Chapter 580
“Cousin, this is my brother’s silver spear, I lend it to you!” Dong Changmao gritted his teeth. “Cousin, you must return safely! Protect the Crown Prince!”
Bai Qingyan nodded, clamped her horse’s belly, and rushed out first. The Crown Prince was protected in the center by the guards from the Taizi Mansion and the Bai family, also urging their horses and following closely behind.
Dong Qingyue watched Bai Qingyan’s figure speeding away, stable and agile. He turned and swiftly ascended the Dianjiang Terrace, his gaze sharp as a blade, as he prepared to suppress the Anping Camp.
Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince left the military camp, heading straight out of Dengzhou City.
Elder Fang received the news first and then had someone deliver it to the Crown Prince. He had already set out from the city.
Elder Fang knew the gravity of the situation. When the news of the Emperor’s fall and unconsciousness reached him, he immediately ordered no one to pack and took the Crown Prince’s carriage to rush outside the city to meet the Crown Prince and quickly return to the Capital.
Chun Tao was also in the Crown Prince’s convoy, which was Madam Dong’s idea.
Disorder had arisen in Dadu City. Madam Dong had anticipated that Bai Qingyan would escort the Crown Prince back. She had Chun Tao bring Bai Qingyan’s necessary belongings and follow Elder Fang out of the city.
Elder Fang was not foolish. The current chaos in Dadu demanded manpower, or rather, soldiers. The Princess of Zhen was a master of leading troops into battle. Naturally, he ensured her presence to guarantee the Crown Prince’s safety.
Elder Fang, sitting in the rapidly moving carriage, thought back and forth. He felt that returning to Dadu City directly would not suffice. If the city had already fallen under the control of the Empress or King Liang’s men, returning would mean being detained.
By then, whether it was the Empress or King Liang, they could accuse the Crown Prince of anything! Or if the Emperor passed away before the Crown Prince’s return, who knew if there would be a fabricated decree passing the throne to another?
King Xin returning to Dadu City, the Emperor’s fall…
Elder Fang could not shake the feeling that the Empress was intimately involved in this matter.
At this time, with the Crown Prince in Dengzhou, it would be better to order Dong Qingyue to escort the Crown Prince back to Dadu City.
But what if the Rong attacked?
Losing the Crown Prince’s kingdom and life weighed much heavier than losing Dengzhou City.
Elder Fang made up his mind. Upon meeting the Crown Prince outside the city, he decided not to rush back to Dadu immediately. He would first discuss it with the Crown Prince and take the Dengzhou Army if necessary.
The Crown Prince’s convoy stopped just outside Dengzhou City. Elder Fang, supported by Ren Shijie, got off the carriage and saw Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince approaching quickly.
“Your Highness!” Elder Fang, seeing Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince, hurriedly shook off Ren Shijie’s hand and stepped forward, calling out, “Your Highness!”
“Your Highness!” Quan Yu also ran towards the Crown Prince.
Bai Qingyan reined in her horse, dismounted, and handed the silver spear to the Bai family guard. She saw Chun Tao running towards her. “Eldest Miss!”
Bai Qingyan nodded at Chun Tao, then turned to see the Crown Prince being helped down from his horse by the Taizi Mansion guards. Quan Yu and Elder Fang supported him on either side. As soon as the Crown Prince steadied himself, Elder Fang said, “Your Highness, we cannot return to Dadu City like this. We must ask Lord Dong to escort you back with the Dengzhou Army!”
“Impossible! The Dengzhou Army cannot be moved!” Qin Shangzhi was the first to speak up. “The Nanrong cannot be underestimated. Although they retreated after taking Dengzhou last time, who knows if they’ll double back! Now, Dengzhou cannot be lost!”
“Dengzhou cannot be lost! So does that mean the Crown Prince’s life can be lost?” Elder Fang’s gaze shifted to Bai Qingyan. He raised his voice sternly, “The Crown Prince came to Dengzhou to deliver supplies to the Dengzhou Army. Now chaos has erupted in Dadu. Dong Qingyue must dispatch troops to escort the Crown Prince back. Otherwise, if the Emperor unfortunately dies and the Crown Prince cannot return, it will be disastrous for the Jin Kingdom!”
