Not to mention that the Empress had in her belly… another legitimate son who was the reincarnation of the divine deer. If the Empress truly harbored any ulterior thoughts, on his journey back, there would surely be people seeking his life throughout the entire route!

The Crown Prince’s trembling hands clenched tightly, hidden within his sleeves, terrified that others might detect his fear. He was the Crown Prince—he could feel afraid, but he could not show it.

Steady yourself. The Crown Prince thought quietly. The Dengzhou army had indeed suffered a devastating defeat this time. If the Dengzhou army were to return to the capital with him, then Dengzhou would be left empty. The only forces that could be mobilized were indeed the Anping Grand Camp.

However, just as the Crown Prince finished speaking, Bai Qingyan shook her head and said in a deep voice: “The convoy moves too slowly. Let Eunuch Quan Yu lead the convoy ahead first. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and I shall ride swiftly straight to the Anping Grand Camp, lest the treacherous villains in the capital city get ahead of Your Highness… and mobilize the Anping Grand Army in His Majesty’s name to do something detrimental to Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I fear that even if we depart on swift horses now, it may already be too late—we cannot afford any delay.”

“Then… let Princess Zhenguo go first!” the Crown Prince said.

“Absolutely not!” Dong Qingyue also spoke up, his expression steady. “Princess Zhenguo is not the Crown Prince. Even if she carries the Crown Prince’s orders, General Fu may not dare to truly hand over the troops to Princess Zhenguo! Your Highness must go in person.”

The Crown Prince’s throat worked as he swallowed, his gaze somewhat unfocused, still unable to calm his heart. But when his eyes fell upon Bai Qingyan, who remained as composed and unruffled as ever, his heart felt like a sweltering summer day that had been stifling for months—suddenly, a muffled thunder rolled through, and he was jolted awake.

This was no time for hesitation. Just as Bai Qingyan had said, if he could not first gain control of the Anping Grand Camp, and those in the capital pinned the charge of treason on him, not only would he have no means of self-preservation, but even the Crown Princess, who was carrying his child, might not escape harm.

Only with troops in his hands would the people in the capital have something to fear, and they would wait quietly for his return. If the Empress and Prince Liang in the capital harbored no treasonous intentions, that would be fine. But if they truly entertained thoughts they should not have, he would still have a chance to fight back.

“Very well! We shall ride swiftly!” the Crown Prince nodded.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had made his decision, Dong Qingyue shouted: “Prepare the horses!”

Bai Qingyan said to Dong Qingyue, “Uncle, the situation is urgent. This time, I shall accompany the Crown Prince directly from the military camp back to the capital, so I will not return to the Dong residence to bid farewell to Grandmother. Please ask Uncle to convey my apologies to Grandmother on my behalf.”

Dong Qingyue gazed into Bai Qingyan’s pitch-black eyes. In just a moment, he understood Bai Qingyan’s meaning. As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Dong Qingyue looked toward the Crown Prince and said: “On this journey to the Anping Grand Camp, should there be any variables at the Anping Grand Camp that might endanger Your Highness’s safety, then… Changmao!”

Dong Qingyue turned and called out to Dong Changmao.

“Father!” Dong Changmao cupped his hands and stepped forward.

“You shall select three thousand men to escort His Highness. If there are changes at the Anping Grand Camp, fight to the death to protect His Highness the Crown Prince’s retreat to Dengzhou!” Dong Qingyue commanded earnestly.

Before Dong Changmao could respond, Bai Qingyan said: “Uncle, Changmao’s injuries have not healed, and he cannot withstand the strain of such a swift march! Uncle must remain steadfast in Dengzhou to guard against the Nanrong’s Ghost-Faced General! If there truly are changes at the Anping Grand Camp as Uncle suggests, Changmao’s severe, unhealed injuries would instead place His Highness the Crown Prince in danger. If Uncle trusts Lu Ping… then let Lu Ping lead these three thousand men. If the mission to the Anping Grand Camp goes smoothly, then let Lu Ping lead the men back to Dengzhou! However, Uncle must also prepare for the worst-case scenario—at minimum, ensure that His Highness the Crown Prince has the Dengzhou army available for temporary use, and allow time to mobilize the Bai family army from the southern frontier.”

