“My apologies, Crown Prince, Second Prince, General Xie!” Fu Ruoxi cupped his hands toward the three men. “Yan’s feudal princes want to kill Yan’s regent, and they also want to move against our Great Zhou emperor. Prince Regent has ordered… this general to detain all three of you. All personnel in the hostage residence are forbidden from leaving the residence or sending messages outside; otherwise, they will be punished by death, until our Great Zhou emperor safely returns to the capital!”
Upon hearing these words, the crown prince’s legs went weak as mud. Could it be that Yan had fallen into chaos? He hurriedly asked, “Then… what of our Yan emperor? What of my mother?”
Murong Ping was greatly shocked: “How is this possible? How could the feudal princes want to kill my ninth uncle?”
The ninth uncle was the pillar of their Yan nation! Had those feudal princes gone mad?
Xie Xun was the most composed. He bowed deeply to Fu Ruoxi: “May I ask General Fu if any news has come from Yan? Why would the feudal princes rebel? Are His Majesty and the regent still safe?”
Fu Ruoxi returned Xie Xun’s bow. Despite being an enemy general, Fu Ruoxi still respected Xie Xun. He said, “This general is merely following orders and knows nothing else!”
“Then please trouble General Fu to speak with Prince Zhenguo, or Prince Regent, or Prince Huguo – Xie Xun requests an audience! Even if we must die, we should at least die with understanding!” Xie Xun spoke.
“Very well! I will certainly convey this!” Fu Ruoxi nodded. “Please, gentlemen!”
The crown prince was practically carried out of the hostage residence by the Imperial Guards. The two military generals Murong Ping and Xie Xun were more composed, but were bound tightly and escorted by the Imperial Guards to the most heavily guarded imperial prison.
·
Grand Tutor Lu, Grand Tutor Dong, Wei Bugong, Lu Jin, and Zhang Duanning all gathered at Prince Zhenguo’s mansion. After hearing Bai Qingqi’s words, they were greatly alarmed.
Though Yan’s feudal princes’ taking action was unexpected, it was also reasonable…
The Great Zhou had already reduced feudal power at the beginning of His Majesty’s reign. These Yan feudal princes, seeing Great Zhou’s growing strength and fearing that if Great Zhou won the gambling arrangement their good days would be over, combined with the regent’s absolute authority in Yan’s government and his lack of mercy even toward imperial relatives, they simply decided to kill the regent now and incidentally kill Great Zhou’s emperor to cause internal chaos in Great Zhou, thus allowing them to survive in the cracks.
Bai Qingqi rubbed his fingers, looking up at the court ministers who were speculating wildly about Yan’s sudden action, cleared his throat and said, “Since you gentlemen already know of this matter, then… follow Prince Zhenguo’s arrangements! Now our Great Zhou’s top priority is this matter. Please, gentlemen, gather provisions and supplies. Once His Majesty orders Yan’s destruction, our Great Zhou should mobilize the entire nation’s strength to complete unification ahead of schedule.”
“Lord Wei…” Bai Jinxiu turned to look at Wei Bugong. “For gathering provisions this time, even if there are enormous difficulties, Lord Wei must find ways to overcome them. There absolutely cannot be any mistakes!”
“Prince Regent, rest assured!” Wei Bugong understood priorities clearly. When it was time to plead poverty, he would plead poverty, but at times like this, even if he had to take out his entire family fortune, he would find a way to get things done properly.
Yang Dong appeared at the study door with a limp, nodding toward Bai Qingyu.
“Hereafter, the capital will be entrusted to the third brother!” Bai Qingyu spoke slowly.
Bai Qingqi heard that Bai Qingyu, like himself, planned to head to Yan, and turned to look at Bai Qingyu: “The capital should be defended by you!”
“Third brother defending it will suffice!” Bai Qingyu was decisive, standing up and saying, “I’ve already had someone pack my luggage and am about to depart!”
With that, Bai Qingyu had already risen, and Grand Tutor Lu and the others hastily stood up as well.
