Her entire bearing exuded an iron-blooded spirit that even men could not match, both dignified and solemn.

“Princess Zhenguo, please go seek the imperial decree with peace of mind. Before the imperial edict arrives, Liu Hong will certainly protect these surrendered soldiers!” Liu Hong clasped his hands toward Bai Qingyan, his tone resolute.

Bai Qingyan nodded: “I entrust this to General Liu!”

Bai Qingyan had wanted to clasp her hands toward Liu Hong in return, but her arm truly could no longer be lifted. She turned to look at the surrendered soldiers below the tower who were looking up at her, then turned and walked down from the tower.

Eighteen thousand soldiers – they were merely following orders from above. When those in power played their games… they wagered with these men’s lives!

Since they were soldiers, they should die on the battlefield; they should die protecting their homeland!

Soldiers… were the people in a nation who least deserved to become sacrificial pawns in conspiracies and schemes.

The Emperor didn’t want these people, but she did!

These eighteen thousand soldiers – whether they went to Nan Jiang or Bei Jiang! Even to the eastern frontier, to the western regions, to fight and kill enemies! In any case, they absolutely could not die at Yongding Gate in the imperial city! They could not die… in the whirlpool of Prince Liang and Prince Xin’s succession struggle, could not die in the Emperor’s fury.

“Why are you leaving?!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan seemingly about to leave from atop the high wall, someone shouted.

“Princess Zhenguo! You said those who surrender their weapons won’t be killed!”

“Princess Zhenguo!”

“Bah! Damn it… They’re all lying to us!”

Hearing the commotion from below, Liu Hong feared chaos might break out. He shouted down to the surrendered soldiers: “Princess Zhenguo has already gone to request an imperial decree, seeking His Majesty’s clemency! The archers have lowered their arrows! Please remain calm!”

Seeing this, Liu Hong’s subordinate also shouted: “If Princess Zhenguo wants to protect you, she will certainly be able to protect you!”

Liu Hong turned to look at his subordinate. Originally, Liu Hong hadn’t wanted to say such things to these condemned prisoners below, especially since he knew how determined the Emperor’s to kill.

That subordinate, seeing Liu Hong looking at him, quickly stepped back and bowed in apology: “General, if we don’t say this and let these soldiers continue ramming the gate, any mishap… You wouldn’t be able to account to His Majesty!”

Liu Hong clenched his fists, only hoping that Bai Qingyan could truly persuade the Emperor!

Eighteen thousand soldiers – never mind the Nandu Army, but just training these Imperial Guards alone – how much silver had been spent, how many years invested?

If these eighteen thousand soldiers were truly killed, the loss would be to Jin itself.

·

The Crown Prince had just finished attending to the Emperor taking his medicine, and handed him a teacup to rinse his mouth when he saw Gao Demao enter with small steps, saying in a low voice: “Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Princess Zhenguo has urgent matters and requests an audience.”

The Emperor covered his mouth with his hand and spat the rinse water into the spittoon, took the silk handkerchief the Crown Prince handed him to wipe his mouth, and spoke: “Let Bai Qingyan come in!”

Gao Demao acknowledged and went out to summon Bai Qingyan.

Seeing Bai Qingyan, who had changed clothes but was again soaked through, the Crown Prince was quite surprised as he placed the silk handkerchief the Emperor had used into a gold-traced black lacquer square tray held up by a kneeling palace maid: “Princess Zhenguo, this is…”

After Bai Qingyan performed the grand ceremony of prostration before the Emperor, she said: “Your Majesty, Bai Qingyan has come to beseech Your Majesty’s mercy, to spare the eighteen thousand surrendered soldiers from death.”

The Emperor, leaning against bright yellow cushions, narrowed his eyes, murderous intent churning in their depths as he quietly observed Bai Qingyan: “What, do you think my actions are too cruel?”

“The majority of Imperial Guards and Nandu Army rebelled against the nation, attacking the imperial city with the intent to force abdication and usurp the throne – their deaths would not be regrettable! But… after last year’s battle in Nan Jiang and this year’s battle in Bei Jiang, Jin is precisely in need of soldiers. Newly conscripted troops require at least half a year of training before they’re ready for the battlefield!”

