Even if Bai Qingyan was only staying for one night, Quan Yu hoped to do everything in his power to make Bai Qingyan more comfortable.

Lu Ping quickly stepped forward and bowed outside the window: “First Miss, this subordinate has escorted Qin Shangzhi back. Qin Shangzhi asked me to tell First Miss that he will remain by the Crown Prince’s side, to guide the Crown Prince to become a wise ruler, to become a monarch with imperial bearing who keeps the people in his heart.”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze did not leave her book as she unhurriedly turned a page: “I understand. Since that is the case, so be it.”

Although Lu Ping had known this would be the result, he still worried that First Miss might feel displeased, so he said: “Qin Shangzhi truly has great talent. This subordinate will find an opportunity to persuade him again…”

“Uncle Ping need not waste energy persuading him anymore. Qin Shangzhi does have great talent, but he is also stubborn. He is not someone who can be used by me. Since he cannot be used by me, even if he had heavenly abilities, there’s no need to expend energy on him.” Bai Qingyan had already tried her best, saying everything that should and shouldn’t be said. “Being an advisor to a prince is difficult, but being an advisor to the Crown Prince is even more difficult. I hope Master Qin can achieve his wish and single-handedly correct the foundation of the state. If Master Qin can truly accomplish this, I would also admire him.”

If Qin Shangzhi could truly accomplish this, why did he die in melancholy in his previous life?

Forget it. She had done her best. If Qin Shangzhi chose to walk the old path, she was powerless to stop him.

She had said so much that could and couldn’t be said, yet Qin Shangzhi still could not be used by her. She shouldn’t have left herself with future troubles, but today’s person was Qin Shangzhi, not someone else.

When they first met, Qin Shangzhi’s words had awakened her, and in her heart, she held half a teacher’s bond with him.

Moreover, as Qin Shangzhi had said, if he remained… at least he could advise the Crown Prince not to use underhanded schemes. If Qin Shangzhi were gone, the Crown Prince would only listen to Old Fang’s words alone, which would likely make this court collapse even more rapidly. For the Bai family’s current situation, this would be disadvantageous.

Furthermore, Bai Qingyan had some understanding of Qin Shangzhi’s character and pride. As long as the people weren’t in dire straits and he hadn’t glimpsed that the Bai family intended to rebel to protect the people, he would strive to mediate and balance, not letting things deteriorate to that point.

Taking it a step further, even if Qin Shangzhi told the Crown Prince all these words, telling the Crown Prince that she harbored rebellious thoughts, would the Crown Prince believe it? Would Old Fang let the Crown Prince believe it?

Not to mention, the current Bai Qingyan was no longer the eldest daughter of the Bai family who had fought barehanded against the imperial family in the capital. She had worked painstakingly to reach this point today, and already had support in her hands.

“Qin Shangzhi is knowingly doing what cannot be done, able to adhere to the righteous path he believes in. Even seeing the rot of the imperial family, he still wants to turn the tide with his strength. For this, I respect him!” Bai Qingyan looked at Lu Ping, whose brow was tightly furrowed. “Uncle Ping, everyone has their path in their heart. When paths differ, we cannot work together. One cannot force it.”

Lu Ping thought of Qin Shangzhi’s words about different paths earlier and nodded in response: “This subordinate remembers!”

—

Early the next morning, the Crown Prince set out for Dengzhou with grain supplies and the Emperor’s rewards.

Old Fang had not slept well the previous night; his complexion was not very good, and he directly boarded the carriage. However, Ren Shijie, upon seeing Bai Qingyan, bowed deeply to her.

After bowing, Ren Shijie had intended to follow Old Fang into the carriage, but seeing Bai Qingyan’s half-smiling gaze upon him, he could only steel himself and approach, bowing to Bai Qingyan again: “Does Princess Zhenguo have any instructions?”

“Yesterday, I heard that Master Ren went home? Is Master Ren from Fenping?” Bai Qingyan held a black gold horse whip in her hand, standing with her hands behind her back, her bearing heroic.