“What a coincidence…” Bai Jinxiu also spoke up. “When I came to Prince Zhenguo’s mansion, I already had someone pack my luggage. They’re probably waiting at Prince Zhenguo’s mansion gate by now. I just need to return to Qingzhu Pavilion to change clothes and can depart. Ayu, let’s go together.”
Grand Tutor Dong could understand – Ayu and A’Bao had deep affection for each other. No matter which of them encountered danger, the other would certainly go to the rescue.
He swallowed back his words of objection, thinking that no matter what, even if fighting truly broke out, as long as Bai Qingyu had troops at his command… he was experienced from long campaigns on battlefields, and as a commanding general… no matter what, the soldiers would protect him.
Bai Qingyu bowed to his third brother and Grand Tutor Lu and the others: “Thus… I take the first step. Great Zhou depends on you gentlemen!”
Bai Jinxiu also bowed accordingly: “We entrust everything to you gentlemen!”
Bai Qingqi frowned deeply, watching Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu dump Great Zhou on him. With both of them gone, Grand Tutor Lu and the others were turning to look at him.
Bai Qingqi: “…”
He knew that both Bai Qingyu and Bai Jinxiu were worried about their eldest sister, which was why they were departing in such urgent haste.
The Yan feudal princes had made one miscalculation – they had underestimated the bonds between the Bai family siblings. If their eldest sister, Great Zhou’s emperor, met with misfortune, these brothers and sisters would never remain in the capital fighting for power and struggling over the so-called throne!
The siblings would all lead troops together and flatten Yan.
“Grand Tutor Lu, Grand Tutor Dong…” Bai Qingqi looked toward Grand Tutor Lu and Grand Tutor Dong, raising his hands in a bow to both men.
Grand Tutor Lu immediately understood what Bai Qingqi was about to say and grasped Bai Qingqi’s hand: “Prince Huguo… now that both Prince Zhenguo and Prince Regent have gone to Yan, you cannot leave as well! Otherwise, who in the capital can take charge of the overall situation?”
“Previously, when the eldest sister was not here, it was great aunt… Grand Tutor Lu, Grand Tutor Dong, and you gentlemen who took charge of the overall situation. Moreover, Prince Xingguo Ayun is still here. Now eldest sister is in Yan… her situation unclear. Officially, it should have been Ayu remaining in the capital to hold the fort, but privately speaking… staying in the capital would indeed leave me unable to eat or sleep peacefully! Therefore, I will have Ayun come forward to take charge of the overall situation and request that Great Aunt once again rule from behind the curtain. Please rest assured, gentlemen!”
Just as Bai Qingqi finished speaking, Bai Jinzhao came running breathlessly to the study entrance. Blocked by the guards outside, she shouted toward the study: “Third brother!”
Bai Qingqi’s guard lifted the cotton curtain, and he saw Bai Jinzhao at the door holding a long spear and carrying a bundle on her back, waving for the guard to let Bai Jinzhao enter.
Bai Jinzhao planted her spear in the ground, rushed into the courtyard, crossed the study threshold, and upon entering, without bothering with greetings, said: “Second sister and fifth brother have already gone to Yan. Third brother… eldest sister is in danger, I must go too!”
Bai Jinzhao had just seen Yang Dong send someone to prepare a horse for Bai Qingyu and wondered what was happening. After persistent questioning, she learned that her eldest sister might be in danger in Yan… Bai Qingyu was going to Yan. How could Bai Jinzhao feel at ease?
Bai Qingqi looked at his sister’s resolute gaze. Before he could speak, he heard his mother’s voice.
“Aqi, you and Jinzhao go… “
Bai Qingqi looked up to see the cotton felt curtain lifted again as his mother, Fifth Lady Qi Shi, supported Dong Shi as they entered. Bai Qingyun, sitting in a wheelchair, was also being pushed to the entrance.
“Greetings to the Empress Dowager…”
Chancellor Lu and the others hurriedly bowed to Dong Shi.