Bai Jinxiu’s tone shifted: “Only at this moment… the city gates have likely all been replaced with Fan Yuhuai’s people. Whether we want the Crown Princess and the little imperial grandson to leave the city, or for His Highness to send people to report to elder sister and General Liu about leaving the capital, we first need Xie Yuchang to gain support from his former subordinates and quietly replace the gate commanders without anyone noticing.”
The Crown Prince, panicked and flustered, nodded. Thinking only of Bai Qingyan, who was loyal to him, he called out loudly: “Quan Yu, go fetch the tiger tally! Dispatch the Crown Prince’s residence shadow guards to deliver it immediately to Princess Zhenguo!”
“Your Highness!” Ren Shijie hurried forward, “If we send the tiger tally to Princess Zhenguo at this moment, what if it gets intercepted when leaving the city gates?! Madam Qin said… whether we need to send the Crown Princess and little imperial grandson out of the city, or notify Princess Zhenguo, we need Xie Yuchang to lead the Imperial Guards to change shifts. Why not hand the tiger tally to Xie Yuchang!”
The Crown Prince nodded upon hearing this and ordered: “Send someone to deliver the tiger tally to Xie Yuchang!”
After Bai Jinxiu consulted with Ren Shijie and the Crown Prince, they decided that the Crown Prince’s safety would be handled by Master Ren, the strategist of the Crown Prince’s residence, and the guards of the Crown Prince’s residence. Believing that the more people who knew the Crown Prince’s location, the more dangerous it would be for him, she entrusted the arrangements for the Crown Prince to this Master Ren whom the Crown Prince trusted extremely, instructing that before they could be certain how many men Xie Yuchang could rally, the Crown Prince must not be allowed to enter the palace.
After a busy night, Bai Jinxiu returned to the Qin residence just before dawn.
Cuiyu had been waiting at the courtyard gate for Bai Jinxiu. Upon seeing her return, she hurried forward and said to Bai Jinxiu: “Madam, last night we went to speak with the two young ladies of the residence, asking them to take Second Master back to their maternal grandfather’s home for a visit early this morning, but… not only were they unwilling, they even spoke harshly against Madam, claiming… that Madam was planning to take advantage of their elder brother’s absence to seize the entire Qin family and bully them, making a fuss about reporting to the authorities…”
Cuiyu’s words were already quite tactful, not telling Bai Jinxiu all the foul language those two ungrateful Qin family young ladies had said, fearing it would pollute Bai Jinxiu’s ears.
Bai Jinxiu untied her cloak ties and responded with acknowledgment before saying: “Since they’re unwilling to leave, let them stay!”
“Yes!” Cuiyu responded, entering the brightly lit main room together with Bai Jinxiu.
Above the capital, dark clouds rolled without any sign of brightening. Wild winds howled, and the entire city was in a state of turmoil and panic.
·
Shen Bozhong led the unconscious Lady Liu and Cuibi holding young Master Wang out of the capital, riding horses to the Imperial Pure Nunnery.
Cuibi, holding young Master Wang, knocked on the back door of the Imperial Pure Nunnery in the deep of night and met Seventh Miss Bai Jinse, who had risen first upon hearing the news.
Although Bai Jinse was young, she had strong opinions. When servants came to report that Cuibi was holding young Master Wang and requesting an audience, she got dressed and rose while instructing that they not disturb grandmother, saying she would meet them herself.
Cuibi told Bai Jinse everything that had happened in the capital, then said to her: “Seventh Miss, Master Shen is still waiting outside. Please inform the Grand Princess and we’ll leave!”
Bai Jinse sat in silence for a long while, then called out: “Wei Zhong!”
Wei Zhong entered from outside the door curtain upon inquiry: “Seventh Miss.”
“You serve your elder sister as your master. Now… I need you to do something for my elder sister. I wonder if you’re willing?” Bai Jinse maintained the dignity of the Bai residence’s Seventh Miss, looking at the old eunuch who was missing a finger before her, her voice solemn.
Wei Zhong was startled but didn’t dare raise his eyes to look at Bai Jinse, only saying: “Does Seventh Miss need this slave to hide this from the Grand Princess?”
