Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 453 - 450: Disgust_1

Chapter 453: Chapter 450: Disgust_1

Old Man Fang raised his eyebrows and looked towards Bai Qingyan: "I am willing to listen to the Commandery Princess’s advice."

"Just as Old Man Fang said, if our Jin Kingdom combines forces with Great Wei to destroy Yan, the fertile land of Nanyan will belong to Wei while the barren northern land will go to Jin, which indeed is not beneficial to Jin. But Wei did say one thing correctly. Over the years, Yan has been secretly strengthening its power without revealing its true strength. None of the neighboring countries know the extent of Yan’s power. Isn’t this something to be feared? Recall the time when Empress Ji ruled. She implemented new laws that the neighboring countries despised. Back then, Yan also kept its strength hidden. Ten years later, a new army suddenly appeared. Yan’s elite soldiers were invincible, crushing smaller nations and devouring fertile lands. If not for the timely intervention by the Emperor of Yan, who abolished the new laws, Yan could have easily unified the remaining countries!"

Bai Qingyan looked at the Crown Prince: "Does Your Highness remember when we returned victorious from the southern border, I suggested that we send troops to assist Rong in capturing the natural pastureland to lay the foundation for future unification efforts? At that time, Your Highness and His Majesty believed that Jin’s military was exhausted and needed to recuperate, thus no troops were sent to Rong."

Bai Qingyan’s words, though flattering to the Crown Prince and the Emperor, were extremely sincere. The Crown Prince quickly nodded: "Yes!"

"But at that time, Yan sent troops to assist Rong!" Bai Qingyan said leisurely, "Your Highness should not forget that the Emperor of Yan Murong Yu is the son of Empress Ji, who raised him. He has never forgotten Empress Ji’s grand ambition of unifying the world! He took advantage of the chaos to regain Nanyan, reclaim fertile lands, and assist Rong in resisting Nanrong. He aims to seize Rong’s natural pastures! All of this is laying the foundation for future unification..."

"Our Jin Kingdom, although it occupies a strategic position, is surrounded by enemies from all sides, caught between four nations. If we destroy Yan this time, in the future, when we pursue world domination, we can avoid being hindered from the west by Yan. Jin will not need to divide its forces to the west. This battle may not yield immediate benefits... but in the long term, it will lay a foundation for our grand vision."

Qin Shangzhi nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness, the Commandery Princess’s words are very true! Yan aims to seize the world. Although destroying Yan may not benefit Jin immediately, in the long term, it removes the greatest obstacle to our unification!"

"Mr. Qin’s words are exaggerated. A small state like Yan, now poor and weak, can become an obstacle? Mr. Qin, you overestimate Yan!" Old Man Fang looked disdainfully at Qin Shangzhi and cupped his hands toward the Crown Prince, "Even if it is as the Commandery Princess said, Yan is ambitious and aims to dominate the world! But Your Highness... Yan’s national strength cannot keep up with its ambition! Unifying the land is a herculean task, and with Yan’s decrepit state, it dares to speak of unification?"

The Crown Prince lowered his eyes in silent thought, unconsciously nodding.

"Therefore, I believe that our Jin Kingdom should be wary of Yan. But there is no need to send troops to make wedding clothes for Wei. Your Highness can inform the Prince of Yan Murong Li, who is held hostage in Jin, about Wei’s plan to combine forces to destroy Yan. Let him relay this news to his country. Let Yan and Wei battle it out! Our Jin Kingdom can watch from the sidelines and reap the benefits like a fisherman. We can also see what kind of strength Yan truly has." After finishing, Old Man Fang bowed to the Crown Prince.

"Indeed, we should inform the Prince of Yan. After all... Yan sent its legitimate heir as a hostage to Jin, which was a great show of sincerity. We cannot disappoint them!" The Crown Prince seemed very satisfied with Old Man Fang’s strategy, eyes gleaming with a smile.

