Bai Qingyan sensed that Old Fang was digging a trap for her. If she didn’t conceal her knowledge and directly answered yes or no, given that she was in Dengzhou yet had such well-informed news about the capital, wouldn’t the Crown Prince become suspicious of her?

Bai Qingyan frowned, speaking neither hurriedly nor slowly: “The Empress is with child again? And why would Prince Xin return to the capital? Your Highness, forgive me, but I’m still unclear about exactly what has happened…”

The Crown Prince remembered that Bai Qingyan had been far away in Shouyang all along, and later came to Dengzhou, so naturally, she wouldn’t know what had occurred in the capital. The Crown Prince rubbed his forehead and said, “Master Qin, please trouble yourself to explain to Princess Zhenguo what has transpired during this period.”

Bai Qingyan looked toward Qin Shangzhi.

Qin Shangzhi slowly explained how the Empress had become pregnant, how her pregnancy symptoms were poor due to missing Prince Xin, how court officials had petitioned the Emperor to recall Prince Xin for the sake of the legitimate heir in the Empress’s womb, how Prince Liang had gained the Emperor’s favor through alchemy and been entrusted with the important task of investigating the divine beast poisoning incident, and how Prince Liang had already sent the celestial master who had been making elixirs for the Emperor at his mansion into the palace.

“This morning’s news from the capital reported that His Majesty has already appointed that celestial master as National Preceptor, openly practicing alchemy in the palace! Furthermore, the National Preceptor divined that the dragon son in the Empress’s womb is a national auspicious omen—the reincarnation of that divine deer. His Majesty is beside himself with joy because of this!” Qin Shangzhi said.

Bai Qingyan, holding her teacup, felt her eyebrows twitch as she grasped the connections that had previously eluded her—once one link was clear, all links became clear…

No wonder Prince Liang had investigated the divine deer’s poisoning death for so long without finding any leads—it turned out the Empress and Prince Liang had joined forces.

But when did the Empress and Prince Liang form this alliance?

Bai Qingyan recalled Lu Ninghuan’s letter. The Empress had failed to get Fu Ruoxi to support Prince Xin in forcing the palace, so she had turned to ally with Prince Liang instead, bringing Prince Xin back from Yongzhou.

Prince Liang truly had skillful methods. With the Empress pregnant, having the celestial master divine that the child in the Empress’s womb was the reincarnation of the divine deer made the Crown Prince feel like sitting on pins and needles, intending to provoke confrontation between the Crown Prince and the Empress so he could benefit as the fisherman.

Looking at the Crown Prince’s current appearance, it seemed he could no longer sit still.

Bai Qingyan set down her teacup and looked at the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, are you so uneasy because the celestial master divined that the Empress carries the reincarnation of the divine deer?”

The Crown Prince nodded wearily: “If the Empress bears a son this time—the divine deer reincarnated, a heavenly auspicious omen, and a legitimate heir to boot! This Crown Prince position becomes awkward for me.”

“Your Highness, pregnancy and childbirth take ten months—who can guarantee the Empress will safely deliver the child? Even if she safely delivers, who can guarantee it will be a male child? And who can guarantee a male child won’t die young?” Old Fang’s voice grew lower and lower, his trailing tone carrying a hint of sinister intent.

Qin Shangzhi’s brow tightened. He wanted to speak, but forcibly suppressed his words.

Instead, Bai Qingyan spoke up: “Perhaps someone elevated this pregnancy to such heights precisely to make the Crown Prince act against the Empress?”

Both Old Fang and Qin Shangzhi looked toward Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan gazed at the Crown Prince: “The celestial master came from Prince Liang’s mansion. His divination that the Empress carries the divine deer reincarnation poses the greatest threat to… the Crown Prince’s position! If something were to happen to Her Majesty’s pregnancy, the first person His Majesty would suspect would likely be Your Highness. Your Highness must remember—any action leaves traces. As long as His Majesty finds even the slightest clue, then… Your Highness’s position would truly be in grave danger.”

