Bai Qihe, who had come to the capital with the Bai family convoy, brought his wife, Lady Fang, forward and respectfully performed the kowtow ceremony to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qihe had failed to properly control the clan members, allowing those with ulterior motives to swarm to the capital like a hive. He felt quite guilty about this.

He had heard that after those clan members came to the capital, they used the banner of imperial relatives to accept bribes, receiving houses and property from others as gifts… So this time he came to confess his guilt to Bai Qingyan, and more importantly, to perfect the clan laws and punish these clan members according to clan rules and regulations.

Clan law couldn’t prevent clan members from coming to the capital, but if they wanted to expel someone from the clan… There were plenty of ways to do it!

Now that Bai Qingyan was about to ascend the throne, becoming her clan members would undoubtedly make them imperial relatives. But Bai Qingyan ascending as emperor as a woman already invited criticism. If the clan members were also improper in their conduct, it would give others even more grounds to criticize Bai Qingyan. This was not what Bai Qihe wanted to see.

“Clan Leader has had a hard journey. First, go burn incense for Grandmother!” Bai Qingyan said.

“Bai Qihe doesn’t dare accept Your Majesty’s words about hardship. Bai Qihe failed to properly control the clan members, allowing these clan members who came to the capital early to act recklessly under Your Majesty’s name, accepting gifts from others. Bai Qihe has come this time… to mourn the Grand Princess, and also to punish clan members according to clan laws and regulations. Those who should be expelled from the clan will receive no mercy!” After Bai Qihe finished speaking, he kowtowed heavily to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qihe’s words were specifically meant for those clan members who had come to the capital early to take advantage.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Since that’s the case, this matter is entrusted to the Clan Leader to investigate and handle.”

“Yes!” Bai Qihe responded.

The Bai clan members in the distance, hearing the words “expel from the clan,” immediately became panic-stricken.

The Bai family ladies walked hand in hand through the main gate of the Bai residence. After burning incense and kowtowing to the Grand Princess, Bai Qingjue stepped forward and knelt to kowtow: “Grandmother, A’Jue has returned safely!”

“Grand Princess, Seventh Young Master has returned safely to the capital! If you know about the afterlife, please don’t torment yourself anymore, always blaming yourself for not protecting the young masters…” Nanny Jiang knelt beside him, crying loudly, “Seventh Young Master… he has returned! If one can return… then two or three can return! If you truly feel you’ve wronged the Bai family, then please protect the Bai family descendants from heaven, so they can all return!”

Nanny Jiang’s crying and shouting here at this moment wasn’t meant for the Bai family members to hear, but for those who came to pay condolences… the gossip-loving nobles and servants who were good at spreading rumors. She wanted these people to understand… the Grand Princess blamed herself for wronging the Bai family even unto death.

Bai Qingjue’s eyes filled with tears as he kowtowed again to the Grand Princess: “Grandmother, grandson returned late!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Nanny Jiang, who was desperately trying to clear her of the accusation of forcing grandmother to death… even trying to clear her of the charge of killing grandmother. Looking at the tearful Bai Qingjue, her heart ached, wondering if A’Yu could rush back before the grandmother’s burial.

“Madam…” Nanny Jiang stepped forward to bow to Dong Shi, saying, “Before the Grand Princess left the capital, she instructed this old servant that if she couldn’t return alive, the funeral should be kept simple…”

“Nanny.” Dong Shi helped Nanny Jiang up, “A’Bao has already told me. I understand… I will discuss with my sisters-in-law as soon as possible to come up with a plan.”

“Thank you, Madam!” Nanny Jiang bowed to Dong Shi again, tears streaming down her face.

·

Xiao Rongyan, who had originally been waiting to welcome Bai Qingyan at the city gates, suddenly received news that Prince Xihuai had also come to the capital. He had brought assassins to infiltrate the inn, intending to perish together with Great Yan’s Ninth Prince Murong Yan, but was severely wounded and captured alive. Afterward, he refused medical treatment, saying he would only allow a physician to treat him if he could see Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan hurried back to the inn upon hearing this news. At this time, Prince Xihuai was covered in blood, leaning against a red lacquered pillar in the room, tightly covering his abdominal wound that was continuously bleeding. His face was deathly pale, and his entire body was drenched in sweat from pain, looking as if he had just been pulled from water.

A physician was standing by. Prince Xihuai was in excruciating pain and terrified in his heart, resentful that Xiao Rongyan was so slow in coming, yet unavoidably worried that his guess might be true… fearing that Great Yan’s Ninth Prince Murong Yan was indeed Xiao Rongyan.

Prince Xihuai endured the pain, craning his neck and looking outside eagerly.

Some former Wei nobility who had seen Great Yan’s Ninth Prince in the Wei capital said that the Ninth Prince was Xiao Rongyan, but Prince Xihuai didn’t believe it!

Great Yan’s Ninth Prince was called Murong Yan. If he changed his name to come to Wei, calling himself Xiao Rongyan, how stupid would one have to be to choose such a similar name?

But… if Xiao Rongyan was Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, then how stupid would that make him appear!

He had actually treated the Great Yan Ninth Prince who destroyed Wei as a friend and brother. He had accepted so many treasures and silver from Xiao Rongyan, done so many things for Xiao Rongyan. When Great Wei planned to attack Yan, it was because Xiao Rongyan looked worried and said so much to him that he went to persuade his imperial brother not to rashly send troops.

If Xiao Rongyan was Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, then he… wouldn’t he have been the greatest accomplice in Great Yan’s destruction of Wei? How could he face his imperial brother!

And speaking of emotions…

Although Prince Xihuai’s past friendship with Xiao Rongyan… he admitted was partly due to coveting the treasures in Xiao Rongyan’s hands, but later… especially when Xiao Rongyan protected him on the journey to Great Liang, he truly felt they were brothers.

Prince Xihuai, born into an imperial family, had no one besides his imperial brother who treated him so well. At that moment, he truly placed Xiao Rongyan in his heart, truly considered Xiao Rongyan a real friend!

If in the end, after all this commotion, this friend he thought was real turned out to be fake…

Then he would be the biggest joke, the most ridiculous, insignificant clown.

As soon as Xiao Rongyan entered the courtyard, his subordinate approached him, clasping his fists and reporting: “Master, Prince Xihuai brought assassins and infiltrated the inn, injuring the ‘Ninth Prince’s’ arm. Prince Xihuai kept trying to remove the ‘Ninth Prince’s’ mask. Then our people discovered Prince Xihuai among the intruders and rescued him under the pretext of investigating the mastermind. Now Prince Xihuai refuses to let any physician treat him, insisting he will only reveal the mastermind after seeing Master…”

Prince Xihuai was merely using such petty tricks to buy time!

After all, the current Great Yan Ninth Prince was Great Yan’s regent, very important to Great Yan. He thought Great Yan cared greatly about who the mastermind was, so he believed Great Yan wouldn’t let him die before he revealed the mastermind. That’s why he was using death as leverage, insisting on seeing Xiao Rongyan.

“Where was he injured?” Xiao Rongyan asked.

“Master, rest assured. We still exercised restraint. It’s just a flesh wound… just that he’s lost quite a bit of blood.”

Xiao Rongyan nodded, walking across the small stone bridge with floating lotus flowers in the small courtyard, heading toward the room with its carved partition screens wide open.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan’s figure, Prince Xihuai covered his wound, summoned his spirits to sit up straight, his heart rising to his throat. He clenched his fists, trying to put on the appearance of being happy to see a friend.