Seeing that Bai Qingyan was about to rise, Quan Yu hurried forward to help support her. After Bai Qingyan thanked Quan Yu, she bowed deeply to the Crown Prince: “The reason Bai Qingyan knows that Xiliang has already deployed troops is because… the steward my mother sent to Dengzhou to deliver New Year gifts is one of my mother’s dowry servants. Therefore, my mother allowed him to return to Shouyang after the first month had over. The steward returned to Shouyang on the thirteenth day of the second month, and that very day, Bai Qingyan sent Lu Ping to persuade Your Highness… that this matter cannot be ignored, and pressure must be applied to Xiliang. If Your Highness does not believe me… You may certainly send someone to Shouyang to investigate. If Bai Qingyan speaks even half a false word, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death.”
“Princess Zhenguo’s words are too severe!” The Crown Prince quickly gestured to help Bai Qingyan up. “Princess Zhenguo risked her life to save me. Even if I were to suspect anyone else, I would not and could not suspect Princess Zhenguo! Old Fang… why don’t you apologize to Princess Zhenguo!”
The Crown Prince turned his head and angrily scolded Old Fang.
However, Bai Qingyan stepped back and bowed to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, there’s no need for an apology. Bai Qingyan rode hard all this way, and my stamina really cannot support me any longer, so I’ll take my leave first! All the Bai family guards are here… Old Fang may question them to his heart’s content.”
Having said this, Bai Qingyan bowed deeply and retreated backward, then turned and stepped out through the doorway.
Old Fang had not expected Bai Qingyan to leave so decisively, and stood there stunned.
“Princess Zhenguo!” The Crown Prince took several steps forward in pursuit, calling out.
Bai Qingyan’s steps suddenly halted. Supporting herself against a vermilion lacquered red pillar carved with lotus motifs at its base, she covered her mouth and coughed, her entire body trembling. Quan Yu hurried forward to support Bai Qingyan, but unexpectedly, she covered her chest and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground.
“Princess Zhenguo! Princess Zhenguo! Your Highness…” Quan Yu was beside himself with panic, stumbling as he helped the fallen Bai Qingyan. “Your Highness, what should we do?”
“Where are the imperial physicians?!” The Crown Prince quickly stepped out through the doorway, shouting loudly. “Where are the imperial physicians?! Have the imperial physicians arrived?! Quick… first carry Princess Zhenguo to the side hall! Quickly!”
Quan Yu tearfully responded, but before he could lift Bai Qingyan, the Bai family guards who had been summoned inside saw their eldest miss collapse on the ground, her clothing front completely stained with fresh blood.
Those Bai family guards’ eyes widened, and disregarding etiquette, they leaped from the corridor, trampling through flowers and grass as they rushed directly toward Bai Qingyan, pushing Quan Yu aside: “Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss!”
“First, carry Princess Zhenguo to the side hall!” The Crown Prince had no time to scold the Bai family guards for their rudeness and urged them on.
That Bai family guard said nothing more and immediately lifted Bai Qingyan and ran toward the side hall.
Soon, the imperial physician arrived. After taking Bai Qingyan’s pulse, the imperial physician was quite shocked. He put away the pulse pillow and tremblingly rose to bow deeply to the Crown Prince: “Reporting to Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Princess Zhenguo’s severe injuries from years past already damaged her foundation, and later being pierced through the heart by an arrow further injured her heart and lungs. With proper care and rest, she might have been able to extend her lifespan, but on this journey, the cold qi invaded her body, and she overexerted herself, triggering her old ailments… I fear that…”
“Fear what?!” The Crown Prince exploded in rage. “I’m telling you, I don’t want to hear any ‘I fear’! I want you to properly treat Princess Zhenguo. If anything happens to Princess Zhenguo, I’ll send your entire family to Huayang City!”
The imperial physician trembled and quickly knelt at the Crown Prince’s feet: “Your Highness, please show mercy! This humble minister will certainly treat Princess Zhenguo well, but Princess Zhenguo already suffers from chronic ailments. Even if Imperial Physician Huang were here, he would likely be powerless as well. She can only be sustained with medicine. This humble minister truly is…”
Seeing Bai Qingyan on the soft couch slowly opening her eyes, Quan Yu quickly called out: “Your Highness! Your Highness… Princess Zhenguo has awakened!”
