In Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, beside the yellow glazed lamp in the main room of Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jinxiu was carefully holding Bai Qingyan and crying… completely lacking her usual maternal dignity from the Qin mansion, weeping like a child.
Bai Jinxiu had been at the Qin mansion making winter clothes for Wang Ge’er when she suddenly heard the news that Bai Qingyan had been pierced through the chest by an arrow. She was so shocked she nearly fainted, her legs going so weak she couldn’t stand. Gritting her teeth, she had her maid Cuibi prepare the carriage to return to the Bai mansion.
Only after seeing her eldest sister and hearing her explain… that this was all a scheme, did Bai Jinxiu’s heart settle down, yet she still couldn’t help but cry aloud.
Ever since the Bai family’s troubles began last year, Bai Qingyan had been the backbone and guide for all her sisters. Bai Jinxiu couldn’t imagine what they would do without their eldest sister, or what would become of the Bai family’s future…
Within a year, they had lost too many relatives. They truly could not bear to lose any more family members now.
Bai Qingyan gently stroked Bai Jinxiu’s spine, softly comforting her: “There, there… You’re a mother now, yet you’re still crying! Wang Ge’er would laugh at you.”
Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Lu Ping came to report that the several Imperial Guard squad leaders whom Bai Qingyan had the Bai family guards contact had all sworn oaths… vowing to serve the Crown Prince unto death.
She nodded. During this chaos at Wude Gate, Bai Qingyan had the Bai family guards carefully observe and select several Imperial Guards who valued camaraderie, using the excuse of selecting people for the Crown Prince to recruit them for herself.
Recruiting Imperial Guards in the Crown Prince’s name was mainly because… those people were not from the Bai family army and couldn’t be completely trusted. Bai Qingyan worried that if she acted in Princess Zhenguo’s name and was truly exposed, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from the Emperor and Crown Prince.
Now… everyone knew that Bai Qingyan had joined the Crown Prince’s faction. Acting this way was convenient enough and allowed her to receive news from the Imperial Guards at any time.
“The Bai family guard who went to persuade those Imperial Guard squad leaders today is called Song Chengguang. This subordinate thinks we should have him maintain contact with those Imperial Guard squad leaders in the future!” Lu Ping took out a name list from his chest and handed it to Bai Qingyan. “This is the list!”
Bai Jinxiu took the list, opened it, and handed it to Bai Qingyan to look at.
There were thirteen people total, with their current positions written after their names.
Bai Qingyan briefly scanned the list and signaled for Chun Tao to hand it back to Lu Ping.
Under the flickering candlelight, Bai Qingyan’s deep, dark eyes were calm as water as she spoke: “Uncle Ping, there are two matters I need you to handle. First… copy down the names of the first seven people on this list. I’ll trouble Uncle Ping to take the seven-person list and make a trip to the Fan mansion to find Lord Fan Yuhuai. Tell Lord Fan Yuhuai… that before I lost consciousness, I recommended him to the Crown Prince as Imperial Guard Commander. These people are my planted contacts within the Imperial Guards, as a precaution against another incident like the chaos at Wude Gate. Ask him to promote them as he sees fit! But this matter must be kept from His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness fears His Majesty deeply – if he knew I had interfered with the Imperial Guards, he would surely be trembling with anxiety before His Majesty. But as someone under the Crown Prince, I cannot help but plan for him.”
Although these words explicitly told Fan Yuhuai she was taking risks, Lu Ping had always obeyed Bai Qingyan’s orders and nodded in acknowledgment.
“There’s one more matter. Send someone to deliver a message to General Shen Kunyang, saying that regarding the eighteen thousand soldiers the Crown Prince is sending to the southern frontier, he should arrange them properly and preferably recruit them for his use.”
Lu Ping clasped his fists in acknowledgment and left with the list.
