Bai Qingyan dismissed all the maids to rest, wrapped her arms and legs with new iron sandbags that were heavier than usual, and prepared to go practice with her spear in the courtyard. Before she could step out the door, her footsteps suddenly halted, her cold and murderous gaze turning toward the window.
“Master, Second Miss instructed this subordinate to report Prince Liang’s movements to Master.”
This was the voice of the same shadow guard from last time. Bai Qingyan lifted the bamboo curtain and emerged from inside. The shadow guard immediately dropped to both knees, kowtowing without daring to raise his head, only able to see Bai Qingyan’s white practice shoes bathed in warm colors by the setting sun filtering through the gaps in the tall trees.
Bai Qingyan casually adjusted her sleeves, lowering her gaze to ask, “What tricks has Prince Liang been up to now?”
“Reporting to Master, this subordinate was ordered to watch Prince Liang. Today, Prince Liang stayed in a private room at Shifang Pavilion for over two hours, meeting with a young lady… This subordinate discovered it was the carriage from the Dong family residence of the Honglu Si Minister. This subordinate especially came to report to Master!” The shadow guard spoke extremely quickly.
Bai Qingyan’s hand paused in adjusting her sleeves, suddenly recalling Dong Tingzhen’s absent-minded state in the pavilion today and her gesture of touching her wrist bracelet.
Grand Tutor Chen’s legitimate grandson Chen Zhaolu could now be considered the most sought-after young man in the capital. Personally taught by Grand Tutor Chen, he was upright and a refined gentleman. How many noble families wanted to marry their daughters into the Chen family? Any girl who could gain favor from such a family would be highly regarded by others when discussing marriage in the future, even if it didn’t work out.
Therefore, even if Dong Tingzhen was unwilling to marry Chen Zhaolu, being favored by him… a girl’s mindset should be somewhat joyful, not annoyed!
Unless she had someone else in her heart.
Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened. Prince Liang deceiving Dong Tingzhen… could it be because of Uncle, Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue?
Could it be that Prince Liang no longer intended to persistently target the Bai family and wanted to participate in the succession struggle?
Prince Liang had no other talents, but when it came to deceiving women… he had always been successful every time!
The Dong family members, whether maternal grandmother, uncle, or various cousins, all valued loyalty and righteousness most.
If Prince Liang used mutual affection as an excuse to deceive Dong Tingzhen into wholeheartedly marrying him, then… even if the Dong family didn’t participate in the succession struggle, they would still be on Prince Liang’s ship.
Earlier, at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, Bai Qingyan had thought Prince Liang had secretly gained the support of the Idle Prince of Nandu and would surely use the troops in the Idle Prince’s hands in the future. But who would complain about having too few available troops?
Moreover, the Idle Prince’s only daughter, Princess Liu Ruofu of Nandu, had already been promised to Great Liang’s Fourth Prince. Without a marriage alliance, given Prince Liang’s cautious personality, he definitely wouldn’t use the Idle Prince’s troops unless necessary, and the Idle Prince wouldn’t easily hand over his troops to Prince Liang.
Simply put, the alliance between Prince Liang and the Idle Prince wasn’t firmly bound together, such as through marriage.
Therefore, Prince Liang thought of the Dong family’s legitimate daughter, Dong Tingzhen, who was of suitable age.
Bai Qingyan clenched her fists tighter. Her cousin’s loyalty… must never become Prince Liang’s tool for calculating against the Dong family, and her two uncles must not be used by Prince Liang like she had been in her previous life, becoming his servants.
“Where is Prince Liang?” Bai Qingyan’s eyes revealed dark gleams.
“After Prince Liang left Shifang Pavilion, he went straight to the imperial palace,” the shadow guard replied.
Waited for over two hours, met with Dong Tingzhen, then went straight to the palace?
Bai Qingyan frowned deeply, lowering her gaze in thought. Soon, she connected Chen Zhaolu’s marriage proposal with Prince Liang heading straight to the palace.
Prince Liang probably entered the palace to request an imperial marriage edict!
Bai Qingyan clenched her fists, about to call for someone to prepare horses, but then felt this matter couldn’t be without backup plans. She calculated rapidly in her mind.
