Seeing Bai Qingyan’s tightly clenched hands as she lowered her eyes in thought, Lu Ping clasped his fists and knelt on one knee before Bai Qingyan: “Young Lady, this subordinate wishes to lead people to Nanrong to assist the Young Master!”
“Last time you appeared in Nanrong disguised as a merchant traveler. This time, if you go to help him, under what identity?” Bai Qingyan’s tone clearly showed disapproval.
Border military reports were sent by swift horses traveling day and night without rest, taking approximately six days. This meant that Great Yan and Northern Rong had begun attacking Nanrong six days ago.
It wouldn’t work for Bai Qingyan to stay in the mansion trying to think of solutions. She needed to find an excuse to see the Crown Prince and investigate the specific military situation.
“Go down first. Don’t act rashly. Wait until I return from the palace before deciding anything!” Bai Qingyan instructed Lu Ping.
“I’ll escort the Young Lady to the palace!” Lu Ping insisted.
“Go prepare the horses!”
“Yes!” Lu Ping responded and quickly left, nearly colliding with Chun Tao, who was entering after seeing off Physician Hong.
Seeing Lu Ping leave in such haste, Chun Tao lifted the curtain and entered: “Why is Guard Lu in such a hurry?”
“Chun Tao, help me change clothes. I need to go out,” Bai Qingyan said.
After changing clothes, Bai Qingyan walked outside while telling Chun Tao: “In a moment, go tell Grandmother, Second Aunt, and Jinxiu that I’m going to the palace. Tell them not to wait for me for dinner.”
Chun Tao trotted behind Bai Qingyan, acknowledging the instruction. Only after seeing Bai Qingyan off and watching her leap onto her horse did Chun Tao turn back to report this matter to Grand Princess and Second Madam Liu Shi.
Imperial Palace
The Crown Prince was reclining on a soft couch in the Emperor’s bedchamber, having Imperial Physician Huang examine his pulse.
Quan Yu knelt beside the Crown Prince, placing an ice-cold compress on the Crown Prince’s forehead, speaking softly to Imperial Physician Huang: “His Highness worried about His Majesty throughout the journey, unable to eat or sleep properly. This morning upon reaching the capital gates, he developed a high fever, yet forced himself to enter the palace.”
Imperial Physician Huang withdrew his hand from pulse-taking and said, “His Highness the Crown Prince suffered from excessive fear and worry. Once he relaxed, the fever developed! It’s nothing serious! This humble physician will prescribe some heat-clearing medicine. His Highness will recover quickly after taking it!”
While packing his medicine box, Imperial Physician Huang said to the Crown Prince: “His Majesty faced both shock and danger this time, but fortunately, this humble physician’s senior brother, Physician Hong, was in the capital, and with Miss Lu’s acupuncture assistance, we managed to overcome the crisis.”
The Crown Prince nodded: “Thank you for your hard work, Imperial Physician Huang!”
“This is this humble physician’s duty – how dare I accept His Highness’s thanks!” Imperial Physician Huang quickly rose and bowed to the Crown Prince.
Gao Demao, who had been listening from the side, finally interjected: “Your Highness is unwell and should return to your mansion to rest properly. Otherwise, if His Majesty hasn’t awakened yet but you collapse first, wouldn’t that worry His Majesty!”
“I… I’m just worried about Father Emperor!” The Crown Prince adjusted his sleeves, his concerned gaze looking toward the bed behind the bright yellow curtains.
“Your Highness’s filial devotion is truly moving. When His Majesty awakens and learns of the Crown Prince’s filial piety, he will surely feel comforted and grateful. But Your Highness’s urgent priority now is to return to the Crown Prince’s mansion to rest properly and take over governmental affairs from Prince Liang… to handle state affairs for His Majesty!” Gao Demao lowered his voice to hint at the Crown Prince.
Gao Demao was the Emperor’s confidant and naturally knew the Emperor currently had no intention of changing the heir apparent. Since that was the case, why shouldn’t Gao Demao curry favor with the Crown Prince? If the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future, he would surely remember this guidance, ensuring his comfortable retirement years.
The Crown Prince’s eyes brightened as he looked toward Gao Demao, but Gao Demao maintained his humble, lowered gaze, slightly bowing.
