Chapter 416 - 416 413 Imperial Edict_1

Chapter 416: Chapter 413: Imperial Edict_1 Chapter 416: Chapter 413: Imperial Edict_1 阻止女儿前去春暮山的话,Mrs. Dong ultimately still couldn’t say it. Her lips trembled. She couldn’t speak, and tears flowed first. She forcefully suppressed her discomfort. “Nanny Qin, bring Kid a cloak. Although it’s already summer, it still gets a bit chilly in the morning and evening.”

Nanny Qin wiped her tears and hurriedly fetched a plain-colored cloak, prepared to put it on Bai Qingyan. Mrs. Dong, sitting on the soft couch, personally tied the cloak’s belt on Bai Qingyan, choking as she exhorted, “You must… be careful! You must come back safely with Jinzhi!”

“Mother, I’ll leave everything at home to you! I need to get to Jinzhi’s side as soon as possible!”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to wipe away the tears on Mrs. Dong’s face, straightened up to leave but was pulled back by Mrs. Dong. Mrs. Dong could no longer hold back and cried aloud, gritting her teeth as she urged, “You must be careful! Do you understand?!”

Bai Qingyan’s eyes turned even redder. She nodded, “Don’t worry, Mother!”

Carrying the Sun-shooting Bow and grabbing the silver spear, she took one last deep look at Mrs. Dong before heading outside.

Mrs. Dong initially wanted to get up and see her daughter off to the door, but watching her daughter’s back, she realized her legs had gone weak, and she couldn’t stand up. Tears fell like cotton threads.

Just as Bai Qingyan approached the wall shadow, she saw Steward Hao, Steward Liu, and Zeng Shanru already waiting for her at the door. All three were well aware of Bai Qingyan’s journey to Chunmu Mountain. Their expressions were solemn and inevitably worried.

Steward Hao quickly walked down the steps and said to Bai Qingyan, “Young lady, the twenty guards are all fully prepared and waiting at the gate. The horses are also ready.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, stepping up the stairs, “I’ll leave the house in your care, Steward Hao!”

Steward Liu walked with Bai Qingyan outwards, speaking rapidly, “This old servant and Zeng Shanru will definitely live up to your expectations and handle everything properly. If there’s anything we can’t manage, the two of us will consult before deciding!”

What Steward Liu said was vague, not because he didn’t trust Steward Hao, but because the fewer people who knew about mining mountains for weapons, the safer the Bai family would be. Bai Qingyan had called them together due to the urgency of the situation, but for matters that couldn’t be disclosed, Steward Liu couldn’t reveal a word, even in death. This was the rule the Bai family adhered to.

“Uncle Liu, you can hand over your tasks to Zeng Shanru. Starting today, oversee the recruitment of soldiers. Zeng Shanru, in case of any issues, consult with Uncle Liu and Wang Jiuzhou. Wang Jiuzhou won’t, and dare not, allow the Bai family to suffer losses.” Bai Qingyan stepped out of the threshold, looking at Steward Hao, Steward Liu, and Zeng Shanru. “I’ll leave Shuoyang in your hands.”

After finishing speaking, Bai Qingyan leapt onto her horse and, with twenty guards, sped off into the distance, her plain cloak fluttering wildly.

“Take care, young lady!” Steward Hao bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru also hurriedly bowed and saluted, respectfully sending off the Bai family’s young lady.

The news of Bai Qingyan leaving Shuoyang City reached everyone in the Bai Mansion by noon that day.

Before departing, Bai Qingyan had instructed Mrs. Dong to conceal this from Mrs. Li. Mrs. Dong had to calmly tell Mrs. Li, “Kid has gone to Chunmu Mountain. General Zhang Duanrui was killed in battle. Kid feared Lu Ping and Shen Qingzhu couldn’t handle Jinzhi, so she went there herself!”

Even with this explanation, Mrs. Li’s heart was in her throat, almost unable to remain seated.

“General Zhang Duanrui was killed in battle?!” Mrs. Li’s throat clenched, grabbing Mrs. Dong’s hand. “How severe is the situation at Chunmu Mountain, sister-in-law… has something happened to Jinzhi? Otherwise, why would Kid leave in such a hurry? I am Jinzhi’s birth mother. Sister-in-law, don’t hide it from me!”

