As soon as he asked this, Song Qingchao excitedly stood up, "You know where my mother is!?"
She was a bit lost, "I've had people search for so long without any news, how do you know?"
Bai You'an hugged her, wanting to calm her down.
His large hands kept patting her back.
"Your mother is in the deep pool behind the imperial palace. It's always cold there, and ice is supplied year-round. The Emperor specially made an ice coffin for her. The reason I didn't rescue your mother is because I thought that once your father came out, you could see her one last time."
"What!? The person who hid my mother's body was the Emperor?"
Song Qingchao's eyes welled up with tears.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The dignified ruler of a nation.
Actually stole a minister's wife's remains and kept them preserved within the imperial palace.
Ridiculous! Truly ridiculous!
Da Yuan deserved to fall!
With such a ruler, how could Da Yuan be strong?
To think she had considered letting him off before.
Regret.
Now, Song Qingchao felt only this one emotion.
"Listen to me. You should know the relationship between my father, your father, and the Emperor. Your father voluntarily stayed in Nan Yi and separated from everyone back then. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
Song Qingchao couldn't understand why things had to be traced back so far.
"Because of your mother."
Bai You'an's voice was also tinged with melancholy. "Back then, both the Emperor and my master liked your mother. But your mother liked my master, so the Emperor left. Otherwise, as the Crown Prince, why would he abandon his people and return to Chang'an to seek refuge?"
Song Qingchao couldn't believe it for a moment.
"So, you mean the Emperor forced my mother?"
"Not exactly."
"Perhaps your mother didn't tell you, but she had a younger sister. She is now Consort Liang in the palace."
Song Qingchao's mind exploded.
Things she hadn't understood for years suddenly became clear.
She had always wondered why her father stayed indoors, and even her mother didn't go out.
During festivals and imperial banquets where the female members of the court needed to attend, her mother, who loved liveliness so much, had never attended.
The reason was all here.
Song Qingchao found it laughable.
"So, it was my aunt who caused my mother's death, wasn't it?"
She watched Bai You'an nod with difficulty.
She found the matter both absurd and comical.
For a man, for unobtainable love, they wouldn't even spare their own sister.
"Consort Liang didn't act directly. She doesn't have much influence in the palace or power outside of it. She is very cautious and skilled at manipulating people. She revealed this old affair to Consort Wan, and it was Consort Wan who took action."
"Consort Wan is allied with Prime Minister Wang."
Song Qingchao picked up the conversation.
He hated himself for not having beaten Prime Minister Wang to death with a single blow back then!
"Consort Wan desired favor, and Prime Minister Wang wanted military power. These two colluded to destroy a renowned general..."
Bai You'an uttered the words "destroyed" with extreme sorrow.
He knew his master's fate in his past life.
A young and famous general, capable of repelling countless enemies with his mere presence.
He had struggled for half his life, but fortunately, he had defended Da Yuan and its territory for his master.
In this life, he didn't want his master to leave with regrets.
He wanted his master to enjoy his old age in a prosperous Da Yuan.
He lowered his head and brushed away Song Qingchao's tears, "Alright, don't cry. It breaks my heart."
Song Qingchao, with red eyes, stubbornly urged Bai You'an to continue.
"Can you bear it?"
Bai You'an asked solicitously.
"I can. Please tell me."
They sat down again.
Bai You'an waited until Song Qingchao's emotions had stabilized somewhat before continuing.
"Regarding the Northern Barbarians, Da Yuan no longer has a general who can contend with them. Instead, they have taken risks and ventured into Da Yuan's territory without any action from our side."
Song Qingchao's gaze followed Bai You'an's finger, focusing on the map.
The location he pointed to was where they were currently.
"The old chieftain was my father's subordinate. Although my father... you know, he left half of his fighting force here for the stability of Mobei."
Song Qingchao looked up to speak but was pecked by Bai You'an.
"I'm fine."
Bai You'an continued, "That old fox, Zuo Suiran, knew that the old chieftain was protecting Mobei, so he never interfered. That's why Mobei is as stable as it is today. But after the Northern Barbarians have done so much, how can they give up so easily?"
"So they've set their sights on the interior of Da Yuan."
Song Qingchao chimed in.
"If the interior of Da Yuan falls into chaos, what good are the copper walls and iron ramparts on the outer defenses? Sooner or later, they will be breached."
Bai You'an nodded in agreement.
"Chao Chao is absolutely right," he paused. "This is why Hong Niang wanted me to come. Firstly, to see what I thought, and secondly, this mountain stronghold is nearing its breaking point."
'It doesn't look like it's about to break,'
Song Qingchao questioned doubtfully.
Bai You'an sighed indeed.
"The old chieftain contracted a strange illness about half a year ago, and he can't hold on any longer. Hong Niang is the sole heir, but the old chieftain knows that Hong Niang is popular, but she's not good at troop deployment and strategy."
"So the old chieftain chose you?"
Bai You'an nodded. "I am now the Young Master, which is why I can stay in this Luoyunjian. Luoyunjian and Shuiyunjian were originally one entity, and they were separated due to certain events."
Song Qingchao tilted her head to look at him. "But how did you become the Young Master? Is having a title enough?"
Bai You'an stuttered, then laughed. "I fought a fight, and I won."
Song Qingchao's expression changed upon hearing this.
She hadn't looked closely when she entered, but she had noticed that his complexion wasn't very good.
"So your poor complexion is because you're injured?"
Bai You'an pulled at the corners of his mouth and lounged back. "I can get injured?"
Song Qingchao wouldn't believe his nonsense.
She placed one knee on the step and reached for Bai You'an.
Bai You'an, however, leaned back to dodge her.
Song Qingchao was annoyed and lunged forward, but she was still careful not to touch him as much as possible.
She didn't know where the wound was, and she moved with restraint.
Bai You'an was still blocking her, and she felt very...
"Bai You'an, don't move. If you move again, I'll get angry."
"What are you angry about? I'm fine, really."
Song Qingchao instead let out a "humph." "I'm angry that you're lying to me again."
Bai You'an seemed confused.
"How did I lie to you?"
Song Qingchao glared at him and grabbed his collar. "It was those soldiers you arranged who said those things, wasn't it?"
She squinted her eyes. "You knew I was coming all along, so you deliberately let people expose your location in front of me."
She pointed a finger at Bai You'an's nose in a threatening manner.
"It seems I was right. From now on, you are not allowed to move, no matter what I do."