Chapter 732: 729: A Shock to the Eye_1

Chapter 732: Chapter 729: A Shock to the Eye_1

“Yes!” Zhenguang bowed and hurried out of Qinghui Courtyard.

Bai Qingyan knew the most crucial part of this matter was to grasp the timing. Too fast or too slow would both be wrong. This task could be said to be both simple and difficult, depending on the competence of the people executing it.

When Bai Jinxiu left, she left Cuibi and Cuiyu behind. Bai Qingyan instructed Cuibi, “Cuibi, go and instruct a squad of guards to wait around Qinghui Courtyard.”

“Yes! I’ll go right away!” Cuibi responded and walked out of the main room of Qinghui Courtyard, her palms damp with sweat. It was her first time handling an errand for the Eldest Young Lady, and she desperately didn’t want to make any mistakes.

Bai Qingyan looked at the eager maid Zhenming and said, “Zhenming, go arrange for a few quick-handed gatekeepers to guard the main path leading to Qinghui Courtyard. Once Second Young Lady and her group arrive, report back immediately!”

“Yes!” Zhenming accepted the order and swiftly ran out of the courtyard.

As soon as Bai Jinxiu entered the Princess of Zhen’s mansion with the Crown Prince’s nanny and the Imperial Physician, information was continuously sent to Qinghui Courtyard.

Servants and maids went in and out of Qinghui Courtyard. A maid came to report that Second Young Lady had reached the Chuihua gate. Moments later, a servant reported that Second Young Lady had arrived at Shishan Hall. Another maid rushed in, panting, to say Second Young Lady had crossed Yanyu Pavilion.

Bai Qingyan sat calmly behind the screen, holding a cup of hot tea, waiting. When a servant reported that Bai Jinxiu had reached Lanshan Courtyard, she put down her teacup and said to Cuiyu, whose palms were tightly clenched, “Cuiyu, go tell the guards… to send a message to Zhenguang to bring the person to Qinghui Courtyard.”

“Yes!” Cuiyu, suddenly named, stiffened for a moment and immediately ran out.

The Eldest Young Lady repeatedly emphasized that the most important aspect of this task was timing. The person delivering the message would enter Qinghui Courtyard just as Second Young Lady brought the Crown Prince’s people and the Imperial Physician, so they would hear the conversation between the Eldest Young Lady and the messenger clearly.

This was also the first time Cuiyu had handled such a task. Her heart felt tightly strung.

Soon, the patrolling guards of Bai Mansion nodded discreetly toward Zhenguang when they passed by, as she accompanied the servant sent by Li Mingrui around Qinghui Courtyard.

Zhenguang turned to Li Mingrui’s servant and said, “This way, please…”

Zhenguang had just brought Li Mingrui’s servant into the main room when Bai Jinxiu entered through the main gate of Qinghui Courtyard.

Standing on the porch, Zhenming gently knocked on the window lattice, signaling the maid inside to lift the curtains so the servant could speak to Bai Qingyan. She rushed up anxiously and said, “Second Young Lady, someone in our mansion claims to have important matters to discuss with Eldest Young Lady. Despite her condition, Eldest Young Lady insisted on getting up and calling him over! Please persuade Eldest Young Lady!”

“This is absurd! What could be more important than my elder sister’s health?!” Bai Jinxiu turned to the Imperial Physician, “Imperial Physician, please, check on my elder sister! She’s causing a scene!”

The Imperial Physician responded repeatedly, carrying his medicine chest and following Bai Jinxiu up the steps. Inside, they heard the servant respectfully say, “My master asked me to inform Princess of Zhen that Wang Qiulu has been in close contact with King Liang. Princess of Zhen must be vigilant!”

The Imperial Physician paused upon hearing this. This was private information about the Princess of Zhen’s mansion. Would he be implicated by entering?

The nanny beside the Crown Princess Consort perked up upon hearing King Liang’s name and listened intently without betraying any emotion.

Inside, after a weak cough from Bai Qingyan, her breaths became rapid. Her angry questions resembled a barrage of cannon fire at the servant, “Wang Qiulu? Which Wang Qiulu? Could it be… the conspirator Wang Qiulu who was supposed to have been executed?!”

Bai Jinxiu raised her hand to stop Zhenguang from lifting the curtain and listened closely from outside.

The servant affirmed.

There was a rustling sound inside, and Bai Qingyan’s weak voice was filled with anger, “Wasn’t Wang Qiulu executed? What do you mean by close contact with King Liang?! Who is your master? Did your master save this criminal? Or did King Liang save Wang Qiulu?”

Hearing a maid’s frightened cries from inside, Bai Jinxiu turned pale and rushed in with the Imperial Physician.

Bai Jinxiu’s furious glare landed on the kneeling, shocked servant, and she shouted, “Guards! Drag this dog out!”

The servant, seeing the troubling condition of Bai Qingyan inside and the guards approaching, trembled all over. He crawled forward on his knees and cried loudly, “Spare me, Princess of Zhen! Spare me! My master is Li Mingrui, the eldest son of Left Prime Minister. I am just a servant who knows nothing. I am only here to pass a message!”

The Imperial Physician and the nanny from the Crown Princess Consort’s mansion followed Bai Jinxiu past the curtains. They saw Bai Qingyan’s chest stained with blood, her pale, bluish face illuminated by the dim candlelight, making it a harrowing sight.

“Elder Sister! Elder Sister!” Bai Jinxiu, fully aware it was a ruse, couldn’t help but cry at her elder sister’s appearance. “Elder Sister, how are you? Imperial Physician! Quickly, check on my elder sister…”

The Imperial Physician took out a pulse pillow from his medicine chest, kneeling on the yellow pearwood footstool by the bed to take Bai Qingyan’s pulse.

“Imperial Physician…” Bai Jinxiu’s voice trembled, tears streaming as she anxiously asked, “Imperial Physician, how is my elder sister?”

“I’m fine… Jinxiu, take this servant to see the Crown Prince. Tell him that the traitor Wang Jianghai’s son Wang Qiulu may still be alive. This person is skilled in martial arts… Tell the Crown Prince to be extremely cautious and capture Wang Qiulu! Go quickly!”

Bai Qingyan tightly clutched Bai Jinxiu’s wrist, her breathing rapid.

“Elder Sister! The Crown Prince has his own guards. You should focus more on your health!” Bai Jinxiu held Bai Qingyan’s hand, tears falling.

“Jinxiu…”

Seeing her frail sister struggle to rise again, Bai Jinxiu quickly pressed her down, choking out, “Alright, alright! I understand, Elder Sister! Don’t worry. After the Imperial Physician finishes his examination, I’ll certainly take this servant to the Crown Prince…”

Kneeling beside them, the Imperial Physician couldn’t help but admire Bai Qingyan. Despite her condition, she still worried about the Crown Prince’s safety, proving her unwavering loyalty.

“Imperial Physician, how is my elder sister?” Bai Jinxiu asked, eyes red and voice choked.

The old doctor packed up the pulse pillow and shook his head gently, “My medical skills are limited, but I can make Princess of Zhen more comfortable…”