Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Introduction_1

Eldest Princess, accompanied by Bai Qingyan, performed a bow and was about to take their leave after paying respects to the Emperor when Tongji cried out: “Everyone in Dadu City knows, isn’t it all caused by your Bai family?! If it weren’t for Fourth Miss Bai reading the letter in public and inviting the common people to testify for the Bai family, how would they have gathered outside Wude Gate…”

Hearing this, she finally could not suppress the anger she had held back for several hours: “According to what you said, when King Liang tries to tarnish the reputation of the spirits of my Bai family who sacrificed their lives for the Jin Kingdom, should we just accept it respectfully?! King Liang wanted to force me to marry under my grandfather’s name. When my fourth sister got the letter… should she have happily placed it in my grandfather’s study room?!”

Tongji choked up, unable to get a word out, his face turning extremely unpleasant.

“If not for my fourth sister opening the letter in public, we wouldn’t have drawn out King Liang’s handwritten letter… Also, it wouldn’t be revealed that King Liang, who is the same age as me, is so ruthless and decisive, full of strategic courage! And we wouldn’t have known… that King Liang’s talent for acting is so exceptional! Bai Qingyan has no choice but to bow to his superiority!” She laughed coldly.

She had seen plenty of shameless people, but never someone so brazenly self-assured in their shamelessness.

King Liang tightened his grip, maintaining his appearance of foolish cowardice: “Father! Your son is innocent!”

The Emperor looked at King Liang, recalling the intense fury King Liang showed when he silenced Tongji earlier. He also remembered the dream where a white tiger tried to kill him. King Liang and Bai Qingyan were both born in the year of the tiger!

In the end, the Emperor’s gaze fell on Gao Sheng, his fingers involuntarily tightening.

Compared to Bai Qingyan, a mere woman, his son King Liang seemed more likely to covet the Emperor’s throne.

“Have you been sheltered by King Liang at his residence all these years?” The Emperor leaned on the round pillow, asking Gao Sheng calmly.

“Yes!” Gao Sheng replied, “But King Liang does not know my identity.”

“Then why did you reveal your identity today?”

“King Liang’s great kindness in sheltering me back then; Gao Sheng cannot repay kindness with enmity.” Gao Sheng spoke very candidly.

Xiao Ruohai was surprised that Gao Sheng had such an identity. He quietly regretted not being able to recruit this person to assist the Eldest Miss. If Gao Sheng could protect her, it would add another layer of safety for her upcoming trip to the southern border.

Lu Jin looked at Tian Weijun, who seemed deep in thought kneeling beside Gao Sheng, and asked: “What do you have to say?”

Tian Weijun closed his eyes, glancing at the weeping, trembling King Liang: “Nothing…”

“Father, Father, you must believe your son!” King Liang continued to cry.

“Lu Jin, take Gao Sheng, that guard, and the servant by King Liang’s side. Interrogate them thoroughly! Use any means necessary! Extract information from them!” The Emperor’s eyes turned to King Liang with a sinister gaze. “King Liang will be first imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review! After interrogating these three, convict him according to the law!”

King Liang’s pupils quivered, his whole body tensed up. Any means necessary… that meant any torture!

“Father! Father! Your son’s injuries have not yet healed. Please let Tongji stay with me! No matter what happens, I need someone by my side to serve me!” King Liang was in utter panic, kowtowing heavily, pleading.

“Your Highness!” Tongji’s tears streamed down as he also pleaded with the Emperor, “Please let this servant stay with His Highness! Or at least send someone to serve him!”

“Take them away!” The Emperor commanded through gritted teeth.

Guards entered from outside the hall, grabbing Gao Sheng and Tian Weijun, dragging them away. When Tongji saw a guard drag away the crying Chun Yan who was shouting “Eldest Miss, save me,” he crawled and knelt beside King Liang, crying: “Your Highness! Your Highness, if I’m not with you, remember to take your medicine on time! Take good care of your health!”

Two guards relentlessly dragged Tongji away: “Your Highness! Take care, Your Highness!”

King Liang heard Tongji’s voice filled with fearful sobs, still reminding him to take his medicine. He didn’t dare look back, only kowtowing forcefully on the bluestone floor: “Father! Tongji is as frail as I am since childhood. He won’t survive the severe punishment! Please spare Tongji, Father!”

“To prove your innocence, those three must be punished! A servant is just a servant. You needn’t plead for him.” The Emperor looked down at King Liang, who kept kowtowing, his paternal affection fading as he recalled that ominous dream repeatedly.

King Liang clenched his fists by his sides, veins bulging on his hands. His fierce, vengeful expression was reflected on the polished bluestone floor.

“Take him away!” The Emperor commanded forcefully.

Gao Demao waved his horsetail whisk, and the guards promptly took King Liang away. Lu Jin also bowed and exited the hall to return to the Court of Judicial Review for the interrogation.

The crying King Liang, dragged out of the hall by the guards, his eyes turned cold, his blood-red eyes filled with intense gloom.

The Emperor looked at the Eldest Princess and Bai Qingyan, sighing heavily after a long pause: “My son has disappointed me. I’m sorry you had to endure this, Aunt.”

The Eldest Princess shook her head: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for upholding justice for the Bai family. Now that the matter is settled, I will leave the palace with my granddaughter.”

“Aunt, please go ahead. I have a few words to say to Miss Bai. Please wait outside the hall.” The Emperor said.

The Eldest Princess paused briefly, then bowed and turned to leave. Xiao Ruohai quickly stepped forward to assist her.

After the Eldest Princess left, Bai Qingyan stepped forward and knelt properly in the middle of the hall, her eyes lowered, ready to listen to the Emperor’s instruction.

“The Eldest Princess will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for meditation. After sending her off, accompany King Qi to the southern border…” The Emperor fingered his jade ring. “The peace envoys have already departed. The three nations are negotiating peace terms. There should be no war for a while during this period! On your way to the southern border, think carefully. This battle can only be won, not lost! If you lose… you don’t need to come back! Do you understand?”

“Your Majesty, if I win, I’d like to ask for a favor from you.” She kowtowed respectfully.

The Emperor squinted his eyes: “Speak…”

“If we win, please confer my second sister, Bai Jinxiu, the wife of Qin Lang, with the title of First-Class Commandery Princess! The widows of the Bai family have returned to Shuoyang, but my second sister is married to Qin Lang. With the recent incident in the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s mansion, my second aunt is deeply worried about my gentle second sister. Therefore… Bai Qingyan boldly asks Your Majesty, in view of the Bai family’s loyalty and courage, to grant my second sister this honor.”

The Emperor looked at the woman kneeling in the center of the hall, her eyes calm and steady, as if victory was within her grasp. His lips moved slightly, he nodded: “Granted!”

After she thanked the Emperor with a kowtow, she added: “After the victory in the southern border, Bai Qingyan will return to Shuoyang. Today, I suggest… For the sake of long-term considerations, Your Majesty should promote new and capable generals.”

The Emperor’s slightly clouded eyes brightened for a moment, as if seeing Long Wei-tian’s appearance when he offered advice.

The Bai family, after all, was a family that upheld loyalty and righteousness!

The Emperor unconsciously recalled the oath he made to Bai Weiting under the palace walls years ago, vowing never to doubt him in this life. A hint of sorrow filled his heart. He waved his hand, indicating for Bai Qingyan to leave, the desire to kill her dissipating slightly.