The Grand Princess’s prayer beads paused as she opened her eyes to look at Bai Qingyan: “As for Li Mao, rest assured… with Grandmother here, you can return to Shouyang to handle clan affairs with peace of mind.”
Most importantly, the Grand Princess was certain that Li Mao currently lacked both the courage and ability to dare strike directly at the Bai family, catching them off guard and destroying them completely.
Li Mao was cautious by nature and would certainly probe before making any moves. But if Li Mao intended to probe, he probably wouldn’t choose to do so when Bai Qingyan was absent, since… it was Bai Qingyan who had approached Li Mao, not someone else.
“However, let Wei Zhong accompany you this time!” The Grand Princess looked at Bai Qingyan solemnly, “Wei Zhong came from the palace. Having him by your side will make the clan members wary.”
“Let Wei Zhong remain by Grandmother’s side!” Bai Qingyan’s refusal was decisive, “If Li Mao makes a move, the only capable people around Grandmother would be Nanny Jiang and Wei Zhong. If Wei Zhong accompanies me back to Shouyang, I won’t feel at ease about things here in the capital.”
Seeing the Grand Princess about to speak again, Bai Qingyan said first, “Grandmother, rest assured. Dealing with the Shouyang clan members requires little effort! If the clan members are unwilling to expel those… completely inhuman, arrogant creatures, unwilling to change the clan leader, then I can only apologize to our ancestors and leave the clan myself! The Shouyang Bai clan still depends on the capital Bai family – they won’t refuse to comply.”
The Grand Princess nodded: “Tell your mother to prepare. Go! This matter should be handled sooner rather than later. You should depart today.”
“I’m afraid I can’t leave today. Your granddaughter plans to visit the Crown Prince’s mansion first to inform the Crown Prince.” Bai Qingyan said quietly.
Since the entire world now believed Bai Qingyan belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, why couldn’t she borrow the Crown Prince’s influence?
Previously, the strategists around the Crown Prince had sent people to widely publicize her burning and killing of surrendered prisoners, precisely so that when she was spurned by everyone, the Crown Prince could extend a helping hand, making her grateful and loyal to the Crown Prince from then on.
Now she was delivering the opportunity to extend help directly to the Crown Prince, showing trust in him, hiding no family shame. How could the Crown Prince not assist her?
If she told the Crown Prince that clan members were spreading rumors about her having improper relations with him, using his prestige to run rampant in Shouyang and commit murder, and that she was using thunderous methods to painfully deal with the clan to avoid tarnishing the Crown Prince’s reputation, wouldn’t Old Fang beside the Crown Prince advise him to send people to accompany her, taking the opportunity to earn a good reputation among Shouyang’s people?
Her choice to leave on the 24th was precisely to give the Crown Prince and his advisors sufficient time to deliberate and investigate.
Most importantly, Bai Qingyan still hoped the Crown Prince would see the disgraceful state of the Shouyang Bai clan and relay it to the Emperor, letting the Emperor know… that Bai Qingyan’s return to Shouyang was also difficult, that she couldn’t have whatever she wanted there. She wanted the Crown Prince and Emperor to know what the Shouyang Bai clan had done over the years and how poor their reputation among the people was.
Thus, when “bandit troubles” became frequent and the court was stretched thin, when Bai Qingyan began training civilians as soldiers to suppress bandits, the Emperor and Crown Prince would think this was Bai Qingyan trying to restore the Bai clan’s reputation among Shouyang’s people, even making the Crown Prince think… that Bai Qingyan was restoring his reputation.
Moreover, if the local officials in Shouyang saw that the Crown Prince cared so much about even the Bai family’s private affairs, how could they dare oppose her in the future?
The Grand Princess understood Bai Qingyan’s meaning and nodded. If there were people arranged by the Crown Prince accompanying her, she could borrow the Crown Prince’s influence, making this trip very smooth. But the Grand Princess never imagined that Bai Qingyan’s vision was already focused on future military training.
After leaving the Grand Princess’s Changshou Courtyard, Bai Qingyan took Lu Ping to the Crown Prince’s mansion.
·
The Crown Prince was drinking tea and discussing matters with Old Fang in his study. Old Fang’s opinion was that since Prince Liang was responsible for disaster relief in Yanwo this time, the Crown Prince shouldn’t let Prince Liang handle it so smoothly.
If the Yanwo disaster relief proceeded without incident and Prince Liang managed it well, it would defeat the Crown Prince’s purpose in recommending Prince Liang for disaster relief, instead making Prince Liang look good… which might give Prince Liang ideas about competing with His Highness for the throne in the future.
“His Majesty is getting old after all. Old people like to reminisce… especially since Prince Liang is His Majesty’s son! Over the years, His Majesty has particularly disliked Prince Liang because he was raised under Consort Tong and has a naturally timid disposition! But… what if Prince Liang handles this disaster relief beautifully?”
Old Fang reminded the Crown Prince: “Your Highness must not forget that last time, Prince Liang was bold enough to use romantic affairs as a pretext to attempt framing the Duke for treason. This shows that Prince Liang… is not as weak and incompetent as he usually appears.”
Hearing Old Fang’s words, the Crown Prince felt his heart skip a beat and nodded.
Indeed, bribing the personal maid beside Bai Qingyan, promising the maid a concubine position to breach the Duke’s mansion.
If Prince Liang was truly only trying to save Prince Xin, how could he have so early bribed the maid beside Bai Qingyan, and used wanting to marry Bai Qingyan as an excuse to have that maid place the letter in the Duke’s mansion?
This showed that Prince Liang was not without scheming in his heart.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes: “If Old Fang hadn’t reminded me, I… would have overlooked this.”
“Your Highness handles countless daily affairs. Such small matters naturally require us, advisors, to keep watch for Your Highness.” Old Fang bowed slightly to the Crown Prince, “This matter isn’t difficult to handle. The Yanwo disaster affects several cities, and completely resolving it is extremely difficult. We just need to send people to make some moves, incite civil unrest, and then… when Prince Liang can’t handle the situation, he’ll certainly anger His Majesty.”
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, stroking his teacup thoughtfully: “But if civil unrest is incited and Prince Liang can’t handle it, what if Father sends me? Can I handle it?”
“Your Highness… if civil unrest occurs, strong troops will be needed for suppression! Your Highness values the County Princess – are you afraid of having no one to use?” Old Fang said with a chuckle.
The Crown Prince’s brow relaxed. Yes… If civil unrest was incited, those disaster victims would become rebels, and the County Princess, leading strong troops to suppress them, her reputation as a killing god would be enough to intimidate those rebels. Presumably, no one would dare cause trouble again.
Thus, the merit of pacifying the Yanwo disaster would be his.
“Your Highness, the County Princess requests an audience.” Quan Yu announced softly outside the study door.
The Crown Prince looked up, his face lighting up with joy upon hearing “County Princess”: “We were just speaking of the County Princess, and here she arrives! Quickly invite the County Princess in!”
Soon, Bai Qingyan followed Quan Yu to the study and bowed to the Crown Prince: “Qingyan greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
She rose and saw Old Fang, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Old Fang returned the bow.
“Why has the County Princess come at this time? Is there some matter?” The Crown Prince smiled and gestured to a seat beside him, indicating for Bai Qingyan to sit.
Quan Yu personally brought hot tea and served it to Bai Qingyan before withdrawing from the study.