Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1549 - 1544: Quick Thinking

Ironically, these members of the Imperial Clan call the commoners lowly, which might provoke their master.

"His Majesty sees the commoners as kin, yet you dare to wield such authority, calling them low. Under whose banner do you inflate your prestige?"

Xiao Rongyan’s voice was soft, his tone not severe, but it was enough to frighten these clan members into bowing immediately, declaring their fear.

"Let the General who guards the city step forward and speak..." Xiao Rongyan glanced at the clan members, his gaze shifting to the rear.

The General immediately stepped forward and said, "Reporting to... the Regent Prince, the Imperial Court initially ordered that, due to the rampant epidemic in our Yan Kingdom, precious medicines should not be sent to the cities of Zhou. Yet Zhu Chengru secretly colluded with the enemy, sending the scarce medicines from our Liyi to Anshun City, therefore..."

"Nonsense!"

The General hadn’t finished speaking when Yue Quanyong, kneeling behind, couldn’t hold back any longer, spitting on the ground and cursing before Xiao Rongyan’s face.

Xiao Rongyan looked at Yue Quanyong, quickly recalling who he was: "You are... from Xie Xun’s army."

Yue Quanyong saluted Xiao Rongyan and said, "Reporting to the Regent Prince, I was sent to deliver medicines to Liyi!"

"Speak..." Xiao Rongyan looked at Yue Quanyong.

"Reporting to the Regent Prince, this Zhu Chengru is the official in Liyi City. During the epidemic, he saved many commoners, later..." Yue Quanyong glanced at the imperial clan members, "These members of the Imperial Clan deliberately used some merchants, who unknowingly used teaware contaminated by infected people, bringing the epidemic to Anshun City! Resulting in Anshun City experiencing an epidemic. Zhu Chengru’s Yue family is in Anshun City, so Zhu Chengru sent medicines to his family once, just this once... He realized the epidemic originated from a feast by the clan in Liyi City. Thus, he sent herbs from his pharmacy to Anshun City! Only after that did the Imperial Court’s order prohibiting sending herbs to Zhou’s cities was issued. Zhu Chengru did not knowingly break the law!"

"You’re spouting nonsense!" One of the clan turned and pointed at Yue Quanyong’s nose, shouting, "The Imperial Court’s order came first, Zhu Chengru violated the order, colluding with the enemy afterward! You were not in Liyi City at the time, how can you speak so confidently without knowing anything?"

"You’re the one talking nonsense! I, Old Yue, never lie! If the Regent Prince does not believe me, you can ask the pharmacy staff, or personally interrogate the doctor named Zhu Chengru! See whether the Imperial Court’s order came first, or whether Zhu Chengru first disobeyed the order!" Yue Quanyong ignored the clan and only bowed to Xiao Rongyan, "Regarding the intentional act of infecting unaware Yan merchants, causing them to enter Anshun City, the guards at the city gate can all testify. Even I have heard those guards mention it many times, moreover, when people talk about that doctor, who doesn’t praise his benevolence and heart for healing?"

"According to the guards at the city gate, later one merchant infected in Yan returned from Anshun City wanting to enter the city. It was these clan members who sent people to stop him at the city gate, saying those merchants had used contaminated teaware and must have been infected, but the disease hadn’t manifested yet, thus they couldn’t let them in! They gave that merchant two options... either go to the treatment center or to Anshun City! Therefore... this is why Zhu Chengru hurriedly sent medicines to Anshun City!"

"You... you slanderous scoundrel!" The Imperial Clan members turned to glare at Yue Quanyong, eyes almost popping out, "General Yue, just how much silver from the Zhu family have you taken, defaming the Imperial Clan for a traitor who colluded with the enemy, or are you and Zhu Chengru in cahoots! Both of you are traitors colluding with the enemy! Wishing for our Yan Kingdom to lose this gamble and become subjects of Zhou!"

"Regent Prince!" Yue Quanyong no longer wished to speak with the Imperial Clan members, adopting an all-or-nothing stance, "I, Yue Quanyong, stand here and swear an oath. If there’s a lie in my words, let the heavens curse my entire family with the plague, suffering miserable deaths!"

An Imperial Clan member glared at Yue Quanyong furiously, teeth gritting: "Swearing an oath is nothing! This intangible thing... Can it serve as proof? It’s a joke! In future court cases... an oath would be enough! Who needs evidence and witnesses!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"You..." Yue Quanyong, though unafraid of the clan, was rendered speechless. He saluted Xiao Rongyan again, patting his chest, "If the Regent Prince disbelieves, feel free to have someone investigate amongst the city guards! If I, Yue Quanyong, uttered half a lie, I’ll bear the same guilt as Zhu Chengru, and you may cut off my head!"

Yue Quanyong, being a martial man with some courage, seeing the whole time the General had his head down cowering, decided not to drag the General into the issue. If trouble arose, he would face it alone. Though he despised the General’s cowardice as a soldier, he saw no need to involve more people. Therefore, Yue Quanyong did not force the General to reveal the truth immediately.

Seeing no response from the Regent Prince, Yue Quanyong felt that since he had already offended the Imperial Clan members, he might as well continue, saying, "Besides, anyone can swear an oath. Saying it’s intangible, then why don’t you swear with your family’s lives on the line, if there’s deception, meet a bad end?"

"You ignorant brute, unworthy of speaking to us of the Imperial Clan! You understand nothing, speaking to you sullies my mouth!" An Imperial Clan member looked up at Xiao Rongyan, "Regent Prince, please see clearly! We few are wholeheartedly for Yan Kingdom. We are all from the Murong clan of Yan, naturally unwilling to see our reign handed over to others. We dare swear... everything we did was for Yan Kingdom to win the gamble. Should there be deception, let the heavens strike us down! Regent Prince... we did not wish to speak out, only so people wouldn’t think we were seeking credit!"

"Yes, Regent Prince, it’s estimated the County Magistrate petitioned for our merit, not concerning the plague, but for our efforts in winning the gamble for our Yan Kingdom!" said one of the Imperial Clan members, looking at the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate quickly bowed, agreeing.

Because of Yue Quanyong’s interruption, some among the Imperial Clan came up with a clever response, rounding off the County Magistrate’s petitioning merit for them. They weren’t troubling their own people, just trying to help their already weaker Yan Kingdom against Zhou to win the gamble, and since it was effective, even if the Regent Prince was angry, he wouldn’t heavily punish them, thought the clan members.

Xiao Rongyan slammed the teacup onto the table heavily: "Seeking merit? How come... you and the County Magistrate believe you’ve done very well?"

"This official dares not!" The County Magistrate hurriedly bowed.