Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 446 - 443: See Through at One Glance_1

Chapter 446: Chapter 443: See Through at One Glance_1

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The remaining brothers of the Emperor yearned only for riches and honor. They had no ambition whatsoever.

The other prince was a different surname prince... King Xian of Nandu.

But the Emperor had no intention of weakening the fiefs for the moment. If King Xian harbored greater ambitions and wanted to use King Liang?

Yet, King Liang sought to ruin the Bai family, shatter their reputation completely, and collaborate with the other side. Bai Qingyan believed that besides King Xian, it was also possible that a prince from an enemy nation was involved!

After all, on the surface, she was now the most formidable general of the Jin Kingdom. Wouldn’t other nations desire to eliminate her quickly?

Liang Kingdom was possible. Xiliang went without saying. The Wei Kingdom was also possible. And Yan... was not entirely without such thoughts either.

Bai Qingyan was not afraid of open attacks, but feared hidden arrows aimed at the Bai family, especially since Bai Jinxiu was now pregnant and in Dadu... She was returning to Shuoyang tomorrow. If hidden arrows were aimed at Bai Jinxiu, that would be unfortunate.

"Take him away first!" the Eldest Princess said to Wei Zhong.

Wei Zhong nodded and led the person away.

Bai Jinxiu frowned deeply, tightly clenching the handkerchief in her hand. "Back then... King Liang was raised under the knee of Consort Tong!"

"Why didn’t you take Yingshuang with you when you went out today?" Bai Qingyan suddenly asked Bai Jinxiu.

"Is Eldest Young Lady missing Yingshuang? When we return to the Capital, I’ll have Yingshuang greet Eldest Young Lady."

Bai Qingyan shook her head. "Whether King Liang is collaborating with a prince of an enemy nation or with King Xian, King Liang’s determination to destroy the Bai family is so firm. You are in Dadu and pregnant, so you must be cautious. Take Yingshuang with you when you go out, for safety!"

"Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady, I know!" Bai Jinxiu nodded, her gaze falling on the Eldest Princess, and she said with a smile, "No matter what, with Grandmother in Dadu, I will certainly be protected!"

Nanny Jiang nodded with a smile, very gratified by Bai Jinxiu’s words.

It was true that Bai Jinxiu was the granddaughter of the Eldest Princess; naturally, the Eldest Princess would protect her.

Not long after, Bai Jinzhi, who had just been picking osmanthus flowers with Bai Jinse, sneaked up to Bai Qingyan and said, "Eldest Young Lady, I just saw Mr. Xiao outside drinking tea while I was picking osmanthus flowers. Is he waiting for you?"

Bai Qingyan raised her hand and patted Bai Jinzhi’s head. Then she followed Nanny Jiang to take off her battle armor and change into ordinary clothes. After attending to the Eldest Princess and seeing her to rest, she walked with Bai Jinxiu in the Qing Temple, giving some instructions.

"There are now three things to investigate. First... the procurement of sulfur, saltpeter, and rosin by King Liang’s residence. Second... find out why the steward of King Liang’s residence is in contact with the Wang family of Jiuqu Alley!" Bai Qingyan said.

"Then... should we investigate King Xian to rule him out?" Bai Jinxiu was very keen to find out who King Liang’s collaborator was. Otherwise, just knowing about King Liang would be too passive.

"You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll find a way to investigate!" Bai Qingyan looked outside the Qing Temple. The intelligence sources Xiao Rongyan had far surpassed the Bai family’s.

"You should go back to Grandmother and rest. I’ll be back soon," Bai Qingyan said to Bai Jinxiu.

Xiao Rongyan had not left yet, so he must have something important to discuss with her.

Bai Jinxiu knew that Eldest Young Lady was going to meet Mr. Xiao. Though it was inappropriate for a man and a woman to meet alone, Eldest Young Lady always had propriety in her actions. Bai Jinxiu did not say more, and left after saluting.

