"Eldest Princess has prayed to the gods for many years. Finally, heaven has returned the young lady to her side. How could Eldest Princess bear to let our young lady suffer any harm... Your Majesty!"
Lady Qiu clenched her palms tightly, nervously twisting her handkerchief. She knew her favor relied solely on her resemblance to Bai Suqiu. Now, a reincarnated Bai Suqiu had appeared at the Eldest Princess’s side.
The Eldest Princess was Bai Suqiu’s birth mother. If she believed this was her daughter’s reincarnation, then what about the Emperor?!
Mrs. Dong looked astonished.
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes. On that day, she had told Nanny Jiang that King Liang used the pretext of delivering a painting to present a woman resembling Aunt Bai Suqiu to the Emperor. Today, her grandmother took action.
As Aunt Suqiu’s mother, her grandmother could not tolerate someone exploiting her deceased daughter, especially someone with ill intentions toward the Bai family.
Her grandmother’s methods were far more sophisticated than King Liang’s pretense of delivering a painting. Nanny Jiang, under pressure, revealed why her grandmother was so concerned about Miss Lu.
Before Miss Lu even appeared, she had already captured the Emperor’s heart. No matter what... Even if Lady Qiu did not fall out of favor, she would never again dominate the six palaces as she once did.
Bai Qingyan watched the Emperor’s dazed expression, a faint smile playing on her lips.
She always knew that as long as it did not threaten the Lin family’s reign, her grandmother would protect the Bai family and its members.
That night, until the palace banquet ended, Li Zhijie did not dare to mention marrying Bai Jinzhi again.
Bai Jinxiu exited the palace gate, holding onto her maid Cuibi’s hand, and boarded Bai Qingyan’s carriage.
"Grandmother’s move, is it because of Lady Qiu sent by King Liang?" Bai Jinxiu looked at Bai Qingyan, her eyes filled with joy. "Grandmother is still formidable. To men... what they cannot have is the best. That Miss Lu has won the Emperor’s heart without even appearing! Lady Qiu’s fall from favor draws near."
The palace lanterns hanging from the corners of the carriage swayed, casting flickering shadows over Bai Qingyan’s eyes.
She nodded slightly. "King Liang is indeed capable. To know such a secluded matter in advance and find a girl resembling Aunt Suqiu, who remains loyal to him! Lady Qiu is not to be underestimated. But I worry more about King Xian. I fear he has already colluded with King Liang."
King Xian had control over the military and must be guarded against making a desperate attempt at rebellion like in the previous life.
As for whether King Liang had already colluded with King Xian, that was something to let the Crown Prince worry about!
"How did you figure it out?" Bai Jinxiu asked, suddenly recalling how Lady Qiu defended Liu Ruofu and fell into deep thought.
Bai Qingyan, seeing that Bai Jinxiu was pregnant and not wanting her to overthink, changed the subject with a smile. "Tomorrow, I’ll go with Little Four to visit Grandmother and then to the manor to see Ji Tingyu. Since you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t come along."
Bai Jinxiu placed her hand over her belly and gently nodded to Bai Qingyan. "That’s fine. I just visited Grandmother on the fifteenth of this month, and she instructed us to visit every three months."
"Mm..." Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch Bai Jinxiu’s belly. "It’s important to rest well at home."
Bai Jinxiu couldn’t help but think of her second brother Bai Qingqiong and, with reddened eyes, said, "If only Second Brother were still alive! Eldest Sister... wouldn’t have to work so hard."
Dealing with Xiliang and the Crown Prince, Eldest Sister had indeed been working hard. Yet she couldn’t share Eldest Sister’s burden in these matters.
"When we return to Shuoyang, everything will get better!" Bai Qingyan said.
Early the next morning, Nanny Tong instructed people to prepare the carriage. Chun Tao readied the tea set and snacks and accompanied Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi onto the carriage, guarded by a squad led by Lu Ping, heading to the Imperial Qing Temple to visit the Eldest Princess.
Bai Jinzhi remembered that on the same day last year, her brothers had taken her to the temple fair in Guping Town, and she said to Bai Qingyan, "Eldest Sister, after visiting Grandmother and Ji Tingyu, can we go to the temple fair in Guping Town? Last year on this day... my brothers secretly took me to the fair. We were going to eat Baoxiang Tower’s special Baoxiang Duck, but Father found out and dragged me back by my ear. I never got to try it..."
Bai Jinzhi rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, actually missing her brothers rather than craving the food.
"Alright, after visiting the Imperial Qing Temple and seeing Ji Tingyu, if there’s time, Eldest Sister will take you to eat Baoxiang Duck." Bai Qingyan said softly.
"Eldest Sister is the best!" Bai Jinzhi smiled.
The morning air in the mountains was still cool. Birds flew to the blue-tiled eaves in the early light, chirping and looking at the busy servants below, directed by Nanny Jiang.
Upon learning that Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi planned to visit the Eldest Princess, Nanny Jiang was bustling almost without stopping, preparing delicate snacks and the favorite teas of Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi. She moved flowers inside and placed soft cushions on the scenic stone benches in the courtyard to prevent the young ladies from catching a chill.
While arranging their lunch, Wei Zhong, standing by, said to Nanny Jiang, "Nanny, you don’t need to fuss. I guess... the young ladies won’t stay long."
Nanny Jiang’s happy expression froze for a moment before she smiled again. "No matter how long Eldest Young Lady stays, we must serve her well."
Wei Zhong shook his head and stood aside without interrupting further.
The Eldest Princess, with impeccably combed silver hair, sat before the Buddha shrine, chanting and turning her Buddha beads. White mist rose from the incense burner, carrying a tranquil and serene sandalwood scent.
The previous night, the Emperor had arrived at the Qing Temple under the guise of the Jin Army guards, seeking to meet the Eldest Princess. But the Eldest Princess knew he came to see the girl who looked almost identical to Bai Suqiu.
However, the Eldest Princess did not permit the Emperor to see her. She told the Emperor that the girl had gone to gather herbs for her and would not return for two or three days. The Emperor, after drinking a cup of tea, inquired in detail about Miss Lu’s situation before leaving, stating he would return in three days.
The Eldest Princess knew her nephew well, knowing that to the Emperor, what he couldn’t have was always the best...
The Eldest Princess wanted to keep the Emperor longing yet unfulfilled.
If not for King Liang sending a counterfeit Bai Suqiu, Lady Qiu, into the palace, which disgusted the Eldest Princess, she would not have taken such measures.
But King Liang’s cunning and malicious schemes were such that if she did not act, who knew how he would use Lady Qiu to disgrace the Bai family.
Nanny Jiang glanced at the sand clock, noting the time. She lifted the curtain and entered, seeing the Eldest Princess about to stand up.