Pei Lingshu clenched her teeth, the grinding sound sharp and brittle. “It’s him? I never once suspected him... He’s held high office all these years, standing above the world. How can he sleep peacefully at night?”
“Calm down. We have no proof yet—that’s why this trip to the southwest is crucial. If I want to bring Bai Qingqing along, I fear His Majesty may…”
Pei Lingshu snapped her head up. “Fear what? Is he going to suspect you too?”
Ning Yan let out a soft laugh. “You forget—he is the emperor.”
Pei Lingshu pressed her lips into a thin line and turned away, saying nothing more.
On the table, three wine cups sat. One of them was always empty. He knew no third person would ever join them again, but out of habit, he still prepared three.
Ning Yan reported everything concerning Prince Ping truthfully. As expected, the emperor ordered him to set out for the southwest immediately. “Dig three feet into the earth if you must, but uncover the truth!”
“Your servant obeys.”
Ning Yan’s expression remained composed. “There is one more matter. The eldest daughter of the Bai family wishes to go to the southwest as well. The Duke of England is deeply familiar with this affair. He once sought to reverse Ling Binyu’s case—he must’ve uncovered much back then. With the Bai family’s support, things may proceed more smoothly.”
The emperor’s eyes narrowed, scanning Ning Yan’s calm face in silence, as if trying to discern the thoughts hidden behind his placid demeanor.
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After a moment, he shook his head. “No. What help could a woman possibly be? And the Bai family is too valuable a target right now—keeping them in Xuancheng is of far greater use.”
“Bai Qingqing may seem delicate, but she never wavers once she’s made up her mind. And Your Majesty’s order only barred the Bai family’s men from leaving the city…”
“Then I shall issue another decree. From this moment on, no one of the Bai family—man or woman—may leave the city without my explicit permission.”
Ning Yan let out a soft sigh. “Your Majesty, she is the little Xiangxiang.”
“Xiangxiang…?” The emperor’s expression froze. “You mean, she’s the one from back then…?”
Ning Yan gave a slight nod. The emperor leaned back, thoughtful, murmuring to himself, “So it was her… It was that little sachet she gave me that won Huai Fu’s favor, that piqued Huai Fu’s interest in fragrances…”
That sachet had been the beginning of his bond with Huai Fu—the closest of all brothers. And it was said: He who wins Huai Fu, wins the world. In the end, he did ascend the throne.
“To think, after all these years, Huai Fu still favors the scents she makes… Truly, destiny works in strange ways.”
This karmic thread, it seemed, had to be repaid after all.
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A servant at the gate of the Duke of England’s residence ran inside to deliver the message. Bai Jinghuai was speaking with Bai Qingqing when he paused mid-sentence. “Who’s outside?”
“The Commander of the Embroidered Guards, sir. He’s already been shown to the side hall.”
Bai Jinghuai shot to his feet. “Quick, quick—take me there! Ah, why didn’t Lord Ning send word beforehand? Something urgent must’ve happened!”
Bai Qingqing was curious as well, but propriety forbade her from following, so she remained in the study, reviewing what her father had just told her.
Bai Jinghuai hurried to the side hall and greeted Ning Yan with a flurry of concern. “My lord, what brings you here in person? Has something changed with the Bai family’s situation?”
Ning Yan glanced past him, then back. “No. I heard Bai Qingqing intends to travel to the southwest?”
Bai Jinghuai’s face darkened at once. “Where did you hear that, my lord? Has this already spread outside?”
“Be at ease, Duke. No one else knows. I heard of it through... certain particular channels.”
That only made him more anxious.