Chapter 323: Hero

The sun gradually slanted to the west.

In the Bai Mansion, the members of the Bai Family were all waiting anxiously.

"Master, Madam, the son-in-law has yet to leave the palace."

Every half an hour, a servant would return to report; as long as Luo Zijun left the palace, they would receive word here.

Ever since Luo Zijun entered the palace, the Bai Family had been very uneasy.

After all, such a scandalous thing had happened to the Bai Family.

As the Queen's advisor, Luo Zijun bore a heavy responsibility, and at such a critical moment, with all the civil and military officials watching, if the Queen were to fly into a rage, the consequences would be unimaginable.

They waited for another half an hour, until the sun set.

Bai Qingtong finally could not help herself and volunteered, "Father, I will go to the palace to take a look."

Bai Ming's expression sank, and he reprimanded, "What are you going there for? Is it not shameful enough already?"

Bai Qingtong's eyes turned red, and she pouted, her face full of grievance.

Chu Meixiang advised from the side, "Qingtong, don't be anxious, let's wait a little longer. If he is fine, he will return on his own; if he is in trouble, even if you go, it will be of no use, and things might even get worse."

Outside the house, the night curtain hung low.

The servants lit the lanterns, and the entire mansion was as silent as a cicada in winter.

Another half an hour or so passed.

When the night color shrouded the entire Lin'an City, news finally came from the palace.

Hong Ning, the Queen's personal guard, brought the Queen's decree: "There are important matters at the border that need to be discussed; Advisor Luo will remain in the palace tonight to talk through the night with Us and discuss countermeasures. Tomorrow morning, We will naturally send someone to escort him back."

The members of the Bai Family finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After the person from the palace left, Chu Meixiang smiled and said, "See? I told you there was no need to worry. That boy is currently favored by Her Majesty the Queen; it is just a bit of family business, how could Her Majesty blame him?"

Bai Qingtong, however, frowned slightly and muttered in a low voice, "What kind of important matter requires talking through the night, and between a lone man and a lone woman at that..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ming's expression changed, and he immediately reprimanded, "Qingtong, do not speak nonsense!"

He then added sternly, "Our Daliang is currently at a moment of life and death, and the Queen shoulders the safety of the entire Daliang alone. Since there is a place where Zijun is needed, Zijun must naturally exhaust his efforts and serve with his life! That is Her Majesty the Queen; there is a distinction between sovereign and subject, how dare you let your imagination run wild?"

Bai Qingtong pouted and could only weakly say, "Father, I was wrong..."

Bai Ming snorted coldly and said, "In your eyes now, is there no one else besides that boy? You even dare to suspect Her Majesty the Queen; what will become of you in the future? If he really marries you, and there are so many other women outside, what will you do? Argue with him every day, and go out to quarrel with others every day?"

Bai Qingtong's cheeks instantly turned red, and she said, "Father, he... he didn't say he wanted to marry me either..."

Chu Meixiang knew her heart and smiled, "Don't be anxious. When he returns tomorrow, his sister and brother-in-law will naturally go find him."

Bai Qingtong said, "Father, Mother, let us find Sister first."

Chu Meixiang could not help but sigh and said, "We have searched everywhere inside and outside the city..."

She suddenly added, "Didn't your sister also leave a letter for Zijun? Have you read it? Does it say where she was going?"

Bai Qingtong said, "Brother-in-law won't let me see it..."

Bai Ming showed a thoughtful expression and said in a deep voice, "It is impossible for your sister to have disappeared without a trace all by herself; I fear there is some expert helping her."

He paused, then added, "Qingtong, tomorrow when Zijun returns, go ask him again. If he knows, you don't even need to tell us the specific location, just tell us whether Meixue is safe."

"Oh..."

That night, in a certain side room of the Bai Mansion, the lamp remained lit all night.

At the third watch, it suddenly began to drizzle.

The night wind wailed, and the two lanterns hanging at the doorway swayed back and forth, constantly bumping against the door panels along with the pattering rain.

"Clang... clang..."

It continued unceasingly, sounding all night long.

The next day, before dawn, the courtyard was wet, and the entire garden was surprisingly white with snow.

"Creak..."

Bai Qingtong, who had not slept all night, pushed open the window and discovered that it had snowed outside.

This should be the last snow before the New Year.

Looking at the snow-white courtyard, she worried secretly in her heart, wondering if her brother-in-law had put on thick clothes and if he would be cold, and wondering where her sister had gone and if she would be freezing.

The eastern horizon had already turned white, but the light remained dim.

In the palace, the morning bell suddenly rang.

The officials who heard the bell immediately got up to wash and prepare for the morning court session.

Although the Liang King was no longer there, the daily morning court session had not ceased.

Now that the Queen was managing the government, there were no longer any objections, and she attended the morning court session on time every day, never missing one.

However, today, when the officials sat in their sedan chairs, crossed the stone bridge over the moat, and arrived at the outermost gate of the imperial palace, a eunuch said in a shrill voice from outside the gate, "Her Majesty is feeling unwell today and will be resting for the day; all officials, please return."

The officials all gathered at the gate, inquiring with concern about Her Majesty the Queen's health.

The eunuch explained patiently, "Her Majesty has caught a cold by chance; she will be fine after resting for a day, so you officials need not worry."

Only then did the crowd disperse one after another.

At the same time.

In a certain study in Yaohua Palace, red candles were burning and incense smoke was curling.

The burning heater constantly emitted heat, warming the entire room.

In the inner room, hidden by bead curtains, several pieces of undergarments, silk socks, a bodice, and hair accessories were scattered messily on the rug beside the bed...

On the bed, hidden by the curtains, everything was hazy and indistinct.

A head of soft, pitch-black long hair poured out from the gap under the curtains like black silk, hanging down to the edge of the bed, swaying back and forth as if it were waves in the wind.

Not until light appeared outside the window did everything become calm and tranquil.

When the morning sun rose slowly and the entire palace was bathed in golden sunlight, Luo Zijun finally dragged his exhausted body out of Yaohua Palace with a dazed expression.

An exquisite carriage was already waiting at the entrance.

He boarded the carriage, and it drove slowly along, heading out of the imperial palace.

"Luo Qing performed very well last night; this palace is very satisfied... Wait until today is over, come again tomorrow, and this palace will tell you how to go to the Daughter Kingdom..."

"Did this palace say I would tell you today? Apologies, this palace forgot."

"If you are unwilling, you need not come tomorrow."

"Luo Qing, the relationship between this palace and you is much closer than the relationship between you and Bai Daxiaojie, and it began much earlier, did it not?"

"Moreover, this palace is very generous; I have even offered you the maidservants by my side... If you are willing, those concubines whom the Liang King never touched while he was alive, including that eldest daughter of the Jia Mansion, Jia Guifei, as well as those sisters of the Liang King, the Eldest Princess and the Little Princess, can all come over to serve you together with this palace when the time comes... It is nothing like your Bai Daxiaojie, who cannot even bear to part with her own sister-in-law..."