Chapter 42: His actions during the private visit to His Highness the Crown Prince were utterly shameless...
After being promoted to Deputy Commander of the Northern Frontier, Bai Lian spent every day in the Beiting Protectorate busy and fulfilling.
Every day before dawn, she would be fully armored and participate in the daily roll call, listening to the previous night's report. Afterward, she would go to the drill ground to inspect the soldiers' morning exercises, paying close attention to the cavalry's horsemanship, the infantry's formations, and the archers' marksmanship. After the exercises, she would return to the council hall to handle the latest military intelligence with the chief clerk, the military commander, and other civil and military officials. After lunch, Bai Lian would also participate in handling some local government affairs in the prefectures and counties under her jurisdiction, listening to reports on the situation of military and civilian settlements, and resolving trade disputes, among other things.
The intense work day after day allowed Bai Lian to quickly integrate her past experience and the knowledge she had in her memory, which also made her grow rapidly in military management.
That day, Bai Lian was working in her study when there was a knock on the door.
"Deputy Commander Bai, someone has brought you some items." A soldier carried in a large package.
Bai Lian was slightly taken aback and asked, "Who sent it?"
"Hmm...I'm not sure..."
Seeing the soldier's face turn red, Bai Lian decided not to make things difficult for him. So she waved her hand to dismiss him and then opened the package to examine it carefully.
It contains medicines for treating sprains and bruises, supplements for strengthening the body, and winter shoes, hats, and coats for keeping warm.
The boots and hat were clearly not ordinary items, and the coat was even more so. It was made of the finest sable, with the tips of the fur gleaming with a deep purple light. When you gently stroked it with your fingertips, the fur was softer than fresh snow and more delicate than a baby's skin. It was so fine and dense that you could not feel a single needle prick. The warm and thick coat felt like it was warm to the touch.
Such elegant and luxurious clothing was clearly made for the imperial court, as if proclaiming the supreme status of the gift-giver and the inviolable hierarchy, which suddenly filled Bai Lian with disgust.
"Does he expect me to wear this kind of thing on my march into battle?" Bai Lian thought angrily, cursing the "gift giver" for being brainless.
She glanced back at the sable coat, as if it were a reminder that she was still under the emperor's grace and within the bounds of royal law.
Bai Lian's last bit of patience vanished.
She initially intended to throw it away, but still had reservations. In the end, she angrily slammed the entire package into the wardrobe and slammed the door shut.
This entire scene was witnessed by the secret guards sent by the Crown Prince to keep watch...
He suddenly felt a pang of "sorrow" for the Crown Prince... After thinking it over, he decided to go back and report the truth.
After her anger subsided, Bai Lian began to think carefully.
In terms of living conditions, this place is far inferior to the luxurious life she had in the mansion and palace, but Bai Lian felt that she liked this simple and honest military life, even the hardships of sleeping in the open.
Although life was hard, she felt fulfilled because her heart had found direction. It was as if she had returned to those distant days, except this time, everything she did was no longer for revenge, but to protect her family.
A few days later, Bai Lian was inspecting the soldiers' drills when she suddenly noticed several "new faces" whose moves were surprisingly skilled.
She took it to heart and observed the soldiers for several more days before finally finding an opportunity to summon them.
"Speak, who sent you?" Bai Lian asked without looking up, holding her teacup.
As intelligent as she is, she already has a general idea in mind.
Those men stood silently, without uttering a word, as if they had undergone rigorous training and would never speak, no matter what.
Bai Lian looked at it and realized, "Oh, right, they even specially selected elites to monitor her. How boring."
"Now that I've discovered it, there's no point in you staying here. Go back and tell your master to mind his own business," Bai Lian said calmly.
Those people initially didn't want to leave, but when they met Bai Lian's icy gaze, their survival instincts were instantly triggered, and they ultimately left reluctantly...
A month later, Han Lüliu suddenly appeared outside Bai Lian's bedroom door.
His smile was extremely awkward, and Bai Lian sensed that his face was full of helplessness.
"Your Majesty... His Highness the Crown Prince sent me to ask you when you will... stop being angry with him..." Han Luliu managed to squeeze out these few words through gritted teeth, probably because he also thought the question was extremely stupid.
Looking at the old acquaintance in front of her, Bai Lian felt both amused and exasperated: "Green Willow, I'm no longer some kind of empress, am I?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince... he is very concerned about the Empress..." Han Luliu used all her strength to finally deliver the message for her "good brother," and then turned to leave.
"Wait," Bai Lian called out, "Now that I am no longer the Crown Prince's subject, and we each have our own missions, we can never go back to the past. Please thank him for his concern, and ask him not to worry about me anymore."
"Who said we can't go back?" A warm and familiar male voice rang out at this moment, making Bai Lian startled.
-
Galo Rin suddenly appeared silently, walked past Byakuren with an air of nonchalance, and stepped into her house.
The two who were just at the door were stunned. Bai Lian glared at Han Lüliu, who shook his head with an innocent expression that said, "It's none of my business, I don't know either." But when he turned around, he found that Jia Luolin was also glaring at him... Han Lüliu pouted and quickly retreated.
As dusk settled, candles were lit inside, creating a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere. Bai Lian and Jia Luolin gazed at each other, remaining silent for a moment.
“Your Highness, this is not appropriate.” Bai Lian spoke first, her tone both helpless and distant.
