Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Chapter 195: A Fine Tale of Monarch and Ministers_1

Chapter 197 -195: A Fine Tale of Monarch and Ministers_1

The Crown Prince walked along the riverbank with his hands behind his back, pondering for a while before slowly coming to a stop.

Bai Qingyan, who was following behind the Crown Prince, also stopped. The Crown Prince looked back at the guards still some distance away from them and spoke: “Before I came to the southern borders, my father gave me a secret order. When the southern war ends, Miss Bai need not return to Dadu City. Do you understand what this means?”

“Is it my life he wants?”

Bai Qingyan’s words were straightforward and candid, making the Crown Prince feel guilty. His hands behind his back tightened, uncertain if the advice from Old Fang and the others was any good.

“But I want to save you!” the Crown Prince said.

The sound of the rushing Jinghe River was loud, almost drowning out the Crown Prince’s words.

But Bai Qingyan cupped her hands and said to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness has been kind to me. I cannot let you be troubled. A ruler wants his ministers to die, so a minister must die. But I ask that Your Highness spare my life until the war is completely over. Even if I die in battle, I will not disgrace my Bai family.”

Hearing the word “kindness,” the Crown Prince’s ears moved, reminded of the loyalty and sacrifice of the Bai family for the country and the people. He shook his head: “Though I am not talented, I know that at this moment, the Jin Kingdom has no one more exceptional than Miss Bai! Miss Bai must not die. Even if it costs my life, I will ensure your safety.”

The Crown Prince’s words were three parts true and seven parts false, carefully balanced with emotion. If it were anyone else, they would likely believe him.

But she remembered that her grandfather had been deceived by the Emperor, handing over his loyalty only to have his descendants perish in the southern border, which chilled her heart.

Today’s Crown Prince was so much like the Emperor back then!

Bai Qingyan could not feign being moved to tears. Instead, she knelt on one knee and asked the Crown Prince: “How can I let Your Highness be troubled?”

The Crown Prince helped her up: “No matter the trouble, I will protect Miss Bai, not for anything else but for the people of the Jin Kingdom! Will Miss Bai follow me?”

“Your Highness…” Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together before asking, “May I ask what Your Highness’s ambition is in this life?”

The Crown Prince’s palm tightened as he recalled Qin Shangzhi’s words…

Qin Shangzhi had said that this eldest daughter of the Bai family fully inherited the spirit of the Bai family. Born for the people and dying for the country were the six words that defined the Bai family’s mission. If the Crown Prince wanted Bai Qingyan to serve him, he needed to show her his ambition!

Qin Shangzhi had also reminded the Crown Prince not to forget the eulogy Bai Qingyan recited at the Bai family funeral, the words of King of Zhen Bai Weiting: unwavering loyalty, wishing to bring peace to the common people and build stability in the world, staying true until death.

The Crown Prince silently recited the words, looked into Bai Qingyan’s clear and calm eyes, and said: “My ambition is to see the people live in a time of peace and prosperity.”

She silently looked at the Crown Prince, wondering if the Emperor had appeared as sincere and unreserved when he said those words to her grandfather.

“Your Highness, do you know why my grandfather brought all the Bai family men to the southern battlefield?”

Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan did not pledge loyalty but mentioned something unrelated. The Crown Prince was stunned and responded automatically: “I do not know…”

The Crown Prince seriously looked at Bai Qingyan. Her words were bold. If not for her true intention to serve him, such audacity, akin to accusing the current Emperor, would be daring to express! _{frёewebηovel.cѳm}