Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1559 - 1554: Unknown and Unnoticed

Bai Qingyan, along the way, had received intermittent news from Yan Kingdom. Xiao Rongyan was ruthless in his methods, managing to subdue the imperial kin. Whether it was food or medicine, whoever dared to hoard and inflate prices at this critical moment was executed by Xiao Rongyan. After dealing with one or two towns, the rest knew better and dared not act up.

She turned a page of the book, thinking in her heart... soon, very soon, they would all be together. She wondered if the clothes Mother made for A Yan would fit. Perhaps Mother made outfits for A Yan for every season, spring, summer, autumn, and winter!

Wei Zhong lifted the quilted curtain and came in, carrying two bowls of snow frog pigeon soup in his hands, which he gently placed on the small table of golden nanmu, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty... the snow is visibly getting heavier."

First, there were snow pellets, then the snowflakes began to fall. This snow would evidently accumulate, and if they set off tomorrow, the icy roads would be difficult to travel.

Bai Qingyan looked toward the window lattice upon hearing this, vaguely seeing the courtyard already covered in a white expanse.

"I heard, outside Bianliang City, there is a Qinghe Temple with a rare snow scene. If we’re stranded here for a while and Your Majesty gets bored... I could escort Your Majesty and King Gaoyi to see it tomorrow."

Bai Qingyan shook the book in her hands, smiling, "I’m no longer a child, do I still need Eunuch Wei to entertain me? Forget it... if the snow makes traveling difficult tomorrow, we’ll wait until it stops. Let’s not go to admire the snow. It’d only trouble the soldiers, they’d still have to brave the snow and follow us. Better let them rest more."

"Understood!" Wei Zhong replied with a smile, going off to make arrangements.

·

The heavy snow was pouring down, showing signs of increasing intensity. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Inside the Prince of Xiping’s mansion, the guards ensured no one could approach the study by surrounding it tightly.

The Xiping Prince of the Yan Kingdom, Murong She, laid out the map on the desk and gathered with his counselors to discuss how to kill Murong Yan and Bai Qingyan.

"We can’t arbitrarily mobilize our army. Any mobilization must be successful in one blow. Otherwise, with the Regent Prince’s numerous spies, any movement on our part... could very well reach the Regent Prince’s ears!"

"Indeed, the Regent Prince is cunning. If word gets out and we fail to kill that traitor, he might recall the army stationed in the Da Zhou. We won’t be able to handle that!"

The Prince of Xiping straightened up, pointing out two lines on the map. "Yesterday, I received letters from several other Vassal Kings. They all noted that the Da Zhou Emperor’s route and the Regent Prince’s patrol route seem to be heading towards Quwo! According to the current pace, by the time the Regent Prince reaches our Xiping, the Da Zhou Emperor might just arrive at Danzhou, which borders our Xiping!"

"So, the Prince of Xiping’s idea is to ambush here?" One of the Xiping Prince’s counselors circled a spot on the map with his fingertip.

The Prince of Xiping nodded, "However, it depends on whether the Regent Prince and the Da Zhou Emperor arrive simultaneously. If not, we’ll have to make a choice! Do we kill the Da Zhou Emperor or the Regent Prince?"

"Naturally, we should kill the Regent Prince. Without the death of the Regent Prince, the Vassal Kings and kin will not have a good life. The Da Zhou has already abolished the Vassal states. If after the gambling state the Regent Prince hands over our Yan Kingdom, would the Da Zhou Emperor tolerate the existence of Vassal Kings?"

"Exactly, our main goal is not to confront Da Zhou but to kill the Regent Prince! Otherwise, who knows how many more kin the Regent Prince might kill next!"

The Prince of Xiping listened to the counselors, each expressing a desire to first take the life of the Regent Prince, Murong Yan.

He casually picked up a teacup beside him, lowered his eyes, paced beside the half-tall copper crane lamp, mulled over the flickering lamplight, and took a sip of tea.

"But in my opinion, both the Da Zhou Emperor and the Regent Prince should be killed... there can’t be a choice!" The counselor in dark clothing turned and approached the Prince of Xiping, "Doesn’t the Prince of Xiping know... the Da Zhou Emperor and the Regent Prince are husband and wife. If we kill the Regent Prince, how could the Da Zhou Emperor not retaliate against us, Yan Kingdom?"

The Prince of Xiping turned his head to look at the dark-robed counselor and nodded, "Even if the Da Zhou Emperor holds back for the grand plan of the gambling state for the time being, future vengeance is inevitable!"

"Has the Prince of Xiping not considered that our Yan Kingdom actually has no chance of winning the gambling state from the start?" The dark-robed counselor spoke.

Hearing this, the Prince of Xiping was not angry. This... was within reason, as Da Zhou’s national strength was far more robust than Yan Kingdom’s.

"Therefore... only by killing both the Da Zhou Emperor and Regent Prince will there be no Regent Prince to disrupt our court and manipulate the Young Emperor. Externally... once the Da Zhou Emperor is dead, leaving the country leaderless, Da Zhou’s retaliation would amount to a few battles. We could concede and surrender, letting them struggle for power internally!" The dark-robed counselor stood before the Prince of Xiping, "I stayed with Mr. Ren in Da Zhou for years, knowing the reason Da Zhou is so cohesive and united is all due to this Da Zhou Emperor!"

This dark-clothed counselor was previously a counselor along with Ren Shijie in the Jin Kingdom’s Crown Prince’s mansion. However... unlike Ren Shijie, he didn’t gain the Jin Crown Prince’s favor, so he remained obscure.

Despite this, this dark-clothed counselor was aware of what Bai Qingyan had done over the years, and he knew... how Bai Qingyan united people, understanding the influence Bai Qingyan had among the Da Zhou court officials and citizens.

He knew outsiders claimed the Bai family was united, yet he simply didn’t believe it!

Back then, the younger Bai generation didn’t compete for the Dukedom title of the Zhen Kingdom. In Bai Qishan’s generation... the Bai family members all protected Bai Qishan, obeying Bai Qishan’s orders! Later, in Bai Qingyan’s generation, they all safeguarded Bai Qingyan, the legitimate line of the Bai family, and Bai Qingyu, following Bai Qingyan’s directions, protecting the young Bai Qingyu.

But now, should Bai Qingyan die, the fight would be for imperial power!

Under imperial power, there is no familial affection!

Otherwise, throughout history, where did all those stories of brothers killing each other for the throne come from?

Once the emperor who held the court together died, Da Zhou... would no longer be as unified and strong as it is now. It would inevitably fragment into disparate parts due to factional and power struggles, becoming scattered.

Precisely because this dark-clothed counselor had spent a long time in Da Zhou, the Prince of Xiping considerably depended on him.

"According to you, what should be done?"

"In my view, first kill the Da Zhou Emperor, then the Regent Prince!" The dark-clothed advisor stood up after saluting, his voice firm, "The Regent Prince’s available soldiers are in Da Zhou, requiring time to redeploy them! Killing the Regent Prince first seems easy! But the Da Zhou Emperor, commanding a large army, will certainly be on guard. The Da Zhou Emperor, skilled in military strategy, is known to you, Prince."