Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 645 - 642 - : Winning People’s Hearts_1

Chapter 645: 642 Chapter: Winning People’s Hearts_1

The Patrol Camp soldiers immediately dragged the sobbing, breathless King Liang away from the high steps of the Emperor’s bedchamber.

"Father! Father, please spare your son! I was truly just scared of dying! But even in death, I never thought of harming you and my Crown Prince brother!" King Liang’s legs flailed as he hysterically cried towards the direction of the Emperor’s bedchamber.

Bai Qingyan thought that maybe the reason King Liang could live so long was because inside his heart... he lacked a sense of dignity and integrity, which made his knees bend so easily at any time.

King Liang was no longer a threat...

Since King Liang had the luck to survive this chaotic melee, Bai Qingyan felt that instead of risking killing King Liang now, it would be better to make him watch the things he desired but could never obtain, leaving him forever trapped in his weak and incompetent shell.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fixed on the panicked, sobbing King Liang. For a moment, she couldn’t even remember the confident and heroic figure King Liang had been in the previous life.

In the previous life, with Du Zhiwei by his side, and herself, King Liang gradually shed the reputation of cowardice and became a revered war god, full of majesty.

She took the umbrella from Nanny Jiang’s hand, held it above the Eldest Princess’s head, and said to the Eldest Princess, "Grandmother, let me escort you to the carriage."

"Are you truly not coming back to Bai Mansion with me? Do you not care for your health, nor worry for Bai Mansion?" The Eldest Princess held Bai Qingyan’s hand.

Bai Mansion had yet to send any news. To Bai Qingyan, no news was good news.

She had experienced Xiao Rongyan’s capabilities in her previous life. As long as Xiao Rongyan had promised to guard Bai Mansion, he would undoubtedly do so, hence she wasn’t worried.

Besides, she couldn’t leave now. At least half of the imperial guards had rebelled with Zhong Shaozhong and King Xin. They had suffered considerable losses after successive battles with the Nandu Army and Anping Camp soldiers. While it appeared to be a mess to others, Bai Qingyan saw it as a golden opportunity to insert her people and win hearts.

If Bai Qingyan left now, she would miss this opportunity.

Moreover, Bai Qingyan had become too prominent this time. At this moment, both the Emperor and the Crown Prince wouldn’t think too much due to their gratitude for her saving them; but later on, they might remember and become wary of the Bai family, possibly keeping Bai Qingyan under close watch.

The Emperor’s decree of reward had yet to be issued. Who knew if he might grant her marriage to the Crown Prince, which she did not want.

Bai Qingyan had already ordered Xiao Rongyan’s hidden guards to stage an assassination attempt, making it appear that she was not long for this world, to safely return to Shuoyang to recuperate.

If someone were to "assassinate" her while her grandmother was present, she might get hurt, which Bai Qingyan did not want to see.

After sending off the Eldest Princess, Doctor Huang examined Bai Qingyan’s arm, stating that though the bone was not injured, the tendon was, and it needed ample time to heal.

Bai Qingyan thanked him and changed into the clean clothes sent by Gao Demao’s people in a secluded warm pavilion.

Behind the carved flower partition, a Bai family guard lowered his voice and said to Bai Qingyan, "Miss, General Liu Hong has arrived. He has ordered the disarmament of the rebel Nandu Army and the imperial guards, intending to expel them from the Imperial City. It seems... apart from King Liang and a few critical commanders set for Lingchi execution, the Emperor does not plan to spare any other soldiers, intending to execute them all by strangulation."

Bai Qingyan, finding it extremely inconvenient to dress with one hand, paused upon hearing this: "How many in total?"

"Miss, at least eighteen thousand." The Bai family guard replied.

Eighteen thousand, all to be executed?!

Though the rebel army deserved death, how many of them were just ordinary soldiers following orders, caught up in circumstances beyond their control!

It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan was soft-hearted. Historically, Emperors dealing with such cases would show leniency by killing a few to warn others, heavily punishing the leaders while sparing the followers...

Bai Qingyan gritted her teeth as she finished dressing, opened the door with one hand, and stared at the rain curtain under the corridor, asking, "Where is General Liu Hong now? Where are they being taken?"

"Miss, when the subordinate came to report, General Liu Hong had already set off with his troops, seemingly headed for the east gate..."

The east gate? Yongding Gate!

If Bai Qingyan’s guess was correct, the Emperor intended for General Liu Hong to execute all these rebels at Yongding Gate!

Bai Qingyan’s heart tightened. She rushed into the rain curtain, "Head to Yongding Gate immediately!"

"Miss going to save them?" The guard hurried to catch up.

Bai Qingyan’s eyes flashed sharply. She replied, "It is to save lives, and to win hearts as well..."

·

It had rained all night without stopping. The rain showed signs of becoming fiercer.

Prime Minister Lu, clad in his official robes, stepped out of the carriage with his head bowed. His attendant hurriedly held an umbrella and helped him down.

Prime Minister Lu looked down and saw the red-colored rainwater soaking his official boots. He then looked at the overturned appeal drum and the crooked Wude Gate, feeling the intensity of the blood battle that had just taken place there.

Soon after, a carriage from the Court of Judicial Review arrived at the gate. Minister Dong Qingping stepped out, seeing Prime Minister Lu first, and supporting himself on a guard’s hand as he dismounted, he approached Prime Minister Lu with a deep bow: "Prime Minister Lu!"

"Lord Dong!" Prime Minister Lu nodded at Dong Qingping.

Subsequently, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong and Minister of Revenue Chu Zhongxing also arrived, bowing to Prime Minister Lu and inquiring about the situation in the rain.

Early that morning, the court officials, still at home, were alarmed by the battle cries from Wude Gate. They all sent their guards to investigate. They first received news that General Bi Heng led the imperial guards to besiege Wude Gate, then heard that the Crown Prince and Master Tan led the Patrol Camp into the palace for protection, and later learned that King Xian and King Liang, accompanied by the Nandu Army from an unknown source, also claimed to be entering the palace for protection.

All officials, already dressed in their official attire, sat at home as servants continuously went out to gather news. Some even went directly to Prime Minister Lu’s mansion, seeking his advice.

Prime Minister Lu was the first to hear the news that Princess of Zhen, Bai Qingyan, had headed to the east gate of Dadu City. After some thought, he instructed the officials gathered at his mansion to return home and guard their residences.

With Bai Qingyan there, Prime Minister Lu believed this chaos would soon be quelled.

As expected, half an hour ago, a hidden guard from Prime Minister Lu’s mansion reported that the shouting in the Imperial Palace had ceased.

Prime Minister Lu considered that the crisis had likely been settled. After ensuring his household was secure, he set off for Wude Gate.

Naturally, other officials, too, came upon hearing the news.

Even Li Mao, who had been recovering at home, came to Wude Gate this time.

However, heavy guards stationed outside Wude Gate showed no sign of allowing officials to enter the palace.

Not long after, Wude Gate suddenly opened...

Prime Minister Lu saw the Eldest Princess’s carriage coming out from within, quickly moved aside, and deeply bowed in greeting to the Eldest Princess’s carriage.

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