Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 118: Chapter 117: Face_1

It was unclear whether Liu Huanzhang was already under King Liang’s control, or if he was lingering in some corner of the southern border, waiting for the right moment to return to Dadu and falsely accuse Grandfather.

“Milk Brother…” Bai Qingyan called Xiao Ruojiang.

“Yes, Miss Bai!” Xiao Ruojiang, despite being addressed as “Milk Brother,” remained very respectful.

“You have great agility, Milk Brother. Please go to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s residence and tell him that Qin Lang will take care of the issue regarding the grain and fodder in the southern border. Ask him, in the light of Qin Lang’s innocence and his status as the Bai family’s son-in-law, to speak well of Qin Lang before His Majesty. The Bai family will be grateful for his kindness and will surely repay him in the future!”

When Grandfather was overturning the case for the Imperial Censor Jian Congwen, Lu Jin, who is now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was merely a Seventh-Rank official at that time. That case brought Lu Jin to prominence, and later he ascended step by step to his current position as a Third-Rank official.

Bai Qingyan thought that the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lu Jin, would also consider Grandfather’s status and the fact that the Bai family’s men had all perished and give some face to the Bai family.

·

Seated by the fireplace, King Liang closed his eyes and listened to Gao Sheng’s report about today’s meeting between Bai Qingyan and Qin Dezhao.

King Liang made a fist with his hand near the fire, his brows tightly furrowed, and he couldn’t help but cough violently a few times. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with a chilling killing intent. “So, Qin Dezhao has already told Bai Qingyan everything?”

“Outside the Court of Judicial Review’s prison, I did see that old nanny drop the food box she was unsteady with, spilling ink, paper, and inkstones all over the ground! They even mentioned the names on the silk correctly…”

Before Gao Sheng could finish, the steward knocked on the door, “Your Highness, someone from Guard Gao has arrived outside, urgently requesting to see him.”

“Your Highness?” Gao Sheng seemed to ask if King Liang wanted to see them first.

King Liang adjusted his black cloak and nodded, “Go check what’s going on.”

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Gao Sheng acknowledged and left, but returned shortly.

He saluted King Liang and continued, “Your Highness, the person sent to watch over the Duke’s residence reported that after I left, in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Qin Lang left through the back corner gate of the Duke’s residence and returned to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence! Our people have already gone to inquire about Qin Lang’s actions upon returning to the Marquis residencs. Additionally, Mrs. Dong fainted in the mourning hall due to exhaustion, causing panic within the Duke’s residence!”

King Liang suddenly looked up at Gao Sheng, “Eldest Princess couldn’t hold on, and Mrs. Dong… has also collapsed?!”

“Subordinate thinks it’s not quite a collapse yet. Typically, even if someone can’t hold on, they keep their spirits up until all matters are settled. Only when their spirit breaks do they fall. Mrs. Dong has handled big and small matters of the Bai family orderly, it must be due to overworking.” Gao Sheng spoke with some respect towards Mrs. Dong.

Indeed, the Bai family suddenly faced a calamity, leaving only the women behind. Although Bai Qingyan was strong, Mrs. Dong was the head mistress of the Duke’s residence. News arrived on New Year’s Eve, and Mrs. Dong, burdened with sorrow and rage, had been unable to rest peacefully, handling all the affairs of the Duke’s residence and dealing with the Bai family clan.

But with the head mistress down, the servants of the Duke’s residence would certainly follow. An idea struck King Liang, “The person watching the Duke’s residence reported that there was panic?”

Gao Sheng nodded.

King Liang tightly clenched his fists, staring at the fire basin. He had not forgotten it was this head mistress who managed the Duke’s residence before the end of the year, making it impenetrable. No inside information got out, and no external message could make its way in.

This head mistress now down, causing panic within the residence, they could surely take this chance to contact Chun Yan.

King Liang’s heart raced at the thought, his eyes ablaze, “Where is Liu Huanzhang?”

“Liu Huanzhang has been settled in a hidden cave outside the city,” Gao Sheng replied.

King Liang carefully considered and then spoke in a lowered voice, “Send someone to the Duke’s residence to contact Chun Yan and tell her… This King is very fond of Miss Bai and pities her. However, because of that maid Hongqiao, Miss Bai harbors resentment. Hence, I need her help to deliver a few love letters from this King to Miss Bai to the Duke’s study by any means…”

“When the time comes, I will arrange for someone to discover these letters and cause a stir. I’ll tell Mrs. Dong that the Duke had detained the letters I wrote to Miss Bai after discovering I admired her, intending to take responsibility for the marriage upon his return from the southern border and forbidding further private communications to preserve her reputation. With the Duke’s incident in the southern border, and as the letters surface, I’ll shoulder the responsibility and propose marrying Miss Bai as the principal wife. Once Miss Bai is through the gate, I’ll then take her as a concubine.”

Gao Sheng looked at his master, thinking about manipulating people’s minds, his master was among the best. The letters placed in the Duke’s study explained thoroughly, if Chun Yan was loyal, she would surely comply.

King Liang stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took out the pre-written and sealed letters, and handed them to Gao Sheng, “Warn Chun Yan not to open these letters, as the Duke’s demeanor would never allow him to privately open juniors’ letters. This must be done carefully, or it’ll all be for naught, and Miss Bai will likely detest this King even more!”

“Yes!” Gao Sheng received the letters with both hands.

Hearing the steward knocking, Gao Sheng quickly placed the letters in his chest.

“What is it?” King Liang frowned, unable to suppress a few coughs.

“Your Highness, Guard Gao’s deputy Tian Weijun has returned and requests to see Guard Gao,” said the steward.

Gao Sheng bowed and said to King Liang, “Tian Weijun went to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence to contact the informant.”

“Let him in…” King Liang, wrapped in his fox fur coat, walked to the fire and sat down.

Soon, Tian Weijun, carrying the chill, walked in quickly, knelt on one knee, and cupped his fists, “Your Highness, Sir Gao. I went to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s residence, using the pretext of checking on my aunt’s safety to see the informant. I heard that after returning home, Qin Lang called several trusted advisors and stewards of the Marquis into the study for a secret talk, allowing no one to approach.”

“It seems, Qin Dezhao, seeing King Xin banished, believes there’s no longer any benefit to hiding the truth and plans to reveal everything,” King Liang’s hawk-like eyes fixated on the fire, “Qin Dezhao cannot be left alive.”

“Your Highness, rest assured, I will handle it personally!” Gao Sheng immediately took on the task.

As Gao Sheng finished speaking, Tongji entered with a steaming bowl of bitter medicine, “Your Highness… it’s time for your medicine!”

“Go now!” King Liang instructed Gao Sheng, sitting up straight to prepare for the medicine.

In the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, Qin Dezhao, with closed eyes, ignored the water and food placed at the cell door. He sat cross-legged on the straw, motionless.

Qin Dezhao, cautious by nature, feared King Liang would poison his food and drink.