Chapter 270
“Your Majesty, when I was still working at King Liang’s mansion, I heard that King Liang and Miss Bai had deep feelings for each other!” Lady Qiu’s soft hand held the Emperor’s large hand. “Now that I am fortunate enough to meet Your Majesty, I always think that those with deep affections should be united. Previously, Miss Bai cut ties with King Liang because of a maid named Hongqiao and said some heartless words, but I think deep down they must love each other deeply, just like Your Majesty and I do! For instance, if I knew Your Majesty went to see another consort, I would feel so upset that I wished I would never speak to Your Majesty again!”
The Emperor paused, lightly rubbing Lady Qiu’s hand. “Do you wish to play matchmaker for King Liang and Bai Qingyan?”
“I only hope that all couples in love can be like Your Majesty and me. That would make me very satisfied.” Lady Qiu’s eyes moistened as she seemed to speak sincerely. “Besides, I really like Miss Bai and want to be part of her family.”
“But Bai Qingyan has already sworn to never marry, and her fate with offspring is thin; it might be inappropriate…” The Emperor spoke in a melancholy tone but did not immediately refuse. “I will think about it.”
Lady Qiu did not insist but looked at the Emperor affectionately. “Hmm…”
Consort Yu glanced in the direction of Lady Qiu and the Emperor, raised her wine cup, and sneered coldly. “Such a display, unlike a certain someone!”
Consort Yu knew Bai Suqiu, who had a straightforward and proud personality. She would never act so obsequiously; in fact, she would probably regard it with disdain.
However, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai family, Bai Qingyan, did have Bai Suqiu’s demeanor.
When the song and dance ended, the Emperor spoke with a smile. “This great victory in the southern border was achieved thanks to the generals and soldiers risking their lives! Those who contributed will be rewarded, and the generals deserve even more. Gao Demao, declare the edict…”
Everyone immediately knelt to receive the edict.
Zhang Duanrui was conferred the title of Great General of Fu Army.
Zhen Zeping was conferred the title of Great General of Huaihua.
Shi Panshan was conferred the title of Great General of Yunhui.
They were rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and gifted new residences.
After the edict was read, the straightforward Zhen Zeping looked up at the Emperor on the high platform. “Your Majesty, General Bai is the most meritorious person in this battle!”
Zhen Zeping feared that the Emperor might blame Bai Qingyan for burning and killing the surrendered prisoners.
“Look!” The Crown Prince smiled at the Emperor. “Father, didn’t I say so? This impatient General Zhen is sure to be anxious!”
The Emperor’s smile deepened.
The Crown Prince smiled and said, “General Zhen, do not worry… Father will not forget about Miss Bai. However, since Miss Bai is a woman, she cannot be conferred the title of General. Therefore, Father has another reward.”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, maintaining a posture of kneeling, showing neither joy nor anger.
The Emperor instructed Gao Demao to declare the edict.
Gao Demao unfolded another scroll and read in a loud voice, “Bai Qingyan, the legitimate eldest granddaughter of the King of Zhen, is courageous and righteous. She went to the southern border to help save the nation and its people, living up to the great reputation of the King of Zhen. She is conferred the title of Princess of Zhen. Bai Jinzhi, the fourth daughter of the Bai family, is conferred the title of Lord of Gaoyi…”
Bai Qingyan did not hear the rest of the rewards announced by Gao Demao…
The title of Princess of Zhen was indeed a prestigious one.
Getting such a title after a great victory in the southern border, could it not be considered honorable?
Naturally, it was honorable, but such a title did not grant real power. The Emperor did not intend to use the Bai family or her, yet left a way out by giving Bai Qingyan the title of Zhen.
Carrying the name of Zhen, how could she refuse when the Jin Kingdom needed her assistance in the future? The Imperial Family’s calculations were indeed precise.
For the young ladies of aristocratic families, getting conferred titles like Princess or County Lord could elevate their status in future marriages. Mrs. Li, the Third Madam, was quite pleased. After all, neither Bai Qingyan nor her daughter were sons. Titles like Princess and County Lord were more beneficial than being conferred as a General.
Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi knelt to thank for the honor.
The Crown Prince smiled at Bai Qingyan. “Father has bestowed a mansion upon the Princess of Zhen as the Princess of Zhen’s Manor, with a personally inscribed plaque. Such deep favor is the first in all of Dadu City…”
Bai Qingyan’s brow furrowed slightly. She knelt and bowed properly. “Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Highness, for your favor. However, the old mansion in Shuoyang has already been repaired. After Mother and the aunts discussed, we decided to set off for Shuoyang on the first day of May. I fear we cannot stay long in the Princess’s Manor. If I am fortunate enough to be summoned to Dadu by Your Majesty in the future, I will stay at the Princess’s Manor.”
The Duke of Zhen’s Mansion, awarded by the Ancestral Emperor, would no longer bear the Bai family’s name once they relinquished their title and returned to Shuoyang.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince’s eyes lit up. He knelt before the Emperor and said, “Father, I have a request. The Bai Mansion was originally bestowed upon the Bai family by the Ancestral Emperor, and the Princess of Zhen grew up there with deep attachment. Why not hang the plaque with Father’s handwriting at the Bai Mansion and bestow the Bai Mansion upon the Princess of Zhen?”
Bai Qingyan lowered her head and knelt silently.
The Emperor squinted his eyes and pondered. A reward, in essence, was just a change of name! Since the Bai family requested to relinquish their title, the plaque of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion had been replaced with Bai Mansion. Now, it was merely replacing Bai Mansion with Princess of Zhen’s Manor.
“So be it,” the Emperor said slowly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Crown Prince!”
The small banquet before the Emperor’s grand birthday celebration was not long. The Emperor said that the official victory and birthday banquet would be held tomorrow, and they should go back early to rest.
As soon as they left the palace, Bai Jinzhi begged the Third Madam, Mrs. Li, to squeeze into the carriage with Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan. Unable to resist Bai Jinzhi’s plea, Mrs. Li smiled and said she had matters to discuss with Mrs. Dong, allowing the sisters to share a carriage.
As soon as she got on the carriage, Bai Jinzhi accepted tea from Chun Tao, took a sip, and couldn’t help but grumble. “The Emperor and the Crown Prince are really good at business. Giving our family a new plaque is considered a reward!”
Bai Qingyan looked at the little girl’s puffed cheeks and raised hand, rubbed her head. “The house was bestowed by the Ancestral Emperor, not rightfully ours. Keeping the place where we grew up is not bad.”
Bai Jinzhi frowned in discontent, touching her stomach. “Today’s palace banquet was really not interesting. I didn’t even eat enough!”
Chun Tao, hearing this, smiled and knelt beside her, taking a well-made snack from a small box inside the carriage and offering it to Bai Jinzhi. “Fourth Miss, have a bite.”
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Bai Jinzhi frowned, lifted the curtain, and looked out. She saw the three cousins from the Dong family getting down from their carriage to greet Mrs. Dong. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Bai Qingyan. “Eldest Young Lady, it’s our cousins from the Dong family…”