“Go tell Second Miss to widely spread the news that Prince Liang’s residence is purchasing large quantities of saltpeter to make ice, intending to create ice sculptures to present to the Emperor and win his favor! Make it fast! Have people praise that Prince Liang’s filial heart toward the Emperor should be a model for all princes!”
After the shadow guard acknowledged the order, he disappeared from Qinghui Courtyard.
The two women stationed outside Qinghui Courtyard were preparing to slack off, sitting on stone stools planning to shell peanuts to eat. Suddenly hearing the sound of Qinghui Courtyard’s gate opening, they quickly stuffed the peanuts from their handkerchiefs into their bosoms, lowering their brows and heads to bow: “What are First Miss’s orders!”
“You go have someone prepare two horses and wait at the north side gate!” Bai Qingyan looked at the other woman, “You go summon Fourth Miss to meet me at the north side gate!”
Today, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were granted the titles of Princess and Commandery Princess. People coming to deliver gifts streamed continuously. Going through the main gate would be too conspicuous; they could only depart from the north side gate.
“Yes!”
Both women efficiently carried out their orders.
Bai Qingyan didn’t even have time to change clothes. At the side gate, she waited for Bai Jinzhi who came running hurriedly, lowering her voice to instruct: “You go to the Crown Prince’s residence and tell the Crown Prince that there are rumors outside that Prince Liang wants to personally make ice sculptures to win the Emperor’s favor, and his filial heart is a model among all princes! Just now, Prince Liang entered the palace, seemingly to request an imperial marriage edict from the Emperor, to marry Minister of Supreme Court Dong Qingping’s daughter… Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue’s niece, Dong Tingzhen. Prince Liang has already begun competing for the Emperor’s favor and is planning through marriage alliances… intending to win over the military power in Dengzhou Prefect’s hands. His intention to compete for succession is gradually surfacing. Please ask the Crown Prince to be vigilant!”
“What?!” Bai Jinzhi’s eyes widened. “Wasn’t Sister Tingzhen going to discuss marriage with Grand Tutor Chen’s grandson Chen Zhaolu? How is Prince Liang involved now?”
Bai Qingyan didn’t have time to explain to Bai Jinzhi, only saying: “Don’t ask so many questions! Go! The horses are already prepared outside the gate.”
“Alright!” Bai Jinzhi walked out two steps, then turned back, “Elder sister, should I ask the Crown Prince to enter the palace to stop this?”
“Say what your elder sister told you. Saying too much… would seem deliberate instead. Someone will naturally remind the Crown Prince to enter the palace!” After Bai Qingyan finished, she added another sentence, “You can casually mention to His Highness the Crown Prince that at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, the Concubine Qiu that Prince Liang sent to the Emperor’s side repeatedly spoke in favor of the Idle Prince and Liu Ruofu. We don’t know if Prince Liang has already privately won over the Idle Prince.”
“I understand! Elder sister, rest assured!” Bai Jinzhi darted away like a wisp of smoke.
When Bai Qingyan arrived at the Dong residence on horseback, Dong Qingping was sitting under the osmanthus tree in the back courtyard playing chess with Dong Changyuan.
Hearing that Bai Qingyan had come and gone directly to Dong Tingzhen’s quarters, he was quite pleased despite his surprise: “Didn’t these two sisters just meet? It’s good that she came… have Madam prepare and keep A’Bao for dinner. A’Bao was granted the title of Princess through martial achievements, and with her mother not here, we should properly celebrate A’Bao! Fortunately, Changsheng and Changqing just left with their two sisters and probably haven’t reached Yanque Tower yet.”
Speaking thus, Dong Qingping turned to instruct his attendant: “Go catch up with the two young masters and misses who went to participate in the poetry competition at Yanque Tower. Tell them Princess Zhenguo has arrived and ask them to return!”
Today, there was a poetry competition at Yanque Tower. The young masters and talented youths of the capital all went to join the excitement. According to custom, those with sisters had also reserved private rooms early, allowing the young ladies to see something fresh, and perhaps find someone they fancied for future marriage considerations.