This response meant he agreed.
“I want you to depart immediately, with the utmost speed, to deliver news to your elder sister, who is currently campaigning against the Liang Kingdom that Prince Liang, Left Chancellor Li Mao, and Imperial Guard Commander Fan Yuhuai are colluding in rebellion… attempting to frame the Crown Prince with the crime of regicide. And along the way… spread this news! The more people who know, the better!” Bai Jinse said solemnly.
Wei Zhong’s heart jumped in shock. He hadn’t expected that the Bai family’s Seventh Miss, despite her young age, would have such formidable and meticulous thinking. She was paving the way for Princess Zhenguo to legitimately bring troops back to the capital.
“Wei Zhong accepts the command! Departing immediately!” Wei Zhong bowed and withdrew, not daring to delay, setting off at once.
Bai Jinse looked at the anxiously waiting Cuibi and said: “Cuibi, you take young Master Wang to find Second Brother-in-law! Don’t worry about me! I’ll send someone back to notify Shouyang… Please take good care of Second Aunt and young Master Wang!”
Cuibi was greatly alarmed: “Seventh Miss won’t come with us?!”
Bai Jinse shook her head: “I still have things to do. Don’t worry… I’m by my grandmother’s side, and my grandmother will protect me! I also need to properly protect my grandmother!”
Young Master Wang in Cuibi’s arms stirred. Cuibi was on the verge of tears, wanting to persuade her further but afraid that if discovered, they would face pursuit and death. She didn’t mind dying herself, but young Master Wang was Second Miss’s life, and Second Madam was also Second Miss’s life. She didn’t dare hesitate and could only bow to Bai Jinse, tearfully urging: “Seventh Miss, please take great care!”
Bai Jinse nodded: “Alright, Sister Cuibi, don’t cry! Be sure to take good care of Second Aunt and young Master Wang!”
“Seventh Miss, rest assured! Even if Cuibi dies, she will protect Second Madam and the young master!” Cuibi, holding young Master Wang, knelt and kowtowed once to Bai Jinse, then rose and ran quickly outside, not daring to delay further.
Bai Jinse watched Cuibi’s figure disappear into the night, then turned to go to his grandmother’s small courtyard.
Nanny Jiang woke the Grand Princess, saying the Seventh Miss had urgent matters.
The Grand Princess wore a sandalwood-colored outer robe embroidered with silver cloud patterns, her silver hair flowing loose, leaning against the head of the step-up bed. She instructed someone to summon Bai Jinse inside.
Nanny Jiang placed a ginger-yellow pillow embroidered with silk tree flowers behind the Grand Princess’s back, then took small steps to lift the hanging curtains and hook them onto the gold-plated copper hooks with entwined branch patterns, inviting Bai Jinse to enter.
“Grandmother…” Bai Jinse’s crow-feather-like black hair was also flowing loose. She walked quickly to the Grand Princess’s bedside, kneeling on the nanmu wood footstool inlaid with gold and silver flower longevity and fortune patterns, saying: “Grandmother, news came from the capital that Prince Liang has conspired with Li Mao and Imperial Guard Commander Fan Yuhuai to frame the Crown Prince for regicide and usurpation! Second Sister has already sent people to escort Second Aunt and young Master Wang out of the city, but Second Sister is still in the capital. Grandmother… what should we do? Will Second Sister be in danger?!”
The Grand Princess startled awake, her drowsiness largely dispelled by shock. She sat up straight in alarm: “Where are your Second Aunt and young Master Wang now?”
“Second Sister knocked out Second Aunt and had Cuibi take Second Aunt and young Master Wang to Baiwuo City to find Second Brother-in-law! Cuibi just came to report and has already left…” Bai Jinse grasped the Grand Princess’s hand that was tightly clutching the old green brocade thin quilt, looking up at her. “Grandmother, let’s return to Shouyang!”
“Little Seven, don’t be afraid!” The Grand Princess forced herself to remain calm, looking down at her granddaughter, who was like a small flower bud, reaching out to stroke Bai Jinse’s hair, asking Nanny Jiang, “Where is Wei Zhong?”