Chapter 231: Chapter 229: A Moment of Life and Death_1
Chapter 231: Chapter 229: A Moment of Life and Death_1
The Crown Prince saw that even Elder Fang spoke this way. He completely dispelled his last doubts about Bai Qingyan.
He tightly gripped the Commander’s Seal in his hand, pondered for a moment, then said, “She has shown me kindness. I will repay it! When we return to Dadu this time, I will petition Father to bestow the title of Princess upon Bai Qingyan, as a reward for the Bai family and the Bai family’s army!”
“Elder Fang laughed and said, ‘Your Highness’s deep affection and loyalty to the Bai family and Bai Qingyan will surely be repaid with unwavering loyalty from Bai Qingyan, just as I have demonstrated!”
The Crown Prince nodded and then asked Elder Fang, “So, should the Huying Camp be brought back to Dadu?”
“Your Excellency, I believe that you can handle Shen Liangyu according to the strategy discussed with His Majesty. Promising him a high position, giving him gold and jewels, and ensuring his family is well taken care of. Let him train a batch of elite soldiers like the Huying Camp for only His Majesty and Your Excellency. Just as Bai Qingyan has arranged for other generals of the Bai family army, assign a trusted commander to lead the troops, and let Shen Liangyu focus solely on training them.”
“Elder Fang, what you say is correct!” The Crown Prince nodded.
“With this, the matter of the Bai family army is settled! Your Excellency, it’s time to think about what gift to present on His Majesty’s birthday on March 28 that would make him joyous and win his favor!” Elder Fang reminded the Crown Prince.
“Elder Fang, your reminder is timely. The Crown Prince’s residence must have already started preparing. When I return, I will need Elder Fang’s help with this matter!”
“Your Excellency… You have misunderstood my meaning!” Elder Fang stroked his beard and smiled, “What gift could be better than encountering a divine omen on the way back from a great victory? If you think it feasible, assign this matter to Ren Shijie. Although he is reticent, he handles matters very reliably.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes shone, and he smiled and nodded, “I am fortunate to have Elder Fang’s constant reminders by my side.”
In Bai Jinzhi’s tent, her arm was already bandaged. She had changed out of her bloodied clothes and was sitting by the brazier, staring at her silver spear, repeatedly recalling that life-and-death moment…
Her eldest sister had shouted herself hoarse, telling her to pick up the knife. But she, lost as if her soul had departed, was only focused on pulling out her silver spear.
If it weren’t for her eldest sister and Xiao Ruojiang, she would probably have met the King of Hell by now!
Bai Jinzhi’s pupils trembled. In the heat of battle, she didn’t feel fear. But recalling the brush with death afterward, she couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine.
Bai Qingyan entered the tent carrying a wine jar, seeing Bai Jinzhi lost in thought staring at her silver spear. She reached out and gently stroked Bai Jinzhi’s head.
Only then did Bai Jinzhi come back to her senses. She looked up at Bai Qingyan, her voice hoarse, “Eldest sister…”
“Were you scared?” she asked Bai Jinzhi with a smile.
Bai Jinzhi nodded and then shook her head. Her bloodshot but bright eyes looked at her, and her fingers lightly trembled on her lap. “At first, I was scared! Seeing the Dong family’s death warriors and Huying Camp’s elite soldiers fall in front of me, hot blood splashing on my face and mouth, the taste of blood… a bit salty. I really thought I was going to die with Ninth Brother at Qiushan Pass! All I could think about… was to kill a few more Xiliang dogs even if I died! But… I saw you, Eldest Sister!”
The corners of Bai Jinzhi’s cracked lips showed a smile towards Bai Qingyan, her eyes reddening, “Seeing you made me fearless! I felt my whole body filled with strength, and I could kill hundreds and thousands more Xiliang dogs!”
Seeing her younger sister’s eyes shining, Bai Qingyan raised her hand to stroke Bai Jinzhi’s head. She held Bai Jinzhi in her arms with teary eyes.
She understood this feeling of Bai Jinzhi. Just like when she was trapped in battle, as long as she saw the black and white serpent flag of the Bai family army coming from afar, she feared nothing. She knew… the Bai family was bringing the Bai family army to rescue her!
That was why Bai Qingyan always charged first. Because the Bai family and the Bai family army stood behind her, they were her strongest support, allowing her to worry about nothing!
As the eldest sister, she was supposed to shield her younger siblings from wind and rain. She should have been their most solid support! But these years, she coddled herself in illness and pampering. If only she had strengthened herself earlier! The current situation of the Bai family wouldn’t have come to this!
“You are more formidable than I was! My first time on the battlefield, I had a guard unit. Now, you single-handedly wiped out the Xiliang army!” She gently stroked Bai Jinzhi’s back. “I believe, in time, our Jinzhi will become the most dazzling general of the Bai family army in red armor on the battlefield!”
Bai Jinzhi wiped her tears with her sleeve, stood up straight, and looked at Bai Qingyan with determination, “Eldest Sister, trust me! I will achieve it!”
“This is the honey wine General Shen Liangyu asked me to bring you. He said it contains his family’s secret medicine. Drink a bit, and you won’t feel the pain when you sleep!” She handed the wine jar to Bai Jinzhi, “I’ve had it before, it works!”
Bai Jinzhi took the wine jar, and then heard a Bai family soldier guarding the tent report that Generals Shen Kunyang, Wei Zhaonian, Gu Wenchang, and Cheng Yuanzhi had arrived from Fengcheng and were now at General Shen Liangyu’s tent.
“You get some good sleep!” Bai Qingyan said as she stood up and patted Bai Jinzhi’s head.
Bai Jinzhi originally wanted to urge her eldest sister to rest. But seeing her eldest sister’s tall and upright figure… she swallowed back her words.
What’s the purpose of urging her? Her eldest sister had to work tirelessly to protect the Bai family and the Bai family army. She couldn’t help at all, wasn’t strong enough to share the burden!
Bai Jinzhi pressed her hand against her wounded arm. At least… she had to heal quickly, so she wouldn’t make her eldest sister worry. If she couldn’t help, she definitely couldn’t become a burden!
She took the wine jar, unsealed it, and drank a couple of gulps despite the fiery burning sensation.
When Generals Wei Zhaonian, Cheng Yuanzhi, Gu Wenchang, and Shen Kunyang from the Bai family army arrived, they went to visit the Crown Prince. But the eunuch Quan Yu told them that the Crown Prince had just finished discussing matters with his advisors and had gone to rest.
Not meeting the Crown Prince, the four of them went to Shen Liangyu’s tent.
Shen Liangyu, who had just settled down, heard that Generals Wei Zhaonian, Cheng Yuanzhi, Gu Wenchang, and Shen Kunyang from the Bai family army had arrived. He hurriedly got up and dismissed everyone to quietly convey the news of Bai Qingyun’s rescue to them.
Cheng Yuanzhi was so excited that he almost shouted out. Fortunately, Wei Zhaonian pressed on his wound, turning his near-laughter into a cry of pain.
“One-eyed Wei, where are you pressing!” Cheng Yuanzhi grimaced in pain.
Wei Zhaonian nonchalantly glanced outside. He poked the coals in the brazier with tongs, and said in a low voice, “The Crown Prince is here. We should be cautious.”