Chapter 674: Chapter 671: Preposterous_1

“Not long after, Quan Yu saw the guard returning with Bai Jinzhi. He quickly smiled and stepped forward. ‘This servant will lead the way for Commandery Princess Gaoyi!’

‘Could I get lost in the Crown Prince’s mansion?’ Bai Jinzhi still had that carefree and indifferent demeanor.

Quan Yu only smiled without speaking, gesturing for Bai Jinzhi to follow him.

Quan Yu led Bai Jinzhi out of the intricately decorated corridor. Seeing that there was no one around, he finally spoke in a low voice. ‘Commandery Princess Gaoyi, remember… His Highness has his difficulties. No matter what His Highness says later, you must prioritize the Crown Prince’s firstborn in the Crown Princess Consort’s womb and His Highness himself! Otherwise, it might bring trouble to Princess of Zhen.’

Bai Jinzhi was slightly startled. She looked at Quan Yu with some surprise, originally wanting to speak, but when she saw a row of eunuchs holding chrysanthemum flowers heading towards the Crown Princess Consort, she pressed her lips together and remained silent, following Quan Yu all the way to the Crown Prince’s study.

‘Does His Highness have something to instruct? Why was I called back?’ Bai Jinzhi saluted, then sat to one side. Her clear and bright eyes looked at the Crown Prince, appearing to be an open and straightforward person.

The Crown Prince rubbed the armrest of his chair, then sighed. ‘The matter of the military rations you mentioned, I have always known about, but… it involves the Crown Princess Consort’s brother. Now that the Crown Princess Consort is pregnant, I… have to be considerate of her. So, let this matter end here, for my sake. Do not investigate further! I can guarantee that such things will never happen again!’

Bai Jinzhi was greatly shocked. She immediately recalled Quan Yu’s reminder. She resisted looking in his direction, but she couldn’t understand… why Quan Yu would remind her. Was it the Crown Prince’s will?

The Crown Prince carefully observed Bai Jinzhi’s expression. Seeing her furrowed brows as if deep in thought, he lowered his eyes and spoke again. ‘Before I was the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess Consort was once pregnant but did not carry to term. So… I place special importance on this pregnancy.’

Bai Jinzhi’s frown deepened. This was the reason the Crown Prince ignored the problem with the border soldiers’ rations?! How absurd!

Those were border soldiers!

If Daliang invaded and they couldn’t even eat enough, how could they win the battle? How many soldiers would die then, and how many lives would it take to reclaim the lost cities?!

Were the lives of those soldiers not lives too?

Bai Jinzhi clenched her fists, restraining her emotions. Since Quan Yu had given her a hint, she couldn’t persist blindly.

‘But those soldiers’ rations, are they supposed to eat food mixed with sand and stones… to guard the frontier for His Majesty and His Highness?!’ Bai Jinzhi’s voice rose as she spoke.

Quan Yu quietly squeezed a handful of cold sweat. He had already hinted, but why was this Commandery Princess Gaoyi still questioning the Crown Prince so bluntly!

‘Rest assured, I have already reprimanded the Crown Princess Consort’s brother. The tainted rations have been dealt with. Now, the supplies sent to the frontier are clean. Such things will not happen again. You must trust me.’

Bai Jinzhi frowned deeply. After a long pause, she stood up and saluted the Crown Prince. ‘My eldest sister has led the Bai family to follow Your Highness. Even if there are some things that Bai Jinzhi cannot agree with, I know if Your Highness says so, there must be difficulties. Bai Jinzhi will obey and cease further investigation. But I ask Your Highness to oversee and prevent such matters from recurring. They are all soldiers guarding the frontier for His Majesty and Your Highness.’

Hearing this, the Crown Prince glanced at Elder Fang. His tone became gentler towards Bai Jinzhi. ‘Rest assured, since I have made a promise, I will certainly not allow such things to happen again!’

‘In that case, I will take my leave…’ Bai Jinzhi bowed deeply. Fearing she would lose control if she stayed any longer and shout at this selfish and heedless Crown Prince who treated soldiers like grass.

‘Very well!’ The Crown Prince nodded. ‘Spend more time with Princess of Zhen. If there are any rare medicines she needs, feel free to come to the Crown Prince’s mansion to get them!’

‘Thank you, Your Highness!’ After expressing her gratitude, Bai Jinzhi left the Crown Prince, her face turning dark as she mounted her horse and returned to the Bai Mansion. She headed straight to Qinghui Courtyard, furious.

Bai Jinzhi spoke with Bai Qingyan, who was already up and sitting by the window. She grabbed a piece of pastry and chewed it forcefully. ‘If the Jin Kingdom falls under the command of such a Crown Prince, our Jin Kingdom will soon face its doom!’

‘Watch your words!’ Bai Qingyan handed tea to Bai Jinzhi.

‘I know!’ Bai Jinzhi took the teacup, tilted her head, and drank it all in one gulp. She slammed the cup onto the small table. ‘I’m only saying this in front of you, Eldest Sister!’

The matter of the military rations in the Northern Frontier being suppressed by the Crown Prince did not surprise Bai Qingyan…

She couldn’t believe that the commanders stationed in the Northern Frontier would not report when they saw such rations!

But just now, her fourth sister said Quan Yu had given her a hint.

Quan Yu…

Bai Qingyan had not paid much attention before, only knowing that Quan Yu had grown up with the Crown Prince. He had delicate features and seemed to always care for her intentionally or unintentionally.

Bai Jinzhi also thought of Quan Yu. Turning to Bai Qingyan, she asked, ‘Eldest Sister, is Eunuch Quan Yu someone you placed by the Crown Prince’s side?’

‘The Crown Prince is older than me. Eunuch Quan Yu has accompanied him since childhood. How could I have placed him by the Crown Prince’s side earlier!’ Bai Qingyan saw that Bai Jinzhi, after finishing the tea, was stuffing pastries into her mouth again. She pushed a small silver cup filled with milk in front of Bai Jinzhi. ‘Just be polite to Eunuch Quan Yu in the future.’

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, Chun Tao lifted the curtain and entered the room with a salute. ‘Eldest Young Lady, a nanny from the Crown Princess Consort has brought medicinal herbs. She said she came to see you on behalf of the Crown Princess Consort and has already entered the Chuihua gate.’

Bai Jinzhi swallowed the pastry forcefully, choking and pounding her chest with her fist. She then picked up the silver cup and drank all the milk in one gulp. Standing up, she said to Bai Qingyan, ‘Eldest Sister, quickly go to bed. Don’t let the Crown Princess Consort’s nanny see anything unusual.’

Bai Qingyan nodded, leisurely lifting the fine woolen blanket that covered her legs. Holding Chun Tao’s hand, she slowly got up. The movement pulled at her wound, causing pain. She frowned and endured it, walking towards the bed.

‘Eldest Young Lady, be careful!’ Chun Tao reminded in a low voice.

Bai Qingyan sat by the bed while Chun Tao tidied up the bedding. Outside the room, a maid reported that the nanny from the Crown Princess Consort’s side had arrived.

Seeing Bai Qingyan nod, Chun Tao bypassed the screen, lifted the curtain, and left the inner room.

The nanny was prosperous-looking, dressed in a sapphire brocade outfit. Her behavior and demeanor didn’t match that of a servant; rather, she seemed like a strict elder in a wealthy household, more dignified than a matriarch of a slightly lower-ranked family.

Chun Tao saluted the nanny and invited her inside with a curtain lift.