After pondering for a moment, Yu Fengyang shook his head.
"Your Highness, Prince Fan requests an audience," came the announcement from outside the door.
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow. "Please come in."
Dressed in white, Fan Ziming strolled in leisurely, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. Brother Yu is here too."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "Young Master Fan, there's no need for such formalities."
Lanxiang brought in tea and snacks, and Fan Ziming unceremoniously found a seat not far from Feng Yang and sat down.
Yu Fengyang laughed and said, "Brother Fan, what brings you here today? Shouldn't all the aristocratic families be on edge these days?"
Fan Ziming smiled and said, "Your Highness, I have come today with a request."
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "The Prince of Yan's situation is probably beyond his ability to help the young master."
Fan Ziming lowered his eyes. "Everyone knows how the new emperor came to power."
Bai Chuxiao became somewhat interested. "Oh? If Prince Fan's words reach the ears of the new emperor, that would be a great disrespect..."
Fan Ziming didn't seem to mind and laughed, "Your Highness, I'll get straight to the point. Compared to Prince Qi, I actually have a higher opinion of Prince Yan."
Yu Fengyang touched his nose. It was strange that Chu Tianze had supporters.
"Brother Fan, are you inciting the Prince of Yan's residence to rebel?"
Fan Ziming chuckled, "Heh, if it weren't for the ongoing war in the Northwest, how could Prince Qi and the current Regent Prince Yingchuan have so easily captured the capital? Moreover, the Duke of Zhenguo has arbitrarily mobilized the Northern Army to besiege the capital, showing no concern for the safety of the border. I don't think such a person would be a good emperor."
Bai Chuxiao's eyes revealed admiration. Although she had only briefly met Fan Ziming before, his speech and knowledge were extraordinary.
"However, now that a new emperor has been enthroned, it's pointless for you to say these things, Your Highness. As you can see, it's not easy for any of us to leave the capital these days."
Fan Ziming raised an eyebrow. "If I'm not mistaken, the Princess Consort should be able to leave the capital today."
Yu Fengyang was slightly surprised, "Brother Fan, how do you know?"
Fan Ziming chuckled, "The corpse displayed at the entrance of the Prince of Yan's residence yesterday could have prompted the new emperor to send people here. The princess must have some leverage. And what could threaten the new emperor? Ziming guesses that perhaps the princess possesses the late emperor's edict... Princess, is Ziming's guess correct?"
The Fan family truly lives up to its reputation as the head of all aristocratic families, and Fan Ziming, the heir apparent, is indeed worthy of his title. Bai Chuxiao glanced at Yu Fengyang: "Both are heir apparents, but look at how smart he is!"
Yu Fengyang touched his nose. He was no longer the heir apparent, okay? Besides, he was a military general, and he and Fan Ziming were not on the same path at all!
Bai Chuxiao did not deny it. Yu Fengyang picked up his teacup and said leisurely, "This young master is curious, how did Brother Fan guess it?"
Bai Chuxiao also looked at him with interest. Fan Ziming smiled faintly, "The timing of the Princess's return to the capital is unusual. Ziming guesses that perhaps the Princess noticed something was amiss between Yunzhou and the capital in advance, and secretly returned to the palace to see the late Emperor. Since the late Emperor was willing to send the Princess to Yunzhou, he must have trusted her a lot. It's not surprising that he entrusted the imperial edict to the Princess he saw last, but..."
Bai Chuxiao became somewhat interested. Fan Ziming had actually guessed so accurately based on just a few clues. "Please speak freely, Your Highness."
A hint of doubt flickered in Fan Ziming's eyes. "However, if the Princess Consort had truly met His Majesty, the outcome shouldn't have been like this... at least it shouldn't have come so quickly."
Yu Fengyang was also puzzled. The princess only said that the late emperor died of anger, but that shouldn't be the case. However, the princess refused to say, and there was nothing he could do. Perhaps there were other secrets involved...
Bai Chuxiao concealed her expression. Fan Ziming's deductions were all correct, but Chu Tianze's background could not be revealed to outsiders. "Indeed, there was an accident. I was unable to save the late emperor's life."
Seeing that she had no intention of explaining the reason, Fan Ziming did not press the matter further, and said with a smile, "Although the new emperor has been chosen, Ziming still favors the Prince of Yan and his consort."
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "Young Master, why don't you first tell me the purpose of your visit?"
Fan Ziming stood up, slightly cupped his hands, and said solemnly, "Ziming is willing to serve as an advisor to the Prince and Princess. I humbly request that the Princess accept me."
Bai Chuxiao chuckled lightly, "With Prince Fan's talent, it would be a waste for him to be a strategist. Currently, with the war in the Northwest, he is too preoccupied to spare any attention. The Prince of Yan's residence may not be worthy of his high regard."
Fan Ziming slowly spoke, "Whatever decision the Prince of Yan makes, I am willing to follow."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow, "What does the young master seek?"
Fan Ziming frankly stated, "Although the Fan family is the head of the aristocratic families, it is still severely suppressed. Ziming's actions are to seek a way out for the Fan family, and also for himself."
Bai Chuxiao stared at the elegant young man in white before her and smiled, "Is your visit today your own idea, or Lord Fan's?"
Fan Ziming smiled gently, "It's Ziming's idea, and the entire Fan family supports it."
Bai Chuxiao looked puzzled. "How can you be so sure that I, the young master, can make that decision?"
Yu Fengyang secretly smirked. Chu Tianze was henpecked; did he dare object to your decisions? Wasn't this Prince's mansion under your control...?
Fan Ziming slowly spoke, "Ziming believes in the Princess."
Bai Chuxiao smiled, "In that case, the Prince and I will await good news from Prince Fan in the Northwest."
Fan Ziming adopted a respectful expression, "Thank you, Your Highness."
It wasn't until late afternoon that Chu Tianling finally sent someone to announce that Chu Xiao had entered the palace.
Today is the last day of the late emperor's mourning period, and the palace remains desolate. In the imperial study, even the familiar eunuchs are no longer there.
Chu Tianling looked down at the woman who entered and, without further ado, said, "I will release you from the capital. How will you deliver the imperial edict to me?"
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "Once we reach Qingzhou, I will personally hand over the location of the imperial edict to Your Highness, who can then retrieve it himself."
Chu Tianling said coldly, "Bai Chuxiao, do you think I'm easy to talk to? We agreed it would only be leaving the capital, but now it's changed to Qingzhou. Besides, who knows if the position you gave me is real?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "With the Prince's hundreds of thousands of troops outside the capital, how can I be at ease? The contents of the will will certainly not let the Prince suffer any losses."
Chu Tianling sneered, "I will send the Minister of Rites to escort you to Qingzhou. If the Minister of Rites fails to retrieve the imperial edict, and you have deceived me, the entire Kong family will be wiped out, and everyone in the capital who has ever had dealings with you will die."
Bai Chuxiao's eyes turned slightly cold. "King Qi is indiscriminately killing innocent people. Isn't he afraid of being branded a tyrant? Besides, you should know that these people you mentioned can't blackmail us."
Chu Tianling sneered, "You'd better really not care about these people. You know how I got this throne, and I don't mind having a few more lives on my hands."
Bai Chuxiao said coldly, "The imperial edict is indeed genuine, but it will take time to return from Qingzhou to the place I mentioned. If, during this time, the prince sends troops to hunt us down, the edict will also be announced to the world."
Chu Tianling's face darkened, and he said sternly, "Your escorts are waiting at the city gate. Immediately take your men from the Yan Prince's residence and get out of here."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com