Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1555 - 1550: Trouble

It was only after Bai Jintong, under the guise of being grateful for the news he disclosed, had gotten the man sufficiently drunk that he said, "Actually, you didn’t need to say it for me to guess. I reckon it’s the rumor from before about the Regent Prince being the Emperor’s consort, which finally shook His Majesty’s trust in him. Now, the Emperor intends to have the Regent Prince..."

Bai Jintong made a throat-cutting gesture and said with some smugness, "Did I guess correctly?"

The dandy shook his head. Leaning on Bai Jintong’s neck in a drunken stupor, he stammered, "This young Emperor doesn’t know what kind of bewitching potion the Regent Prince fed him; his trust in the Regent Prince is deeper than for his own father! But it doesn’t matter... Our Yan Kingdom’s clan vassal kings have long wanted to overturn Empress Ji’s reforms and restore the old order. This is a huge opportunity. How could they not be tempted? Moreover... this Regent Prince shows no familial loyalty to the imperial clans; just heard the other day that in Liyi... the Regent Prince killed two clan members over a lowly commoner, not giving his own people any leeway. Wouldn’t this chill the vassal kings’ hearts? He was unrighteous first, so he can’t blame the clans for their disloyalty!"

"Besides, I’ve heard from the Empress Dowager that this gamble on national affairs was stirred up by the Regent Prince and the young Emperor. Even if it doesn’t revert the reforms, it will certainly plunge Dadu into chaos; at worst there’s a couple of battles, making territory smaller, but life for those of us in the royal clan will get better! Don’t worry, we are good friends, you’ve always been there with silver when I was in need. When the time comes... I’ll look out for you!"

Bai Jintong felt his heart skip a beat and asked, "So... are they planning to deceive the Emperor and take the Regent Prince’s life?"

Hearing Bai Jintong’s words, the dandy, already a chaotic mess of drunkenness, shook his head, made a shushing gesture, foolishly chuckled, and said, "Can’t say!"

Then he fell onto the table with a thud.

This only cemented Bai Jintong’s belief that the clans were uniting with vassal kings to kill the Regent Prince of Yan... her brother-in-law.

Bai Jintong repeatedly pondered the phrase, "Dadu will surely become a mess."

If the Regent Prince were killed and the gamble with the nation rejected, how would Dadu become a mess?

Are they planning to let forces within Dadu act under the opportunity? This would not only result in a loss of soldiers for Yan, but the Yan Army sent to Dadu are Xie Xun’s troops, effectively the Regent Prince’s troops!

Even if they killed the Regent Prince, or didn’t kill him... those soldiers may not obey these clans.

To pin the Regent Prince’s death on Dadu?

Bai Jintong, his head clouded with drink, couldn’t think straight, leaning against the cushion and rubbing his forehead.

Suddenly, Bai Jintong’s hand stopped rubbing his forehead, his eyes opened wide...

Dadu will surely become a mess!

Now his eldest sister is in the Dadu domain, do these clans plan to have the vassal kings kill his eldest sister?

In the eyes of the people of Yan, his eldest sister is an invincible war god; every time... when Bai Jintong mingled with those of the imperial clans, the way they spoke, it seems they regard no one else compared to his eldest sister.

Bai Jintong suddenly sat up straight, the alcohol clearing by more than half.

People... tend to judge others by themselves, these clans of Yan are surely thinking that as long as their eldest sister dies in Yan, Dadu will be without leadership, and the Emperor of Dadu’s heirs are also blood of the Regent Prince of Yan. Whether this infant will ascend the throne is uncertain, even if he does, the scions of the Bai family naturally desire power and profit. Though they may not vie for the supreme position in Dadu, they will certainly strive for a regency.

By then, Dadu might just fight a few battles to avenge the Emperor, then Yan could send a city to seek peace, and due to the Regent Prince’s death... The gambling on national affairs might even add to the dissolution of the Yan Emperor’s reign, restoring the benefits of the old regimes to the nobility.

Having befriended these imperial clans of Yan for so long, Bai Jintong had already seen that they never saw commoners as people, always full of resentment towards Empress Ji’s reforms.

Bai Jintong turned things over and over in his mind, sure it must be this way, and suddenly felt alarmed.

He didn’t know with how much force his eldest sister had entered Yan, most fearful that she’d be ambushed when unprepared.

It had been fourteen days since the imperial clans kneeled in front of the Imperial Palace pleading for the death of the Regent Prince, and his heart grew heavy in his chest. He hurriedly pulled open the small drawer inside the carriage, only to find it filled with snacks and tea sets, tea leaves, but no pen or ink.

Bai Jintong felt his scalp tighten, the intoxication rising, vision blurring in waves. He thought for a moment, then flipped open the hem of his clothes, using a small dagger to tear off his underclothes, dividing the fabric into two parts, and laid them on the carriage table. He pricked his finger to write two letters with his blood, one for his elder sister and one to be sent back to Dadu City.

Just as Bai Jintong finished writing, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and outside came the voice of a servant: "Master, we’re home!"

Bai Jintong tucked one letter into the purse at his waist, wrapped the other in a handkerchief, and then called out with a thick tongue, "Come up and help me..."

The servant answered and boarded the carriage, supporting the slumped Bai Jintong. Seeing Bai Jintong open his eyes and grab his hand, he felt something being pressed into it.

"Send these two items to Cui’s clothing store in the east of the city. Tell the shopkeeper the purse is for my elder sister’s hands and the item in the handkerchief to be sent back home in Dadu! He must not look inside! It must be fast!" Bai Jintong gripped the servant’s hand tightly.

The servant saw the clarity in Bai Jintong’s eyes and nodded forcefully, pocketing the items and calling out as he left, "Someone else come give a hand!"

Soon, Danzhi was also being supported by a maid, holding up her skirt as she came out of the Cui Residence.

Watching as Bai Jintong was helped down by two servants, Danzhi hurriedly stepped forward, "Husband!"

Danzhi rushed over to support Bai Jintong, but her strength was insufficient, almost causing Bai Jintong to topple onto her. Fortunately, amidst the maids’ shocked exclamations, a doorman rushed over to hold him upright.

"How could husband drink so much..." Danzhi’s eyes were red-rimmed.

Bai Jintong stood shakily, supported by the servant, and said, "I’m not... not drunk!"

Saying so, Bai Jintong turned his gaze to his own servant and said, "You... you go tell the shopkeeper at Cui’s clothing store, he’s caused me great trouble this time! The clothes the imperial clans want, even if others demand them, they must be given! Those are the imperial... clans, who could be greater than the emperor’s kin! Go tell him! If he causes me trouble again, I’ll break his legs!"

This looked truly like drunkenness!

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" The servant promptly bowed and nodded, responding, "Rest assured, Master, if there’s a next time, I’ll immediately kick that shopkeeper out!"