But today, he inexplicably felt fear toward Bai Qingyan.

He didn’t dare claim to be deeply scheming, but at least he was older than Bai Qingyan, even older than Bai Qishan by some years. He should have been able to conceal his thoughts, but now he was being seen through so thoroughly by that lofty, what he considered a young girl, Bai Qingyan.

If Sima Yan claimed he wasn’t surprised, that would be impossible. He even felt a moment of panic.

“So…” Bai Qingyan set down the teacup in her hand heavily on the table, the porcelain cup making a sharp sound as it struck, “Minister Sima should not think that just because I am young, you can casually deceive me. You’d better speak honestly!”

Sima Yan’s head buzzed with noise. He immediately kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, his forehead striking the ground heavily until he saw stars: “This subject is terrified! This subject would never dare to deceive Your Majesty, even if it cost me ten thousand deaths!”

Sima Yan also understood that since Bai Qingyan valued Sima Ruodan, after returning, she would certainly send people to investigate the cause and effect of this matter. Back then, because his mother had already done the deed and was determined to take Sima Ruodan’s life, thinking that once a person died it would be like a lamp going out and no one would ever know, he had harbored false hopes… and not wanting to deal with it further, he hadn’t sent anyone to clean up the aftermath.

His mother hadn’t involved herself in household affairs for many years and didn’t have many capable people at her disposal. She was bound to leave various traces, while Bai Qingyan currently had many capable subordinates.

In just an instant, Sima Yan’s mind raced through countless thoughts, cold sweat breaking out on his back. He hurriedly kowtowed: “Your Majesty, no matter who did it, the matter originated from our Sima household. As the head of the Sima family, Sima Yan should naturally shoulder all responsibility. Please understand Sima Yan’s feelings—punish Sima Yan but spare my family members!”

As soon as Sima Yan finished speaking, Wei Zhong hurried in and whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear while covering his lips: “Your Majesty, Minister Sima’s mother, Old Madam Sima, is currently at the Court of Judicial Review. She says she admits to having harmed Princess Xiangxie in the past and requests the Court of Judicial Review to punish her crime. She even brought her confession… The Court of Judicial Review is still verifying it, so they haven’t sent it over yet.”

This was beyond Bai Qingyan’s expectations, yet within reason.

Bai Qingyan nodded to indicate she understood, then turned to look at Sima Yan, who was still kneeling on the ground. Her fingers tapped the table intermittently: “Minister Sima, Old Madam Sima has already gone to the Court of Judicial Review, admitting to harming Princess Xiangxie and bringing her confession.”

Sima Yan knew that his mother, knowing he had come to the palace to plead guilty to the Emperor, feared he would be implicated and had therefore gone to the Court of Judicial Review first to confess. For some reason, Sima Yan, who had originally been determined to take the blame for his mother, inexplicably felt a sense of relief, though his eyes couldn’t help but grow warm.

“Your Majesty, please consider that my mother is elderly. Let Sima Yan bear all responsibility. Sima Yan is willing to resign from office… and as a commoner, accept punishment in my mother’s place.” Sima Yan kowtowed again, sincere and earnest.

“Minister Sima, the state has its laws. It’s not a matter of you wanting to accept punishment in your mother’s place and therefore being able to do so. Moreover… your mother’s life is a life, but wasn’t Princess Xiangxie’s mother’s life also a life? Wasn’t Princess Xiangxie’s life also a life?” Bai Qingyan’s voice paused, her tone softening as she spoke to Sima Yan, “Minister Sima, I greatly value Sima Ping…”

Hearing these words, Sima Yan’s hands, which were supporting him on the ground, tightened. He understood what this sentence meant.

“Sima Ping, like Minister Sima, is very cautious. It’s precisely this caution that has saved many soldiers’ lives on the battlefield.” Seeing Sima Yan’s back stiffen, Bai Qingyan continued, “National law cannot be disrupted, but… if you want Sima Ping’s career to proceed smoothly, at the very least, Sima Ping’s father cannot cause trouble for Sima Ping. Do you understand?”

Sima Yan’s back tensed, his throat feeling as if someone was strangling it, unable to make a sound. He could only kowtow heavily to Bai Qingyan to show he understood.

She had chosen Sima Yan because she wanted to use Sima Ping, and also because… she wanted to use Sima Yan.

Sima Yan was a capable person, and the Great Zhou currently needed talent, regardless of age.

She had said everything she needed to say. Sima Yan was a clever man. Whether he was willing to be used by her or not, he surely knew in his heart what he should do.

Regardless, no one could violate national law.

“Since you understand, then go…” Bai Qingyan picked up her teacup again, “You may fulfill your filial duty, but you cannot interfere in this matter. Just as when the Bai family clan committed wrongs, I also could not interfere—there are national laws to handle it, and there must be no appeasement!”

Sima Yan kowtowed again with tears in his eyes, respectfully withdrawing from the great hall.

Coming out of the great hall, Sima Yan looked at the magnificent double-eaved palace buildings and red walls with golden tiles illuminated by dazzling golden light, yet his heart felt cold. National law would handle it…

For someone like Sima Yan, who had previously served as an official in the Jin Dynasty, where having money and power in hand meant that even if someone killed a person, they could still be saved—he had even rescued several clan members before—now he couldn’t save his mother. How could his heart not feel hatred? How could he not feel pain?

If being an official and reaching the position of Imperial Censor still couldn’t save his mother, what pleasure was there in holding such office?

But thinking of his youngest son, who had been intelligent since childhood, and then recalling Bai Qingyan’s words just now, Sima Yan’s heart was tormented.

According to the law, his mother had forced Sima Ruodan’s mother to death and had sent people to pursue and kill Sima Ruodan. Although unsuccessful, exile was unavoidable.

How could his elderly mother endure such hardship?

Sima Yan closed his eyes, his hands clasped behind his back, slowly clenching into fists. He thought of a strategy that would benefit both sides—not only could it protect Sima Ping’s future, but perhaps… it could also help advance his three children’s prospects.

Thinking of this, Sima Yan lifted his robes and walked down the high steps.

Chun Zhi brought Bai Qingyan a plate of pastries and gently said, “Miss, do you still want to go see the young prince and young princess at Madam’s place? This servant heard that Old Madam Dong also entered the palace today.”

Having been delayed by Sima Yan for so long, Bai Qingyan, who had originally wanted to continue reviewing memorials, heard that her grandmother had come and got up to go to her mother’s quarters.

Cining Palace.

After Old Madam Dong entered the palace, she took off her court dress and changed into casual clothes that Dong Shi had prepared, saying she was afraid the children would be uncomfortable when she held them. In reality, it was to make Old Madam Dong more comfortable.

Old Madam Dong took turns holding both children and wouldn’t let them go, finding them more delightful the more she looked: “I come to the palace every few days to see these two children, yet I can never see them enough! These children were even smaller and more delicate than Changlian’s children when they were born, which worried me so! Now it’s good… both children are visibly growing stronger!”

Old Madam Dong loved the two children dearly, feeling anxious after not seeing them for even a day. But ultimately, Old Madam Dong still minded the palace rules. Even though her daughter and granddaughter said there was no need to worry, she feared outsiders would say their maternal relatives entered the palace daily, suspecting the Dong family of growing too powerful.

So Dong Shi would send people to fetch Old Madam Dong every few days, saying she missed her mother.