Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 573 - 570: Differing Paths_1

Chapter 573: Chapter 570: Differing Paths_1

Ren Shijie rubbed the fish food with his fingers and scattered it into the lake. "I had tested this Mr. Qin before..."

"You want to recruit Mr. Qin to Yan?" Xiao Rongyan gazed at the carp in the lake and asked leisurely, "Is this person really that talented?"

"This person is indeed a great talent! So, I took the risk to try, thinking that if I could recruit him to Yan and have him work for our country, it would count as a merit for me. However, I was almost discovered by Qin Shangzhi, so I had to drop the matter to avoid ruining it."

Ren Shijie lamented the loss of talent, feeling it wasteful for Qin Shangzhi’s abilities to be wasted. He pondered and suggested, "If you could devise a way to tame him, he could surely become a capable minister to assist our Yan."

Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes and handed the wiping cloth back to Yue Shi without a word.

Talents, Yan desperately needed them. But this Mr. Qin... Although Xiao Rongyan had not had much contact with him, he knew that the man had a deep loyalty to his motherland and would never betray it to serve Yan and confront Jin.

People with great abilities often had their pride and principles. Mr. Qin Shangzhi was no different. Otherwise, he would have joined the Bai family long ago.

Xiao Rongyan still remembered Bai Qingyan sending off Qin Shangzhi outside Dadu City. Although he didn’t know what Bai Qingyan had said to him at that time, he saw Qin Shangzhi’s emotionally charged expression from afar. He believed that Qin Shangzhi was inclined to follow Bai Qingyan.

As for why Qin Shangzhi later chose the Crown Prince instead, Xiao Rongyan could not comprehend.

Perhaps Qin Shangzhi wanted to take a shortcut or maybe he thought Bai Qingyan, being a woman, was not comparable.

"The Yan Court’s loyalty emphasizes mutual consent. If one is tricked into joining, it is unlikely they would willingly contribute to the Yan Court. Forget it! Your safety is paramount. There’s no need to put yourself at risk for one Qin Shangzhi." Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Ren Shijie. "I know how difficult this journey has been for you. With the Jin Court now in chaos, focus on protecting yourself."

"Then I wish our Yan an early victory at Dadu and the unification of the world." Ren Shijie, unable to salute Xiao Rongyan here, still showed respect and determination in his eyes.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and patted Ren Shijie’s shoulder. "Be careful around the Crown Prince."

Ren Shijie nodded.

This undercover agent, Xiao Rongyan, had planted beside the Crown Prince long before others arrived in Dadu. Ren Shijie reached his current position because many people paved his way with their lives.

Over the years, Xiao Rongyan minimized using Ren Shijie to ensure his safety and to ensure he could someday play a more significant role.

Currently, Yan Kingdom was in urgent need of talent but not so desperate that lacking one great talent would doom the nation. Compared to Ren Shijie’s safety, Xiao Rongyan would certainly choose Ren Shijie.

The news of Ren Shijie’s encounter with Xiao Rongyan at the night market reached the Crown Prince’s ears within an hour.

But the Crown Prince did not make much of it. Xiao Rongyan had said he wanted to visit the night market. Running into Ren Shijie, who reportedly returned after many years to see his hometown, was not surprising.

Hearing that Xiao Rongyan strolled the night market in Fenping and then returned to Dengzhou with his guards, the Crown Prince lay down as well.

On Bai Qingyan’s side, Lu Ping personally escorted Qin Shangzhi back. Seeing Qin Shangzhi pale under the lantern light, he said, "The young lady did this for your own good. Think it over!"

After speaking, Lu Ping was about to leave.

"Lu Ping, you were once in the Bai family army. Do you know the founding purpose of the Bai family army?" Qin Shangzhi suddenly asked.

Lu Ping, already descending the steps, turned back and looked at Qin Shangzhi, confused. He replied almost without thinking, "To quell internal strife and resist external threats, and to protect the people."

To protect the people, not the nation.

Qin Shangzhi pressed his lips tightly together. He understood... The Bai family had always been loyal not to the ruler but to the people!

The Bai family, more magnanimous than the Jin’s Lin family Imperial Family, had always held military power for generations but never sought to usurp and willingly submitted because... from this emperor tracing back several generations of Jin monarchs, though not enlightened rulers, were virtuous. Hence, the Bai family never harbored dissent, and their loyalty and integrity were respected by all.

Seeing Qin Shangzhi close his eyes, Lu Ping, holding the lantern, returned and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Leave..." Qin Shangzhi, his throat choked, opened his eyes and looked at Lu Ping, calm and firm. "Lu Ping, you and I were once friends, but our paths diverge. Go back and tell the young lady, I will remain by the Crown Prince’s side, striving to correct him. Even if the Crown Prince lacks talent, even if he is not a visionary emperor, I will make him a virtuous ruler, a monarch with a heart for his people."

As long as the people could live in peace... the Bai family’s loyalty to the people would prevent rebellion.

Qin Shangzhi was willing to stay by the Crown Prince’s side, striving to maintain the balance between the Bai family and the Imperial Family. This would protect the people from wars and ensure the Jin Kingdom’s stability.

He, Qin Shangzhi, had grand ambitions to bring peace to the world! But the Jin Monarch was unwise. The Crown Prince was unstable and was often manipulated by cunning people.

At least for now, Qin Shangzhi believed the Crown Prince was still redeemable. If it ever became truly necessary, even if Qin Shangzhi had to violate his principles and nature by killing that old Fang... it wouldn’t be impossible. As long as the Crown Prince was no longer misled by that man, Qin Shangzhi firmly believed he could straighten the Crown Prince, preventing him from resorting to underhanded plots and instead using open strategies.

Qin Shangzhi asked Lu Ping to convey this message to Bai Qingyan, ensuring her that he would not reveal the Bai family’s plans and intentions to the Crown Prince and would keep them secret. He believed that as long as the court did not oppress the people to the point of rebellion, the Bai family, with their commitment to protecting the people, would remain loyal ministers ensuring the safety of the Jin Kingdom, rather than rebels replacing the Lin dynasty with the Bai family.

Lu Ping opened his mouth to persuade him, but Qin Shangzhi raised his hand to stop him. "Go back! My mind is made up!"

With that, Qin Shangzhi turned and went back inside, closing the door.

Lu Ping, holding the leather lantern, deeply looked at the closed carved flower partition, shook his head, and walked back.

Upon returning, Lu Ping saw the young lady’s window wide open. The young lady sat by the window, reading a book. The three-legged gilded beast incense burner on the small table sent light smoke curling into the air. The golden light outlined the young lady’s exquisitely beautiful side profile, making her look like a painting.

This place was specially found by Quan Yu, knowing Bai Qingyan was coming. The books in the house were also carefully chosen by Quan Yu, consisting mostly of chess manuals and similar literature, thinking Bai Qingyan would undoubtedly like them.

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