“There may be a thousand days of being a thief, but how can there be a thousand days of guarding against thieves?” The Crown Prince’s expression grew increasingly ugly as he shook the letter in his hand with a rustling sound. “The princess who came for the marriage alliance is a princess who has improper relations with a eunuch! And she wants to assassinate me! Western Liang is truly going too far!”

The Crown Prince could still tolerate her unclear relationship with a eunuch! But in the future, this woman would live in the Crown Prince’s residence, becoming his secondary consort and bedfellow, yet she might try to assassinate him at any time. How could he live peacefully?

Bai Qingyan looked at the Crown Prince: “But with just this one letter of unknown origin, we cannot prevent the Western Liang princess from entering the Crown Prince’s residence, especially since Princess Li Tianfu of Western Liang entering the Crown Prince’s residence as secondary consort is His Majesty’s intention.”

“In this old man’s opinion, Your Highness might as well proceed with welcoming the secondary consort as usual, select several guards with exceptional martial arts to closely protect Your Highness just in case, and on the other hand… when Prince Li Zhijie of Yan accompanies her into the Crown Prince’s residence, have the residence guards keep watch over him. If there’s any suspicious movement… capture him immediately, which would also serve as leverage.” Old Fang said.

The Crown Prince turned to look at Bai Qingyan: “What does the County Princess think?”

“This letter, Your Highness, the Crown Prince, could have someone deliver it to the palace and explain the letter’s origin clearly!”

“This old man believes the County Princess speaks correctly!” Old Fang nodded in agreement. “Even if nothing happens today, if this Western Liang princess ever attempts any treasonous acts in the future, before His Majesty, it absolutely cannot be dismissed as a marital quarrel. Your Highness, the Crown Prince would be justified in divorcing the Western Liang princess.”

Qin Shangzhi rolled his eyes at Old Fang.

Bai Qingyan’s reason for having this letter sent to the Emperor in the palace was to make His Majesty understand that regardless of whether anything happened when the Western Liang princess entered the Crown Prince’s residence today, the Crown Prince would not spend nights in Li Tianfu’s quarters, but this was not due to dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s arranged marriage.

Thus, after welcoming the Western Liang princess into the residence, they could simply treat her like a decorative piece displayed there, with people strictly monitoring her.

Surely they couldn’t expect the Crown Prince to risk his life to test for an assassination attempt? What sense would that make?

Qin Shangzhi realized that Old Fang was truly getting old. In Nanjiang, some of his words still made sense, but since returning from Nanjiang to the Crown Prince’s residence, he was simply… beyond words.

Qin Shangzhi wanted to speak up in opposition, but seeing that even Bai Qingyan didn’t speak, he frowned and held back.

“Your Highness, the secondary consort is about to enter the residence through the side gate. Should Your Highness, the Crown Prince, go to welcome her?” Quan Yu asked quietly outside the door.

By protocol, since it was only marrying a secondary consort, there was no need to personally welcome her.

However, if the secondary consort came from a good family background, or if the Crown Prince was willing to show face, he would go out to personally welcome her at the side gate.

But at this moment, the Crown Prince was filled with anger – how could he possibly go to welcome her?

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on the letter, put it into an envelope, and called out: “Quan Yu, come in!”

The Crown Prince handed the letter to Ren Shijie: “Mr. Ren, please trouble yourself to personally escort Quan Yu to the imperial palace and teach Quan Yu how to speak along the way.”

Ren Shijie accepted the letter with both hands and said quickly: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince, rest assured. I will certainly teach Eunuch Quan Yu to explain this matter clearly.”

“In that case, I shall take my leave first.” Bai Qingyan stood up.

“Wait a moment…” The Crown Prince turned to look at Bai Qingyan, feeling a surge of anger in his heart. “Today, you don’t need to avoid anything. Tell the Crown Princess that the County Princess of Zhenguo is an honored guest of my Crown Prince’s residence.”

The Crown Prince wanted to show the Western Liang people that even though this secondary consort was a Western Liang princess, he didn’t care about her at all.

