Chapter 101: Obedient and Submissive (2)

The master truly had foresight. For years, while ostensibly seeking medical treatment for Lou Xiyan, the medicine she meticulously prepared for him, though containing effective remedies to suppress his illness, also included a specific catalyst. This ensured he could never be fully cured, and today, it finally came in handy!

Everything was within her expectations. Yang Zhilan's face showed no joy; instead, her brows were slightly furrowed as she asked, "What did the Emperor say?" She was well aware that Tian'er and Lou Xiyan had grown up together and shared a deep bond; she feared this illness might make him soft-hearted!

Sensing Yang Zhilan's anxiety, the old nanny hurriedly replied, "Master, do not worry. Under the pressure from the officials led by Lords Yang and Li, the Emperor did not allow Lou Xiyan to leave prison for treatment; he only issued a decree to move him to a different cell."

"Good." Throughout the dynasties, the imperial family had never tolerated the crime of treason. Tian'er hadn't even gone soft on his own brother, let alone a mere official. She really had been overthinking it! Yang Zhilan's gaze darkened, though it was unclear whether the flash in her eyes was joy or sorrow, hurt or pain.

"Send people to watch those two rebel leaders at all times. Do not let them speak nonsense. If they cannot withstand the severe interrogation and decide to flip, finish them off. This matter cannot afford a single slip-up." Yang Zhilan gently stroked the delicate flower in her hand, looking tender and affectionate, yet the words she spoke were ice-cold and devoid of emotion.

"Yes." The old nanny's heart trembled slightly, and she dared not show a moment's hesitation.

"It's finished. Take a look first and see if this will do?" Bai Yi gently set down his brush and spread several sheets of letter paper across the desk.

Zhuo Qing examined them closely. It was very obvious that there were two types of handwriting. Although both were in regular script, one was bold and unrestrained yet steady, while the other was handsome and free-spirited, exuding elegance. Both were written very well, yet one could not tell at all that they were written by the same person.

While reading the content on the letters, Zhuo Qing asked as if unintentionally, "Are you able to write in many different styles of handwriting?"

Bai Yi scratched his head and smiled modestly, "I am quite fond of calligraphy, so I know a few."

Looking up slightly, Zhuo Qing smiled, "Can you also write in a woman's hand?"

Shaking his head, Bai Yi laughed, "Not really, and I don't write it very well."

"Let me see."

Seeing her interest, Bai Yi did not decline. He picked up a piece of paper from the side and casually wrote two lines of poetry.

The characters were perfectly balanced, clear, and elegant—at a glance, they were clearly a woman's handwriting. Zhuo Qing studied them seriously for a while before letting out a low laugh and sighing, "Better than I write."

Zhuo Qing carefully checked the content on the letters while Bai Yi stood to the side, looking relaxed and allowing her to read. He hadn't written much about treason in the letters; to an average person, they would only prove that Su Ling was very familiar with him and often discussed matters regarding Xi Yan in the imperial court. But to a monarch and those high-ranking court officials, Bai Yi knew exactly what this implied.

After reading for a while, Zhuo Qing raised no objections. She picked up the sheets written in the bold hand that also bore Su Ling's name at the bottom, pointed to the blank space below, and asked, "I just need to find Su Ling's personal seal and stamp it here, right?"

Bai Yi nodded and smiled, "Yes. I will stamp my own seal on the other copies, and once you have finished with Su Ling's, I will hand them all over to you together."

Tucking the letters into her sleeve, Zhuo Qing took a deep breath and said, "Good. There is no time to lose; I am going to the General's Mansion now."

As Zhuo Qing turned to leave, her wrist was suddenly gripped. She turned back to see Bai Yi looking at her with a face full of worry, whispering, "Sister Ling'er, you must be careful."

With a faint smile, Zhuo Qing nodded and replied, "I will. Don't worry."

Having said that, Zhuo Qing's slender figure ran toward the courtyard gate.

Watching that anxious back disappear into the distance with his dark eyes, Bai Yi sat down in the large rosewood chair. He tapped his fingers on the armrest and glanced around the spacious, bright, and empty study. His thin lips curled up involuntarily—women were forever creatures ruled by emotion.

The tall, sturdy figure appeared silently outside the study once more. Entering the room and confirming no one else was there, the big man reminded him in a low voice, "Master, can she really get Su Ling's personal seal? If she goes to the General's Mansion this time and things are exposed..."

With a low laugh mixed with a touch of smugness and arrogance, Bai Yi raised his brows and sneered, "She isn't a fool. If she weren't certain, she wouldn't act rashly. Besides, what she took were merely a few letters. They don't bear my usual handwriting, nor do they have my seal. Even if things are exposed, what does that have to do with me?"

