Unfortunately, Bai Qingyan knew far too little about this Tianfeng nation, and in her previous life, she had never directly confronted or battled with this Tianfeng nation. Therefore, meeting Tianfeng’s ruler to probe his ambitions and examine their elephant army was very necessary.
Bai Qingyan ordered Minister Lu and her uncle, Minister Dong, to remain in the capital to oversee the situation. Additionally, as a precaution, Bai Qingyan left an imperial edict stating that if anything happened to her, her younger brother Bai Qingyu would inherit the throne.
Although Tianfeng wouldn’t dare cause trouble on this trip, it was always necessary to leave backup plans.
Only then did Minister Lu, Minister Shen, and her uncle Dong Qingping learn that Bai Qingyu was actually alive and had long ago taken control of Rongdi!
“So that’s how it is! I wondered why Rongdi suddenly submitted to the Great Zhou. It turns out… it was Fifth Young Master Bai!” Shen Jingzhong looked enlightened.
Dong Qingping’s lips moved silently for a long while without making a sound, his eyes naturally reddening. He turned his head away and dabbed at the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, nodding repeatedly with a smile, trying hard to keep his eyes wide open, afraid he might disgracefully shed tears.
His nephew’s return from the dead – how could Dong Qingping not be overjoyed?
“Ayu should be returning soon, escorting the Rongdi King back, so during my absence… if Minister Lu and uncle are uncertain about anything, you can discuss it with Ayu,” Bai Qingyan said.
“Good! Then this old minister, Minister Dong, and Fifth Young Master will wait in the capital for Your Majesty’s safe return,” Minister Lu said.
·
When news of Bai Qingyan’s planned trip to Pingyang City reached the imperial harem, several aunts couldn’t sit still and all went to Dong Shi’s palace.
“Elder sister-in-law, you must persuade A’Bao!” Third Madam Li frowned. “If A’Bao weren’t pregnant, it would be fine! But carrying a child, how can she endure such arduous travel? If something unexpected happens, we won’t even have time to cry!”
“Yes, elder sister-in-law, although A’Bao says the pregnancy is stable and she’s been carrying well without much suffering, what if something happens during the bumpy journey to Pingyang City and back? How could we bear it!” Second Madam Liu was also extremely anxious. “Elder sister-in-law, let’s quickly go persuade A’Bao! This child is pregnant for the first time and doesn’t know the severity. We must watch over her!”
Fourth Madam Wang nodded in strong agreement.
“A’Bao already has a weak constitution, and this pregnancy has had our entire family on edge. Elder sister-in-law really can’t let A’Bao go to Pingyang City!” Fourth Madam Wang kept fingering her prayer beads. “Just hearing that A’Bao wants to go to Pingyang City makes my heart panic terribly. With winter approaching… what if we encounter heavy snow?”
“Second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, fourth sister-in-law, don’t worry too much!” Fifth Madam Qi entered, supported by her maid’s hand, paid respects to Dong Shi and her sisters-in-law, then sat down. “A’Bao isn’t an ordinary young lady – she’s Great Zhou’s emperor. Even the usually steady and prudent Minister Lu says A’Bao must make this trip, so there must be reasons requiring A’Bao’s presence. Moreover, Minister Lu isn’t someone who doesn’t know the importance of such matters!”
Seeing Dong Shi pat Second Sister-in-law Liu’s hand to comfort the anxious Liu Shi, Fifth Madam Qi smiled and said to Third Sister-in-law Li and Fourth Sister-in-law Wang: “We haven’t participated in court matters and don’t understand them. If we can’t help, we absolutely mustn’t hold the child back.”
“It’s not so serious as holding her back!” Dong Shi smiled gently. “I’m also worried about A’Bao and the child, but as Fifth Sister-in-law said, A’Bao is Great Zhou’s empress. There are things she should do… must do, and we can’t stop her. What we can do is prepare more thoroughly and… guard the home front for A’Bao.”
Standing in the corridor, Bai Qingyan heard her mother’s and aunts’ words, feeling warmth surge through her heart, a very faint smile touching her features. She entered, supported by Chun Tao’s hand: “Mother and aunts need not worry – this trip won’t be dangerous.”
Liu Shi originally wanted to say something more, but remembering Fifth Sister-in-law Qi’s words about not holding the child back, she forced herself to swallow her words, her eyes full of worry.
“Perfect, all the aunts are here. I came today… to tell mother and the aunts that Ayu is returning soon,” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.
Hearing this, the aunts suddenly straightened their backs, each gripping their chair armrests tightly, their expressions showing surprise and joy, almost as if they were about to cry.
“Ayu! Ayu is coming back?!” Fifth Madam Qi’s eyes reddened as she turned to look at Dong Shi. Seeing Dong Shi’s delighted but not particularly shocked expression, she immediately understood that her elder sister-in-law already knew Ayu was alive.
“Ayu is still alive?!” Liu Shi clutched her handkerchief tightly, her heart pounding. Thinking of her children, now… the eldest branch’s son was also returning. Did that mean her children would be back soon, too?
Previously, without news of Ayu, Liu Shi had been fine, but now, suddenly hearing that Ayu was returning too, her heart inexplicably became anxious. Now, only their second branch’s children hadn’t returned!
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Fourth Madam Wang wept with joy, looking at Dong Shi. “Elder sister-in-law, now life has hope!”
“Yes!” Third Madam Li dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief. “How good – I hope all the children can return…”
Liu Shi originally wanted to say congratulations, but it was as if something blocked her throat, unable to speak. She didn’t want to dampen the mood at this moment by asking Bai Qingyan if there was news of the second branch’s descendants.
Liu Shi felt Heaven wouldn’t be so cruel to her – there was no reason why the other four branches’ children could all return while none of her children could come back!
Bai Qingyan looked at Liu Shi, who was tightly clutching her handkerchief. Although she knew the hope might be slim, still… people needed to have some hope to live.
“Second Aunt, I will never stop searching for our family members. As long as we haven’t seen the bodies… there’s always a chance,” Bai Qingyan said to Liu Shi.
Liu Shi, who had been holding back her tears, could no longer contain them upon hearing these words. She choked up and nodded: “I know! I know! Those of us still alive in our family… will never give up searching! Aunt knows!”
The aunts sat for a while longer before leaving one by one. The joyful news of Bai Qingyu’s return diluted their worries about the pregnant Bai Qingyan’s trip to Pingyang City.
Bai Qingyan discussed with Dong Shi the arrangements after going to Pingyang City. Bai Qingyan hoped her mother could hold court from behind the curtain, presiding over government affairs in her absence to stabilize the situation.
Dong Shi nodded and gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand tightly: “Rest assured, with Mother guarding the capital, plus Minister Lu and your uncle, you needn’t worry. Focus on dealing with the Tianfeng people! Although my mother lives in the imperial harem, I’ve heard that this Tianfeng nation began learning the refined speech and writing used by various nations early on – their ambitions are evident! However… you must give mother the truth: is there any danger on this trip?”