Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Zhenguo was under the Crown Prince’s faction. This time, Fu Ruoxi had drawn his blade against the Crown Prince and nearly taken the Crown Prince’s life, and it was Princess Zhenguo who severed one of Fu Ruoxi’s arms and saved the Crown Prince.

But with a second thought, Madam Fu of the main branch remembered that her legitimate eldest son was already engaged to Princess Zhenguo’s cousin. She quickly tugged at her son’s sleeve, signaling him to speak with Princess Zhenguo later, hoping that Princess Zhenguo would, for the sake of her cousin’s engagement to her son, put in a good word with the Crown Prince. She didn’t seek to preserve the entire Fu family… only hoped they wouldn’t implicate the main branch.

After all, the Fu family had already divided. The main branch had separated, so whatever Fu Ruoxi had done should be borne by the second branch alone.

The legitimate son of the Fu family’s main branch frowned tightly with a very unwilling expression, keeping his head down and pretending not to notice, shifting his body to one side.

Madam Fu of the main branch still wanted to pull her son, but she saw that Second Madam Liu Shi had already stepped over the threshold, so she could only first greet the guests.

Liu Shi offered incense, dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, exchanged a few words of condolence with Madam Fu of the main branch and Fu Ruoxi’s wife Lady Luo, then was invited by the three Fu family madams to go to the back for tea.

After Bai Qingyan offered incense, she gazed at Old Madam Fu’s memorial tablet and sincerely bowed three times.

When she had advised Old Madam Fu to seek out the Crown Prince, she truly hadn’t expected Old Madam Fu would go to such lengths.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan was about to leave after paying her respects, Madam Fu of the main branch quickly stood up and called out: “Princess Zhenguo!”

Bai Qingyan turned to look at Madam Fu of the main branch.

Madam Fu of the main branch stood up wanting to pull her son up with her, but her son frowned and withdrew his arm, returning the courtesy to Bai Jinse, who was offering incense, giving his mother no face at all.

Madam Fu of the main branch smiled awkwardly and said, “This is our Fu family main branch’s legitimate son. He’s engaged to Princess Zhenguo’s cousin… the daughter of Minister Dong of the Court of Judicial Review. He could be considered Princess Zhenguo’s brother-in-law.”

Bai Qingyan glanced at the Fu family’s main branch legitimate son, who kept his eyes lowered with reddened eye sockets, genuinely grieving. She nodded and followed the three Fu family madams to the resting place for mourning guests.

Fu Ruoxi’s elder brother, being a man, couldn’t accompany Bai Qingyan to rest in the back. He had hoped his wife would go, but seeing his wife only focused on training their son in a low voice, he frowned and knelt silently to one side.

Fu Ruoxi’s wife, Lady Luo, watched Bai Qingyan’s retreating figure. After Bai Jinse offered incense and paid her respects, seeing no one else arriving, she used the excuse of needing to change clothes to get up and seek out Bai Qingyan.

Liu Shi picked up her teacup, looking at the cold and deserted Fu family, remembering when the Bai family held funeral rites and only the Dong family came to their door. She sighed, inevitably feeling the fickleness of human nature.

The Fu family’s funeral was so deserted that sparrows could nest at their gates. The quietness left one feeling uncomfortable.

Liu Shi had also heard that last night, the generals from Anping Military Camp who had escorted the Crown Prince back to the capital had all been invited into the Court of Judicial Review. Those generals were probably still in the Court of Judicial Review and hadn’t come out yet; otherwise, the Fu family wouldn’t be so desolate.

Their Bai family was fortunate to have the illustrious reputation of generations of loyalty. Confucian scholars Guan Yongchong and Old Master Cui Shiyan had both come to pay respects. Later, it was also because the Bai family still had the Grand Princess and A’Bao that the Bai family didn’t fall.

But for the Fu family, this time, escaping complete family execution would be fortunate. No wonder no one came to their door.

Liu Shi thought that the Dong family would probably send someone soon. The Dong family and Bai family had marriage ties, and with the Fu family… though the bride hadn’t yet entered the household, having exchanged horoscope cards also counted as in-laws, so they would certainly come.

