Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1550 - 1545: Valued

"The citizens of Anshun City have endured hardships alongside our Yan Kingdom. In those days, His Majesty personally pleaded with the people to donate their possessions. The people of Anshun City generously gave, choosing to go hungry themselves to help Yan Kingdom through its difficulties. At that time, even the Imperial Family and clan members donated everything they had, which allowed Xie Xun to train the new army. How is it that now, when times are better... those who once endured hardships with us can be discarded as sacrifices for the sake of gambling for national victory?"

The members of the Imperial Clan all knelt in silence, not daring to make a sound.

Xiao Rongyan was deeply disappointed. Yan Kingdom tried every way to spread the epidemic to the cities governed by the Zhou, yet the Zhou sent Doctor Hong’s developed prescription to the cities of Yan Kingdom.

Observing the unity throughout Zhou and its ability to win the people’s hearts, even gaining the hearts of many citizens of Yan Kingdom by sending the prescription!

In contrast, Yan Kingdom... the clan members disdain the common people, treating them as lowly, so how can they win the people’s hearts?

Such a Yan Kingdom, how can it possibly defeat Zhou?

Xiao Rongyan adjusted the hem of his long robe, stood up, and said, "This prince is going to see the Emperor of Zhou now. As for you, make sure to bring Doctor Zhu out and settle him well. As for your crimes... we will discuss them after the epidemic situation is resolved!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Shi was the first to leave the door to prepare a horse for Xiao Rongyan. He knew... their lord had long been eager to see the young lady.

Inside the main hall, whether they were members of the Imperial Clan or the County Magistrate and the General guarding the city, they all bowed their heads, not daring to look up until they sensed someone lifting the curtain. Once Xiao Rongyan stepped out of the hall, the light on the floor dimmed, and only then did the clan members dare to lift their heads...

Yue Quanyong directly stood up and snorted as he left. Now that the matter had been reported to the Regent Prince, if anything were to happen, it would be the responsibility of these so-called Imperial Clan members, at least for now they wouldn’t dare!

Once the epidemic was under control in Liyi, Yue Quanyong would leave the area with his troops, not fearing anyone causing him trouble as he was a soldier and rose through the ranks by military merits, thus he could disregard the face of these clan members.

After Xiao Rongyan and Yue Quanyong had left one after another, the County Magistrate immediately got up and asked the particularly quiet clan members, "What should we do now? From what the Regent Prince has said, it seems he intends to protect Zhu Chengru!"

"That Yue Quanyong, relying on being Xie Xun’s subordinate, is acting too arrogantly! Doesn’t he realize that Xie Xun has already been held hostage in Zhou, and it is uncertain if he will even survive!" A clan member gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and said to his family elder brother, "They say the Regent Prince is ruthless, so if some commoners die for the gamble on national victory, what does it matter? Yet he accuses us of crimes, which he claims he will revisit later, utterly absurd!"

"Exactly, we have clearly done Ye Kingdom a huge favor! Were it not for us having merchants carry the epidemic over, it would be our Yan Kingdom facing deaths daily while they’re Zhou watching the spectacle! Forget gambling for the nation, we might as well surrender!"

The Imperial Clan members were full of complaints, unable to understand why Murong Yan, as the Regent Prince of Yan Kingdom, did not even wish for Yan Kingdom to win the national gamble in victory? They had done such a great service for Yan Kingdom, yet not only were they unrewarded, but threatened with punishment, it was simply absurd! 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Stop complaining!" said the eldest clan member, "Now that the Regent Prince knows about this, it seems impossible to kill Zhu Chengru, so let’s release him. But don’t let him get away too easily... how dare he disrespect the Imperial Clan, break both his hands! Isn’t he skilled in medicine? Let him heal himself! If he fails, it proves his medical skills are not that great!"

The County Magistrate was momentarily shocked, not sure if this counted as defying the Regent Prince’s orders: "But... the Regent Prince ordered Zhu Chengru to be brought out properly, what if something goes wrong!"

"You fool!" the elder clan member looked at the County Magistrate, "His injury could be caused by interrogating him about treason against the state... accidentally breaking it, by then... the Regent Prince wasn’t even at Liyi! After the hands are broken... the tongue doesn’t need to be kept either. It prevents him from saying anything he shouldn’t! Keep him alive, have doctors treat him well, this is worth carrying out the Regent Prince’s order to settle him properly."

The County Magistrate realized, turning his eyes in thought. After all, the Regent Prince would eventually return to the capital of Yan, while these clan members remained long-term in Liyi, a saying goes, a strong dragon does not crush an earthworm. He was the County Magistrate of Liyi and should be sensible in pleasing the local powers!

The County Magistrate immediately said: "Yes!"

Watching the County Magistrate leave, one clan member whispered to the elder, "Older brother, I remember when we were driven away from the capital by the Regent Prince, Cui Fengnian told his younger brother as his younger brother left, that ... the Emperor and the Regent Prince are not actually in power contention against each other, the true rivalry lies between the Empress Dowager and the Regent Prince, and obviously, the Emperor trusts the Regent Prince more!"

"What are you trying to say?" the older clan member turned to look at his cousin and asked.

"If... we embellish the case of the Regent Prince releasing this Doctor Zhu and send it to His Majesty, concerning the prospects of Yan Kingdom’s national gamble outcome, I do not believe His Majesty will continue to trust the Regent Prince! Once the Emperor no longer trusts the Regent Prince, the Yan Court won’t just be Murong Yan’s one-man show! Then we could ask elders to plead with that soft-hearted and indecisive Empress Dowager, we might return to the capital!"

The elder clan member, hearing this, deepened his gaze. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, "This must be done quickly! And we must... thoroughly describe to the Emperor about today’s visit of the Regent Prince to the Emperor of Zhou!"

"Rest assured, brother, I know how to write it!"

·

Xiao Rongyan rode swiftly out of the city and saw troops of Zhou wearing white face masks waiting for him outside the city gates.

Seeing Xiao Rongyan, wearing a silver mask, exit the open gate of Liyi City, the soldier holding up the Zhou banner rode forward and respectfully saluted Xiao Rongyan, then nodded to Yue Shi, whom he had met a few times: "Your Highness, our Emperor invites you! He is waiting for you five miles outside Liyi!"

Xiao Rongyan nodded: "Lead the way!"

Yue Shi restrained his expression of joy, turned and called out to the guards behind him: "Move out!"

Bai Qingyan arrived at the agreed meeting place before Xiao Rongyan. Unexpectedly, the Anping Army was quick, having already set up a tent for Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan to meet.

In Liu Pinggao’s view, the meeting between Bai Qingyan and the Regent Prince of Yan was a meeting between the highest nobility of Zhou and the second highest, if not the uncrowned king, of Yan, therefore, Bai Qingyan’s instructions were naturally to be treated with utmost respect.

Bai Qingyan glanced at the tent set up temporarily, then at Liu Pinggao: "Such solemnity..."