“Cousin, this is my elder brother’s silver spear—I lend it to you!” Dong Changmao gritted his back teeth. “Cousin must return safely! Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Bai Qingyan nodded, spurred her horse’s flanks, and charged out first. The Crown Prince, protected in the middle by the Crown Prince’s mansion guards and the Bai family guard army, also followed on swift horses.
Dong Qingyue watched Bai Qingyan’s retreating figure on her galloping horse. His steady and vigorous silhouette turned and strode swiftly up the command platform, his gaze sharp as a blade, preparing to set out to suppress the Anping Grand Camp should the need arise.
Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince emerged from the military camp and headed straight for the outskirts of Dengzhou City.
Old Fang had received the news earliest and had already departed the city before having someone deliver the message to the Crown Prince. Old Fang understood propriety—when the news of the Emperor’s fall from his horse and unconsciousness reached his ears, Old Fang immediately ordered that there was no need to pack belongings. He took the Crown Prince’s carriage convoy straight outside the city to rendezvous with the Crown Prince and swiftly return to the capital.
Chun Tao was also among the Crown Prince’s convoy, which was Old Madam Dong’s intention. With chaos erupting in the capital, Old Madam Dong surmised that Bai Qingyan would escort the Crown Prince back to the capital, so she had Chun Tao bring Bai Qingyan’s necessary belongings and accompany Old Fang out of the city.
Old Fang was no fool. With the current chaos in the capital, the Crown Prince desperately needed manpower; rather, he needed troops. Princess Zhenguo was skilled in leading armies in battle, so naturally, he had to keep Princess Zhenguo by his side to ensure His Highness the Crown Prince’s safety.
Sitting in the rapidly jolting carriage, Old Fang pondered back and forth, feeling they could not simply return to the capital like this. If the capital had already been controlled by the Empress’s or Prince Liang’s people, the Crown Prince returning like this would likely be detained.
At that time, whether it was the Empress or Prince Liang, they could pin any charge on the Crown Prince! Or what if the Emperor could not wait for the Crown Prince to return and passed away, and they produced a false edict decreeing succession to someone else?
Prince Xin had returned to the capital, and the Emperor had fallen from his horse…
No matter how Old Fang thought about it, he felt this matter was inextricably connected to the Empress.
Since the Crown Prince was currently in Dengzhou, why not compel Dong Qingyue to lead troops to escort the Crown Prince back to the capital?
But what if the Rong barbarians attacked?
Compared to losing the Crown Prince’s kingdom and life versus losing Dengzhou City, Dengzhou would be insignificant.
Old Fang made up his mind, thinking that when he met the Crown Prince outside the city in a moment, they should not rush to leave immediately. He should first discuss with the Crown Prince before taking the Dengzhou army away.
The Crown Prince’s convoy had just stopped outside Dengzhou City when Old Fang, supported by Ren Shijie’s hand, alighted from the carriage, only to see Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince already galloping up on swift horses.
“Your Highness!” As soon as Old Fang saw Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince, he quickly shook off Ren Shijie, who was supporting him, stepped forward two paces, and called out loudly, “Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!” Quan Yu also ran toward the Crown Prince.
Bai Qingyan reined in her horse to a stop, dismounted, and tossed the silver spear in her hand to the Bai family guard army. She saw Chun Tao running toward her: “Young Miss!”
Bai Qingyan nodded to Chun Tao, then turned to look at the Crown Prince, who had already been helped down from his horse by the Crown Prince’s mansion guards. Quan Yu and Old Fang supported the Crown Prince on his left and right. As soon as the Crown Prince had steadied himself, Old Fang said: “Your Highness, we cannot return to the capital like this. We must request Minister Dong to bring the Dengzhou army to escort Your Highness back to the capital!”
“Absolutely not! The Dengzhou army cannot be moved!” Qin Shangzhi was the first to speak out. “The Nanrong cannot be underestimated. Although they retreated after capturing Dengzhou last time, who knows if they might launch another surprise attack! Dengzhou cannot be lost now!”
