As Zhang Duanning spoke, even he was moved by Princess Zhenguo’s loyalty to the Crown Prince.

Quan Yu, following behind the Crown Prince, gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, his eyes slightly red: “Your Highness, Princess Zhenguo truly considers everything for Your Highness, completely disregarding herself!”

Seeing from the corner of his eye that the Crown Prince looked guilty, Quan Yu timely added: “This servant has followed Your Highness for so many years, yet admits he cannot match Princess Zhenguo’s loyalty and devotion to Your Highness. This servant is ashamed! In the future, I shall take Princess Zhenguo as my example and will certainly be even more devoted to Your Highness!”

The Crown Prince raised his eyes to look at Zhang Duanning. Besides worrying about Bai Qingyan, his heart felt… extremely comfortable.

Look… even someone like Bai Qingyan, who was revered by Jin’s military generals, was so loyal to him as Crown Prince. This showed that he had the capability.

The Crown Prince couldn’t hide the smile that curved his lips as he opened the letter…

After reading Bai Qingyan’s letter, the Crown Prince’s heart was greatly shaken. He hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to be so loyal to him, always and everywhere, considering him and Jin’s future.

The Crown Prince gripped the letter tightly and said to Quan Yu, “Quan Yu, go invite Chancellor Lu, Chancellor Li, and the Ministers of War and Revenue. Tell them that Princess Zhenguo has written about extremely important matters, and I… need to discuss with them.”

The Crown Prince held the letter in his hand like a child who had been neglected for many years, suddenly gaining the loyalty and reverence of someone with an extremely high reputation and military prestige. He couldn’t wait to let everyone know, wanting to spread this news.

One must know that recently, the four words “Princess Zhenguo” have been making quite a splash in Jin.

There was an extremely famous Xiliang dancing girl in Shuoyang named Na Kang, who had recently gained great fame because this dancing girl had written a song called “General Bai’s Campaign Song.” This song had spread throughout Jin, especially in the capital… it was extremely popular. There were even courtesans who had choreographed dances to this “General Bai’s Campaign Song.”

Moreover, a talented scholar who had become Na Kang’s patron had written a poem, with one widely circulated passage…

Heavy strings ring out, toppling the Five Sacred Mountains. Light strings surge, severing the river’s flow. Fingertips thunder as wind and clouds gather, Ears hear the clashing sound of golden weapons. When the song ends, hot blood rushes to the sky. The general has already broken through Qingxi Mountain.

The Crown Prince had also heard that melody. It was indeed powerful and stirring, making listeners’ blood boil as if the scene of the general’s hundred battles was right before their eyes, making one wish to take up a blade and join the battlefield, fighting alongside the general and spilling blood on the sands. And this poem… could further stir the fighting spirit in people’s hearts – it was written extremely well.

It was precisely because of this that Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan had truly gained great fame throughout Jin. Everyone was discussing this Princess Zhenguo… what kind of magnificent bearing this ever-victorious, undefeated General Bai must have on the battlefield.

Soon, Chancellor Lu, Li Mao, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing all arrived.

The Crown Prince handed the letter to Chancellor Lu and the others to read, then picked up his teacup with a mature and steady manner: “I believe that if it’s truly as Princess Zhenguo says, if we can take Liang’s cities at the cost of medicinal materials, for Jin, the losses would be minimal! Soldiers… from birth to being able to take the battlefield need at least fourteen years, but medicinal materials are different!”

After Chancellor Lu finished reading Bai Qingyan’s letter, his temples throbbed. He could see from between the lines that Bai Qingyan had mastered the way to negotiate with the Crown Prince, already able to firmly hold the Crown Prince in the palm of her hand, yet the Crown Prince was completely unaware.

However, Chancellor Lu had to admit that Bai Qingyan’s vision was indeed far-reaching. Now Yan was putting all its effort into dealing with Wei, laying the foundation for unification!

If Jin couldn’t destroy Liang this time, then… once Yan destroyed Wei, not only would Jin lose its position as hegemon, but it would completely lose the opportunity to destroy Liang.

Time waits for no one. Missing this opportunity would result in immeasurable losses for Jin.

This was also good. If the Crown Prince could trust Bai Qingyan so much, Chancellor Lu wouldn’t need to worry about the tragedy of Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting happening to the Bai family again. In the future, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, mutual trust between the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan as sovereign and minister would be greatly beneficial to Jin without harm.

“This old minister believes that what Your Highness and Princess Zhenguo have said is truly excellent! If we can take Liang’s cities at the cost of medicinal materials… taking cities without bloodshed would be perfect for Jin!” Chancellor Lu stood and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.

Seeing that Chancellor Lu had already agreed, Li Mao, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing all hurriedly expressed their agreement.

“In that case, the matter of gathering medicinal materials shall be entrusted to Minister of Revenue Chu. Minister Chu must spare no effort in collecting medicinal materials to send to the northern frontier!” the Crown Prince said solemnly.

“Although Jin has just experienced an epidemic, and the epidemic hasn’t completely subsided, medicinal prices have risen severely… since Your Highness has spoken, and this action benefits Jin, even if this humble minister must sacrifice everything… I will gather the medicinal materials Princess Zhenguo needs and send them to the northern frontier! Your Highness can rest assured!” Chu Zhongxing stood to pledge his loyalty.

“Good, this matter is thus decided!” After thinking for a moment, the Crown Prince also told Chancellor Lu and the others about the Emperor’s need to find five hundred boys and five hundred girls to ascend the Nine-Tiered Platform together. “I want to entrust this matter to the Left Chancellor’s son Li Mingrui! Last time, the Left Chancellor requested that Li Mingrui go on campaign, and I didn’t permit it. This time… let me see Li Mingrui’s capabilities. He must find five hundred boys and girls before the Nine-Tiered Platform is completed.”

Li Mao appeared overwhelmed with gratitude and quickly bowed to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness can rest assured, Mingrui will handle this matter properly!”

After Chancellor Lu and Minister of War Shen Jingzhong left the Crown Prince’s mansion, they bid farewell to Li Mao and Chu Zhongxing. Chancellor Lu looked up at the bright morning light above the capital city, his brow furrowed tightly, feeling only that… this generation of heroic rulers was about to decline in Jin.

“Chancellor Lu, His Majesty wants five hundred boys and five hundred girls – is it to ascend the platform together, or…” Seeing no one around, Shen Jingzhong made a killing gesture and whispered to Chancellor Lu, “Now in the capital, among the noble families… There are those who, like His Majesty, are obsessed with elixirs. They buy children from human traffickers, imitating the way Prince Liang once refined elixirs for His Majesty. Quite a few children have already died, but because these children all have indenture contracts as slaves, the matter hasn’t been made public. Instead, more people have begun to imitate…”

The sovereign is the source of a nation – when the source is pure, the flow is clear. When the Emperor began pursuing longevity or even immortality through such methods, others naturally followed suit.

Chancellor Lu shook his head, only able to place his hopes on the Crown Prince, hoping that after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he wouldn’t be like the current Emperor.

“This matter has been entrusted by the Crown Prince to Li Mao’s son Li Mingrui. Given the Li family’s nature of being good at maneuvering, Li Mingrui will handle this matter beautifully and curry favor before His Majesty and the Crown Prince!” Chancellor Lu clenched his fists, feeling very worried.