Qin Shangzhi tightly pressed his lips together, his fists clenched within his sleeves. If the Jin Kingdom did not ally with Wei, Wei certainly would not act rashly...

As Bai Qingyan had just mentioned, Yan had never revealed its true strength, didn’t Wei fear this?

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes. As a Jin citizen, she had already given her counsel. Whether or not her advice was adopted was up to the Crown Prince and the Emperor.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan said nothing, the Crown Prince, unwilling to overlook her, asked: "What does the Commandery Princess think?"

"If Your Highness uses Old Man Fang’s plan, I think we could add to it," Bai Qingyan said calmly, "If Yan and Wei do go to war, we could watch from the sidelines. Once both sides are weakened, our Jin Kingdom can then ally with Wei to jointly conquer Yan. At that time... we can decide what territories go to Jin and what goes to Wei!"

Qin Shangzhi’s frown deepened. That was indeed a plan within a plan!

But it required Wei to attack Yan without allying with Jin.

"Excellent!" The Crown Prince was in a great mood, "Before dinner, I will enter the palace and report to my father."

"Quan Yu!" The Crown Prince called out toward the door, "Go and ask if Mr. Xiao has arrived. If he has, prepare the banquet to celebrate the Commandery Princess’s victorious return!"

Hearing Xiao Rongyan’s name, Bai Qingyan paused her hand, which had just picked up a teacup, and pressed her lips together.

The Crown Prince smiled at Bai Qingyan: "Yesterday, you were worried about your aunt and did not attend the banquet set by my father in the palace. Today... we will hold a small banquet in the Crown Prince’s residence to celebrate you! Rest assured, there will be no singing or dancing, no drinking; it will all be vegetarian! You must not refuse again!"

Bai Qingyan rose to thank him and accepted the invitation.

·

Bai Qingyan and her entourage had just turned a corner of the covered walkway when they saw Xiao Rongyan, dressed in a moon-white broad-sleeved robe, sitting under a golden osmanthus tree appreciating the flowers. His whole demeanor exuded a sense of leisurely ease.

From a distance, Bai Qingyan couldn’t clearly see Xiao Rongyan’s features, but she sensed his composed and refined temperament.

As flowers fell with the wind, Xiao Rongyan gracefully brushed the petals off his lap.

"Rong Yan!" the Crown Prince called out warmly.

Xiao Rongyan stood up upon hearing the voice and respectfully saluted in the Crown Prince’s direction: "Your Highness!"

He then looked toward Bai Qingyan, with a smile in his eyes: "Commandery Princess!"

Bai Qingyan nodded to Xiao Rongyan, her gaze, however, fixed on the jade hairpin on his head...

That hairpin was exactly the same as the one Xiao Rongyan had given her yesterday.

Xiao Rongyan raised his deep eyes, his dark and profound gaze falling calmly on her face.

The Crown Prince walked over to Xiao Rongyan with a smile and said: "After today, you should address her as Princess! Come, let’s talk inside!"

The Crown Prince intimately held Xiao Rongyan’s arm, leading him into the main hall.

"Please, Commandery Princess!" Quan Yu pressed Old Man Fang, who was about to step inside, and made a gesture inviting Bai Qingyan in.

Although Old Man Fang was somewhat displeased, he knew the importance of hierarchy, and only entered after watching Bai Qingyan go in first.

The Crown Prince, intent on matchmaking, arranged Xiao Rongyan’s seat just below Bai Qingyan’s.

"Since the Commandery Princess is still in mourning, today’s celebration of her victorious return won’t have any singing or dancing, nor drinking. It’s a vegetarian feast... The Crown Princess Consort has personally brewed some Osmanthus dew. I hope you won’t mind, Rong Yan!" the Crown Prince said with a smile.

"Of course not, Your Highness has thought of everything!" Xiao Rongyan stood up and smiled at the Crown Prince, raising the wine cup before him.