Seeing Bai Yi's self-satisfied look, the big man hesitated for a moment before replying, "Master is wise."

On the desk sat a pair of white jade-carved Qilin. The white jade was translucent and bright, and the craftsmanship was extremely exquisite. Touching it lightly, one could feel a chill seeping into the heart. An object placed on a desk within reach must be something Lou Xiyan cherished. Holding the jade Qilin and playing with it, Bai Yi chuckled softly, "Let us just wait and watch the show."

In early autumn, the time when the sun sets should be the most beautiful moment. The sunlight is no longer scorching, and the final glow can still bring warmth, a warmth that will never burn you. It is just a pity that while the sunset is beautiful, it cannot last long.

Two hours had already passed. Bai Yi's expression slowly changed from contentment to deep gravity. Just as he decided to send someone to investigate, that slender, beautiful shadow came running urgently toward the study.

Bai Yi immediately went to meet her. Seeing her pale complexion, he asked urgently, "Sister Ling'er, are you alright?"

Zhuo Qing shook her head while pulling his hand, walking into the study.

Once inside, Zhuo Qing couldn't wait to take the stack of letters from her sleeve and hand them to Bai Yi, asking urgently, "Take a look quickly, will this work?"

Bai Yi spread out the letters and saw a red mark stamped clearly in the blank space below—square and bright red, it was indeed Su Ling's seal! A smug smile flashed across his lips as Bai Yi laughed, "Yes! This is it!"

After the joy passed, a suspicion arose in Bai Yi's heart: how on earth did she manage to get Su Ling's personal seal? Concealing the sharp glint in his eyes, Bai Yi feigned curiosity and asked, "Sister Ling'er, how did you manage to get it?"

Panting slightly, Zhuo Qing shook her head and replied, "I..."

Before she could even open her mouth, two entangled figures came toward the study, arguing along the way. Bai Yi squinted to look—it was a Lou family servant trying to block a petite but overbearing woman. The woman moved very quickly, her face full of impatience. The person who had arrived was—Qing Mo?

Bai Yi frowned slightly but retreated a step without changing his expression. Seeing who it was, Zhuo Qing also hurriedly tucked the letters back into her sleeve.

"Miss Qing, you cannot just barge in like this!"

"Get out of the way."

The two of them arrived at the study while still entangled. The servant looked at Zhuo Qing in a difficult position and replied, "Madam, she insists on barging in."

Zhuo Qing naturally knew that, let alone the fact that they didn't dare use force because of her identity as her sister, even if they really did, she would still be able to barge in. Waving her hand, Zhuo Qing said in a low voice, "You may withdraw."

Gu Yun entered the room and swept a glance at Bai Yi behind Zhuo Qing. Bai Yi met her gaze with an innocent expression. After the two stared at each other for a moment, Gu Yun turned to Zhuo Qing and said coldly, "Come out with me. I have something to say to you."

Having said that, Gu Yun turned to leave, but Zhuo Qing replied coldly, "I am not feeling well. If you have something to say, let's talk another day."

Gu Yun's feet stiffened. She turned back, her deep black eyes fixed tightly on Zhuo Qing's, approaching step by step. Zhuo Qing averted her gaze, refusing to look at her. Grabbing Zhuo Qing's shoulder, Gu Yun said word by word, "You are lying!"

Zhuo Qing still looked elsewhere, refusing to meet her eyes, and did not deny it. Gu Yun's expression turned even uglier as she pressed, "When you came to the General's Mansion to find me today, it was a trap from the very beginning! You made me take you to the study to find so-called evidence, said you had a stomachache to make me call a doctor, and sent me away—it was all with ulterior motives! Isn't that right?"

"You turned the study upside down—what exactly were you looking for? What do you want to do?" Gu Yun's tone was aggressive. Zhuo Qing closed her eyes in pain but remained silent. Gu Yun roared angrily, "Speak!"

After a long while, Zhuo Qing opened her eyes and replied in an icy tone, "I have nothing to say. You should go."

She actually told her to go?! Gu Yun opened her eyes in disbelief, grabbed her shoulders fiercely, and scolded, "In the past, whenever something happened, didn't we always solve it together? I will definitely help you. Can you please wake up? Do you even know what you are doing?"

Zhuo Qing didn't care about the pain in her shoulders, but Gu Yun's cold gaze hurt her even more. Finally, Zhuo Qing met her confused eyes and said calmly but firmly, "I have never been as clear as I am at this moment about what I want. When you understand what it feels like to love someone, you will understand. Everything I did today might be wrong, but it is all worth it!"

Releasing her grip on Zhuo Qing's shoulders, the two stared at each other, neither willing to yield. Gu Yun gritted her teeth and asked in a low voice, "Even if it means deceiving me, or even using me? You are willing to pay that price?"

