Emperor Qian watched as Bai Zhao’s mouth parted slightly, his eyes locked straight on him, pupils trembling. A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.
“What? Surprised? Don’t take me for a fool!
How could the son of Bai Yuan and Lu Xinrou be an ignorant and unlearned wastrel?
Besides, if I couldn’t see through these little tricks right under my nose, wouldn’t I be a failure as emperor?
Do you think my Secret Intelligence Directorate is just eating idle rice?”
“Others may not know, but I know your mother and father very well.
I know that once I sat in this position, ruler and subject could never be as close as they were when we were young. But I still trust your Bai family.
I don’t believe that Bai Yuan, who once called me big brother, would betray me!
But my trust alone is useless. Though I am the Son of Heaven, the court is full of hidden intentions. Can I control how these people think?”
After saying this, Emperor Qian paused, lifted the teacup from his desk, took a sip to moisten his throat, and looked at Bai Zhao before him.
Seeing Emperor Qian set the cup down, Bai Zhao quickly topped up the tea, organized his thoughts, and asked,
“Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?”
Emperor Qian gave Bai Zhao a mildly amused glance.
“What? Not calling me uncle anymore? Do you think I said all this to expose your secrets, or to resent me for sheltering those involved in the poisoning case back then?”
Bai Zhao straightened and bowed respectfully.
“Your subject would not dare. It is just that since Your Majesty has spoken so frankly, I will be equally direct.
I think that balancing the various forces is Your Majesty’s business.
As for me, someone tried to harm me, poison me, cause my father and mother grief, and make me endure eight years of Burning Heart pain! Of course I want revenge!”
Emperor Qian’s face turned cold.
“Hah, so it is not that you would not dare to resent, but that you do resent. You have quite a grudge, boy. What if I were the one who ordered the poison? What then?”
Bai Zhao lowered his head and said nothing.
“Boy, you are not yet the Prince of Zhenbei! And you are already talking about revenge! That is quite a bold claim. Do you even know who did it?
I know you have tempered yourself in the Northern Pacification Army these past years and later trained in the martial world. It seems your Burning Heart poison has already been suppressed by your own true qi.
Do you know why your true qi cultivation progressed so quickly?
I imagine you are already at the Lesser Circulation realm, aren’t you?
That is because that ten-thousand-year snow lotus has the effect of promoting true qi growth.
The ten-thousand-year supreme snow lotus I bestowed upon your Bai family back then was my compensation to your Bai family!
At the time, I could not move against the one who poisoned you.
Your grandfather was gravely ill, and the Northern Border was in turmoil. If I had acted against that person then, the court would certainly have fallen into chaos!
So I had no choice but to protect him. I believe your father has been able to understand that over the years.”
Hearing this, Bai Zhao secretly curled his lip.
Young master, I am already in the late stage of the Greater Circulation realm. Do you think my once-in-ten-thousand-years martial foundation is a joke?
And it is because of the ten-thousand-year supreme snow lotus? I never even ate that thing.
My master said that as long as I merge the Red Lotus Burning Heart poison into Tai Xuan true qi, I can reach the peak of the Greater Circulation realm.
By then, I can take the snow lotus and break through the bottleneck in one move, reaching the Freedom realm!
Of course, there was no need to say any of that to Emperor Qian. Emperor Qian sounded reasonable enough; he had his difficulties.
But was this Heir supposed to deserve being poisoned? If this revenge is not taken, he will never let it go.
With Bai Zhao’s lazy nature, he actually did not like to cause trouble, but repaying every grievance was his life creed! It was something carved into his bones, impossible to erase.
Emperor Qian had said so much, but seeing that Bai Zhao’s expression still did not change, his stern face suddenly relaxed into a smile.
“Boy, do you want revenge?”
Bai Zhao was startled. Could Emperor Qian’s old bastard have really intended to help him eliminate the murderer from back then?
Bai Zhao: “What does Your Majesty mean by that?”
Emperor Qian: “Exactly what it sounds like.”
Bai Zhao: “Please speak plainly, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Qian: “I said all this not so you would let go of your hatred. I am not that unreasonable!
After all, you are my nephew, and that person is merely an outsider.
But in truth, I do not know exactly who that person is. I only know that he holds a high position and great power, so I intervened in the investigation.”
“But strangely enough, I truly could not find out who planned it! I did catch the poisoner, but he was a dead agent. I could not get the mastermind’s name out of him!”
“Wait, Your Majesty caught someone?”
Bai Zhao interrupted.
“Yes, I caught him. He is the only clue! But I could not tell your father at the time. I suspect the mastermind had three goals.
First, to kill you and cut off the Bai family’s line of succession! Although you looked like an ignorant and unlearned wastrel at the time, only the dead can truly put people at ease.
Second, to sow discord between your father and me. If ruler and subject fall out, the country will fall into chaos! But he did not expect the deep bond between your father and me, nor did he expect that I happened to have a ten-thousand-year snow lotus in my possession.
Third, at that time, the Northern Border was in turmoil! This person’s purpose was to delay your father’s departure for the Northern Border. I suspect this person was also colluding with the Tianlang Dynasty!”
