Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 509 - 506: Suppressing Bandits_1

Chapter 509: Chapter 506: Suppressing Bandits_1

This time, although they failed to put King Liang to death, they managed to rescue some of the children.

The mission to suppress the bandits could not be delayed any longer. Before the fake bandits arranged by the Wang family, who had been sent to Shuoyang, could escape, they organized a grand expedition to suppress the bandits outside the city. This could be seen as delivering on their duties to the Emperor and Crown Prince.

"Chun Tao, go tell Steward Hao to send someone to inform Bai Qingping and Shen Yanzong that they will be departing early tomorrow morning to suppress the bandits. Remind Shen Yanzong that on the mountain with its tall trees, arrows will be useless. The new soldiers need only carry swords," Bai Qingyan said.

"Alright, this maid will go now."

Bai Qingyan folded Bai Jinxiu’s letter and placed it in her sleeve before turning and heading back to the main hall.

In the main hall, Yue Shi was bending over and saying something to Xiao Rongyan. Seeing Bai Qingyan enter, Yue Shi quickly straightened up and bowed deeply toward Bai Qingyan. "Miss Bai..."

Yesterday, Yue Shi had already asked and understood. The master had said to temporarily call Miss Bai "Miss Bai." Although Yue Shi did not understand why it was temporary, since the master had instructed it, he would follow, and change the form of address when the master gave new instructions.

Bai Qingyan nodded and walked to the main seat while asking, "I wonder, Mr. Xiao, do you know the inside story about the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, and King Liang?"

Xiao Rongyan did not hide anything from Bai Qingyan and nodded. "I know..."

Not only did he know, but Xiao Rongyan also played a role in it. The Crown Prince wanted King Liang to "defile" the Princess of Nandu so that the Emperor would suspect him of wanting to seize military power. But he did not want King Liang to actually benefit and marry the Princess of Nandu.

However, Xiao Rongyan wanted the two princes of the Jin Kingdom to be entangled over the succession, which would benefit Yan the more chaotic the Jin Kingdom’s imperial court became. So, Xiao Rongyan’s people aided and abetted, helping the Crown Prince’s men to truly make King Liang and the Princess of Nandu a couple, letting them consummate their marriage.

Bai Qingyan understood and nodded before sitting down. "Later, I had someone impersonate the Ninth Prince of Yan to save King Liang’s life. By this calculation, King Liang should feel deeply grateful to the Ninth Prince of Yan."

Xiao Rongyan just smiled without speaking.

"Today is Mother’s birthday. I wonder if I may have the honor to personally present a gift and wish her well?" Xiao Rongyan asked softly while looking at Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan called in the maid waiting outside the door and asked her to go to the Qinghe Courtyard and ask her mother if she would see Mr. Xiao, who was here to offer birthday wishes.

"Thank you, Miss Bai," Xiao Rongyan said with a smile.

Not long after, Nanny Qin, who served Mrs. Dong, personally came over. She smiled and bowed to Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, then placed her hands in front of her abdomen and said kindly, "Madam asked me to convey her appreciation. The Bai family has a custom of not holding a banquet during filial piety for a birthday celebration. But since Mr. Xiao is here as a guest, if you don’t mind a simple family meal, please follow this old maid to the Shaohua Court."

Xiao Rongyan stood up and bowed to Nanny Qin. "I am honored by Madam’s invitation. I couldn’t be more grateful."

Mrs. Dong thought that since it was a family dinner today, and there were no men in the Bai family to accompany Dong Changlan, Xiao Rongyan, being a benefactor of the Bai family, was just in time. So, he was invited to join Dong Changlan.

"Mr. Xiao, please," Nanny Qin said, making a gesture of invitation to Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan nodded and then looked at Bai Qingyan. "Miss Bai, please..."

Nanny Qin led the way in front, while Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan walked side by side, maintaining a proper distance and talking along the way. They soon reached the Shaohua Court through the winding corridor.

