Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 250 - 248 Ungratefulness_1

Chapter 250: Chapter 248: Ungratefulness_1

Chapter 250: Chapter 248: Ungratefulness_1

Zhang Duanrui tightened his grip on the reins, spurred the horse’s belly, and led the team grandly into Feng County.

As soon as they arrived at the tavern entrance, the person sent to monitor the tavern hurried over, clasped his fists, and saluted. “I was unable to book both side rooms. Someone was already in the room adjacent to General Bai’s. The servant there said their master does not lack silver and was unwilling to leave. I feared it would alarm General Bai if I made a scene, so I only booked one room.”

“Did anyone go to meet General Bai?” Zhang Duanrui asked.

The person nodded. “A few people just went in.”

The Crown Prince had a sullen expression, clenched his teeth, and with hands clenched into fists behind his back, stepped into the not-so-large tavern.

The waiter was just about to greet them when he was almost knocked over by the fierce guards, who pushed him back. He could only timidly watch as the Crown Prince was escorted upstairs by a group of guards.

The tavern’s staff and customers speculated who this noble personage could be, arriving with such a grand entourage, guessing that even a high-ranking official wouldn’t command such spectacle.

“Please, Your Highness!” Zhang Duanrui gestured invitingly to the Crown Prince.

But the Crown Prince stood at the private room’s door, glanced at the room where Bai Qingyan was, and then looked at the person who had been following Bai Qingyan, seemingly asking if Bai Qingyan was in the adjacent room now.

Seeing the person nod, the Crown Prince stepped into the private room, sitting down on the couch with his back to the adjacent room, gripping his fists tightly.

A few people came in, closed the door, and uniformly picked up the large-mouthed teacups on the table, placing them against the wall to listen to the sounds from the next room.

The tavern’s soundproofing was poor. As long as it was quiet enough here, they could vaguely hear the sounds from next door without needing to eavesdrop in this manner.

The Crown Prince closed his eyes and held his breath, listening to the conversation and movements next door.

“How about setting the location at Yu Qingshan? Although it’s a mountain road, the terrain is open… Releasing it here would be easily noticed and easily captured. Even if the Crown Prince fails, the Jin Army won’t let it escape easily. Our young lady’s archery is flawless, one arrow would suffice!”

Upon hearing the mention of “Crown Prince,” the Crown Prince couldn’t contain himself, stood up, and pushed aside a subordinate who was listening against the wall, personally pressing the cup to the wall to hear what was being said.

“Our goal is to make it seek out the Crown Prince under everyone’s gaze, submit to him, and let him capture it personally to present it to His Majesty, not to kill it! If it dies… everything we’ve done would be in vain.”

The Crown Prince recognized the voice as belonging to Bai Qingyan’s foster brother.

“Lady, do you really not intend to tell the Crown Prince?”

“No need to tell the Crown Prince. He fears His Majesty deeply. Telling him… might ruin everything.” Bai Qingyan’s voice paused before adding, “In the coming days, foster brother must take good care of it and let it know who to seek out.”

The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed. Their conversation didn’t seem to entail harm; they only wanted him to personally capture something at Yu Qingshan.

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Confused, the Crown Prince pondered what Bai Qingyan was holding that required such a scheme for him to capture.

Enraged by Bai Qingyan’s statement, “The Crown Prince fears His Majesty deeply,” the Crown Prince fumed. What did she mean by telling him would ruin things? Did she see him as nothing more than a pawn for her to manipulate?

“Your Highness, should we go over and capture someone?” Zhang Duanrui asked in a low voice.

The Crown Prince tightened his grip on the cup, threw it on the table, and with his temples throbbing, suppressed his anger and said, “For now, don’t capture anyone! I want to see what she wants me to… capture at Yu Qingshan.”

Currently, other than Bai Qingyan, no one in Jin could deter enemy nations. Unless necessary, the Crown Prince indeed wanted to kill Bai Qingyan, especially just after signing the peace treaty with Xiliang, before Jin could completely take over the ceded cities and compensations from Xiliang.

Thinking it through, the Crown Prince looked at Zhang Duanrui. “General Zhang, make sure your people keep their mouths shut about this! If Bai Qingyan indeed resents Jin for the deaths of the Bai family men and does something to harm Jin, you, Zhang Duanrui, will be the sinner of Jin!”

Suddenly condemned with such a serious accusation, Zhang Duanrui quickly clasped his fists and said, “Understood!”

Just as he finished speaking, a commotion erupted outside the street-facing window.

Since the Crown Prince had learned of Bai Qingyan’s purpose, he had no interest in staying. He left the private room and went downstairs.

Before boarding the carriage, the Crown Prince glanced towards the commotion.

“In a battle between two armies, have you seen anyone execute surrendered prisoners? This Bai family’s Xiao Bai must be a demon reincarnate! Protecting the people? After she kills all Xiliang soldiers, she will come back to kill you all!”

“Indeed! A hundred thousand Xiliang soldiers! Although they were the enemy, they had already surrendered! They also had families. When she set fire to Wengshan Canyon, the flames burned for half a month, destroying countless homes and lives! This Xiao Bai has no compassion!”

“Burning surrendered prisoners was a bit excessive!” Some people nodded in agreement.

“Nonsense!”

The Crown Prince watched as a veiled female physician, who always accompanied Bai Qingyan, emerged from the crowd and shouted, “Folks, don’t be misled by these provocateurs! When did any Xiliang soldiers break through our gates without massacring our families and violating your wives and daughters? The Bai family army repeatedly risked their lives to save us! Yet today, some outsiders accuse Xiao Bai of mercilessly burning surrendered prisoners, and you nod along, calling her bloodthirsty. Doesn’t this count as ingratitude? Which one of us in Feng County wasn’t saved by the Bai family soldiers? Others can criticize Xiao Bai, but we, the people of Feng County, absolutely cannot!”

The Crown Prince gave the physician a long look, gritted his teeth, and boarded the carriage.

Bai family army, Xiao Bai…

This battle was led by him, yet the people only remembered Xiao Bai of the Bai family army!

Was it that the Jin Army didn’t fight to the death too?! If the Bai family army died… did the Jin Army not die too?!

“Xiao Bai led 50,000 Jin soldiers against over 100,000 Xiliang warriors. If they didn’t kill the surrendered prisoners… were they supposed to wait for those prisoners to kill our Jin elite soldiers and then massacre our unarmed Jin citizens?!” Ji Langhua’s eyes reddened, and with clenched teeth, he continued, “Xiao Bai lost her martial prowess to protect the people. Yet this time, all Bai family men died in battle, and Xiao Bai still came to the frontier to protect the people! When I treated Xiao Bai’s injuries, I had never seen any General with more scars than Xiao Bai! New and old… each one was a testament to Xiao Bai’s protection of the nation and its people! If even the people she desperately protected were to criticize her, how heartbroken would she be?”