"It’s precisely because we don’t know where you might be assigned in the future that we must quickly arrange a marriage for you, preferably finalize it!" Lu Yuanpeng’s mother sighed at the thought, "Originally, with the rits from pacifying Xiliang, I thought we could settle a good marriage for you. But now it’s all gone to waste! You... you’re really going to drive to my grave! Now we can only look for one from my side of the family; I have my eye on your uncle..."
Seeing that his mother was serious, Lu Yuanpeng hurriedly grabbed her hand: "Mother, mother! Please stop saying that. Your son is quite capable; earning the title of a general again is a minor task! Why don’t we wait until I beco a general again before discussing marriage—it’s not too late then! Besides, Sima Ping and I are friends as close as brothers. Sima Ping hasn’t settled yet either, so how could I be bold enough to decide on a marriage before him? If a marriage must be decided, we should both do it together!"
"Speaking of the Sima family, let tell you... it’s best if you keep your distance from Sima Ping in the future!" Lu Yuanpeng’s mother sipped her tea as she recounted the incident with Princess Xiangxie, "Now that Sima Yan is exiled, although Sima Ping’s brother seems unhard, if Princess Xiangxie decides to take her revenge, the Sima family won’t stand a chance."
"What are you saying, mother! First of all, sister Bai isn’t soone who judges irresponsibly, and furthermore... my friendship with Sima Ping is deep, and he saved multiple tis on the battlefield! A person can’t be so ungrateful. If Princess Xiangxie dares to go after Sima Ping, even if it ans offending sister Bai, I’ll make sure Xiangxie looks like a fool unrecognizable to her own mother!" Lu Yuanpeng replied angrily, "Mother, please don’t say that anymore! I don’t like hearing it!"
Lu Yuanpeng’s grandfather, after all, was the Commandant of Zhou. With such a powerful family backing, could he not make friends as he pleases? Such nonsense would be laughable anywhere...
"You..." Lu Yuanpeng’s mother started to scold him but held her tongue, seeing the stubborn look on her son’s face. Recalling his injuries, she decided not to argue further. Besides, with both Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng punished, they wouldn’t be seeing much of each other for a while.
"Alright, alright! No more of this! Just focus on your recovery!" Lu Yuanpeng’s mother adjusted his quilt and whispered softly, "Behave yourself these few days, and don’t upset your grandfather. I’ll go see your sister Fenglang and have her put in a good word for you with your grandfather. Your sister has really made sothing of herself; your grandfather is very pleased!"
"I’ve always said my sister’s talents surpass even most n! This is all thanks to sister Bai, who allowed won to study for the exams and enter court as officials! Sister Bai is truly a good Emperor!" Lu Yuanpeng, still stung by Bai Qingyan’s reprimand, nonetheless praised her with every other word.
As Lu Yuanpeng steered the conversation back towards praising Bai Qingyan, his mother felt a heavy burden of concern. Worried her foolish son might genuinely admire the current Emperor, she doubted he had the temperant to be an imperial consort.
But was he to beco just one of three or four consorts along with others?
Having lived so long in a society where n were superior, she could accept a female emperor with nurous consorts. Yet, she couldn’t accept her son being among them.
"Madam... young master!" A servant entered with a salute, saying, "Gaoyi has co to the estate. After visiting Young Master Sima at the Sima residence, she wanted to check on our young master."
"What’s she doing here! n and won should be kept apart!" Lu Yuanpeng’s ears turned bright red, "Make her leave!"
"You child!" Lu Yuanpeng’s mother gave a mild scolding, then went out to greet Bai Jinzhi personally.
Bai Jinzhi originally intended to tease Lu Yuanpeng, but this wasn’t the army camp; propriety dictated she couldn’t see him here. Nonetheless, she brought dicine prepared by Doctor Hong for Lu Yuanpeng’s injuries. Using it, Lu Yuanpeng would recover quickly.
After sharing a cup of tea with Bai Jinzhi, Lu Yuanpeng’s mother respectfully saw her out. Deep down, she was moved; the bond ford in battle was truly different. Despite Lu Yuanpeng’s punishnt, Gaoyi herself brought dicine, displaying much thoughtfulness.
The current Emperor places a high value on her siblings, so befriending soone like Gaoyi could benefit Yuanpeng’s future prospects.
·
Xie Xun was arranged to stay in the sa residence in Dadu City with the Crown Prince and the second Prince of the Yan Kingdom, Murong Ping. As envoys, they couldn’t live in separate residences as they did in Yan Kingdom.
However, Bai Qingyan had already ordered them to be treated kindly, as envoys pledged as part of a bet between Yan and Zhou. Their residence was spacious and exquisite, allowing each to have individual quarters.
Moreover, Bai Qingyan did not station Zhou people in the residence. Instead, Murong Li’s Imperial Army was entrusted with the safety of the Crown Prince, Murong Ping, and Great General Xie Xun, and no restrictions were placed on their movents.
The Crown Prince, unfamiliar with Bai Qingyan and Zhou’s leaders, felt sowhat uneasy. Murong Ping, having prior interactions with Bai Qingyan and her siblings... the generals of Zhou, felt relatively at ease upon arriving in Dadu City.
The Yan Kingdom’s Great General, Xie Xun, travelled back with the Bai family’s generals. The Bai generals never treated him as an envoy during the journey. Especially with Bai Qingyu, the King of Zhen, Xie Xun found a kindred spirit, feeling a bit of regret they hadn’t t sooner.
The Crown Prince had heard that, outside Wude Gate, Bai family generals had knelt at the Emperor of Zhou’s feet, pleading to attack the Yan Kingdom, which terrified him so much he couldn’t even eat breakfast.
Only at midday, hearing the Bai generals had been punished, did the Crown Prince finally relax. He pushed away his fear and sent a ssage to Bai Qingyan, wishing to enter the palace to apologize on behalf of his mother, the Empress Dowager Yan.
The ssage reached Bai Qingyan as she held a letter sent by Xiao Rongyan.
Realizing the Yan Crown Prince was anxious over his mother, the Empress Dowager Yan’s betrayal of Zhou, and the incident from the night before where Zhou’s generals gathered to request an attack on Yan, Bai Qingyan understood his eagerness to express contrition on arriving in Zhou.
Though perhaps overly cautious in deanor, they were well aware of their precarious position as envoys in Zhou. Should Zhou war against Yan, Yan would inevitably be constrained.
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