Chapter 590
Bai Jinxiu looked in the direction of the carriage, her eyes moist. If it weren’t for her eldest sister placing Yingshuang by her side, today… she and Brother Wang might have quietly died in the palace without a sound. But Yingshuang…
Thinking of Yingshuang, Bai Jinxiu turned her head and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. If her eldest sister saw Yingshuang missing an eye and being perpetually sleepy, she wouldn’t know how to bear the sadness. Fortunately, the little girl was open-minded; with food, she was content and could take things in stride.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Princess of Zhen’s mansion, and Bai Jinxiu, holding onto Cuibi’s hand, walked down the steps to see Chun Tao first helping Bai Qingyan down.
Seeing Bai Qingyan in her silver armor, heroic and gallant, Bai Jinse rushed over and childishly hugged Bai Qingyan’s thin waist. “Eldest Young Lady!”
“Big Miss…” Lu Ninghuan nodded towards Bai Qingyan. Outside, Lu Ninghuan was considered Bai Qingyan’s nominal aunt, and naturally had to maintain a decorum to avoid others seeing through the pretense.
“Eldest Young Lady!” Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were moist.
Bai Qingyan’s deep, pool-like eyes had a warm glimmer of sunlight. She gently patted Bai Jinse’s head, her gaze falling on the newly turned mother, Bai Jinxiu. She then greeted Second Madam Liu and Lu Ninghuan.
Doctor Hong stroked his beard and smiled, saying that once they got home, everything else could wait; he needed first to check Bai Qingyan’s pulse.
With laughter, the Eldest Princess also supported herself with Nanny Jiang’s hand as she got down from the carriage. “Our family should stop greeting outside and head inside… let Kid change clothes!”
Mrs. Liu hurriedly took small steps forward. After greeting the Eldest Princess with a smile, she supported her on one side. “Mother is right, let’s head inside first! Nanny Luo, go check if the little kitchen has finished stewing the pigeon soup for Kid. If it’s ready, serve a bowl quickly so Kid can drink it, then take a bath and change clothes, freshen up!”
“Second Madam, don’t worry. When I saw the Eldest Princess’s carriage, I already ordered someone to take care of it!” Nanny Luo, with her hands folded across her abdomen, laughingly replied.
Seeing that Bai Qingyan had returned without injuries, Mrs. Liu hurriedly urged Bai Qingyan to take a bath and change her clothes. Lu Ninghuan and Bai Jinse accompanied the Eldest Princess back to Changshou Courtyard, while Bai Jinxiu escorted Bai Qingyan back to Qinghui Courtyard.
On the way, the maid lowered her head and followed ten steps behind the two sisters, respectfully not interrupting their conversation.
Bai Jinxiu, holding Bai Qingyan’s arm, spoke to Bai Qingyan about Left Prime Minister Li Mao: “Li Mao was impeached by the Imperial Censor for being involved in the Second Prince’s rebellion case years ago. Later, when it was discovered that the letters were forged… the Emperor had already transferred the governance of the court to the Crown Prince. I guess it’s because of Li Mao’s son, Li Mingrui, being close with King Liang’s mansion. The Emperor didn’t mention letting Li Mao return to the court… the Crown Prince pretended not to know and ignored it.”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, slowing her steps as she fiddled with her fingers, shaking her head. “With Li Mao’s abilities, if the case was clarified… and if he wanted to return to court, he would just need to hint to his disciples to submit a memorial. Even if the Crown Prince didn’t approve, he would have a way. Not returning to court now means Li Mao temporarily doesn’t want to.”
Bai Jinxiu nodded. “Just as Eldest Young Lady said, later Master Tan assisted King Liang in managing state affairs. King Liang asked Li Mao to return, but Li Mao claimed illness and didn’t go. He said he was unfit and submitted a resignation request. Master Tan stated that Li Mao didn’t want to take advantage of age in front of him, and everything should wait until the Crown Prince returned to decide, thus suppressing the matter.”
Hearing this, Bai Qingyan remembered Bai Jinxiu mentioning in a letter that Li Mingrui had dealings with King Liang’s mansion. Her fingers paused as she looked at the shimmering lake beside the corridor. “Perhaps Li Mao, being highly influential, realized King Liang wanted to use his position as Left Prime Minister for something. Li Mao couldn’t refuse or evade, so he simply claimed illness to avoid returning!”
“I have placed people to keep a close watch on King Liang and the Left Prime Minister’s mansion. Any movements will be reported to you immediately!” Bai Jinxiu said, before mentioning another strange matter. “Because this year had two successive wars in the Southern and Northern Frontiers, our military resources are severely depleted. Late in July, the Emperor sent newly recruited soldiers to guard the Northern Frontier, then redirected them to the Xiliang border… to deter Xiliang from joining Wei in attacking Yan! With insufficient reserves, the Ministry of War urgently recruited more soldiers, but… in Baiwo and Huayang, the recruited soldiers disappeared. Locals said the recruiting commanders, taking the new soldiers, might have encountered ghost walls on mountain trails and got lost.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Qingyan chuckled.
“Why is Eldest Young Lady laughing?” Bai Jinxiu was puzzled.
Upon arriving at Qinghui Courtyard, they sat in the main room. After the maid served tea and left, Bai Qingyan picked up her teacup and said, “Those new recruits from Baiwo and Huayang were probably taken by Ji Tingyu!”
In this matter, Bai Qingyan didn’t hide from Bai Jinxiu as she needed her to handle some tasks.
“Ji Tingyu having soldiers means he can’t lack logistics. Henceforth, these new recruits can farm during peacetime and be soldiers in wartime. However, the first year’s grain is crucial! I have arranged for people pretending to be merchants heading to Yan, buying grains in batches. You need to maneuver among them, higher prices are acceptable, but make sure they aren’t short of grain.”
“Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady, I’ll handle it!” Bai Jinxiu responded calmly.
“Now that business is settled, let’s talk about you…” Bai Qingyan set down her sweet porcelain gold-rimmed teacup, looking at Bai Jinxiu. “Why did you give birth prematurely? Grandmother said you must tell me personally.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Jinxiu gently clenched the handkerchief in her hand and put down the teacup. “This incident wasn’t targeting me, but Aunt Lu!”
Bai Qingyan’s deep, dark pupils remained calm as she stared at Bai Jinxiu, her eyes showing a hint of killing intent. “The Empress?”
“The Empress’s pregnancy made the Emperor happy, and he hosted a banquet in the palace! That day, Aunt Lu happened to be in the palace to administer acupuncture to the Emperor, and she stayed for the banquet. During the banquet, the Empress suddenly had severe abdominal pain. The Emperor ordered Aunt Lu to diagnose her. The Empress initially refused… claiming she didn’t trust Aunt Lu. Later, the Emperor’s command forced Aunt Lu to diagnose and treat the Empress, alleviating the pain. Aunt Lu said the Empress’s pregnancy was not stable and required bed rest.”
Glimpsing outside the window to ensure no one was around, Bai Jinxiu then leaned closer to Bai Qingyan and whispered, “Aunt Lu discovered that the Empress’s pregnancy months didn’t match…”
Though unexpected, it was within reason. Knowing the deep affection between the Empress and Fu Ruoxi and their secret meetings, it was understandable.
No wonder Fu Ruoxi, at Anping Camp, panicked and frantically sought to kill the Crown Prince.
Seeing Bai Qingyan silent and solemn, Bai Jinxiu continued, “The Empress left the banquet due to the pain, the Emperor worried about the imperial offspring and followed her…”