Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 549 - 546: Person of the Bai Family_1

Chapter 549: Chapter 546: Person of the Bai Family_1

"Then... regarding the matter of our master suspecting General Peng’s side has a Nanyan spy, should we send word to the Capital to inform His Majesty? Or simply let General Pei investigate on the spot?" Yue Shi asked again.

"There’s no need for now. We’ll secretly investigate that deputy by General Peng’s side," Xiao Rongyan replied just as Yue Shi looked up and loudly called out, "Miss Bai!"

Xiao Rongyan turned and saw Bai Qingyan, dressed in a frosty-colored robe with golden embroidery and an ai-green skirt embroidered with bamboo, standing under the lush willows along the lakeside. Her attire fluttered gently with the willows, and the shimmering lake behind her added to her dazzling beauty.

On this scorching summer day, the cicadas chirped incessantly from the tall trees. Under the glaring sun, Xiao Rongyan’s water-blue robe looked particularly refreshing.

"Miss Bai!" Xiao Rongyan bowed deeply in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

Ever since he left upon her request at the border between Nanrong and Jin Kingdoms to ensure Princess Mingcheng’s safety, she had treated him with a formal, businesslike demeanor. She hadn’t come to check on his injuries or sent anyone to inquire about his well-being.

Initially, Xiao Rongyan thought Bai Qingyan’s behavior was due to her stay at the Dong Mansion. Later, he wondered if she misunderstood his relationship with Princess Mingcheng. But then he reconsidered, knowing Bai Qingyan wasn’t an ordinary woman and couldn’t be judged by common standards. He speculated it might be due to the Jin Kingdom allowing passage to Yan while the Yan secretly mapped Jin’s defenses along the way, which annoyed her.

Today’s chance meeting was fortuitous. Xiao Rongyan wanted to seize the opportunity to speak with Bai Qingyan, clarify any misunderstandings regarding Princess Mingcheng, and request her help to keep Mingcheng in Dengzhou for treatment.

Bai Qingyan was the beloved niece of Dong Qingyue, the Governor of Dengzhou. Her words held great influence.

"Mr. Xiao..." Bai Qingyan nodded slightly.

Xiao Rongyan turned his head and instructed Yue Shi, "You may leave now. I wish to speak with Miss Bai."

Chun Tao, seeing Xiao Rongyan approaching her lady’s direction, hurriedly stepped forward, ready to block Xiao Rongyan from getting too close.

Bai Qingyan also stepped toward Xiao Rongyan. They stood in the shade of a tall locust tree, clearly intending to talk. The maids from the Dong Mansion stayed at a respectful distance of ten paces.

Always perceptive, Chun Tao remained unusually vigilant today, closely following Bai Qingyan and eyeing Xiao Rongyan with suspicion.

Bai Qingyan glanced at Chun Tao’s tense face and whispered, "Chun Tao, wait on the side."

Hearing her lady’s words, Chun Tao reluctantly stepped back a few paces, keeping a close watch on Xiao Rongyan.

A gentle breeze rustled through the willows.

Xiao Rongyan’s deep, burning eyes gazed at Bai Qingyan as he asked, "These past few days... although we have both been at the Dong Mansion, I haven’t seen you. I couldn’t send anyone to find you or ask Brother Changlan. Did you get hurt the day you saved someone?"

"I wasn’t hurt. I’ve just been busy these days. And since I’m at the Dong Mansion... I have to be more reserved," Bai Qingyan replied with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Xiao Rongyan glanced at the maids behind Bai Qingyan, their heads bowed, and took a step closer to her. His hoarse, rich voice lowered considerably, "Even though we’ve been at the same residence these days, I’ve missed you even more. Yet you haven’t sent anyone to ask about my injuries..."

This remark, sounding both like a complaint and an expression of deep feeling, made Bai Qingyan’s hands behind her back tighten, and her ears reddened slightly, "At the border of Nanrong and Jin that day, I was worried you’d be in a difficult position, so I asked you to leave. Since you stayed, I thought I was mistaken and should handle matters in Dengzhou without personal involvement."

"Be it handling matters officially or avoiding personal feelings, don’t you... miss me too?" Xiao Rongyan took another step forward and asked.

Chun Tao’s ears perked up, her expression tightened as though ready to intervene if Xiao Rongyan said something inappropriate to her lady.

Bai Qingyan kept her lips tightly pressed together. These past days, her mind had been entirely occupied with A Yu’s affairs, leaving no room to think about Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan, noticing Chun Tao’s alertness, lowered his voice and said to Bai Qingyan, "Shall we walk along the lake?"

Bai Qingyan also had matters to discuss with Xiao Rongyan, so she nodded seriously, "Please, Mr. Xiao."

"Why wasn’t General Xie, who came to escort Princess Mingcheng, sent? How could such an incident at the Jin border escape General Xie’s knowledge?" Bai Qingyan asked.

"A sudden outbreak of typhoid occurred in the Yan Army. Xie Xun... has fallen ill and couldn’t come," Xiao Rongyan admitted without hiding anything from Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan’s hand clenched, "You haven’t informed General Xie about the attack on Princess Mingcheng, have you?"

Xiao Rongyan nodded, instinctively reaching to touch the jade cicada before remembering he had given it to Bai Qingyan. Shaking his robe, he explained, "Xie Xun can’t collapse now. If he finds out, it could cause a significant disturbance."

"But if Xie Xun could meet Princess Mingcheng, it might save her life!" Bai Qingyan slowed her pace. "The doctors say she has no sign of life left. If Doctor Hong were here, he might have a chance. However, sending a message to fetch him now would be too late."

Xiao Rongyan knew this well, and he remained silent with pressed lips.

"My uncle and I interrogated the nannies, maids, and soldiers who accompanied her. It seems the Nanrong soldiers had prior knowledge of your route and ambushed you. If that’s the case, there must be a spy in the marriage escort team. You’ve likely considered this," Bai Qingyan said.

"Only three people could have known the route a day in advance: General Peng who has fallen in battle, the scout he sent out, and his deputy. The scout is currently missing. If he’s the spy, he is now useless. The concern is whether General Peng’s deputy is a hidden Nanyan agent," Xiao Rongyan stated directly.

Bai Qingyan shook her head, "I think it’s unlikely. Yan and Rong do not share a direct border, and Rong soldiers aren’t known for their strategic skills. Achieving a position like that of Yan’s Central Army’s deputy would take at least five to six years unless he is an aristocratic family member from Yan."

"Nanrong wasn’t skilled in strategy before. But since Nandi has a ghost-faced general, things have changed greatly," Xiao Rongyan recalled Bai Qingyan’s inquiry about this general. He turned to her and asked, "Is this ghost-faced general from the Bai family?"