She said gently, “Sister Rong, it’s not that Changlan doesn’t trust you. It’s precisely because he trusts that you can understand him as you do now… that he felt at ease leaving through fake death. It’s just that time was urgent then… Changlan had no time to explain these matters to you in detail. When he wanted to explain in detail, uncle had already arranged for him to fake his death in battle.”
Young Madam Cui wiped her tears with Bai Qingyan’s handkerchief. Even though she already understood Dong Changlan in her heart, she still said sulkily without troubling others: “He doesn’t tell me, so I have something… I won’t tell him either!”
Young Madam Cui gently caressed her abdomen with her hand, then stood up and gratefully bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Thank you, cousin, for telling me about this matter. Otherwise, I would have wild thoughts and sleepless nights!”
In Madam Cui’s room, Dong Qingyue also told Madam Cui about Dong Changlan’s fake death.
“Next, we still have to hold a funeral for Changlan. Originally, I wanted to hide it from you and tell you after the funeral was over… but I was afraid you would fall ill from grief, which would instead burden Changlan with worry and prevent him from concentrating on his work! So starting tomorrow, you should claim illness and not receive guests, otherwise you’ll give us away!” Dong Qingyue picked up a handkerchief to wipe Madam Cui’s tears.
Madam Cui snatched the handkerchief from Dong Qingyue’s hands: “You say you’re a father, how could you bear to let your son fake his death! And even hold a funeral for your son…”
“If we don’t do this, the fate of the Bai family’s complete annihilation of all males will be our Dong family’s future!” Dong Qingyue rarely showed such patience in talking with Madam Cui. He pressed down on Madam Cui’s shoulders, saying in a low voice: “Our Dong family must leave ourselves a way out. Changlan is the eldest son and legitimate grandson. I can only feel at ease if he does these things, because Changlan… is our way out!”
Dong Qingyue could speak to Madam Cui about this, but couldn’t tell her everything.
If he told Madam Cui about this matter – that they were preparing to overthrow the Lin imperial power in the future – Madam Cui would probably faint from fright.
·
On September 18th, Fu Ruoxi from Anping Camp received an imperial edict to rush to Dengzhou for reinforcement, only to learn… Dong Qingyue and Bai Qingyan had already retaken Dengzhou City on September 17th. Therefore, Fu Ruoxi had the Anping army camp outside the city while she entered the city alone.
As soon as Fu Ruoxi arrived, she saw two white silk lanterns with the character “memorial” hanging high at the entrance of the Dong mansion, with mourning banners erected – a funeral was being held.
It was said that the Dong family’s legitimate eldest son, Dong Changlan, had died in battle against the Nanrong in this war. The funeral had been delayed until now, and only after Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan helped retake Dengzhou City could Dong Qingyue attend to his son’s funeral.
Everyone outside was saying that both Old Madam Dong and Dong Changlan’s mother, Madam Cui, had fallen ill after hearing news of Dong Changlan’s death and could no longer get up.
Dong Changlan’s wife, Young Madam Cui, had even fainted upon hearing of Dong Changlan’s death. The physician diagnosed her as pregnant. The child in Young Madam Cui’s belly was now Dong Changlan’s only bloodline, so she was currently resting quietly in the inner quarters and had not come to the front mourning hall.
With her husband suddenly gone, this would be unbearable for anyone, let alone a newly pregnant woman. The Dong family naturally prioritized the child in Young Madam Cui’s belly and didn’t let Young Madam Cui come to the mourning hall.
Instead, Dong Changlan’s concubine-born younger brother, despite his injuries, knelt before his legitimate elder brother’s spirit, kowtowing and returning salutes to the guests who came to pay their respects.
Seeing the Dong family’s tragic state, Fu Ruoxi felt guilty. After offering incense to Dong Changlan and leaving the mourning hall, she cupped her fists to Dong Qingyue: “I apologize, Master Dong. When Dengzhou sought aid initially, without receiving orders, we couldn’t deploy troops at will…”
Dong Qingyue waved his hand without making a sound… neither expressing understanding nor blame, which made Fu Ruoxi feel even worse.
