Qin Dezhao clenched his teeth, his eyes red as he looked at Bai Qingyan: “What does Miss Bai mean by these words? I don’t understand.”
“It doesn’t matter if Marquis Zhongyong doesn’t understand. Soon… Prince Liang will help you understand!” Bai Qingyan had no desire to waste words with Qin Dezhao. She stood up and handed the brocade silk to Xiao Ruojiang, ordering him to put it in the food box.
“Marquis Zhongyong, take care of yourself!”
Seeing Bai Qingyan about to leave, Qin Dezhao’s palms grew tense as he shouted: “Miss Bai!”
But Bai Qingyan’s steps didn’t stop. Qin Dezhao’s heart panicked, and he no longer showed the composed calm he had displayed earlier.
He staggered to his feet and rushed to the door, but could only watch Bai Qingyan’s resolute departing figure. Her manner suggested she truly didn’t want to learn anything from him or trick anything out of him.
Qin Dezhao was momentarily frantic and confused, gripping the cell bars tightly with both hands as he shouted: “Bai Qingyan! I am Qin Lang’s father, Bai Jinxiu’s father-in-law! If something happens to me… do you think those two can escape?!”
These words indeed made Bai Qingyan stop. She turned back, her profound and fathomless gaze flickering in the lamplight: “That’s exactly why we should be grateful that Marquis Zhongyong’s wife made such a fuss, forcing our Bai family to go through such trouble to have them move out of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion! Qin Lang has the praise of His Majesty and the Empress. If he righteously reports his father by submitting this list, with my grandmother, the Grand Princess, speaking on his behalf… Qin Lang would deservedly become Marquis Zhongyong. In the future, I will certainly have my Second Sister properly thank Marquis Zhongyong’s wife…”
Qin Dezhao’s eyes blazed with fury: “Bai Qingyan! You… what a vicious heart you have! You want Qin Lang to inform on his father! This is great filial impiety!”
“Vicious?!” Bai Qingyan’s features were tinged with bottomless cold. “You people played conspiracies and schemes in the imperial capital to satisfy your selfish desires, causing how many sons of our Jin nation to die in Nan Jiang?! They went with passionate blood to protect home and Kingdom, yet they didn’t die honorably under enemy blades, but perished in the selfish calculations of you princes and marquises. Hundreds of thousands of sons… who will fulfill their filial duties?! Could we possibly count on you, Marquis?!”
After calming her emotions slightly, Bai Qingyan turned to gaze ahead: “When it comes to viciousness… I can hardly compare to you, Marquis.”
After speaking, Bai Qingyan led Nanny Tong and the Xiao brothers toward the prison exit.
Qin Dezhao’s heart was now in turmoil, anxious to see Prince Liang’s people to plead his case, yet afraid that when Prince Liang’s people came, it would be to silence him…
He had to see Prince Liang’s people before Qin Lang submitted that list, only then… could he preserve his life!
But this Prince Liang… while all under heaven knew him as His Majesty’s most weak and incompetent prince, in his bones… he was someone with an extremely ruthless heart.
Originally, having Qin Dezhao cleanly dispose of Li Sanhai and others had been Prince Liang’s idea.
Prince Liang had said that only dead people… could keep secrets completely.
Qin Dezhao’s palms immediately broke out in sticky cold sweat, his spine chilling.
The iron tablets with golden letters couldn’t save his life from Prince Liang’s hands.
Moreover, if he died in this prison, no one would suspect that weak and incompetent Prince Liang.
Had Bai Qingyan come to see him today, not asking about the provisions’ whereabouts, but actually… to take his life?!
Qin Dezhao closed his eyes, his fists clenched tight. How could he preserve his life?! How… to preserve his life!
Outside the Court of Judicial Review prison.
Nanny Tong carried the food box in one hand while supporting the black-cloaked Bai Qingyan with the other as they emerged from the prison. After just two steps, Nanny Tong stumbled… the food box fell to the ground, and the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone spilled out.
