Actually, Quan Yu understood that Bai Qingyan sitting in this position was more suitable than the Crown Prince.
He firmly believed that one day he would witness the unification of Zhou, that Bai Qingyan would turn Zhou into a peaceful and prosperous realm. He was certain that this day would co in his lifeti.
After Quan Yu left, Bai Qingyan instructed Wei Zhong, "Send a few people to Quan Yu’s hotown to buy him a small courtyard, and hire so servants and maids to take care of him..."
Thinking for a mont, Bai Qingyan added, "Also, purchase so land and shops for him so that Quan Yu will be without worries during the rest of his life."
"Your Majesty is benevolent!" Wei Zhong nodded, "As an old servant, I will make sure it is done!"
That night, before Bai Qingyan went to bed, Lu Ping returned to report, "One of them escaped, according to Sun Wenyao. That person is their secret guard leader. To avoid alarming the citizens, we have ordered the Patrol Camp to conduct a covert search, but I reckon they might be near the Qin Mansion."
"Hmm..." Bai Qingyan nodded, "No need to pursue the one who escaped. The secret guards of the Jin Dynasty are fiercely loyal to their masters. After the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty died, the guard is without a master and will naturally seek revenge for their master. We can capture them during the kite tournant on Little Fourth’s birthday!"
"Furthermore... spread the word that I and the ladies of the Bai family will attend the kite tournant on that day," Bai Qingyan said.
Lu Ping nodded, "Understood, but... it’s better not for you to go on the day of the kite tournant! You are currently pregnant and must not be careless."
"Let’s see on the day, release the ssage first!"
"Yes!" Lu Ping responded and left.
·
On October 17th, the birthday of Commandery Princess Gaoyi, the Imperial Family was organizing a kite tournant on the outskirts of Dadu City to entertain people. Most participants were employees of official families, but citizens could also join in the fun, unlike in the past when they were kept outside the venue.
Furthermore, in the na of Commandery Princess Gaoyi, widows who remarried were invited from within Dadu City to participate in the tournant. The winner would receive a hundred gold coins and a prize bestowed by His Majesty.
Most remarried widows were not wealthy, so naturally, they were eager to try, and so had started practicing kite flying early in anticipation of winning on October 17th.
rchants were the first to be tempted, so of them went early to scout for locations, planning to secure a good spot.
Those with sinister intentions naturally began their preparations as well.
Currently, within Dadu City, the news of a new law encouraging widows among the commoners to remarry, but prohibiting the widows of noble families from doing so, was spreading more and more. So people were even discussing in taverns why, given the benefits, neither the Empress Dowager nor the Bai family ladies were seen remarrying.
Liu Rushi had been entrusted by Dong Changyuan and Li Mingrui to judge the kite tournant on that day. If anyone started trouble, she was asked to assist so that no mistakes occurred during the promotion of the new policy. Hearing the rumors in Dadu City, Liu Rushi was naturally furious and went to complain to Lu Jin.
Lu Jin analyzed the situation for Liu Rushi, who then understood... that the Commandery Princess Gaoyi’s invitation for remarried widows to join the kite tournant and enjoy festivities with the commoners was ant to counter those spreading rumors, aiming to confront those who spoke ill of the Empress Dowager and Bai family ladies for not remarrying.
Upon realizing this, Liu Rushi took leave from Lu Mansion to make preparations.
·
Mrs. Fang was restless inside her room, pacing back and forth until she saw Puliu, slender and wearing a green short jacket with a bluish hem, return. She then ordered the maids attending the room to leave and sat on the redwood soft couch by the window, holding her skirt.
Puliu entered the room through the curtain, her fair pointed chin slightly sweaty, wiping it with a handkerchief. She bypassed the screen and drapes, approached Mrs. Fang, and bowed before saying, "Madam, the letter has been sent out, and I instructed that it must reach the Fang family quickly."
Mrs. Fang asked again, "Can the person delivering the letter be trusted?"
"Rest assured, Madam, Granny Ye’s son is delivering it. That lad is fast, and Granny Ye is extrely loyal," Puliu replied.
Despite Puliu’s reassurances, Mrs. Fang was secretly praying that Granny Ye’s son could deliver the letter to her brother quickly, no matter what, before October 17th in Dadu City.
"Madam, has sothing happened?" Puliu wasn’t curious about the contents of the letter, but seeing Mrs. Fang’s uneasy deanor, she was sowhat worried and quietly asked, "Would you like to help you figure it out?"
Mrs. Fang almost blurted everything out but swallowed it back.
It’s not that she didn’t trust Puliu, but explaining would only lead Puliu to dissuade her—the maid had always been timid.
Currently, the Bai Clan mbers were all considering their respective interests, and within Dadu City, there were more and more people gossiping that the Imperial Family should lead by example. If they were encouraging widows to remarry, then the Imperial Family should set the precedent.
The thought of the ladies of the Bai family remarrying, and perhaps Bai Qingyan having to establish an imperial husband—and the possibility of marrying the Empress Dowager—who wouldn’t be tempted?
The matter of Bai Qingyan establishing an imperial husband was aside; naturally, it would not include mbers of the Bai Clan, but what about the other Bai family ladies? And what about the Empress Dowager?
The Bai Clan had received news that soone would stir up trouble during the kite tournant. If it truly ca down to Bai Qingyan being cornered, the widowed ladies of the Bai family might, to ensure the smooth implentation of Bai Qingyan’s policies, claim they were willing to remarry...
The Bai Clan thought it would be better for the Bai family ladies to marry within the clan than outsiders. Bai Qingyan always respected her aunts, and whoever could marry one of them, Bai Qingyan would certainly assist them out of respect for her aunt!
Moreover, the daughters-in-law of the Bai family were all exceptionally beautiful, carefully selected by the Eldest Princess, and their dowries were extrely generous.
So even considered Mrs. Dong. If soone married her, he would be the Empress of Zhou’s stepfather! With such a status, he could do as he pleased within Zhou, and even Bai Qingyan, the Empress of Zhou, would have to dutifully show respect to this stepfather.
After hearing about this, Bai Qihe did not delay and entered the palace imdiately, intending to inform Bai Qingyan of the situation and then discuss a solution. Now was a crucial mont for Bai Qingyan’s policy, and he feared rashly handling clan mbers would leave room for others to attack the new policy.
Mrs. Fang, having overheard this today, had also moved her thoughts and had soone send a letter to her brother, who had just lost his wife that year. As long as she could achieve her goal, she would not hesitate to resort to so dirty tricks, as long as it worked.
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