For some unknown reason, seeing Old Fang rendered speechless, Qin Shangzhi felt a sense of vindication and couldn’t help but twitch his eyebrows as he picked up his teacup.

The Crown Prince’s mood seemed much improved. He smiled at Old Fang and Qin Shangzhi, saying: “Alright, Old Fang also has my best interests at heart—I know this! This journey… Old Fang and Master Qin have truly worked hard accompanying me. Go back and rest quickly!”

After speaking, the Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan: “You’ve rushed here on horseback and must still be hungry. I’ve also been vomiting terribly, and my stomach is empty! Just now, Quan Yu had the imperial kitchen prepare some simple food. Let’s eat a little.”

Old Fang saw how the Crown Prince, who had been frowning throughout the journey, looking haggard and having no appetite, was now radiant and taking the initiative to eat something. This made him quite displeased.

Seeing Qin Shangzhi already rising, Old Fang reluctantly stood up and left the main room together with Qin Shangzhi.

Once outside, Qin Shangzhi, wearing his old boots, strode down the steps with large steps like a military performer on the opera stage, lifting the hem of his robes.

After Quan Yu led the palace maids carrying bowls and dishes, walking in small steps in a single file, and served the food, the Crown Prince ate a few bites. Because the troubles that had been bothering him for days were resolved, he happily drank several cups of wine.

After becoming somewhat intoxicated, the Crown Prince finally opened his heart to Bai Qingyan: “I… originally thought that once I could sit in this position, everything would get better! But after reaching this position, I discovered it was like sitting on pins and needles, surrounded by enemies! I… won’t lie to you—sometimes I truly feel very tired.”

“Your Highness must not speak such dispiriting words. Your Highness has Old Fang by your side, Qin Shangzhi, and great talents like Ren Shijie. You can simply leave matters to them to handle—Your Highness need not attend to everything personally,” Bai Qingyan said respectfully, setting down her chopsticks.

The Crown Prince waved his hand, gesturing for Quan Yu to pour him wine: “Old Fang and the others can’t think of everything for me either. Take this time, for example… three advisors, and not one could think of it. Thanks to your words that opened my eyes, otherwise… I probably couldn’t have eaten today either!”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes without responding. She didn’t dare comment on Ren Shijie, but Qin Shangzhi was truly a great talent… She didn’t believe that Qin Shangzhi, who was well-informed while in the capital, couldn’t see through the situation.

Qin Shangzhi was simply being suppressed by Old Fang. Initially, he would offer strategies, but the Crown Prince wouldn’t use them, only listening to Old Fang. Later, he probably couldn’t speak his mind even when he had something to say, so he chose to remain silent, letting Old Fang perform.

Having great talent but being unable to display it—this was the real reason Qin Shangzhi died of frustration in the previous life.

Quan Yu knelt beside the Crown Prince’s low table holding the wine pot, softly advising: “Your Highness, you haven’t eaten properly this entire journey. Please take care of your health and drink less wine!”

“Your Highness, please drink less! Tomorrow morning, there’s still half a day’s journey ahead, and you might feel uncomfortable. You should rest well tonight,” Bai Qingyan also advised.

Only then did the Crown Prince smile and nod: “Since Princess Zhenguo has spoken, I won’t drink anymore! Having Old Fang, Master Qin, and Master Ren by my side, and you who thinks of everything for me, I am truly fortunate! I know… in Jin Kingdom, women’s status is not as high as in Western Liang or among the Rong and Di tribes, but in my heart, Princess Zhenguo… surpasses countless men in this world! If not for your poor health, I… couldn’t bear to burden you with work, but I would keep you by my side. With you here… only then can I feel at ease!”

“That Yan can gain Your Highness’s trust is also the fortune of three lifetimes!” Seeing the Crown Prince’s eyes becoming hazy, Bai Qingyan instructed: “Quan Yu… please help His Highness go rest!”

Quan Yu responded and beckoned several eunuchs over.

Seeing several eunuchs supporting the Crown Prince, Bai Qingyan also stood up.

The Crown Prince called out loudly: “It’s fine! I’m fine… I’m not drunk! I still want to speak heart-to-heart with Princess Zhenguo!”

“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan bowed deeply.

Quan Yu also bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, please wait here briefly. Quan Yu will immediately send someone to escort Princess Zhenguo back to your chambers to rest.”

“No rush, take good care of His Highness!” Bai Qingyan said.

The Crown Prince was helped back to his bedchamber by Quan Yu and several eunuchs. The eunuchs carefully settled His Highness on the soft couch, and palace maids brought in copper basins, pitchers, and towels. Quan Yu waved his hand, indicating they should withdraw, personally wrung out a towel to wipe the Crown Prince’s face, then used copper scissors to trim the candle wick on the red sandalwood table and covered it with a glass shade.

Hearing the eunuchs and palace maids all withdraw, the Crown Prince finally sat up.

Quan Yu quickly called out “Your Highness” and went to pour water for the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince wasn’t drunk—he had merely pretended to speak truthfully under the influence of alcohol to show Bai Qingyan that… he trusted her from the bottom of his heart.

“Your Highness, please drink some tea!” Quan Yu handed the warm tea to the Crown Prince, carefully kneeling on the soft couch to massage the Crown Prince’s shoulders. “Your Highness, why did you pretend to be drunk to deceive Princess Zhenguo? If Your Highness wanted to rest, you could have simply told Princess Zhenguo. Could Princess Zhenguo possibly prevent Your Highness from resting?”

The Crown Prince chuckled softly, sipped his tea, and said, “I wasn’t afraid Bai Qingyan wouldn’t let me rest. I just wanted Bai Qingyan to know… that I trust her! After all, Bai Qingyan is far away in Shouyang and doesn’t meet with me often. I need to give her peace of mind.”

Moreover, Bai Qingyan’s maternal uncle’s family… was the Dong family!

If one considered Prince Liang in terms of succession struggles, when Prince Liang wanted to marry the legitimate daughter of Grand Court of Judicial Review Minister Dong Qingping, wasn’t he targeting Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue, who held military power?

Now that Liu Ruofu was pregnant and would marry into Prince Liang’s mansion next month, Prince Xian would certainly support his son-in-law becoming Crown Prince—only then could his grandson possibly become Emperor. Prince Liang would thus have Prince Xian’s military power in his hands. This calculation wasn’t difficult.

Father Emperor would only comfort him, saying he was already Crown Prince and no one could surpass him, but what if this legitimate son—proclaimed by the celestial master as an auspicious omen, the reincarnation of the divine deer—was born? Could he not surpass him either?

Bai Qingyan was loyal to him, and there were his people leading troops in the Bai family army. The Bai family army generals were only responsible for training troops, but if he could use Bai Qingyan as a connection to also win over Dong Qingyue, who regarded Bai Qingyan as his daughter, wouldn’t that be perfect? With both the Bai family army and the Dengzhou army in his hands, that would be foolproof.

As for the legitimate son in the Empress’s womb, he had thought it through clearly. He would follow Bai Qingyan’s advice—temporarily hold back and guard against Prince Liang making a move, even finding ways to force Prince Liang to act.

Perhaps because the Empress’s pregnancy gave the Crown Prince an extremely strong sense of crisis, his mind became increasingly active. He began evaluating the people around him. Although Old Fang’s methods perfectly matched the Crown Prince’s preferences and his loyalty was unwavering…