“It won’t come to that—just reducing unnecessary trouble.” Bai Qingyan looked toward the Crown Prince again. “Now, ensuring the Crown Prince’s safe return to the capital is the top priority! If Your Highness is concerned… You could first command Fu Ruoxi to personally lead half the Anping Grand Camp’s forces and his subordinate generals to accompany Your Highness back to the capital, leaving the Anping Grand Camp under the control of Dengzhou Governor Dong Qingyue.”

Thinking of Lu Ping, Bai Qingyan continued: “It so happens that Lu Ping brought three thousand Dengzhou troops—they can temporarily remain at the Anping Grand Camp… awaiting Uncle’s arrival to take command. The military has always operated by regulations, and one or two days without a commander won’t cause chaos. Moreover, with Uncle Dong Qingyue taking over both the Dengzhou army and Anping Grand Camp, if the Rong barbarians truly return, Jin’s borders will be secure!”

Bai Qingyan had something she couldn’t say directly—that one should never underestimate military loyalty and the bonds forged through shared bloodshed.

Otherwise, why could the Bai family command such a unified response within the Bai family army? Why would the Bai family army risk their lives to protect the various Bai family generals and young masters?

Fu Ruoxi had controlled the Anping Grand Camp for many years. To maintain his position as commander, besides being skilled in warfare, he ate and lodged alongside his soldiers, truly treating them as family. Killing Fu Ruoxi now would surely leave some willing to avenge him, making the Crown Prince’s journey to the capital extremely difficult.

Why… needlessly add troubles to the road back to the capital?

The Crown Prince nodded: “Princess Zhenguo speaks truly.”

Having said this, the Crown Prince removed his sword from his waist and handed it to Bai Qingyan: “This is my sword. On the road back to the capital, I entrust all matters entirely to Princess Zhenguo. Princess Zhenguo may act first and report later.”

Old Fang looked at the Crown Prince, then at Bai Qingyan, gripping his reins tightly with furrowed brows.

Bai Qingyan accepted the precious sword: “I will certainly escort Your Highness safely back to the capital.”

Soon, Fu Ruoxi, leading over two hundred Anping Grand Camp soldiers, came galloping swiftly. Before their horses had fully stopped, Fu Ruoxi and his men had already dismounted, cupping their hands and kneeling on one knee to salute the Crown Prince: “This humble general Fu Ruoxi greets His Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Zhenguo!”

The Crown Prince glanced at Bai Qingyan, and seeing her nod, he endured the physical discomfort from the long ride, forcing himself to keep his legs from trembling as he dismounted and personally helped Fu Ruoxi to his feet: “General Fu, Father Emperor fell from his horse and is unconscious. I fear chaos may erupt in the capital, so I have come to the Anping Grand Camp to request General Fu to bring troops and escort me back to the capital.”

Bai Qingyan followed the Crown Prince in dismounting and stood beside him, observing Fu Ruoxi with composure.

“The Anping Grand Camp has always been forbidden to move without the Emperor’s decree! But… with His Majesty unconscious, the Crown Prince, as heir apparent, should act in the Emperor’s stead. Fu Ruoxi respectfully follows Your Highness’s commands!” Fu Ruoxi declared his loyalty. “Before leaving camp, this humble general already ordered the drums beaten and troops mustered—we can depart with Your Highness immediately!”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan looked up at Fu Ruoxi, her pitch-black pupils cold and desolate. He had already ordered drums beaten and troops mustered before leaving camp?

Fu Ruoxi had already received news from the capital. The unconscious Emperor could not have sent messages, and with the Emperor entrusting the capital to Imperial Teacher Tan and Grandmother Grand Princess in his crisis, neither of them would spread news of the Emperor’s severe injuries and unconsciousness—they would certainly keep the information secret until the Crown Prince returned to take charge.

The Fu family had long been marginalized in the capital and would have no possibility of sending such important news to Fu Ruoxi at this time, nor any necessity to do so!

Then… Fu Ruoxi’s source of information—besides the Empress, Bai Qingyan- could think of no one else.

