Li Zhijie’s gaze moved back and forth between the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan, seeing the two standing almost shoulder to shoulder, looking at him with nearly identical expressions, as if they shared a common enemy!
He had miscalculated the Jin Crown Prince’s trust in Bai Qingyan. He had lost… and he accepted defeat.
Bai Qingyan gripped her sword and turned away from Li Zhijie’s gaze, lowering her head to speak quietly to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, if those Jin-dressed experts’ corpses can be left behind, the Huying Battalion has some methods to find clues from those bodies. We might be able to determine Western Liang’s most accurate intentions and be prepared accordingly!”
Seeing Old Fang standing behind the Crown Prince, looking at her, Bai Qingyan also clasped her fists toward Old Fang: “What does Old Fang think?”
Seeing Bai Qingyan being so respectful, Old Fang couldn’t help but feel pleased. He raised his hand to stroke his goatee and nodded, stepping forward to speak quietly behind the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, General Bai speaks very sensibly. Western Liang’s various purposes are all our speculation! Your Highness’s words just now have intimidated the Western Liang Prince Yan. I believe they won’t dare cause more trouble.”
The Crown Prince nodded.
Qin Shangzhi’s brow twitched as he couldn’t help but look toward Bai Qingyan…
Was Bai Qingyan’s humble request for those Jin-dressed death warriors’ corpses just to determine Western Liang’s purposes?
Qin Shangzhi felt it wasn’t so. He even had a feeling that those Jin-dressed death warriors were somehow connected to Bai Qingyan.
Qin Shangzhi’s temples suddenly throbbed twice, and he was struck with sudden clarity like enlightenment, his eyes widening as he looked at Bai Qingyan… meeting her gaze directly.
Looking into the clear depths of Bai Qingyan’s eyes, Qin Shangzhi tightened his hands at his sides, his throat rolling slightly.
The Qiushan Pass affair was something they had all heard about from Bai Qingyan and Shen Liangyu, not something they had witnessed personally. What if Bai Qingyan and Shen Liangyu had told them half the truth while hiding the other half, or even mixed truth with lies?!
Bai Qingyan was someone who valued emotion and loyalty. If those Jin-dressed death warriors were her people, she would never bear to see their corpses dishonored and desecrated.
But why would Bai Qingyan lead people to attack Qiushan Pass at night?
“Does Prince Yan have any other business? If not… leave these corpses behind and you may go!” the Crown Prince said.
Cheng Yuanzhi, Shen Kunyang, Shen Liangyu, and Gu Wenchang had already grasped the swords at their waists, their stance suggesting that if Li Zhijie didn’t leave the corpses behind, he wouldn’t be leaving today.
With things having reached this point, Li Zhijie could only temporarily swallow this humiliation.
The future was long, and there was still the journey to Jin ahead. He would find a way.
“Thank you… for Your Highness’s magnanimity!” Li Zhijie gritted his teeth and bowed his head to the Crown Prince in submission.
“I hope Prince Yan proves worthy of my magnanimity,” the Crown Prince said slowly.
After Li Zhijie’s bow, he was helped onto his carriage by Lu Tianzhuo and departed in defeat.
“Your Highness, don’t be too angry. The future is long! Today’s humiliation will be repaid by Jin a hundredfold in the future!” Lu Tianzhuo comforted Li Zhijie.
Li Zhijie squinted his peach blossom eyes, his pale, bloodless lips curving in a smile: “Yes! The future is long… this prince is not in a hurry.”
“Shen Liangyu, have someone carry back the corpses of our Huying Battalion brothers for proper burial! Leave these death warriors’ corpses to the Huying Battalion. You must find something from them and not disappoint His Highness’s trust!” Bai Qingyan turned to instruct Shen Liangyu.
Shen Liangyu gritted his teeth and nodded: “Young Marshal Bai, rest assured!”
“Your Highness has labored through the night. Please return to your tent for proper rest. Leave the remainder to General Zhang and me to handle,” Bai Qingyan said with clasped fists.
The Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan’s pale, haggard face and nodded with concern: “General Bai also hasn’t slept all night! Your health is already poor, so you should rest well. Leave everything to General Zhang Duanrui!”
Zhang Duanrui clasped his fists in agreement, deeply moved. Even a physically weak daughter of the Bai family could serve the Kingdom so wholeheartedly without shirking hardship—truly admirable!
“After yesterday’s fierce battle, General Bai went to visit the wounded soldiers and hasn’t rested all night. You should go to sleep for a while!” Zhang Duanrui said.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. My time in the army is limited, so I always want to do more for Your Highness while I can. After returning to Shouyang, there won’t be such opportunities,” Bai Qingyan gestured for the Crown Prince to proceed. “Let me escort Your Highness back to your tent. I have matters to discuss with Your Highness!”
The Crown Prince nodded and walked toward the main tent with Bai Qingyan.
“Earlier, when Generals Shen Kunyang and the others came, knowing Your Highness had labored through the night and just fallen asleep, they didn’t disturb you. However, I have already met with them and told them of Your Highness’s grand ambitions. They have all sworn to follow Your Highness’s arrangements in the future!” Bai Qingyan spoke methodically. “General Cheng is a rough man and sometimes speaks inappropriately. I ask Your Highness to be tolerant when the time comes! But Your Highness can rest assured… General Cheng’s loyalty to the Great Jin is witnessed by heaven and earth!”
“I understand! Everyone in the Bai Family Army is a good soldier loyal to the ruler and devoted to the Kingdom!” The Crown Prince walked back with Bai Qingyan in the morning light, listening to her instructions and requests that sounded like final arrangements, and unexpectedly felt a touch of melancholy.
If Bai Qingyan weren’t a woman, if she were in good health, perhaps… after he ascended to the throne, he could let her continue leading the Bai Family Army. After all, generals who could be so loyal to him while being skilled in battle were rare!
“There’s also Shen Liangyu. The Huying Battalion holds a superior position within the Bai Family Army and is the direct force personally led by my Fifth Uncle. While Shen Liangyu’s loyalty is unquestionable, he’s inevitably proud and arrogant. In training matters, he probably won’t tolerate others interfering! But after Fifth Uncle’s passing… aside from Shen Liangyu, probably no one else can train soldiers as formidable as the Huying Battalion. Your Highness can listen to his words regarding training, but in other matters, you should have your direct generals outrank him. Otherwise, it will encourage Shen Liangyu’s arrogance, and in future battles, he might not follow the commander’s orders and act independently.”
The Crown Prince turned to look at Bai Qingyan, who spoke softly and slowly, feeling increasingly comforted… Bai Qingyan truly considered everything for him.
Qin Shangzhi’s words were indeed correct. The Bai family harbored great ambitions, and only by letting Bai Qingyan know he was also a master with concerns for the world would she pledge loyalty to him.
The Crown Prince returned to his main tent with no desire to sleep and instead began drinking tea with Old Fang.
“This old man observes that General Bai’s arrangements for the Huying Battalion’s Shen Liangyu truly show her wholehearted consideration for Your Highness! Your Highness should trust those you employ and employ those you trust. It was this old man who was overly cautious with a petty heart!” Old Fang laughed heartily, taking all the blame upon himself while flattering the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince smiled pleasantly: “Old Fang also acted for my sake. I understand! Before I departed… Father Emperor had instructed that once we obtained the Huying Battalion’s training methods, we should eliminate the Huying Battalion…”
The Crown Prince made a killing gesture.
“Your Highness…” Old Fang suddenly thought of something and put down his teacup to address the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, although what this old man is about to say is treasonous, as Your Highness’s advisor, there are some things I must say. If I offend, please forgive me!”