Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 730 - 767: Detailed Report_1

Even if you don’t consider Vice Minister of Revenue Li Mingrui, the Left Prime Minister Li Mao was an important court official with many disciples. Any action against him would have widespread repercussions. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Once, Bai Qingyan broke Li Mao’s youngest son’s legs. She even sent Li Mao’s subordinate’s head to the Li Mansion’s doorstep just to intimidate him. Li Mao understood that a warning could only go so far and refrained from further actions.

However, Li Mao’s eldest son, Li Mingrui, seemed to be someone who disliked having leverage held over him. He believed he could be as ruthless as Du Zhiwei and adept at manipulating people, which is why he set up this plot.

He probably thought that Bai Qingyan ordered him to rescue Wang Qiulu. He then sent someone to inform her that Wang Qiulu had close ties with the King Liang’s Mansion. By the time Wang Qiulu was sent to the Crown Prince, at least the Li family could stay uninvolved.

Should someone discover that the Bai family held Li Mao and the Second Prince’s letters without handing them over to the Crown Prince, they might guess that Bai Qingyan wanted to blackmail the Left Prime Minister Li Mao and the Li family. She could claim that she collected these letters for the Crown Prince, with today’s incident laying the foundation for it. The Crown Prince would undoubtedly trust the Bai family deeply.

Bai Qingyan turned to Bai Jinxiu and spoke: "Tonight the Crown Princess Consort gives birth. The Imperial Physicians must be attending to her in the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Leave through the side door, personally visit the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and tell them that my condition has worsened, requesting His Highness to send an Imperial Physician to the Bai Mansion. Preferably, ask one of the eunuchs close to the Crown Prince to act as a witness as well."

Bai Qingyan chuckled softly: "Afterwards, you should go to the Crown Prince’s Mansion with others and express loyalty on behalf of our elder sister."

Bai Jinxiu stood up and bowed solemnly: "Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. I will handle it promptly. I am heading to the Crown Prince’s Mansion now!"

Though Bai Jinxiu could manage the matter, she felt pity for her elder sister, rushing day and night to Dadu City and facing so many issues immediately upon her arrival.

The lights blazed brightly in Anyang Palace. The white drapes hanging from the beams swayed slightly. In the center of the palace, the gilded incense burner burned dragon saliva, producing delicate and lingering wisps of fragrant smoke. The elderly emperor, having just taken his elixir, lay in his snow-white undergarments on a soft couch, appearing almost as if he were about to ascend to immortality.

However, the brightness of the thirty-six-head copper lotus lamp exposed the emperor’s wrinkled forehead and faint brown age spots.

Upon hearing about the birth of his grandson, the emperor’s joy barely showed before he remembered the child the empress had taken away, causing his expression to sour.

After a moment of silence, the emperor looked at the elated Crown Prince kneeling in the center of the hall and slowly spoke: "The imperial grandson shall be named Ji. I hope he will prioritize our dynasty and bear the responsibility left by our ancestors."

Bestowing a name upon a newborn prince was a great honor from the emperor, further implying his favor towards the Crown Prince’s lineage, thus reinforcing the Crown Prince’s position.

The Crown Prince quickly bowed to the emperor: "Thank you, Father, for bestowing the name!"

Before the Crown Prince could share more of his joy, the emperor inquired: "What is the progress on Jiuchongtai? I have heard that the treasury is growing ever tighter. The Daliang war persists, and epidemics in the two cities are intensifying. If this continues, court officials will likely request a halt on constructing Jiuchongtai. Do you have no solutions?"

The Crown Prince seemed like a boy fearful of his father’s authority. His earlier joy faded into unease. He hurriedly replied: "Father, Doctor Hong from the Princess of Zhen’s Mansion has developed a remedy for the epidemic. I have already dispatched it to Huayang and Qinhuai, and the epidemic will soon be under control. Rest assured, Father... I... I..."

Words failing him, a sudden idea struck the Crown Prince. He raised his eyes: "I plan to secretly send some infected commoners to Daliang, so Daliang’s people also contract the epidemic. Then, they won’t be able to treat it. We can then send an envoy to Daliang, telling them... if they want the cure, they must negotiate peace and cede territory!"

Princess of Zhen’s Mansion?! Why did the Bai family have to interfere with everything?!

The emperor felt impatient. However, his mind was preoccupied with Jiuchongtai. The state preceptor had said that once Jiuchongtai was completed and the emperor himself performed alchemy atop it, he could achieve immortality or even ascend.

The emperor propped himself up with his elbows, looked through the drapes at the Crown Prince, who was kneeling in the center of the hall, and nodded expressionlessly: "Remember, no matter what, the construction of Jiuchongtai is of utmost importance."

"I will remember! Rest assured, Father!" The Crown Prince bowed deeply to the emperor.

Upon exiting Anyang Palace, the Crown Prince sat in his carriage. The lamps swung back and forth, casting flickering shadows within. He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped his forehead.

His plan to send infected individuals to Daliang was a spur-of-the-moment idea, but his father seemed to agree with it.

If so, he might as well return to discuss it with Elder Fang. This epidemic might indeed force Daliang into submission.

Clutching the handkerchief tightly, the Crown Prince suddenly chuckled. He didn’t expect to come up with such a quick solution.

However, amidst today’s rush, he had forgotten to mention appointing Fu Ruoxi as the commander of the Patrol Camp to the emperor.

The Crown Prince sighed, stuffing the handkerchief back into his sleeve, and resolved to bring up the matter of Fu Ruoxi and other pending documents to the emperor tomorrow.

Thinking of his newborn son named Ji, the emperor’s earnest exhortations filled him with joy again. He felt his son was his lucky star, and with his father’s words, his position as Crown Prince seemed more secure.

The carriage wobbled all the way back to the Crown Prince’s Mansion, nearly lulling him to sleep. Finally, they arrived at the mansion gates.

"Crown Prince..."

Hearing Elder Fang’s voice outside, the Crown Prince woke up.

"Your Highness... Elder Fang is waiting at the gate!" Quan Yu helped the Crown Prince descend from the carriage, hiding his annoyance towards Elder Fang behind a deferential gaze.

"Mm! Let’s get off the carriage..." the Crown Prince responded softly, holding Quan Yu’s hand as he stepped down.

Seeing Elder Fang in a single shirt bow to him, his hands blue from the cold, the Crown Prince frowned: "Why is Elder Fang waiting at this hour? Why are you not wearing something warmer?"

"Your Highness, I have something extremely important to discuss with you!" Elder Fang’s tone was grave.

"Ah, Elder Fang, I’m really tired today! I want to see my child. If it’s not an urgent military matter... let’s discuss it tomorrow!"