“Eldest Miss!” The Bai family guard, kneeling to one side, straightened his back and looked toward the soft couch.
“Princess Zhenguo, how are you feeling?” The Crown Prince hurried over to ask Bai Qingyan, his heart full of regret—he should never have doubted Bai Qingyan.
“Your Highness need not make things difficult for the imperial physician. I know my own body’s condition…” Bai Qingyan said while supporting herself up with one hand, and Quan Yu quickly came forward to help her up.
The Crown Prince’s hands at his sides clenched tightly: “Actually, for this matter, you didn’t need to make the trip personally. Sending someone else would have been the same!”
“Bai Qingyan took it upon herself to command people to obstruct Your Highness’s orders, which already deserves ten thousand deaths. How could I not come personally to beg Your Highness’s forgiveness?” Bai Qingyan covered her chest and nodded slightly to the Crown Prince.
“What kind of talk is that! You did all this for me… don’t I know that!” The Crown Prince sighed. “This time it was Old Fang’s fault. I will certainly have Old Fang come and apologize to you.”
Bai Qingyan shook her head: “It’s all for Your Highness’s sake. It’s proper for Old Fang to ask more questions…”
“I know you’re magnanimous and don’t hold grudges, but you risked your life to save me, yet he was there competing for that bit of trust…” The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed deeply, as if he couldn’t continue speaking.
“Your Highness…” Bai Qingyan, her lips pale, looked at the Crown Prince and said, “Bai Qingyan is far away in Shouyang. More often than not, Your Highness needs to rely on strategists like Old Fang. Please don’t make Old Fang uncomfortable just for Bai Qingyan alone. Bai Qingyan may not be as old as Old Fang, but I dare say my heart is broader than Old Fang’s, and I truly don’t mind.”
A young eunuch came running breathlessly and threw himself down on his knees at the doorway, calling out loudly: “Your Highness! Your Highness… the Crown Princess has gone into labor!”
“Gone into labor!” The Crown Prince’s face lit up with joy, and then he looked toward Bai Qingyan. “Like this—you rest here in the side hall for now. I’ll go check on the Crown Princess!”
Bai Qingyan’s gaze turned toward the Bai family guard kneeling to one side, and that guard quickly rose and came forward to help Bai Qingyan up.
“Your Highness, go quickly to see her. Bai Qingyan won’t impose further on the Crown Prince’s residence and will return to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion first,” Bai Qingyan said to the Crown Prince.
At this time, with the Crown Princess going into labor, the Crown Prince indeed had no time for further conversation with Bai Qingyan. He nodded and instructed Quan Yu to arrange a carriage to personally escort Bai Qingyan back to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, then hurried away.
Quan Yu had the imperial physician accompany Bai Qingyan to Princess Zhenguo’s mansion. When Second Madam Liu Shi saw the blood on Bai Qingyan’s clothing, her legs went weak and she nearly fell: “What happened?! What happened?!”
“Second Madam, just now this slave sent someone ahead to inform you to prepare a sedan chair for Princess Zhenguo… I wonder if it has been prepared?” Quan Yu bowed and asked.
“It’s prepared! It’s prepared!” Liu Shi tightly gripped Nanny Luo’s hand. “Quickly! The sedan chair!”
“Second Aunt, don’t worry! I’m fine…” Bai Qingyan curved her lips in a faint smile to comfort Liu Shi.
Fortunately, the Grand Princess and Bai Jinse were both currently at the quiet monastery, so they wouldn’t worry seeing Bai Qingyan in this condition.
Liu Shi was supported by Nanny Luo as they followed into Qinghui Courtyard. After helping Bai Qingyan lie down, she also instructed Nanny Luo to personally escort Quan Yu out: “Eunuch Quan Yu, I’m truly sorry. With my eldest niece in this condition, I don’t dare leave her side. I can only have Nanny Luo see you out. Please forgive me!”
Quan Yu quickly bowed, saying he wouldn’t dare presume otherwise. Uneasy, he glanced once more toward the inner chamber before following Nanny Luo away.
“Second Aunt… I’m fine!” Bai Qingyan supported herself as she sat up.