Bai Qingyan paused in her steps, her gaze turning toward Fan Yuhuai. That look made Fan Yuhuai inexplicably guilty, and he hurriedly said: “His Highness the Crown Prince received word that the rebel from the Imperial Guards, Bi Heng, is using the banner of rescuing His Majesty and the Empress. He has already led the Imperial Guards to force entry into the palace and is engaged in fierce battle with the palace-defending Imperial Guards at Wude Gate.”
“Imperial Teacher Old Tan worried that if the rebels couldn’t break through the imperial city for too long, they would turn to attack the Crown Prince’s mansion, putting His Highness the Crown Prince in crisis. So he led the Crown Prince and Crown Princess into the palace first under the escort of the patrol camp!”
Seeing Bai Qingyan turn to face him, Fan Yuhuai continued: “Before leaving, His Highness the Crown Prince and Imperial Teacher Old Tan had already sent people to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion… to order Princess Zhenguo to exit through the East Gate and bring twenty thousand Anping Camp soldiers to eliminate the rebels outside the palace! Princess Zhenguo can rest assured… the East Gate has been entirely controlled by His Highness the Crown Prince’s people. Imperial Teacher Old Tan also ordered this humble official to temporarily lead the patrol camp to guard the Crown Prince’s mansion, creating the false impression for Prince Xin and others that the Crown Prince is still at his mansion. Once news comes that the Crown Prince has entered the palace, we’ll immediately go to Prince Xin’s mansion to capture Prince Xin!”
“Prince Xin’s mansion has shown no movement for so many days. If I’m not mistaken, Prince Xin isn’t at his mansion at all – he entered the palace long ago!” Bai Qingyan’s expression was grave. “For the Crown Prince to enter the palace at this time is like a sheep entering a tiger’s den! Moreover, if Prince Xin kills His Majesty… he can naturally frame His Highness the Crown Prince! Claiming he’s the meritorious official who entered the palace to rescue the emperor, leaving the Crown Prince with no way to defend himself!”
Fan Yuhuai’s face changed dramatically, and he hurriedly said: “Calculating the time… if we send someone on fast horses to pursue him now, we should still make it!”
The lanterns hanging high in the corridor of the Crown Prince’s mansion swayed, their dim yellow light illuminating Bai Qingyan’s pale and stunning features. She raised her calm gaze to Fan Yuhuai: “Lord Fan, don’t panic. In these extraordinary times, we absolutely cannot act recklessly! Who is the Imperial Guard commander defending the imperial city today?”
After thinking for a moment, Fan Yuhuai said: “It seems to be a junior officer… named Min something? Oh… that’s right! It’s Min Zhongxin!”
“Min Zhongxin, like Bi Heng, both have life-and-death friendships with Zhong Shaozhong!” Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and said, “It seems they’re putting on this show of attacking the city to lure His Highness the Crown Prince into the palace, so they can saddle His Highness with the crime of patricide!”
Fan Yuhuai looked at the calm and composed Bai Qingyan, somewhat uncertain: “Min Zhongxin is just a small, low-ranking general. Could he have dealings with Zhong Shaozhong? Perhaps this Min Zhongxin has righteousness in his heart and knows that Prince Xin and Zhong Shaozhong are plotting rebellion, so…”
After speaking, Fan Yuhuai clenched his fists: “Even if there’s this possibility, we can’t risk the Crown Prince’s safety. I’ll immediately send someone to summon the Crown Prince back to his mansion!”
Fan Yuhuai didn’t know the circumstances behind this matter, but Bai Qingyan, having experienced the previous life, naturally understood clearly.
Chess games were often like this – don’t underestimate that small, inconspicuous piece. Sometimes, when placed early in the game, it could have earth-shattering power.
Bai Qingyan shook her head: “Zhong Shaozhong is meticulous in his thinking and always leaves room for maneuver and backup plans. To dare create such a commotion, he’s certainly not relying solely on the Imperial Guards! Besides sending shadow guards to watch the movements at each gate of the Crown Prince’s mansion, Prince Xin and Zhong Shaozhong couldn’t possibly be unaware of His Highness the Crown Prince’s movements. It’s even more likely that Zhong Shaozhong planted sleeper agents years ago beside His Highness the Crown Prince and other… princes who might compete for the heir apparent position, just waiting for crisis moments like today!”
