“Prince Liang once had an advisor by his side named Du Zhiwei! This person was Prince Liang’s strategist, but… he’s already dead. Previously, I thought that without Du Zhiwei, Prince Liang would be nothing to fear. I didn’t expect Prince Liang to become tied together with the idle prince through Liu Ruofu.” Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Qingyue and said: “Prince Liang has now developed ambitions for the succession, and Prince Xin, the Emperor’s legitimate son who was demoted to commoner status, has also returned to the capital. The Empress in the central palace is also pregnant with a legitimate son. This succession struggle in the capital… looks increasingly lively.”
According to Bai Jinxiu’s letter, after Prince Xin returned to the capital, he had been quite well-behaved. Besides visiting the Empress in the palace daily, once he left the palace, he would return to his mansion to pray for the Empress and the prince in her womb… not receiving guests or going out.
Because Prince Xin’s mansion was protected by guards sent by the Empress, Bai Jinxiu’s people couldn’t get in. However, it was said that Prince Xin’s mansion had almost become a Taoist temple, with incense smoke wafting about all day long. The Emperor even praised Prince Xin for becoming much more sensible.
Although Bai Jinxiu hadn’t written about this matter on the capital in her letter, the capital’s customs had always followed the example of those above. It was estimated that the trend of alchemy among the noble families in the capital would reach new heights.
Bai Qingyan’s guess wasn’t wrong. Now, not only were the noble families in the capital beginning to invite immortal masters home to practice alchemy, but this trend was gradually showing signs of flourishing throughout Jin. Ordinary wealthy families who couldn’t invite immortal masters to their homes would go to Taoist temples to seek elixirs. For a time, Taoist temples everywhere were crowded with visitors, and even incense and candles… suddenly rose in value.
Even among the Bai family clan members in Shouyang, some imitated this, going to Taoist temples to seek elixirs. Clan leader Bai Qihe issued orders forbidding Bai clan members from going to Taoist temples to seek elixirs, thus offending quite a few Bai clan members.
“Last time, the Emperor had Prince Liang thoroughly investigate the matter of the divine deer’s death by poisoning. Jinxiu’s letter didn’t mention the results, so presumably Prince Liang still hasn’t discovered anything definitive. However, the Emperor hasn’t punished Prince Liang either, so Prince Liang’s weight in the Emperor’s eyes will probably grow heavier day by day.”
Bai Qingyan wondered if Prince Liang had gained a new capable person by his side. Although Li Mao’s eldest son, Li Mingrui, was capable, ruthless, and bold, after the incident with Li Mao’s letter last time, Li Mingrui must already be wary of Prince Liang. So whoever was advising Prince Liang wasn’t Li Mingrui.
“Just be careful of Prince Liang. There’s no need to waste energy watching him. Prince Liang being favored… Prince Xin returning to the capital – let the Crown Prince worry about these matters!”
Just as Dong Qingyue finished speaking, someone came to report that the Crown Prince’s convoy escorting grain and supplies would arrive in Dengzhou tomorrow.
Since the Dong family was holding a funeral, it wasn’t appropriate to invite the Crown Prince to stay with them, so they arranged for the Crown Prince to lodge with other official families nearby. Who knew the messenger sent by the Crown Prince would say that the Crown Prince specifically requested to stay at the Dong mansion and summoned Princess Zhenguo to immediately set out to welcome him.
Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan didn’t delay. She changed clothes, gathered the Bai family guard unit, and was about to depart when she encountered Xiao Rongyan, who had come to pay his respects.
Xiao Rongyan, supported by Yue Shi’s hand, got down from the carriage. Seeing Bai Qingyan, he straightened his robes and bowed deeply: “Miss Bai…”
Under the brilliant sunlight, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes showed red veins, as if he hadn’t rested well, his expression weary.
“Master Xiao!” Bai Qingyan stood with her hands behind her back, nodding slightly.
“Is Miss Bai going out?” As Xiao Rongyan spoke, his gaze had already fallen on Bai Qingyan’s ear, his expression tense: “You’re injured?”
