Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 304 - 302: Conspiracy_1

Chapter 304: Chapter 302: Conspiracy_1

In less than ten years, I believe the world situation will undergo drastic changes, starting with the Yan Kingdom.

"In this way, I think it would be better for Your Majesty to send an envoy to inquire about the intentions of the Emperor of Daliang... whether he intends to declare war on our country. Meanwhile, Your Majesty can deploy troops to Chunmu Mountain at the Daliang border, showing a stance of wanting to fight Daliang, intimidating the Emperor of Daliang. Daliang will surely be cautious."

"What if Daliang really wants to fight?" The Emperor slowly spoke.

The Emperor squinted his eyes, tapping the wooden desk in front of him from time to time: "Now the Rong people are in internal chaos and cannot hold back Daliang. The fertile lands of our Jin Kingdom lie mainly to the south of Chunmu Mountain; Daliang has been coveting them for a long time..."

"I speculate that at least for now, Daliang dares not fight!" Bai Qingyan’s voice was gentle and slow.

"I would like to hear more. Please instruct me, Commandery Princess." Zhang Duanrui respectfully cupped his hands towards Bai Qingyan, as he had fought bloody battles with her and greatly recognized her abilities.

Bai Qingyan walked to the eunuch who had spread out the vertical map, pointing to Hongque Mountain...

"Daliang’s reason for stationing troops at Hongque Mountain instead of elsewhere might be because they are waiting. Daliang is waiting for the Rong people to come to our Jin Kingdom for help. Whether Your Majesty helps or not, if Your Majesty permits Jin Kingdom to send troops to assist Beirong, once our main forces are deeply involved with the Rong people, Daliang will take the opportunity to attack Jin Kingdom unprepared!"

Bai Qingyan withdrew her hand and hid it in her sleeve, nodding in the direction of the Emperor: "If the Jin Kingdom accepts the treasures from Nanrong and chooses to stand by, then Daliang will send troops under the pretense of assisting Beirong and will occupy the Rong people’s natural pasture as I once advised the Crown Prince."

The Emperor did not know what advice Bai Qingyan had given the Crown Prince before. He looked in the direction of the Crown Prince, whose back was immediately drenched in sweat.

The Vice Minister of War, Shen Jingzhong, nodded as he looked at the map. What Bai Qingyan said made sense.

"It’s just that Daliang probably didn’t expect that this time... the Yan Kingdom, which the other countries have never taken seriously, actually agreed to send troops to help the Rong people restore their rightful place." Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, almost making her point clear.

"So this time, the Yan Kingdom sent troops to help Beirong... I am also worried that the Yan Kingdom might have the same idea?" Zhang Duanrui frowned and looked in the direction of the Emperor.

The Emperor squinted his eyes, leaning back and reclining on the embroidered pillow with auspicious cloud patterns and gold dragons, deep in thought.

The entire atmosphere of the grand hall became tense.

The Crown Prince remembered Bai Qingyan’s previous advice, which he had rejected at the time for fear that the Emperor would blame him. He quickly said: "After all, the Yan envoy is in our Jin Kingdom, and for so many years, they have been dependent on us. Before the Emperor of Yan left Dadu City, Father told the Emperor of Yan that if he wanted to help Beirong, he could ask for benefits, but he could not swallow the Rong people. Otherwise, our Jin Kingdom would not sit idly by."

The Emperor pursed his lips without speaking.

"After all, even if the Jin Kingdom intended to swallow the Rong people, Daliang is watching. Once the Jin Kingdom sends troops to the Rong people, Daliang will pounce. Minister of Revenue Chu is right. After just experiencing the war in the southern border, we temporarily have no silver for battle. Still, the compensation from Xiliang will arrive soon. By then, we will not fear a war with Daliang."

After finishing his words, the Crown Prince saw that the Emperor was not angry and sighed softly: "Although we have obtained the city ceded by Xiliang, the southern border war was a heavy loss. It is time to rest and recuperate."

Zhang Duanrui frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded, agreeing that what the Crown Prince said made sense.

Bai Qingyan stood quietly aside, watching. The once powerful Xiliang, which had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jin Kingdom, was now hardly considered a threat in the eyes of the Jin Kingdom.

Isn’t this a change in the world’s situation?

Xiliang seemed insignificant now, but who knows about the future?

"Let’s do it! Deploy troops to Chunmu Mountain to intimidate Daliang while sending an envoy to ask the Emperor of Daliang why he is mobilizing troops to the border, and whether he intends to fight our Jin Kingdom." The Emperor made the final decision.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The Emperor half-closed his eyes, looking at Bai Qingyan and the others who were kneeling on the ground, praising his wisdom. He inevitably thought of Bai Suqiu...

"You all may leave. Bai Qingyan, stay. I have something to ask you." The Emperor said.

"Yes!" After her response, she turned to the Minister of Revenue, Chu Zhongxing, who was about to bow and leave the palace. "Minister Chu, are you leaving the palace now?"

Chu Zhongxing, who thought he had no connection with Bai Qingyan, was surprised to be called out in front of the Emperor. He glanced at the Emperor and then said to Bai Qingyan: "Since His Majesty has no further instructions, we naturally should leave the palace. Does the Commandery Princess have something to say?"

"Please wait a moment, Minister Chu. I have something to tell you." Bai Qingyan said.

Chu Zhongxing glanced at the Emperor again, quickly nodded, and left the hall.

"What do you want to say to Chu Zhongxing?" The Emperor casually asked.

"My personal maid said that her mother found a marriage for her and came to ask me for kindness to redeem herself. Upon inquiry, I found out that the steward of the Minister’s residence had approached my maid’s mother, saying he wanted to take my personal maid as a concubine. I thought that since the Minister’s residence is a prominent household, it would be a good fortune for the girl to become a concubine, so I agreed."

The Emperor frowned, apparently thinking that Chu Zhongxing wanted Bai Qingyan’s personal maid as a concubine.

The Emperor’s brows furrowed tighter. Did Chu Zhongxing have some peculiar hobby? Why specifically want Bai Qingyan’s maid? Was this to make things difficult for Bai Qingyan, or...

Was there some conspiracy?

Before the Emperor could figure it out, Bai Qingyan continued: "Who knew that girl would secretly take a ruby hairpin my grandmother had given me? She didn’t know that hairpin was the late Empress’s relic. I kept it in the cabinet because I couldn’t bear to wear it. She thought I had forgotten about the hairpin, so she stole it to use as her dowry! I thought that since it was the Minister’s residence wanting a concubine, and the girl was leaving my residence, I should let Minister Chu know to avoid any misunderstandings in the future, so he wouldn’t think I can’t teach people properly."

The Emperor looked at the docile and respectful Bai Qingyan, suddenly seeing Bai Suqiu’s shadow. The sharp and confrontational demeanor Bai Qingyan had shown before in front of him had become blurred, leaving only her current serene and beautiful appearance.

His throat rolled, and after adjusting his posture, he asked: "Have you seen the Miss Lu whom your grandmother wanted to adopt as a goddaughter?"

Bai Qingyan guessed that the Emperor kept her back to ask about Miss Lu, so she answered: "Yes, Your Majesty, I have."

"Does she look very much like your aunt?" The Emperor asked, but after asking, he felt he might have asked the wrong person; Bai Suqiu had left when Bai Qingyan was still young.

"Replying to Your Majesty, she does look very similar to the portrait of my aunt. Nanny Jiang also mentioned that this Miss Lu, like my aunt, is skilled in medicine and greatly favored by my grandmother." Bai Qingyan replied.