“Elder sister, Fan Yuhuai may not necessarily be the Crown Prince’s man. I’ve been observing Fan Yuhuai for a long time – his relationship with the Crown Prince is somewhat ambiguous and unclear. He seems to serve the Crown Prince loyally, yet also doesn’t…” Bai Jinxiu was somewhat worried. “Directly giving Fan Yuhuai this list of seven people, might it…”
“Fan Yuhuai went through life and death with the Crown Prince. Even if he wasn’t the Crown Prince’s man before, he’s at least half the Crown Prince’s man now. The Crown Prince is the future emperor – Fan Yuhuai will naturally weigh his options. Moreover, today… News of my sacrificing my life to block an arrow for the Crown Prince has spread. No one will doubt my loyalty to the Crown Prince. Lu Ping handed over the list to Fan Yuhuai without reservation, so Fan Yuhuai will also think… promoting these people is harmless, just repaying the favor for my recommending him!”
Bai Qingyan gently stroked the brocade quilt with lotus and vine patterns on her knees, gazing toward the candlelight swaying against the window lattice, and smiled: “It all depends on what positions Fan Yuhuai places these people in! If he puts them in relatively important positions within the Imperial Guards, it means Fan Yuhuai intends to follow the Crown Prince and be his man. If Fan Yuhuai intentionally guards against these people… then it means Fan Yuhuai has no intention of being loyal to the Crown Prince. Protecting the Crown Prince is merely his duty, and we can think of other ways to arrange the remaining six people later.”
Bai Jinxiu nodded: “One part open, one part hidden. If one part is lost, there’s still another part.”
“These people aren’t soldiers from the Bai family army, so we must be careful when using them… Don’t get involved in this matter yourself. I’ll have others handle it.” Bai Qingyan instructed Bai Jinxiu.
Bai Jinxiu nodded.
Everyone in the Bai family, from the Grand Princess down to Bai Qingyan’s maid Chun Tao, knew that Bai Qingyan had set up this scheme to safely return to Shuoyang, so they were all much more at ease.
But externally, they maintained the unified story that Bai Qingyan remained unconscious.
Bai Jinxiu had someone pass word to Qin Lang, who was still waiting in the front courtyard of the Bai mansion, that she would stay at the Bai mansion tonight to care for her elder sister, and asked Qin Lang to return home to take care of Wang Ge’er.
Qin Lang nodded in agreement, then said to Cuibi: “Go tell Madam that if Princess Zhenguo needs any medicine, feel free to send someone back to the mansion to get it!”
Cuibi bowed to Qin Lang: “Yes!”
Just as Qin Lang stepped out of the Bai mansion’s main gate, he saw Dong Qingping and Madam Dong (née Song) arriving. Qin Lang quickly bowed to Dong Qingping and Song: “Lord Dong, Madam Dong!”
Dong Qingping nodded, his expression grave as he stepped through the main gate of the Bai mansion. Madam Song gave Qin Lang a slight nod and hurried to follow Dong Qingping.
Lu Ping immediately escorted Dong Qingping and Song inside.
Qin Lang looked back at the figures of Dong Qingping and Song, then at the brightly lit Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, hoping only that Bai Qingyan could successfully survive this ordeal. After all, there were many people who cared for her… who treasured her.
In the imperial palace, the window lattices of the Emperor’s bedchamber rattled in the wind. Lamp shadows swayed, casting reflections on the mirror-bright floor and the Emperor’s aged, sunken face.
Concubine Qiu tearfully pleaded with the Emperor, telling him how she had missed him these past days and wanted to visit him, but had been repeatedly blocked by the Grand Princess. Now that Prince Liang was dead… because she came from Prince Liang’s mansion, the palace servants all gave her cold looks.
The Emperor’s expression was dark and unclear. He turned to gaze at Concubine Qiu, seeing her kneeling beneath the bright yellow curtains drawn up with golden hooks, but thought of the Empress. He covered his chest and began coughing.
Concubine Qiu quickly rose, picked up the spittoon, and brought it before the Emperor. Without showing any disgust, she used her silk handkerchief to wipe the corners of the Emperor’s mouth. Her small hands, white and delicate as jade tubes, gently massaged the Emperor’s chest: “Your Majesty, are you feeling better?”