Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1574 - 1569: Safe and Sound

"Crown Prince of Xiping, rest assured, just leave a dozen people to follow... once we widen the distance by ten miles, I will release them!" Xiao Rongyan said calmly, "You have no room for negotiation."

The counselor in black moved forward, whispering to the Crown Prince of Xiping, "Your Highness... we should retreat towards the mountain pass’s exit. As long as we prevent them from reaching the junction to Shequ and the Zhou army, we can unite with other vassal kings and eventually capture the city where the Emperor of Zhou resides!"

Xiao Rongyan’s silver mask was illuminated faintly by the firebrands held by the soldiers on both sides, waiting for the Crown Prince of Xiping to give in.

"Fine..." the Crown Prince of Xiping agreed, then ordered, "Withdraw five miles!"

"Withdraw in the direction of Xiping County..." Xiao Rongyan added unhurriedly.

The Crown Prince of Xiping tightly gripped his reins and looked again at the counselor in black.

The counselor in black felt a heavy weight in his heart. The Regent Prince’s request meant they were heading through the mountain pass to Shequ.

"Your Highness, you must not!" the counselor in black urgently said.

Xiao Rongyan remained calm: "Yue Shi..."

Yue Shi responded, pulling out the ten-year-old son of the Crown Prince of Xiping, who was terrified and cried out: "Father, save me!"

"No! No..." Seeing her daughter-in-law already dead, with her eldest grandson now in the hands of one who had slain two of her sons and a daughter-in-law, the Princess of Xiping somehow found the strength to shake off the soldiers pressing her down, scrambling over to embrace her grandson, and hysterically shouted at her son, "You unfilial wretch! Your two brothers are dead! Why don’t you retreat! Do you want our entire family to be wiped out!"

The Crown Prince of Xiping, his eyes red-rimmed, shouted, "Retreat to Xiping County!"

This Regent Prince has never shown mercy to clan members, killing many... the Crown Prince of Xiping knew this well, and he could not gamble with his son’s life.

"Your Highness!" The counselor in black was shocked, "Your Highness, so many soldiers of Xiping have died just to kill the Emperor of Zhou today. They only brought a small number of reinforcements, even if we fought bloodily today..."

"Shut up!" The Crown Prince of Xiping harshly grabbed the counselor in black by his clothing, "The ones dead are my wife, my brothers, and sons, not yours. You speak so lightly!"

With that, the Crown Prince of Xiping flung the counselor aside, sullenly saying, "Say one more word, and I will wipe out your entire family! Retreat!"

The counselor in black, seeing the bloodshot eyes of the Crown Prince of Xiping, pressed his lips together. If not for the fact that the Crown Prince was the son of the King of Xiping, he would not assist him.

Watching the distant-looking Crown Prince of Xiping, Xiao Rongyan spoke again, "Half an hour later, I will send the entourage of the King of Xiping back."

Soon, the Xiping army retreated, and the counselor could only give a deep look at Xiao Rongyan before turning away.

Bai Jinzhi, seeing the Xiping army retreat, impatiently led others up the mountain to find Bai Qingyan.

On the mountain.

The scouts sent by Bai Qingyan returned and reported to Bai Qingyan and the others, "Your Majesty, it was the King of Gaoyi and the Regent Prince of Yan who came together. They captured the family of the King of Xiping, forcing the Xiping army to retreat!"

Xiao Rongyan...

Bai Qingyan’s hand slightly clenched at her side. She had thought Xiao Rongyan would be trapped by other vassal kings and unable to get away, but unexpectedly he was here.

"Eldest Young Lady! Eldest Young Lady..."

Bai Jinzhi came running towards the blazing wooden hut.

Hearing Bai Jinzhi’s shouts, Bai Qingyan relaxed her grip on the sword hilt slightly. She said, "Help the wounded; we’re going down the mountain!"

Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she saw Bai Jinzhi rushing towards her anxiously. Bai Qingyan’s lips curved with a smile, and her face, covered in sweat and bloodstains, was illuminated by the firelight.

"Eldest Young Lady!" Seeing her sister safe and sound made Bai Jinzhi suddenly burst into tears. She feared she wouldn’t make it in time, feared she wouldn’t see her sister again when she arrived, feared seeing her sister covered in blood and arrows like Lu Yuanpeng. Her voice choked as she leapt into Bai Qingyan’s arms, crying aloud. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Bai Qingyan gently stroked Bai Jinzhi’s head, softly comforting her, "Our Xiao Si has grown up and can even lead troops to save her elder sister."

It was never her saving her sister. Clearly, her sister had paved the path of survival for her from the beginning.

"Eldest Sister, when I came, I encountered the Regent Prince of Yan. He captured the Princess and Crown Princess Consort of Xiping, killed several people... only then did he force the Crown Prince of Xiping to retreat!" Bai Jinzhi wiped her tears with her sleeve, her eyes red, "The Regent Prince of Yan is waiting below; Eldest Sister, let’s hurry down the mountain to Shequ!"

Bai Qingyan nodded, "Let’s go down the mountain..."

"Eldest Sister, let me support you!"

Bai Qingyan’s legs and arms were wounded. After a fierce fight, her whole body was sore and weak, so she didn’t reject Bai Jinzhi’s support.

"Wei Zhong... see if Taiping can stand up!" Bai Qingyan turned to talk to Wei Zhong.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty, Taiping is already standing and just kicked over a few enemies!" Wei Zhong replied, "Your Majesty, please go ahead. This old servant will bring Taiping down the mountain."

As they made their way down the mountain, they saw Xiao Rongyan standing beside a black horse with his fists tightly clenched.

Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan almost couldn’t restrain himself from rushing forward to embrace her, her face streaked with blood and soot, supported by Bai Jinzhi. Seeing her in such a state, Xiao Rongyan’s heart felt as if it was pierced by a thousand arrows.

Since he met Bai Qingyan, he had never seen her so disheveled.

She looked at Xiao Rongyan with a faint smile of survival in her eyes; fortunately... they were both safe.

Bai Qingyan’s eyes carried the gentle, warm smile that felt like countless tiny needles piercing Xiao Rongyan’s heart. He released his clenched fists, took two steps to Bai Qingyan’s side, and without a word, swept her into his arms.

Startled, she wrapped her arms around Xiao Rongyan’s neck, whispering, "What are you doing? Put me down. I am the Empress of Zhou, and you are the Regent Prince of Yan! This could make others suspicious of our..."

"Then let’s announce it to the world!" Holding Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan looked at her earnestly, "From now on... there will be no Murong Yan, no Regent Prince of Yan in this world!"

The two times Bai Qingyan faced danger, it became abundantly clear to Xiao Rongyan that there is nothing he cannot give up in this life, except... Bai Qingyan.

Xiao Rongyan had already learned from the Hidden Guards returning from Yan capital that his sister-in-law had publicly revealed him as Xiao Rongyan. Since that was the case, henceforth, he would be Xiao Rongyan.

Bai Qingyan held tightly onto Xiao Rongyan’s neck, gazing fixedly at the man who cautiously placed her onto the horse’s back, holding her securely in his comforting embrace.