“Your Majesty, when this concubine was still serving at Prince Liang’s mansion, I heard that Prince Liang and Miss Bai were mutually attracted!” Concubine Qiu’s soft little hand grasped the Emperor’s large hand. “Now that this concubine has the fortune to meet Your Majesty, I always think we should help all lovers in the world become married couples! Previously, Miss Bai severed ties with Prince Liang over a maid named Hong Qiao, and Miss Bai said some heartless words, but this concubine thinks that deep in their hearts, they must love each other deeply, just like Your Majesty and this concubine! It’s just like… when this concubine knows Your Majesty has gone to other sisters’ chambers, my heart would rather never speak to Your Majesty again!”
The Emperor’s hand caressing Concubine Qiu’s hand paused slightly: “You want to matchmake between Prince Liang and Bai Qingyan?”
“This concubine only hopes that all lovers under heaven can be like Your Majesty and this concubine – that would make this concubine completely satisfied.” Concubine Qiu seemed moved to emotion, her eyes growing moist. “Moreover, this concubine truly likes Miss Bai and wants to become family with Miss Bai.”
“But this Bai Qingyan has already sworn to never marry for life, and her fate with offspring is thin. I fear it would be inappropriate…” the Emperor spoke leisurely, though he didn’t refuse outright. “Let me think about it more.”
Concubine Qiu didn’t force the matter, only gazing at the Emperor with tender affection: “Mm…”
Consort Yu glanced in the direction of Concubine Qiu and the Emperor, raised her wine cup, and lowered her voice to sneer coldly: “Acting like a courtesan – how is she anything like that person!”
Consort Yu was not unfamiliar with Bai Suqiu. That person had possessed noble character and bone-deep integrity, cold and proud beyond approach. Forget making such fawning gestures – she would probably scoff at even witnessing them.
It was the Bai family’s legitimate eldest daughter, Bai Qingyan, who truly carried Bai Suqiu’s bearing.
When the song and dance ended, the Emperor smiled and spoke: “This great victory in Nan Jiang was thanks to all you generals and soldiers sacrificing your lives! Those valiant warriors who contributed to this great battle shall be rewarded, and you generals should be rewarded even more! Gao Demao announced the decree…”
Everyone immediately knelt to receive the decree.
Zhang Duirui was appointed General Who Pacifies the Army.
Zhen Zeping was appointed General Who Transforms with Virtue.
Shi Panshan was appointed General of Cloud Standards.
All were rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and granted new mansions.
After the imperial decree was read, the straightforward Zhen Zeping looked up at the Emperor on the high platform: “Your Majesty, General Bai was the primary contributor in this great battle!”
Zhen Zeping feared the Emperor might also blame Bai Qingyan for burning the prisoners of war.
“Look at that!” The Crown Prince smiled as he looked toward the Emperor. “Father Emperor, what did your son say? This impatient General Zhen would be anxious!”
The Emperor’s smile deepened.
The Crown Prince chuckled: “General Zhen, don’t worry… No matter what, Father Emperor would never forget Miss Bai. It’s just that Miss Bai is a woman and cannot be appointed general, so Father Emperor has other rewards.”
Bai Qingyan kept her head lowered, maintaining her kowtowing posture, unmoved by favor or disgrace.
The Emperor instructed Gao Demao to announce the decree.
Gao Demao unrolled another scroll and proclaimed loudly: “The legitimate eldest granddaughter of Duke Zhenguo, Bai Qingyan, showed great righteousness and valor, rushing to Nan Jiang to resolve the national crisis and people’s peril, living up to Duke Zhenguo’s reputation. She is hereby granted the title Princess Zhenguo. The fourth daughter of the Bai family, Bai Jinzhi, is granted the title County Princess Gaoyi…”
Bai Qingyan didn’t listen to the rest of the rewards that Gao Demao recited…
Princess Zhenguo – this title was indeed resounding enough.
Could one say that such a title gained from the great victory in Nan Jiang wasn’t noble?
