Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1514 - 1509: As It Should Be

Chapter 1514 -1509: As It Should Be

Liu Rushi and the naval commanders immediately reacted, kneeling on one knee and shouting in unison, “Welcome back, Prince of Hancheng!”

“Welcome back, Prince of Hancheng!” The Bai family’s soldiers moved in unison, kneeling on one knee and shouting their welcome.

“Welcome back, Prince of Hancheng!” The Zhou naval soldiers also knelt and shouted, unable to hold back their tears. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The commanders of the Zhou navy, all seven-foot-tall men, couldn’t help but let their tears flow.

Cheng Yuanzhi and the other commanders carrying the coffin walked steadily, their steps slow and deliberate.

At the end of the carpet… stood the Princess of Hancheng, dressed in mourning clothes.

After learning of the Prince of Hancheng’s death in battle, the Princess knelt and begged the Empress Dowager Mrs. Dong to send her to Jinguan City. She already knew that His Majesty had personally led the troops to avenge the Prince of Hancheng and bring back his body. She was grateful and wished to personally come to Jinguan City to meet her husband.

Initially, Mrs. Dong did not want the Princess to come, but recalling how her own husband, Bai Qishan, died in battle in the southern border, she felt sympathy for the Princess and sent people to bring her over.

The Princess of Hancheng thought that she had already cried herself dry on this journey and that her heart had become numb from the pain, considering her husband’s death was some time ago. Yet, upon seeing her husband’s coffin, her tears burst forth, and the heartache felt like a knife continually twisting inside her. Even biting her lip hard couldn’t suppress her cries.

They had agreed not to have children… to accompany each other till old age!

They had promised that after resolving issues at sea, they would spend summers watching falling flowers and winters admiring snow!

They had agreed… that he should die after her to spare her from being alone in her old age. They had agreed long ago!

Yet, after his death in battle, a loyal servant handed her a letter he wrote before leaving Dadu City, saying it was just in case!

If they vowed to be together for life, how could he allow for a chance of anything happening?!

This liar!

Wei Ruxing, you big liar!

The Princess of Hancheng clutched at her chest, crying so hard she couldn’t stand and fell to her knees at the end of the carpet. “Liar… Wei Ruxing, you liar! We had an agreement, you lied to me!”

Bai Qingyan, about to disembark from the ship, saw the Princess of Hancheng kneeling in tears, clutching her heart, and her eyes rimmed with red. Her hands clenched into fists behind her back.

“Eldest Young Lady…” Bai Qingjue gently called Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan came back to her senses, lowering her gaze as she disembarked from the ship…

“Your Majesty…” Liu Pinggao rose after kowtowing to Bai Qingyan and approached her, “Your Majesty, Doctor Hong received news of the epidemic and wants to set off for the Zhou cities in Yan Kingdom. I couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so I have him under watch!”

Bai Qingyan nodded, “Good, I understand. You’ve done well. Doctor Hong is getting old and should not be overburdened anymore!”

Besides, even if Doctor Hong went now, it’s unlikely he could enter the territories of Yan Kingdom.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell upon the Princess of Hancheng, and she began to walk towards her.

Most of the men in the military camp tried persuading the Princess to stand up but dared not help her up beyond words.

The nanny accompanying the Prince of Hancheng couldn’t lift the Princess alone, so she knelt beside her and cried with her.

The Princess of Hancheng’s voice was choked, mumbling incoherently, only understood by the nanny beside her… The Princess was saying the Prince of Hancheng was a liar, and their Princess was heartbroken.

Seeing Bai Qingyan approach, the naval commanders surrounding the Prince of Hancheng quickly stepped aside, knelt, and saluted, “Your Majesty!”

Hearing this, the tear-streaked Princess of Hancheng looked up to see Bai Qingyan bending down, holding her with both hands, “Princess, please get up. Let’s first settle the Prince of Hancheng.”

“Your Majesty…” The Princess of Hancheng was choked with emotion and deeply grateful for Bai Qingyan leading troops in person upon hearing her husband’s death, knowing Bai Qingyan truly respected her husband. She hastily kneeled back two steps, bowing her head deeply to Bai Qingyan, “I, on behalf of the Prince of Hancheng, thank Your Majesty!”

“Please rise!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were moist as she helped the Princess of Hancheng up, saying softly, “I should be the one to thank the Prince of Hancheng for shielding the fishermen and envoys of Zhou with his life!”

“The Prince of Hancheng was truly the Prince of Hancheng for Zhou, loyal to the sovereign and sacrificing for the people, as was his duty!” The Princess of Hancheng choked out.

Bai Qingyan released the Princess of Hancheng’s arm, understanding that as a husband… the Prince of Hancheng had failed the Princess.

“The Prince of Hancheng gave his life for the country, and the one he couldn’t let go of most was the Princess of Hancheng. From now on… the Princess will be like family to me, and I… will take care of the Princess on behalf of the Prince to bring him peace in the afterlife,” Bai Qingyan said gently.

The Princess of Hancheng expressed her gratitude, standing with Bai Qingyan and watching the Prince’s coffin being carried into the camp, then turned to Bai Qingyan and said, “Your Majesty, I earnestly request to bury the Prince of Hancheng in the Hancheng cemetery.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, “The Prince’s hometown is Hancheng, so that is only natural.”

After appropriately arranging the Prince of Hancheng, Bai Qingyan calmed her emotions and began reviewing the reports sent from Dadu City and Shen Tianzhi’s side.

Shen Tianzhi had also taken to closing the city gates, sending one sick person to the treatment center outside, and the family was not allowed to leave home.

However, the people believed sending their family to the treatment center meant they would be killed or left to die, and they were unwilling to send them. Some tried to escape during the chaos, and local officials also tried to flee with their families, causing the people to feel even more anxious.

Shen Tianzhi tried to persuade the people, but they were stirred by malicious individuals, inciting rage. Even before Shen Tianzhi finished speaking, the crowd started throwing stones at him, causing a small riot, which was quickly suppressed by soldiers nearby.

Bai Qingyan understood the people’s fear; during the great epidemic in Jiaozhou, the people were equally terrified. If not for her father Bai Qishan personally escorting her aunt Bai Suqiu into the city to treat the epidemic, the people might have clashed with the city guards and fled long ago.

Seeing such news arriving, Bai Qingyan’s heart grew heavier.

“Your Majesty, Doctor Hong knows you have returned and is now anxious to see you!” Liu Pinggao said to Bai Qingyan, looking troubled.

“Hmm, I was just about to visit Doctor Hong.” Bai Qingyan changed her clothes and went to see Doctor Hong…

Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, Doctor Hong began complaining about Liu Pinggao, then said to Bai Qingyan, “Eldest Young Lady, at my age, I’ve long put life and death behind me. My greatest wish is to do something for the people. I am a doctor, and my duty is to heal and save lives! As for the territories of Yan Kingdom in Zhou… I must go!”