Hearing the Crown Prince say this, Quan Yu quickly turned around and summoned the two squad leaders of the Crown Prince’s guard.

“The Shouyang clan members are arrogant and presumptuous. Since you are a daughter of the Bai clan, you’ll inevitably be bullied by those clan elders who rely on their age and seniority. For this return to Shouyang, take Quan Yu and two squads of guards from the Crown Prince’s mansion. When the clan members know that I stand behind you, they won’t dare act presumptuously before you,” the Crown Prince said.

Quan Yu quickly smiled and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “This time I’ll trouble the County Princess to take Quan Yu to Shouyang to broaden my horizons. His Highness the Crown Prince has already instructed me that the County Princess’s commands are the Crown Prince’s commands, and I must not disobey.”

The Crown Prince was very satisfied with Quan Yu’s words and nodded approvingly.

Bai Qingyan displayed shock and gratitude, quickly curtsying to refuse: “Your Highness absolutely must not! Eunuch Quan Yu is Your Highness’s attendant. If I take Eunuch Quan Yu away, how will Your Highness manage without someone trusted to serve you? Not to mention the Crown Prince’s guards… if I take away two squads, what about Your Highness’s safety?”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan’s refusal didn’t seem like playing hard to get, but rather genuine surprise, gratitude, and concern for him, the Crown Prince’s smile became even gentler: “I came here to wait at dawn not to let the County Princess refuse me! This is my command—County Princess Zhenguo, accept the order.”

Bai Qingyan looked up at the Crown Prince, her eyes overflowing with gratitude: “I accept the command and thank Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“That’s right!” The Crown Prince nodded with satisfaction. Thinking of Prince Liang going to Yanwo for disaster relief, and Old Fang’s suggestion that Prince Liang shouldn’t be allowed to handle this matter well, he wanted to hear Bai Qingyan’s opinion. He said, “County Princess, let’s speak privately.”

Bai Qingyan nodded and followed the Crown Prince a few steps to an open area, where he shared Old Fang’s suggestion with her.

“Prince Liang once bribed your maid to frame Duke Zhenguo with treason, showing his deep scheming mind, not at all the weak and incompetent person he usually appears to be. Old Fang’s idea is to send people to create some trouble, incite civil unrest, and then… when Prince Liang can’t handle the situation, you might need to lead troops to suppress it…”

Seeing Bai Qingyan frown, the Crown Prince paused and asked: “It seems the County Princess doesn’t approve?”

Bai Qingyan bowed to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness is the heir apparent of the nation, and the people of Jin are Your Highness’s people. Though this is to obstruct Prince Liang, we absolutely cannot use methods that harm the people. Your Highness must remember—the people are the foundation of the nation.”

The Crown Prince’s hands behind his back tightened slightly.

“Your Highness, Prince Liang once attempted to frame my grandfather… nearly causing the entire Bai family’s destruction. I haven’t forgotten this. Unlike Your Highness, who still has brotherly feelings for Prince Liang, I… hate him to the bone!”

“The day I ordered someone to break Left Chancellor Li Mao’s son’s legs and brought him before the Left Chancellor, I already told the Left Chancellor that after this disaster relief matter ends, I don’t want him to assist Prince Liang—the Left Chancellor should follow heaven’s will and assist Your Highness the Crown Prince. This disaster relief matter is inherently difficult to handle. Handling it well is just fulfilling one’s duty, while handling it poorly brings punishment. Even if Prince Liang handles it well and returns to the capital, without anyone’s assistance, he can hardly threaten Your Highness’s position. Your Highness can rest assured.”

Seeing the Crown Prince still seemed somewhat hesitant, Bai Qingyan continued: “Moreover, whether Prince Liang can handle this disaster relief well is still uncertain! If he handles it well, that’s fine, but if he doesn’t and His Majesty investigates and discovers that Your Highness interfered, this becomes Your Highness’s responsibility. I fear His Majesty might be displeased with Your Highness.”

