Lu Ping stood at the entrance of the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess residence, watching Xiao Rongyan and his servant depart in the distance. He felt somewhat regretful in his heart. With Xiao Rongyan’s noble and steady bearing throughout his entire person, he didn’t look like a merchant at all, but rather like a learned scholar who had read extensively, with the scholarly and refined temperament of an intellectual.

If not for Xiao Rongyan being merely a merchant by status, he would be quite well-matched with their young lady.

Just now when the two walked side by side, from his view behind them, they looked like a perfect couple of golden boy and jade maiden – truly extremely beautiful to behold.

Lu Ping withdrew his gaze and entered the residence with Bai Qingyan, asking in a low voice: “Young lady, should we investigate that shop assistant?”

“No need… it should just be an accident. After all, no one knew in advance that we would take that route, and that I would happen to stop at that wine house entrance. It was just a coincidence.” Bai Qingyan said.

Lu Ping nodded and cupped his hands: “This subordinate will immediately arrange for people to spread word of the young lady’s return to Shouyang the day after tomorrow.”

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Left Chancellor Li Mao’s residence received news that Bai Qingyan would return to Shouyang the day after tomorrow. He called his two advisors to discuss. One advisor thought it would be best to take this opportunity to eliminate Bai Qingyan, but the other felt that Bai Qingyan wouldn’t be foolish enough to carry the letters with her, and that the capital Bai family had the Grand Princess there – it wouldn’t be so easy to infiltrate.

Li Mao sat beneath flickering candlelight, listening to his arguing advisors, then raised his hand to tap the table before him: “We cannot act rashly. Even now, we don’t know whether Bai Qingyan truly holds those letters in her hands. We should test her first, and we must test while Bai Qingyan is still in the capital.”

The older advisor in a blue robe said, “Left Chancellor, this humble one has a plan.”

“Speak and let me hear it.” Li Mao looked toward the blue-robed advisor.

“Since we can’t get anything out of Wen Zhenkang’s wife, and she says the other letters… she placed in the hands of a reliable person, but this person is not the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess! And we don’t know whether the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess truly holds those letters! Then why not… turn this potential enemy, the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess, into a marriage relative.” The blue-robed strategist said.

Li Mao frowned and waved his hand: “The Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess has already sworn never to marry in this lifetime, and used this excuse to refuse Great Liang’s prince. She would be even less likely to marry into the Li family.”

“Left Chancellor, what this humble one refers to is not the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess, but rather… Princess Gaoyi!” The blue-robed advisor spoke slowly.

Li Mao’s brow tightened as he lowered his eyes thoughtfully, staring at the table in contemplation.

“Princess Gaoyi has now reached marriageable age. The Left Chancellor’s youngest son is three years older than Princess Gaoyi and is not yet betrothed. In this way, the Left Chancellor and the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess would become marriage relatives. Even if the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess holds those letters, she wouldn’t act rashly.” The blue-robed advisor said.

“What if the Grand Princess and Bai Qingyan are unwilling?” Li Mao kept his eyes lowered. Although his youngest son was not a dandy, he wasn’t outstanding either. Would the Grand Princess and Bai Qingyan be willing?

“The Left Chancellor can directly request an imperial edict from His Majesty.” The blue-robed advisor smiled. “In this way, even if the Grand Princess and Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess are unwilling, it would already be a done deal. The Bai family wouldn’t dare disobey an imperial decree. When the two families become married relatives, first stabilize the Bai family, then slowly test whether those letters are in the Bai family’s hands.”

The white-robed advisor shook his head: “If the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess and Grand Princess disagree with this marriage and anger them, causing them to directly hand over the letters to His Majesty or the Crown Prince, what then?”

Hearing the white-robed advisor say this, the blue-robed advisor’s eyes brightened as he looked at Li Mao: “The Left Chancellor could have his wife enter the palace to ask Consort Yu, the Crown Prince’s birth mother, to act as matchmaker, first having the two children become engaged, and wait until Princess Gaoyi is out of mourning before proceeding with the marriage! If the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess and Grand Princess disagree with this marriage, at least there would still be room for retreat, without forcing them to take extreme measures!”

The blue-robed advisor’s eyes grew brighter as he spoke: “The Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess would certainly come to threaten the Left Chancellor to find ways to break off the engagement. At that time… Your Lordship could propose that you would only be willing to break off the engagement after seeing the letters, and guarantee not to harm Princess Gaoyi’s reputation. This way, we could also test whether the letters are in the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess’s hands. If they truly are with her, and she only seeks peace, we shouldn’t provoke her for Prince Liang’s sake, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves.”

The white-robed strategist also nodded in strong agreement: “Even if the letters are not in the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess’s hands, having the Left Chancellor’s son engaged to Princess Gaoyi wouldn’t be a loss.”

Li Mao squinted as he stared at the glass lamp shade on the table, thought for a moment, then nodded: “This… could also be considered a method!”

“Now we just need to see how to speak to His Majesty in a way that would make him agree to this marriage.”

While the two advisors were deep in thought, Li Mao had other ideas: “Actually, we don’t need to truly request an imperial edict from His Majesty. We can spread news that this minister intends to go to His Majesty to request Princess Gaoyi’s hand for my youngest son. If the Grand Princess and Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess disagree, they will certainly come to find this minister…”

The blue-robed strategist disagreed: “But what if the Grand Princess hears the rumors and quickly betroths Princess Gaoyi to someone else first?”

Hearing this, Li Mao smiled, his lips curving upward. He stared at the flame rising within the glass lamp shade before him, smiling coldly and calmly: “In that case, it would prove that… the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess does not have those letters!”

The blue-robed advisor suddenly understood.

Yes, if the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess held those letters, upon hearing such rumors, she would naturally come to find the Left Chancellor to warn him. Why would she take the hasty route of quickly arranging Princess Gaoyi’s engagement?

If the Grand Princess and Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess truly took that route, it would prove that the Bai family did not have those letters, and the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess simply learned of their existence from somewhere and was bluffing the Left Chancellor.

But Li Mao didn’t believe Bai Qingyan was so idle as to merely frighten him. What Li Mao feared was that… Bai Qingyan, who didn’t possess those letters, was using them to threaten him with a larger purpose behind it.

For example, waiting until he truly believed those letters were in her hands, then using them to coerce him into doing something.

If Bai Qingyan truly held those letters, Li Mao would believe she was seeking peaceful coexistence. As long as he didn’t provoke the Bai family for Prince Liang’s sake, there would be no loss.

The blue-robed advisor straightened and bowed toward the Left Chancellor: “The Left Chancellor’s methods are brilliant. This one admires them greatly.”

Li Mao forcefully tapped the table once with his finger: “The Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess will return to Shouyang on the 22nd. Spread the news tonight, and it must reach the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess’s residence before tomorrow morning. Only by testing this matter clearly can this minister have peace of mind.”

The white-robed strategist cupped his hands in agreement: “Rest assured, Left Chancellor. The news will be delivered to the Duke of Zhenguo’s Princess’s residence before tomorrow morning.”

Li Mao nodded and picked up the teacup before him: “Go make the arrangements!”