Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 523 - 520: Begging for Mercy_1

Chapter 523: Chapter 520: Begging for Mercy_1

The sound of the clapper drew closer. Bai Qingyan feared the night watchman would come, and nervously pushed the man away with her weak arms. The more she pushed, the tighter his arms around her waist grew, and the more forceful his kisses became.

Bai Qingyan couldn’t resist any longer, stepping back continuously. Only then did Xiao Rongyan release her, their foreheads touching as he panted heavily. His voice was extremely hoarse: "Don’t be afraid. The night watchman isn’t coming this way; I can tell."

As he spoke, Xiao Rongyan gently pecked Bai Qingyan’s ruby lips again, trying hard to control his breathing. He freed a hand to help her adjust her hood, noticing her face flushed bright red. The intensity in his eyes deepened.

After a long while, the clapper sound passed the alley and grew distant. Only then did Xiao Rongyan let go of Bai Qingyan, whispering gently, "Go back. I have to leave now..."

Bai Qingyan, still struggling to calm down, nodded silently, her breathing rapid.

Xiao Rongyan swiftly mounted his horse, giving Bai Qingyan a deep look before riding away.

Biting her swollen lips, Bai Qingyan watched Xiao Rongyan disappear. She hesitated for a moment before mounting her horse, turning towards the training grounds. Only when daylight fully broke did she return to the Bai Mansion as the rain intensified.

Inside Boyun Courtyard, rain drummed against the dense green leaves of ancient trees. The faint rustling sound came through the window.

Bai Qingyan had just changed into a beige dress with a diamond pattern when Chun Tao entered, drawing back the curtain, holding a lacquered tray with a bowl of hot soup.

When Bai Qingyan returned, her cloak was drenched, and she was chilled. Chun Tao hurriedly brought in the radish and ginger soup that Nanny Tong had simmered early on the stove to ward off the cold for Bai Qingyan.

Bai Jinzhi, soaked through and having forgotten her umbrella, rushed into Boyun Courtyard and patted her clothes under the veranda: "Why did the rain suddenly get so heavy?"

Sitting by the window, drinking ginger soup with a frown, Bai Qingyan glanced at Chun Zhi, who stepped forward to give her a formal bow and invited Bai Jinzhi to the warm pavilion to clean up.

"Chun Tao, ask Fourth Miss to come inside and tidy up here instead. Bring another bowl of ginger soup for her to ward off the cold." Bai Qingyan instructed as she swallowed the last of the hot ginger soup.

Responding promptly, Chun Tao stepped out smiling, greeted Bai Jinzhi, and led her inside. She then instructed Chun Zhi to bring hot water and towels, while she fetched the ginger soup for Bai Jinzhi herself.

Bai Jinzhi removed her drenched outer garments behind the screen, straightened herself out, and sat opposite Bai Qingyan: "Eldest Young Lady, are we going to Dengzhou to pick up Madam Dong?"

The maids brought in washing items, shuffling out one by one.

"Fourth Miss, have some ginger soup." Chun Tao gently reminded as she placed the bowl in front of Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi smiled at Chun Tao but quickly directed her eager gaze to Bai Qingyan, who was reading an ancient bamboo slip: "When are we leaving? I heard from Cousin Changlan about the scenery of Dengzhou, I’ve been dying to see it, especially the Yunjing Mountains. I heard they are magnificent!"

"You are not going. Stay in Shuoyang to look after the sisters." Bai Qingyan glanced at the eager Bai Jinzhi, suppressing a smile. "Besides, have you forgotten what the Eldest Young Lady assigned you? You haven’t even finished that. How can you think about going to Dengzhou?"

Bai Jinzhi froze. This time her Eldest Young Lady wasn’t taking her.

But it made sense... Eldest Young Lady asked her to sort out Bai Qiyun, but she hadn’t done it yet. One reason was that Bai Jinzhi wasn’t very interested in the task and preferred teaching her younger sisters archery.

Another reason was Bai Qingyan hadn’t set a deadline, so Bai Jinzhi felt she could delay it. It wasn’t her forte after all.

Chun Tao brought in milk custard and pastries on a silver platter, placing them in front of Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi. She then motioned for Chun Zhi, who was standing behind the screen, to leave the room, allowing the sisters some privacy.

"If I handle Bai Qiyun’s issue before you leave, will you take me with you?" Bai Jinzhi asked anxiously.

Bai Qingyan set aside the bamboo slip, taking small sips of milk custard with a silver spoon: "Even if you handle it, I can’t take you with me this time. With me gone... Shuoyang needs someone to look after it. Little Fourth... you are no longer a child. You are the elder sister to Little Fifth and Little Sixth. You must take care of them and protect Shuoyang in my place."

Bai Jinzhi bit her lip. Growing up, she always had her Eldest Young Lady and second and third sisters ahead of her. She never had to take care of her younger sisters. But she had to admit her Eldest Young Lady was right. She was an older sister... she had to take care of them, just as her Eldest Young Lady took care of them.

"Little Fourth, can I trust Shuoyang to you?" Bai Qingyan looked up at Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi clenched her fists and nodded solemnly: "Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. Little Fourth will keep Shuoyang safe!"

On the first day of August, the Crown Prince received news of their initial success in bandit suppression and was quite pleased.

The messenger sent by Bai Qingyan mentioned that the bandit numbers were significantly lower than expected, suspecting they may have other hideouts.

The Crown Prince, observing the number of bandit heads captured, found it odd. With so few, how could they have dared to attack his and the Princess of Zhen’s convoy?

The Crown Prince briefly instructed the messenger from the Bai family, then ordered rare items from the storeroom, along with ginseng and deer antler for Bai Qingyan’s health, to be taken back by the Bai family guard as a token of his favor.

After expressing thanks, the Bai family guard took the Crown Prince’s gifts and headed back to Shuoyang.

In recent days, the Crown Prince had been in a foul mood. His forced entry into King Liang’s mansion exposed the alchemy issue, leading to the Emperor’s displeasure. The Crown Prince’s requests for an audience had been denied.

Although King Liang was ordered to stay within his mansion for self-reflection, he often received officials and visitors.

In Dadu City, some families openly invited alchemists to their homes, sending refined elixirs to King Liang’s mansion. The Imperial Censor’s impeachments went unanswered, showing the Emperor had no intention of restricting King Liang.

The trend of alchemy seemed poised to spread among the city’s elite, with the price of niter rising.

Reflecting, the Crown Prince considered revealing King Liang’s alchemy to have backfired, losing the Emperor’s favor without inflicting substantial harm on King Liang, instead revealing the Emperor’s protection of him. Many officials had started currying favor with King Liang.

Advisor Fang suggested the news from Shuoyang offered a good opportunity for the Crown Prince to present the bandit suppression victory to the Emperor, using it as a chance to plead for forgiveness and gain the Emperor’s favor once

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