“If the Crown Prince returns… he’ll be intercepted and killed on the way. Once the Crown Prince dies, they’ll kill His Majesty and pin the crime of regicide on the Crown Prince! Min Zhongxin will then claim to the outside world that the Crown Prince was originally in the palace. In the end, the victor writes history… with His Majesty and the Crown Prince dead, who would still care whether it was the Crown Prince who committed regicide!”
Fan Yuhuai broke out in cold sweat: “I’ll immediately lead the patrol camp to escort the Crown Prince back to his mansion!”
Bai Qingyan still shook her head: “The key issue here is whether Min Zhongxin… is Zhong Shaozhong’s man. If he is! Then… if you lead the patrol camp to escort the Crown Prince back to his mansion, Prince Xin will kill His Majesty in the palace, and Min Zhongxin will reverse his story, claiming the Crown Prince killed His Majesty but was discovered by Prince Xin and fled the palace, joining with Bi Heng to besiege the Crown Prince. At that time, not only the Crown Prince… but the entire patrol camp would become rebels!”
The rights and wrongs of this world were often determined by the victors.
The victor becomes king, the loser becomes a bandit – this was the principle.
Zhong Shaozhong had set up this game brilliantly. Either way, the Crown Prince would bear the crime of killing his father and committing regicide, pushing Prince Xin to ascend the throne in glory.
What a pity that, no matter how brilliant, it was all making wedding clothes for others.
“So the most important thing this time is to defend His Majesty’s safety at all costs! Therefore, the patrol camp led by Lord Fan must enter the palace! If Min Zhongxin received orders to let His Highness the Crown Prince enter the palace, then it’s manageable! Lord Fan should now lead all the patrol camp forces to catch up with the Crown Prince and enter the palace together with His Highness. Tell the Crown Prince… if the gate guards don’t allow the patrol camp to enter the palace, then the Crown Prince should wait outside the city and not enter the palace! Wait for Bai Qingyan to bring twenty thousand Anping Camp soldiers to arrive and storm the palace together!”
“If you enter the palace smoothly, Min Zhongxin will probably claim the Crown Prince is committing regicide and rebellion, joining with Bi Heng to enter the palace and capture the Crown Prince! Lord Fan, don’t hesitate. Don’t escort the Crown Prince to retreat – head straight for His Majesty’s sleeping quarters. No matter what, you must have the patrol camp guard His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince without leaving their side! Bai Qingyan will eliminate the rebels as quickly as possible and rescue His Majesty and the Crown Prince! As long as His Highness the Crown Prince can protect His Majesty’s safety…”
After finishing, Bai Qingyan cupped her fists toward Fan Yuhuai, speaking calmly: “If Lord Fan trusts me! Immediately lead the patrol camp and the remaining Crown Prince’s guards in the mansion to catch up with His Highness!”
Fan Yuhuai hardly hesitated. Based on the military achievements Bai Qingyan had left from the southern and northern frontier battles, Fan Yuhuai trusted Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo, rest assured. Fan Yuhuai and the patrol camp swear to defend His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince with our lives!”
After speaking, Fan Yuhuai gripped the sword at his waist and loudly ordered someone to relay the command – the patrol camp should follow him to quickly pursue His Highness the Crown Prince!
Watching Fan Yuhuai lead the patrol camp racing toward the palace direction at full speed, Bai Qingyan’s fists clenched behind her back…
After the Crown Prince entered the palace, Prince Liang, upon learning that the Crown Prince had entered the palace, would certainly wait until the Crown Prince and Prince Xin’s people had fought each other to exhaustion before having the Nandu troops take action.
But if so, the Crown Prince and Emperor in the palace would be in danger.
Although their safety wasn’t important to Bai Qingyan, the Bai family’s current stability was entirely tied to the Crown Prince and Emperor. Besides the Crown Prince… whether Prince Liang or Prince Xin ascended to the throne, it wouldn’t be good for the Bai family.
What the Bai family needed most right now was time and stability to gradually build strength.
This was the reason Bai Qingyan had pretended to submit to the Crown Prince.
Bai Qingyan thought about how Fan Yuhuai had just said the East Gate was entirely controlled by the Crown Prince’s people. The general who had led troops to storm Princess Zhenguo’s mansion earlier had said… Prince Xin commanded that whoever could kill her would be rewarded with a hundred gold pieces and a noble title. The act was quite convincing, with pure and proper speech.