SFS Chapter 154 I know exactly what I want
Chapter 154 I know exactly what I want
The next day, Bai Jiyue sorted out the hidden stones she had recently received and secretly sent a cartload to Prince Qing. From then on, she would send a cartload of wooden hidden stones to Prince Qing every five days.
More than half a month passed. One evening, Bai Jiyue was setting out bowls and chopsticks in the courtyard, preparing to have dinner with her family, when someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.
She went to open the door and saw Prince Qing standing outside.
He dressed like an ordinary citizen, looking travel-worn.
"Your Highness Prince Qing! What brings you here?" Bai Jiyue exclaimed in surprise.
Prince Qing nodded, slipped inside, and quickly closed the door.
Bai Jiyue sensed that something was amiss, so she quickly invited him into her room and poured him a glass of water.
He tilted his head back and drank the water in his glass, saying, "I came here to ask for your help."
"If there's anything you need, Your Highness could simply send someone to tell my daughter. Why come in person?"
"This matter is urgent, and I cannot wait any longer!" he said, taking out a jade pendant from his robes.
Bai Jiyue looked at Prince Qing with suspicion. Prince Qing said, "This is the Empress's personal jade pendant."
"Something happened to the Empress?" Bai Jiyue immediately realized.
Prince Qing nodded emphatically: "The Empress is confined to Kunning Palace by the Emperor and no one can see her. This is the jade pendant that her personal maid risked her life to obtain. The Empress once told me that if her jade pendant were to leave her body, it would mean that she would not live much longer."
Bai Jiyue looked at Prince Qing: "Your Highness intends to rescue the Empress?"
"The Empress, Consort De, and I have known each other since childhood and can be considered friends. Moreover, she has always helped me over the years, especially regarding Princess Qingyue. She has done so much, and I cannot simply stand by and watch her die. Besides, I also—"
"Are you still worried about the Empress Dowager's safety?" Bai Jiyue interrupted him.
The Empress was suspected by the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager, as Prince Qing's biological mother, was not much better off.
Prince Qing nodded appreciatively: "Therefore, I cannot wait a moment longer. I must go there in person to rescue the Empress and the Empress Dowager before we can proceed."
As he spoke, his expression darkened: "This journey is fraught with danger, and I do not know what the outcome will be. I have already made arrangements in Jiayuan County. I only wish to come and see Qingyue one last time before I leave."
He looked up at Bai Jiyue, his expression earnest: "Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Your Highness, please speak."
"If I never return, I would like to ask you to take Qingyue with you and raise her to adulthood. You don't need to tell her about the past grievances, as long as she is happy, is that alright?"
Bai Jiyue smiled and shook her head: "Your Highness Prince Qing, you should raise your daughter yourself. I don't want to take care of her."
Prince Qing was taken aback, then smiled helplessly: "Even now, you're still joking with me."
Bai Jiyue's smile faded: "Your Highness Prince Qing, if you carelessly put yourself in danger, what will happen to the others who rely on you?"
"But I cannot stand by and watch the Empress and the Empress Dowager be in danger!"
"Of course not, but Your Highness doesn't need to go in person either—"
“I know the Empress Dowager’s personality well. When it comes to life and death, she will not easily trust others. If I don’t go in person, I’m afraid the Empress Dowager may not cooperate. Moreover, a mother and son are of one heart. I will not feel at ease if I don’t go in person.”
Bai Jiyue thought for a moment and said, "Then Your Highness should go in person. This is a good opportunity to avoid a war."
Prince Qing's expression hardened slightly: "You mean..."
"If your purpose in entering the palace this time is only to save the Empress and the Empress Dowager, even if you successfully rescue them, you will be hunted down and forced to travel back and forth. You might even endanger your own life."
"Since you and the emperor are bound to break off relations sooner or later, you might as well act sooner. Go and capture the kingpin first, take his place, and the empress and empress dowager's predicament will naturally be resolved."
"This!" Prince Qing exclaimed in surprise.
He paused for a moment before adding, "I'm not absolutely certain I can win."
"The Emperor's spiritual root is flawed, and his cultivation level may not be very high. In terms of cultivation, he may not even be as good as you. I can help Your Highness by first secretly leading people back to the capital to contact Your Highness's supporters there, and then finding a way to contact the Empress Dowager and the Empress to give Your Highness the greatest support."
"Your Highness, return to Jiayuan County and find a few top-notch experts to follow. At the same time, arrange for a portion of the troops from Jiayuan County to secretly rush to the capital to meet Your Highness. In this way, we can split our forces into two groups, which will greatly increase our chances of success."
Prince Qing stared at her intently, saying nothing.
"Your Highness?" Bai Jiyue asked, puzzled.
"You are worth a thousand troops." He grasped her hand with great excitement. "Bai Jiyue, are you really not considering marrying me? If I can succeed, I promise to let you do your best to realize your ambitions!"
His words were very straightforward: if he succeeded, he would be an emperor, and if she married him, she would be an empress.
Bai Jiyue pulled her hand away from his without hesitation and smiled faintly: "I can still realize my ambitions without sitting in that position, right? In fact, it's even more convenient for me to realize my ambitions."
If she becomes empress, according to traditional beliefs, the empress should not interfere in politics. Even if Prince Qing asks her to speak, she will have to consider public opinion.
But if she becomes a trusted advisor to the new emperor, she will be a true pillar of the nation, able to stand in the court and legitimately discuss the way of governing the country, and realize her grand ambitions.
Hearing her words, Prince Qing smiled wryly: "You are always so clear-headed. Even the glory that position might bring you cannot attract you."
“Because I know exactly what I want,” Bai Jiyue replied.
Prince Qing stood up: "I will return to Jiayuan County immediately to arrange everything."
"I'll find a few people, and we'll set off tonight," Bai Jiyue said.
How do we contact each other?
“My Yunxiao is a master messenger.” Bai Jiyue smiled slightly.
Having Yunxiao deliver the message was a waste of her talents, but she was very reliable. If the message didn't arrive on time, she could sense it.
Prince Qing had dinner with Bai Jiyue's family. Qingyue liked her "royal uncle" very much and immediately sat down next to him, chattering away, picking food for him, and acting coquettishly.
Looking at Qingyue's joyful expression, Bai Jiyue thought to herself, "Blood is indeed thicker than water."
After dinner, Prince Qing took his leave. Bai Jiyue asked her mother and sister to take Qingyue to play, and then called Bai Jiri into the room to discuss what she had told Prince Qing earlier.
“From the moment I decided to join his ranks, I had no choice but to move forward without hesitation. If we don’t take this risk, and Prince Qing fails one day, we will all suffer the same fate,” she told her brother.
Bai Jiri was also very firm: "I support your decision. We'll talk to Mother in a bit, then pack our bags and leave tonight."
Bai Jiyue stopped him, saying, "No, elder brother, I want you to stay here. Firstly, to stabilize the situation here, and secondly, to provide a way out for Mother, my younger sister, and Princess Qingyue. If Prince Qing fails, you can take them and go into seclusion."
"How can I let you fight this battle alone!" Bai Ji Ri exclaimed excitedly.