Only then did Gao Demao dismount and, leading that squad of imperial guards, walk toward the victorious returning army.
Strategist Ren Shijie, who had returned to the capital ahead of the Crown Prince, followed behind Gao Demao’s group, bringing people from the Crown Prince’s residence to welcome the Crown Prince.
Seeing Xiao Rongyan, Ren Shijie smiled and nodded to him in greeting.
The common people also followed behind Gao Demao, walking toward the triumphant army.
Lu Yuanpeng couldn’t contain himself and pulled Xiao Rongyan along, calling to his friends as they quickly pushed toward the triumphant army.
Soon, the various generals dismounted. The Crown Prince, along with Western Liang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie and Princess Li Tianfu, all came to the very front to receive the Emperor’s oral decree.
“His Majesty’s oral decree: In the Southern frontier battle, the Crown Prince, eldest Miss Bai, and all the generals have worked hard. Except for the Crown Prince, the rest need not enter the palace to report. Each may return home to rest! The triumphant Jin army shall be led back by General Zhang Duanrui for reorganization, with rewards to be bestowed on a chosen date. The divine deer shall be cared for by the Crown Prince’s residence. Prince Yan and the Princess of Western Liang shall temporarily reside at the post house to rest well, and tomorrow, enter the palace for a banquet.”
This oral decree from the Emperor only mentioned tomorrow’s banquet, but it was unclear whether it was a banquet for the great Southern frontier victory or a welcoming banquet for Western Liang’s Prince Yan and Princess.
At this time, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were already eager to return home, not having to enter the palace to report was even better for them.
Although the most glorious moment for victorious generals was when they entered the imperial palace directly accompanied by their soldiers, accepting the admiration and cheers of the people along the way, Bai Qingyan was no longer the young and spirited person who loved showing off. She no longer cared about such empty fame.
The Crown Prince received the decree and stood up. After exchanging pleasantries with Western Liang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie, he turned back to look at Bai Qingyan. As if afraid that Bai Qingyan might be unhappy, he said: “The people all know you are the hero who greatly defeated Western Liang this time. Even if you don’t enter the palace… the people all know! I will fight for the rewards that belong to you!”
“Your Highness, rest assured. I have no complaints, and… I am already eager to return home!” Bai Qingyan sincerely told the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince nodded at Bai Qingyan. When he looked up, he saw Lu Yuanpeng staring intently at Bai Qingyan, eager to approach, and naturally also saw Xiao Rongyan holding Lu Yuanpeng back.
“Rongyan…” The Crown Prince called out joyfully, then looked at Bai Qingyan with a smile that was not quite a smile.
The gentle-mannered Xiao Rongyan stepped forward and bowed to the Crown Prince with a smile: “I congratulate Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and General Bai… on your triumphant return. Learning of Your Highness’s return today, I especially came to the south of the city to welcome you.”
The Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan and smiled, saying ambiguously: “I know in my heart whom you came to welcome! General Bai mentioned… weren’t you in Nanyan not long ago?”
Bai Qingyan raised her eyes to meet Xiao Rongyan’s deep, burning gaze, gripping the sword at her waist tightly, her expression remaining unperturbed.
She trusted that Xiao Rongyan was intelligent and would naturally know how to cover this lie with the Crown Prince.
Xiao Rongyan answered without any hesitation, smiling as he spoke in a measured voice: “Indeed. Speaking of this matter… I must thank Your Highness for allowing my merchant caravan to travel with the army, thus protecting those goods safely! I will discuss the Nanyan affairs with Your Highness in detail after you have rested.”
“Good!” The Crown Prince smiled and glanced again in Bai Qingyan’s direction, grasping Xiao Rongyan’s wrist: “Rongyan, ride with me in the same carriage. I have things to discuss with you!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Rongyan responded and, after properly bowing to Bai Qingyan, followed His Highness the Crown Prince onto the carriage.
