Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 852: After Modification - 849: Turbulence

Seeing the Crown Prince hold the Imperial Edict with an expression that seemed like crying yet smiling, Ren Shijie also didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

However, at least the Crown Prince had managed to pull himself together. If the Jin Kingdom was to fall into chaos... the Crown Prince needed to survive, and survive with determination.

Bai Jinxiu had already calculated the time from Dadu City to Yuanping... a fast horse would take two days, and bringing soldiers from Yuanping to Dadu City with ample time would take three days. The soldiers would need one day to rest after their journey from Yuanping to Dadu City. In total, it would take six days.

Thus, Bai Jinxiu planned to escort the Crown Prince out of the city on the night of April 27th. After finalizing her plan, she sent word to Ren Shijie, informing him to be vigilant of Hongmei, who was by the Crown Prince’s side. She told Ren Shijie to tell the Crown Prince that they were leaving via the South Gate while secretly preparing for an exit from the North Gate. By doing so, they could test whether Hongmei was a spy planted by King Liang or Fan Yuhuai.

After receiving the message, Ren Shijie truthfully conveyed Bai Jinxiu’s plan to leave via the South Gate to the Crown Prince.

Upon receiving the news, the Crown Prince hurriedly ordered Ren Shijie to dispatch guards to return to the Crown Prince’s residence and inform Hongmei and Quan Yu. He also commanded the guards to stay there, and once night fell on the 27th, to escort Hongmei and Quan Yu to the South Gate to leave the city together.

Ren Shijie appeared to be the most loyal counselor to the Crown Prince in everyone’s eyes, but in reality, Ren Shijie was a Yan native... loyal to the Yan Kingdom. He would never miss any opportunity to sow chaos in the Jin Kingdom.

He schemed that if King Liang and others learned the plan and set an ambush at the South Gate to capture or even kill the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess Consort, and the young prince, it could lead to a rebellion among those restless in the Jin Kingdom, further plunging the kingdom into turmoil.

Ren Shijie folded his hands inside his sleeves, looking up at the sunny sky, pondering on finding an opportunity to send out the information.

April 27th, hour of the pig (亥时).

Bai Jinxiu’s group, all dressed in black, hurriedly made their way to the southern city gate.

The Crown Princess Consort was also dressed in black, carrying the sleeping young prince in her arms, with the wet nurse following. This was to ensure that when the young prince woke up, he could be fed to prevent him from crying and causing unnecessary trouble.

The Crown Princess Consort, a noblewoman by birth, had never engaged in such activities, but in this life-and-death situation, she couldn’t afford to think too much. She tightly held her child, praying that they would successfully leave the city without further complications.

Thirty skilled guards led by Bai Jinxiu encircled the Crown Prince, Crown Princess Consort, young prince, and Ren Shijie, while the remaining guards had been dispatched to hide around the South Gate half an hour earlier as precautions.

Upon reaching the gate, Bai Jinxiu raised her hand, signaling the thirty guards to halt. The Crown Prince held the Crown Princess Consort’s shoulder, protecting his wife and child as they crouched down, awaiting instructions. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Your Highness, I will first negotiate with the gate guards. Please wait here," Bai Jinxiu said in a low voice to the Crown Prince.

"Wait!" the Crown Prince anxiously turned to Ren Shijie, "Have Hongmei and Quan Yu arrived?"

Hearing the name "Hongmei," the Crown Princess Consort’s face turned extremely unsightly. Quan Yu had served the Crown Prince since childhood, but to her surprise, at such a critical moment, the Crown Prince still remembered that prostitute and wanted to bring her along!

Bai Jinxiu glanced at Ren Shijie and offered an explanation, "Your Highness, at this moment, your safety, along with that of the Crown Princess Consort and young prince, must be the priority. Before, King Liang did not capture Quan Yu and Hongmei, and they wouldn’t now trouble the palace servants and a minor concubine. They haven’t arrived, and to wait here for a concubine, disregarding your and the Crown Princess Consort’s and young prince’s safety, wouldn’t make sense. Leaving the city should be our immediate concern!"

Though the Crown Prince was worried about Quan Yu and Hongmei, he knew Bai Jinxiu’s words were reasonable. He nodded, "I’ll follow Mrs. Qin’s arrangements!"

Bai Jinxiu nodded, instructed the guards to protect the Crown Prince, then leaped onto the rooftop, running across the tiles towards the South Gate.

Soon, the commander of the imperial guards came down from the city wall to greet Bai Jinxiu, then loudly shouted, "Open the gate!"

Upon hearing this, Ren Shijie grabbed the Crown Prince’s arm, "Your Highness, let’s move..."

The Crown Prince nodded, holding the Crown Princess Consort’s shoulder with both hands, while the thirty guards proceeded forward.

Bai Jinxiu looked up at the soldiers on the city wall, her gaze sweeping around. Apart from the lanterns hanging at the shop entrances, there was no other light, which felt odd to her.

Before Bai Jinxiu could turn back to warn the Crown Prince to avoid the situation, she saw the Crown Prince and Ren Shijie had already joined her.

Suddenly, firelight erupted everywhere. Bai Jinxiu and her group drew their swords to protect the Crown Prince, while the commander of the imperial guards stood opposite them, also drawing his sword and leading his men to guard the Crown Prince.

Heavy troops carrying torches swarmed from all directions, surrounding them entirely. Even outside the gate, soldiers under Fan Yuhuai rushed in.

Fan Yuhuai and King Liang appeared, riding high horses, gradually approaching.

King Liang’s cold eyes turned to the Crown Prince, then to Bai Jinzhi and the gate commander, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth as he spoke to Fan Yuhuai, "Lord Fan, you’re inept at supervising your subordinates. How could such an important gate be infiltrated by traitors?"

King Liang’s casual tone was a far cry from his usual respectful demeanor.

The Crown Prince’s suspicions about King Liang became crystal clear. The timidity and weakness were all acts by King Liang.

"General Wang, Fan has treated you well, raising you to your current position and entrusting you with such critical gates. Why betray us?" demanded Fan Yuhuai, clenching his teeth and staring at the gate commander.

The gate commander, General Wang, sneered, "You and King Liang are traitorous bastards! Anyone would want to eliminate you!"

"Traitors and rebels?" King Liang laughed, shifting his gaze to General Wang at the gate. "There’s no such thing as traitors and rebels, only victors and losers! Whoever is capable will ascend the throne! Crown Prince, do you agree with your brother?"

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, remaining silent.

The Crown Princess Consort shook like a leaf, holding her child tightly, tears streaming down her face. She had hoped they could escape the city, only to be ambushed. Her death didn’t matter, but the young prince must not be harmed!

Fan Yuhuai stared at General Wang and shouted, "Archers ready!"

Archers! The Crown Prince’s eyes widened...

Archers emerged from behind King Liang and Fan Yuhuai, aiming their arrows at Bai Jinxiu, the Crown Prince, and their group.

"No need to kill, capture the Crown Prince alive!" King Liang, feeling victorious, wanted to catch the Crown Prince alive and have the Emperor order his death, thereby avoiding the label of usurper in future historical records.

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