Lu Jin suddenly chuckled and wrote the two characters “Li Mao” on that paper.

It seemed that Wen Zhenkang’s wife had gone to see Left Chancellor Li Mao to seek help, but what leverage could Wen Zhenkang’s wife possibly have to move Li Mao to save Wen Zhenkang?

Lu Jin wrote the two characters “leverage” on the paper. As for what leverage Wen Zhenkang’s wife held over Li Mao, Lu Jin wasn’t interested.

He put down his brush, carefully read through the paper, then moved aside the lamp shade and burned the paper to ashes, turning instead to write separate case closure memorials for both cases.

On the tenth day of the fourth month, Princess Li Tianfu of Western Liang married into the Crown Prince’s residence as the Crown Prince’s secondary consort.

Although the Crown Prince’s taking a secondary consort was a joyous occasion for the Crown Prince’s residence, it could hardly be considered joyous for the Crown Princess. Yet as the Crown Prince’s principal wife, she still had to summon her spirits to entertain the female guests.

Fortunately, last night the Crown Prince had repeatedly assured the Crown Princess that even if he married this Western Liang princess as a secondary consort, he would never favor an enemy nation’s woman. The most important woman in his heart would forever be the Crown Princess, which finally made the Crown Princess feel somewhat better.

The Bai family was in mourning, so they still needed to avoid other families’ celebratory events.

Dong Shi prepared generous gifts and sent someone to deliver them to the Crown Prince’s residence, stating directly that the Bai family was in mourning and would not attend the banquet.

Near the end of the fourth hour, Bai Qingyan was reading in her room when Nanny Tong suddenly lifted the curtain and entered, handing a letter to Bai Qingyan: “Young Miss, just now someone stuffed this letter into our gatekeeper’s hand and ran away. The gatekeeper gave the letter to Lu Ping, and seeing that the letter’s contents were of great importance, Lu Ping hurriedly brought it to you.”

Bai Qingyan closed the book in her hand, placed it on the nearby redwood table, and took the letter to open it.

Inside was just one line…

[The Western Liang Princess intends to assassinate the Crown Prince]

Bai Qingyan’s eyes darkened.

With this letter in her hands, whether true or false, as someone loyal to the Crown Prince, she would have to make a trip to the Crown Prince’s residence today.

If she didn’t go and this matter was true, if someone with ulterior motives seized upon this in the future, the Crown Prince and Emperor were both suspicious by nature and quick to distrust – they would become suspicious of her again, and all her previous efforts would be wasted.

She tapped her fingers intermittently on the small table. If she went… There was no guarantee some trap wouldn’t be waiting for her.

After much consideration, Bai Qingyan thought of Qin Shangzhi.

She put the letter away, had Nanny Tong order someone to prepare horses, and went straight with Lu Ping to the side gate of the Crown Prince’s residence to ask Qin Shangzhi to come out.

When Qin Shangzhi heard that Lu Ping had come, he hurried out from the side gate, but unexpectedly saw Bai Qingyan as well.

“County Princess…” Qin Shangzhi cupped his hands in salute to Bai Qingyan.

“Mr. Qin, no need for empty courtesy.” Bai Qingyan handed the letter to Qin Shangzhi. “Today, the County Princess of Zhenguo’s residence gatekeeper received this letter.”

Qin Shangzhi quickly took the letter and opened it. Seeing this sentence on the paper, his eyes widened.

“This… this can’t be? Does Western Liang still want to fight?” Qin Shangzhi’s mind raced.

Western Liang had been defeated and sought peace. If the marriage alliance princess became an assassin targeting the Crown Prince, then the two nations would have irreconcilable enmity and would inevitably resume warfare.

Western Liang was plagued by internal strife and could barely take care of itself. After Bai Qingyan had burned and killed one hundred thousand of their elite troops, how could they have any remaining strength to oppose Jin?

“This Princess Li Tianfu of Western Liang had an extraordinary relationship with Lu Tianzhuo, who had died previously at the post station. I won’t hide it from Mr. Qin… watching coldly that day, I felt that the Western Liang princess had a private affair with Lu Tianzhuo.” Bai Qingyan frowned slightly. “I’m just afraid this Li Tianfu wants to avenge Lu Tianzhuo.”