After watching the Crown Prince’s carriage depart, Lu Yuanpeng hurried forward and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister Bai! Congratulations on your triumphant return! Congratulations to Fourth Miss Bai on your triumphant return! Though the seventeen sons of the Bai family are no longer here, I shall offer a cup of celebratory wine on their behalf to Elder Sister Bai and Fourth Miss Bai!”
With that, Lu Yuanpeng turned back and beckoned to his servant, who immediately brought forward a pot of wine.
Lu Yuanpeng poured a cup of wine and handed it to Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister Bai! Congratulations on your triumphant return!”
When the seventeen sons of the Bai family were still alive, they had never distanced themselves from Lu Yuanpeng because he was a dandy. Lu Yuanpeng was particularly good friends with the tenth son of the Bai family, Bai Qingmo.
“Thank you!” Bai Qingyan took the wine cup and, after sincerely thanking him, tilted her head back and drained it.
Lu Yuanpeng took the empty cup from Bai Qingyan’s hand and looked toward Bai Jinzhi, pouring another cup and handing it to her: “Fourth Miss… congratulations on your triumphant return!”
This was the first time Bai Jinzhi had seen Lu Yuanpeng looking so serious. She couldn’t help but smile as she took the wine, toasted Lu Yuanpeng, then tilted her head back and drank it down, controlling her expression against the burning sensation and placing the cup on the black lacquered tray in the servant’s hands: “Thank you!”
“All the women of the Bai family are heroines who yield to no man. Lu Yuanpeng is ashamed! In the future, if there’s an opportunity, I too would like to join the army like Elder Sister Bai and Fourth Miss, to fight bloody battles on the battlefield!”
“Good!” Bai Qingyan looked at Lu Yuanpeng, her expression showing the gentle smile of looking at a younger brother: “If such a day comes, I will gift you this red-tasseled silver spear!”
Lu Yuanpeng looked at the red-tasseled spear in Bai Qingyan’s hand, which gleamed with subtle cold light in the dazzling morning sun, his eyes brightening: “Elder Sister Bai, do you mean it?”
“A gentleman’s word!”
For some reason, hearing these four words, Lu Yuanpeng got goosebumps all over his body. He felt that Elder Sister Bai’s words, spoken with such a proud backbone, rang with conviction. He bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “A gentleman’s word!”
From childhood, Lu Yuanpeng had never liked studying but instead enjoyed wielding swords and spears. However, his grandfather, Chancellor Lu, suppressed him and wouldn’t allow Lu Yuanpeng to join the army. Now, seeing this red-tasseled spear in Elder Sister Bai’s hands, he was even more certain of the direction he wanted to pursue in the future.
Because this group of dandies was present, the common people, though holding celebratory wine in their hands, didn’t dare approach. They could only look toward Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi with tears in their eyes, calling out “General Bai.”
Bai Qingyan bowed deeply to the common people.
Li Tianfu, who was about to board her carriage, turned back to look at Bai Qingyan surrounded by the people and snorted coldly: “A woman who loves war and killing—what’s worth praising about that!”
Even Old Fang, not far away preparing to return home first with Ren Shijie… also looked toward Bai Qingyan surrounded by the people. He asked Ren Shijie beside him: “Didn’t I tell you to spread word along the way about Bai Qingyan burning and killing surrendered prisoners?”
Ren Shijie was stunned for a moment, then respectfully said: “That day, the Crown Prince sent someone to say that General Bai had already prepared the auspicious white deer divine beast, telling me I need not continue preparations and to return directly to the Crown Prince’s residence. I thought… There was no need to continue spreading the word along the way. Moreover, when we were in Feng County, the people I sent were beaten and driven out by the people of Feng County!”
“Foolish!” Old Fang lowered his voice, “Spreading this matter was to make Bai Qingyan more dependent on the Crown Prince and thus unable to leave him! Didn’t I tell you that such a skilled warrior can only be used by His Highness? How did you handle this matter?!”
“It was my foolishness. I’ll immediately send people to spread the word!” Ren Shijie hurriedly said.
“Send more people. While the army’s triumphant return is at its peak popularity in the capital, this must be spread now!” Old Fang said.
“Old Fang, rest assured!” Ren Shijie promised.