The Crown Prince wanted to vent his anger, but if Bai Qingyan went… others would only say that Bai Qingyan was being improper, actually coming to attend someone’s wedding while in deep mourning, bringing bad luck.

“Your Highness, I know Your Highness values me highly, but my entering the residence today was already presumptuous. Appearing again in the main hall might invite criticism.” Bai Qingyan bowed to the Crown Prince. “Why don’t I wait for news in the back courtyard of the Crown Prince’s residence? After Your Highness is safe and sound, I’ll take my leave.”

“You are someone I invited. I’d like to see who dares to criticize!” The Crown Prince spoke forcefully and strode outside.

When welcoming a secondary consort into the residence, she was required to serve tea to the Crown Princess.

Hearing that the secondary consort’s sedan chair had arrived and the Crown Prince hadn’t gone to welcome her, the Crown Princess felt much better. She slowly came to the main hall, supported by her nanny’s hand, and sat in the main seat.

The Crown Prince subsequently appeared in the main hall with a group of guards and Bai Qingyan, which surprised quite a few people.

Even those dandies from the capital who were standing together with Xiao Rongyan were startled.

“How did Sister Bai come?” Sima Ping lowered his voice.

Xiao Rongyan was also quite surprised.

Making eye contact with Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan smiled and nodded slightly to her.

Prince Murong Li of Great Yan, who was seated as an honored guest to the side, put down his teacup, stood up, and smiled at Bai Qingyan.

“Your Highness…” The Crown Princess rose and bowed to the Crown Prince, her gaze falling on Bai Qingyan. Knowing why Bai Qingyan had come, she smiled warmly. “County Princess.”

“Crown Princess, today the County Princess of Zhenguo is an honored guest personally invited by me… You must treat her well and not neglect her!” The Crown Prince spoke with a smile. “In this Nanjiang campaign, it was because of the County Princess of Zhenguo that our Jin nation could achieve a great victory! That’s why we have this marriage alliance with Western Liang’s legitimate princess. Therefore… today, the County Princess of Zhenguo must be here!”

“Naturally!” The Crown Princess smiled and stepped forward to take Bai Qingyan’s hand and pat it. “I also sent my nanny to invite the County Princess of Zhenguo, but the County Princess wouldn’t come. Your Highness certainly has methods.”

Speaking thus, the Crown Princess turned to her nanny: “Go bring a chair for the County Princess of Zhenguo to sit right beside me.”

The Crown Prince still seemed unsatisfied and said, “Stop all the music. The County Princess of Zhenguo is still in mourning.”

Everyone felt uneasy, not expecting the Crown Prince to value this County Princess of Zhenguo so highly.

Old Fang wanted to say something, but frowned and held back, his clouded gaze looking toward Bai Qingyan. Seeing Bai Qingyan sitting beside the Crown Princess with lowered brows and submissive eyes, speaking quietly with the Crown Princess without showing any expression of being flattered or proud, his furrowed brow finally relaxed.

Qin Shangzhi couldn’t help but worry for Bai Qingyan. The Crown Prince’s actions were using Bai Qingyan to vent his anger. Outsiders didn’t know how to interpret the relationship between the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan, which might damage Bai Qingyan’s reputation.

Qin Shangzhi felt somewhat regretful. He should have waited until he was certain Bai Qingyan had left before giving the letter to the Crown Prince.

Soon, Li Tianfu, dressed in peach-pink wedding attire, was helped in through the side gate.

The Crown Princess displayed her full Crown Princess presence, straightening her back, and her smile became much more genuine.

When Li Zhijie reached the entrance of the Crown Prince’s residence and heard no music, he immediately felt the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Upon entering, he discovered that no one was chatting or exchanging pleasantries, and everyone was staring at their Western Liang Princess Li Tianfu with expressions of either pity or mockery.

Li Zhijie forced himself to look straight ahead, where he saw musicians holding their instruments filing out through the side door of the main hall with small steps.