It wasn’t until Bai Jintong had gotten the man quite drunk under the pretext of being grateful for his revelation that she said: “Actually, even if you don’t tell me, I can guess. It’s probably about the rumors that the Regent is the Great Zhou Emperor’s husband, which finally shook His Majesty’s trust in the Regent. His Majesty is planning to have the Regent…”

Bai Jintong made a throat-slitting gesture and said rather smugly: “I guessed right, didn’t I!”

The dandy shook his head, drunkenly hooking his arm around Bai Jintong’s neck and speaking unclearly: “This little emperor doesn’t know what kind of bewitching potion the Regent fed him, but his trust in the Regent is even stronger than in his father! But that doesn’t matter… Our Yan clan members and feudal princes have long wanted to overthrow Empress Ji’s new policies and restore the old governance. This time is a heaven-sent opportunity – how could they not be tempted? Besides… this Regent shows no consideration for blood relations with the imperial clan. Just got word yesterday that this Regent in Li City… killed two clan members for the sake of a lowly commoner, not leaving any way out for his people. Don’t you think this would chill the hearts of the local feudal princes? He was unkind first, so you can’t blame the clan members for being unrighteous!”

“Moreover, according to the Empress Dowager, this gambling-the-nation affair was instigated by the Regent encouraging the little emperor. If this succeeds, not only will we avoid the national gamble and restore the old governance, but the Great Zhou will surely become a complete mess. At worst, it’s just fighting a few battles and having smaller territory, but we imperial clan members will have much better days! Don’t worry, we have a good relationship, and you always give me silver when I’m short on funds. When the time comes… I’ll protect you!”

Hearing this, Bai Jintong’s heart skipped a beat, and she asked: “This… would this require acting behind the Emperor’s back? Taking the Regent’s life?”

Hearing Bai Jintong say this, the thoroughly drunk dandy shook his head, made a hushing gesture, smiled foolishly, and said: “Can’t say!”

Then he collapsed face-first onto the table.

This made Bai Jintong even more certain that the clan and feudal princes were planning to kill Yan’s Regent… her brother-in-law.

Bai Jintong repeatedly pondered that phrase: “Great Zhou will surely become a complete mess.”

If they killed the Regent and refused the gambling agreement, how would Great Zhou become a complete mess?

Were they planning to have the Great Zhou’s internal troops take the opportunity to cause trouble? Not only would Yan lose soldiers and generals, but the Yan troops sent to Great Zhou were all under Xie Xun’s command – that is, the Regent’s troops!

Never mind killing the Regent – even without killing the Regent… those soldiers might not necessarily obey these clan members.

Frame the Great Zhou for the Regent’s death?

With alcohol clouding her mind, Bai Jintong felt her head wasn’t clear and couldn’t think things through. She slumped against the cushions and raised her hand to rub her forehead.

Suddenly, Bai Jintong’s hand rubbing her forehead paused, and she opened her eyes…

The Great Zhou is becoming a complete mess!

Right now her eldest sister was in cities within Yan’s territory. Could these clan members be planning to have the feudal princes kill her eldest sister?

In the eyes of the Yan people, her eldest sister was an invincible war god. So many times… when Bai Jintong mingled with those imperial relatives and clan members, from their tone it seemed that apart from her eldest sister, they didn’t take anyone else seriously.

Bai Jintong suddenly sat up straight, and her drunkenness sobered by more than half.

People… most like to judge others by themselves. These Yan imperial clan members must be thinking that as long as their eldest sister died in Yan, the Great Zhou would be like a dragon without a head. The Great Zhou Emperor’s heir was the bloodline of their Yan Regent, so whether the Great Zhou imperial house would let this infant ascend the throne was questionable. Even if they did let the infant ascend, the Bai family descendants would naturally want to fight for power and profit. Unable to claim the Great Zhou’s supreme position, they would surely fight to become regent.

Then Great Zhou would just fight a few battles to avenge their Great Zhou Emperor, after which Yan would offer up cities to sue for peace. The gambling-the-nation affair would be voided due to the Regent’s death… perhaps with the addition of the Yan Emperor being deposed. Yan could then drag out its existence while conveniently restoring the old governance that favored the nobility.

Having associated with these Yan imperial clan members for so long, Bai Jintong had seen through them. These imperial clan members had never regarded common people as human and had always harbored many complaints about Empress Ji’s new policies.

Bai Jintong turned this matter over and over in her mind, feeling that this must be correct, and her heart immediately became panicked.

She didn’t know how many troops her eldest sister had brought when entering Yan territory. What she feared most was her eldest sister being ambushed while completely unprepared.

It had already been fourteen days since the imperial clan members knelt before the palace gates requesting the Regent’s execution. Her heart immediately hung in suspense. She hurriedly pulled open the small drawer in the carriage, which was filled with pastries, tea sets, and tea leaves, but no ink or brush.

Bai Jintong’s scalp tightened, the drunkenness rushing to her head, making her vision blur in waves. She thought for a moment, then lifted the hem of her garment and used a small dagger to tear strips from her undergarment. She divided the fabric into two pieces, spread them on the carriage’s small table, cut her finger, and wrote two letters in blood – one for her eldest sister, one to be sent back to the capital.

Bai Jintong had just finished writing when the carriage slowly stopped, and a servant’s voice came from outside: “Master, we’ve arrived home!”

Bai Jintong put one letter in the pouch at her waist and wrapped the other in a handkerchief. Only then did she call out with a thick tongue: “Come up and help me…”

The servant responded and climbed into the carriage. Just as he helped up Bai Jintong, who was slumped against the cushions, he saw Bai Jintong open her eyes and grab his hand, pressing something into it.

“Take these two things to the Cui Family Clothing Shop in the eastern part of the city. Tell the shopkeeper to deliver the pouch to my eldest sister and send what’s in the handkerchief back to our home in Great Zhou! Tell him not to look! It must be fast!” Bai Jintong gripped the servant’s hand firmly.

The servant saw Bai Jintong’s clear gaze, nodded vigorously, tucked the items away safely, and called out: “Come help with another person!”

Soon, Dan Zhi was also supported by a maid as she lifted her skirts and stepped out from the Cui residence.

Seeing Bai Jintong being helped down by two servants, Dan Zhi hurried forward: “Husband!”

Dan Zhi rushed over to support Bai Jintong, but lacking strength, she nearly fell when Bai Jintong leaned on her. Fortunately, amid the maids’ alarmed cries, the servants guarding the door came forward to steady them.

“Husband, how did you drink so much…” Dan Zhi’s eyes reddened.

Bai Jintong, barely standing with the servants’ support, said: “I’m not… not drunk!”

Saying this, Bai Jintong turned to look at her servant and said: “You… go tell the shopkeeper of Cui Family Clothing Shop that he’s caused me big trouble this time! The clothes the imperial clan members wanted – even if others want them, he must give them! Those are imperial… imperial clan members – what kind of people could be more important than imperial relatives! Go… tell him! If he causes me trouble again next time, I’ll break his legs!”

This appearance truly looked like genuine drunkenness!

“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” The servant quickly bowed and responded, “Master, rest assured. If there’s a next time, I’ll immediately drive that shopkeeper away!”