Bai Qingyan spoke rapidly yet steadily, clearly having already calculated everything. The Crown Prince’s heart grew more settled.

“Lu Ping once served together with this humble minister in the Bai family army. This humble minister trusts Lu Ping. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?” Dong Qingyue looked toward the Crown Prince, his posture respectful as he sought approval.

Lu Ping quickly cupped his hands and bowed to the Crown Prince.

“We shall follow Princess Zhenguo’s words!” The Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan with a solemn expression. “I… trust Princess Zhenguo and Minister Dong!”

Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingyue bowed deeply to the Crown Prince. Both clearly understood that the Crown Prince was not truly trusting Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingyue—rather, he was forced by circumstances to trust them.

Dong Qingyue gripped the sword at his waist and shouted toward the command platform: “Sound the horns! Muster the troops!”

On the command platform, deep and solemn horn calls rang out in unison.

Several pitch-black steeds, led by one person, came galloping from the other end of the military camp, dust billowing.

The entire camp immediately boiled like a cauldron. Armored soldiers, hearing the horn calls, immediately grabbed their long spears and heavy shields, organizing themselves amidst the chaos to assemble on the drill ground.

The Crown Prince swallowed his saliva, watching the dust-filled drill ground where soldiers hurried about, running to assemble.

Although the Crown Prince had once led troops to the southern frontier battlefield, he had remained in the rear while Bai Qingyan fought desperately at the front. He had never truly witnessed such a scene. At a glance… soldiers ran wildly through the dust to assemble, the sounds of footsteps, shouting, horses neighing, and horn calls all mixed, making one’s ears ring with buzzing, as if opening one’s mouth would fill it with sand and grit.

Seeing this scene, the Crown Prince, fearing that the horses charging through the camp might trample people, continuously stepped backward, his heart growing increasingly panicked. He instinctively looked toward Bai Qingyan, only to see her expression solemn as she seized every moment to discuss with Dong Qingyue the matter of reinforcements should chaos erupt at the Anping Grand Camp.

Bai Qingyan said to Dong Qingyue: “Uncle must sleep with weapons at hand. If there truly are changes at the Anping Grand Camp, Uncle will need to lead troops to reinforce to rescue His Highness and suppress the Anping Grand Camp! If chaos erupts in the capital, we absolutely cannot allow further incidents at Jin’s borderlands, or Jin will be in grave danger!”

Dong Qingyue nodded: “Beacon fires as the signal! I will have people constantly monitor the movements of the Anping Grand Camp!”

Over a dozen pitch-black warhorses charged through the camp. The leader bringing the horses leaped down, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands, saying: “Your Highness, Princess, General, the horses have arrived!”

“Then I entrust everything to Uncle!” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she grabbed the reins of a fine horse and looked toward the Crown Prince, whose forehead was beaded with sweat: “Your Highness! Mount up!”

Only then did the Crown Prince hastily respond, stepping forward to grab the reins. Whether from excessive nervousness or not, his foot slipped weakly down from the stirrup as he tried to mount.

“Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan grabbed the Crown Prince’s arm. Seeing his panicked state, she gripped firmly and supported him, saying: “Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince! The more chaotic the situation becomes, the more Your Highness cannot afford to be in disarray! I… will fight to the death to protect Your Highness’s safety! Your Highness must trust me! You must also trust Imperial Teacher Old Tan and Grandmother to temporarily stabilize the capital for Your Highness, waiting for Your Highness to return to the capital city to take charge of the overall situation.”

The Crown Prince swallowed his saliva, nodded, and was helped onto his horse by Bai Qingyan.

“Lu Ping, remain to muster the troops. I shall accompany His Highness and depart the city first to make arrangements. You follow with the troops afterward!” Bai Qingyan commanded.

“Lu Ping receives the command!” Lu Ping cupped his hands.

“Bai family guard army! Mount up!” Bai Qingyan called out loudly and leaped onto her horse with a swift motion.

The personal guards who had accompanied the Crown Prince also mounted their horses one after another.

“Cousin!” Dong Changmao suddenly called out loudly, having someone fetch a silver spear, which he threw to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan caught the spear and looked in Dong Changmao’s direction.