Prince Ping nodded. "Alright, Seventh Brother and Sister-in-law, gather first. We can discuss anything else tomorrow." With that, he turned and left the courtyard.
"Why aren't you two leaving yet?" Chu Tianze said sinisterly, looking at the two unmoved people still in the courtyard.
Murong Xuan snorted coldly, expressing his dissatisfaction. Yu Fengyang touched his nose and said, "Tianze, that's not very kind of you. You didn't even tell me you were coming back."
Chu Tianze said impatiently, "You all need to disappear from my sight immediately."
"Take good care of Xiao-mei now that you're back," Murong Xuan said casually, without bothering her any further.
With his good friends gone, Yu Fengyang didn't dare to be a third wheel alone. After thinking it over, he decided to leave the time to the two of them.
Bai Chuxiao pulled Chu Tianze back into the room, "Let's rest for a while..."
Chu Tianze stroked her hair, "Xiaoxiao, let's go together..."
"Um……"
Night fell, the moonlight was like water, and Bai Chuxiao slept soundly all night. Chu Tianze was back, and she really didn't have to worry about anything anymore.
The next day, Chu Tianze was much more energetic. He carefully held Bai Chuxiao's hand and strolled around the yard.
"Xiaoxiao, how about we go back to Yongzhou in a few days..."
"Are you sure it's okay that you've been away for so long...?"
"Shen Tao and Song Fei aren't incapable of fighting without me. They're proceeding according to plan. There won't be any problems even if I'm not around. Besides, we still have the several states that Xiao Xiao has conquered as a backup. If they still don't know how to fight, they might as well just slit their own throats..."
Bai Chuxiao chuckled softly, "Alright, I want to go back too."
I never expected such a beautiful accident when I went out. I didn't even bring a maid. Yunzhou is not safe. It would be inappropriate to wait until my pregnancy is more advanced.
"What are your plans for Third Brother?" Bai Chuxiao asked, turning her head to the side.
Chu Tianze said helplessly, "Don't worry about these things anymore. The doctor said that although you have a good constitution, you've been through too much these past few months. You must avoid excessive worry..."
Bai Chuxiao sighed softly, "Well, suddenly having so much free time is really a bit boring..."
While some are free, others are busy. Now that Chu Tianze has returned, he can't stay by Bai Chuxiao's side all the time; he still has to make many decisions.
While Bai Chuxiao was taking a nap, Chu Tianze gave an order and went to the study.
"Your Highness, what should be done with Zhang Yu? Also, Prime Minister Bai is still outside the manor requesting an audience. Should we report this to the Princess?" Yu Fengyang asked lazily.
Although no one in the government office liked Bai Linan, he was, after all, the princess's father. Since the princess hadn't explicitly said she would kill him, everyone still had to give him some face.
"From now on, you are not allowed to disturb the Princess Consort with such matters, and you should not bring him in," Chu Tianze said calmly.
Soon, Bai Linan entered the study under the guidance of the guards. He had only come because he had suddenly heard that the Prince of Yan had returned. He wanted to test the Prince of Yan's intentions. In his opinion, the person who could ultimately make the decisions on these matters was still the Prince of Yan.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Bai Linan gave a symbolic bow.
"Has Bai Xiang come here today because he has thought it through?" Chu Tianze sat in his chair, not even lifting his eyelids, showing no respect whatsoever for his father-in-law. It wasn't that he was arrogant; it was just that Bai Linan was unworthy of him!
Bai Linan lowered his eyes. "Your Highness, I know that in the past, some ignorant people in the Bai family in the capital had conflicts with Xiao'er and Your Highness. But the Bai family is, after all, the place where Xiao'er was born and raised. Over the years, we have not mistreated Xiao'er. Now, that person in the palace holds the lives of hundreds of people in the Bai family in his hands. He just wants to exchange Zhang Yu for someone else. Zhang Yu is actually not very useful to Your Highness..."
Chu Tianze sneered, "It seems that Bai Xiang didn't carefully consider what the Princess Consort said? Or does he think I'm easy to talk to?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
"However, you are right about one thing. You are, after all, the Princess's nominal father. Letting you die here will inevitably damage her reputation. But if you insist on seeking death, then I cannot stop you. Go back to the capital. No one in the Yan Prince's residence will stop you..."
Bai Linan's face turned ashen. "Your Highness, we're all family. If Your Highness doesn't release them, I'll be dead anyway. Can Your Highness bear to see the entire Bai family executed?"
"The Bai family's demise is your own doing, what does it have to do with us? If you keep wavering, Chu Tianling will kill the Bai family sooner or later. I'm warning you, don't try to use such words to blackmail the princess..." Chu Tianze said coldly.
Bai Linan quickly replied, "Your Highness, Xiao'er is both the Princess Consort of Yan and the legitimate daughter of the Bai family. Naturally, our Bai family is willing to stand on the side of the Prince of Yan's residence. I have many connections among the civil officials in the court. If Your Highness were to take control of the capital one day, with me by your side, Your Highness would be able to do whatever you wish to do much more smoothly..."
"Oh? Does Bai Xiang mean to become my inside man in the court?" A glint of malice flashed in Chu Tianze's eyes.
Bai Linan said solemnly, "That's right. If Your Highness is willing, allowing me to take Zhang Yu back as a bargaining chip will surely gain the trust of that person in the palace and allow me to remain in the position of Left Prime Minister. It will also make it easier for me to gather intelligence for the Prince of Yan's mansion. If Your Highness and Xiao Yatou ever manage to reach the capital, with me here, I can also rally the officials in advance to respectfully invite Your Highness to enter the palace..."
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize that Bai Xiang still had this much loyalty to the Yan Prince's Mansion?"
Bai Linan lowered his eyes and said, "Your Highness can trust me. In the past, I actually favored Your Highness more. However, the rebellion in the palace started too suddenly. The Bai family has a large population in the capital and did not want to cause trouble for Xiao'er. That's why I pretended to submit to that person in order to protect the lives of the Bai family first..."
"What Bai Xiang said is so touching that even I am moved..." Chu Tianze's lips curled slightly, but his eyes were somewhat gloomy.
Bai Linan respectfully said, "The Bai family and the Prince Yan's residence are connected. Your Highness might as well consider this carefully..."
"Is Bai Xiang so certain that Chu Tianling will spare your life after we go back?"
“The Liu family is gone. If that person tries to harm me easily, it will incur the dissatisfaction of many civil officials. Furthermore, if I can successfully bring Zhang Yu back, it will prove that I still hold weight in the hearts of the Prince of Yan’s mansion. Naturally, that person will also keep the Bai family in order to keep the Prince of Yan’s mansion in check…”
Chu Tianze suddenly clapped his hands a few times and laughed, "As expected of Bai Xiang, who deserves to sit in the position of Left Prime Minister, his words are so eloquent that even I would believe them..."
"Your Highness, please understand, this humble official is only sincere..."
"Alright, does Bai Xiang think everyone else is stupid? Even at this point, he's still thinking about how to please everyone. In the end, he'll only suffer the consequences..." Chu Tianze sneered.
Bai Linan's expression darkened. "Your Highness, how can you possibly convince me of my loyalty?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a report came from the doorway, "Your Highness, Prince Ping has arrived..."
"Understood, please ask Third Brother to come over..."
"yes!"
Chu Tianze then looked at Bai Linan and said, "Alright, you can go back now..."
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