Chapter 451 - 451 448 Entering the Palace_1

Chapter 451: Chapter 448: Entering the Palace_1 Chapter 451: Chapter 448: Entering the Palace_1 The five carriages, escorted by imperial guards, had an impressive display… far exceeding her grandmother, the Eldest Princess.

“His Majesty specially sent this old servant to escort the Princess of Zhen and the Lord of Gaoyi into the palace!” Gao Demao stepped forward with a smile, saluting as he spoke.

“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Gao!” Bai Qingyan nodded to Gao Demao.

Bai Jinzhi, closely following behind Bai Qingyan, lowered her voice as soon as they boarded the carriage: “The Emperor actually sent Eunuch Gao to escort us!”

Bai Qingyan smiled without responding.

She looked through the windswept carriage curtains, seeing the guards holding back the Bai family on both sides of the road to allow the carriage to pass.

The more the Emperor put on a grand show, the fewer tangible rewards she and Bai Jinzhi would receive later.

“When we see the Emperor, we should ask for more practical things!” Bai Qingyan advised Bai Jinzhi, “The more gold and silver we have, the more soldiers we can gather to fight the bandits in the future.”

Bai Jinzhi nodded: “I understand! Reject the empty titles… but accept the gold, silver, and jewels! I am young and ignorant… I should shamelessly ask the Emperor for more.”

The smile in Bai Qingyan’s eyes deepened, and she nodded.

The carriages escorting the Princess of Zhen and the Lord of Gaoyi swaggered all the way into the palace. The Emperor, accompanied by the Crown Prince, summoned Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi in the study.

The Emperor looked to be in great spirits, appearing several years younger. It was unclear if it was due to the great victory at the Northern Frontier or the elixir.

Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi respectfully bowed to the Emperor. After granting them seats, Bai Jinzhi quickly stepped forward to assist Bai Qingyan in rising.

The Emperor noticed how ill Bai Qingyan looked. She was already very pale, but now even her lips were bloodless.

The Crown Prince was also astonished: “Yesterday, the Commandery Princess seemed to be in decent health. How did she suddenly fall ill? Should we summon Doctor Huang to take a look?”

“Thank you, Your Highness! It’s nothing serious! I have always been in poor health. This battle in the Northern Frontier… I pushed myself to the limit. After the great victory, I felt utterly spent. Upon returning to Dadu, I finally relaxed, but developed a high fever yesterday afternoon! Don’t worry, Your Highness… Aunt Lu has already checked on me, it’s nothing serious!” Bai Qingyan spoke slowly, with a hint of weakness.

“Cousin, please talk to my Elder Sister! She listens to you! Aunt Lu said… my sister’s old illness has been exacerbated by overexertion. If this continues…” Bai Jinzhi looked as if she couldn’t continue, choking with emotion.

The Crown Prince was pleased with Bai Jinzhi’s deference to him but concealed it, showing concern instead: “General Liu Hong also told me how hard the Princess of Zhen worked this time!”

Bai Qingyan stood up, overwhelmed with gratitude, and bowed: “As a citizen of Jin, and as the Princess of Zhen, it’s my duty to contribute to Jin Kingdom. I dare not accept Your Highness’s praise for my hard work! The Bai family has always given their lives for Jin Kingdom. As a descendant of the Bai family, I must inherit the spirit of my ancestors. However, my physical weakness prevents me from guarding the frontier, which brings me great shame.”

The Emperor looked at Bai Qingyan, who was kneeling. Her poor health reassured him in some ways…

“Gao Demao, help the Princess of Zhen up!” the Emperor instructed.

Gao Demao hurried forward with small steps, helping Bai Qingyan up: “Princess, please sit!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty…” Bai Qingyan sat down after giving thanks.

At this time, both the Emperor and the Crown Prince needed Bai Qingyan, who could deter the neighboring countries, to stay healthy and alive!

“This time at the Northern Frontier, the great victory against the Liang Kingdom, the Princess of Zhen has made substantial contributions!” The Emperor, gazing at the pale Bai Qingyan, slowly rubbed the bolster and spoke leisurely, “The Crown Prince suggested that I confer upon the Princess of Zhen the title of Princess, and the Lord of Gaoyi the title of Commandery Princess. I find this very appropriate…”

The Emperor could see Bai Qingyan’s genuine loyalty to the Crown Prince and was happy to do him this favor.

Understanding the hint, the Crown Prince smiled: “Father knows that the Shuoyang Clan emptied the Bai family’s resources. This time, there are some items to be privately bestowed upon the Commandery Princess.”

Gao Demao quickly stepped forward with small steps, presenting the list of privately bestowed items to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan quickly stood up to express her gratitude and added: “My fourth sister and I serve the country faithfully, and the Emperor’s rewards… I will use them all in the bandit suppression in Shuoyang. I will clear the bandits for the Emperor and the Crown Prince to repay their deep kindness.”

“Emperor Uncle!” Bai Jinzhi suddenly spoke up.

The Emperor paused, his gaze falling on Bai Jinzhi with her wide eyes, seemingly surprised by her use of “Emperor Uncle.”

However, it was true that the Eldest Princess was her aunt, and her father was the Emperor’s cousin, making “Emperor Uncle” a correct form of address.

Seeing the Emperor look her way, Bai Jinzhi lifted her dress and ran to the center, kneeling and bowing: “I have an unreasonable request. Emperor Uncle, please do not confer any title of Commandery Princess on me. To me, whether it’s Commandery Princess or County Lord, it’s the same! Rather than being a Commandery Princess… I would prefer to help pacify the bandits. Nowadays… while we’ve just pacified the Southern Frontier and Northern Frontier, Xiliang and Daliang remain ambitious, like wolves beside our Jin Kingdom, always watching. Jin cannot but station heavy troops.”

“This year, Jin Kingdom has faced continuous natural and man-made disasters! The court cannot spare the effort to deal with the bandit problem. Bai Jinzhi, like my elder sister, wishes to share the burden with Emperor Uncle and the Crown Prince. Instead of the title of Commandery Princess, I shamelessly ask Emperor Uncle to grant more gold and silver and other such vulgar things. This way, I can gather more people in Shuoyang to suppress the bandits! Otherwise, those poor locals… cannot even eat. They certainly won’t be willing to risk their lives to follow me in suppressing the bandits!”

Bai Jinzhi’s clear, innocent gaze and childish demeanor were genuinely endearing.

The Emperor chuckled and glanced at the Crown Prince: “Here comes someone asking me for silver!”

Bai Jinzhi giggled.

“I think the Lord of Gaoyi is not asking for silver to gather people to suppress bandits, but to gather people to have fun!” The Crown Prince couldn’t help but smile, “But with the Princess of Zhen around, we can be sure…”

The Crown Prince initially intended to say we could be sure the bandit problem would be quickly resolved, but seeing Bai Qingyan’s pale and vulnerable look, he changed his words: “We can be sure she will keep an eye on the Lord of Gaoyi.”

Bai Jinzhi quickly bowed: “Emperor Uncle and Crown Prince Cousin, rest assured, Bai Jinzhi will record every expense clearly and send a monthly report swiftly to you both for review!”

The Emperor sat up straight, with a faint smile, and asked: “It seems this matter of suppressing the bandits… is left to the Lord of Gaoyi under the Princess of Zhen’s supervision?”

Bai Qingyan stood up, cupped her hands to the Emperor, and glanced at Bai Jinzhi, seemingly annoyed with her. Bai Jinzhi quickly shrank her neck.