Chapter 739: Chapter 739: Thoughts and Traces Miao Zhu inside the guest room heard the talking and opened the door. She glanced at Baili Zhengrong, brimming with a smile, and asked Leng Yu Yan, “Your Highness, why does he call you sister?” Leng Yu Yan said, “This is a long story.” Baili Zhengrong nodded at Miao Zhu and smiled, “Your Highness treats me like a brother, so naturally, I should call you sister.” His smile was clear, which made Miao Zhu frown. She immediately grabbed Leng Yu Yan’s arm, and both the maid and her master entered the room. After shutting the door, Miao Zhu added, “Your Highness, he calls you sister, not like how he addresses Sister Miao Zhu or Sister Chun Liu.” “I had originally refused, but when the Emperor of Nandian spoke, what could I say?” Leng Yu Yan placed the medicine kit on the table and spoke softly, “Besides, just now I also wanted him to change his way of addressing me; after all, you heard what was said at the door.” Miao Zhu walked over, poured a cup of water, and handed it to Leng Yu Yan, sighing, “Xiaoshan has a sweet mouth, but calling you sister this way, doesn’t it seem a bit too sweet?” Leng Yu Yan took a sip of water and then said, “Don’t overthink it, I just didn’t want the Emperor of Nandian to misunderstand, that’s why I said we are like siblings.” Miao Zhu thought it over and lowered her voice, “Actually, it’s all good as long as we can settle down in Nandian. Moreover, since Your Highness has no fate with the Crown Prince, you should have a new life.” While they talked, she went to make the bed. Leng Yu Yan walked to the window and looked towards the night sky of Nandian: “Of course, a new life is needed.” But she would never touch anything to do with love again. Baili Zhengrong was now standing behind the door of his own room next door. The rooms in the inn were divided by wooden boards, therefore the soundproofing was not good, and he had almost heard the entire conversation between Leng Yu Yan and Miao Zhu. Since Your Highness has come to Nandian, she is no longer connected to the Tiancheng Crown Prince. In that case, he could protect her even better. If he wanted to call her sister, then sister it was. He did want to call her by her name, but for now, he did not want to make his feelings so obvious. Mainly because it was not the time to reveal his intentions. She had been wronged in Tiancheng; if she was frightened by him again, where else could she go? So, he would have to take it slowly. He wanted to be her most steadfast and reliable protector! In another guest room, Leng Yu Yan asked Miao Zhu, “Do you know if Second Brother has been suspected?” Someone’s mood was unpredictable, and she feared she had implicated Second Brother. Miao Zhu finished making the bed, then came over to help Leng Yu Yan take off her outer robe. “Second Young Master is wise; Your Highness, do not worry, there will be no trouble.” The next day, early morning. In the Nandian Court, it was the hour to attend the morning assembly, just like the previous few days, the civil and military officials were already in the hall. These past few days, they were doing this every day, not only to prepare important matters to be presented but even more to inquire about the current situation of Emperor Nandian. The Imperial Concubine, with the help of a eunuch, came in slowly. The officials quickly greeted her: “Princess, may you live thousands of years!” The Imperial Concubine stopped and pretended to be sorrowful, “The Emperor grows worse with each passing day. If the gentlemen have matters to present, please submit your petitions, and I will relay them for you.” As she spoke, she wept, “I do not know if the Emperor can hear them?” At this time, an official stepped forward: “Your Highness, the most urgent matter is to establish the Imperial Princess as soon as possible!” Another agreed, “Yes, with the current situation in Nandian, establishing the Imperial Princess early will benefit the stability of the state.” “Princess Wen Yi is not in Nandian.” “Princess Wen Yi is in Tiancheng, bustling between the two nations for the sake of their relationship. We should support Princess Wen Yi in our own country, regardless of whether she is in Nandian or not,” someone retorted. This statement immediately garnered the agreement of numerous ministers. The ministers’ voices rose in discussion. What they proposed was mainly to solidify Baili Wen Yi’s status as Imperial Princess, in case the Emperor