training ground early this morning. On my way back, I ran into an urgent Yue Shi. Yue Shi said Mr. Xiao asked him to deliver a letter to the elder sister. Seeing his urgency, I volunteered to bring it to you."

Bai Qingyan took the letter. Ever since she and Xiao Rongyan formally committed to each other, she was wary of Bai Jinzhi seeing something written by Xiao Rongyan. She said to Bai Jinzhi, "If there’s nothing else, you should head back and spend more time with our third aunt."

"Are you going to sneak a peek at the letter, Eldest Young Lady! Alright... I’m leaving!" Bai Jinzhi teased as she bowed to Bai Qingyan, then cheerfully ran out of Boyun Courtyard, heading to her mother’s courtyard.

By the transparent lattice window, Bai Qingyan watched Bai Jinzhi exit the courtyard. Only then did she open the letter in her hand.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan’s iron-drawn strokes, Bai Qingyan’s brows softened with a smile.

In the letter, Xiao Rongyan told Bai Qingyan that he had been racking his brains but couldn’t find an excuse to visit. He couldn’t sneak into the Bai Mansion at night, nor could he come too often. He missed her greatly.

He said he would set off for Rong early tomorrow morning. Today was busy, so he might not be able to bid farewell in person. He hoped Bai Qingyan would take care of herself and not overwork until his return to Shuoyang.

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