With the First Princess Fulin vouching for her, claiming she personally rescued the Bai family's daughter from the clutches of ruffians, Bai Siruo was ultimately portrayed as the most innocent party. This, in turn, helped restore the Bai family's reputation considerably.
Rumors still swirled, but they weren't rampant. Instead, the Wei family's confiscation of the Lu family's assets, along with the entanglement of several merchant families known for their misdeeds in the capital, shifted everyone's attention elsewhere.
"Ayao's method is excellent, a true strike at the root. Siruo's reputation has been largely salvaged, and she's even received the title of Princess Anping. In the future, even within the inner chambers, she need not fear being bullied."
Bai Dalang said this to his father, Prime Minister Bai.
Prime Minister Bai had been taking the physician Zhang's medicine for some time and felt increasingly comfortable. Free from the worries of court affairs, he had adopted the air of a leisurely patriarch.
After hearing Bai Dalang's words, Prime Minister Bai's smile faded. "His Majesty's actions are clearly a favor to the Bai family, an attempt to quell the conflict between the Wei and Bai families. Although Siruo was ennobled, the Wei family was not touched, was it?"
He spoke while holding a miscellaneous records book, reading as he talked.
"Siruo was wronged in this matter. The Lu family, I hear, has been imprisoned, and Lu Yuanfeng has been sentenced to have his waist cut. He awaits execution in autumn."
Those who carried out the arrest bore the full brunt of the blame, but unfortunately, those who instigated the harm from behind the scenes could not be dealt with immediately.
Seeing Bai Dalang's indignant expression, Prime Minister Bai calmly said, "The Wei family won't be able to stir up trouble for much longer. Once Xu returns from Liangzhou, there will be someone to deal with him. As for you, have you carefully considered Ayao's words?"
Bai Dalang furrowed his brow. "Father means for me to strive for more?"
"Indeed. In the past, I always felt that with me here, you could live peaceful lives without worry. But now, having been at the mercy of others, I understand that to protect oneself, one must possess something that inspires fear. Since we cannot retreat, let us advance!"
"I, too, believe so. However, the timing is not yet right. If the opportunity arises, I will certainly strive to ascend." Bai Dalang had shed his former mediocrity and was now filled with ambition.
Seeing his eldest son's demeanor, Prime Minister Bai felt deeply gratified.
At the West City Gate, the grand army, originally scheduled to depart in three days, was only ready on the sixth.
Two hundred thousand troops from Jizhou stood in a vast expanse outside the West Gate, poised for departure, their morale soaring.
Emperor Qi himself had come to boost their spirits.
"All soldiers are the elite lions of our Great Jin. Now that Liangzhou is in distress and the northwest is in peril, and the Northern Di barbarians dare to tread upon our land and insult our people, it is a pipe dream! I bid you farewell here. Upon your triumphant return, a victory banquet will be held to reward the entire army!"
"Victory! Victory! Victory!"
The voices of the three armies rose in unison, deafening, like a tidal wave, stirring Emperor Qi's heart.
In the ten-plus years of his reign, Great Jin had been relatively peaceful. Apart from Prince Ding's campaign in Southern Yue, most generals had focused on training. Actual combat had been rare.
The Ninth Prince, clad in dark yellow armor, stood before the army formation and shouted, "Please rest assured, Father, this campaign to the west will surely end in victory!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the dozen or so generals following him echoed his cry.
Xiao Muqian's gaze was firm yet cold. Looking at the generals behind him, it was exactly as the Prince had predicted.
They were all arranged by the Duke of Wei. They possessed some skill, but not much. However, they were first-rate at snatching credit. Pitiable were those generals who could truly fight on the battlefield, yet they were unable to seize the spotlight. Their eyes were filled with solemnity. Whether they would return from this expedition was uncertain, let alone a victory banquet afterward.
General Su, a man of old and steady disposition, had become adept at concealing his emotions through years of campaigning. Seeing the Ninth Prince's spirited demeanor, he couldn't help but worry.
The farewell banquet was over, and morale had been boosted. It was naturally time for the army to depart.
The Ninth Prince, holding the military seal, gave the order, and the soldiers obeyed.
"Depart!"
The mighty Western Expeditionary Army finally set off on the road to reinforce. In Prince Ding's mansion, Xiao Tingyi listened to Yang Zhao's report with an impassive expression.
"In my subordinate's opinion, it will take three months for the army led by the Ninth Prince to reach Liangzhou. I wonder if General Xiao Ji can hold out?"
"The Liangzhou garrison has fifty thousand troops, and the Northern Di army numbers over a hundred thousand. It will not be easy to deal with them. There are not many troops that can be deployed near the northwest. However, we might be able to find a solution in the exile camps."
Yang Zhao's eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing this. "Your Highness means to allow these prisoners to earn merit through their crimes and join in the defense of the city?"
"Indeed. Among them are many skilled individuals. If we can recruit them, they would be formidable warriors."
Since the founding of Great Jin, the northwest had been a place of exile, primarily because of its harsh climate and the difficulty of escape. Therefore, there were four or five exile camps in the region, two of which were not far from Liangzhou.
"I will send out the message urgently!"
Yang Zhao left in a hurry, but Xiao Tingyi had other plans.
Each exile camp had only two thousand people, with a maximum of thirty percent being capable individuals. Even if all of them were deployed, it would be at most ten thousand. The most crucial element was the Western Expeditionary Army.
The Ninth Prince was clearly stalling for time. But if there was news that forced him to accelerate his advance, then things might change.
For a time, the northwest mines became the bait. If he arranged for someone to spread false information, the impatient Ninth Prince would likely wish he had wings to fly there.
The northwest mines were primarily controlled by the Feng family. A faint smile touched his lips. The Feng family, indeed, had a peculiar connection with him.
The Ninth Prince, who had just set off, was completely unaware that he had fallen into Prince Ding's trap. Meanwhile, Consort Wei was enjoying a period of unprecedented favor, surpassing even the Empress, who held the Imperial Grandson.
Watching Emperor Qi's chests of rewards enter the Hall of Harmonious Cultivation, her eyes were filled with pride.
What good was the Empress? She had given birth to a foolish son, and the woman he married was from a fallen family, giving birth to an Imperial Grandson whose lifespan was uncertain.
What good was Consort Shu? She was merely a beautiful but lifeless beauty, with no foundation and no heir. Even if she gave birth to a son now, he would not compare to her Yunli.
The Ninth Prince's expedition had brought her great honor.
The ban in the Hall of Harmonious Cultivation had long been lifted. She remained the Consort Wei who held sway in the harem and was deeply favored by His Majesty.
"Yueshi, select some suitable gifts. Let us go and see that precious Imperial Grandson."
"Yes."
The First Prince's consort gave birth to the Imperial Grandson on the night of the palace banquet. The entire Chang Le Palace received rewards. She was supposed to return to her residence to recuperate, but the Empress was reluctant to part with the Imperial Grandson and found an excuse.
Since the First Prince had been enfeoffed as a Prince, his original princely mansion also needed to be renovated to match the title of "Prince Ke's Mansion."
Therefore, Princess Ke and the Imperial Grandson remained in the side halls of Chang Le Palace to recuperate, until the mansion was renovated and they could move.