Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 243 - 241 Offer a Chart to Surrender_1
Chapter 243: Chapter 241: Offer a Chart to Surrender_1
Chapter 243: Chapter 241: Offer a Chart to Surrender_1
“Actually, Mr. Xiao counts as a notable figure. He is as brilliant and honest as a clear moonlit night. I had already befriended Mr. Xiao when I was still a prince. Although he is a merchant, he lacks the petty air of one and carries the elegant demeanor of a scholar! The Bai family is without male heirs now. If Mr. Xiao truly has feelings for General Bai and is willing to marry into the family… aside from his lower status, I actually think he would be a good match!” The Crown Prince spoke softly.
If Xiao Rongyan could marry into the Bai family because of Bai Qingyan, it might not be a bad thing for him.
That way, he would not worry about Bai Qingyan marrying outside. Xiao Rongyan, who was close to him and an exceptional scholar, would stay in the Jin Kingdom, becoming the kingdom’s wealthiest merchant.
The Crown Prince thought of Xiao Rongyan’s extravagant spending in Dadu City and squinted slightly.
The Bai family was already attached to him. If Xiao Rongyan married into the Bai family, he would also wish him an easy ascent to the supreme throne. Seeking meritorious deeds for following him would undoubtedly become his treasure trove, and it would be much easier for him to handle matters.
Bai Qingyan frowned, seeming to say the most unspeakable thing to the Crown Prince, unable to maintain her facade: “Your Highness, no matter how good Mr. Xiao is, he is not meant for me. After all… it is difficult for me to have children.”
“Fate is unpredictable.” The Crown Prince did not give up his calculations and smiled at Bai Qingyan before turning to Xiao Ruojiang, “Be more careful in your actions in the future. This matter happened to fall into my hands. If it had reached the Emperor’s ears, you should know… it would cause big trouble for your eldest miss.”
Xiao Ruojiang hurriedly bowed: “Your Highness, I accept your lesson. I will certainly follow your guidance in the future, be cautious in everything, and not cause trouble for the eldest miss!”
“Go!” The Crown Prince said to Xiao Ruojiang.
Xiao Ruojiang quickly bowed and withdrew.
The Crown Prince looked at Bai Qingyan standing to the side: “This time, it is not that I don’t trust you…”
“I understand. If Your Highness didn’t consider me as family, how would you call me and my foster brother over, and how could you scold my foster brother for my sake? Your Highness’s kindness… I understand it clearly!” Bai Qingyan said.
The Crown Prince nodded, his eyes full of smiles: “General Bai, you should also rest. Tomorrow, you have to take King Yan of Xiliang, Li Zhijie, and the Princess of Xiliang back to Dadu. You need to stay alert on this journey and not give the scheming Xiliang any opportunity.”
“Yes!”
Bai Qingyan exited the big tent, bid farewell to the elder, and turned to see Bai Jinzhi and Xiao Ruojiang still waiting at the entrance.
On the way back to the camp, Xiao Ruojiang lowered his voice: “Eldest Miss, this time you used Mr. Xiao as a shield. Considering the relationship between Mr. Xiao and the Crown Prince, I am afraid…”
“Don’t worry, Xiao Rongyan won’t say anything.”
Xiao Rongyan had sent people to deliver horses and letters without hiding his movements, clearly unafraid of the Crown Prince knowing.
Xiao Rongyan understood her wariness towards the Jin Imperial Family. She also understood Xiao Rongyan’s unique status. Both knew each other’s secrets, so naturally, they would cover for each other.
·
In the capital of Nanyan, Kuangping.
Murong Pei, the Emperor of Nanyan, held the Jade Seal in his arms and watched as the black and bluebird flag symbolizing the righteous authority of Yan came closer. Sixteen black stallions drew the carriage of Emperor Mingde of Yan; amidst the dazzling morning light, it approached grandly.
Murong Pei’s hands trembled as he held the Jade Seal and kneeled at the palace gate with the Nanyan Imperial Family and courtiers, raising the Jade Seal above his head.