Perhaps because Xiao Rongyan had waited for a long time without seeing Bai Qingyan come out, the guard accompanying him spread a turquoise silk cloth under the osmanthus tree. On the small agarwood table, there was a chessboard, a set of white jade tea utensils that Xiao Rongyan often used, and several exquisitely made snacks.

Next to the snacks, on a jade chopstick rest carved with plum blossoms, were two pairs of finely engraved silver chopsticks. The small agarwood table had a portable stove beside it, with its flames flickering and the tea boiling with a bubbling sound.

He knelt beneath the osmanthus tree, holding a bamboo slip, drinking tea, and playing chess. It was quite leisurely.

The Qing Temple of the Imperial Family was surrounded by mountains on all sides, each side planted with different flowers, blooming in four seasons, opening the appropriate gate for the scenery of each season.

It was said that Emperor Mingzhao had never established an Empress in his lifetime because his beloved lived in seclusion in the Qing Temple and refused to marry him. Mingzhao had promised that if his beloved would marry him, he would welcome her with the Empress’s title. Therefore, even the imperial consorts beside Emperor Mingzhao were only posthumously honored as Empresses.

To please his beloved, the Emperor had different seasonal flowers planted on all sides of this Qing Temple, ensuring she could see blooming flowers no matter the season.

Yue Shi, standing behind Xiao Rongyan, holding a sword, suddenly tilted his head and looked towards the gate of the Qing Temple as his ears twitched.

Xiao Rongyan placed a chess piece, then stood, brushing off the osmanthus petals that had fallen on his robe, and looked towards the gate of the Qing Temple with a smile.

Seeing Bai Qingyan had changed into plain attire, Xiao Rongyan bowed deeply, "Miss Bai..."

Bai Qingyan’s gaze swept over the stone table, her voice calm, "Mr. Xiao, you seem at ease."

"I knew Miss Bai had just returned from the Northern Frontier. Certainly, there are many things to discuss with the Eldest Princess. However, I have urgent matters to discuss with Miss Bai. Therefore, I can only pass the time here playing chess, waiting for Miss Bai to come out." Xiao Rongyan responded calmly, his deep eyes looking at Bai Qingyan, making a gesture of invitation, "Please, Miss Bai."

Opposite the small agarwood table, there was a dark blue meditation cushion embroidered with golden clouds, and a few osmanthus petals had fallen on it. Xiao Rongyan had undoubtedly anticipated her coming out.

Yue Shi, very perceptive, saluted Bai Qingyan and then led the guards back thirty steps, giving Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan space to talk without interruption.

Bai Qingyan knelt opposite Xiao Rongyan. He picked up a cloth with his well-defined fingers, holding the teapot handle with it, and poured tea for Bai Qingyan.

"What urgent matter does Mr. Xiao have?" Bai Qingyan asked.

Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes, placing the teapot back on the small stove before looking at Bai Qingyan, "Miss Bai must be cautious of King Liang!"

Bai Qingyan’s hands on her lap tightened slightly. She suddenly recalled the eunuch mentioning a black-clad man meeting with King Liang, whom King Liang had referred to as Prince.

Bai Qingyan’s mind cleared, a smile unwittingly appearing on her lips, "So, His Highness King Liang... sought Mr. Xiao’s collaboration?"

Xiao Rongyan seemed a bit surprised but did not hide it. He nodded, "To be precise, it is with the Ninth Prince of Yan."

"Mr. Xiao, do you mean that the Ninth Prince of Yan personally collaborated with King Liang, while Mr. Xiao was still the wealthy merchant of Wei, Xiao Rongyan?"

If Xiao Rongyan had not revealed his true identity to King Liang yet had informed her of this matter, either he was not sincerely collaborating and merely using King Liang or he did not wish to cooperate at all.

Bai Qingyan was astute, understanding Xiao Rongyan’s implications immediately.

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