Thinking of this, Liu Shi looked toward Bai Qingyan, who was gently blowing on her teacup, only hoping that Bai Qingyan would stay far from that cousin of hers and not be implicated by that concubine-born cousin, ruining her reputation when their A’Bao wasn’t yet married!

Though A’Bao had difficulty bearing children, who said that difficulty meant impossibility? She still wanted to arrange a good marriage for A’Bao to silence those who gossiped about A’Bao’s fertility issues.

Liu Shi took a sip of hot tea and had just set down her teacup when she saw Fu Ruoxi’s wife, Lady Luo, dressed in mourning clothes, step over the threshold. After nodding to Liu Shi, she bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, might I have a word in private?”

“Madam Fu…” Liu Shi quickly stood up and walked over, protecting Bai Qingyan behind her with a smiling face: “I wonder what matter Madam Fu has?”

Liu Shi was afraid that Lady Luo would use Old Madam Fu’s death to play pitiful, begging Bai Qingyan to help plead for Fu Ruoxi, then create a situation where she wouldn’t get up if Bai Qingyan didn’t agree. Wouldn’t that put Bai Qingyan in a difficult position!

So Liu Shi simply stood up to block for Bai Qingyan, cutting off any possibility of Lady Luo’s pleading.

Bai Qingyan knew Liu Shi was protecting her and stood up, tugging at Lady Luo’s sleeve: “Second Aunt, it’s fine!”

Hearing this, Liu Shi stopped putting on a smiling face and said to Lady Luo: “Madam Fu, regarding Old Madam Fu’s passing, please accept our condolences, but… please don’t make things difficult for our eldest miss, a mere child. Though she’s called Princess Zhenguo, it’s just a title. She’s not a real imperial princess and has no real influence.”

Lady Luo quickly bowed to Liu Shi: “Second Madam Bai, please rest assured. That the Bai family could come to pay respects today fills the entire Fu family with gratitude. How could we be so shameless as to make things difficult for Princess Zhenguo?”

With Lady Luo’s assurance, Liu Shi finally stepped aside, instructing Bai Qingyan to say just a few words and return quickly.

Bai Qingyan nodded and followed Fu Ruoxi’s wife, Lady Luo, to a secluded place.

As soon as Lady Luo reached the secluded spot, she immediately knelt before Bai Qingyan, tears streaming down her face: “Princess Zhenguo, before my mother-in-law’s body was sent back yesterday, she had a loyal servant bring back a message, only saying to trust Princess Zhenguo, and then mother-in-law passed away. Now Fu Ruoxi is imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review’s jail. Last night… I heard that Minister Lu didn’t obtain a confession from Ruoxi, so he also invited all the Anping Military Camp generals who returned with Ruoxi into the Court of Judicial Review. I’m at a complete loss and don’t know what to do. I beg Princess Zhenguo to tell me what I can do now!”

“Madam Fu, please rise quickly!” Bai Qingyan helped Lady Luo to her feet. “Madam Fu needs to do nothing now. Just properly arrange Old Madam Fu’s funeral. The Crown Prince will certainly protect all the Fu family members. Rest assured.”

Lady Luo nodded while suppressing her heartache, crying uncontrollably: “Thank you, Princess Zhenguo! Thank you, Princess Zhenguo…”

·

At the front, Fu Ruoxi’s sister-in-law noticed Lady Luo was nowhere to be seen and guessed that Lady Luo must have gone to find Bai Qingyan to plead. Her heart immediately blazed with anger. Lady Luo had some nerve! Calculating it… Princess Zhenguo was related to their main branch, yet Lady Luo had gotten ahead of her to seek Princess Zhenguo’s help.

This wouldn’t do! She couldn’t control Fu Ruoxi’s life or death, but she must preserve their main branch!

Madam Fu was afraid that Lady Luo would use the slight family connection between their main branch and Princess Zhenguo… to beg Princess Zhenguo to save Fu Ruoxi. If the Crown Prince disagreed, what would happen to their main branch?

She had to quickly find Princess Zhenguo to plead for the main branch!