Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 735 - 732: Confrontation_1

After the Emperor confined King Liang, Li Mingrui once met with the Emperor. He mentioned his familiarity with King Liang and the relief efforts at Yanwo, hoping to send some people to take care of King Liang. The Emperor thought Li Mingrui was mindful of his old friendship with King Liang and thus told the Hidden Guard to turn a blind eye while also advising the Crown Prince not to interfere.

Inside the mansion of King Liang, Li Mingrui claimed he feared that King Liang, in possession of Left Prime Minister Li Mao’s letters with his second royal brother, might drag someone down with him if he were to die. Thus, he added extra care, sending people to monitor him.

Because Li Mingrui frequently sent people to secretly deliver supplies and serve King Liang, the mansion was filled with Li Mingrui’s men. When the Hidden Guard saw the door to the side gate opening to let Wang Qiulu in, they didn’t think much of it, assuming it was Li Mingrui’s people delivering something to King Liang.

This move by Li Mingrui was extremely deft...

Old Fang’s hand resting on his leg twitched slightly. He realized that the Crown Prince did not suspect Bai Qingyan but instead turned his suspicion toward King Liang and Li Mingrui. He nodded imperceptibly: "Exactly..."

"Could it be that this is a cunning plan by King Liang and Li Mingrui to drive a wedge between me and the Princess of Zhen? Otherwise...why didn’t Li Mingrui let you inform me of his involvement in this matter? Instead of having you warn me not to let the Left Prime Minister know!" The Crown Prince rested his elbow on the armrest, "No matter how you think about it...it’s odd!"

"If that’s the case, we might as well summon Li Mingrui and the Princess of Zhen together for a confrontation!" Old Fang suggested.

The Crown Prince lifted his eyelids, looking at Old Fang, not hiding his displeasure at Old Fang’s relentless pursuit of the Princess of Zhen: "Just when I entered the palace to report the joy to Father, the Princess of Zhen’s condition turned critical. Mrs. Qin sought the Imperial Physician at the Crown Prince’s residence. How do you expect the Princess of Zhen to come here and confront you?! Didn’t you know Quan Yu just summoned the Imperial Physician to the Princess of Zhen’s residence? Old Fang...you’re an old man now, why do you always get into it with such a loyal and self-sacrificing person like the Princess of Zhen!"

Hearing the displeasure in the Crown Prince’s voice, Old Fang hurriedly knelt and kowtowed: "Your Highness, my anger...I did not know the Princess of Zhen was unwell!"

"Enough! Enough! Your prejudice against the Princess of Zhen has long been deep-rooted! Someone..." The Crown Prince called out loudly, "Go! Summon Li Mingrui to the Crown Prince’s residence immediately!"

The Crown Prince’s personal guards outside the main hall responded affirmatively.

The Crown Prince rubbed his aching temples, feeling that the vexing matters of the day were endless!

King Liang really knew how to stir up trouble, just like wild grass at the corner of a wall, never to be trampled to death...

Li Mingrui was also truly loyal to King Liang. Even after King Liang’s failed coup, he remained faithfully serving King Liang. Such a person...the Crown Prince couldn’t leave him around to cause trouble!

After all, Li Mingrui was the son of the Left Prime Minister. Who knew if the Left Prime Minister would eventually side with King Liang?

The Crown Prince suddenly paused, wondering if the Left Prime Minister had already pledged allegiance to King Liang?

"Send someone to summon the Minister of Judicial Review, Lu Jin! He lost people from the Court of Judicial Review...he must give me an explanation!" The Crown Prince’s expression turned solemn.

"Yes!" Ren Shijie quickly stood up to deliver the order.

"Take these three out! They vex me!" The Crown Prince pointed at the kneeling Wang Qiulu, the prison guard, and the gambler from Shuoyang.

The personal guards of the Crown Prince’s residence responded and entered to take the three away. freewёbnoνel.com

Only the Crown Prince and Old Fang remained in the main hall. Old Fang was still kneeling while the Crown Prince felt utterly exhausted: "Alright, alright, you may rise now!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Old Fang supported himself on a chair beside him, trembling as he stood up.

Seeing the ever-loyal Old Fang in this state, the Crown Prince softened a bit and said: "Old Fang, it’s not that I want to reprimand you! Leaving aside that the Princess of Zhen is my savior, currently...Daliang is still at war! If you agitate the Princess of Zhen into some ailment, Bai Jinzhi, with her fiery temper, would come back and fight you even if it means defying my orders, do you believe it?"

Thinking of Bai Jinzhi’s straightforward temper, Old Fang nodded repeatedly: "The Crown Prince is right!"

The Crown Prince sighed: "Considering the frail state of the Princess of Zhen, there is no need for such vigilance. I doubt she can hold out until the end of the year! Even if she were in good health, and if you found the Princess obstructive and wished to eliminate her, now is not the time! Jin Kingdom and Daliang are still at war. We are counting on the Bai family. Not to mention, the Princess of Zhen is loyal to me! Even if she harbored ill will, I couldn’t deal with her right now, do you understand?!"

Hearing this, Old Fang knelt once more: "It’s my fault for failing your trust, Your Highness...I was merely worried about your growing trust in the Princess of Zhen, fearing she might deceive you. To be honest, I’ve always felt the Princess of Zhen is not entirely loyal to you."

"Old Fang..." The Crown Prince suppressed the anger in his voice, "I’m not a fool. Do you think I would be manipulated by a woman?! Or do you believe I am an idiot?! Your constant fixation on the Princess of Zhen is wearing on my nerves, don’t you know?!"

"Please forgive me, Your Highness!" Old Fang immediately kowtowed.

"Alright, alright! Stand up! Stop kneeling!" The Crown Prince took a sip of hot tea. "In the future, refrain from suspecting the Princess of Zhen over everything. I know you’re always so cautious for my sake. When Li Mingrui arrives, we can get to the bottom of this. Naturally...we can’t just take his word for it. We also need to hear what the Princess of Zhen has to say."

"Your Highness, I suggested bringing both the Princess of Zhen and Li Mingrui for a confrontation, not to make it difficult for the Princess of Zhen. Both Li Mingrui and the Princess are eloquent. Only by confronting them when they are unprepared can we uncover the truth! These are my heartfelt words...please understand!" Old Fang kowtowed heavily.

The Crown Prince furrowed his brows and leaned back. Old Fang seemed to have a point. Bringing the two together for a confrontation might reveal who was truly behind the situation.

After all, Bai Qingyan wasn’t entirely without motive. Wang Jianghai used the jade pendant of Bai Qingyan’s fourth uncle, Bai Qichuan, to lure Bai Qingyan into the Court of Judicial Review’s prison, seeking Bai Qingyan’s help to save his son, Wang Qiulu.

The Crown Prince touched his lips: "But the Princess of Zhen is in such a bad state. It might be difficult for a confrontation!"

Old Fang was about to say something when a young eunuch came in, bowing to the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, Mrs. Qin, the younger sister of the Princess of Zhen, is outside requesting an audience, along with the nanny from the Crown Princess Consort’s side and the Imperial Physician."

The Crown Prince sat up straight: "Quickly, invite them in!"

The young eunuch responded and exited the main hall to welcome Bai Jinxiu.

"You may rise now!" The Crown Prince still wanted to save face for Old Fang.