Chapter 12 Potential Allies
"I've also met the newcomer. If there's nothing else, I'll go back and see Yu'er."
After Concubine Bai finished speaking, the palace was so quiet that one could hear the nervous breathing of the newlyweds.
She didn't even glance at the frightened women, but just nodded slightly to the princess in the main seat as a greeting.
The princess tightened her grip on the teacup, not noticing the scalding hot tea spilling over her fingertips, her face still sporting that dignified and proper smile.
"My sister is right. It's the time when I need someone to accompany me."
The word "sister" makes my teeth ache.
Everyone knows that Concubine Bai's father rose rapidly in the recent past, from the third rank to the second rank, and now he has become the immediate superior of the princess's father.
The wind direction in this palace has long changed.
Concubine Bai said nothing more, turned around and left. The hem of her skirt brushed the ground, bringing with it a faint fragrance and taking away the depression in the room.
After leaving the main courtyard, the sunlight was a little dazzling. Bai Jiaojiao squinted her eyes, and the unhappiness in her heart caused by Wen Yue also dissipated.
She now has no time to be angry with a woman who has lost her backing.
Song Qingyuan's face flashed through my mind.
The daughter of an inconspicuous merchant, with a low social status and seemingly harmless personality, was this woman who, without making a sound, allowed several children to play together without making a sound.
Especially my own day.
Her son, who was introverted and usually didn't dare to raise his head when meeting strangers, actually took the initiative to run to the Song family's Furong Garden in recent days.
This method is much more sophisticated than the princess's superficial efforts.
Bai Jiaojiao quickened her pace and felt more interested.
She wanted to see what Song Qingyuan was up to.
Before entering the gate of Hibiscus Garden, the clear laughter of children could be heard from inside, like a string of rolling silver bells, breaking the tranquility of the garden.
Bai Jiaojiao paused, a hint of tenderness flashing across her eyes that she herself hadn't noticed.
As she stepped into the courtyard, she saw three little figures chasing and playing in the corridor.
The leader was none other than her own Shen Jingyue, his face streaked with black and white spots from some unknown ash rubbed off from somewhere, and he was waving a small wooden sword in his hand, jumping up and down as he chased Shen Jingyu, not a trace of his introverted side left.
"Mom, you're here!"
Shen Jingyue was sharp-eyed and was the first to see her. He immediately left his playmates and rushed over like a little cannonball.
"Bai Niang Niang An."
"Hello, Madam."
The other two little guys also ran over, looking up and greeting.
Bai Jiaojiao's heart melted when she heard these three soft and sweet childish voices. She didn't bother to act like a concubine anymore. She bent down and picked up the three little kids at once, which scared the maids and servants following behind her so much that their hearts were in their throats.
"My lady, you can't do that. Watch your waist!"
Bai Jiaojiao didn't care at all. She weighed the three heavy little guys in her arms, and a rare genuine smile appeared on her face.
"Look, Mom!"
Shen Jingyue raised the small wooden sword in his hand in front of her like he was presenting a treasure, "Empress Song made this for me! I want to be a general in the future and protect mother!"
Bai Jiaojiao took the rough yet polished little sword. It felt soft to the touch, and one could see the care that the maker had put into it.
She looked towards the inner room, where the door curtain hung quietly.
"Xiaoyu, where is your mother?"
Shen Jingyu nudged himself in her arms and complained in a baby voice, "Mom is a lazy pig and hasn't woken up yet!"
Bai Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows and placed the three children steadily on the ground.
"Oh? Then I have to go in and take a look."
She walked towards the inner room and just as she lifted the bead curtain, she heard a lazy and somewhat hoarse voice coming from inside.
"Who is plotting against me behind my back? Xiaoyu, did you sell out your mother?"
Shen Jingyu ran into the inner room like a gust of wind, threw himself into Song Qingyuan's arms like a little cannonball, and raised his sweaty little face to ask for praise.
"Mom, am I running fast?"
Song Qingyuan pinched his chubby cheeks and pretended to be angry: "You are so old, but you are still so reckless. Be careful not to offend Aunt Bai."
As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Jiaojiao smiled softly.
"Sorry for making fun of me, Sister Bai." Song Qingyuan felt helpless.
She stood up and asked the maid to comb her hair into a simple bun, then moved to sit on the chair next to Bai Jiaojiao.
In the yard, three little heads huddled together, whispering something, and occasionally emitting crisp laughter.
"These kids are here with you, they're not disturbing you, are they?" Bai Jiaojiao withdrew her gaze from the children and subconsciously stroked her slightly pregnant belly gently.
Song Qingyuan's eyes paused, and he immediately understood.
The early stages of pregnancy are the most tiring, and it is normal to have no energy to play with the baby.
"Look at what you said. Yue'er is very well-behaved and plays well with our Yu'er. If you trust me, just send Yue'er to my Furong Garden and I will take care of her for you."
Song Qingyuan's words were both considerate and probing.
Bai Jiaojiao was a smart person. She knew that Song Qingyuan had seen through her as soon as she heard it, so she stopped trying to hide it.
She sighed softly, a trace of weariness between her brows: "It's only been two months. The imperial physician said that the fetus is unstable and needs to be rested."
Having said that, she couldn't hide the tenderness of a mother in her eyes.
Song Qingyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he felt an indescribable feeling.
What a pity.
She remembered clearly that in the original story, Bai Jiaojiao would eventually miscarry. The reason was that while feeding fish by the lake, Concubine Bai was startled by Wen Yue's cat, causing her to fall into the water and suffer a miscarriage.
Do you want to help her?
As soon as this thought came to mind, Song Qingyuan was caught in a dilemma. If he helped, it would mean confronting Wen Yue; if he didn't, his ally Bai Jiaojiao would be severely hit.
She was thinking about it, but Bai Jiaojiao's next words disrupted all her thoughts.
"My father will be going to Jiangnan for an inspection soon."
Bai Jiaojiao's voice was not loud, but it was like a stone thrown into still water, stirring up thousands of waves in Song Qingyuan's heart.
She raised her eyes and met Bai Jiaojiao's meaningful gaze.
"It's said that... the treasury is empty, and we need to take good care of those black market vendors."
The implication of these words couldn't be clearer.
The emperor is short of money and wants to take action.
This was a reminder to her that the imperial court was sharpening its knives and preparing to march south to slaughter the fat sheep.
And her maternal family, the Song family, happens to be the fattest one in Jiangnan!
Song Qingyuan's heart trembled violently, and the hand holding the teacup trembled almost imperceptibly. The tea swirls slightly, disturbing the calm light in her eyes.
So that's how it is. The Emperor's knife, the Bai family's hands, are sharpening their knives, targeting her Song family, the biggest fat sheep in Jiangnan.
Bai Jiaojiao's words were both a warning and a surrender. She was using the news of her father's imminent march south to exchange for a stable ally.
After figuring this out, Song Qingyuan's hesitation about whether to confront Wen Yue disappeared in an instant.
Help, must help!
This is not only about preserving a potential ally, but also a token of loyalty to the entire Song family!
She took a deep breath and suppressed all the emotions surging in her heart. When she raised her eyes again, her vision was clear.
"Thank you for your reminder, sister." Song Qingyuan looked at Bai Jiaojiao solemnly, "Just focus on taking care of the baby and be careful with everything. This child is hard to come by and is very precious. You can't let any mistakes happen."
The deep meaning behind the words was known to both of them.
Seeing that she understood everything, Bai Jiaojiao's tense heartstrings finally relaxed a little. She held Song Qingyuan's hand back and nodded gently, "Sister, I will remember your kindness."
At this moment, the alliance was silently forged.
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