Bai Zhao listened to Emperor Qian’s thorough analysis and could not help grumbling under his breath.
“Your Majesty, that analysis is pretty clear, isn’t it? So what was the point of telling me all this? Want me to clap and say, ‘Your Majesty is wise’?”
Hearing that sarcastic tone, Emperor Qian laughed and cursed.
“You brat, you are the first person in the world to dare speak to me like that!”
“I ask you, boy, who do you suspect?”
Bai Zhao replied expressionlessly, “Your subject does not know.”
Ha, I am not falling for it. You think I do not know you want to use me as your errand boy!
You want me to find out who this person is. On the surface, you say it is so I can take revenge, but in reality this person is definitely disloyal to Great Qian. You just want to use me to dig him out!
Bai Zhao’s mind was already crystal clear.
What Emperor Qian said today was actually very simple.
He wanted Bai Zhao to take this matter and find the person behind it.
First, this would give the Bai family an explanation.
Second, as the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, with the emperor backing him and Bai Yuan having military power, Bai Zhao could fear no one.
In fact, Bai Zhao had come to the capital this time with the same intention of finding the mastermind.
But investigating it on his own and being ordered around by Emperor Qian were two completely different things!
So Bai Zhao did not want to take this matter on. He still had to investigate it privately to feel at ease. Who knew whether Emperor Qian was telling the truth?
Right now, Bai Muran was basically playing Werewolf with Emperor Qian!
Who knew whether Emperor Qian was the villager or the wolf?
If he was the wolf, then using Bai Zhao as a blade to clear out disobedient subordinates, only to discard him after the job was done, would Bai Zhao not be treated like a complete fool?
Emperor Qian looked at the expressionless Bai Zhao and felt a headache coming on.
This kid is completely unmoved. He won’t make a move without seeing a real benefit. Does he not trust me? Or is he just plain lazy?
After a moment of thought, Emperor Qian spoke.
“Bai boy, since you do not want to continue investigating, I will not make things difficult for you. Whether you believe what I said or not, it is fine. I feel much better after saying it!
You have hidden yourself for so many years. Do not keep pretending to be a pig until you really become one. A young man should still have some spirit.”
Looking into Emperor Qian’s eyes, Bai Zhao realized that he truly could not see through this middle-aged handsome man!
“Alright! There is nothing else here. You can get lost now. Tomorrow morning court, Wang Qianshan will probably join forces with some civil officials and come complain to me!
I’ll put it plainly here: I will punish you with thirty strokes of the court rod! Remember to put a soft cushion on your backside tomorrow!”
“There is no helping it. The court needs balance. I cannot openly shield you. You must understand. Remember to attend morning court tomorrow!”
Emperor Qian waved his hand, no longer looking at Bai Zhao, and shifted his gaze to the memorials on his desk.
Bai Zhao curled his lip carelessly, bowed, and said, “Your subject takes his leave. May Your Majesty take care of your dragon body!”
Thankfully, Emperor Qian did not insist that Bai Zhao kowtow. Otherwise Bai Zhao would have been furious. Damn it, if I refuse to keep investigating, he immediately says he will beat me with thirty strokes tomorrow, all under the pretense that he cannot be too biased!
You are obviously taking out your anger on my backside. Bai Zhao silently complained. This old man is way too petty.
After chatting for half an hour, it was already almost the Hour of the Rooster, and he did not even treat me to a meal! Stingy!
Bai Zhao turned and left the Imperial Study. Outside the hall, Eunuch Yu was already gone, and only a young eunuch of about eighteen or nineteen was waiting there.
Seeing Bai Zhao come out, the young eunuch bowed to him.
“Your Highness, the Heir, shall we go? My godfather told me to escort you out of the palace!”
“Mm, lead the way. Let’s go!”
Bai Zhao followed the young eunuch toward the palace exit.
All the way, Bai Zhao kept thinking about Emperor Qian’s words.
When he reached Chengtian Gate, Bai Zhao caught a glimpse of a red figure from the corner of his eye, bouncing in from outside the palace gate.
When he looked closely, the girl in the red dress seemed like a fire spirit in the glow of the lantern light!
She looked about sixteen or seventeen, with jet-black hair as cloudlike as smoke, styled into a princess bun. Two or three gilded pearl-flower hairpins adorned the bun, with tassels hanging down. As the girl bounced along, they swayed and danced. She wore a brilliant red satin gown embroidered with peonies in gold thread. As the hem fluttered, it revealed a noble, delicate charm along with an unmistakable youthful vitality!
She had a round oval face, lively and innocent peach blossom eyes, and the upturned corners of her eyes made her look as if she were born smiling. Beneath her delicate nose was a rosy little mouth, lightly pressed into a smile. Her snow-white face was slightly lifted, proud as a little phoenix.
“Wait, she looks familiar. Is that Jiang Mingzhu?!”
Bai Zhao looked at the noble, proud girl in front of him, stroked his chin, and muttered in recollection.
Bai Zhao had never forgotten this Third Princess of Great Qian.
It was just that when they were little, this girl had been as proud as a little phoenix, leaving him with a very deep impression.
