Chapter 676: Chapter 673: The Pill Heart – 1

“Let’s wait and see if the Crown Prince can indeed properly handle the issue of military provisions as he promised. If he fails to keep his word, it will not be too late to escalate the matter.”

Bai Qingyan’s meaning was clear. The goal now was to maintain stability. As long as the soldiers at the border no longer had to eat grain mixed with sand and stones, letting the matter settle would also be acceptable.

However, if the Crown Prince couldn’t properly handle it and secretly allowed the Crown Princess Consort’s brother to continue such unscrupulous acts, Bai Qingyan could not stay uninvolved, even if it meant stirring up trouble.

The Bai family had been a military family for generations, always valuing the comrades who fought alongside them and risked their lives.

A nation, no matter how internally corrupt, must never mistreat the soldiers guarding the borders. This was a national bottom line.

Bai Qingyan looked at Doctor Hong, who was drinking tea, and said, “Doctor Hong, have all your medicinal herbs and books been packed? We will set off for Shuoyang on the twenty-fifth.”

Doctor Hong was moving, and though he didn’t have many things, he had a lot of medical books and herbs.

In theory, those herbs could be bought anywhere, but Doctor Hong liked to pick and dry them himself. Even before approaching Doctor Hong’s little courtyard, the smell of herbs could be sensed from afar.

“Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady. As long as you don’t scare this old man occasionally, I will definitely be ready to set off with you on the twenty-fifth!” Doctor Hong said.

Bai Jinse raised her hand to cover her mouth, laughing. Today, when they heard the Eldest Young Lady spat blood, it indeed gave everyone a fright. Doctor Hong was upset with the Eldest Young Lady for sure…

*

The Crown Princess Consort’s close nanny hurriedly returned to the manor and confessed to the Crown Princess Consort that she had acted on her own by reprimanding Bai Qingyan to the point of making her cough up blood.

The Crown Princess Consort was so shocked that she almost dropped the jade ruyi in her hand. Her throat tightened as she hurriedly asked, “How is the Princess of Zhen now?”

“In response to the Crown Princess Consort, when this old servant left, the courtyard of the Princess of Zhen was in chaos. This old servant didn’t dare to stay long… and returned!” The nanny hurriedly kowtowed to the Crown Princess Consort. “This old servant did not expect it to be so serious. I just felt that the Princess of Zhen’s hand reached too far, even managing the military provisions at the Northern Frontier!”

“The Princess of Zhen is the one whom His Highness values the most! How could you…” The Crown Princess Consort placed her hand on her abdomen, extremely worried.

“Precisely because of this, this old servant wanted to help the Crown Princess Consort knock some sense into the Princess of Zhen. Crown Princess Consort, think about it… The Princess of Zhen, after all, is a woman, with such stunning beauty and deeply trusted by His Highness. If, I mean if, the Princess of Zhen, under the guise of official duties, spends a long time with His Highness, and something happens, entering the Crown Prince’s residence… Crown Princess Consort, you’d have no place to stand!” The nanny kowtowed to the Crown Princess Consort, her voice choked with sobs, showing her sincerity.

“Impossible!” The Crown Princess Consort’s face turned pale. “That… that Princess of Zhen cannot bear children. His Highness would never let her into the Crown Prince’s residence!”

“This old servant knew the Crown Princess Consort would think that way. This old servant has watched you grow up, knowing your kind heart, but you cannot be without suspicion! Think about it… Ever since the Princess of Zhen risked her life to save His Highness, hasn’t he treated her even better? Today, after the Commandery Princess Gaoyi left, His Highness knew you were pregnant and couldn’t do without this old servant, yet he asked you to send me to the Princess of Zhen’s residence, under your name, to promise to take good care of your sibling! But why? You are the Crown Princess Consort… Why should you bow to the Princess of Zhen?”

The Crown Princess Consort clenched the ruyi in her hand. “Nanny, stop talking! The Crown Prince and I are one. If the Princess of Zhen hadn’t risked her life to save His Highness, I and this unborn child would be nothing!”

“Crown Princess Consort!” The elderly nanny kowtowed and wept bitterly.

“Do not speak of this again in my presence. Otherwise… nanny, you may return to my mother’s side!” The Crown Princess Consort said firmly, already contemplating how to resolve the matter.

Regardless, the Crown Prince was her husband, and she couldn’t hide this from him… She had to inform the Crown Prince first.

*

As soon as the hour of Xu arrived, the Eldest Princess, Mrs. Liu, and Bai Jinxiu, who had returned to the Bai family upon hearing the news, escorted the Crown Prince out of the Princess of Zhen’s residence.

Today, the Crown Princess Consort’s nanny had taken liberties, angering the Princess of Zhen to the point of causing her to spit blood. The Crown Prince had had her beaten with twenty strikes. The Crown Princess Consort did not plead for mercy but rather begged the Crown Prince to visit the Princess of Zhen personally to apologize.

The Crown Princess Consort spoke beautifully, saying she was the Crown Prince’s wife and regarded the Crown Prince as her sky. The Princess of Zhen had risked her life to save her sky, and she would always consider the Princess of Zhen her benefactor. She vowed never to act arrogantly before the Princess of Zhen, nor would her servants.

The Crown Prince felt deeply moved, realizing that his wife truly understood him, unlike the side consorts, who constantly worried he might have something with the Princess of Zhen.

The Crown Prince admitted Bai Qingyan was breathtakingly beautiful. However, he had seen her kill, seen her in valiant military attire, exuding an untouchable and dignified aura, which made it impossible for him to harbor close feelings.

The Crown Prince personally brought gifts and visited again. However, this time it was the Eldest Princess who received him, and he did not see Bai Qingyan.

The last hint of the sunset had not yet faded, and the night gradually descended upon Dadu City, darkening like ink being poured.

The moon had risen above the treetops, illuminating the surroundings like floating white jade. The stars also gradually became clearer.

Bai Jinxiu, supporting the Eldest Princess, stood under the two brightly lit sheepskin lanterns at the entrance of the Princess of Zhen’s residence, watching as the Crown Prince’s grand carriage slowly made its way towards the brightly lit long street.

The autumn wind was bleak, bringing a chill that pierced through.

“Grandmother, let’s go back!” Bai Jinxiu whispered.

The Eldest Princess, holding the polished tiger head cane, nodded. Following the support of Bai Jinxiu’s hand, she turned towards the brightly lit Princess of Zhen’s residence.

“Your mother can stay with me. You go check on your Eldest Young Lady! You came back just as the Crown Prince arrived and haven’t had a chance to see her…” The Eldest Princess smiled at Bai Jinxiu. “Don’t worry too much. Your Eldest Young Lady is strong-willed. Little Seven has already told me, it isn’t true!”

Bai Jinxiu nodded. When she first heard about her Eldest Young Lady spitting blood while sitting in the manor, it scared her, leaving her weak at the knees.