Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 650 - 647: Superiority Revealed_1

Chapter 650: Chapter 647: Superiority Revealed_1

The Crown Prince nodded, recalling Fang Lao’s warning to be wary of Bai Qingyan, feeling guilty at the thought. He pursed his lips before speaking softly, "Fang Lao is experienced and steady, though sometimes a bit overly cautious."

"Being cautious is a good thing. His Majesty is unwell and has entrusted all state affairs to the Crown Prince. With so much to handle daily, it’s inevitable to miss some matters. Having someone as cautious as Fang Lao by your side... keeping vigilant for you, I can rest assured even if I return to Shuoyang." Bai Qingyan smiled slightly.

The rain pounded on the finely crafted elm roof of the carriage. The Crown Prince’s hand beside him tightened slightly. Fang Lao always insisted he be wary of Bai Qingyan, yet here Bai Qingyan was, speaking up for Fang Lao in front of him. The difference in demeanor was striking.

Kneeling beside them, handing tea to the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan, Quan Yu felt anxious for Bai Qingyan. Fang Lao kept urging the Crown Prince to guard against Bai Qingyan, yet Bai Qingyan spoke for Fang Lao. The Princess of Zhen was truly too kind-hearted. He must find an opportunity to remind the Princess of Zhen about all this.

While deep in thought, the carriage suddenly jolted sharply, chaos erupting outside with horses neighing and people shouting in terror.

The Crown Prince hurriedly reached out, gripping the carriage window tightly to steady himself.

Quan Yu, unstable on his knees, bumped his head against the wooden board, immediately feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Having just experienced a palace coup, the Crown Prince turned pale as he heard the guards outside scream in agony. Today’s upheaval in Dadu made the commoners hide in their homes, not daring to go out. The usually quiet long street was devoid of any activity. The sudden halt of the carriage feared an ambush.

Outside the carriage, the clashing of swords and cries from the Crown Prince’s guards defending the carriage were accompanied by the "thud, thud, thud" sounds of arrows piercing the wooden boards of the carriage. The Crown Prince’s legs turned to jelly in fear.

The previously calm long street erupted in chaos, filled with the glint of knives and swords, and horrifying shouts.

"Arrows with fire! Crown Prince, be careful!" voices shouted from outside.

Bai Qingyan turned her head to see the green curtains of the carriage being ignited by fiery arrows, vaguely smelling the stench of kerosene...

The fiery arrows were wrapped with cloth strips soaked in oil. The rainwater washing over them created slow-burning flames that crawled over the carriage.

"Fire! Your Highness, there’s fire!" Quan Yu exclaimed, eyes wide in alarm.

"In such heavy rain! The fire won’t last! We can’t get out!" the Crown Prince’s voice trembled.

Bai Qingyan already had the curtains lifted, glancing outside at the Hidden Guards standing on the rooftops on both sides, shooting arrows towards the Crown Prince’s carriage. She nodded resolutely.

The Hidden Guard immediately straightened up and aimed his arrow towards the carriage...

Through the slit in the raised curtains by Bai Qingyan, the Crown Prince saw the dim flames clinging to the exterior of the carriage, unextinguished by the rain, spreading wherever the water flowed. The interwoven flames wrapped around the carriage like ropes.

The fiery arrows kept coming!

Bai Qingyan’s eyes swept outside. With quick decisiveness, she shouted, "Crash into that shop! Quickly!"

Hearing her command, the Crown Prince’s guards rushed to the shop by the street, ramming the door.

"Whoosh—"

Bai Qingyan abruptly ducked away. A sharp arrow pierced through the rain, entering the carriage. Not bothering about the differences in status, she grabbed the Crown Prince and pushed his head down to shield him.

The arrow embedded itself into the elm wood board within the carriage, its tail trembling. The kerosene dripped onto the carriage seat, and the flames shot up instantly.

Having faced life and death twice in a day, the Crown Prince felt his heart nearly leap out of his throat.

"Your Highness! I will protect you as you get out of the carriage! The horses can still be controlled for now, but the arrows keep coming. If a horse gets shot, the carriage catches fire, and we can’t stop, that would be the real end!" Bai Qingyan spoke quickly.

In this crisis, the Crown Prince could only trust Bai Qingyan for now. He nodded vigorously.

"Chief Eunuch Quan!" Bai Qingyan called out to Quan Yu.

Summoning his courage, Quan Yu responded, "Don’t worry, Princess of Zhen. I will protect His Highness!"

As soon as they moved, Quan Yu took a deep breath and opened the carriage door...

Bai Qingyan pressed the Crown Prince’s head down. Together with Quan Yu, she shielded the Crown Prince as they jumped out of the carriage, quickly running towards the tavern where the guards had broken open the door.

Just a few steps out, the Crown Prince heard a frantic horse whinny. He turned to see the horse hit by an arrow, rearing madly, shaking its head and tail violently. It galloped away, dragging the burning carriage with it, knocking over and trampling the Crown Prince’s guards along the way. It crashed into an untouched breakfast stall on the roadside, causing the carriage to overturn with flames soaring high.

The Crown Prince held his breath, realizing that if not for Bai Qingyan’s decisive action, he couldn’t imagine what the outcome might have been.

Bai Qingyan, clutching the Crown Prince by the back of his robes with one hand, practically dragged his weakened legs up the steps, dashing into the tavern.

In the rain, Quan Yu stepped on the corpse of one of the Crown Prince’s guards, slipping in panic, and hurriedly climbing the steps with hands and feet, as whistling arrows swept past his ears...

Looking up, Quan Yu saw Bai Qingyan pushing the Crown Prince aside. An arrow like lightning pierced Bai Qingyan’s chest, its force causing her to stagger back a few steps and trip over the threshold...

The pain, sharp and overwhelming, filled Bai Qingyan’s mind with a buzz, as if all sounds and people around her slowed down. Her consciousness nearly plunged into darkness at that moment.

But she remembered, she orchestrated this trap, and she was the key... If she fainted, the plan would be in vain, and Xiao Rongyan, who wagered his life to accompany her, would die for nothing.

Her fist clenched tightly, nails embedded in her palm’s tender flesh. She bit down, holding on.

"Princess of Zhen!" Quan Yu cried in horror, eyes wide.

The Crown Prince, pushed aside by Bai Qingyan and then supported by the guards, also widened his eyes. He scrambled into the tavern, shouting sharply, "Quick! Close the door!"

The guards hurriedly shut the tavern’s door, blocking out the rain of arrows.

"Princess of Zhen!" Quan Yu crawled to Bai Qingyan, who had been dragged inside. Seeing the fresh blood on her newly changed clothes and his hands covered in her blood, his throat tightened, "Princess of Zhen... how are you?!"

Bai Qingyan bit down hard, holding her chest without uttering a sound.

Every breath felt like her chest was being torn apart, causing immense pain. Her forehead veins bulged, and cold sweat dripped profusely. She felt dizzy and faint.

Quan Yu couldn’t help but cry out loud. In the battle against thousands of troops today, Bai Qingyan didn’t spill any blood, yet now she had an arrow piercing through her chest.

The shocked Crown Prince took two steps back. Seeing no more arrows being shot, he heard Quan Yu calling out to the Princess of Zhen.

The Crown Prince hurriedly turned around. Panicking, he knelt beside Bai Qingyan, his pupils trembling at the sight of her chest soaked in blood.

Bright red blood flowed from Bai Qingyan’s chest, her palm sticky and hot with it. She moved her fingers slightly, looking towards the Crown Prince.