On her way here, Bai Qingyan had already thought through how to speak with the Emperor. Speaking to the Emperor about sentiment and righteousness would be useless – she had to touch upon the Emperor’s interests.

The Emperor withdrew his gaze, staring at the flickering candlelight in the distance, carefully considering Bai Qingyan’s words.

“Bai Qingyan understands Your Majesty’s anger… your hatred! Your Majesty also dares not use these soldiers who have betrayed Your Majesty again! Your Majesty could send them to Nan Jiang… Bei Jiang, or to guard our Jin’s borders with the Rong and Di, or to guard Jin’s borders with Great Yan!” Bai Qingyan looked up at the Emperor, seeing him lost in thought, and continued, “This chaos at Wude Gate has already severely damaged Jin’s vitality. If Your Majesty commands General Liu to kill eighteen thousand of our soldiers, and foreign spies learn of this, they might well become restless, putting Jin in danger!”

Bai Qingyan did not give the Emperor specific suggestions, lest the Emperor become suspicious. Recommendations about where to dispatch these eighteen thousand could only come from the Crown Prince’s mouth.

“Your Majesty, they are all Jin’s soldiers! Since they enlisted in the army, if they must die… they should die under enemy blades on the battlefield, not under arrows from their comrades!” Bai Qingyan kowtowed heavily to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s hand, supporting him on the bed, slightly tightened. Not under arrows from their comrades…

The Emperor suddenly thought of the Bai family men who had died in Nan Jiang, and his heart unexpectedly felt a trace of emotion.

What Bai Qingyan said was not without reason.

It was just that not killing all these traitorous dogs would hardly quench the fury in the Emperor’s heart.

The Crown Prince saw Bai Qingyan lift her eyes to look at him, signaling for him to intercede with the Emperor. The Crown Prince lowered his eyes and thought carefully for a moment, remembering the Bai family army far away in Nan Jiang.

Now, the Bai family army could be considered his people. Whatever benefits there were… he naturally had to think of the Bai family army.

“Father Emperor, this son believes what Princess Zhenguo says is reasonable. Regardless of anything else… since they are Jin’s soldiers, receiving Father Emperor’s military pay and eating Father Emperor’s provisions, even if they must die, they should die worthily! If Father Emperor truly doesn’t feel secure keeping them nearby, you could send them to Nan Jiang. If Western Liang becomes restless again, let them serve as vanguards – this would mean… Father Emperor hasn’t fed them in vain all these years! They would certainly be grateful for Father Emperor’s grace and reform themselves from then on.”

The Emperor looked at Bai Qingyan kneeling with bowed head and lowered eyes, then at the Crown Prince with smiling eyes and brows. Regarding this son… after experiencing this palace upheaval, the Emperor trusted him even more.

The Crown Prince could have chosen not to enter the palace, but he still came to rescue him, showing his filial devotion.

Perhaps because the Emperor was getting old, and having lost his legitimate son, Prince Xin, his heart had also softened. He nodded to the Crown Prince: “I have already entrusted all court affairs to the Crown Prince. Let the Crown Prince decide this matter! I am tired…”

The Crown Prince quickly helped the Emperor lie down, then tucked him in, saying in a low voice: “Father Emperor, rest well. This son will certainly handle government affairs properly. If there’s anything uncertain, I’ll come to consult Father Emperor and won’t let Father Emperor worry.”

After attending to the Emperor, the Crown Prince left the Emperor’s bedchamber together with Bai Qingyan. The Crown Prince had Quan Yu bring a cloak for Bai Qingyan to put on, saying, “You don’t know how to take care of yourself. Knowing your health isn’t good, why did you go out in the rain again after changing into clean clothes?”

Hearing what seemed like probing in the Crown Prince’s words, Bai Qingyan replied: “Your Highness can be assured – Yan’s health has improved considerably these past days.”