Chapter 666
Bai Qingyan went out to meet Wang Jianghai in the prison. She ordered everyone in the household not to leak any information, especially not to let the Eldest Princess and the second madam, Mrs. Liu, know.
Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan into the carriage. She originally wanted to go along, but the eldest young lady instructed her to find Bai Jinzhi instead. Chun Tao could only repeatedly remind the eldest young lady to be careful, with tears in her eyes as she watched the carriage go far.
Inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan, pale and bloodless, closed her eyes, fingers rubbing her fourth uncle’s jade pendant, with red, moist eyes.
She would rather that Wang Jianghai told her that her fourth uncle was still alive, kept by King Xian or imprisoned by Wang Jianghai as a reserve force.
She would rather Wang Jianghai use her fourth uncle to threaten her into doing anything, anything at all!
As long as… her fourth uncle was still alive.
Grandfather must bless it. Her fourth uncle must still be alive!
As long as her fourth uncle was alive, and came to play chess with her again, she would never again disdain her uncle’s poor chess skills and refuse to play with him. She would be patient and play chess with him, definitely… let him happily win once.
Bai Qingyan’s carriage moved slowly, while Lu Ping rode ahead to arrange things at the prison. By the time Bai Qingyan arrived, Lu Ping was already waiting at the prison gate.
Two lonely paper lanterns swayed with the wind before the prison gate. The dim light made the old and new prison gate appear even more eerie.
Lu Ping helped the cloaked and hooded Bai Qingyan down from the carriage and led her into the prison.
In the dark, damp prison, dim oil lamps flickered on the walls, and occasional cries made the prison seem even more sinister.
Wang Jianghai sat cross-legged on the moldy straw, his pale, dry lips tightly pressed together. He knew his days were numbered.
That day, Bai Qingyan had ridden fast, with the horse trampling on him, injuring his heart and lungs. Who would get a doctor for the rebels?
Now, Wang Jianghai could only sit here cross-legged, relying on sheer willpower to hold on.
No matter what, Wang Jianghai had to save his son.
Xiao Wang managed to get a bowl of cold water from the prison guard after much begging and hurriedly brought it to Wang Jianghai, saying, “Father… drink some water first.”
A few days ago, he had been shot in the collarbone. Now the wound was festering, causing unbearable pain. But he couldn’t show it to avoid worrying his father. He forced a smile at his father.
Wang Jianghai’s slightly cloudy and bloodshot eyes glanced at his son. He took a sip of water from his son’s hand and said, “When the Princess of Zhen comes, no matter what I say, don’t make a sound. I will ensure your safety!”
Just as Wang Jianghai finished speaking, they heard footsteps approaching. He looked up in the direction of the sound. Soon… he saw Lu Ping leading a slender figure in a black cloak and hood appear at the prison gate.
Xiao Wang General instinctively straightened up to protect his father, but Wang Jianghai patted his arm, signaling him to help him up.
Xiao Wang General put down the water bowl and supported Wang Jianghai.
Clenching his teeth, Wang Jianghai struggled to breathe and knelt down to kowtow to Bai Qingyan, his voice trembling, “Greetings, Princess of Zhen!”
Bai Qingyan removed the hood, revealing a sickly pale face.
It had been a few days since they last saw each other. Bai Qingyan’s complexion was even worse. Her face was ghastly pale, and she looked much thinner. Her stunning features became even more defined, her deep, somber eyes shone with hidden intensity, looking down at Wang Jianghai.
“Where did you get my fourth uncle’s jade pendant?” Bai Qingyan asked.
“Princess of Zhen, years ago during the Northern Frontier battle, I saved the fourth master of the Bai family, Bai Qichuan. The fourth master gave me this jade pendant, saying… if I ever needed anything, I could bring the pendant to the Bai family, and he would help me.” Wang Jianghai kowtowed heavily, “Today, I dare to use the jade pendant to ask the Princess of Zhen to come because I know the Bai family keeps its promises. Even though the fourth master is no longer here, the Bai family will surely fulfill his promise upon seeing the jade pendant.”
Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the jade pendant. It wasn’t that her fourth uncle was alive but that he had given it away?
Her heart sank further.
Her gaze grew colder, “You indeed know the Bai family well.”
Wang Jianghai looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his voice choked, and his demeanor extremely humble, “Wang Jianghai knows his crime of treason is unforgivable… but I only ask the Princess of Zhen to show mercy and save my son’s life! After my death, I will tell the fourth master of the Bai family that the Princess of Zhen has repaid his life-saving grace.”
After speaking, Wang Jianghai kowtowed heavily again. The loud sound showed his sincerity. His voice was full of pleading, red-eyed and humble, “As long as the Princess of Zhen saves my son, from now on, he will serve at her command!”
“Father!” Xiao Wang choked on his words.
Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell upon Xiao Wang General. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Meeting her eyes, Xiao Wang General felt her cold, frightening stare.
He bit his lip, unable to bear seeing his father humiliated to save his life, he shouted, “Father! Stand up… I am willing to die with you! I would rather die standing than live kneeling!”
“This Xiao General Wang doesn’t seem like someone who would be at my disposal.” Bai Qingyan’s voice was cold and stern.
Wang Jianghai quickly pressed his son’s head down, kowtowing with him, “My son’s unruly words. I beg for the Princess of Zhen’s forgiveness! Can I let my son swear an oath? If he fails to serve the Princess of Zhen in this life, may my entire Wang family never find peace in death, and may their spirits suffer eternally without reincarnation!”
“Father!” Xiao Wang’s voice was filled with heavy sobs, his fists clenched tightly, “Why must it come to this! Why must it come to this!”
Wang Jianghai looked deeply at his son with reddened eyes, then at Bai Qingyan, “Princess of Zhen, I am just an ordinary man in the world, greedy for power and wealth. This rebellion was to seek merit. I am not a good man, nor a good son or husband! The only thing I can claim is… I am a good father, protecting my son’s safety!”
Wang Jianghai’s words were heartfelt, hoping to move Bai Qingyan with sincerity.
Besides this jade pendant, he had no other bargaining chips to force Bai Qingyan to protect his son.
That’s why he requested the prison guard to send the jade pendant to the Princess of Zhen, without daring to reveal from the start that it was given to him by the fourth master of the Bai family during the Northern Frontier battle.
Because the fourth master’s body hadn’t been returned to Dadu, the Bai family surely held hope and would come to the prison to inquire about the fourth master.