Chapter 578 - 578 575 Taking the Overall Situation into

Chapter 578: Chapter 575: Taking the Overall Situation into Account_1 Chapter 578: Chapter 575: Taking the Overall Situation into Account_1 “Father is the Governor of Dengzhou, holding command over the Dengzhou Army. The best way for the Crown Prince to build ties with my father is through marriage relations. But since my father has no legitimate daughter, and I am only a lowly concubine’s daughter, entering the Crown Prince’s residence would at most make me a concubine, not even a side consort. I don’t know if I’m being overly cautious, but watching my aunt, I really don’t want to be a concubine. Even if I were to marry a farmer, I would rather be his first wife and not a concubine,” Dong Tingyun said with reddened eyes. “Moreover, anyone with military power should avoid forming alliances too early. If I were to enter the Crown Prince’s residence, even if father didn’t form an alliance, others would think he did.”

Another concubine’s daughter, she too saw clearly that the Crown Prince wanted a concubine’s daughter from the Dong family for the military power her uncle held. One schemed and plotted for personal gain to climb up using the Dong family, while the other, though also self-interested, considered the bigger picture and avoided the situation.

No wonder Grandmother kept Dong Tingyun by her side.

Such a girl was clever, knew her place, and understood the larger scheme of things.

“Just feign illness, why make things difficult for yourself?” Bai Qingyan pulled Dong Tingyun to sit beside her.

“I don’t want to trouble father. He’s straightforward by nature and already has a bias against concubine’s daughters. If he discovers I’m pretending to be ill, I fear he’ll punish me,” Dong Tingyun said with a slightly choked voice, lowering her head.

The plight of the Dong family’s concubine-born daughters was well known to Bai Qingyan.

She patted Dong Tingyun’s hand. “Your grandmother is my grandmother too. Don’t be afraid. Grandmother will protect you.”

Dong Tingyun nodded.

“Dry your hair and get a good night’s sleep. Don’t worry!” Bai Qingyan reassured Dong Tingyun.

Early the next morning, the Crown Prince, upon getting up, heard of an incident at the Dong Mansion the previous day.

After gargling with honey water, the Crown Prince wiped his mouth with a cloth and asked Quan Yu, “What happened at the Dong Mansion yesterday?”

Quan Yu shook his head. “This servant is incompetent; I couldn’t find out.”

The Crown Prince casually tossed the cloth aside, smiling lightly at Quan Yu. “The Dong Mansion in Dengzhou has always been like a steel fortress. Even Father couldn’t get any information from them, let alone you. If you had actually managed to find something, I would suspect it was what Dong Qingyue wanted me to know. Begin the day’s tasks.”

“Your Highness possesses wisdom from reflecting on the past. It is shameful that, despite staying by Your Highness’s side, I have not learned a thing.” Quan Yu smiled and directed someone to start the day.

As the Crown Prince was preparing to inspect the camp, Dong Qingyue and Bai Qingyan naturally accompanied him. On the way, the Crown Prince casually asked Dong Qingyue about Dong Tingzhi, which caused Dong Qingyue’s face to change drastically. Seeing his hesitant lips, it piqued the Crown Prince’s interest even more.

Reluctantly, Dong Qingyue revealed the previous day’s discovery by Madam Dong that Dong Tingzhi was not his biological daughter. He sighed heavily. “As a man, it’s a tremendous humiliation. Fortunately, the Dong family never announces the births of concubine’s children, so few know about the existence of a concubine’s daughter in the Dong family. Otherwise, I would become a joke.”

Seeing Dong Qingyue’s face turn purple with anger, it was clear he was deeply agitated. The Crown Prince was momentarily struck, then patted Dong Qingyue’s shoulder. A man could understand another man’s feelings. His concubine had made him a cuckold, and he had unknowingly raised someone else’s child. Even a common man would find it unbearable.

Dong Qingyue was merciful. If it were the Crown Prince, both the child and the concubine wouldn’t live to see another day.

Just as he thought of this, the Crown Prince recalled the Jade Pendant he had sent out through Quan Yu the previous day and felt embarrassed. He decided to instruct Quan Yu and the others to keep silent about it.

Before the Crown Prince had a chance to reward the soldiers on behalf of the Emperor upon arriving at the camp, an urgent report came from Dadu City. The Emperor had fallen from his horse while riding with Lady Qiu, and his condition was critical. Before losing consciousness, the Emperor recalled the retired Master Tan to return to court and assist the Eldest Princess and King Liang in managing affairs, summoning the Crown Prince to return to the Capital immediately.

The Crown Prince’s face changed drastically upon hearing this, leaving him in no mood to reward the soldiers in Dengzhou.

The Emperor gravely injured and unconscious. Would the Empress and King Liang not take control of the government? If the Crown Prince returned after the Emperor’s death, who could guarantee that the Empress and King Liang wouldn’t exploit the situation, falsely declaring an imperial edict to depose him and pass the throne to someone else? At that point, the Crown Prince away from Dadu would be seen as a rebel.

Bai Qingyan clenched her fists tightly upon hearing the news.

The Bai family needed stability now, not the Emperor falling into trouble. But at least… the Emperor had the presence of mind to not let the Empress handle affairs, instead requesting Master Tan and the Eldest Princess to assist King Liang. The situation in Dadu should remain stable.

After all, her grandmother, the Eldest Princess of the Lin family, was trusted by the Emperor.

The Emperor chose King Liang because he had no other choice, believing King Liang to be weak-willed and easy to control. He would certainly listen to Master Tan and the Eldest Princess.

Yet, King Liang harbored great ambition and now had the support of his father-in-law, King Xian, who held military power.

However, if the Empress had already allied with King Liang, she would have realized King Liang’s true nature and taken precautions, balancing against him.

But how long could such a balance last with King Liang holding military power? If King Liang were truly determined to rebel, would it not endanger her grandmother?

Bai Qingyan couldn’t sit still, nor could the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, chaos in the Capital cannot be delayed. You must return immediately to stabilize the situation!” Bai Qingyan urged, clasping her fists. “We can discuss the details on the way. Let us depart at once. I will accompany you back to the Capital.”

“Yes, the Princess of Zhen is right,” the Crown Prince nodded, pale-faced. “Quan Yu, send people to ready the carriages outside the city. Prepare to depart and inform Mr. Fang, Mr. Ren, and Mr. Qin to join us in the Prince’s carriage to discuss the matter.”

“Your Highness, you cannot return unprepared. With the Emperor unconscious and chaos in Dadu, returning as you are would be entering the tiger’s den. Any attempt to rescue you or the Emperor would lack legitimacy,” Bai Qingyan said, looking at Dong Qingyue. “The Dengzhou Army suffered heavy losses. Why not take the Anping Camp troops with you? If anything happens, you won’t be helpless.”

The Crown Prince knew the importance of military power. He clenched his fist. “But… moving the Anping Camp without an imperial edict is against the rules.”

Dong Qingyue clasped his fists to the Crown Prince. “Princess of Zhen is right. As the Crown Prince, you can issue orders when the Emperor is unconscious. General Fu is my subordinate. He must heed your command!”

After a brief hesitation, the Crown Prince nodded. “Very well. We will detour to Anping Camp. I will personally meet General Fu and return with troops to protect the Emperor!”

The Crown Prince was fearful. Staying in Dadu with his half-brother King Xin and King Liang was dangerous.