“Yes!” Chun Tao nimbly rose and went outside the door to keep watch.

Qin Lang and Bai Jinxiu knelt on the prayer cushions, getting straight to the important points: “That day, I accompanied my mother-in-law to burn incense and pray for the Bai family’s safety. While my mother-in-law was chanting sutras, I was strolling around the back mountain with Wang Ge’er out of boredom when I saw Prince Baishui dressed as an ordinary commoner… I originally wanted to go over and greet him, but before I could approach, I saw Li Zhijie as well…”

As soon as Qin Lang finished speaking, Bai Jinse, who was lying beside Bai Qingyan, suddenly kicked her legs as if having a dream…

Bai Qingyan reached out to pat Bai Jinse’s shoulder, tucking the blanket around her properly.

She shifted her body to shield Bai Jinse from the flickering candlelight, lowering her eyes as she thought about what Chancellor Lu and the others had said today… about Li Zhijie’s activities since arriving in the capital, running around everywhere giving gifts.

Qin Lang glanced at Bai Jinse and lowered his voice further: “I was afraid Wang Ge’er might startle the two men and bring disaster, so I took Wang Ge’er and avoided them. When accompanying my mother-in-law down the mountain… I heard a woodcutter drinking tea at the tea stall say that he had originally planned to go up the mountain to cut firewood, but when he saw many soldiers… he was so frightened that he didn’t dare cut any wood and hurried down the mountain! So after returning, I wrote a letter to send to Shouyang. I thought… First Miss and Jinxiu already knew, but when it was mentioned just now, I learned the message hadn’t been delivered yet.”

“I intercepted the message!” Bai Qingjue looked at Qin Lang, his voice gentle and slow. “When I received the letter, the capital was still in chaos. Second Sister was leading troops to rescue Grandmother, and Elder Sister was handling the capital’s turmoil. I calculated that Prince Baishui’s forces were at most ten thousand troops, and I believed I could still control the situation.”

“As for Prince Yan…” Bai Qingjue’s gaze turned indifferent, his tone cooling. “On Great Zhou’s territory, what waves could he possibly stir up?”

A’Yun’s leg had been broken by this Western Liang Prince Yan. This… Bai Qingjue had not forgotten. Li Zhijie’s legs were merely being kept for him temporarily – there would come a day when Bai Qingjue would openly demand them back with principal and interest.

“Since A’Jue is prepared, Prince Tianshui isn’t worth worrying about.” Bai Jinxiu said, then turned to look at Bai Qingyan. “Elder Sister, now that we’ve returned to the capital, how should we handle Jin’s deposed crown prince?”

“Tomorrow I’ll personally go see the deposed crown prince…” Bai Qingyan spoke slowly.

If Jin’s deposed crown prince was willing to behave himself, Bai Qingyan would treat him like Great Liang’s Third Prince – grant him a princely title, have Great Zhou support him… send him to Liang to find a place with clear mountains and beautiful waters for house arrest, and allow his family to reunite.

Having the deposed crown prince far from the capital would also prevent him from being used by others again.

“After the enthronement ceremony ends, A’Jue… would you be willing to lead the Bai family army to Han City to assist Chen Zhaolu and Lu Yuanqing in implementing the new policies?” Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Qingjue and asked.

“Whatever Elder Sister arranges is fine. No matter what orders Elder Sister gives, A’Jue will certainly comply!” Bai Qingjue responded.

Originally, Bai Jinxiu would be more suitable, but… Wang Ge’er was too young.

After much hesitation, Bai Qingyan still decided to send Bai Qingjue.

It was just that Fourth Aunt had only recently reunited with A’Jue, and so soon she would have to separate mother and son again. Bai Qingyan couldn’t bear it.

·

Li Zhijie stood by the window, holding sunflower seeds in his hand, looking up to feed a giant parrot with blue feathers all over its body and yellow feathers on its neck. Under the flickering lamplight, the parrot’s feathers shimmered with flowing colors, clean and bright, very beautiful.

“Say this: Long live Great Zhou’s Female Emperor!” Li Zhijie teased the parrot with sunflower seeds.

