Even without considering Vice Minister of Revenue Li Mingrui, this Left Chancellor Li Mao was a key court official… with numerous disciples and followers. It was a case of pulling one hair and moving the whole body.

Whether it was when Bai Qingyan had Li Mao’s youngest son’s legs broken, or when she had the heads of Li Mao’s subordinates delivered to the Li mansion’s gate, it was all to intimidate Li Mao. Li Mao understood well the principle that what could be done once or twice should not be done a third or fourth time, so he made no further moves.

But Li Mao’s eldest son Li Mingrui was apparently someone who extremely disliked having his weaknesses grasped in others’ palms, and also believed… that he could be as ruthlessly decisive as Du Zhiwei, while also manipulating people’s hearts at will, which was why he set up such schemes and traps.

He probably thought that since it was Bai Qingyan who ordered him to rescue Wang Qiulu, and he had sent someone to inform her that Wang Qiulu had close dealings with Prince Liang’s mansion, when Wang Qiulu was delivered to the Crown Prince, at least on her end, the Li family could remain uninvolved.

If in the future someone discovered that the Bai family held letters between Li Mao and the Second Prince but didn’t submit them to the Crown Prince, and guessed that Bai Qingyan wanted to use these letters to coerce Left Chancellor Li Mao and the Li family, she could claim she collected these letters for the Crown Prince. With today’s incident as a foundation, the Crown Prince would surely trust the Bai family completely.

Bai Qingyan turned to look at Bai Jinxiu and spoke: “Tonight the Crown Princess is giving birth, so surely all the imperial physicians are attending at the Crown Prince’s mansion. You go out through the side gate… personally make a trip to the Crown Prince’s mansion, saying my condition is poor and requesting His Highness the Crown Prince to assign an imperial physician to come to the Bai mansion. It would be best… if you could get one of the eunuchs close to the Crown Prince to personally come to our mansion as well, to serve as a witness.”

Bai Qingyan chuckled softly: “Afterward… you take people to the Crown Prince’s mansion to present our case, remember to express Elder Sister’s loyalty more!”

Bai Jinxiu rose and bowed, her voice solemn: “Elder Sister, rest assured, Jinxiu will certainly handle this matter properly. I’ll go to the Crown Prince’s mansion right away!”

Bai Jinxiu could handle the matter, but she felt sorry for her elder sister. Having rushed to the capital day and night without rest, so many troubles were waiting for Elder Sister as soon as she arrived…

·

Inside Anyang Palace, the lights blazed brilliantly. The plain white silk curtains hanging from the main hall’s crossbeams swayed slightly. In the center of the great hall, a gilded Boshan incense burner over three feet high burned dragon ambergris, which transformed into wisps of light smoke, its subtle fragrance wafting seductively. The aged Emperor had just taken his elixir, his long hair hanging loose, wearing only snow-white undergarments as he reclined on the soft couch, truly having the appearance of one about to transform and ascend to immortality.

However, the bronze thirty-six-headed lotus lamp’s candlelight was too bright, illuminating the Emperor’s already wrinkled forehead, with faint brown age spots appearing and disappearing.

Upon hearing that an imperial grandson had been born, before the joy could even show in the Emperor’s eyes, he remembered the child the Empress had taken away in her belly, and his expression darkened again.

The Emperor remained silent for a moment, gazing at the Crown Prince who knelt in the center of the great hall with joy written across his face, then slowly spoke: “The imperial grandson shall be granted the name… Ji, hoping that when he grows up, he will prioritize the realm and state! And be able to shoulder the family enterprise left by our ancestors!”

For a prince to be granted a name immediately upon birth was an enormous honor, not to mention the meaning behind the Emperor’s words… seemed to indicate his favor for the imperial grandson to be heir apparent in the future, which would greatly consolidate the Crown Prince’s position.

The Crown Prince hastily kowtowed to His Majesty: “Thank you, Father Emperor, for granting the name!”

