Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

"Jintong is here..." Bai Qingyan put down the pen, picked up a cloth from the black lacquered gold-trimmed tray beside her, and wiped her hands, "Have a seat!"

"I'll go with Chun Zhi to make tea for Third Miss and prepare some refreshments." Chun Tao smiled as she stood up, curtsied with Chun Zhi, and then left.

Bai Jintong knelt opposite Bai Qingyan, looking at her with concern: "Eldest Young Lady, are you... pregnant?"

Bai Qingyan nodded and handed the message sent back by express from Hancheng to Bai Jintong: "This is the news sent back by Little Four and Mr. Cai."

Bai Jintong carefully read it: "Previously, that small island nation affiliated with Daliang sent emissaries to Daliang to pay tribute. Little Four had the Third Prince of Daliang receive them. This small island nation is insignificant... even less so than the former Shu Kingdom."

Bai Qingyan nodded, placed the damp cloth she used for wiping her hands aside, and continued: "This small island nation is not a threat. Mr. Cai probably thinks... since Daliang is gone, it would submit to Zhou and pay tribute. He thought... this would be a smooth way to have the King of Hancheng accompany the envoy to Dadu City and then keep him there. This way, those still hoping to restore the Liang Kingdom will cease their antics."

After listening to Bai Qingyan, Bai Jintong nodded, carefully finished reading the secret report, and then heard Bai Qingyan say: "Jintong, the Eldest Young Lady wants you to go to Yan..."

Bai Jintong looked up at Bai Qingyan: "Please be direct, Eldest Young Lady."

"That wealthiest merchant in the world, Xiao Rongyan, is none other than the Ninth Prince of Yan... Murong Yan."

Bai Jintong's expression changed, her gaze instinctively moving to Bai Qingyan's abdomen.

"Our Zhou and Yan have different governance philosophies. The two of us had agreed beforehand not to let personal feelings interfere with important matters. Eldest Young Lady wants you to remember... to regard Yan and Murong Yan as formidable opponents." Bai Qingyan solemnly reminded Bai Jintong, "Yan and Zhou, because of political differences, Yan will inevitably become the greatest obstacle to unification in the future. You must not take it lightly."

Seeing how solemn Eldest Young Lady's words were, Bai Jintong straightened her back: "Jintong understands!"

Hearing the Eldest Young Lady's words, Bai Jintong felt a sudden relief in her heart. She also understood that the story of Xiao Rongyan getting married and then dying was merely a way for him to disappear. This way, she wasn't afraid of the Eldest Young Lady keeping her pain bottled up.

At least, the person the Eldest Young Lady truly cared for wasn't dead.

However, Bai Jintong also understood that since the Eldest Young Lady could speak to her in such a way, she must have a firm determination, placing official matters above personal affairs. As Bai Jintong, she frankly should do the same.

"Now, your advantage is that Yan and Murong Yan do not know your identity. You can still conduct business under the guise of Cui Fengnian, traveling to and from Yan. We've already made some deployments in Yan previously. I'll hand the people over to you afterward... but you don't have to incorporate them all into the Cui Trading House!" Bai Qingyan's voice was steady as she instructed, "Naturally, Murong Yan, having traveled among various countries as a merchant, establishing an intelligence network for Yan, will scrutinize merchants rigorously. You must be exceedingly cautious!"

Bai Jintong nodded.

"According to our information, although Yan is not particularly short of food... the people's rations relying on Nanyan and Wei are just barely enough." Bai Qingyan said steadily as she gazed at Bai Jintong, "Although Xiliang has sought aid from the Tianfeng Kingdom, distant water cannot quench present thirst. The food issue must be resolved."

Bai Jintong nodded again.

"Therefore, you can use food... to enter Yan." Bai Qingyan softly told Bai Jintong, "The price must be high, fully embodying the stance of a profit-seeking merchant."

"Rest assured, Eldest Young Lady, Jintong understands!" Bai Jintong nodded.

"You just returned, and indeed shouldn't be burdened with another mission..."

"Now is precisely when Zhou needs people. At the very least, the identity of Cui Fengnian has some use. I'm happy to contribute to Zhou's unification." Bai Jintong smiled, thinking of the Bai family members in the southern border, her eyes reddened, "To see my brothers alive, to fulfill the Bai family's aspirations with our family, Jintong is very satisfied!"

Bai Qingyan raised her hand and patted Bai Jintong's head, fully trusting Bai Jintong.

"Today, spend time with Third Aunt. Depart tomorrow. I'll have the food prepared for you, along with the once-popular Yunwu tea in Daliang, and other goods that Yan doesn't have." She gently said to her third sister.

"Okay!" Bai Jintong replied.

On the eighth of September, just returned to Dadu City, Bai Jintong once again set out for Yan disguised as Cui Fengnian.

On the twentieth of September, Gaoyi Commandery Princess Bai Jintong swiftly returned to the Capital alone, as General Zhao Sheng's troops had not yet arrived in Dadu.

In Hancheng, Bai Jinzhi had heard that on the day the Eldest Young Lady ascended the throne, Third Brother Bai Qingqi, Seventh Brother Bai Qingjue, and Ninth Brother Bai Qingyun had all returned. Upon receiving this news, Bai Jinzhi locked herself in her room and cried uncontrollably.

Later, when Second Sister Bai Jinxiu arrived, Bai Jinzhi couldn't resist any longer and quickly rode to Dadu City, not even waiting for Zhao Sheng, instructing Mr. Cai to return to the capital with Zhao Sheng.

Bai Jinzhi's return was a grand affair. Upon entering the city, Bai Jinzhi thought about her little nephew or niece in Bai Qingyan's belly, as their Fourth Aunt, she certainly had to prepare a meeting gift.

After entering the city, she went to pick out gifts for the child in the Eldest Young Lady's belly and happened to encounter a few men grumbling about how women could now study and take imperial exams. Bai Jinzhi, enraged, started arguing with those men, who were scholarly but not well-read...

She drew her whip and gave them a lashing, which alarmed the Patrol Camp.

Coincidentally, the Patrol Camp was now led by none other than Lu Ping...

When Lu Ping and his Patrol Camp arrived, they found the crowd gathered three layers deep. Their family's Fourth Young Lady stood in the shop, blocking the entrance, skillfully wielding her whip, threatening a group of scholars caught inside. Her whip appeared soft but accurately lashed at those men's faces by threading around lacquered pillars.

Lu Ping, while admiring the advancement of the Fourth Young Lady's whip skills, hurriedly stepped forward to intervene.

After much persuasion, he managed to stop Bai Jinzhi, who, still fuming pointed her whip at one of the scholarly men holding his face, saying: "You are of no use, yet you dare to criticize! Why is it only men can be officials? Why not say only men can fight in wars? When fighting, you hide in the back. When risking your life, you hide in the back. My Eldest Young Lady has unified the world... if even women can become emperors, what's wrong with becoming an official? If you dare, compete for the top ranks and surpass women in the exams! Don't give women the chance to be officials!"

"Alright, Fourth Young Lady! Let's go see the Eldest Young Lady now!" Lu Ping whispered a warning, "Be careful about wielding your whip at the people; the Eldest Young Lady might use the family's punishment!

Bai Jinzhi: "..."

Uncle Ping sure knows which pot not to lift.

But since the topic is already open, the words must be said to completion.