The patrol battalion soldiers immediately seized Prince Liang, who was crying hysterically in the rain, and dragged him away from the high steps of the Emperor’s bedchamber.

“Father Emperor! Father Emperor, please spare this son! This son was truly just afraid of death! But even if this son dies, he has never thought of harming Father Emperor and Crown Prince Brother!” Prince Liang kicked his legs wildly, screaming hysterically toward the Emperor’s bedchamber.

Bai Qingyan thought that perhaps the reason Prince Liang had managed to survive so long was because his heart… contained neither dignity nor integrity, which was why his knees could bend so quickly at any time or place.

Prince Liang could no longer amount to anything…

Since Prince Liang had the fortune to survive this chaotic battle, Bai Qingyan felt that rather than risk killing Prince Liang now, it would be better to let him watch helplessly as what he desired remained forever beyond his grasp, never able to shed this skin of weakness and incompetence.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fixed on the panicked, tearful Prince Liang, and for a moment, she could hardly remember what Prince Liang had looked like in his previous life when he was high-spirited.

In her previous life, Prince Liang had Du Zhiwei by his side, and she as well. Step by step, he had cast off his reputation for weakness, becoming a generation’s war god of such dignity and authority.

She took the umbrella from Nanny Jiang’s hands, holding it over Grand Princess’s head, and said to Grand Princess: “Grandmother, let me escort you to the carriage.”

“Will you truly not return to the Bai mansion with me? If not for your health, don’t you worry about the Bai mansion?” Grand Princess held Bai Qingyan’s hand.

The Bai mansion had sent no news all along, and in Bai Qingyan’s view… no news was good news.

Bai Qingyan had experienced Xiao Rongyan’s capabilities in her previous life. As long as Xiao Rongyan personally promised to guard the Bai mansion, he would certainly guard it, so she wasn’t worried.

Moreover, she couldn’t leave now. At least half of the Imperial Guards had followed Zhong Shaozhong and Prince Xin in rebellion, and after successive battles with the Nandu Army and Anping garrison troops, many more had been lost. While others saw this as a mess, Bai Qingyan viewed it as an excellent opportunity to insert her people and win over hearts.

If Bai Qingyan left now, she would waste this opportunity.

Furthermore, Bai Qingyan had been too conspicuous this time. At this moment… the Emperor and Crown Prince, out of gratitude for Bai Qingyan entering the palace to save the throne, wouldn’t think too much, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t later recall this and become wary of the Bai family, possibly keeping Bai Qingyan under their watchful control.

The Emperor’s imperial edict rewarding merit had not yet been issued. Who knew if he might arrange a marriage for her, sending her to the Crown Prince’s mansion – this was not what she wanted.

Bai Qingyan had already instructed Xiao Rongyan’s shadow guards to stage an assassination scene, after which she would appear near death, so she could safely return to Shuoyang to recover.

If grandmother were present during the “assassination,” she might be injured, which was not something Bai Qingyan wished to see.

After seeing Grand Princess off, Imperial Physician Huang treated Bai Qingyan’s arm, saying that although her arm hadn’t injured the bone, it had damaged the tendons and would need careful nurturing to recover.

After thanking him, Bai Qingyan changed into clean clothes sent by Gao Demao’s people in the warm chamber of a secluded palace hall.

Behind the carved partition screen, a Bai family guard lowered his voice to speak with Bai Qingyan: “Eldest Miss, General Liu Hong has arrived. He ordered weapons confiscated and is escorting the rebel Nandu Army and Imperial Guards out of the imperial city. It seems… except for Prince Liang and several important generals who will be kept for slow slicing, His Majesty doesn’t plan to leave the remaining soldiers alive – they’re all to be executed.”

Bai Qingyan found dressing with one hand extremely inconvenient. Hearing this, her hand paused: “How many in total?”

“Reporting to Eldest Miss, at least no fewer than eighteen thousand,” the Bai family guard replied.

Eighteen thousand people, all to be executed?!

Although the rebels deserved death, how many among them were ordinary soldiers who were just following military orders, having no choice in the matter?

It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan was being soft-hearted like a woman, but historically when emperors encountered such situations, to display magnanimity and benevolence, they would only kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, severely punishing the leaders while lightly punishing the followers…

Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth and finished dressing with one hand, then opened the door with one hand and emerged, gazing at the rain curtain under the corridor. She asked: “Where is General Liu Hong now? Where is he taking these people?”

“Reporting to Eldest Miss, when this subordinate came to report, General Liu Hong had already set out with his troops, seeming to head toward the east gate…”

East gate? Yongding Gate!

If Bai Qingyan guessed correctly, the Emperor was having Liu Hong execute all these rebels by shooting at Yongding Gate!

Bai Qingyan’s heart tightened. She stepped into the rain curtain: “Quickly to Yongding Gate!”

“Is Eldest Miss going to save people?” The guard hurried to catch up.

Bai Qingyan’s eyes flashed with sharp, dark light as she said: “Yes, to save people, and also to win over hearts…”

·

The heavy rain had not ceased through the night. Not only had the rain not stopped, it seemed to be growing more fierce.

Chancellor Lu, dressed in official robes, bent down as he emerged from his carriage. His attendant quickly came forward with an umbrella to help him down from the carriage.

Chancellor Lu looked down and saw red, bloody water immediately soaking his official boots. He looked at the fallen Dengwen Drum and the damaged Wude Gate, his heart already sensing how fierce the bloody battle at Wude Gate had been.

Shortly after, the carriage of Dali Temple Minister Dong Qingping also arrived at Wude Gate. He emerged from his carriage and first saw Chancellor Lu. Supporting himself on his guard’s hand as he descended, he walked toward Chancellor Lu and bowed deeply: “Chancellor Lu!”

“Minister Dong!” Chancellor Lu nodded to Dong Qingping.

Subsequently, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing also arrived, bowing to Chancellor Lu in the rain and inquiring about the situation.

Early this morning, before the court officials had risen, they heard the earth-shaking battle cries from Wude Gate and dispatched guards from their households to investigate. First, they received news that Imperial Guard Bi Heng had led troops to besiege Wude Gate, then heard that the Crown Prince and Imperial Teacher Old Tan had led the patrol battalion into the palace to protect the Emperor, and then… Prince Xian and Prince Liang, leading the mysterious Nandu Army that had appeared from nowhere, also claimed to be entering the palace to save the Emperor.

All the court officials had changed into their official robes and sat at home, sending out servants to gather information wave after wave. Some even came directly to Chancellor Lu’s mansion, requesting that Chancellor Lu make decisions.

Chancellor Lu’s side received the earliest news that Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan had gone to the east gate of the capital. After pondering briefly, he told the officials gathered at his mansion to return home and wait for news while guarding their residences well.

With Bai Qingyan present, Chancellor Lu believed this chaos wouldn’t last long before being quelled.

Sure enough, half an hour ago, shadow guards returned to Chancellor Lu’s mansion to report that no more battle cries could be heard from within the imperial palace.

Chancellor Lu reasoned that the situation must be settled. After instructing his household to guard the gates well, he set out for Wude Gate.

The other officials naturally also came upon hearing the news.

Even Li Mao, who had been claiming illness and staying home to recuperate, surprisingly came to Wude Gate this time.

However, Wude Gate was heavily guarded outside, with no intention of allowing officials to enter the palace.

Before long, Wude Gate suddenly opened…

Chancellor Lu saw Grand Princess’s formal carriage emerging from within Wude Gate. He quickly stepped aside to make way and bowed deeply toward the Grand Princess’s carriage.