Before the Crown Prince could continue sharing his joy at having a legitimate son with the Emperor, he heard the Emperor ask: “How is the progress on the Nine-Tiered Platform? I hear… the national treasury is becoming increasingly strained. With the Great Liang war and the plague in the two cities growing more fierce, if this continues, the court ministers will probably petition to halt construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform. Does the Crown Prince have no solution?”

The Crown Prince felt as if cold water had been poured over him. The complete joy he had felt at having a son was replaced by anxiety and unease, much like a youth fearing his father’s authority.

He hastily said, “Reporting to Father Emperor, Physician Hong from Princess Zhenguo’s mansion has already developed a prescription to treat the plague. Your son… your son has already sent people to deliver it to Huayang and Qinhuai cities. The plague will soon be controlled! Father Emperor, please rest assured… your son… your son…”

The Crown Prince spoke frantically, and a flash of inspiration struck his mind. He raised his eyes and said: “Your son plans to secretly send some commoners infected with the plague to Great Liang, so that the people of Great Liang will also contract this plague. When Great Liang cannot treat this plague, we’ll send envoys to Great Liang, telling them… if they want this prescription for treating the plague, they need to negotiate peace and beg for mercy! Cede cities!”

Princess Zhenguo’s mansion?!

How was the Bai family involved everywhere?

The Emperor felt impatient in his heart.

But now, the Emperor couldn’t be bothered with the Bai family. His mind was completely occupied with his Nine-Tiered Platform… The National Master had said that once the Nine-Tiered Platform was completed and he climbed to the top to personally refine elixirs, he could achieve immortality and even ascend to become an immortal.

The Emperor propped himself up on his elbow against the cushion, gazing through the silk curtains at the Crown Prince who knelt in the center of the great hall looking up at him. His face expressionless, he nodded: “Remember, no matter what happens, the construction of the Nine-Tiered Platform is of utmost importance!”

“Your son remembers! Please rest assured, Father Emperor!” The Crown Prince kowtowed heavily to the Emperor.

Exiting Anyang Palace, the Crown Prince sat in his carriage. The lanterns hanging from the four corners swayed back and forth, casting the interior in alternating light and shadow. He pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his forehead…

Sending plague-infected people to Great Liang was something he had said in desperation, but Father Emperor seemed quite approving of the idea.

Since that was the case, he might as well return and discuss it with Old Fang. Perhaps this plague really could make Great Liang submit.

The Crown Prince gripped his handkerchief tightly and suddenly chuckled softly, surprised that he had such quick wit.

It was just that today, due to excessive nervousness, the Crown Prince had ultimately forgotten to mention to the Emperor about having Fu Ruoxi lead the Patrol Battalion.

The Crown Prince sighed and tucked the handkerchief back into his sleeve, thinking that since he had some memorials to submit to the Emperor for approval tomorrow, he would… discuss this matter tomorrow!

The Crown Prince then thought of his newborn legitimate son, remembering how Father Emperor had just named the child “Ji” and given those earnest instructions. His mood became joyful again, feeling that this son of his was his lucky star. With Father Emperor’s words… his position as Crown Prince would be even more secure.

The carriage swayed back to the Crown Prince’s mansion, nearly rocking the Crown Prince to sleep. The carriage finally arrived at the Crown Prince’s gate.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince…”

Hearing Old Fang’s voice from outside the carriage, the Crown Prince came to his senses.

“Your Highness… Old Fang is waiting for Your Highness at the gate!” Quan Yu extended his hand to support the Crown Prince as he stepped down from the carriage, his voice normal, eyes downcast to hide his disgust toward Old Fang.

“Mm! Get down from the carriage first…” The Crown Prince responded lowly, supporting himself on Quan Yu’s hand as he descended from the carriage.

Seeing Old Fang in only a thin shirt, bowing to him, apparently having waited at the gate for a long time and frozen until his hands were somewhat blue, the Crown Prince frowned and hastily said: “Why is Old Fang waiting here at this hour? Why didn’t you dress more warmly…”

“Your Highness, this old servant has extremely important matters to discuss with Your Highness!” Old Fang’s voice was solemn.

“Old Fang, I am truly exhausted today! I still want to go back and see my child again. Unless it’s military or governmental urgent business… let’s discuss it tomorrow!”