Chapter 657: Chapter 654: Promote at Discretion_1 Chapter 657: Chapter 654: Promote at Discretion_1 The Princess of Zhen Mansion, next to the yellow glazed lamp in the upper room of Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jinxiu was carefully holding Bai Qingyan and weeping… completely unlike her usual dignified self as the mistress of the Qin Mansion, crying like a child.

Bai Jinxiu was making winter clothes for Wang Geer at the Qin Mansion when she suddenly heard the news that Bai Qingyan had been shot through the chest with an arrow. She was so shocked that she nearly fainted; her legs were too weak to stand. She gritted her teeth and ordered her maid Cuibi to help her back to the Bai Mansion.

It wasn’t until she saw her eldest sister and heard her say… this was all a setup did Bai Jinxiu finally relax. She nonetheless couldn’t help but break into loud sobs.

Since last year, when trouble befell the Bai family, Bai Qingyan had been the backbone and guide for them sisters. Bai Jinxiu couldn’t imagine how they would cope without their eldest sister, or what the future held for the Bai family…

In just one year, they had lost too many family members. Now they truly couldn’t bear to lose another.

Bai Qingyan gently stroked Bai Jinxiu’s back and softly reassured her, “Alright… alright! You’re already a mother, and still crying! Wang Geer would laugh at you.”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Lu Ping came to report that all the squads of the imperial guards Bai Qingyan had asked the Bai family guard to contact had sworn allegiance to the Crown Prince.

She nodded. In the recent chaos at Wude Gate, Bai Qingyan had instructed the Bai family guard to carefully observe and select some of the imperial guards who valued camaraderie, under the pretense of choosing men for the Crown Prince, to gather people for herself.

Using the name of the Crown Prince to recruit the imperial guards was mainly because… those people were not from the Bai family army and couldn’t be completely trusted. Bai Qingyan worried that if her identity as the Princess of Zhen was revealed, the Emperor and the Crown Prince would become suspicious.

Now… it was widely known that Bai Qingyan had already pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince. This made her actions much more convenient, allowing her to receive timely information from the imperial guards.

“The Bai family guard who went to persuade those imperial guard squads today was Song Chengguang. I thought it would be best for him to continue liaising with those squad leaders in the future!” Lu Ping took a list from his bosom and handed it to Bai Qingyan, “Here’s the list!”

Bai Jinxiu took the list, opened it, and handed it to Bai Qingyan for her to review.

There were thirteen names in total, with their current positions listed next to them.

Bai Qingyan briefly reviewed the list and motioned for Chun Tao to hand it back to Lu Ping.

Under the flickering candlelight, Bai Qingyan’s dark, deep eyes were calm as she said, “Uncle Ping, there are two tasks I need you to handle! First… copy the names of the first seven people on the list and deliver it to Lord Fan Yuhuai at the Fan Mansion, telling him that before I fell unconscious, I recommended him to the Crown Prince as the head of the imperial guards. These people are my placements within the guards to prevent another incident like the Wude Gate revolt. Let him promote them as he sees fit! But he must keep this hidden from the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince greatly fears the Emperor. If he knew I was intervening in the imperial guards, he would undoubtedly be terrified before the Emperor. But as someone under the Crown Prince’s command, I have no choice but to make plans for him.”

Although revealing all this to Fan Yuhuai was risky, Lu Ping always adhered to Bai Qingyan’s orders and nodded in response.

“The other task is to send a message to General Shen Kunyang, telling him to properly arrange the eighteen thousand soldiers the Crown Prince sent to the Southern Border and, if possible, take them into his fold.”

Lu Ping cupped his fists and acknowledged the orders, then left with the list.

“Elder sister, Fan Yuhuai may not necessarily be loyal to the Crown Prince. I have been observing him for a long time. His relationship with the Crown Prince is rather ambiguous, seemingly loyal yet not quite…” Bai Jinxiu said worriedly, “Handing these seven people directly to Fan Yuhuai, wouldn’t that…”

“Fan Yuhuai has gone through life-and-death situations with the Crown Prince. Even if he’s not the Crown Prince’s man, he’s at least half his man now. The Crown Prince is the future Emperor, and Fan Yuhuai will weigh his options. Moreover, once the news spreads that I risked my life to shield the Crown Prince from an arrow, no one will doubt my loyalty to the Crown Prince. Lu Ping handing over the list without reservation to Fan Yuhuai will make him think… promoting these people is just repaying my recommendation favor!”

Bai Qingyan lightly stroked the brocade quilt with lotus patterns on her lap. Her gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight on the window lattice, and she smiled, “Let’s see where Fan Yuhuai places these people! If he places them in relatively important positions within the imperial guards, it means he plans to follow the Crown Prince and be his man. If Fan Yuhuai is wary of these people… it means he has no intention of being loyal to the Crown Prince and only protects the Crown Prince as part of his duty. We’ll figure out how to arrange the remaining six people later.”

Bai Jinxiu nodded, “One part openly and one part secretly. If one part is lost, there’s still another part left.”

“These people are not soldiers from the Bai family army. We still have to be cautious using them… you shouldn’t get involved in this matter. I will assign someone to handle it,” Bai Qingyan instructed Bai Jinxiu.

Bai Jinxiu nodded.

By now, everyone in the Bai family, from the Eldest Princess down to Bai Qingyan’s personal maid Chun Tao, knew that Bai Qingyan had orchestrated this plan to return to Shuoyang safely. This eased their worries considerably.

But to the outside world, they still claimed that Bai Qingyan remained unconscious.

Bai Jinxiu had someone convey a message to Qin Lang, who was waiting in the front courtyard of the Bai Mansion, that she would stay at the Bai Mansion tonight to take care of her eldest sister and that Qin Lang should go back to the Qin Mansion to take care of Wang Geer.

Qin Lang nodded in agreement and then told Cuibi, “Go inform the madam that if the Princess of Zhen needs any medicine, she can send someone to fetch it from the mansion!”

Cuibi bowed to Qin Lang, “Yes!”

Just as Qin Lang stepped out of the Bai Mansion’s gate, he saw Dong Qingping and Mrs. Dong, Mrs. Song, arriving. Qin Lang hurriedly bowed to them, “Lord Dong, Mrs. Dong!”

Dong Qingping nodded and, with a solemn expression, stepped into the main gate of the Bai Mansion. Mrs. Song gave Qin Lang a shallow nod and quickly followed Dong Qingping.

Lu Ping immediately escorted Dong Qingping and Mrs. Song inside.

Qin Lang looked back at Dong Qingping and Mrs. Song, then at the brightly lit Princess of Zhen Mansion, praying that Bai Qingyan would successfully get through this ordeal. After all, many cared for her and were concerned about her.

In the Imperial Palace, the windows of the Emperor’s bedchamber rattled in the wind. Shadows from the lamps flickered on the floor, reflecting off the Emperor’s sunken, sallow face.

Lady Qiu, with tears in her eyes, tearfully expressed her concerns to the Emperor. She spoke of how she had missed the Emperor these past days and had tried to visit him, only to be stopped by the Eldest Princess each time. Now that King Liang was dead… because she came from King Liang’s Mansion, even the palace servants showed her a cold face.

The Emperor’s expression was dark and unreadable as he turned to look at Lady Qiu. Seeing her kneeling under the golden bedcurtains hooked with golden threads, he thought of the Empress and began coughing while clutching his chest.

Lady Qiu hurriedly stood up, carried the spittoon to the Emperor, and without hesitation, used her silk handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth. Her fair, delicate hand gently rubbed the Emperor’s chest, “Your Majesty, do you feel a bit better?”