The parrot immediately called out loudly: “Say this: Long live Great Zhou’s Female Emperor!”

Li Zhijie nodded with satisfaction, fed the sunflower seeds to the parrot, and stroked the parrot’s head.

This… was the gift Li Zhijie planned to present to Bai Qingyan at tomorrow’s palace banquet after the enthronement ceremony. Naturally… if Bai Qingyan could successfully ascend the throne.

Li Zhijie was naturally fond of beautiful things, whether people or pets alike.

This blue and yellow parrot had cost Li Zhijie tremendous effort to obtain. Having raised it for only a few days before giving it away was truly heartbreaking, but thinking that he was giving it to such a beauty as Bai Qingyan, Li Zhijie didn’t feel it was too much of a pity.

Li Zhijie’s subordinate entered and bowed to Li Zhijie before saying, “Your Highness, Prince Baishui’s preparations are complete. Among those Imperial Guard generals who were left in the capital to resist under the command of Jin’s Imperial Guard Commander Fan Yuhuai, many could not accept a woman ascending the throne as emperor. It’s just that Bai Qingyan has powerful military forces, so they dare to be angry but not speak out. Prince Baishui comes from the Lin imperial family and also holds military power. If he raises his arms and calls out… he still has some appeal!”

“Mm…” Li Zhijie responded carelessly. The main issue was that Prince Baishui was already fifty or sixty years old and not particularly pleasing to look at. Li Zhijie wasn’t very interested in his affairs. “How does Prince Baishui plan to proceed?”

“Your Highness, Prince Baishui plans to have people ambush inside the great hall on the day of Great Zhou’s Female Emperor’s enthronement, pulling out the firewood from under the cauldron to kill Great Zhou’s Female Emperor. As soon as the Great Zhou’s Female Emperor dies, Prince Baishui will ascend the throne that very day. Prince Baishui says… he is originally from the Lin imperial family. Although the Great Zhou’s Female Emperor had already changed the Kingdom’s name to Zhou, the people currently alive… have been Jin subjects for too long. As long as he doesn’t reduce the feudal domains, at least the remaining four princes will support his enthronement! He also hopes Your Highness can help him make connections and promote his cause.”

Li Zhijie chuckled softly, lowering his eyes to fidget with the sunflower seeds in his hand: “Fine… understood! Go on!”

Li Zhijie had done about everything he could do in Jin.

If Prince Baishui couldn’t succeed, that had nothing to do with him. He was only here to congratulate Great Zhou’s Female Emperor on her enthronement, and had even prepared generous gifts… to present to Great Zhou’s Female Emperor. This gift was fifteen cities! Naturally, Western Liang had requests of Jin.

Though the requests were real, which Kingdom could have such grand gestures, giving such heavy gifts?

They were willing to give such valuable gifts – how could they possibly conspire with Prince Baishui to harm Great Zhou’s Female Emperor? It was Prince Baishui himself who wanted to rebel, not Li Zhijie holding a knife to Prince Baishui’s throat forcing him to rebel.

If Prince Baishui could kill Bai Qingyan, that would be best…

Thus, the fifteen cities His Majesty had sent him to bring wouldn’t need to be offered.

After all, even if Prince Baishui killed Bai Qingyan, he might not be able to ascend the throne. Perhaps… it would throw the Kingdom into great chaos.

Whether called Great Zhou or Jin, only with great chaos would Western Liang have a chance to breathe.

Only then could the crisis of the Rong-Di Ghost Face Prince signing an alliance with Great Yan – that Great Yan wouldn’t be allowed to assist or share the spoils when Rong-Di attacked Western Liang – be turned into opportunity.

With Jin in self-inflicted chaos and unable to spare resources, and Great Yan unable to interfere, Western Liang could focus on dealing with Rong-Di… victory wasn’t impossible, and swallowing Rong-Di wouldn’t be out of the question!

Only if Western Liang could destroy Rong-Di would they have the capital to stand as equals with Jin and Great Yan in a three-way balance, and perhaps survive as a nation in this chaotic world.