If so, Bai Qingyan feared she could not let Fu Ruoxi… return to the capital with them in a dignified manner.

“Excellent!” The Crown Prince nodded and gripped Fu Ruoxi’s hand firmly. “For all matters on the return journey, I entrust everything to General Fu and Princess Zhenguo. I have ridden all night and am extremely exhausted, needing some rest. I have given Princess Zhenguo my sword, granting her authority to act first and report later. What Princess Zhenguo says are my commands.”

The Crown Prince was well aware that Bai Qingyan had also ridden all night, but he did not trust Fu Ruoxi. At present, the Crown Prince trusted Bai Qingyan most; only with Bai Qingyan accompanying Fu Ruoxi could he feel at ease.

Bai Qingyan cupped her hands in acknowledgment.

Fu Ruoxi glanced at Bai Qingyan, his lips moving as if he originally intended to suggest Bai Qingyan also rest for a while, but fearing the Crown Prince might overthink, he also responded in acknowledgment.

Fu Ruoxi’s deputy general quietly stepped forward, standing behind Fu Ruoxi. Seeing the Crown Prince being helped onto his horse, he whispered: “His Highness the Crown Prince said what Princess Zhenguo says are His Highness’s commands—what does this mean?”

Fu Ruoxi remained silent. Seeing Bai Qingyan, who had mounted her horse, looking down at him from above, his brows furrowed as he avoided her gaze and hurriedly mounted his horse as well, escorting the Crown Prince toward the Anping Grand Camp.

There had been rumors that Bai Qingyan had already joined the Crown Prince’s faction. Fu Ruoxi had been skeptical—after all, he had fought alongside Bai Qingyan in the northern frontier and knew well that her intelligence was unparalleled and her character proud and upright. Such a person should not be involved in factional struggles.

But now, the Crown Prince said what Bai Qingyan said were the Crown Prince’s commands. If the Crown Prince did not completely trust Bai Qingyan, how could he issue such an order?

Bai Qingyan rode beside the Crown Prince, turning her head to instruct the Dengzhou troops brought from Dengzhou that once they entered the military camp, they must stay close to protect the Crown Prince at all times.

Fu Ruoxi welcomed the Crown Prince back to camp and invited him to rest in the commander’s tent first. After the Anping Grand Camp finished mustering its assembled soldiers, he would go to the command platform with Bai Qingyan.

The Crown Prince nodded, glanced at Bai Qingyan, and then said: “However, the Anping Grand Camp cannot all follow me back to the capital—half must remain to guard against the Rong barbarians! Thus… the Anping Grand Camp shall be temporarily handed over to Dengzhou Governor Dong Qingyue until I safely return to the capital and General Fu returns to the Anping Grand Camp!”

Fu Ruoxi was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince: “But Minister Dong is far away in Dengzhou—it would take at least a day for him to arrive! His Highness the Crown Prince should return to the capital as quickly as possible to prevent changes in the capital. Surely we cannot have Your Highness delay another day at the Anping Grand Camp?”

“With so many officers and soldiers at the Anping Grand Camp, why trouble Minister Dong?” One of Fu Ruoxi’s subordinate officers also cupped his hands. “This humble general holds a lowly position and may not have Minister Dong’s high rank and authority, but having followed General Fu at the Anping Grand Camp for many years, when General Fu led troops to the northern frontier, this humble general managed the Anping Grand Camp without incident. This time… this humble general is confident he can handle the responsibility!”

Military authority was the lifeblood of any general, who would willingly let others grasp their lifeline? This was also within Bai Qingyan’s expectations.

But since Bai Qingyan had come this time, she was determined not to return empty-handed.

Bai Qingyan gripped the hilt of the sword the Crown Prince had bestowed, her fingers unconsciously caressing it. To put it bluntly… today she had come to seize the Anping Grand Camp’s military authority.

Originally, Bai Qingyan had wanted to spare Fu Ruoxi’s life—after all, they had once shared the brotherhood of battle.

But Fu Ruoxi wanted to grip military power tightly and not let go, and he likely had already joined forces with the Empress…