Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 149 - 148: Clear Judgment_1

Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Clear Judgment_1

“Accusing the King of Zhen,” King Liang, looking as wilted as a frost-damaged eggplant, knelt dejectedly at his feet, his tear-rimmed eyes looking at the Emperor. “Father, I really only wanted to save my brother. I know that Father values Brother the most. I couldn’t bear to see Brother suffer, nor could I bear to see Father distressed!”

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How pure and filial, Bai Qingyan thought to herself, eyes lowered.

“Your Highness is gravely mistaken!” The Eldest Princess stood up, leaning on her tiger head cane, and gazed sternly at King Liang. “The foundation of aristocratic families is reputation! King Xin is not in mortal danger, yet Your Highness intends to tarnish the Bai family’s reputation to preserve King Xin’s wealth and honors. This is wrong! The Bai family members sacrificed themselves to protect Jin’s realm. As a prince, you should be grateful, not repaying kindness with enmity, desecrating their loyalty, and leaving their names stained in history. This is another wrong! A prince is a son of His Majesty, with the potential to inherit the throne. Committing these two mistakes… How will the world view our Jin Imperial Family? Who will dare to sacrifice their lives for Jin? Who will dare to support the Lin family’s rule?”

King Liang wore a look of sudden awakening, tears streaming down his face as he prostrated himself before the Emperor. “Father… It was out of my ignorance! I truly understand my mistake now! Father knows I have always been timid and cowardly. I didn’t think it through. I only wanted to save my brother! Who would have thought it would cause such a disaster for Father!”

The Eldest Princess turned to look at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I noticed that the content of His Highness’s letter was sharp and decisive, murderous even. It doesn’t seem like the work of an ignorant, timid person without strategy. Or was it perhaps dictated by someone else for His Highness to pen? My loyal servant said they pursued suspicious figures to King Liang’s residence. They came out after only a quarter of an incense stick’s time. I suggest Master Lu Jin send someone to inquire about King Liang’s whereabouts and whether he was alone at that time. This will clarify if the letter came from him or another.”

King Liang’s heart trembled, and he kept his head low, shaking uncontrollably, afraid to look up. Remembering the letter he had written himself, he closed his eyes. Indeed, it was a blunder in his panic!

...

But King Liang was unwilling to concede. He calculated quickly, having claimed earlier that it was Prince Xin’s advisors who left after killing Qin Dezhao.

“If it were a case of King Liang being too eager to save his brother and being used out of ignorance, that’s one thing! But if it’s a case of going with the flow for ulterior motives… With such deep schemes, Your Majesty will have to think carefully!” The Eldest Princess spoke slowly.

Protected by the Eldest Princess, Bai Qingyan remained silent. She knew her grandmother was planting seeds of doubt in the Emperor’s mind. Once doubt took root, even the smallest, most insignificant clues would be magnified unwittingly.

Her grandmother understood the Emperor better. Once the Emperor realized that King Liang wasn’t as weak and incompetent as he appeared but was hiding his capabilities, he would recall how close King Liang once was with the Second Prince. Wouldn’t he think about how King Liang, who tried to frame the Bai family for treason, was now pretending to be weak? Linking Qin Dezhao’s death and the Southern Border grain case to King Xin, what would the Emperor think?

He would surely believe that this son of his was more capable than he had imagined! Capable enough to escape his understanding and control.

Could such a prince, with the qualification to inherit the throne and deep cunning and brilliant acting, be allowed to remain?

Wouldn’t the Emperor fear… that King Liang might one day tear off his sheep’s clothing and reveal his true ferocity, like the Second Prince, raising an army to force the Emperor’s abdication and seize his power?

“Auntie Grandmother! I have always treated Auntie Grandmother with respect. Though not overly filial, I have always remembered you. Why would you harm me, Auntie Grandmother?!” King Liang looked up, like a bewildered, frightened young beast, his eyes full of the pain of being betrayed by a loved one.

The Eldest Princess straightened her back, looking at King Liang with righteous indignation. “Your Highness, I am your Auntie Grandmother. But I am also the Eldest Princess of Jin! The nation comes first, then the family! This goes for the Bai family and anyone else!”

The Eldest Princess’s aged voice was tinged with sorrow as she choked out, “Your Majesty, I am old… At fifteen, I went to the Qing Temple of the Imperial Family to pray for the nation. Soon, I fear I won’t be able to protect the Bai family’s children! As a widow of loyal warriors, let them return to their ancestral home in Shuoyang after the New Year. The Bai family’s reputation is pure, loyal for generations. Never have they stooped to low manners or meals. Since all the Bai family men have died, leaving no one to inherit titles, I hereby request to revoke their titles, only asking Your Majesty to ensure the Bai family’s widows live in peace and prosperity.”

Minister of Judicial Review, Lu Jin, looked up at the Eldest Princess and the ever-composed Bai family heiress. He had heard that the Bai family had brought back an illegitimate son. Why… were they requesting to revoke titles?

Bai Qingyan stepped forward to support the Eldest Princess, lowered her voice, and said to the Eldest Princess, “Grandmother, that guard looked very familiar. He seemed to have been a guard under the Second Prince.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, as if whispering to her grandmother, just loud enough for the Emperor to hear.

The Second Prince, those three words had always been a sore spot in the Emperor’s heart. He abruptly looked up. “Which guard did you say?”

Though the Emperor’s question was directed at Bai Qingyan, his gaze had already turned sharply towards Gao Sheng, as if he were recalling someone who astonished him to his feet.

The Emperor’s heart pounded. No wonder the guard seemed familiar. When the Second Prince had rebelled, his most trusted lieutenant, Gao Yuan, had almost sliced the Emperor’s head off. He could never forget the feel of that blood-stained, slightly dented blade nicking his scalp. He could never forget Gao Yuan’s cold, ghastly features.

“What is your relationship with the rebel Gao Yuan?!” The Emperor demanded.

“Brother, Leader of the Second Prince’s Guards, Gao Yuan.” Gao Sheng met the Emperor’s gaze without fear, seemingly welcoming death, “In the seventh year of Xuanjia, he was shot dead at Wude Gate. The Nine Clans were executed, leaving only one survivor.”

The Emperor’s shocked gaze shifted to King Liang, only to see him staring in bewilderment at Gao Sheng.

King Liang’s bewilderment was genuine. He had never imagined Gao Sheng would reveal his identity himself.

Given the situation, Gao Sheng would not survive.

In that instant, King Liang’s thoughts raced, and he decisively bowed to the Emperor. “Father! I didn’t know Gao Sheng’s identity!”

The Emperor tightly clenched his fist, calmed his mind, and slowly sat back down, gripping the armrest of the Dragon Throne silently.

The Eldest Princess looked at the Emperor’s expression. After slowly bowing in salute, she said, “Your Majesty, this matter has escalated. The people of Dadu City all know this now. Outside Wude Gate, the people are hailing Your Majesty as a wise and just ruler, believing Your Majesty will bring justice to the Bai family. To maintain such a reputation, one must live up to it to win the people’s hearts. How to deal with King Liang is at your wise discretion.”