“Dengzhou cannot be lost! But can Your Highness’s life be lost?!” Old Fang looked toward Bai Qingyan, his face tense as he said loudly: “This time His Highness traveled far to Dengzhou to deliver grain and supplies to the Dengzhou army. Now that chaos has erupted in the capital, Dong Qingyue should dispatch troops to escort His Highness back to the capital. Otherwise, if His Majesty unfortunately passes away but the Crown Prince cannot successfully return to the capital, that would truly bring great disaster upon Jin!”
“Old Fang, Master Qin, please first board His Highness the Crown Prince’s carriage. His Highness the Crown Prince already has a strategy for this matter. Let us hear His Highness the Crown Prince’s thoughts!” Bai Qingyan looked toward the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, we still need to wait here for Lu Ping to bring the Dengzhou army. Why not discuss the details with the three masters?”
The Crown Prince nodded, clenching his sweat-soaked hands tightly, and said: “Yes! First, board the carriage, and we’ll discuss the details inside!”
Quan Yu helped the Crown Prince board the spacious and luxurious Crown Prince’s carriage. Bai Qingyan told Chun Tao to prepare battle armor, then followed the Crown Prince into the carriage, after which Old Fang, Qin Shangzhi, and Ren Shijie boarded.
The Crown Prince glanced at Bai Qingyan before saying: “I have discussed with Princess Zhenguo—we shall mobilize the garrison troops of the Anping Grand Camp to escort me back to the capital!”
Qin Shangzhi nodded.
“Dengzhou cannot be lost!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Old Fang. “If there truly are changes in the capital, then Your Highness still has Dengzhou to retreat to. If Dengzhou is lost… surely we cannot expect Your Highness to flee to the southern frontier? Who can guarantee that after Xi Liang spies learn of Jin’s internal turmoil, they won’t seize the opportunity to reclaim lost territory? Then we would face enemies on both fronts!”
Old Fang raised his hand to stroke his goatee, frowning in deep thought.
“As for the Anping Grand Camp, they have always been forbidden to move without imperial decree. If the Empress or Prince Liang controlled the unconscious His Majesty in the capital and also controlled the Anping Grand Camp outside the capital… that would be even more terrifying. Therefore… His Highness the Crown Prince should seize control of the Anping Grand Camp before any moves are made in the capital! As a precaution!” Bai Qingyan looked toward Old Fang, not giving him time for prolonged deliberation. “Old Fang is experienced and prudent. You could accompany His Highness and me with three thousand Dengzhou troops to the Anping Grand Camp together, in case circumstances change. I wonder if Old Fang’s body can withstand swift riding?”
Old Fang’s hand stroking his goatee paused, and he nodded: “For Your Highness, what difficulty would there be in sacrificing these old bones of mine!”
The Crown Prince was moved and gently patted Old Fang’s hand.
“Then let Eunuch Quan Yu, Master Ren, and Master Qin take the Crown Prince’s carriage convoy and proceed ahead. You must be careful—if changes have truly occurred in the capital, there may be people coming to assassinate the Crown Prince. Along this route, the Crown Prince’s carriage serves as a decoy. How to avoid leaving traces will depend on you three!”
“Your Highness and Princess Zhenguo may rest assured. Quan Yu will guard the Crown Prince’s carriage well!” Quan Yu was the first to pledge his loyalty.
“Your Highness and Princess Zhenguo, go ahead. With Master Ren and me here, nothing will go wrong!” Qin Shangzhi was quite concerned. “However, this journey to the Anping Grand Camp… is also fraught with danger!”
Privately, Qin Shangzhi felt that the Emperor’s sudden fall from his horse and unconsciousness was a good thing. As long as the Emperor could hold on until the Crown Prince returned to the capital before passing away, with the aged, muddled Emperor who was obsessed with alchemy dead and a vigorous new ruler ascending the throne, the Great Jin would surely take on a new atmosphere and appearance. The Bai family would not need to resort to rebellion either—wasn’t Bai Qingyan precisely planning for the Crown Prince now!
“Master Qin, rest assured. With Old Fang, myself, and three thousand Dengzhou troops, we swear to protect Your Highness’s safety!” Bai Qingyan said.
Seeing Bai Qingyan’s resolute expression, Quan Yu also said to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness! Let Quan Yu help you don your protective armor!”
Seeing the Crown Prince nod, Bai Qingyan bowed to the Crown Prince and exited the Crown Prince’s carriage to return to her carriage to change into armor.