Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 164 - 163: Bitter-Sweet Halves_1

Chapter 164 -163: Bitter-Sweet Halves_1

The white mist blurring her heated eyes, leaving only the sound of the army’s uniform march in her ears.

She adjusted her breathing, looked ahead, and clenched her fists tightly, her chest feeling unbearably painful as if on fire.

“Grandfather, father; who among them hasn’t suffered serious injuries? Which one of them was as delicate as she was?!”

They taught her all her skills. Was it to make her pity herself? She endured countless hardships when practicing martial arts as a child. After so many years of neglect, did she think she could recover her skills just by thinking?

Heaven is fair; life is half bitter, half sweet.

These hardships were the result of her neglect over the years, and she had to make up for them to reclaim her original martial arts skills. It was justified.

When Xiao Ruohai caught up with the marching troops on horseback, he saw Bai Qingyan walking instead of sitting in the carriage. He dismounted quickly and walked briskly to her side, saying, “Young master, I couldn’t bring back Fourth Young Master. He refused to come with me, claiming not to recognize me. Mr. Xiao said… he was also heading south, and since Fourth Young Master is your younger brother, he would take good care of him. If you’re really worried, you could go get him yourself. Only when he sees you… will he believe that we are your people and return him.”

A pebble slipped under Bai Qingyan’s foot, causing her stiff body to almost fall. Fortunately, Xiao Ruohai held her up: “Young master!”

If her steps faltered, the troops behind would certainly be in disarray. She wasn’t an inexperienced maiden. She immediately borrowed Xiao Ruohai’s strength to straighten up and marched forward briskly: “Understood!”

She regained her breath and pace, contemplating Xiao Rongyan’s intentions.

Did he want her to go get her brother in person?

Bai Qingyan sneered inwardly. Leaving the marching troops to retrieve someone would require explaining to the Crown Prince.

Xiao Rongyan probably schemed by wanting to travel with the Crown Prince yet feared being too deliberate. He intended to use her as a messenger, letting the Crown Prince invite him.

After all, the Crown Prince, as a prince, was used to enjoying himself in bustling Dadu City. The boring carriage journey would become more bearable with a close companion to chat with.

Xiao Rongyan clearly understood the habits and manners of noblemen.

She couldn’t help but recall the two days she was feverish and delirious. During this time, the Crown Prince had secret conversations with her grandmother for half an hour. Before leaving, her grandmother almost explicitly instructed her that every word and action must be within the Crown Prince’s sight. She shouldn’t stray away.

She thought the Crown Prince had probably promised her grandmother that as long as she harbored no ill intentions and stayed in his view, he would protect her life.

Xiao Ruohai didn’t persuade Bai Qingyan to rest in the carriage. He knew her temperament well; persuasion was useless. Hence, he led the horse, escorting Bai Qingyan’s side all the way.

By the time night fell, the army finally arrived at Qufen.

Bai Qingyan was nearly exhausted. She sat in a tent, trembling as she removed the iron sandbag wrapped around her body, which was dripping with sweat.

As she sat, she sweated even more than during the march.

Xiao Ruohai ordered someone to fetch water and personally stood guard at the door, letting Bai Qingyan bathe and rest.

Under the lamp’s light, while a young eunuch applied medicine to his feet, the Crown Prince frowned and asked, “Did the Bai family’s eldest young lady really walk the entire day?”

Today, he had walked just a few miles and already had blisters on his feet, unable to move further. Bai Qingyan, a young woman, had managed to march all day?!

The Crown Prince’s close eunuch, Quan Yu, helped him put on his silk socks, smiling, “It’s not surprising. The Bai family’s eldest young lady has been campaigning with the Duke since childhood. She must be used to it. Truly blessed, yet insists on self-torture!”

“Don’t say that. She’s been ill for years. Her body is not what it used to be…” The Crown Prince looked at the flickering candlelight, feeling quite discontented. He was outdone by a woman?

“Your Highness is of noble birth. You mustn’t lower yourself to compare with those who endure hardships.” Quan Yu, with freshly cleaned hands, presented a bowl of warm bird’s nest soup. “Your Highness, have some bird’s nest and rest early. We have to continue our journey tomorrow!”

As the Crown Prince sipped the bird’s nest soup, Quan Yu had already ordered the sleep-inducing incense to be lit and the bed prepared.

After the Crown Prince rinsed his mouth, Quan Yu helped him to bed, his expression full of reverence: “Your Highness works so hard for the country and the people. The common folk will surely remember your grace. Once we return victorious from the southern border, you’ll be even more revered.”

“Stop flattering me!” The Crown Prince said this, but his eyes were full of mirth.

The army would set out at dawn.

Bai Qingyan finished her daily training and returned from the drill ground. After changing and washing, she went to see the Crown Prince at dawn and reported the matter of Bai Jinzhi.

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“Fourth Young Master, being young and reckless, feared being sent back to Dadu and thus claimed not to know the guards by my side. Mr. Xiao didn’t dare to take Fourth Young Master away recklessly, so I wanted to trouble the eunuch beside Your Highness to retrieve Fourth Young Master from Mr. Xiao.”

Saying this, Bai Qingyan bowed in the direction of Quan Yu, without a hint of the nobles’ disdain towards the eunuchs.

Quan Yu was flattered and hurriedly returned the courtesy.

Bai Qingyan was in men’s attire, her figure slender yet upright, with a heroic and valiant demeanor. Her speech bore no feminine trace, making it hard to distinguish her gender. She appeared as a boy more beautiful than any girl.

“Indeed, Rong Yan must first go to Pingyang City before returning to the country, and he will be traveling with us!” The Crown Prince suddenly turned, smiling at Quan Yu. “Go to the inn and bring back Fourth Miss. Ask Rong Yan if he would like to travel with the army. Hurry back so we don’t delay our departure.”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, remaining silent. The Crown Prince in the carriage must be quite bored, as he seemed very pleased to hear that Xiao Rongyan would be traveling with them.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, and you too, young master. I promise not to delay our departure!” Quan Yu took the order, saluted the Crown Prince and Bai Qingyan, and hurried out.

The people by Bai Qingyan’s side had gone twice without bringing him back. However, the eunuch beside the Crown Prince took less than half an hour, and before the army had even prepared to set out, Xiao Rongyan’s party, along with Bai Jinzhi, had arrived.

Bai Qingyan stood behind the Crown Prince and saw Xiao Rongyan, cloaked in fox fur, arriving on horseback with the morning light. He was followed by a team of over twenty armed guards, making an impressive display.

The elegantly refined man dismounted with composure, the first rays of the dawn casting a golden glow around him.

He saluted the Crown Prince from a distance, a faint smile on his lips, every gesture exuding the grace of a learned scholar.

Dressed in men’s attire, Bai Jinzhi, who was following Xiao Rongyan, also saluted the Crown Prince and then quickly ran to Bai Qingyan. Standing timidly before her elder sister, she obediently stood by her side, lowering her head and tugging at her own sleeve with her fingers.

“Rong Yan, don’t ride your horse! Ride in the carriage with me so I have someone to talk to!” The Crown Prince called out with a smile.