She resented her stupidity and also resented being led astray by her brother, nearly harming Changmao. Fortunately, Princess Zhenguo hadn’t struck directly with a heavy hand, or she wouldn’t even have a place to cry.
When Bai Qingyan stepped into the courtyard of Dong Qingyue’s study, the advisors from Dong Qingyue’s household had just emerged from the study, and all bowed to Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan nodded slightly and entered the study, where she saw Dong Qingyue just raising his teacup to drink.
“Uncle!” Bai Qingyan stepped forward and bowed.
“You’ve come…” Dong Qingyue, gripping the teacup lid, pointed with his finger toward a letter at the corner of the desk. “From the capital. Take a look!”
Dong Qingyue had just spent a long time discussing Princess Mingcheng of Great Yan with his advisors. Having spoken so much, he was quite parched. He drained a cup of tea and poured another before saying: “Princess Mingcheng probably won’t make it—three days at most. The Great Yan forces stationed in Beirong and the Beirong court have already sent people to escort her. They should arrive tomorrow, and then… I’ll hand Princess Mingcheng over to them, and this matter will be concluded.”
Bai Qingyan’s hands paused in opening the letter as she looked up at Dong Qingyue.
In her heart, Bai Qingyan understood that resolving the matter this way was most advantageous for Jin…
By returning the person to Great Yan and Beirong while Princess Mingcheng was still alive, Great Yan and Beirong would owe Jin a debt of gratitude.
So, would that General Xie, who was childhood sweethearts with Princess Mingcheng of Great Yan, come? If he could come… perhaps Princess Mingcheng might pull through.
“Uncle, Beirong’s physicians are mostly witch doctors and ultimately not as skilled as our Jin physicians. Perhaps Uncle could send a physician along with them—it might save Princess Mingcheng’s life…” Bai Qingyan said.
Toward Princess Mingcheng, a woman willing to sacrifice personal happiness for her Kingdom’s marriage alliance, Bai Qingyan felt deep admiration.
If she could be saved, Bai Qingyan very much wanted to save Princess Mingcheng.
Dong Qingyue said: “That was my intention as well, but… the household advisors make a good point! If we send a physician and their treatment methods conflict with Beirong’s witch doctors, and our Jin physician fails to work miracles, it would become our fault!”
Logically, Bai Qingyan agreed with Dong Qingyue’s words, but emotionally… she still wanted to make one more effort.
“Bring the physician and conduct normal consultations, but… whether to use witch doctor methods or Jin physician methods, let Great Yan make the decision. Princess Mingcheng hasn’t yet married the Beirong king—she’s still Great Yan’s princess, so naturally, Great Yan should decide. We… just need to do our human duty!” Bai Qingyan said earnestly.
Dong Qingyue rubbed the rim of his sweet porcelain teacup decorated with plum blossoms with his fingers, frowning in thought: “That is… feasible.”
Seeing Dong Qingyue carefully considering whether this approach was workable, Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze and opened the letter in her hands, unfolding it to read carefully.
In the letter, Bai Jinxiu told Bai Qingyan that the Empress was diagnosed with pregnancy on the third day of the eighth month. The entire nation celebrated the Empress’s pregnancy with another legitimate son, but the Empress missed Prince Xin during her pregnancy, and her condition wasn’t very good. The Empress’s brother petitioned the Emperor during morning court, requesting that, for the sake of the Empress Mother and the legitimate heir’s wellbeing, Prince Xin be brought back to the capital to ease the Empress Mother’s heart. The Emperor agreed.
On the same day at noon, the Crown Prince’s consort was diagnosed with pregnancy, already over three months along. The Emperor was extremely pleased.
The white deer, a Jin divine beast that the Crown Prince had presented to the Emperor, was confirmed to have died from poisoning. However, all related personnel had been beaten to death during the Emperor’s rage, and the Emperor was now having Prince Liang investigate the matter separately.
Prince Liang gained the Emperor’s favor, and Prince Liang’s mansion began openly refining elixirs. Following the example from above, the trend of elixir refining among noble families in the capital became increasingly popular.