Yes, he had only thought about displaying filial piety before Father Emperor in the palace, forgetting that seizing control of governmental affairs was an important matter.
The Crown Prince suddenly became alert and stood up. He was quite willing to lower himself and bow to Gao Demao: “Eunuch Gao speaks very wisely. I entrust Father Emperor to Eunuch Gao’s care. Once Father Emperor awakens, please immediately send someone to inform me.”
“Your Highness can rest assured. When His Majesty awakens, the first person he’ll want to see will surely be Your Highness!” Gao Demao smiled.
After the Crown Prince kowtowed and paid respects to the Emperor, he left the Emperor’s bedchamber and instructed Quan Yu to send people to Prince Liang’s mansion, having Prince Liang deliver all governmental affairs to the Crown Prince’s mansion for handover.
Quan Yu accepted the order and immediately dispatched people to Prince Liang’s mansion.
The Crown Prince’s carriage had just exited Wude Gate when it encountered Bai Qingyan arriving on horseback.
Quan Yu, sitting outside the carriage, quickly turned to report to the Crown Prince inside: “Your Highness, it’s Princess Zhenguo!”
“Stop the carriage quickly!” came the Crown Prince’s voice from within.
Quan Yu alighted from the moving carriage, opened the carriage door, and smilingly bowed to Bai Qingyan, who had reined in her horse: “Greetings to Princess Zhenguo!”
“Is Princess Zhenguo entering the palace?” The Crown Prince, leaning out from inside the carriage, asked with a smile.
Bai Qingyan dismounted and performed a deep bow toward the Crown Prince, saying solemnly: “I have urgent matters and request an audience with Your Highness! This matter is of great importance!”
Seeing Bai Qingyan’s grave expression, the Crown Prince’s heart skipped a beat. He nodded: “Return to the Crown Prince’s mansion to discuss.”
On the way here, Bai Qingyan had already thought everything through. Since the Empress didn’t want peace, she would muddy the waters of the capital. She wanted to tell the Crown Prince about the Empress’s pregnancy timing being wrong!
After all, Prince Xin could return to the capital smoothly only because the Empress was pregnant with another legitimate heir, and the so-called legitimate heir in the Empress’s womb… was even called the reincarnation of the divine deer by the Celestial Master. The most panicked person would be the Crown Prince.
If Old Fang, the strategist beside the Crown Prince, knew that the child in the Empress’s womb might not be His Majesty’s son, he certainly wouldn’t let the Empress live peacefully.
Bai Qingyan was eager to tell the Crown Prince about such an important matter, then conveniently ask about military intelligence – perfectly natural.
The Crown Prince felt uneasy throughout the journey. Only when Bai Qingyan followed the Crown Prince into the study of the Crown Prince’s mansion and heard the Crown Prince tell Quan Yu to summon Old Fang, did Bai Qingyan say: “Your Highness, this concerns the imperial family’s reputation. It would be better if I spoke to Your Highness alone first.”
The Crown Prince nodded, sat down behind his desk, and said to Quan Yu: “Quan Yu, guard outside and don’t let anyone else enter!”
“Yes!” Quan Yu took small steps, leading the eunuchs and maids out of the study. Considering that Bai Qingyan was an unmarried woman, he didn’t close the door.
“Your Highness, did Your Highness once say… that you saw the Empress’s maid escorting General Fu out of the palace? Did this happen?” Bai Qingyan sat to one side, her gaze intense.
To reveal that the child in the Empress’s womb wasn’t the Emperor’s without implicating Lu Ning’e and the Bai family – this was Bai Qingyan’s purpose.
The Crown Prince nodded: “Exactly! The register recording palace entry and exit times is still with me.”
“Later, when His Majesty fell from his horse and lost consciousness, Fu Ruoxi at Anping Military Camp went mad and publicly attempted to assassinate Your Highness, completely disregarding that the Fu family’s relatives were still in the capital. Hasn’t Your Highness suspected anything?” Bai Qingyan’s eyes burned intensely. “Your Highness, think about it – from the Empress’s pregnancy… to recalling Prince Liang, then the divine deer’s poisoning, the Celestial Master diagnosing that the child in the Empress’s womb is the reincarnation of the divine deer – this series of events, isn’t there a mastermind behind it all?”