Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 587 - 584: A Strong Army Makes a Strong Country_1

Xie Xun’s eyes throbbed with pain as he looked at Xiao Rongyan, tears hovering at the corners, too afraid to blink.

Seeing Xie Xun’s guilty expression, Xiao Rongyan’s voice calmed down, carrying an almost inaudible sigh, "This... is what you, Xie Xun, as a man, as a soldier, should do!"

After speaking, Xiao Rongyan pulled open the partition door and walked out of the Huang Residence without looking back.

Xie Xun knelt by the bedside, listening to the sound of Zhang Yan chasing after Xiao Rongyan. Tears fell unchecked from his eyes, entering his mouth, tasting bitter.

Before long, a light rain arrived silently. The rain grew heavier, forming a curtain of water along the eaves.

Xie Xun’s legs were numb, his ears filled with the sound of raindrops hitting the osmanthus leaves. He turned to look out at the overcast sky through the open window and weakly propped himself up against the edge of the bed. His gaze inadvertently fell on the Eight Immortals Table where Xiao Rongyan had just sat.

Remembering Xiao Rongyan tapping the edge of the Eight Immortals Table before he left, Xie Xun struggled to walk over to it.

When he saw the pouch that Princess Mingcheng had personally embroidered, Xie Xun’s face was instantly covered in tears, nearly collapsing.

His trembling fingers gently stroked the pouch, then clutched it tightly in his hand. He gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, his ears filled with Xiao Rongyan’s words before he left.

He, Xie Xun, had to stand up. He had to lead the Yan iron cavalry to sweep across the nations. He wanted Yan to become a powerful country feared by others, a dominant force capable of uniting the world, so strong that no Yan woman would ever have to marry far away for political alliances!

In chaotic times, a strong military made a strong nation. A strong nation had people who did not fear neighboring enemy states.

He, Xie Xun, wanted to become Yan’s true god of war, to make Yan’s people believe that he, Xie Xun, had the ability to protect the entire nation. He would ensure that no woman from Yan would have to marry far from home for the country’s sake.

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On September 24 of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, two thousand soldiers escorted the Crown Prince from Anping Camp to the Capital. The Crown Prince’s carriage, having survived two assassination attempts, rendezvoused with them at Huibi City on the twenty-seventh and headed straight for Dadu City. freewebnøvel.com

On September 29, the Crown Prince was obstructed at Huayang City. The Huayang City commander claimed to have received orders only allowing the Crown Prince’s carriage to pass, barring the soldiers from Anping Camp unless they returned immediately, or else be charged with treason.

The Princess of Zhen held high the secret edict from the Emperor summoning the Crown Prince back to the Capital, threatening the Huayang commander with charges of rebellion and annihilation of the Nine Clans if he dared to block the way. Seeing the edict, the Huayang commander opened the city gates.

The Empress, having received the news, sat restlessly within the palace.

King Liang had always appeared weak and inept, only nominally managing the state. But now, with Master Tan and Prime Minister Lu in control, the Empress could not intervene. The Eldest Princess, using the excuse of the Empress’s pregnancy and the Emperor’s affection for her, took over the affairs of the harem.

Even when the Empress went to visit the comatose Emperor, the Eldest Princess was always present. The Emperor’s bedchamber was tightly guarded, leaving no opportunity for the Empress to act before the Crown Prince returned to the Capital.

Bai Qingyan had kept Fu Ruoxi’s whereabouts tightly hidden throughout the journey. The Empress did not know whether Fu Ruoxi had come for her or was returning for the Crown Prince, causing her to live in constant fear. Her pregnancy was unstable, and she summoned King Xin to accompany her.

King Xin entered the palace, dismissed everyone, and knelt below the curtain. Speaking softly to the Empress seated above, he said, "Mother, I fear Fu Ruoxi is unreliable. If Father really saw the records of his entries and exits from the Imperial Palace, once he wakes up... Mother, it will be your complete downfall!"

The Empress leaned back against the cushion, her long, slender fingers tightly gripping the ruyi on her lap, her gaze heavy, "I made it clear in my letter. Fu Ruoxi is not a fool. Does he not realize... his timings of entering and leaving the Imperial Palace are recorded? If he does not help us, I will undoubtedly pull him down with me if anything happens!"

King Xin lowered his eyes in thought, stood up, and quickly walked over to kneel by the Empress’s side. He lowered his voice and said, "Although the Eldest Princess currently controls the palace, Master Tan assists King Liang in governing. But King Liang is one of us! Mother, if you could send a letter to Uncle..."

"Mother knows what you’re planning! You want Mother to contact your uncle... to control the imperial guard, and intercept and kill the Crown Prince on his way back to the Capital, right?" The Empress’s phoenix-like eyes looked at King Xin, her gaze heavy, "Do you think Mother hasn’t considered that? But the Eldest Princess has already taken precautions, demoting your uncle in secret. The imperial guard likely won’t listen to him! Besides... King Liang is also your father’s son. He too has the right to compete for the throne."

King Xin was stunned, "But King Liang initially forged Bai Weiting’s handwriting for the sake of helping me..."

"Do you really think King Liang is weak and incompetent, only following your orders? Naive!" The Empress berated King Xin harshly. Her abdomen throbbed with pain as she frowned, clutching her stomach, gritting her teeth, "It’s all Mother’s fault for protecting you too well in the past, making you completely unaware of the need to guard against others! That King Liang... is not as weak and deceitful as he appears. On the contrary, this younger brother of yours is extremely patient. Anyone able to endure what others cannot is formidable and must not be underestimated."

King Xin dismissively pouted, "What waves can he stir up!"

The Empress glared at King Xin, suppressing her anger, and said, "Remember, stay away from King Liang! Do not believe anything he says! Leave everything to Mother. As for your throne... Mother will not let anyone take it away! Now is not the time to recklessly fight the Crown Prince, giving King Liang an advantage. You need to remain patient! Only those who can stay patient will win!"

"I will remember that, Mother!" King Xin nodded, fully trusting the Empress.

The Empress raised her hand to stroke King Xin’s head, her voice softening, "Those men you sent to assassinate the Crown Prince, don’t leave any of them alive in your residence. Otherwise, there will be an investigation once the Crown Prince returns, and we can’t afford to let anything be traced back to us!"

King Xin lowered his eyes without a word, feeling very disdainful. King Qi was merely an illegitimate son... If he hadn’t been demoted to a commoner, the throne wouldn’t have come to him.

The Empress had heard about the Crown Prince’s two assassination attempts. If King Xin only sent one group of death warriors, then the other group... If the Empress wasn’t mistaken, it was definitely sent by King Liang.

After all, King Liang was no longer alone. He now had support from King Xian of Nandu, who held military power, making it impossible for the Empress not to be wary.

On October 2 of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, two thousand soldiers from Anping Camp escorted the Crown Prince to the outskirts of Dadu City. King Liang, Master Tan, and the Eldest Princess led the officials in welcoming the Crown Prince back to court.

The Crown Prince, who had been fearful of the journey, finally saw a glimmer of hope. The heart lodged in his throat relaxed, but he then developed a high fever.

King Liang, the Eldest Princess, and Master Tan stood at the forefront of the officials, watching the escorting soldiers bearing the Crown Prince’s banner approach. King Liang also recognized Bai Qingyan, riding a white horse at the front.

The armor gleamed silver, cold and imposing.