Qin Shangzhi nodded silently, having grown accustomed to not speaking out, quietly listening instead.

“Your Highness… from when Prince Liang set up the scheme to frame my grandfather for treason, haven’t you realized that your brother Prince Liang’s scheming and cunning are unfathomably deep?” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Qin Shangzhi. “I wonder if Your Highness knows about the old grievance between Master Qin Shangzhi and Prince Liang?”

The Crown Prince was quite surprised, not expecting Bai Qingyan to know about this as well, but he didn’t pursue the matter further, only nodding: “For me to keep Master Qin by my side, naturally I know about it…”

However, when the Crown Prince investigated this matter, he thought it was Prince Liang’s subordinates acting without Prince Liang’s knowledge. After all, Prince Liang had always seemed easy to manipulate. Before becoming Crown Prince, he had witnessed those dog servants bullying their master, leaving Prince Liang without even food to eat.

“Given this, does Your Highness still believe Prince Liang is truly as weak, incompetent, gentle, and easily bullied as the outside world claims?” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Old Fang. “I think what Old Fang said earlier was very reasonable—Your Highness is already Crown Prince. Don’t let small matters disrupt your composure. As long as Your Highness remains steady, conducts yourself uprightly, and gives no one leverage against you, those setting traps should become anxious!”

The Crown Prince absorbed Bai Qingyan’s words, looking at her earnestly.

She continued: “If Prince Liang truly harbors ambitions for the throne, perhaps he won’t wait for Your Highness to act—Prince Liang himself will be the first to lose patience and make a move. Otherwise… with Your Highness blocking the way ahead and the Empress’s divine deer reincarnation legitimate heir behind, Prince Liang will only grow more distant from that position. Prince Liang isn’t that foolish! What he wants to see is… Your Highness and the auspicious legitimate heir in the Empress’s womb mutually destroying each other, so he can benefit as the fisherman!”

Bai Qingyan’s words enlightened the Crown Prince like a sudden clearing of obstacles. Those matters that had been tangled in his mind like a mess seemed to be sorted out as well.

He straightened and looked at Bai Qingyan: “Then, according to Princess Zhenguo’s meaning, Father Emperor having me leave the capital is a good thing?”

“At least while Your Highness is away from the capital, you are safe and don’t need to deal with those schemes and machinations. You can relax for a while. After returning to the capital, Your Highness must still maintain utmost vigilance—don’t act against the Empress… but you must guard against others acting against the Empress and framing Your Highness! This matter requires Old Fang and Master Qin to pay close attention on Your Highness’s behalf!” Bai Qingyan turned to look at Old Fang and Qin Shangzhi, nodding slightly to both.

Before Old Fang could speak, Qin Shangzhi said: “Princess Zhenguo, rest assured!”

“There’s also Consort Yu. Your Highness should also send someone into the palace to warn Consort Yu to guard against others’ schemes and frame-ups!” The Consort Yu Bai Qingyan mentioned was the Crown Prince’s birth mother.

Seeing the Crown Prince also nod, Old Fang clenched his fists tightly at his sides. He wanted to speak but had to admit that everything Bai Qingyan said was reasonable—he couldn’t find grounds to object.

After holding back for a long while, he could only say: “What if this isn’t Prince Liang’s scheme, but rather… the Empress deliberately elevating her unborn legitimate son? Are we just going to watch that auspicious legitimate heir come into the world and threaten Your Highness’s position?”

Bai Qingyan looked at Old Fang with a smile: “What Old Fang says is reasonable. However… borrowing Old Fang’s earlier words, Your Highness is already Crown Prince. As long as Your Highness makes no major errors… no one can shake this position!”

Old Fang: “…”

Qin Shangzhi watched Old Fang rendered speechless, secretly clenched his fist, and let out a heavy breath.