Chapter 197: Chapter 195: A Fine Tale of Monarch and Ministers_1 Chapter 197: Chapter 195: A Fine Tale of Monarch and Ministers_1 The Crown Prince walked along the riverbank with his hands behind his back, pondering for a while before slowly coming to a stop.

Bai Qingyan, who was following behind the Crown Prince, also stopped. The Crown Prince looked back at the guards still some distance away from them and spoke: “Before I came to the southern borders, my father gave me a secret order. When the southern war ends, Miss Bai need not return to Dadu City. Do you understand what this means?”

“Is it my life he wants?”

Bai Qingyan’s words were straightforward and candid, making the Crown Prince feel guilty. His hands behind his back tightened, uncertain if the advice from Old Fang and the others was any good.

“But I want to save you!” the Crown Prince said.

The sound of the rushing Jinghe River was loud, almost drowning out the Crown Prince’s words.

But Bai Qingyan cupped her hands and said to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness has been kind to me. I cannot let you be troubled. A ruler wants his ministers to die, so a minister must die. But I ask that Your Highness spare my life until the war is completely over. Even if I die in battle, I will not disgrace my Bai family.”

Hearing the word “kindness,” the Crown Prince’s ears moved, reminded of the loyalty and sacrifice of the Bai family for the country and the people. He shook his head: “Though I am not talented, I know that at this moment, the Jin Kingdom has no one more exceptional than Miss Bai! Miss Bai must not die. Even if it costs my life, I will ensure your safety.”

The Crown Prince’s words were three parts true and seven parts false, carefully balanced with emotion. If it were anyone else, they would likely believe him.

But she remembered that her grandfather had been deceived by the Emperor, handing over his loyalty only to have his descendants perish in the southern border, which chilled her heart.

Today’s Crown Prince was so much like the Emperor back then!

Bai Qingyan could not feign being moved to tears. Instead, she knelt on one knee and asked the Crown Prince: “How can I let Your Highness be troubled?”

The Crown Prince helped her up: “No matter the trouble, I will protect Miss Bai, not for anything else but for the people of the Jin Kingdom! Will Miss Bai follow me?”

“Your Highness…” Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together before asking, “May I ask what Your Highness’s ambition is in this life?”

The Crown Prince’s palm tightened as he recalled Qin Shangzhi’s words…

Qin Shangzhi had said that this eldest daughter of the Bai family fully inherited the spirit of the Bai family. Born for the people and dying for the country were the six words that defined the Bai family’s mission. If the Crown Prince wanted Bai Qingyan to serve him, he needed to show her his ambition!

Qin Shangzhi had also reminded the Crown Prince not to forget the eulogy Bai Qingyan recited at the Bai family funeral, the words of King of Zhen Bai Weiting: unwavering loyalty, wishing to bring peace to the common people and build stability in the world, staying true until death.

The Crown Prince silently recited the words, looked into Bai Qingyan’s clear and calm eyes, and said: “My ambition is to see the people live in a time of peace and prosperity.”

She silently looked at the Crown Prince, wondering if the Emperor had appeared as sincere and unreserved when he said those words to her grandfather.

“Your Highness, do you know why my grandfather brought all the Bai family men to the southern battlefield?”

Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan did not pledge loyalty but mentioned something unrelated. The Crown Prince was stunned and responded automatically: “I do not know…”

“Back then, the Emperor told my grandfather that his ambition was for the whole world. Since my grandfather was loyal to the Emperor and his minister, he naturally had to plan for the Emperor’s ambition. Since the Emperor wanted the world, the Jin Kingdom needed powerful generals! Other feudal lords were unwilling to send their heirs to the battlefield, so my grandfather had all the Bai family men, legitimate and otherwise, go out for training to prepare for the Emperor’s future conquests!”

The Crown Prince was shocked. He had never thought that Bai Weiting’s bringing all the Bai men to the battlefield was for such a reason!

“So today, since Bai Qingyan wants to pledge loyalty to Your Highness, she needs to know Your Highness’s ambition. Please tell me truthfully. Otherwise, like my grandfather with the Emperor, if Your Highness does not make your intentions clear, it may lead to misunderstanding and suspicion.”

The Crown Prince seriously looked at Bai Qingyan. Her words were bold. If not for her true intention to serve him, such audacity, akin to accusing the current Emperor, would be daring to express!

Throughout history, anyone with talent choosing a master must fear ending up like Bai Weiting.

Bai Qingyan had no descendants. If she served him, she would surely be loyal for life.

Old Fang had even suggested to the Crown Prince to take Bai Qingyan as a side consort into his household. But although Bai Qingyan was beautiful, the Crown Prince felt a sacred untouchable aura from her and couldn’t develop intimacy. So, after much thought, he dismissed the idea.

At this moment, the Crown Prince hesitated on whether to honestly reveal his desire just to maintain Jin’s current glory or to show Bai Qingyan his “ambition” as Qin Shangzhi advised.

The Crown Prince did not rush to answer. Bai Qingyan stood quietly, listening to the Jinghe River’s flow, motionless.

After a while, the Crown Prince finally looked up at Bai Qingyan and said: “Father mistakenly doubted the King of Zhen. I won’t doubt General Bai! Throughout history, wise rulers and virtuous ministers have been a cherished tale. I hope that after a hundred years, the historians would record that I and General Bai achieved such a tale.”

General Bai?

The change in address meant he did not see her as a girl but as a loyal minister who could help create a cherished tale of wise ruler and virtuous minister.

After a moment, Bai Qingyan solemnly knelt before the Crown Prince, bowed her head, and said: “Bai Qingyan is willing to sacrifice everything for Your Highness’s ambition, facing any danger without retreat.”

Thus, Bai Qingyan officially pledged her service to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was quite moved. He bent down and helped Bai Qingyan up again: “But the pursuit of a peaceful world cannot be rushed. First, we must stabilize Jin.”

Bai Qingyan did not truly believe the Crown Prince’s ambition was to unite the world.

Today’s journey to the Jinghe River with the Crown Prince was merely a performance. The Crown Prince was performing for her, and she was performing for him.

The Crown Prince sought only to maintain Jin’s current hegemony. Their paths were different, but for now, they could still be mutually beneficial.

Thinking this, she suddenly paused…

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Had the Emperor held the same thoughts of use when he said those words to her grandfather?

After experiencing so much, she had changed. She had failed her grandfather’s teachings and the Bai family’s ancestral precepts, becoming a complete hypocrite!

However, she had no regrets.

The road ahead was treacherous. As long as she could protect the Bai family and their army and fulfill the Bai family’s generational mission, she would be a righteous hypocrite.

Seeing Bai Qingyan not responding for a long time, the Crown Prince clenched his fists and asked: “Does General Bai find my words improper?”