Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 854 - 851: Overlook One Detail Despite Many Precautions

Aside from the few guards left to protect the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and the young imperial grandson, all the other soldiers perished in battle.

King Liang spurred his horse forward, the high-stepping horse trampling over the corpses and pools of blood, and approached the blood-soaked Crown Prince who stood shielding his wife and child.

Looking down at the Crown Prince, he said, "Even if Bai Jinxiu managed to leave the city... do you think she can reach Bai Qingyan in time to bring her back to save you? My dear Crown Prince brother..."

The Crown Prince’s throat tightened with fear, staring at King Liang without saying a word: "Petty villain triumphant!"

"Or do you think Bai Jinxiu can leverage the Bai family’s prestige to summon reinforcements for you? As of now... you are the rebellious son mentioned in the Imperial Edict!" King Liang smiled faintly.

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth, knowing he could not reveal the contents of the Imperial Edict to King Liang. Otherwise... he feared that King Liang would send people to hunt down Bai Jinxiu. At that point, his only hope, the Yuanping army, would not arrive, and he... he might indeed become the Crown Prince who couldn’t wait to ascend the throne in the history of the Jin Kingdom and harm his own father.

"Mrs. Qin will definitely bring the Princess of Zhen back! By then, all of you traitors will die!"

Seeing the intense anger in the Crown Prince’s eyes, King Liang chuckled softly and said, "Come, take the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess... oh, and the young imperial grandson, to the Heavenly Prison, and await His Majesty’s judgment!"

The young imperial grandson cried incessantly in the Crown Princess’s arms. She looked at the Crown Prince, her voice choked with sobs: "Your Highness!"

"Do not fear! I... will protect you and the child!"

Despite his own fear, the Crown Prince raised his hand to embrace the Crown Princess and comforted her in a low voice.

"Oh, by the way, in the Heavenly Prison, Crown Prince brother will just happen to reunite with the counselor he trusts the most, Elder Fang. I hope Crown Prince brother can still recognize Elder Fang!" King Liang laughed.

The current Elder Fang had been tortured beyond recognition by King Liang. The Crown Prince might not recognize him even if he saw him.

·

Bai Jinxiu and her group had been galloping for an unknown amount of time until dawn broke in the sky. The horses beneath them were exhausted, panting heavily, and their pace slowed. Only then did Bai Jinxiu pull on the reins and order a rest.

After dismounting, Bai Jinxiu looked at Ren Shijie, who seemed in good spirits despite the night of frantic galloping, and her gaze fell on the sword at his waist. She said, "I didn’t expect Mr. Ren to be skilled in swordsmanship."

Ren Shijie quickly saluted Bai Jinxiu, "Just displaying a meager skill before Mrs. Qin."

"May I borrow your sword for a closer look?" Bai Jinxiu asked.

Ren Shijie’s hand tightened on the sword hilt, but he hesitated only for a moment before unfastening the sword at his waist and handing it to Bai Jinxiu with both hands, "If Mrs. Qin wishes to see it, naturally, you may."

Bai Jinxiu took the sword and drew it, observing the glittering blade. She asked Ren Shijie, "Did you inform Hongmei that we would be leaving through the north gate tonight and told her to wait there?"

Ren Shijie guessed that Bai Jinxiu was suspicious because of King Liang and Fan Yuhuai’s ambush at the south gate. He replied, "At this moment... it’s all my fault! Since Hongmei is the most favored concubine of the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince trusts Hongmei greatly, I did not notice any unusual behavior from her after entering the Crown Prince’s residence. I thought Mrs. Qin was being overly cautious and, following the Crown Prince’s instructions, informed Hongmei of our departure through the south gate, asking her to prepare."

"That’s strange. Why didn’t you see Hongmei at the south gate then?" Bai Jinxiu sheathed the sword, "Do you have any idea, Mr. Ren?"

Ren Shijie quickly calculated in his mind. Bai Jinxiu clearly knew that Hongmei was an agent of King Liang and Fan Yuhuai. He had already told Bai Jinxiu that he informed Hongmei about the south gate, so why was she questioning him further? Testing?

Could it be that he had shown some flaw?

Ren Shijie’s gaze fell on the sword in Bai Jinxiu’s hand. This sword was crafted after he came to the Jin Kingdom and bore no crests from Yan. The techniques he used earlier were mostly common sword forms, so his identity should not have been exposed.

Ren Shijie pursed his lips and analyzed earnestly with Bai Jinxiu, "Either there was a traitor at the south gate. Hongmei might have arrived but hid upon seeing King Liang besieging the Crown Prince. Or as Mrs. Qin suspected, Hongmei was indeed working for King Liang."

"I have one more question, Mr. Ren," Bai Jinxiu’s eyes were cold, "if you are indeed the Crown Prince’s counselor and possess such skills, why didn’t you stay by the Crown Prince’s side? Why did you leave the city with me, abandoning the Crown Prince?"

Ren Shijie’s sword was in Bai Jinxiu’s hands. He put on a smile and replied, "Mrs. Qin carries the Imperial Edict concerning the Crown Prince’s survival. As the Crown Prince’s counselor, it is my duty to accompany Mrs. Qin to escort the edict."

"Well! Mr. Ren, you indeed have a reasonable explanation!" Bai Jinzhi casually tossed the sword to the Bai family guards and coldly commanded, "Tie up Ren Shijie! Bind him to a horse and let him come with us. If he makes any suspicious moves... kill him!"

The Bai family guards responded and captured Ren Shijie. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

The imperial Hidden Guards around the Crown Prince looked at each other but remained where they stood.

"Mrs. Qin! I am the Crown Prince’s counselor. Even beating a dog depends on its master. Treating me this way is disrespectful to the Crown Prince!" Ren Shijie’s face turned pale, "Although I erred in notifying Hongmei, it was an unintentional mistake. This is a critical time for the Crown Prince, why would you needlessly harm our forces?"

"The matter of the Crown Prince departing from the south gate was known only to Mr. Ren, Hongmei, and me. Even General Wang at the south gate was informed only when I arrived! I had already warned Mr. Ren that Hongmei might be an agent of Fan Yuhuai or King Liang. Why inform Hongmei which gate we were using? You could have simply brought her along without revealing the specifics! Was it necessary to risk exposing our plans to bring Hongmei?"

Bai Jinxiu’s sharp eyes fixed on Ren Shijie, "Mr. Ren, you’re intelligent enough to be the Crown Prince’s counselor. It’s unreasonable for you to make such a foolish mistake! Therefore, the only explanation is that you deliberately informed Hongmei so she could relay the information to King Liang or Fan Yuhuai!"

Ren Shijie’s heart sank; indeed, he had left a flaw.

Yet, even such a small flaw was detected by Bai Jinxiu.

"Mr. Ren has nothing to say?" Bai Jinxiu’s voice was cold and stern.

"I am loyal to the Crown Prince! This time it was indeed a lapse in my judgment, but Mrs. Qin cannot doubt my loyalty on this basis!" Ren Shijie exclaimed.

Follow current novℯls on f(r)eewebnov𝒆l