Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 469 - 466: Unnatural Death_1

Chapter 469: Chapter 466: Unnatural Death_1

秦 Shangzhi noticed that Fang Lao was lost in thought and added, "Fang Lao’s loyalty to the Crown Prince is such that you would be willing to sacrifice everything. However, not everyone can be as devoted to His Royal Highness as you are! Think carefully, doesn’t this make sense?"

Ren Shijie raised an eyebrow and looked at Qin Shangzhi. With his honorable character, Qin Shangzhi had always despised Fang Lao’s sycophantic ways. Today, he surprisingly had good things to say about Fang Lao.

Fang Lao, delighted by the praise from Qin Shangzhi, stroked his goatee and said, "Mr. Qin speaks the truth. If Princess of Zhen learns of this, I will step forward and take full responsibility, claiming it was solely my doing. His Royal Highness knew nothing of it! I am willing to go through fire and water for His Royal Highness!"

Qin Shangzhi gritted his teeth, his mind racing to think of the right words. "But the Crown Prince cannot do without you, Fang Lao!"

Fang Lao squinted at Qin Shangzhi, sensing something was off. It seemed like Qin Shangzhi wanted to protect the Lord of Gaoyi.

Fang Lao, suddenly understanding something, looked down at Qin Shangzhi and said, "Mr. Qin, are you trying to stop me because... you have feelings for the Lord of Gaoyi?"

Qin Shangzhi almost couldn’t resist spitting in Fang Lao’s face. This old man had nothing but filthy thoughts in his mind? Qin Shangzhi was old enough to be Bai Jinzhi’s father, feelings for a child?!

"You misunderstand, Fang Lao! The reason I am stopping you is because this matter brings no benefit to the Crown Prince’s residence."

"The Crown Prince has already agreed. Mr. Qin, there’s no need to obstruct this!" Fang Lao, determined, brought up the Crown Prince and sneered, "Mr. Qin, don’t forget, you are the Crown Prince’s counselor. Do not leak any information, or I will report it to the Crown Prince!"

Qin Shangzhi’s fist clenched tightly by his side. He suddenly recalled Fang Lao’s earlier mention that King Liang had started to win over King Xian in private. He quickly said, "Fang Lao, the reason I am stopping you from involving the Lord of Gaoyi is that I have a better candidate!"

Fang Lao picked up his teacup and said indifferently, "Let me hear it, Mr. Qin."

"Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu!" Qin Shangzhi took a step closer and bent down beside Fang Lao. "The Lord of Gaoyi has no military power. But King Xian in Nandu does! And King Xian has only one daughter, Princess of Nandu. If King Liang defames Princess of Nandu Liu Ruofu’s reputation while seeking to marry a Dong family girl, what will the Emperor think? As Fang Lao once said... the Emperor’s opinion is the most important!"

Fang Lao thought it through and realized it made sense. Although facing Bai Qingyan directly was not something the Crown Prince’s residence feared, having an enemy disliked by the Emperor would still be troublesome.

"But what if... Princess of Nandu marries King Liang? King Liang would then have King Xian’s support! And King Xian truly has military power!" Fang Lao had considered Liu Ruofu before but was worried that if Liu Ruofu indeed married King Liang, it would be difficult to handle.

"Then, let King Liang intend to defame Princess of Nandu’s reputation, but do not let him succeed! Inform the Emperor and the Dong family, but do not make it widely known. After all, Princess of Nandu is already engaged to Daliang. The Emperor wouldn’t want such a scandal right when the peace negotiations with Daliang are starting. So, he certainly wouldn’t allow Princess of Nandu to marry King Liang!"

Qin Shangzhi stood beside Fang Lao, thinking and speaking simultaneously. "Besides, the proud Princess of Nandu would never fancy King Liang. If King Xian learns that King Liang intends to ruin his daughter’s reputation, wouldn’t he be furious at King Liang? And Fang Lao, think about it. The Lord of Gaoyi is a skilled fighter, and if she retaliates at Princess of Zhen’s residence, it might alarm Princess of Zhen. With her archery skills, our men would likely not return! But Princess of Nandu Liu Ruofu has always been pampered and is much easier to deal with than the Lord of Gaoyi!"

Ren Shijie thought it over and said, "By this logic, choosing Princess of Nandu Liu Ruofu is much more advantageous for the Crown Prince’s residence than selecting the Lord of Gaoyi. What do you think, Fang Lao?"

Fang Lao’s fist tightened. According to Qin Shangzhi, choosing Princess of Nandu Liu Ruofu was indeed more suitable than the Lord of Gaoyi.

However, this time Fang Lao’s strike to have the Crown Prince choose the Lord of Gaoyi was not just about strategizing for the Crown Prince. More importantly, he wanted Bai Qingyan and the Crown Prince to grow apart so that the Crown Prince would heed his advice!

Seeing Fang Lao still hesitating, Qin Shangzhi added, "If Fang Lao is unsure and worried about the Crown Prince’s displeasure, I will speak to the Crown Prince. I will tell him that the three of us concluded it’s more appropriate to choose Princess of Nandu Liu Ruofu. Of course, if Fang Lao is willing to make the effort to visit the Crown Prince, that would be best!"

Qin Shangzhi’s meaning was clear. If Fang Lao feared taking responsibility, Qin Shangzhi would say it was the result of their combined discussion. If Fang Lao found Liu Ruofu a good choice, he could claim the credit and visit the Crown Prince himself.

Fang Lao looked at Qin Shangzhi, who had long been reluctant to advise the Crown Prince, and then heard the guard report that the assailants had been brought in. Fang Lao finally said to Qin Shangzhi, "We three are all counselors to the Crown Prince. If we can always work together harmoniously for the Crown Prince, we can achieve great things. Do you understand, Mr. Qin?"

"Of course! Fang Lao is much older than Qin. If I have ever offended you before, please forgive me," Qin Shangzhi said humbly, handing a teacup to Fang Lao.

Fang Lao smiled and nodded. "I will go to the Crown Prince now and discuss Mr. Qin’s method."

"It was Fang Lao who proposed this method first. Mr. Ren and I merely tried to perfect it. How can it be said that I came up with it alone..." Qin Shangzhi said in a low voice, his eyes downcast.

Seeing Qin Shangzhi’s tactfulness, Fang Lao wasted no time and quickly headed to the Crown Prince’s residence.

After Fang Lao left with the six assailants, Ren Shijie smiled at Qin Shangzhi. "That’s the way to go, Mr. Qin. Fang Lao has been with His Royal Highness the longest and is the eldest. It’s natural for him to be a bit proud. We came later, so showing more respect to Fang Lao will make him more agreeable."

Qin Shangzhi’s eyes followed Fang Lao’s departing figure, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves.

Ren Shijie had once advised him thus, but Qin Shangzhi had scorned it in his heart.

Today, he came to discuss matters upon summons, thinking it was just a formality. If not for protecting Bai family’s fourth daughter, Qin Shangzhi wouldn’t have bowed to Fang Lao.

Qin Shangzhi valued integrity the most.

He once refused to bow to King Liang... and that counselor surnamed Du by King Liang’s side. Consequently, his entire family perished in unforgivable death.