“Indeed!” Ren Shijie lowered his eyes and replied. After a long moment without hearing Bai Qingyan speak, he raised his eyes to look, seeing that Bai Qingyan was still staring at him. He spoke again in measured tones: “Although Ren was not present yesterday, seeing that His Highness’s complexion is much better today after meeting Princess Zhenguo, it must be that Princess Zhenguo gave good advice to His Highness the Crown Prince yesterday and offered him good strategies.”

“I merely helped His Highness sort out the affairs in the capital and offered no strategies. I am not an advisor. If we speak of offering strategies… we must still rely on Old Fang, Master Ren, and Master Qin!” Bai Qingyan looked deeply at Ren Shijie, then leaped onto her horse.

Ren Shijie retreated two steps, watching Bai Qingyan lead the Bai family guards on horseback ahead, before boarding the carriage.

Ren Shijie shared a carriage with Old Fang. Looking at Old Fang’s gloomy face, he lowered his eyes in thought. In Ren Shijie’s view, Princess Zhenguo might not be loyal to the Crown Prince, but once Bai Qingyan arrived, she first persuaded the Crown Prince to remain calm. Clearly, this Princess Zhenguo wanted to maintain the stable situation of the Great Jin court.

Now, because the Empress had suddenly become pregnant with a legitimate son, and he was the divine deer reincarnate pointed out by the Celestial Master, people’s hearts in the court were restless, and the Crown Prince was uneasy. Ren Shijie hoped to stir up this pool of water – the more chaotic the Jin court became, the better. Naturally, he couldn’t let the Crown Prince’s days be too comfortable.

Ren Shijie raised his eyes to look at Old Fang, whose eyes were dark with fatigue, and shook his head: “His Highness urgently summoned Princess Zhenguo to come, yet the advice given was still to remain calm and composed, as Old Fang suggested. Why bother making Princess Zhenguo make such a trip?”

Upon hearing this, Old Fang’s heart filled with anger, and he looked toward Ren Shijie: “This old man is aged. How can I compete with Princess Zhenguo’s beautiful face and enchanting voice?”

“Good medicine tastes bitter, honest advice is hard to hear. Old Fang’s painstaking efforts for His Highness, Shijie understood!” Ren Shijie solemnly bowed to Old Fang.

Seeing that Ren Shijie, who usually didn’t speak much, was siding with him, Old Fang’s mood improved slightly. He waved his hand: “Forget it! As long as the result is that His Highness the Crown Prince can remain calm, that’s enough.”

Fenping was not far from Dengzhou. Considering the Crown Prince’s health, they traveled unhurriedly. The large group escorting the grain supplies slowly made their way into Dengzhou city before sunset.

Because the Crown Prince had sent word ahead that he would stay at the Dong residence, the Dong family had no choice but to hastily bury Dong Changlan before the Crown Prince entered the city. They thoroughly cleaned the Dong mansion, and except for the two white lanterns at the main gate, the plain silk hanging on the red pillars in the corridors had been removed, showing no signs that a funeral was being held.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince understood the reason and still exchanged a few polite words with Dong Qingyue, saying there was no need for such measures.

“With Changlan’s passing, my mother and wife have both fallen ill, and my daughter-in-law is also bedridden and cannot rise to receive Your Highness. Please forgive us, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.” As Dong Qingyue spoke, he was about to kneel again.

“Master Dong…” The Crown Prince quickly supported Dong Qingyue. “The old matriarch has lost her eldest grandson, Madam Dong has lost her son, and Young Madam Dong has lost her husband. These are life’s great sorrows. I understand. Why ask for forgiveness!”

“By the way…” Dong Qingyue turned to look at Dong Changmao behind him and said to the Crown Prince: “This is my second son, Dong Changmao. If Your Highness has any matters, please instruct Changmao!”

Dong Changmao quickly bowed to the Crown Prince: “Dong Changmao pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

The Crown Prince nodded and looked Dong Changmao up and down: “On the way here, I heard that Young Master Changmao was also severely wounded. You have worked hard!”