Instead of the joyous news of being named Crown Prince, Prince Zhi received an imperial edict from Emperor Kangxi ordering him to immediately return to the northern desert to continue the war against Galdan. Before the Lunar New Year, he could have argued that he was returning for the holiday, but now that the New Year was over, and with Kangxi's decree issued, his refusal to leave would be tantamount to openly defying the emperor.
“Your Highness, please go with peace of mind. The war over there is also a major concern for Father Emperor. If Your Highness can help Father Emperor defeat Galdan, then Your Highness’s position in Father Emperor’s heart will be extraordinary,” said the First Princess Consort, Lady Jue Luo.
"Hmm, I don't know what Father Emperor means now, he still hasn't issued an order to depose the Crown Prince. Alas, if there's any movement in the capital this time, I won't know immediately," said Prince Zhi.
"Don't worry, my family will keep an eye on things in the capital for you. If anything happens, just send a message to you by carrier pigeon." Lady Jue Luo gently peeled an orange for Prince Zhi.
"Yes, I don't know when I'll be back after this trip. You'll have to take care of everything in the manor. Leave everything to the servants," Prince Zhi said considerately.
"I understand. But, Your Highness, will you be taking two princesses with you to serve you?" The First Princess's eyes held a serene tranquility; she trusted Prince Zhi implicitly. They had been husband and wife since their youth, nearly twenty years, sharing both joy and sorrow. Therefore, seeing this look in her eyes, Prince Zhi suddenly felt a pang of unease. He had fallen for Bao Yue at first sight, unable to resist the impulse, and afterwards secretly sent her to his own villa to be raised, where she even bore him a son. Prince Zhi wondered how the First Princess would react when she found out. Prince Zhi hoped that day would never come, so he never intended to tell Lady Jue Luo about Bao Yue. As for the future, when he was made Crown Prince, or even ascended to the throne, he would bring Bao Yue into the palace as a concubine then…
While Prince Zhi was still making plans for Baoyue and her son, Baoyue had already embarked on a journey of escape with her three-month-old son, two personal maids, and valuables.
Three women carrying a child were too conspicuous, so Baoyue disguised herself as a handsome young man, while Zhuoma dressed as a noblewoman, pretending to be the young man's wife, and Jinyang naturally disguised herself as the noblewoman's maid. Thus, although the three looked slightly different from Han Chinese, they weren't too eye-catching along the way. Baoyue hired a carriage and, protecting her "wife and child," traveled with the maid towards the northern desert.
When Prince Zhi learned that Baoyue, her son, and their two personal maids had disappeared, he was greatly surprised. He waited at Prince Zhi’s residence for several days, but when Baoyue did not come, he knew that she was not coming for the Jueluo clan.
As the day the imperial edict ordered him to return to the northern desert drew closer, Prince Zhi had no choice but to pack his bags and set off with his trusted confidants, without taking any of the princesses with him. This made Lady Jue Luo think that he couldn't bear to see her suffer. In fact, Prince Zhi had a feeling that Bao Yue must have returned to the grasslands, which was why he refused to take any concubines with him.
Meanwhile, Baoyue and her two servants, carrying the child, arrived at Jiayuguan. Here, closer to the outside of the pass, there were noticeably more people from other tribes, making the three of them less conspicuous.
"Let's find an inn to rest. Bao'er probably needs to drink milk," Baoyue said to Zhuoma.
The three found the only inn in this remote area, paid the money, and asked for the best room. The waiter led them into the room and then sent him to serve them food.
"Princess, please go inside and breastfeed. I'll stay here and watch over you," Zhuoma said to Baoyue immediately after the waiter left.
Bao Yue nodded. Although she was dressed as a man, her face was so beautiful that it had attracted the attention of the waiter earlier.
After the waiter brought up the food that Baoyue and the others had ordered, they were surprised to find that Baoyue had transformed from a "man" into a beautiful woman!
It turned out that Baoyue had already changed back into women's clothing. When they saw that the waiter had caught them, they didn't explain. After all, they were just resting here for one night and would be leaving tomorrow.
After the food was placed down, the waiter left with a look of surprise.
"It's really amazing! The handsome man has suddenly turned into a beautiful woman!" the waiter said as he walked downstairs.
A man who brushed past him overheard the waiter's words, glanced at him a few times, and then walked away. He was a foreigner, as could be seen from his clothes.
He was also a tenant living in a room upstairs, right across from Baoyue's room!
Meanwhile, Baoyue and her two maids were having their meal in the room. The baby had finished drinking milk and was asleep in bed.
“Princess, tomorrow we will pass through this pass and officially enter the grasslands. Do you plan to continue to seek refuge with Bangu Khan?” Zhuoma asked.
“If he sees Bao Bao, he won’t take us in; he’ll definitely inform the Qing court. We should go directly to Galdan,” Bao Yue said, a ruthless glint in her eyes.
"Princess, Galdan is our enemy. Why are you going to see him?" Jin Yang asked, puzzled.
“Of course, I’ll do business with him! If he agrees, it will be a piece of cake for me to get back what is rightfully mine,” Baoyue said. “Since Prince Zhi cannot help me achieve my goal, let’s take another route.”
“Princess, Galdan is our enemy. If you go to him, you'll be walking into the lion's den!” Zhuoma exclaimed in surprise.
“Not necessarily. Galdan is currently locked in a fierce battle with the Qing court. If he holds a hostage that the Qing court cares about, do you think it would be advantageous for him?” Bao Yue said.
Jin Yang stared at Bao Yue in disbelief and said, "Princess, you're not planning to use the young master as a bargaining chip with Galdan, are you?"
Even tigers don't eat their cubs, yet Bao Yue is willing to use her own son to make a deal with her enemy!
“Why not? His father has betrayed me, so it’s perfectly acceptable for me to use him to get what I want!” Baoyue said matter-of-factly.
After learning of Baoyue's plan, Zhuoma and Jinyang exchanged a glance, then stood up from their seats and knelt down together, pleading, "Princess, please don't use the young master as a bargaining chip!"
The two maids felt even more affection for their three-month-old mistress than Baoyue, the mother, did for her child. Baoyue had always wanted to use the child to control Prince Zhi, but after spending the better part of half a year in that separate courtyard, she realized that she might not be able to control him at all!
"What are you doing! Get up!" Baoyue shouted angrily. These two maids had never made such a request of her before. They had always complied with all her previous requests!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
