Those who shouldn't be here were present, while those who should weren't. Curiously, Chi Ying asked, "Master Bai?"
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. Chi Ying was even more confused, "Nongyue, where is Master Bai?"
Nongyue awkwardly stammered, "Master Bai… says… he… quits."
"Quits?" Chi Ying burst out laughing, "What does quitting mean? Is it because the monthly salary is too low? Or was he upset with the Princess?"
Yang Qiong, bold enough to risk Cui Yi's wrath, replied, "Princess hasn't caused much trouble recently. Mainly, it was Your Highness who upset Master Bai."
Cui Yi looked bewildered, "How could I upset him? I wasn't even here. Was it you guys who caused trouble and blamed it on me, thinking I wouldn't care?"
Yang Qiong imitated Bai Lizan's tone, "Your Highness treats me like livestock. No, no, I'd rather go back to farming. At least livestock work is done by oxen."
Chi Ying laughed heartily. Cui Yi, embarrassed and angry, exclaimed, "Who treated you like livestock! My chief strategist is a position for livestock? Where is he? Let him come out! I want to confront him face-to-face!"
"Madam!"
As if summoned, Bai Lizan appeared from the corner, tearfully complaining, "Madam, you're finally back! If you hadn't returned, I couldn't live anymore!"
Chi Ying couldn't help but laugh, "Master Bai, what grievances do you have? Let's go inside first. Nongyue, ask the kitchen to prepare some porridge. Little Xian will be hungry soon, and I can't spare time."
Nongyue smiled and left. Yang Qiong and Xie Yong returned to their duties. Chi Ying invited Bai Lizan inside, offering him tea and seating him. Bai Lizan, looking tragic, resembled a widow wronged for decades, ignoring Cui Yi completely, starting his complaint, "Madam, you don't know how miserable my life has been since your disappearance!"
Cui Yi protested, "How so? Did I shortchange you or restrict your freedom? I entrusted you with managing Yan Prefecture. You hold a high position, what more could you want?"
Bai Lizan pretended not to hear, sobbing, "In the capital, you managed household affairs, and I helped occasionally. I could feed cats and enjoy tea and chess. But in Yanzhou, I sleep only two hours a day, waking up before dawn to review documents until the gatekeepers fall asleep. Meals are taken on-site, and I dare not linger in the restroom, fearing chaos caused by Your Highness and Miss Xie…"
He still called Xie Yuchan "Miss Xie," refusing to acknowledge her status as Princess. Still considering Chi Ying the lady of the house, Chi Ying appreciated his loyalty but corrected, "You should call her Princess."
Bai Lizan looked even more miserable, "Not anymore. Before Your Highness left, you locked her and her two maidservants in prison. Is this humane?"
Chi Ying winced, "This… seems a bit…"
"Now, all the maids are arranged by the Xie family. Any slip-up could cause disaster! Your Highness left after locking them up. Who else could clean up the mess? How do I explain Princess's disappearance and Your Highness's absence? How do I face Young Master Xie? This life is unbearable!"
Bai Lizan vented his frustrations, sighed, stood up, and bowed, "Miss Xie and the others are still in prison. Only the guards know they're locked up. Now that Madam is back, I'm done. Take care, Madam." Without waiting for Cui Yi, he left.
Cui Yi: "…"
Chi Ying: "Cough, cough! Your Highness."
Cui Yi snapped back to reality, turning to her with an unnatural neck, "I've had enough of her. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, either her or me."
Chi Ying almost cried, "One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers? Shouldn't I say that? Miss Xie might be harsh to us, but she has always been considerate to Your Highness. How can you not tolerate her?"
Cui Yi slammed the table angrily, "It's all Master Bai's idea! To pretend to be sick to avoid her. But she kept sending me tonic soup, forcing me to drink it all. My nose even bled. Is this living?"
Chi Ying calmed him down, "Alright, alright, everyone has their difficulties. Your Highness has worked hard. Let's first persuade Master Bai back. I can't handle this alone. How about inviting everyone for dinner tonight to discuss this matter?"
"Whatever you decide, I'll follow," Cui Yi distractedly agreed.
That evening, Chi Ying gathered everyone in the Yan Prefecture Martial Palace to discuss handling Xie Yuchan and the Xie family. Xie Yong wasn't invited, dining alone in his room.
Seeing the "sumptuous" dishes, Chi Ying nearly cried, "You… eat this every day?"
Seven or eight dishes, mostly wild vegetables, mushrooms, and dried bamboo shoots, with a basket of buns in the center. The only meat was a skinny chicken.
Chi Ying opened a bun, finding leek and egg filling, recalling her days of mutton soup in the Boxia tribe, tears almost fell. Xiaqiu apologized guiltily, "Forgive me, Mistress. I searched the entire market but found no open butcher shops."
Bai Lizan sighed dramatically, "Life…"
Cui Yi, with a stern face, continued, "…is indeed not livable."
Chi Ying, moved to tears, laughed, "Let's sit and eat. Xiaqiu, Nongyue, join us."
Nongyue waved her hands, "No, no, I'm a servant, how can I dine with masters?"
Bai Lizan joked, "Only Your Highness is the master here. We're all servants. Don't worry."
Xiaqiu and Nongyue hesitantly sat down. Cui Yi, indifferent, "Discuss among yourselves. Does my presence matter?"
Chi Ying chuckled, "It's not like that. Everyone gathers to offer advice. The final decision rests with you. We can't make decisions for you."
Cui Yi impatiently poured wine, "Didn't I say you decide? What else?"
"Your Highness," Chi Ying said seriously, "Remember what you said that night in the Xie family courtyard? Now, you're the master. Can I make all decisions for you, even if you become Emperor?"
Cui Yi froze, and everyone present tensed. Cao Qian asked cautiously, "Your Highness…"
Cui Yi quickly regained composure, raising his cup, "I haven't forgotten. Madam is right. I was wrong. Let's drink first."
Everyone hesitated with their cups, but Cui Yi drank his wine, playing with the porcelain cup, asking softly, "If I rebel, what are your plans?"
Rebellion isn't like fighting, hunting, or waging war. Failure means death, and success brings glory. But failure could label them as rebels, traitors, or worse, affecting future generations.
Chi Ying scanned the room, understanding their concerns, and spoke, "We can't call it rebellion. Your mother was Empress Xiaolian, and you are the rightful heir. If not for her early death, the throne wouldn't belong to the Crown Prince."
"Throne or anything else doesn't belong to anyone by birthright," Bai Lizan interjected.
Cui Yi frowned, ready to explode, but Chi Ying smiled, "Master Bai is right. The capable shall ascend. The Crown Prince earned his position through merit, learning, and kindness, favored by the late emperor and officials alike. That's power."