Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 498 - 495 - : Bloodline_1

Chapter 498: 495 Chapter: Bloodline_1

The sound of the Dengwen Drum echoed. Gao Demao felt a chill in his heart, not knowing what significant event was about to unfold. Hearing the Emperor call for him, he hurriedly entered with his dusting whisk: "This old servant is here! Your Majesty, your command!"

"What is going on?! The Dengwen Drum sounded again?!"

From the Emperor’s raised voice, it was clear how furious he was.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! This old servant has already sent someone to inquire. There should be a response soon! Please, Your Majesty, do not worry. This old servant will wait outside, and I will report back as soon as there is any news!" Gao Demao knelt and repeatedly tried to appease the Emperor.

Watching Gao Demao jog out, the Emperor clenched his teeth, his face turning ashen. He couldn’t help but harbor resentment towards Bai Qingyan once again. If it weren’t for Bai Qingyan, how could the Dengwen Drum be struck again!

Outside Wude Gate, crowds of people from Dadu City had already gathered.

The woman and the man cried as they walked along the long street, struck the Dengwen Drum, and stated their grievance against the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley and King Liang for negligence of human life. They claimed that using children to make elixirs was no better than beasts, pleading for the Emperor to save their child, who had been captured and taken to King Liang’s residence!

Rumors about missing children had been increasing lately. Initially, it was small beggars who went missing. Later, the bodies of those missing small beggars were found at the Burial Mound. Eventually, children started going missing outside Dadu City. But as the official government tightened security near Dadu City, these incidents ceased there. Instead, child abductions by mountain bandits began near Shuoyang.

This couple, who had lost two sons outside Dadu City, were now bringing a tightly bound man to strike the Dengwen Drum, loudly crying their grievances. They claimed he was a witness, and the evidence was in King Liang’s residence, begging the Emperor to send someone to investigate immediately.

Unable to read or write and without a written petition, they kept crying out loud, pleading for the Emperor’s intervention to save their two children. They feared that if it was delayed, their children would be made into elixirs.

Fang Lao had already made arrangements. The matter of King Liang using children for alchemy was too shocking. As the farmers accused the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley and King Liang at Wude Gate, the news spread through Dadu City like wildfire.

When this was reported to the Emperor, he was stunned. His expression turned unpleasant. Feeling guilty, his anger subsided significantly.

Upon hearing that the man who struck the Dengwen Drum had been flogged and was now bloody and battered, the Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Send an order, stop the flogging!"

There was no need for an investigation. The Emperor knew clearly what was happening.

King Liang was making elixirs for the Emperor. But...the Emperor truly did not know that children were being used for the elixirs.

"Summon King Liang!" the Emperor said, pursing his lips tightly.

"Yes!" Gao Demao immediately sent people to summon King Liang.

However, before King Liang arrived, the Imperial Censor and Minister of Judicial Review Lu Jin had already entered the palace.

Lu Jin stated that the matter was known widely among the people. If not dealt with swiftly, the people might suspect the Imperial Family and the imperial authority, with unimaginable consequences.

The Imperial Censor also knelt, knocking his head on the ground, asking the Emperor to investigate the matter thoroughly. If true, King Liang must be severely punished, not shown leniency.

The Emperor clenched his hands beside him. "I have already sent someone to summon King Liang! There is no need for you, esteemed officials, to worry!"

"Your Majesty!" The Imperial Censor stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty should dispatch General Xie Yuchang to immediately surround King Liang’s residence, preventing any evidence tampering or destruction!"

The Emperor bit his teeth. If the matter of King Liang making elixirs for him as the Emperor was leaked, it would be minor for court officials and the people to discuss him defying ancestral instructions. What was worse, they might think he had authorized using children for alchemy to prolong his own life. That would be an unexplainable crime.

"Grabbing just anyone and calling them a witness makes them a witness? Sending troops to surround King Liang’s residence so rashly, where is the dignity of the Imperial Family?!" The Emperor acted as if extremely angry and said, "First, take those who accused King Liang and the so-called witness into custody. We’ll discuss after I have seen King Liang!"

After speaking, the Emperor swept his sleeves and left.

Within the grand hall, only Minister of Judicial Review Lu Jin and the Imperial Censor were left looking at each other with sighs, then turned to the Crown Prince. But the Crown Prince had always feared the Emperor. Now that the Emperor was enraged, how could the Crown Prince dare to provoke him?

Sitting in the Qin Mansion, Bai Jinxiu naturally heard of the news. After pondering, she put down the small silver cup of yogurts in her hand and placed the small silver spoon aside. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. Turning to the side, she instructed Cuibi to send exceptional reliable people to monitor King Liang’s residence and the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley. If they attempted to move evidence or silence anyone, they must protect those children at all costs and ensure the people of Dadu City knew.

After giving her orders, Bai Jinxiu sat by the window, gently stroking her abdomen. Although her eldest young lady didn’t allow her to intervene, she could still fan the flames.

Seeing Bicui leave with the task, Yingshuang walked two steps closer to Bai Jinxiu, her eyes sparkling with excitement, waiting for Bai Jinxiu to give her instructions.

Bai Jinxiu looked at Yingshuang and smiled: "Yingshuang, it will be hard on you to visit the Princess of Zhen’s residence. Ask my mother for some pickles. I can’t often return to the mansion, but I really miss the taste."

Yingshuang solemnly nodded: "Yes!"

King Liang was summoned to the palace, and the Wang family in Jiuqu Alley fell into chaos.

The Wang family in Jiuqu Alley only knew that King Liang wanted these children. But they did not know King Liang was using the children for alchemy!

Moreover, Wang Xiangshen’s only son, Wang Kun, was incorrigible. Not only did he have a fondness for young male courtesans, but he also liked those with missing limbs.

Of those children sent to Dadu City, Wang Kun secretly selected those with delicate appearances that he liked, leaving the rest to be sent to King Liang’s residence.

If this matter were exposed, regardless of King Liang being the prince...their Wang family would be the first to suffer!

Those boys were not enslaved, but were all good citizens!

Wang Xiangshen was in a panic. He hurriedly ordered people to dispose of those young male courtesans hidden by Wang Kun. Wang Kun was reluctant. But when he heard his own father say the matter had blown up, he didn’t dare to argue and let his father handle it.

Wang Xiangshen decided to go all the way, ordering all the young male courtesans previously taken in by Wang Kun and the recently acquired children...to be smothered and thrown into the dry well in the backyard and then cover the well.

Bai Qingxuan was Wang Kun’s favorite plaything. His delicate face, coupled with his constant terrified expression, made Wang Kun very fond of him.

Bai Qingxuan might have been mute, but he wasn’t deaf. Hearing Wang Xiangshen’s words, while being placed inside a white porcelain vase by Wang Kun, Bai Qingxuan opened his eyes wide and whimpered to beg.

Wang Kun turned to look at Bai Qingxuan’s pale, terrified face begging incessantly. He kept pleading for Wang Xiangshen to spare him one. But Wang Xiangshen just said that if they survived this ordeal, Wang Kun could have as many as he wanted in the future. Only then did Wang Kun reluctantly nod and stop looking at Bai Qingxuan.

Bai Qingxuan’s eyes filled with despair. He was the grandson of the King of Zhen! The only grandson of the King of Zhen! The only bloodline! How could they dare?! How could they dare!