Li Mingrui, the Left Chancellor’s son, had stopped visiting Prince Liang’s mansion for a period after the fire there, but now that the Emperor had begun employing Prince Liang again, he had started frequenting Prince Liang’s mansion once more.
At the end of the letter, Bai Jinxiu mentioned that she had given premature birth to a son on the fourth day of the eighth month.
Bai Jinxiu said that mother and child were safe, telling Bai Qingyan not to worry. The child’s formal name hadn’t been chosen yet, but his pet name was Wang Ge’er. Because of the premature birth, his constitution was slightly weak, but it wasn’t serious—Physician Hong said with proper care, he would surely recover.
Reading the end of the letter, Bai Qingyan’s palms tightened.
Bai Jinxiu always reported good news, but not bad news. She didn’t believe Bai Jinxiu would have premature labor for no reason—something must have happened, but Bai Jinxiu didn’t want her to worry, so she glossed over it lightly.
However, the letter was written in Bai Jinxiu’s hand, so she should be safe!
Bai Qingyan would still investigate the cause of Bai Jinxiu’s premature labor after returning. If those two Qin family young ladies were behind it, they could go to the temple to accompany their mother!
Seeing murderous intent flash in Bai Qingyan’s expression, Dong Qingyue set down his teacup: “Did something happen?”
Bai Qingyan controlled her emotions and said, “Jinxiu gave premature birth to a son. Mother and child are safe! Also, both the Empress and the Crown Prince’s consort are pregnant!”
Dong Qingyue’s brow furrowed: “The Empress is pregnant… has Prince Xin returned to the capital?”
“Uncle’s foresight is like a god’s.” Bai Qingyan stood up and moved to Dong Qingyue’s desk, lighting the letter and placing it in the brush washer. “It seems this pregnancy of the Empress… was conceived for Prince Xin’s sake!”
Probably seeing the Crown Prince’s position now stabilized and the Emperor employing Prince Liang again, the Empress couldn’t sit still.
The Emperor didn’t have many heirs, especially only one legitimate son, Prince Xin. Now that the Empress was pregnant… regardless of whether this child was male or female, the Emperor would surely treasure it like a jewel.
It was also hard on the Empress, who, for her worthless son, first tried to force a rebellion with General Fu Ruoxi to put Prince Xin on the throne. When Fu Ruoxi wouldn’t comply, she became pregnant again and used the heir as an excuse to summon Prince Xin back to the capital.
It looked like the capital was about to become lively again.
“Uncle, regarding General Fu Ruoxi… Uncle should still be very cautious. General Fu has an extraordinary relationship with the Empress!” Bai Qingyan remembered the letter Miss Lu had sent to Shouyang earlier and warned Dong Qingyue.
“An extraordinary relationship?”
Bai Qingyan nodded and didn’t hide it: “The Empress once wanted to ask General Fu to escort Prince Xin back to the capital, force a palace coup, and support Prince Xin’s ascension to the throne. However, General Fu didn’t agree! But for the Empress to discuss something like rebellion with General Fu suggests their relationship must be quite unusual.”
Dong Qingyue was stunned. Knowing that Bai Qingyan wouldn’t speak without basis, he gripped his teacup tightly and frowned in contemplation.
“The Fu family… seems to have no connection with the Empress.” Dong Qingyue calculated carefully.
“The waters behind great families run deep. Until one reaches desperate straits, who knows… how many connections lie behind these families.” Bai Qingyan simply said: “Now that General Fu controls the Anping Camp, Uncle should still be on guard.”
Dong Qingyue nodded: “I understand!”
Having finished discussing serious matters, Dong Qingyue set down his teacup and asked with a smile: “You sent Lu Ping out of the city?”
“I had him disguise himself and go see what’s happening in Nanrong territory.” Bai Qingyan concealed the matter about the ghost-faced general possibly being A’Yu.
“In that case, can you stay longer and keep your grandmother company?” Dong Qingyue’s expression carried gentle warmth.
Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile: “Yes, I’ll stay longer.”