The only obstacle left for her now was Baili Xi, and delaying him was the most crucial task.
"Yunyan... do you think Baili Xi is good or bad?"
"This servant dare not discuss General Baili."
"It's alright, it's just you and me here. I'm asking you to speak, so speak. I won't blame you."
"Yes, Princess." After receiving Murong Jinyun's permission, Yunyan said tremblingly.
"This servant feels that General Baili is capable on the battlefield, achieving great feats. Without General Baili, our Xiliang would not have won so many victories. Moreover, General Baili is loyal to His Majesty and to Xiliang. Therefore, this servant believes General Baili should be a good person."
Murong Jinyun listened to Yunyan's account attentively. By the end, a faint cold smile played on her lips. "As an outsider who knows nothing, you naturally think Baili Xi is good. I suppose the common people of Xiliang also think Baili Xi is good. It's no wonder the Baili clan has such great prestige in Xiliang."
"Many even believe that my father's throne is entirely secured by the power of the Baili clan. The Baili clan is more like the true ruler of Xiliang, and my father... my father truly seems like a puppet."
Yunyan's legs went weak, and she immediately knelt on the ground, her whole body trembling. "Princess, these were unintentional words. This servant absolutely did not mean anything by it. Please clarify, Princess, please clarify."
"Look how scared you are. I was merely voicing my own thoughts. I don't intend to blame you. Don't go kneeling down at every turn."
Murong Jinyun reached out and helped Yunyan up from the ground. With such proneness to kneeling at the slightest disagreement, she felt truly alone, with no one to talk to.
She used to feel so constrained within the palace, but now, having left it, she still felt just as restricted. She didn't even have anyone to accompany her for a simple conversation. Life was truly dull. She might as well have been a commoner, living more freely.
"You may go now, go and rest. I am also tired and will sleep for a while."
After speaking with Baili Xi for so long, she was mentally and physically exhausted and now only wished to lie on her bed and sleep soundly.
After sending Yunyan away, Murong Jinyun lay on the bed. Baili Xi's words constantly echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt no sleepiness at all. Instead, her thoughts raced, becoming more alert the more she thought.
Murong Jinyun sighed helplessly. It seemed she truly wouldn't be able to sleep. After lying down for a while, she got out of bed.
The wedding day was only a few days away. If her prediction was correct, Baili Xi would definitely make a move. She had to find a way to stop it.
However, she had no idea who Baili Xi would assign to the task, nor how he planned to execute it. She had no clue about any of it.
Furthermore, if Dong Chu were to find out about this, they would all find it difficult to leave this place alive. And Gu Beichen... he would surely be implicated.
What if the Emperor of Dong Chu was a foolish and incompetent ruler? What if all the blame was placed on Gu Beichen?
How could she stand by and watch Gu Beichen be implicated because of her, and drag down the entire Zhennan King's estate? Murong Jinyun's heart was in a complete turmoil.
For the past few days, her heart had felt like it was weighed down by a massive stone, crushing her breath. Every step she took felt like she was gasping for air, her breathing difficult.
Many times, when facing Gu Beichen, she had almost lost control and revealed everything she felt. She truly couldn't bear to deceive Gu Beichen any longer. If this continued, she feared she would fall ill from worry, and her end would be near.
Murong Jinyun sat up in bed. Even if she wanted to tell Gu Beichen about this matter, she didn't know how to begin. What would Gu Beichen think of her if he knew the truth? These were things she dared not contemplate.
...
"General, the matter has been arranged. We just need to wait for the wedding day, and with the Princess's assistance, everything will fall into place, and our long-cherished ambition will be realized."
"This matter requires recalculation. The Princess is not prepared to help us."
Baili Xi's tone was filled with disappointment. He had already guessed Murong Jinyun's decision this time, but he hadn't expected it to come so quickly.
"General, you mean... the Princess, she intends to betray Xiliang!"
The man suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief. He never imagined that the Princess of Xiliang would betray Xiliang. This was something he absolutely dared not think of.
"If the Princess doesn't help us, then won't this matter... won't it be difficult to achieve..."
"No! Even if the Princess doesn't help us, this matter must proceed as planned. After so much planning, we cannot give up now. I am unwilling, I am absolutely unwilling!"
Baili Xi slammed his palm onto the table, his eyes filled with determination. He would not allow such a thing to happen.
After planning for so long, and with success so close, how could he give up at this moment?
"Issue the orders to proceed according to the original plan without any deviation. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable!"
"Yes, General. This subordinate will go and arrange it immediately." The man nodded and then stepped out.
Baili Xi sat in his chair for a long time in silence. After a pause, he stood up, took a box from the bookshelf, and retrieved a red porcelain bottle from within.
When he left Xiliang, he had brought this item with him. He had originally kept it for peace of mind, as a precaution, never expecting it to be useful.
Since things had reached this point, he had no choice but to take a risk, to employ a desperate stratagem. This was a helpless move.
Only by using this good item on the Emperor of Dong Chu could he allow him to enjoy a final spectacle.
Having made up his mind, Baili Xi tightly gripped the porcelain bottle and called in the guards outside the door, handing the bottle to them.
"Take this to the palace and have the one inside use it on the Emperor of Dong Chu. Everything must be done with caution, so as not to arouse suspicion."
"Your subordinate obeys."
The guard took the porcelain bottle and immediately withdrew.
Baili Xi remained filled with worry. Even after arranging things, his heart was unsettled until the matter was fully concluded.
After much hesitation, Baili Xi decided to write a letter and send it via carrier pigeon to Xiliang, detailing all that had happened here. However, he did not explicitly state that Murong Jinyun had changed her allegiance, only mentioning a few vague points to gloss over it.