“Elder Fang, Mr. Qin, please board the Crown Prince’s carriage first. The Crown Prince already has a plan. Let us follow the Crown Prince’s lead!” Bai Qingyan looked at the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, we still need to wait here for Lu Ping to bring the Dengzhou Army before discussing further with the three gentlemen.”
The Crown Prince nodded, tightly gripping his sweaty hands. “Yes! Board the carriage first, and we’ll discuss in detail inside!”
Quan Yu helped the Crown Prince onto the spacious and luxurious Crown Prince’s carriage. Bai Qingyan told Chun Tao to prepare her armor, then followed closely behind the Crown Prince. Next were Elder Fang, Qin Shangzhi, and Ren Shijie.
The Crown Prince glanced at Bai Qingyan and then said: “I have discussed with the Princess of Zhen to deploy the Anping Camp’s garrison to escort me all the way back to Dadu City!”
Qin Shangzhi nodded.
“Dengzhou cannot be lost!” Bai Qingyan looked at Elder Fang. “If indeed there is a change in Dadu, Your Highness still has Dengzhou to retreat to. If Dengzhou is lost… must Your Highness then head for the southern border? Who can guarantee that the Xiliang spies, knowing the internal strife of the Jin Kingdom, will not seize the opportunity to reclaim lost territories? We would then face enemies from both fronts!”
Elder Fang stroked his goatee, frowning in deep thought.
“Furthermore, the Anping Camp always obeys commands without a sacred decree, not moving without one! If the Empress or King Liang controlled the unconscious Emperor inside Dadu and outside the Anping Camp… it would be terrifying. Therefore, the Crown Prince must control the Anping Camp before any action is taken in Dadu! To prevent unexpected events!” Bai Qingyan looked at Elder Fang, not giving him time to overthink. “Elder Fang, being wise and prudent, should follow me and the Crown Prince with three thousand Dengzhou soldiers to Anping Camp to guard against any changes. I wonder if Elder Fang can endure the rapid gallop?”
Elder Fang’s hand paused on his goatee, then he nodded. “For the Crown Prince, sacrificing this old body of mine is no trouble at all!”
The Crown Prince, deeply moved, gently patted Elder Fang’s hand.
“Then we rely on Eunuch Quan Yu, Mr. Ren, and Mr. Qin to take the Crown Prince’s carriage and proceed cautiously. If the situation changes in Dadu, attempts might be made on the Crown Prince’s life. The Crown Prince’s carriage will serve as a decoy. How to ensure it leaves no tracks depends entirely on you three!” Bai Qingyan said.
“Rest assured, Your Highness and the Princess of Zhen, Quan Yu will guard the Crown Prince’s carriage!” Quan Yu was the first to express his loyalty.
“Your Highness and the Princess go ahead. Mr. Ren and I will ensure nothing happens here!” Qin Shangzhi said worriedly. “But this journey to Anping Camp… It is fraught with danger!”
In private, Qin Shangzhi felt that the Emperor’s sudden fall wasn’t entirely bad. As long as the Emperor lived until the Crown Prince returned to Dadu City, and then quietly passed, the new, vigorous ruler taking the throne would undoubtedly bring about new reforms and a new atmosphere for Jin. The Bai family would not need to resort to rebellion. Now Bai Qingyan was plotting for the Crown Prince!
“Don’t worry, Mr. Qin. With Elder Fang, myself, and three thousand Dengzhou soldiers, we will protect His Highness at all costs!” Bai Qingyan said.
Quan Yu, seeing Bai Qingyan’s resolute expression, also said to the Crown Prince: “Your Highness! Let Quan Yu dress you in armor!”
Bai Qingyan saw the Crown Prince nod and, after saluting the Crown Prince, stepped out of the Crown Prince’s carriage to her own to change into her armor.