She only hoped that Grandfather, Father, all the uncles, and younger brothers would bless them from heaven, ensuring that Shen Qingzhu and the Tiger Battalion would rescue Xiao Jiu!
Li Zhijie respectfully escorted the Jin Crown Prince to his carriage, then turned back with a smile to Bai Qingyan: “I never expected General Bai to be skilled not only in warfare and killing, but also to have such a sharp tongue!”
“Whether warfare and killing, or eloquence – both are merely for the benefit of the nation.” After finishing, Bai Qingyan cupped her fists toward Li Zhijie and leaped onto her horse.
Li Zhijie clasped his hands together, presenting the appearance of a refined and elegant noble son as he gave a slight bow to Bai Qingyan: “Now that this alliance treaty is signed, this prince will subsequently accompany Princess Pingyang with the Crown Prince and General Bai’s party to the capital. Please take good care of us along this journey, General Bai.”
“Prince Yan is too kind.”
Only after seeing off the Jin peace negotiation delegation did Li Zhijie finally reveal a weary expression.
He suppressed the smile on his face and narrowed his peach blossom eyes, recalling how during the peace negotiations in the great tent, although Bai Qingyan had remained silent, she would speak a word or two at crucial moments, greatly boosting Jin’s momentum and allowing Jin’s peace negotiation envoy Liu Rushi to set such high conditions.
Lu Tianzhuo was right – Bai Qingyan truly couldn’t be allowed to live!
What a pity… such a stunningly beautiful woman with such a proud bearing. If not for Xiliang’s sake, he truly couldn’t bear to let such a beauty die.
“Let’s return!” Li Zhijie turned and walked toward his carriage, lowering his voice to Lu Tianzhuo: “We will subsequently accompany the Jin Crown Prince into Jin. You must carefully hide that Bai family son and find out exactly which son of the Bai family he is! Only then… can we give that General Bai an explanation, lure her in, and await the opportunity to kill her.”
Lu Tianzhuo, following behind Li Zhijie, wore a grave expression: “Your Highness, today’s matter with that maid was full of suspicious points! I just counted, and we are indeed missing a maid called Qianzhou. Your Highness should quickly return to Qiu Mountain Pass to prevent any Jin moves!”
“The alliance treaty has been signed, and Jin has gained all the advantages. What moves could they possibly make? That maid called Qianzhou was probably a Jin spy who took this opportunity to return to her Kingdom! Later, investigate thoroughly this maid’s background, who she contacted, and what she knew!” Li Zhijie finished and boarded his carriage.
“Yes!” Lu Tianzhuo bowed in acknowledgment.
Watching Li Zhijie’s carriage depart, Lu Tianzhuo took the reins from a servant. But before he could mount his horse, Li Tianfu’s palace maid hurried over, bowed to Lu Tianzhuo, and said: “Lord Lu, the Princess requests your presence to prepare tea.”
Lu Tianzhuo’s grip on the reins tightened. After a moment of silence, he handed the reins to his attendant: “Yes!”
Inside Princess Xiliang’s luxurious fragrant carriage, Li Tianfu reclined against embroidered cushions, smiling as she watched Lu Tianzhuo preparing tea for her: “I expect that before I even reach Jin’s capital, my reputation for being willful, unreasonable, ignorant, foolish, and hating Jin… will spread throughout the capital. Let’s see which Jin royal noble will still be willing to marry me! Thus… I can return to Yun Jing with you. I’ll have Imperial Sister grant me a princely title! Then you can come to my side, and we’ll be a pair of immortal lovers!”
Li Tianfu’s tone was coquettish with a hint of smugness. Perhaps because she spoke of her future with Lu Tianzhuo, her eyes were bright as water, full of hope for the days to come.
Glazed palace lanterns hung from the carriage’s four corners, swaying with the carriage’s movement. Lu Tianzhuo remained silent, elegantly and skillfully preparing tea for Li Tianfu.
He couldn’t tell Li Tianfu that for this plot to kill Bai Qingyan, he hadn’t planned to return alive.
Li Tianfu was displeased and casually pulled out one of her supporting cushions to throw at Lu Tianzhuo: “I’m talking to you!”
