Chapter 9: Outer Room_1

Bai Qingyan looked at Qin Shangzhi, "If Mr. Qin does not mind, I earnestly request..."

"I will leave as soon as my wounds heal!" Qin Shangzhi interrupted her hurriedly before she could finish.

Qin Shangzhi understood Bai Qingyan's intentions. He cupped his hands in salute, "Miss, please forgive me. I acted rashly and impulsively this time, attempting to assassinate King Liang. It cost my brothers their lives, and I deeply regret it. My ambition in this life lies in state affairs and the royal court. Even if I die trying, I must stop King Liang from ascending. I do not wish to be confined to the inner court."

Qin Shangzhi's aspirations were indeed grand; otherwise, in the previous life, he would not have entered the Crown Prince's residence.

Bai Qingyan did not wish to force him with gratitude. After a moment of silence, she bowed and said, "The royal court is like the sea, and you are like a dragon. I wish you success in achieving your ambitions, riding the clouds and controlling the rain, ascending to the heavens."

Qin Shangzhi seemed surprised by her words. He clutched his chest tightly and struggled to stand, offering a rare, respectful salute to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan nodded and took the hand warmer from Chun Tao, walking back along the same path.

Although Qin Shangzhi was unwilling to stay and help her, his words had enlightened her.

She thought of the letter "Asking the Emperor" her mother had left behind after committing suicide in prison in the previous life. She remembered the scene of furious students in Dadu seeking justice for the Bai family, and King Liang, troubled in his residence, lamenting his inability to ease the Emperor's worries.

Public opinion can destroy even gold and bones, and the words of people are terrifying.

Even the current Emperor, who held supreme power, had things he feared: public opinion, people's anger, and the legacy of oppressing the loyal and good.

Now, with her grandfather's life or death unknown, possibly dead in the southern frontiers, the Bai family could no longer retreat.

If they could not retreat, she would advance further, elevating the Bai family's reputation to its peak, making the Emperor fear public opinion and dare not act against them.

Even if the Jin Kingdom ultimately could not escape being destroyed by Yan, under a great reputation, she hoped to protect the Bai family.

Nanny Jiang, who was on her way to Qinghui Courtyard to fetch Bai Qingyan, hadn't expected to meet her on the road. She hastened forward.

"Miss!" Nanny Jiang bowed in greeting, "The Eldest Princess has sent for you."

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together, "Does Grandmother have something planned?"

Nanny Jiang nodded, her eyes red.

Bai Qingyan then lifted her foot to follow Nanny Jiang to the Eldest Princess's Changshou Courtyard. Along the way, she inquired about her grandmother's condition since her departure yesterday.

"Miss, rest assured. The Eldest Princess is, after all, an Imperial Family daughter; she can hold on." Nanny Jiang shielded Bai Qingyan with an umbrella, her eyes reddening, "But you are still a child..."

As they spoke, they arrived at Changshou Courtyard.

The maid lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan. Seeing her enter, Nanny Jiang dismissed all the maids, then took Bai Qingyan's white fur cloak, saying, "The old servant will guard outside. Miss, have a good talk with your grandmother."

From behind the bead curtain, Bai Qingyan saw her grandmother sitting on the kang, with eyes closed, fingering Buddha beads. Her eyes reddened.

"Grandmother..." Bai Qingyan called softly.

The Eldest Princess opened her eyes. Seeing Bai Qingyan pushing aside the bead curtain to enter, she extended her hand, "Kid, come here!"

As instructed, Bai Qingyan walked up to the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess moved her lips, took several breaths, and then asked with red-rimmed eyes, "Tell Grandmother, who gave you the news that arrived before the Imperial Court's?"

"Before leaving, Grandfather ordered two of his best Hidden Guards, once given to me by Grandfather, to accompany him and protect him. One of them returned with his last breath to deliver the message: Our Bai family was betrayed by his deputy Liu Huanzhang colluding with court officials! Without evidence, I dared not make it public and quietly arranged for him to be buried."

Bai Qingyan had thought of this explanation before coming to Changshou Courtyard yesterday. The Duke of Zhen had indeed given her two outstanding Hidden Guards, who accompanied him on his expedition last life as well, but had perished while protecting him.

The Eldest Princess couldn't help but grieve, her lips trembling violently. After a long while, she closed her eyes and slapped the table forcefully. "The men of the Bai family can die on the battlefield, shrouded in horsehide, but they must not be brought down by treachery!"

"Grandmother, given the current situation, we must make plans early..." Bai Qingyan clasped the Eldest Princess's hand, clearly already having considered her strategy, "If indeed all the men of the Bai family have been betrayed, someone must be plotting to take the Bai family's army from us!"

The Eldest Princess gripped the edge of the kang table tightly.

"But the Bai family army has always recognized only Bai family members! Grandfather, Father, and Uncles are likely doomed. Those who harmed us probably have more plans. Grandmother... Now you are our only pillar of support!" Bai Qingyan analyzed with the Eldest Princess.

"They dream!" The Eldest Princess gritted her teeth, "Before the late Emperor passed, he left me a unit of Imperial secret guards. They have remained hidden at my dowry estate for years, untouched. It seems they must move now."

Bai Qingyan was quite surprised. She had never heard her grandmother mention having such a unit of secret guards. If this were true, she wouldn't worry about her grandmother's safety.

"Grandmother, even if Grandfather, Father, Uncles, and Brothers are all gone, you still have me!" Bai Qingyan held the Eldest Princess's hand tightly, solemnly vowing, "Grandmother must take care of her health and be safe! With Grandmother here, I have confidence. I will fight to protect the Bai family and ensure our men do not die unjustly..."

The Eldest Princess was moved to tears by Bai Qingyan's words and held her tightly, choking with sobs.

After a long while, the Eldest Princess pressed a handkerchief to her eyes and asked Bai Qingyan, "Kid, do you already have a plan?"

"The trouble came from within. We need to thoroughly investigate the household staff in secret. I will discuss this with Mother; Grandmother, please just oversee without worry!"

The Eldest Princess nodded.

Bai Qingyan thought of the son King Liang brought from Second Uncle's outside household in the previous life. She looked at the Eldest Princess and asked, "I have another question. Did Second Uncle have an outside household?"

The period Second Uncle was Bai Qingyan's father's full brother and the Eldest Princess's second son.

The Eldest Princess pressed her lips together.

Seeing her grandmother's look, Bai Qingyan's heart sank. So, King Liang's supposed son from the outside household was real.

"Not exactly an outside household but indeed your Second Uncle wronged your Second Aunt. When he was traveling, a girl saved him, and they formed a bond..." The Eldest Princess hesitated, unable to say more as Bai Qingyan was unmarried, "Before returning, he gave her a dragon-patterned jade pendant as a token, intending to discuss with your Second Aunt upon his return and bring her into the household as a legitimate concubine. But your Second Aunt was pregnant, so he never mentioned it."