“With… a eunuch?” Qin Shangzhi was somewhat surprised.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “I’m in mourning and shouldn’t enter the Crown Prince’s residence. Please trouble Mr. Qin to inform the Crown Prince about this matter and have the Crown Prince be on guard.”

Qin Shangzhi nodded and put away the letter: “Whether this matter is true or false, it’s always better to be prepared. I’ll go inform the Crown Prince immediately! Please trouble the County Princess to investigate the origin of this letter.”

“Uncle Ping has already sent people to investigate. Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Qin!” Bai Qingyan nodded to Qin Shangzhi.

Seeing Qin Shangzhi hurry through the gate to find the Crown Prince, Bai Qingyan hadn’t yet had time to leave when the side gate creaked open.

A nanny from the Crown Princess’s side came out from within the gate and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “This old servant greets the County Princess.”

The Crown Princess knew Bai Qingyan’s importance to the Crown Prince, so as Crown Princess, she naturally wanted to win her over. Hearing that Bai Qingyan had come and was at the back side gate, the Crown Princess sent her nanny to invite her: “The Crown Princess says she knows the County Princess is in deep mourning, but asks if the Princess could just come sit with the Crown Princess.”

“Today, there truly is an extremely urgent matter, which is why Bai Qingyan was so presumptuous. Being in deep mourning, I won’t go in. The matter has been entrusted to Mr. Qin. The Crown Princess must be busy entertaining the ladies from various residences, so I won’t go in to disturb the Crown Princess. Please convey my greetings and apologies to the Crown Princess on my behalf.”

Seeing this, the nanny couldn’t insist further and smiled while nodding to Bai Qingyan: “This old servant will certainly convey the County Princess’s words to the Crown Princess.”

After the old nanny’s polite exchanges, just as she was seeing Bai Qingyan off, the backside gate opened again, and Quan Yu came out from within.

Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, Quan Yu’s eyes and brows were full of smiles: “This servant greets the County Princess. County Princess… His Highness has already seen the letter and requests that you enter the residence to discuss.”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s hesitation, Quan Yu added: “His Highness the Crown Prince says the County Princess need not have reservations. Being forced to take a concubine can hardly be considered celebrating a joyous occasion.”

The old nanny beside the Crown Princess heard these words; her lowered triangular eyes brightened, and her smile deepened.

This showed that the Crown Prince indeed didn’t take this Western Liang princess seriously, and didn’t even consider taking a secondary consort a joyous occasion.

Only then did Bai Qingyan dismount, leaving Lu Ping to wait outside, and followed Quan Yu, avoiding people as they went together to the Crown Prince’s study.

Originally, when the Crown Prince had met this Princess Li Tianfu of Western Liang on Youhua Road, he had already lost his appetite for Li Tianfu due to her willfulness. When the Emperor ordered him to marry the Western Liang princess as a secondary consort this time, he had resigned himself to it… but this Li Tianfu actually had a private affair with a eunuch and even wanted to assassinate him.

This matter of taking a secondary consort wasn’t a joyous occasion for the Crown Prince – it was simply a frightening affair, a disgusting affair!

When Bai Qingyan arrived at the study, all three of the Crown Prince’s strategists were present. Seeing Bai Qingyan arrive, the three men rose and bowed to her.

“Bai Qingyan greets the Crown Prince.”

“County Princess, no need for excessive courtesy, please sit!” The Crown Prince wore court robes and held that letter in his hand, his expression grim, thin lips tightly pressed.

After Bai Qingyan cupped her hands to the Crown Prince’s three strategists, she sat down.

Old Fang stroked his goatee: “This old man is wondering if this might be Great Liang’s divisive tactics? After all, Great Liang and our Great Jin may be going to war now.”

Bai Qingyan half-lowered her eyes and spoke: “Old Fang’s concerns are reasonable, but whether this matter is true or false, the Crown Prince still needs to be well-prepared.”

Qin Shangzhi nodded.

“Today, someone delivered the letter to my residence’s gatekeeper. I’ve already sent people to investigate the messenger, but I don’t know when there will be news! However, the Western Liang princess’s sedan chair is about to arrive, so it would be best to assign several more highly skilled guards to His Highness’s side.” Bai Qingyan said.