Fortunately, Lu Tianzhuo was quick to catch the cushion, or it would have knocked over the hot water.
Li Tianfu’s gaze fell on Lu Tianzhuo’s shoulder, feeling both guilty and heartbroken: “Does it still hurt very much?”
Lu Tianzhuo set the cushion aside, shook his head with a gentle smile, and respectfully offered the prepared fragrant tea to Li Tianfu: “The tea is ready. If the Princess has no other instructions, this servant will withdraw!”
“You sit there for me!” Li Tianfu’s eyes reddened again as she bit her lower lip: “Do you detest me so much? Can’t you bear to stay with me even a moment longer?”
Lu Tianzhuo sat properly at one end of the wooden table, his deep gaze fixed on Li Tianfu. Finally unable to bear it, he sighed and lowered his eyes: “If the Princess is tired, please rest a while. When we arrive… this servant will wake Your Highness.”
Li Tianfu petulantly lay down and turned away from Lu Tianzhuo, randomly pulling a white fur blanket over herself. Tears fell like broken beads in grievance, as she bit her lip hard to prevent herself from crying aloud.
Bai Qingyan rode swiftly first to where the Jin’s five thousand elite troops were stationed. After surveying the area and seeing that Tiger Eagle Battalion’s Shen Liangyu hadn’t returned and Bai Jinzhi was also absent, she guessed that Bai Jinzhi had probably learned of Xiao Jiu being alive and gone to help with the rescue.
She lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then turned her horse toward where the Crown Prince’s carriage was stationed.
Sitting inside his carriage, the Crown Prince closed his eyes and repeatedly recalled Bai Qingyan’s words to Xiliang’s Prince Yan about Jin’s ministers being loyal and rulers trusting without suspicion. He felt secretly pleased – Bai Qingyan probably truly believed he didn’t suspect her, which gave her the confidence to speak of ministers being loyal and rulers trusting!
In the end, he had still managed to win over Bai Qingyan!
Quan Yu, sitting outside the carriage, suddenly saw Bai Qingyan, who had been leading the group ahead, riding toward them. His eyes brightened: “General Bai!”
Earlier, Quan Yu had been attending the Crown Prince’s side and naturally witnessed how spirited Bai Qingyan had been in that peace negotiation tent, especially when she spoke of killing until Xiliang wouldn’t dare violate Great Jin’s borders for ten years, killing until Xiliang would tremble at the mere mention of Great Jin’s name. Quan Yu felt his blood boiling, wishing he could raise his sword alongside Bai Qingyan to kill enemies and boost Jin’s prestige!
Bai Qingyan cupped her fists toward Quan Yu, riding alongside the carriage: “Please trouble you to inform the Crown Prince that Bai Qingyan has a matter and requests an audience!”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince didn’t wait for Quan Yu’s announcement and lifted the carriage curtain, his face beaming: “Since General Bai has something to say, please board the carriage first. Let Quan Yu prepare tea for General Bai!”
Bai Qingyan acknowledged, dismounted, and stepped onto the Crown Prince’s luxurious carriage. She lowered her eyes and knelt, raising the military talisman in her hands high above her head: “Today’s alliance treaty with Xiliang has been signed, and Bai Qingyan’s mind is at ease. I especially return the military talisman to Your Highness, Crown Prince!”
The Crown Prince was slightly stunned. Originally, he and Elder Fang had been worried that Bai Qingyan would be unwilling to return the military talisman, regretting that he had given it to her too readily. The two had planned that after signing the alliance treaty, they would need to find a way to force Bai Qingyan to return the military talisman. Who would have thought that Bai Qingyan would return it herself, making his suspicious thoughts seem petty.
The Crown Prince’s fingers tightened slightly: “I just clearly stated… I trust General Bai as I trust myself. The military talisman being in General Bai’s possession is perfectly appropriate. Why is General Bai in such a hurry?”
“The military talisman should have been returned to the Crown Prince when the overall situation was decided and Xiliang sued for peace, but at that time, the alliance treaty hadn’t been signed. I… feared that the peace suit was Xiliang’s delaying tactic, so I didn’t return the military talisman! Today, since the alliance treaty is settled, naturally, the military talisman should be returned.”