Jiang Mingzhu and the Great Qian Fourth Prince, Jiang Hongjun, were twin siblings born of Consort Li.
The Fourth Prince and the Eldest Prince were both at odds with Bai Zhao, and as a result Jiang Mingzhu also liked to make trouble for Bai Zhao!
The key point was that Jiang Mingzhu was truly a tsundere little princess. Bai Zhao certainly would not indulge her, and when they were children he had made her cry more than once!
Bai Zhao lowered his head guiltily, not wanting Jiang Mingzhu to recognize him.
Mainly because he did not want trouble. Besides, bullying a child was really not proper, and he, Bai Zhao, was also a decent man who cared about his dignity!
But heaven seemed to be joking with him. The more he lowered his head and tried not to draw Jiang Mingzhu’s attention, the less heaven was willing to let him have his way.
That young eunuch actually took the initiative to kneel to Jiang Mingzhu and greet her.
“This servant pays respects to the Third Princess. I wish the Third Princess well.”
Jiang Mingzhu, who had been happily skipping toward the Imperial Study, was startled by the young eunuch’s greeting.
She stopped and looked carefully.
“Xiao Dezi? It’s you? Rise. Where are you going?”
As she spoke, she looked up at Bai Zhao behind Xiao Dezi, but Bai Zhao had his head lowered, and Jiang Mingzhu had not seen him in many years, so she did not pay much attention.
She simply assumed that her imperial father had summoned some son of a noble family.
After all, Bai Zhao was dressed in an expensive ink-cloud robe threaded with gold, with a jade pendant at his waist and a white jade crown on his head, looking every inch the dashing young gentleman.
Bai Zhao was completely speechless inside!
Damn it, you little eunuch, what are you greeting her for for no reason? Showing off, are you?
Xiao Dezi would probably be crying out in grievance if he heard Bai Zhao’s inner thoughts!
Jiang Mingzhu was the most favored of all the princes and princesses. Since he happened to meet her, of course he had to pay his respects.
“Replying to the princess, this servant was entrusted by Grand Seal Eunuch Yu to escort Your Highness, the Heir, out of the palace.”
Bai Zhao’s hanging heart finally died.
As expected, Jiang Mingzhu had merely asked casually, but just as she was about to leave, she stopped in her tracks!
“Heir Bai? Which Heir Bai? Is it Bai Zhao from the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate?”
As she spoke, Jiang Mingzhu’s round peach blossom eyes stared straight at Bai Zhao.
With no other choice, Bai Zhao could only lift his head, smile, and wave at Jiang Mingzhu.
“Hi, Third Princess! Long time no see. The princess really has blossomed into a much more beautiful young lady.”
Jiang Mingzhu’s eyes widened, and her rosy little mouth parted slightly, looking thoroughly shocked.
This guy, after all these years, has grown up to be so handsome! Bah, bah, bah, no, wait! He is a bad guy! He used to bully me and my royal brother all the time when we were little!
The next second, her round peach blossom eyes filled with anger, and she snapped in a soft voice,
“Bah! You bastard, what are you doing here? When did you come back? Why aren’t you dead yet?!”
Bai Zhao looked at Jiang Mingzhu puffing up her cheeks in anger, as cute as a little pufferfish, and could not help smiling slightly as he replied,
“Thanks to the princess’s blessing, I’m not dead yet.
As for when I came back, I returned to the capital from the Northern Border today. His Majesty just summoned me, and I’m heading home now.”
Jiang Mingzhu looked at Bai Zhao’s smiling face and those deep peach blossom eyes gazing at her, and her heartbeat suddenly sped up. Her little face even felt a little hot.
At this moment, it seemed as if two tiny figures were fighting in Jiang Mingzhu’s head.
Little white figure: This guy looks so good when he smiles. His eyes are beautiful!
Little black figure: Bah, Jiang Mingzhu! He is a bad guy! Is being handsome the point? Have you forgotten how annoying he was when you were little?
Little white figure: But he was still young then. Now that he has grown up, he seems much more polite.
Little black figure: Jiang Mingzhu, you hopeless fangirl! Have you forgotten how much your brother hates him? And when you were little, he used to make you cry all the time!
Little white figure: Right, he is a bad guy. He once put frogs in your book bag to scare you and even spanked you. In short, he is not a good person! Do not be fooled by his looks!
The black and white figures reached a consensus.
Bai Zhao curiously watched Jiang Mingzhu standing there in a daze, her willow brows knitted together.
On her round oval face, she would sometimes smile dreamily and sometimes look gloomy.
What is this little girl thinking about? Why are her expressions so rich?
Fortunately, the sky had already darkened, and the lantern in Jiang Mingzhu’s hand did not clearly light up her slightly flushed face.
Just as he was wondering what Jiang Mingzhu was thinking, Jiang Mingzhu said angrily,
“Do not think that just because you are polite now, I will forget how you bullied me when we were kids!
Now! Kneel down and apologize to me. Say, ‘Princess, I was wrong. I will never dare again!’ Then I might consider forgiving you!
Otherwise, I will not let you off! Since you are in the capital, I have plenty of ways to deal with you! I will not let you bully me like you did when I was little!”