“Kid didn’t tell you because she feared you’d panic!” Mrs. Dong patted Mrs. Li’s hand. “Don’t worry. With Kid there… can she let anything happen to Jinzhi?”

But Mrs. Dong’s words did not reassure Mrs. Li. She was in a severe panic, not knowing what to do, so she went to Mrs. Wang. Together, they knelt before the Buddha shrine, praying to the gods and Buddha for Bai Jinzhi and Bai Qingyan’s safe return.

From Shuoyang to Chunmu Mountain was a long journey. Bai Qingyan changed horses along the way without resting. She arrived at Dadu City before dawn the next day. Bai Qingyan needed to find a suitable excuse for her sudden return to Dadu, so she sent someone straight to the Imperial Qing Temple to inform the Eldest Princess that Bai Qingyan had returned to Dadu because the Eldest Princess had sent a message to Shuoyang a few days earlier, claiming ill health. Bai Qingyan had arrived in Dadu that day.

Bai Qingyan entered the city and headed straight to the Crown Prince’s mansion.

The Crown Prince had just risen and hadn’t changed into his court attire when the gatekeeper reported that the Princess of Zhen was outside seeking an audience. The Crown Prince hurriedly said, “Quickly, invite the Princess of Zhen in!”

Bai Qingyan stood in the main hall of the Crown Prince’s mansion. When she saw the Crown Prince hurriedly step into the hall, she took two steps forward to greet him. “Your Highness!”

“You received the Imperial Edict so quickly?” The Crown Prince was quite surprised. Even if the eunuch delivering the decree traveled nonstop, it shouldn’t have reached Shuoyang yet.

Bai Qingyan pretended to be puzzled. “Imperial Edict?”

“You haven’t received the Imperial Edict? Then why did you return to Dadu?” the Crown Prince asked.

“A few days ago, my grandmother sent a letter to Shuoyang, saying she was unwell. So, I hastened back to Dadu. Little did I expect that I hadn’t even entered Dadu City when I heard about General Zhang Duanrui’s death in battle. I’m here to inquire about Jinzhi’s situation!” Bai Qingyan feigned ignorance, her face filled with anxiety. “Your Highness, how is my sister?”

“Don’t be anxious!” The Crown Prince reassured Bai Qingyan, raising his hand to invite her to sit first. “There’s still no news of Lord of Gaoyi, but Father has already dispatched Zhen Zeping, Liu Hong, and Xie Yuchang with twenty thousand troops to Chunmu Mountain for reinforcements. Additionally, thirty thousand troops guarding against the Rong have been deployed! I knew you would be worried about the Lord of Gaoyi, so I petitioned Father that night to allow you to go to Chunmu Mountain. Father has already agreed and issued a decree. You must have missed the eunuch delivering it.”

Bai Qingyan clasped her fists and bowed to the Crown Prince. “In that case, I won’t delay any longer and will head to Chunmu Mountain now!”

Knowing Bai Qingyan was eager to save her sister, the Crown Prince instructed Quan Yu, who stood outside, “Quan Yu, bring out the prized steed my father bestowed upon me and present it to the Commandery Princess!”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Bai Qingyan’s gratitude overflowed.

Leaving the Crown Prince’s mansion, Bai Qingyan’s mount was now replaced by the prized steed given by the Crown Prince. Quan Yu bowed and reminded her, “Commandery Princess, please be careful!”

Bai Qingyan nodded to Quan Yu, then galloped away with her subordinates toward the city outskirts.

She drank water and ate dry rations on horseback. After three days and nights of continuous riding, even her guards found it unbearable. Only then did Bai Qingyan order them to dismount and rest for an hour. Then, she rode again. She wished she could fly to Bai Jinzhi’s side, twist her ear, and sternly scold her. But first, she had to find Bai Jinzhi.

In Lu Ping’s letter, the phrase “no news at all” was like sand grinding in her eyes, dulling Bai Qingyan’s heart, making her restless.

At this moment, Bai Qingyan finally understood why her father had scolded her when she returned with Pang Pingguo’s head.

To ensure they reached Chunmu Mountain as quickly as possible, Bai Qingyan and her party exchanged horses and replenished dry rations and water at every staging post.