Fu Ruoxi stood awkwardly to one side. Seeing Bai Qingyan in plain white clothes approaching surrounded by maids, she quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply: “I pay my respects to Princess Zhenguo!”
Bai Qingyan nodded to Fu Ruoxi: “General Fu!”
“This time, fortunately, Princess Zhenguo helped Master Dong retake Dengzhou.” Fu Ruoxi gripped the sword at her side. “I feel deeply guilty and uneasy about not daring to deploy troops to aid Dengzhou without receiving orders.”
These words were spoken by Fu Ruoxi for both Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingyue to hear.
Bai Qingyan didn’t respond. Fu Ruoxi added, “I heard His Majesty has already ordered the Crown Prince to escort grain and supplies to Dengzhou.”
Only then did Bai Qingyan turn around to look seriously at Fu Ruoxi: “I once fought bloody battles alongside General Fu, and thought General Fu understood the principle that a general in the field has some orders to accept and some to refuse. Whether General Fu truly couldn’t move without orders when Dengzhou sought aid, or didn’t deploy troops for other reasons, the Dong family has no intention of pursuing further…”
Fu Ruoxi’s hand gripping the sword hilt tightened: “Princess Zhenguo misunderstands!”
“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, my cousin lies there…” Bai Qingyan’s gaze looked toward the mourning hall. “General Fu’s Anping army is still outside the city. Since there’s no more warfare in Dengzhou, please quickly lead the Anping army back to camp, lest His Majesty blame you for being late!”
Fu Ruoxi had left the Anping army outside the city and only brought one deputy general into Dengzhou City, precisely to come and bear the Dong family’s anger. The Bai and Dong families had always been closely related, so Bai Qingyan’s harsh words were reasonable.
Fu Ruoxi bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Regardless of whether Princess Zhenguo and Master Dong believe it or not, I, Fu Ruoxi, swear to heaven that it was truly because I didn’t receive orders and didn’t dare deploy troops without authorization. I am also deeply pained and guilty about Young Master Dong’s death. If the Dong family ever needs me in the future, I will certainly give my all! Please, Master Dong… Princess Zhenguo, accept my condolences! I take my leave!”
After speaking, Fu Ruoxi left the Dong mansion with her deputy general, leaped onto her horse, and galloped toward the city outskirts.
Just after Fu Ruoxi left, a message arrived from the direction of the capital…
Bai Qingyan followed Dong Qingyue to the study to open it and take a look. In the letter, Bai Jinxiu said that the marriage between Princess Nandu Liu Ruofu and Prince Liang had been moved up, set for October 15th. After much investigation, Bai Jinxiu discovered that Liu Ruofu seemed to be pregnant, which was why the marriage was suddenly moved to October – very hastily arranged.
Bai Qingyan recalled meeting Xiao Rongyan before, when he mentioned Princess Nandu Liu Ruofu being defiled. Xiao Rongyan hoped for more chaos in Jin’s court, so he incited the Crown Prince’s mansion guards to take advantage of Liu Ruofu under Prince Liang’s name.
The child in Liu Ruofu’s belly was therefore not Prince Liang’s son. Prince Liang was probably well aware of this.
However, based on Bai Qingyan’s understanding of Prince Liang, since what he valued was not Liu Ruofu but the military power in Nandu’s idle prince’s hands, he would acknowledge the child in Liu Ruofu’s belly.
But what about Liu Ruofu? Liu Ruofu had always been proud and arrogant… could she really marry the incompetent Prince Liang who had a bad reputation outside?
After reading and burning the letter, Bai Qingyan said to Dong Qingyue: “Princess Nandu Liu Ruofu is pregnant. Prince Liang and Liu Ruofu’s marriage will be moved up to the 15th of next month.”
“Prince Liang…” Dong Qingyue half-closed his eyes, his fingers rubbing the armrest of his chair. “This Prince Liang… from when he falsely accused your grandfather of treason, I felt he wasn’t entirely as incompetent as the outside rumors claimed! If this is true, this person can endure so much… his scheming runs quite deep!”