“Your Highness can ask Master Qin’s opinion on this matter. Master Qin is greatly talented… he can surely guide Your Highness on the path of a wise ruler.”

The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, thinking carefully…

What Bai Qingyan said was correct. In terms of hatred toward Prince Liang, Bai Qingyan’s exceeded his by far. Bai Qingyan hoped for Prince Liang’s downfall even more than he did.

So for Bai Qingyan to say such words to him today showed she was truly considering his interests.

The Crown Prince gazed at Bai Qingyan and said, “Good, I’ll remember the County Princess’s words. Since the County Princess must travel far, I won’t delay you further. I must also attend morning court. When the County Princess returns, we’ll discuss this in detail. Quan Yu, take good care of the County Princess and follow all her instructions!”

Standing in the distance, Quan Yu quickly hurried forward with small steps, smiling and bowing: “Your Highness, rest assured. Your Highness has instructed me many times, and I remember it well.”

The Crown Prince nodded.

“I respectfully send off Your Highness the Crown Prince…” Bai Qingyan bowed to the Crown Prince.

After seeing the Crown Prince off to his carriage, Quan Yu smiled at Bai Qingyan: “County Princess, shall we also depart?”

“Thank you for your trouble on this journey!” Bai Qingyan cupped her hands to Quan Yu and the two squad leaders.

The two squad leaders were flattered and quickly returned the courtesy.

Once Bai Qingyan boarded her carriage, her expression darkened.

As an advisor and counselor, Old Fang should indeed offer strategies for the Crown Prince, but to suggest such a vicious scheme…

Thinking of the Crown Prince’s deep gaze just now, she closed her eyes and clenched her fists slightly.

As heir apparent, he should love and protect the people. If the Crown Prince truly used Old Fang’s scheme this time, stopping at nothing to secure his position, he would indeed be a fitting future ruler for Jin.

Regardless of whether the Crown Prince would use Old Fang’s scheme, she needed to send someone to deliver a letter to A’Jue, telling him to accelerate the refugees’ entry into Youhua Dao.

The Crown Prince had always favored Quan Yu greatly. Having Quan Yu accompany Bai Qingyan to Shouyang, he even prepared a carriage for Quan Yu. Though not luxurious or spacious, it was quite exquisite, bearing the Crown Prince’s mansion emblem.

This was good for Bai Qingyan. These two squads, totaling a hundred guards, plus Quan Yu—the more conspicuous their Crown Prince’s mansion markings, the more the Shouyang Bai clan would fear them, and the more cooperative the Shouyang local officials would be.

The County Princess Zhenguo’s procession returning to Shouyang, now with a hundred additional Crown Prince’s guards, was reorganized by Shen Qingzhu with the Crown Prince’s guards bringing up the rear. They formed a grand procession heading slowly toward Shouyang.

On the twenty-fifth day of the fourth month, just as dawn broke, the Prefect and County Magistrate Zhou were already waiting outside Shouyang City.

This return of Bai Qingyan to Shouyang was extraordinary.

First, the County Princess Zhenguo’s mansion sent people back to inform them that the County Princess would return to Shouyang to handle Bai clan affairs, and demanded that County Magistrate Zhou severely punish the Bai clan descendants without mercy.

Subsequently, the Crown Prince’s mansion also sent people to inform them that the County Princess would return to Shouyang to handle clan matters, requiring them to assist fully without error.

With such a formidable display, how could the Prefect and County Magistrate Zhou dare to be negligent? They calculated the County Princess’s travel schedule and sent people along the route to monitor the progress of her carriage procession, anxiously waiting outside Shouyang City to receive her.

Originally, they expected the County Princess to arrive at the beginning of the chen hour, but it was already the end of the chen hour with no sign of the carriage procession. County Magistrate Zhou was somewhat worried.

“Bandits have been rampant recently—I hope nothing happened to the County Princess!” County Magistrate Zhou was quite concerned, worried about how to explain to the Crown Prince later.

In the temporarily erected shade pavilion, the Prefect sat calmly and took a sip from his tea bowl.