Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 769 - 776: Joy and Anger Not Showing in Face_1

The Crown Prince had just stepped out of the courtyard when Quan Yu immediately knelt before him.

Quan Yu kowtowed heavily to the Crown Prince and cried, "Your Highness, it’s all my fault. When I left, you instructed me to make sure that the Princess of Zhen understood that you replaced Commandery Princess Gaoyi not because you doubted the Bai family’s loyalty, but because you were forced by court officials and the Left Prime Minister made a military pledge for his son; only then did you have to order Commandery Princess Gaoyi back! I exaggerated the difficulties you faced, and the Princess of Zhen, upon hearing of your deep trust in the Bai family and subsequent criticism from court officials, personally led the troops trained in Shuoyang to assist General Liu Hong and Commandery Princess Gaoyi!"

Quan Yu raised his head, tears streaming down his face, "The Princess of Zhen said... she would personally recover the lost cities and lands at the hands of the Bai family and would not allow the Crown Prince to suffer even the slightest difficulty from court officials because of the Bai family! I never expected the Princess of Zhen to be so loyal to you, unable to bear seeing you wronged, that she dragged her frail body to lead the troops to Daliang! This time, I’ve caused a terrible catastrophe!"

The Crown Prince felt his head buzz from Quan Yu’s crying and asked, "What did you say? The Princess of Zhen has taken that ragtag group trained in Shuoyang to Daliang?!"

"Your Highness, it’s all my fault! I exaggerated your hardships too much, causing the Princess of Zhen to lose her composure! When I left... the Princess of Zhen had already mobilized the troops and was ready to depart! But her body... it was injured while shielding you from an arrow! The Princess of Zhen is your lifesaver, Your Highness! If anything happens to her on this trip to Daliang, I will have no face to meet you!"

Quan Yu wept and kowtowed again, "I have failed the task you entrusted to me! Not only did I fail to reassure the Princess of Zhen, to keep her from getting upset and to take care of herself, I incited her to lead troops into battle. The Princess of Zhen said she didn’t want to cause you more trouble... Now, with the campaign against Daliang, the two cities afflicted by an epidemic, and the need to build the Nine-Tiered Terrace, the treasury is strained. She is willing to sell her family’s assets to fund the military, leading the troops trained in Shuoyang to Daliang, leaving no room for court officials to criticize you! I couldn’t dissuade the Princess of Zhen... it’s all my fault! Please punish me, Your Highness."

Outside the gate, the lanterns swayed in the wind, casting a fluctuating light, and the Crown Prince felt an indescribable subtlety in his feelings at that moment.

Because Bai Qingyan forced herself to lead that ragtag group from Shuoyang into battle, he thought she was being reckless.

Yet, he was moved by her loyalty to him.

"Get up!" The Crown Prince spoke to Quan Yu in a steady voice, "Immediately have someone summon the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, and the head of the Imperial Guards, Fan Yuhuai. Bring them to me! Quickly!"

At the command of the Crown Prince, Quan Yu scrambled to his feet and rushed out to relay the orders.

With the small amount of time before the morning court session, the Crown Prince needed to act quickly to summon the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, and the head of the Imperial Guards.

The Crown Prince rubbed his hands together, walking briskly towards the study, and said, "Go, send for Mr. Fang and Mr. Ren! Quickly!"

A small eunuch sprinted away to summon them.

The Crown Prince tightened his cloak and walked quickly, his mind filled with the words Bai Qingyan had spoken to him after she was struck by an arrow and her plans for his future.

Indeed, Bai Qingyan was utterly loyal to him, but he had never imagined she’d be so loyal that she couldn’t bear to see him suffer criticism from court officials and would immediately lead that untrained group from Shuoyang to Daliang.

Bai Qingyan gave him her all; he must repay her with the best.

Now that Bai Qingyan had already set out with troops, the Crown Prince’s task was to ensure her absolute safety.

With the epidemic now in Daliang, if Bai Qingyan were to catch it, she might not survive. The medicinal herbs for the army must not be in short supply, nor should the rations. As for that ragtag group from Shuoyang... they were far from being a regular army!

Bai Jinzhi took half of the Anping Army to Daliang. The rest was temporarily under the command of Dong Qingyue, the Governor of Dengzhou, to guard against the Rong. With the brave Dengzhou Army there, it should be feasible to transfer the remaining Anping Army to Daliang.

But... that epidemic!

The Crown Prince was now in a dilemma. He had ordered the epidemic to Daliang but now had to prevent his soldiers from getting infected. Apart from preparing rations, he also had to prepare enough medicinal herbs.

Time was pressing, and all these needed to be prepared quickly!

Reckless! Bai Qingyan was simply too reckless! How could she lose her composure just because she heard of his suffering from court officials?!

Though he blamed her in his heart, the Crown Prince still felt a sense of joy. Anyone... to be so loyally followed by someone would be overjoyed!

But as the Crown Prince, he should be calm, not let his feelings show.

Suppressing his joy, the Crown Prince waited for Mr. Fang and Ren Shijie.

When Mr. Fang and Ren Shijie heard that Bai Qingyan had led the troops trained in Shuoyang to Daliang, they exchanged a startled glance.

"The Imperial Physician said last time that the Princess of Zhen’s body couldn’t hold out much longer. How could she dare to risk going to the battlefield in Daliang? There... there’s an epidemic now!" Ren Shijie said.

A hint of pride showed in the Crown Prince’s expression as he sighed, "Originally, the Left Prime Minister made a military pledge in the court. I wanted to send Li Mingrui to Daliang to replace Commandery Princess Gaoyi but was afraid of hurting the Bai family’s feelings, so I sent Quan Yu to inform the Princess of Zhen. Quan Yu, with good intentions, exaggerated how I was troubled by the court officials due to Commandery Princess Gaoyi’s loss of territory. Unwilling to see me suffer, the Princess of Zhen directly led the troops trained in Shuoyang to Daliang!"

Even Ren Shijie, a spy from a rival nation, had to admire the Princess of Zhen’s loyalty to the Crown Prince. First, she shielded him from an arrow... and now, because of the Crown Prince’s troubles with court officials, she led a non-traditional force to Daliang. He thought this Princess of Zhen was excessively loyal.

Mr. Fang’s fingers twitched on his lap as he raised his eyes to see the Crown Prince’s expression, knowing he was actually very pleased. If he mentioned now that the Princess of Zhen had defied imperial orders by leading troops into battle, disrespecting royal authority, the Crown Prince wouldn’t listen and would think he was making things difficult for the Princess of Zhen.

"Now that the Princess of Zhen has left with the troops, what are your plans, Your Highness? Will you send someone to bring her back?" Mr. Fang cleared his throat and asked.

The Crown Prince shook his head, "The Princess of Zhen is headstrong. Unless she recovers the lost cities and lands from Commandery Princess Gaoyi, she won’t retreat! But now there’s an epidemic in Daliang... the medicinal herbs can’t be in short supply. They must be sent to the Princess of Zhen!"