It wasn't just Gu Yun's voice that trembled, but Zhuo Qing's heart as well. Clenching her hands into fists, Zhuo Qing once again cruelly averted her eyes.

"Fine! Very well!" Gu Yun didn't know if she was furious or heartbroken, but she actually burst into loud laughter.

Bai Yi's dark eyes narrowed as he watched the two in silence. It seemed Qing Ling hadn't told her sister their plan, but was instead deceiving her!

At this moment, Gu Yun suddenly looked at Bai Yi. Bai Yi was startled and put on a worried and slightly shocked expression as he looked back at her. Clearly, Gu Yun didn't buy it. Pointing at his innocent face, Gu Yun said coldly, "You had better be careful!"

Having said that, Gu Yun took one last look at Zhuo Qing and turned to rush out of the study.

Watching Gu Yun's departing back, Zhuo Qing stumbled, unable to stand steady. Bai Yi hurriedly stepped forward to support her. After a long while, she finally regained her strength. Grabbing Bai Yi's hand, she said urgently, "Quick! Seize the time. She will definitely go back and tell Su Ling. Once he discovers the seal has been tampered with, it will be a disaster."

Bai Yi patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't be anxious. I will stamp them for you right now."

"Good."

Having said that, Bai Yi immediately took out the seal he carried at his waist and stamped his own personal seal on the remaining letters.

Taking the letters Bai Yi handed her, Zhuo Qing carefully checked if the seal was clear before whispering, "Thank you."

Bai Yi shook his head and smiled, "Sister Ling'er, don't be so polite. I am also very happy to help Prime Minister Lou get out sooner. However, the Ministry of Justice and the General's Mansion are jointly investigating this case. If these are handed to the Ministry of Justice, I fear it will only cause more trouble. Why don't you go directly to the palace to see the Emperor?" It would be much more interesting to hand this directly to Yan Hongtian, wouldn't it?

Zhuo Qing nodded and replied, "That is also true! You should leave quickly; I am going now."

Bai Yi smiled obediently, "Yes. You don't need to worry about me. You, however, be careful on the road."

"I will." Having said that, Zhuo Qing tucked the two stacks of letters into her sleeve and headed toward the door.

Leaning against the doorframe and waving at Zhuo Qing, Bai Yi called out with feigned reluctance, "Sister Ling'er, we shall meet again." If they ever had the chance to meet again!

Walking to the courtyard gate, Zhuo Qing stopped, turned back, gave him a brilliant smile, and replied, "We shall meet again."

Bai Yi was stunned. Because of that overly brilliant smile, he couldn't describe the feeling, but he had an unsettling illusion of unease.

The big man appeared quietly behind him and asked in a low voice, "Master?" Qing Ling was entering the palace now; they had to leave immediately!

Bai Yi suppressed the sudden unease in his heart, waved his hand, and said, "Let's go now."

"Back to Liaoyue?"

Bai Yi shook his index finger slightly, smiled with excitement, and whispered, "Find a quiet place to stay in the capital. I haven't seen the good show yet; how could I bear to leave?"

"Yes." This was really not the time to take such a risk, but in the end, the big man only frowned and dared not say anything more.

The Seventh Prince seemed like an easygoing master, but anyone who had seen his methods would know never to defy him.

At lamp-lighting time, the Emperor's personal eunuch came to invite her to the Imperial Study. For some reason, her eyelids were twitching uncontrollably. Yang Zhilan walked all the way there looking as elegant and calm as usual, but her heart was filled with anxiety.

Looking from afar, lamps were already lit inside and outside the Imperial Study. The hall doors were open, and one could vaguely see many people standing inside.

Taking a deep breath in secret, Yang Zhilan lifted her head slightly, wearing her usual gentle, shallow smile. Stepping into the hall, she smiled at the person on the dragon throne and asked, "Why is the Emperor in such a hurry to invite me here?"

"Mother, please take your seat." Yan Hongtian raised his hand slightly, and the eunuchs in the hall immediately brought over a large chair and placed it to the right of the dragon throne. Just as Yang Zhilan sat down, Yan Hongtian said with a mix of playfulness and scrutiny, a half-smile on his face, "I invited you here today for an interesting matter. Regarding Prime Minister Lou's case, Madam Lou said she has an important item to present for my inspection. It is said that this item has something to do with you, Mother?"

"Oh?!" Yang Zhilan was shocked, but her face showed no surprise. She looked toward the center of the hall and saw that Su Ling, Dan Yulan, Lou Xiyan, and Lou Muhai were all present, and standing at the very front was the Qing Ling she had almost drowned!

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 102 =====