Years ago, after Empress Ji’s death, an internal conflict in Yan allowed Murong Pei to steal the Jade Seal and flee back to the old capital of Yan, Kuangping. He overthrew Empress Ji’s new policies, restored the old regime, and gained the support of the old aristocratic families of Yan, thereafter founding Nanyan, with Tianqu River as the border.
This time, the fierce general Xie Xun of Yan stormed into Kuangping, slaughtering the old aristocratic families who had supported Murong Pei in proclaiming himself king. The common people were delighted.
Xie Xun single-handedly knocked open the palace’s main gate, bringing a secret order from the Ninth Prince of Yan, Murong Yan. It stated that the Emperor of Yan would arrive in Kuangping soon. If Murong Pei did not wish for the blood of the Imperial Clan to stain Kuangping, he must kneel at the palace gate with the Jade Seal to welcome them and thus ensure the safety of his entire clan.
Knowing the situation was irreversible, Murong Pei could not let his young children perish in Kuangping with him. Moreover, after restoring the old regime and self-proclaiming as king back in the old capital of Yan, while the old aristocratic families were pleased, widespread public discontent followed, with people secretly calling him a foolish ruler.
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So be it! So be it!
He was just the illegitimate son of King Su, having enjoyed over ten years of luxury, ruling for over a decade as a puppet for the aristocracy. As long as he could ensure the survival of his young children, losing face was acceptable.
After all, he was not the rightful ruler.
On the third day of March in the thirteenth year of Mingde, Murong Pei, the Huiwen Emperor of Nanyan, knelt outside the palace gates of Kuangping, the old capital of Yan, presenting the Jade Seal and formally surrendering, ending the nineteen-year division of Yan.
On the same day, Lin Chongyi, Prime Minister of Nanyan, committed suicide to keep his integrity. Murong Pei was conferred the title of King of Mingdu and moved his family to Mingdu at the border.
In the Kuangping Palace.
Accompanied by Xiao Rongyan and the elderly eunuch Feng Yao, Emperor Mingde of Yan walked slowly toward the familiar corridors of Lanfeng Pavilion, his mother’s former bedchamber in Kuangping, bathed in the golden morning sun.
Feng Yao had served Empress Ji for many years. Before Emperor Mingde Murong Yu and Xiao Rongyan arrived, he ordered the pavilion to be arranged according to his memories from the past.
As the slender and tall Emperor Mingde Murong Yu approached the pavilion gate, he saw a few Haitang petals blown to the threshold by the wind. He bent down to pick them up, startling Feng Yao: “Your Majesty! Please instruct your old servant!”
“I’m fine, Uncle. Don’t panic.”
Murong Yu extended his slender hand from his cloak, picked up a Haitang petal, slowly stood up, and smiled at the brightly sunlit Haitang tree in the courtyard.
“Over twenty years have passed. The Haitang tree my mother planted has grown into a towering tree.” Murong Yu’s deep eyes, so similar to Xiao Rongyan’s, smiled warmly at the Haitang tree.
Despite being only thirty-seven, Emperor Mingde Murong Yu was weak and frail.
Murong Yu, famed for his unparalleled beauty, bore a striking resemblance to Empress Ji in facial features, even more dazzling than women, making it hard for others to look directly. If not for his tall and solid build and his steady and dignified imperial presence, people would mistake him for a frail beauty disguised as a man.
Xiao Rongyan stood beside Murong Yu, his deep black eyes, fingers in his sleeve touching the jade cicada, opened his mouth leisurely: “I don’t remember much…”
Back then, when Empress Ji moved the capital to Dadu City, Xiao Rongyan was only two years old, naturally remembering nothing of the old capital’s Imperial City.
Xiao Rongyan’s mind was occupied with finding a good physician for Murong Yu.
To minimize Yan’s losses this time, Xiao Rongyan had suggested his brother undertake the long journey to Kuangping secretly. As expected, when the people knew Emperor Mingde of Yan had personally arrived, they welcomed him enthusiastically, calling for the restoration of Empress Ji’s new policies, just as Xiao Rongyan had anticipated.