Nandian suddenly passed on. The Imperial Concubine, upon hearing this, was satisfied at heart but showed no sign of it on her face. She maintained her heartbroken demeanor and turned to ask the eunuch serving the Emperor Nandian, “Tell us, what exactly is the Emperor’s condition right now?” Follow current novᴇls on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽 In tune with the Imperial Concubine’s wishes, the eunuch replied, “Your Highness, the Emperor coughed up a good amount of blood the night before last. He has been in a deep sleep since, and has not awakened during the day.” The Imperial Concubine’s tears streamed even more plentifully; she asked almost in a choked voice, “Honorable ministers, what should I do?” While speaking, she glanced at her own people. Straight away, someone among them nodded slightly, stepped forward, and proclaimed loudly, “The Empress has been overseeing court affairs these days, which is evident to us all. When the Emperor was lucid, Princess Wen Yi was already acting as regent, which implicitly recognizes her status as Imperial Princess. Given this, I boldly request Your Highness to confirm Princess Wen Yi’s status as Imperial Princess!” To have the Imperial Concubine confirm Baili Wen Yi’s status as Imperial Princess, this was, in any hearing, against ancestral regulations. But given the extraordinary current circumstances, even those who were dissatisfied dared not voice their discontent. The Imperial Concubine’s brows moved slightly, as she fought back the urge to smile triumphantly, raising her sleeve in a gesture of sorrow. Just then, a spirited voice rang out. Looking in the direction the sound had come from, the crowd saw the grey-haired Emperor Nandian being supported by a young man with completely white hair. The crowd was shocked. Wasn’t it said that he was unconscious? And who was the young man beside him? The Imperial Concubine’s eyes narrowed sharply. She had visited him almost every night, seeing him lying straight as a board in the Dragon Bed, no different from a dead man; how could he now seem as if nothing had happened? What shocked her even more was that the young man with white hair next to Baili Shuo bore a resemblance to someone. Exactly who, she couldn’t recall at the moment, only that he was one among numerous women associated with Baili Shuo. Under the gaze of everyone present, Baili Shuo walked up to the Dragon Chair and sat down, surveying the hall with a slow gaze. “My head ailment struck, and to my surprise, so many people were eager for my death,” Baili Shuo laughed out loud. “I’m afraid you will be disappointed, as I’m still very much alive.” “Today, I have two matters to announce. First, to confine the Imperial Concubine to the cold palace.” Due to his stubborn head ailment, Imperial Power had long fallen into the hands of the Imperial Concubine and her faction. The Imperial Concubine’s faction held too much power; before gathering evidence, it was necessary to isolate her. Sending the Imperial Concubine to the cold palace and cutting off all her contacts would make the task much easier. The Imperial Concubine, upon hearing this, was utterly stunned. “Your Majesty, even if I have no merits, I have endured hardships, how can you…” Baili Shuo cut her off with a gesture, and guards in blue immediately appeared, escorting the Imperial Concubine out of the grand hall. As the Imperial Concubine struggled, she turned and cried out, “Your Majesty, I have served in handling state affairs with all my heart and strength, unaware of any crime committed. Why do you treat me this way?” Baili Shuo seemed as if he heard her not, instead gesturing towards a young man standing not far away. “This is my son, Baili Zhengrong.” With this declaration, the ministers were astounded, “It’s Baili Zhengrong? It’s Baili Zhengrong!” Baili Zhengrong was actually still alive; the Imperial Concubine’s partisans inwardly cursed their luck. Now, as they saw the Imperial Concubine being escorted away, they all tucked their tails and kept quiet. Was the Emperor’s appearance today a flicker of vitality before death? Baili Shuo’s head ailment had been examined by doctors throughout the nation, none able to cure him. Under these circumstances, Baili Shuo’s current appearance could only be explained as a temporary resurgence. What they could do now was to send an urgent message for Princess Wen Yi, who was far off in Tiancheng, to hurry back to Nandian immediately.