“Although Elder Sister achieved great victory in the southern border this time, Left Chancellor Li Mao and his faction in court have all submitted memorials about the burning and killing of surrendered prisoners at Weng Mountain, hoping His Majesty will severely punish Elder Sister. His Majesty has been keeping these memorials without issuing them, and we don’t know what he plans.” Bai Jinxiu’s brow furrowed tightly.

“Western Liang’s Prince Yan Li Zhijie and the Western Liang Princess have both come to the capital. His Majesty absolutely will not embarrass me or make me lose face in front of foreigners, otherwise, he would be openly telling Western Liang… that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the general who achieved great victory in the southern border.” Bai Qingyan rested her elbow on the table, holding her teacup and gently blowing into it. “Although His Majesty is deeply suspicious and narrow-minded, he cares greatly about face. How could he let other nations discover discord between our court’s ruler and ministers?”

Bai Jinxiu also picked up her teacup, carefully considering recent court movements: “His Majesty’s attitude is ambiguous and unclear. He neither reprimanded Left Chancellor Li Mao’s faction nor acted on the memorials. It’s truly… unfathomable.”

“Probably because the Crown Prince hasn’t returned, His Majesty doesn’t know the situation on the southern border. More importantly, His Majesty doesn’t know whether the Crown Prince has already won me over. This time, His Majesty didn’t summon the victorious generals to the palace, only calling the Crown Prince alone. I think… at the latest during tomorrow’s banquet, rewards will be announced!”

“Then we’ll have to see what His Majesty rewards Elder Sister and Little Four.” Bai Jinxiu gripped her teacup tightly, looking at Bai Qingyan. “If it’s a title like County Princess, then he doesn’t plan to use the Bai family anymore. If it’s General… that would indicate our dynasty intends to employ women as generals.”

“So…” She raised her eyes to look at Bai Jinxiu, a faint smile at the corners of her eyes. “His Majesty absolutely will not confer the title of General. Our current sovereign… doesn’t have the boldness of Great Yan’s Empress Ji! Employing women as generals… would cause criticism throughout the court. His Majesty won’t put himself on the hot seat for one Bai Qingyan, even though now would be the best time to employ women as officials.”

Her gaze fell on the steaming teacup in her hands: “But His Majesty must reward the Crown Prince, and reward Generals Zhang Duanrui, Shi Panshan, and Zhen Zeping who returned victorious, as well as all the generals of the Bai family army. The more unfairly His Majesty treats the Bai family, me, and Little Four, the more united the hearts of our Bai family army will become.”

Bai Jinxiu nodded. Yes… Elder Sister was the Xiao Bai General of the Bai family army, the greatest contributor to this victory over Western Liang. If His Majesty treated Elder Sister poorly, what would the Bai family army soldiers who looked to the Bai family as their leader think? They would certainly feel indignant, making their hearts turn even more toward the Bai family and Elder Sister.

“There’s one more thing.” Bai Jinxiu put down her teacup and looked up seriously. “Prince Liang… was released from prison half a month ago. Gao Sheng will be executed soon. Tian Weijun and Tong Ji both died under severe torture. Supreme Court Minister Lu Jin couldn’t get anything out of Tong Ji’s mouth. What he got from Tian Weijun was all useless information. Prince Liang insisted he was only trying to rescue Prince Xin, so the Emperor had him confined to his mansion.”

This was expected. Tong Ji was loyal, and Prince Liang was cautious—he definitely wouldn’t let Tian Weijun come into contact with matters that could cost him his life. Those sinister and vicious orders should have been received by Tian Weijun from Gao Sheng!

Gao Sheng naturally would take full responsibility, claiming all actions were his alone for avenging his elder brother, having nothing to do with Prince Liang. Prince Liang would naturally just be a prince who made a grave mistake trying to save his brother.

“On the fifteenth of this month, Prince Liang claimed that, as someone bearing guilt, it would be inappropriate to appear at the palace banquet or enter the palace to present birthday gifts to His Majesty. He wanted to send the birthday gift he had prepared early for His Majesty into the palace. I heard it was a painting Prince Liang personally created. What’s strange is that the day after this painting entered the palace… His Majesty conferred the title of Concubine Qiu, who is greatly favored. I learned from Princess Fuling that… this Concubine Qiu was precisely the person who delivered the painting to the palace for Prince Liang. Since it involves palace inner quarters matters, I couldn’t ask too many details, but I’ve already sent people to investigate. There should be results soon.”

Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows: “Prince Liang is ostensibly sending a painting, but sending a person. The Crown Prince will be more anxious than us when he finds out. Who in court doesn’t fear pillow talk?”

“You didn’t mention in your last letter—I don’t know if Qin Lang took the spring examinations this time?” She turned to look at Bai Jinxiu with a smile.

Mentioning Qin Lang, Bai Jinxiu’s eyes lit up with a smile: “He took the spring examinations this year and ranked quite well. Originally, the palace examination should have been on the fifteenth, but coinciding with the great southern border victory and His Majesty’s birthday, the Imperial Observatory calculated an auspicious day and petitioned His Majesty to move the palace examination to the first of April. I heard from Princess Fuling that someone mentioned to His Majesty that… I am a super first-rank titled lady, but Qin Lang is still a commoner. It’s estimated that… if Qin Lang can rank well in this palace examination, even if he can’t recover his noble title, his official position won’t be too low.”

She nodded and asked again: “The Qin mansion… those two young ladies, and Qin Lang’s younger brother—have they caused you any more trouble?”

Bai Jinxiu shook her head: “Now that the two Qin family young ladies have ruined reputations, those three are too busy avoiding me to dare cause trouble.”

Without a mother-in-law above to control her, Bai Jinxiu lived quite comfortably among the new wives in the capital. Those who envied Bai Jinxiu were countless.

However, the Qin mansion wasn’t without its troubles. Bai Jinxiu didn’t want to speak of them and needlessly worry Elder Sister, so she changed the subject: “Elder Sister, there’s a nanny at the Qin mansion who was a companion of Qin Lang’s birth mother. She’s excellent at preparing medicinal cuisine. After Qin Lang’s mother passed away, she was transferred to an estate. I brought her today, wanting her to stay by Elder Sister’s side to help regulate Elder Sister’s health. Elder Sister must not refuse!”

Bai Qingyan’s health had always been the greatest concern for everyone in the Bai family.

“Alright…” She smiled and nodded.

***

The Crown Prince was now properly accompanying the Emperor fishing by the imperial lake. Looking at the Emperor’s eyes that had just been full of filial affection, they now carried several shades of regretful defeat.

Today was the first time from childhood that the Crown Prince heard Father Emperor praise him for his ability to manage and judge people, the first time he heard Father Emperor say he was more outstanding than Father Emperor had been in his youth. His eyes burned hot, and his mind also heated up. No matter what the Emperor asked, he honestly revealed everything, including the origin of the divine deer.

Originally, the Crown Prince had planned to conceal that the divine deer was arranged by Bai Qingyan. Only by concealing the divine deer’s origin could he truly be destined by heaven. But he…

The Crown Prince sighed inwardly. He had been impulsive today, wasting Bai Qingyan’s painstaking efforts.

“It seems… Bai Qingyan has truly been won over by my son!” The Emperor fingered his fishing rod, turning to smile at the Crown Prince. “However, Bai Qingyan was afraid you would tell Father Emperor, which is why she concealed it from you. By telling Father Emperor everything, you’ve failed Bai Qingyan’s careful planning. Originally… if you hadn’t mentioned this, you would have been destined by heaven. Now that you’ve revealed it was artificial, it seems quite contrived.”