Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Seeing Ren Shijie had already mounted his horse, Bai Jinzhi turned his horse around, leading Ren Shijie to gallop swiftly towards the main forces of the Yan Kingdom.

Even though Ren Shijie's body was weak and his vision blurred, the thought of openly returning to the Yan Kingdom filled him with an uncontrollable excitement. He tightly gripped the reins, riding hard behind Bai Jinzhi, fearing he might be left behind.

Xie Xun and Murong Yan were returning to Mengcheng with their army, but their speed couldn't match Bai Jinzhi's swift horse, and she quickly caught up with them.

When Murong Yan heard that it was Bai Jinzhi who had returned Ren Shijie, he immediately put on his mask and turned his horse around to personally greet them.

Upon seeing Murong Yan, Bai Jinzhi clasped his hands together apologetically, "I'm sorry, the Eldest Young Lady commanded me to bring him back, but I can't focus on anything once there's a battle, causing such a delay. I beg the Ninth Prince's forgiveness."

"Lord of Gaoyi, you are too kind. It's good that Mr. Ren can return! Thank you for your efforts, Lord of Gaoyi!" Murong Yan also clasped his hands towards Bai Jinzhi.

Lu Yuanpeng, looking at the Ninth Prince of Yan, felt a strange sense of familiarity, though he couldn't pinpoint why. As he and Bai Jinzhi turned to return after handing over Ren Shijie, he remarked, "Why do I feel the Ninth Prince of Yan looks particularly familiar?"

"Wasn't Murong Li close with you before? It's normal for a nephew to resemble his uncle..."

After saying this, Bai Jinzhi urged Lu Yuanpeng, "Let's hurry back. Today is New Year's Eve, and our fifth brother said we'll have dumplings tonight. It's our Bai family military tradition... If we spend New Year outside, the Commander will celebrate New Year's Eve with the soldiers!"

"Yes, yes! I hear there are elephant meat dumplings! I've never tried elephant meat before, wait for me!" Lu Yuanpeng rushed his horse to catch up with Bai Jinzhi.

·

As night fell, the snow began to fall more heavily.

The traces of the battle in Pingdu City from the previous night had been cleaned up, and the city was brightly lit. The remaining undamaged double-eaved houses in Pingdu City glowed with lanterns, casting circles and circles of red light amidst the vast snow.

The soldiers were still bustling under the red lights, busy clearing the houses destroyed by the giant elephants last night.

"Almost done here! Once this is cleared, we can go back and have dumplings!"

"I've heard that Young General Bai is in the infirmary wrapping dumplings and has even tucked coins into them! I must eat the dumplings wrapped by our Young General Bai; that will bring good fortune for the year!"

The soldiers, chatting and laughing, quickened their pace.

The lightly injured soldiers in the infirmary gathered together, and once the Huotou Army delivered the prepared dumpling filling, they started making dumplings by hand.

Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyu, Bai Jinzhi, Shen Qingzhu, Xiao Ruohai, Shen Kunyang, Yang Wuce, Cheng Yuanzhi, Shen Liangyu, along with Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping, were all in the infirmary, making dumplings with the soldiers for the New Year.

The soldiers of the Bai family army had long known that Bai Qingyan would come, as it was the Bai family army's tradition to spend New Year's Eve together when stationed outside.

Ever since Commander Bai Weiting, Vice Commander Bai Qishan, and the generals of the Bai family left, their Young General Bai had taken up the flag of the Bai family army, becoming their commander!

Even though Young General Bai had become the Emperor of Zhou, in the hearts of all the Bai family soldiers, Young General Bai... is still Young General Bai. They knew that Young General Bai would certainly continue the tradition of the Bai family army.

During a battle, she would surely lead by example!

After a battle, she would definitely check on the infirmary!

On New Year's Eve, she would certainly spend it with the soldiers she considered her family.

A large tent was set up outside the infirmary, and the Huotou Army built stoves outside with mud, with large pots steaming, ready for boiling dumplings.

There were too many soldiers for everyone to sit and eat dumplings with Bai Qingyan, but Bai Qingyan made an effort to ensure that more soldiers got to eat the dumplings containing coins.

The speed at which Bai Qingyan and the lightly injured soldiers in the infirmary wrapped dumplings was fast, and by the time the soldiers finished clearing Pingdu City, they could already eat piping hot dumplings upon returning.

Bai Qingyan sat at the head of the infirmary, with Doctor Hong, Bai Qingyu, Bai Jinzhi, Shen Kunyang, Shen Qingzhu, Cheng Yuanzhi, Shen Liangyu, and Yang Wuce joining in order.

Plates of dumplings were served, and many soldiers exclaimed they had eaten dumplings with coins in them, thrilled to no end.

Inside the infirmary, the burning charcoal crackled softly, and even with the door open, the soldiers did not feel cold.

This year, being away from her elders, Bai Qingyan, as the Eldest Young Lady, prepared red envelopes for Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinzhi, giving them the red envelopes before coming to the infirmary to wrap dumplings.

Doctor Hong, cheerful as ever, prepared several red envelopes to distribute among Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyu, and Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Qingyan politely refused, "Doctor Hong... I'm already married, how can I still be considered a child! I think I shouldn't take a red envelope this year!"

Doctor Hong placed a red envelope in Bai Qingyan's hand with a smile, saying, "Even though the Eldest Young Lady is married and pregnant, even when she becomes a grandmother, in my eyes, she's still a child. Being able to spend a few more New Year's Eves with the Eldest Young Lady... I must give her several red envelopes while I can. The day I go to join the King, I won't be able to give them, even if I want to!"

Under the flickering candlelight, Bai Qingyan looked at Doctor Hong, who once had gray hair and now had a full head of silver hair, probably from being in the wind and sun with the army. The old man's brown age spots were even more pronounced on his face.

Bai Qingyan gripped the red envelope tightly, holding back tears, and said to Doctor Hong, "Doctor Hong must live to a ripe old age. In the future... not only do I await your red envelopes, but the child in my belly is also looking forward to receiving your red envelopes!"

"If Eldest Young Lady has ten or eight children, can Doctor Hong's treasure chest bear it?" Bai Jinzhi remarked, weighing the red envelope Doctor Hong gave him, "I think this New Year's red envelope is heavy enough!"

Doctor Hong laughed happily at Bai Qingyan's words, "It will hold! It will hold! I'll definitely give them! Definitely!"

Turning to Shen Kunyang, Doctor Hong said, "Look, Eldest Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady are already asking for red envelopes for the little ones in their bellies!"

"I think Fourth Young Lady is right. Just for your red envelopes, Young General Bai will surely have more children. The more... the merrier!" Shen Kunyang said, laughing as he pulled out a red envelope from his chest and handed it to Bai Qingyan, "I am a sworn brother of the Vice Commander, and Young General Bai calls me Uncle Shen. Let me presumptuously consider myself a generation with the Vice Commander; this is my New Year's red envelope for Young General Bai. Please don't refuse!"

Bai Qingyan, her eyes moist, smiled and nodded, bowing as a junior to Shen Kunyang, "Thank you, Uncle Shen!"

"Fifth Young Master, this is for you!"