Xiao Ruohai cried out in alarm, hurriedly picking up the brocade silk that had nearly been stained with ink. Seeing that the brocade silk had been somewhat stained with ink water that wouldn’t come off with his sleeve, he frowned and held it up for Bai Qingyan to see.
Gao Sheng, Prince Liang’s subordinate hidden in the shadows, watched from afar, seeing the brocade silk densely covered with writing. His ears twitched as he closed his eyes to listen carefully.
“This Shen Xiyao’s name got stained. Why don’t you return to the mansion first, Miss, and I’ll recopy it and have Qin Dezhao sign it again?” Xiao Ruohai said.
“Forget it, it’s only slightly stained. Going back in might alert Prince Liang’s people and cause more complications. Let’s go back!”
With that, Bai Qingyan descended the high steps and boarded the carriage.
Gao Sheng concealed himself around the corner until the simple carriage had gone far, then hurriedly followed.
·
The common people heard that the Court of Judicial Review had surrounded Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion and arrested Marquis Zhongyong Qin Dezhao. They all sighed with relief that, fortunately, the Bai family’s Second Miss and Qin Lang had moved out of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion earlier, thus avoiding implication this time.
Some citizens with relatives in the Court of Judicial Review prison learned that the Zhangcheng Prefect reported that when provisions sent to the Nan Jiang front lines were soaked by rain and opened, they discovered nothing but buckwheat husks inside. This memorial had arrived a month ago but was suppressed by Prince Xin, only reaching the Emperor yesterday evening. The Emperor flew into a great rage and demanded a thorough investigation of the provisions matter.
In Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, Qin Lang accompanied his wife in mourning for the Duke. He stood with hands behind his back, looking down at Nanny Wu, who knelt at his feet, crying uncontrollably, his handsome features showing no emotion.
That day, when Marquis Zhongyong’s wife Jiang Fengchun was sent away by Marquis Zhongyong Qin Dezhao, before leaving, Jiang Fengchun tearfully begged to leave behind her trusted Nanny Wu, entrusting her to care for her one son and two daughters.
After years of marriage, seeing Jiang Fengchun holding their son and crying inconsolably, Qin Dezhao thought it was just a nanny to care for his children’s daily needs, so he agreed.
When Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion met disaster and the Court of Judicial Review surrounded the mansion, allowing no one in or out, Nanny Wu was quick-witted. She borrowed the Bai mansion’s prestige, claiming she needed to deliver newly made clothes to Qin Lang, and thus managed to get out.
Although Qin Lang had moved out of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion and voluntarily given up his heir position, he was still their eldest son. The guards surrounding the Bai family considered that Qin Lang was the Bai family’s son-in-law, and it was just a servant woman delivering clothes, so they had someone escort her all the way.
“The Court of Judicial Review surrounds the mansion, allowing no one in or out. Young Master is frightened and crying constantly, and the two misses are also at a loss! Please, for the sake of how well Madam has treated you all these years, save your sisters and brother!”
Under the stone lions at Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s main gate, Nanny Wu knelt before Qin Lang, her head bruised from kowtowing.
“Nanny Wu, I am no longer the heir of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion. I am merely a commoner in white… I have the will but lack the power. Rather than pleading with me here, Nanny should ask Madam’s maternal family, the Jiang family. Perhaps there’s still room for hope.” Qin Lang’s voice was steady.
“Young Master can save them! You can save them! His Majesty still values the Bai family greatly. If Young Master asks the Grand Princess to say a word before His Majesty, that would be more effective than anything!” Nanny Wu looked at Qin Lang with hopeful eyes.
Hearing these words, Bai Jinxiu’s anger flared, and she was about to rise when Bai Jintong pressed her down.
“Third Sister?!” Bai Jinxiu turned her head to look questioningly at Bai Jintong, whose eyes were profound.