It was naturally noble, but such a title held no real power. The Emperor didn’t plan to use the Bai family or her, yet still left some leeway by having Bai Qingyan bear the name “Zhenguo.”
Having borne the name of “Zhenguo,” when Jin needed her efforts in the future, could she refuse? Imperial family members… truly calculated everything crystal clear.
When daughters of prestigious families received titles like Princess or County Princess, it could raise their value in future marriage negotiations. Third Madam Li Shi was quite pleased, since after all, Bai Qingyan and her daughter weren’t sons – being granted Princess and County Princess titles was much more practical than being appointed generals.
Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi kowtowed in gratitude.
The Crown Prince smiled at Bai Qingyan: “Father Emperor has rewarded Princess Zhenguo with a mansion to serve as Princess Zhenguo’s residence, and Father Emperor personally wrote the plaque. Such deep favor is unprecedented in the entire capital…”
Bai Qingyan’s brow twitched as she properly knelt and kowtowed: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s and Your Highness’s favor. However, the old residence in Shouyang has already been renovated. After the mother and the various aunts discussed it, they decided to depart for Shouyang on the first day of the fifth month. I fear I cannot stay long at the Princess’s mansion. If I’m fortunate enough to be summoned by Your Majesty to the capital in the future, I could indeed stay at the Princess’s mansion.”
The Duke Zhenguo’s mansion of the Bai family was granted by Emperor Gaozu. Now that the Bai family had requested to relinquish their noble title and planned to leave the capital, in the future, that Bai family… could no longer be called the Bai family.
Hearing this, the Crown Prince’s eyes lit up, and he knelt before the Emperor: “Father Emperor, your son wishes to request a decree of grace. The Bai mansion was originally granted to the Bai family by Emperor Gaozu. Princess Zhenguo grew up in the Bai mansion and has deep emotional ties to it. Why not… hang Father Emperor’s personally written plaque at the Bai mansion and grant the Bai mansion to Princess Zhenguo?”
Bai Qingyan knelt there with lowered eyes, saying nothing.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and thought. Calling it a reward… was just changing the name! Ever since the Bai family requested to relinquish their noble title, the plaque of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion had been changed to Bai Mansion. Now it would simply change from Bai Mansion to Princess Zhenguo’s Mansion.
“Then let it be as the Crown Prince suggests!” the Emperor slowly spoke.
“This subject kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!”
The small banquet before the Emperor’s birthday didn’t last long. The Emperor said that tomorrow would be the proper celebration banquet and birthday feast, telling them to return early and rest well.
As soon as they emerged from the palace, Bai Jinzhi begged Third Madam Li Shi to squeeze into Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan’s carriage. Third Madam Li Shi couldn’t refuse Bai Jinzhi and said with a smile that she had matters to discuss with Dong Shi, letting the sisters ride together.
Once in the carriage, Bai Jinzhi took a sip of tea that Chun Tao handed her and couldn’t help muttering: “This Emperor and Crown Prince know how to do business – just rehang a plaque for our family and call it a favor!”
Seeing the little girl’s cheeks puffed out in anger, she raised her hand and rubbed the little one’s head: “The mansion was granted by Emperor Gaozu and indeed doesn’t belong to our Bai family. Being able to keep the place where we grew up, we might as well accept this favor from the Crown Prince.”
Bai Jinzhi frowned quite dissatisfied and touched her stomach: “Today’s palace banquet was boring – I didn’t even eat enough!”
Hearing this, Chun Tao smiled as she knelt to the side, taking out exquisitely made small pastries from a small box in the carriage to offer to Bai Jinzhi: “Fourth Miss, please have some to tide you over.”
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Bai Jinzhi frowned and lifted the curtain to poke her head out and look ahead, seeing three young ladies from the Dong family getting down from their carriage to pay respects to Dong Shi. Her eyes lit up as she turned back to Bai Qingyan: “Elder Sister, it’s the two male cousins and three female cousins from the Dong family…”