“How did you two… end up together?” The Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan with a smile, unable to hide the teasing in his expression. “Oh, I remember now. I know Princess Zhenguo came to Dengzhou to fetch Old Madam Dong, but what about you, Rongyan? Don’t tell me you knew Princess Zhenguo was here, so you followed along too?”
Xiao Rongyan smiled gracefully and replied calmly: “Speaking of which, I owe Princess Zhenguo another life debt. This time… I originally had business going to Beirong. On the way back, I remembered meeting Brother Changlan in Shouyang once… discussing Dengzhou’s customs, so I thought I’d take a detour to see it on my way back to Wei. Who knew I’d encounter Great Yan’s marriage alliance princess being ambushed by Nanrong? If not for Princess Zhenguo and Brother Changlan arriving in time, I… probably wouldn’t be alive to see Your Highness!”
“Speaking of this matter…” The Crown Prince set down his sweet porcelain teacup painted with plum blossoms and looked at Bai Qingyan. “About your cousin’s matter, please accept my condolences!”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Then Rongyan, you must remember Princess Zhenguo’s life-saving grace and repay it!” The Crown Prince spoke with clear implications.
Originally, the Crown Prince had urgently summoned Bai Qingyan because he had matters to discuss. Unexpectedly, Xiao Rongyan was also there, so he asked about Xiao Rongyan’s plans.
“Originally, after paying my respects to Brother Changlan at the Dong mansion today, I was prepared to depart for Wei. I heard from Princess Zhenguo that Your Highness had arrived, which is why I followed along to pay my respects to Your Highness. After seeing Your Highness, I must take my leave.”
The Crown Prince could reach Dengzhou tomorrow, yet he had summoned Bai Qingyan before entering the city. Xiao Rongyan understood… the Crown Prince definitely had matters to discuss with Bai Qingyan.
He came here firstly to spend more time with Bai Qingyan, secondly to see someone, and thirdly to maintain relations with the Crown Prince for future use. Having achieved his purpose, Xiao Rongyan didn’t stay longer, rising to bid farewell to the Crown Prince: “I heard Fenping’s night market is quite lively. I plan to take a look around before returning to Dengzhou, then depart for home early tomorrow morning! I’ll bid farewell to Your Highness here.”
“Princess Zhenguo, please see Rongyan off for me! My body isn’t suitable…” The Crown Prince dramatically pressed his forehead, indicating he was unwell.
Watching Bai Qingyan escort Xiao Rongyan out, the Crown Prince finally lowered his hand from his forehead and picked up his teacup… inevitably pleased, feeling his goal of pairing Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan was about to be achieved. Once Xiao Rongyan married into the Bai family, he’d have another money bag, with silver to grease palms everywhere… his Crown Prince position would be more secure.
Thinking of the Crown Prince position, the Crown Prince inevitably thought of the current chaos in the capital, immediately developing a headache. He said wearily: “Quan Yu, go summon Old Fang and Master Qin, Master Ren. Tell them Princess Zhenguo has arrived!”
“Your Highness, you’ve forgotten. When we first arrived at Fenping, Master Ren told you he needed to return home to see his elderly mother and would only return tomorrow morning.” Quan Yu smiled.
The Crown Prince nodded in realization: “Then… please invite Old Fang and Master Qin.”
After escorting Xiao Rongyan out, Bai Qingyan heard him laugh: “This Crown Prince only thinks of you when he has business. Be careful in your responses. If you need anything… You can send someone to my shop in Dengzhou.”
With the Crown Prince’s people around, Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan couldn’t say much intimately. She nodded slightly: “Don’t worry! You… be careful on your way back to Wei.”
“Mm, when I safely reach Wei, I’ll send someone with a letter for you.” Xiao Rongyan glanced behind Bai Qingyan, seeing that the servants following weren’t looking in their direction. He lowered his gaze to look at Bai Qingyan’s slender wrist with bruises, stepped forward, and gently grasped it, his thumb tracing the bruise as he lowered his voice: “After you return to Dengzhou tomorrow, I’ll have someone deliver medicine to you. Remember to apply it. Also, continue taking the medicine from before – I’ll have someone deliver more after a while.”
“Mm, I understand.” Bai Qingyan’s ears turned red.
Hearing Bai Qingyan’s response, Xiao Rongyan stepped back and formally bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Farewell.”
“Safe travels, Master Xiao.”
Seeing the layer of laughter in Bai Qingyan’s clear black and white eyes, Xiao Rongyan’s mood, which had been gloomy all day due to Princess Mingcheng’s death, improved somewhat.
Xie Xun had become a pile of mud due to Mingcheng’s matter, but Great Yan’s only usable general now was Xie Xun. The others didn’t have Xie Xun’s capabilities, and although the Second Prince was brave, he wasn’t ready yet.
Xiao Rongyan had to pull himself together – he still needed to return and pull Xie Xun up.
After seeing Xiao Rongyan off, Bai Qingyan gathered her spirits and returned, just in time to encounter Old Fang and Qin Shangzhi.
“Princess Zhenguo…” Qin Shangzhi was the first to bow to Bai Qingyan.
Qin Shangzhi was even more gaunt than when Bai Qingyan had last seen him. Originally tall with a high nose and deep-set eyes, he was now so thin his eye sockets were sunken, making his facial bone structure even more prominent.
Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but look at Qin Shangzhi again, remembering his melancholy end in her previous life, feeling inevitable pity.
Old Fang also cupped his hands toward Bai Qingyan: “Greetings to Princess Zhenguo.”
Bai Qingyan nodded to Qin Shangzhi and Old Fang, then stepped into the hall first.
The Crown Prince waved his hand, indicating the maid massaging his shoulders should leave, adjusted his sitting posture and instructed Quan Yu: “Quan Yu, guard outside… don’t let anyone approach!”
Quan Yu nodded and left with the eunuchs and maids in the room to guard the door.
The Crown Prince sighed: “Now Prince Liang increasingly wins his father’s favor. Whether the Empress’s pregnancy is male or female is still unknown, and at this critical juncture, Prince Xin has also returned! Prince Xin has been his father’s most beloved son since childhood, personally raised by his father! Old Fang’s idea is to let Prince Liang fight with Prince Xin and the Empress while I reap the fisherman’s benefits, but now, sitting in this chair, I find it increasingly hot.”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s deeply furrowed brow, Old Fang said earnestly, “Your Highness, this old man believes Your Highness should remain calm. Now that Your Highness is already Crown Prince, as long as Your Highness doesn’t make major mistakes… no one can move this position! Princess Zhenguo, don’t you agree?”
Old Fang had said these words to the Crown Prince countless times, but with so many recent events in the capital and the Emperor sending the Crown Prince to this godforsaken place, Dengzhou, the Crown Prince was increasingly restless. Old Fang, therefore, turned to Bai Qingyan, hoping she would stand with him and properly advise the Crown Prince.
But Old Fang had deeper intentions – he wanted to suddenly test her when Bai Qingyan was unprepared.
Although the Crown Prince seemed to have won over Bai Qingyan, Old Fang always harbored suspicion and wariness toward her. After all, this Bai Qingyan was the only person in all these years who could make the Crown Prince contradict him. How could Old Fang be at peace?