"Don't misunderstand, I just happened to be here on some military business, so I came to see you," Galorin said with a slight smile.
How grand and dignified… Bai Lian frowned as she listened.
"Your Highness, now that you've seen me, please excuse me for not seeing you off further." She said, heading to open the door.
As she brushed past Galorin, Galorin suddenly grabbed her sleeve and pulled her into her arms.
A familiar and warm hug.
Her nose rested against his chest, the cool scent of cedar mixed with a faint sandalwood enveloped her, instantly soothing her fatigue from the day... Bai Lian couldn't help but squint her eyes.
This position was maintained for a moment, and with a sigh from Garo Rin, Byakuren broke free from her embrace as if waking from a dream.
Her face flushed bright red instantly, and in the dim candlelight, even her fair neck seemed to be tinged with a thin layer of pink, just like the day she first met him. She revealed a shy and embarrassed expression that she hadn't shown in a long time.
Nearly a year had passed since they last met, and this former Luoyang Red Lotus was still as beautiful as ever. The naivety that once belonged to a young girl had gradually been replaced by a more charming allure, and her experience in the army had added a touch of heroic spirit to her, which made Galo Lin look at her with great fascination.
He was about to step forward when he heard Bai Lian say in a low voice, "Your Highness, I don't know your true purpose for coming here, but your actions are putting me in a difficult position." As she spoke, she took two steps back, further widening the distance between them.
These rather distant words and actions left Galorin silent for a long time. She still had so much to say, but at this moment it all seemed inappropriate.
“Deputy Commander Bai, I have come here to understand the implementation of the grain and salary allocation system in the northern frontier. I will need your assistance in supervising this matter for the next few days.”
“Your Highness, you may directly consult with General Fan Wu and have him assign a more suitable person to accompany you. I am merely a deputy general and am not in charge of this matter, nor do I have a comprehensive understanding of it. If I delay Your Highness's journey, it would be my fault.” After saying this, Bai Lian respectfully bowed to Jia Luolin.
Galo Lin was speechless for a moment. His beloved wife had become such an impenetrable fortress. Even if he tried to remain calm and composed, he couldn't help but break down.
"Lian'er, I know you're blaming me. It's my fault for not being able to rescue you immediately, causing you to suffer so much. I..." Jialuolin poured out her heart anxiously, even becoming somewhat incoherent.
Bai Lian interrupted him, saying, "I don't blame you. I know you have your mission." She looked earnestly into Galorin's eyes and said firmly, "I also have my responsibilities. Since fate has decreed that we can no longer walk together, let's live our lives to the fullest."
But my life can't be without you... These words stuck in her throat. Galorin pressed her lips tightly together, and the passion in her eyes dimmed little by little, like a candle flame going out...
That night, Bai Lian tossed and turned. As soon as she saw Jia Luolin off, she quickly washed up and went to bed, burying herself under the covers, but she just couldn't fall asleep.
Those gentle eyes that had always accompanied her in her dreams were so sorrowful today that it broke her heart.
But what can be done... Regardless of the current difference between ruler and subject, I have only recently taken command of the military and I am well aware of the deep-seated thoughts within the court. If I get too close to the center of imperial power, I might accidentally destroy the Bai family as well...
Before dawn the next day, Bai Lian, looking exhausted, went to "check in" and saw Fan Wu and Jia Luolin already sitting behind the desk from afar.
Bai Lian immediately felt a throbbing pain in her temples...
She was just about to find a corner to sit down when Fan Wu quickly spotted her and waved his hand to call her over.
Fan Wu was well aware of the past relationship between his trusted general and His Highness the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's personal visit was merely to inspect the implementation of certain systems, and his true intentions were quite obvious, which any discerning person could easily guess.
Fan Wu chuckled and casually shifted his position, letting Bai Lian sit next to Jia Luolin...
Throughout the morning, Bai Lian was absent-minded, with Jia Luolin always by her side, along with General Fan, who was pleased with himself for "helping others achieve their goals."
The three men appeared dignified and composed, chatting and laughing as if nothing was amiss, but in reality, each had their own thoughts.
Finally, the afternoon arrived, and Galo Lin participated in all the meetings that Bai Lian needed to attend. The sudden arrival of His Highness the Crown Prince made all the generals of the Northern Protectorate feel uneasy and their nerves were on edge. A mixture of excitement, fear and immense pressure suddenly filled the air.
As Galo Lin sat upright, his demeanor was as lofty and distant as a nine-tiered palace. This was not a deliberate display of power, but rather a nobility deeply ingrained in his very being, creating an insurmountable chasm between him and the masses.
Apart from key officials, most soldiers had no way of knowing the secret past of these nobles in the palace.
They felt that seeing Deputy Commander Bai on ordinary days made their eyes very friendly, and now with His Highness the Crown Prince also present, even though they felt a lot of pressure, watching the man and woman walking side by side was like the most wonderful masterpiece of heaven. Their magnificent demeanor was so dazzling that people dared not look directly at them, and it was as if the sun and moon shone together, making the entire council hall shine with glory.
In short, Galo Lin's incognito visit made the entire Beiting Protectorate feel as if it had been thrown into a giant furnace. The people here were all scorched by this sudden divine might, becoming more cautious, busy, and awe-inspiring.
Only Bai Lian felt that His Highness the Crown Prince's actions this time were truly "shameless"...
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