"Alright, I was just teasing you."
Seeing his dazed then joyous expression, Zhu An felt a sense of ease.
"Like she said, if I moved away, I'd worry about you being snatched up by swarms of admirers. You were saved by me, and I'm not tired of you yet, so of course I can't let anyone take you away."
Bai Li Chong Yan immediately exclaimed, "You're not allowed to get tired of me!"
He thought Zhu An would hesitate with such a question, but to his surprise, Zhu An immediately replied as if coaxing a child, "Yes, yes, yes, I won't get tired of you. Don't worry."
It had only been a few decades.
The person her heart had fallen for, even if she did get tired of him later, she would accompany him through this life, watch him live peacefully, and finally lay him to rest.
Bai Li Chong Yan was deeply moved.
He lunged towards her, embracing her tightly.
Even now, he could manage on his own, but his dependence on her had become ingrained and could never be changed.
...
After receiving the promise, Zhu An began to spend more time by Bai Li Chong Yan's side.
Sometimes, she would even accompany him when he met with his subordinates.
However, she would not speak or offer any opinions on any matters.
According to the system, she had already changed too much. In this world, everything except Bai Li Chong Yan was predetermined, and she could not interfere excessively.
Due to the difference in Bai Li Chong Yan's treatment of Zhu An and Song Fang Hua, the gossip between them lessened. To avoid suspicion, Song Fang Hua habitually invited Zhang Yi Cheng to see Bai Li Chong Yan together.
The rumors thus debunked themselves.
Just as the south was flourishing, trouble erupted again in the capital.
The Crown Prince was crippled by the Fifth Prince, losing his chance at the throne. The Empress then allied with the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince against each other.
The Third Prince's family was not prominent, and he had never been part of the struggle for succession. However, now that the Empress was desperate, she brought him onto her ship, recognizing him as her son. With the title of the Son of the Central Palace and the support of the Empress's clan, he gained the ability to contend with the Fifth Prince.
Everyone gathered to discuss strategies.
Song Fang Hua laughed, "Still playing this game of one act after another? Do they really think they're performers? The capital is in chaos, and they're still fighting amongst themselves. It's doomed."
Everyone deeply agreed.
Song Jin Cheng, the son of Minister Song and Madam Song, asked, "What are Your Highness's plans?"
Bai Li Chong Yan frowned and asked the messenger, "And the Emperor? How is he?"
"The Emperor is gravely ill; the Empress is currently attending to him."
【Mission Target Blackening Value -10, Current Blackening Value 40】
Attending to him was essentially treating him as a puppet.
After all, the Emperor was one of the Empress's trump cards.
Perhaps at a critical moment, she could even issue an imperial decree, re-appointing the Crown Prince in the Emperor's name to counter the Fifth Prince.
"I understand. You may leave."
"Yes."
The hidden guards withdrew, and everyone pondered their next move.
"We cannot let this continue. Even if the princes are all defeated, the royal family has plenty of descendants they can use to vie for power. It will always be the common people who suffer."
Today, the Empress could recognize the Third Prince as her son, but tomorrow the Fifth Prince's clan could nominate another member of the royal family as their figurehead, using him as a puppet to fight against the Empress's faction.
With so many members of the royal family, this kind of struggle would never end.
"Attacking them now would lack a legitimate pretext."
Throughout history, those who sought to achieve great deeds needed a good reputation. With the Emperor still alive, Bai Li Chong Yan leading his own faction had already met with opposition from some old conservatives.
If he were to directly lead his troops into battle, his historical reputation would likely not be favorable.
Everyone chimed in, but Bai Li Chong Yan, at the center of it all, remained silent after that.
It wasn't until someone asked again, "Your Highness, what are your thoughts?"
Bai Li Chong Yan looked up, a strange emotion in his eyes.
He said coldly, "We will discuss this matter later. It is currently the autumn harvest season. How is the autumn exhibition that Miss Song proposed progressing?"
Song Fang Hua had previously suggested an autumn exhibition to encourage the common people to reclaim and cultivate land, and to allow merchants to see their value and bring better goods to the region.
"It's almost ready, just waiting for the opening."
"Has the date been set?"
Song Fang Hua replied, "Young Master Du calculated the date to be the twenty-fifth, still half a month away."
Young Master Du was Du Ruo.
He was not dead; Song Fang Hua had saved him.
Zhu An had previously mentioned her strange allure, and coupled with the life-saving grace, Du Ruo had developed deep affections for her.
Song Fang Hua was busy teaching farming, spreading new ideas, and dealing with two men, which was exhausting.
Bai Li Chong Yan said, "You all check again, ensuring every detail is meticulously handled. I do not wish for any mistakes on our first attempt."
Everyone replied in unison, "Yes!"
"Alright, you may all go and attend to your duties. The Princess Consort may stay."
The others exchanged glances and quickly dispersed.
Zhu An stepped forward.
Bai Li Chong Yan rubbed his temples with a weary expression, looked at the person before him, and with a vulnerable look, opened his arms towards her.
Zhu An allowed him to embrace her, calming her emotions.
"Do you want to go back and see?"