Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 746 - 743: Good at Observing_1

Although Bai Qingyan already knew Bai Qingyang held the letters he had written to the Second Prince, hearing Bai Qingyan recite them word for word still shocked Li Mao.

Most of the letters didn’t matter, but the ones repeatedly urging the Second Prince to force the Emperor to abdicate, if they reached the Emperor, would be impossible to explain away.

Bai Qingyan stood up, adjusted her fox fur cloak, wrapping herself tight, revealing only her delicate but resolute features. Looking like a fragile beauty, her eyes told a different story: "Before sunset, if that old man isn’t delivered, the letter will be on the Crown Prince’s desk. My second and seventh sisters are already at the Crown Prince’s residence. It’s up to the Left Prime Minister to decide."

After speaking, Bai Qingyan turned and walked out.

Li Mao stared at Bai Qingyan’s back, wishing he could tear her apart, but could only lower his head and shout: "Someone!"

The steward, who had been holding Li Mao’s cloak at the door, immediately stepped inside: "Prime Minister!"

"Prepare the carriage for Court of Judicial Review prison!" Li Mao shouted.

Court of Judicial Review prison.

Li Mingrui, still awaiting the old man’s return, suddenly saw his father arriving.

From behind the cell door, Li Mingrui saluted Li Mao: "Father..."

"Did you send the old man to kill the female guard beside Bai Qingyan?" Li Mao stood with his hands behind his back, fists clenched tightly, and asked coldly.

The old man hadn’t returned, and now his father came to question him. Clearly, the old man had failed: "The female guard beside Bai Qingyan, her martial arts are that exceptional?"

"Are you mad?! You already angered the Princess of Zhen by framing her. Now you dare to kill someone by her side? Don’t you know she holds evidence against us? How many times have I warned you not to provoke the Princess of Zhen?!" Li Mao gritted his teeth, lowering his voice to scold his son, "Didn’t I tell you to leave the Princess of Zhen alone?!"

Li Mingrui’s face turned pale, looking down: "The Princess of Zhen threatened you?"

Li Mao snorted coldly, still standing with his hands behind his back, and spoke softly: "The Princess of Zhen demands the old man’s return. If I can’t hand over the old man before sunset, she’ll take the heads of our entire family! The letter is at the Crown Prince’s residence. It’s all up to the Princess of Zhen’s whim whether she turns it over or not!"

Li Mingrui looked up in shock, staring at Li Mao: "Father, could it be... you want to hand over the old man? The old man was following my orders! And... the old man once saved me and my mother, and has taken good care of me for years!"

"If we don’t hand over the old man, must we then hand over the heads of our entire Li family?"

The steward who came with Li Mao to the prison coughed lightly, and Li Mao realized it was inappropriate to speak too loudly in the Court of Judicial Review prison.

"Where is the old man?" Li Mao asked with a stern face.

"Father!" Li Mingrui was reluctant to give up the old man, not just because the old man had once risked his life to save him, but because over the years, Li Mingrui had formed an emotional bond with the old man. Though the old man was quiet, he had always accompanied Li Mingrui during his low moments. These Li Mingrui had never forgotten.

"Where is the old man?!" Li Mao’s voice rose, eyes filled with murderous intent.

Li Mingrui’s face turned grim, lifting his robes to kneel and bow before Li Mao: "Father, please consider the old man’s past sacrifice to save me and my mother and his years of care for me, spare his life! If you find it hard to plead with the Princess of Zhen, then at least find a way... to let me see the Princess of Zhen!"

"You can’t even protect yourself, and you still think of protecting others?!" Li Mao was furious at his son’s ineptitude, gripping the cell door with both hands, "Mingrui, oh Mingrui! You are my eldest son, and I have high hopes for you! The future of the Li family... will depend on you! I know you are sentimental, but you must understand that great deeds require sacrifices!"

Kneeling on the ground, Li Mingrui’s hands slowly tightened.

"Tell me, where is the old man?" Li Mao crouched down, staring at his son, "Speak, and you’ll be released immediately!"

Li Mingrui actually didn’t know where the old man was, but he feared if he said so, his father might search Du Residence in Jiuchuan Alley. If the old man was injured and hiding there, he would be helplessly captured.

Li Mingrui gritted his teeth and bowed to Li Mao: "Father... the old man was brought into the Li family by me. If he is to be handed over to the Princess of Zhen, it should be me who takes him there!"

Looking at his son, Li Mao realized Li Mingrui was determined to protect the old man. He sighed: "The entire Li family and an old man whose real name we don’t even know—think carefully about which is more important! If in your heart the Li family can’t compare to an old man, I will accept it!"

After speaking, Li Mao stood up and instructed the steward: "Go inform the prison guard that Lu Jin should have already received the order to release Mingrui."

"Yes!" The steward quickly went to relay the message to the prison guard.

Li Mao took a deep look at his son before turning and leaving.

After leaving the cell, the usually meticulous and fastidious Li Mingrui didn’t bother to change clothes. He leapt onto the steed prepared by the steward, yanked the reins, ready to depart. The steward caught up and grabbed the reins, saying: "Young Master, the Prime Minister has high hopes for you! Please don’t let him down!"

Li Mingrui gritted his teeth, pulled the reins from the steward’s grasp, and galloped toward the Princess of Zhen’s residence.

·

After returning from the Li Mansion, Shen Qingzhu had been restless, waiting for the Li Mansion to return her master, Shen Bozhong. Hearing that Li Mingrui had come to visit, she became even more anxious.

The master, believed dead for years, suddenly appeared in Dadu City, but seemed not to recognize her. How could Shen Qingzhu not be troubled?

The master’s wife had thought him dead and passed away within a year from grief.

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to signal Shen Qingzhu, whose arm was wrapped in fine cotton cloth, to sit down, and asked the gate-keeping maid: "Did Li Mingrui come alone or with others?"

The maid quickly responded: "He came alone, First Miss."

"First Miss!" Shen Qingzhu turned to Bai Qingyan, "Is Li Mingrui here to negotiate?"

Bai Qingyan lightly tapped her hand on the little agarwood table, her eyes clear: "Li Mingrui might be different from his father, Li Mao. He probably doesn’t want to hand over your master. Let’s go see."

If Li Mingrui hadn’t pushed someone else forward like his father Li Mao did back then, Bai Qingyan would indeed think more highly of him.

Bai Qingyan supported herself on the little table to stand, put on her wind-furred cloak, and prepared to head to the front courtyard. Seeing Shen Qingzhu following, Bai Qingyan turned and told her: "Stay outside and don’t go in. When deeply concerned, one becomes confused. Li Mingrui is observant and might deduce something, which would be unfavorable for your master."

Shen Qingzhu clenched her fists and nodded: "Alright, I’ll listen to you, First Miss."