“It’s a minor injury, nothing serious.” Bai Qingyan smiled: “His Highness the Crown Prince is coming to Dengzhou and has summoned me to welcome him. Please make yourself at home, Master Xiao…”
“Could Miss Bai wait a moment? Let me offer a stick of incense to Brother Changlan, then I’ll accompany Miss Bai to welcome His Highness the Crown Prince.” Xiao Rongyan bowed to Bai Qingyan again: “I have something to discuss with Miss Bai on the way.”
Bai Qingyan thought the Crown Prince knew Xiao Rongyan was in Dengzhou and had also summoned Xiao Rongyan to welcome him, so she nodded: “No rush.”
Xiao Rongyan entered and offered incense to Dong Changlan, spoke briefly with Dong Qingyue, then came out of the Dong mansion.
Seeing Bai Qingyan leap onto her horse, Xiao Rongyan also had Yue Shi bring over a horse, abandoning the carriage to ride alongside Bai Qingyan. Their pace wasn’t particularly fast.
“Is the ear injury serious?”
“How is Princess Mingcheng?”
Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan spoke simultaneously.
Before the Dengzhou people returned to the city yesterday, General Pei of Great Yan had departed for Yan with Princess Mingcheng and Jin’s physician, not entering the city with them.
“Mine doesn’t matter, just a scratch. But Princess Mingcheng – I wonder how she is.” Bai Qingyan asked.
Xiao Rongyan’s hand gripping the reins tightened, his voice low and hoarse: “Yesterday, Mingcheng passed away… Xie Xun rode at full speed to get there, only managing to see Mingcheng’s final moments. I heard that when Xie Xun arrived, Mingcheng was lucid for just a brief moment and told Xie Xun to forget her.”
After Xiao Rongyan’s people returned, they said that Princess Mingcheng told Xie Xun that there was a girl in Great Yan who loved Xie Xun just as she did. Before she had decided to marry, she had already entrusted Xie Xun to this girl, hoping Xie Xun would marry that girl and live a good life.
After Mingcheng finished speaking, she died in Xie Xun’s arms. Xie Xun had just recovered from his cold, but now he had completely collapsed.
Bai Qingyan was silent for a long while without speaking. Princess Mingcheng’s marriage alliance for her Kingdom was for the greater good – Bai Qingyan had originally wanted to save such a woman.
Bai Qingyan turned her head to look at Xiao Rongyan’s distinct facial features: “Accept my condolences…”
“About Brother Changlan’s matter, Miss Bai… please also accept my condolences.” Xiao Rongyan vaguely suspected something about Dong Changlan’s death, but since the Dong family had held a funeral, some things were better understood in the heart without being spoken aloud.
The two rode in silence and arrived at Fenping Post Station before sunset that day to meet the Crown Prince.
When the Crown Prince heard that Bai Qingyan had come together with Xiao Rongyan, he was quite surprised, then actually chuckled softly, taking the teacup handed by a maid and having Quan Yu invite them in.
Quan Yu responded with a smile and came out to invite Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan. Seeing the fine cotton cloth wrapped around Bai Qingyan’s ear, he was startled: “Princess Zhenguo is injured?”
“It’s nothing serious, a minor injury.” Bai Qingyan smiled.
Only then did Quan Yu nod with relief, quickly stepping aside and bowing to gesture an invitation: “Please, Princess. Please, Master Xiao. His Highness is waiting for the Princess and Master Xiao inside.”
When Bai Qingyan entered, the Crown Prince was sitting in a chair being served by a maid massaging his shoulders.
The Crown Prince already considered Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan as his own people. Seeing the two enter together, he didn’t put down his teacup or dismiss the maid, just waved at them while drinking tea, indicating they should sit: “This journey nearly cost me half my life – it was even more bitter than forced marches in Nan Jiang.”
On this journey, the carriage had jolted the Crown Prince until he vomited bile.
In just over ten days, the Crown Prince had lost a whole circle of weight.
Just as Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan sat down, Quan Yu had people serve tea, giving Bai Qingyan red date and goji berry tea to nourish blood and qi.