This was not Xiao Rongyan’s first visit to the Shaohua Court, but as he crossed the threshold, he couldn’t help but praise the beautiful scenery of the place once again. No wonder the now-disowned Fifth Old Lord of the Bai family had tried to seize the ancestral home.

The winding paths were cool, the flowers fragrant and vivid, the green canopy like a cover, casting shadows throughout the garden, accompanied by the songs of cicadas and birds, the gurgling water, and leaping fish.

Such a sight was hard to find.

Mrs. Dong and her group had already arrived at the Shaohua Court, sitting on the second floor, chatting and laughing.

Dong Changlan was sipping tea and occasionally talking about interesting things that happened in Dengzhou, which drew exclamations of amazement from the children, who all expressed a desire to visit Dengzhou if given the chance.

Seeing Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan enter, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes lit up. She put down her teacup and stood up. "Eldest Sister! Mr. Xiao..."

Dong Changlan also turned around and quickly got up with a smile. "Cousin, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Rongyan stepped forward two steps and respectfully greeted Mrs. Dong and the other members of the Bai family.

The Fourth Lady, Mrs. Wang, paused her movements of handling the sandalwood Buddha beads when she saw Xiao Rongyan. She smiled and nodded in gratitude to Xiao Rongyan as she stood up.

Xiao Rongyan motioned for Yue Shi to bring over the birthday gift prepared for Mrs. Dong. Yue Shi opened the gift box, revealing an exquisitely carved jade beast. The jade was transparent, clearly not an ordinary piece, and to everyone’s surprise, the eyes of the beast were inlaid with two Luminous Pearls. The claws were set with gemstones, making one wonder how such intricate workmanship was achieved.

"I had heard a rumor while in Longyang City.... that Mr. Xiao’s residence in the city had a statue of a golden beast inlaid with gemstones all over its body. I thought it must be referring to this statue, though the rumors exaggerated quite a bit," Xiao Rongyan said with a smile, looking at Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and stared at the clear tea in her cup, appearing nonchalant.

Bai Jinzhi turned to look at her eldest sister. Other people might not know how the rumor got spread, but the commanders of the Northern Frontier battle certainly did! That lie was concocted by her eldest sister to deceive the Liang Army.

"Mr. Xiao, this gift is too valuable. Please take it back!" Mrs. Dong said with a smile.

"Madam, please, do not decline!" Xiao Rongyan stood up and bowed deeply to Mrs. Dong. "This item, in my possession, is more trouble than it is worth. It is better to give it to Madam with wishes for health and peace."

Xiao Rongyan’s sincere tone made it difficult for Mrs. Dong to refuse. She thought that in the future, the favor could be returned with a comparable gift.

Passing such gestures back and forth would eventually build a relationship. Although Xiao Rongyan was a merchant, he possessed noble character. Mrs. Dong didn’t mind interacting with him further.

She smiled and said, "In that case, thank you, Mr. Xiao! Nanny Qin, please put it away."

Only then did Xiao Rongyan smile and take a seat.

"Mr. Xiao, have you ever been to Dengzhou before?" Bai Jinzhi asked with a smile.

"Indeed, I have not..." Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Dong Changlan before continuing. "However, I have heard that the counties near Dengzhou often face raids from the Rong every autumn because they are close to them."

Dong Changlan nodded. "The Rong are mostly nomadic. When their food supply runs low in winter, they naturally come out to plunder."

Xiao Rongyan thought for a moment and put down his teacup. Smiling at Dong Changlan, he said, "As a merchant speaking of commerce, why not open up a mutual market in Dengzhou? Like Mengcheng in Yan... it opens markets every year, allowing some Xiliang herders to exchange grain, and the people of Mengcheng can exchange for furs and horses. This way, both sides can meet their needs. If Dengzhou does this, wouldn’t it greatly reduce the Rong’s plundering?"

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