Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 842 - 839: The Morality of the Counselor

Mr. Fang was almost helped onto the carriage by the guards. He had not yet sat down when he quickly lifted the curtain of the carriage and instructed the guards, "One of you... go ahead and scout. See if something has happened in Dadu City. Report back immediately when you have news!"

"Yes!" The guard obeyed and left.

Mr. Fang saw a guard riding away quickly. Only then did he put down the curtain and leaned back in the carriage.

His back was already soaked with sweat. He could only keep praying that this news was wrong.

The carriage left Shuoyang City, bumping along the way. Mr. Fang’s heart was in his throat, constantly calculating what to do if Fan Yuhuai, who held military power, truly wanted to rebel and kill the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

After leaving the city, the carriage raced for more than an hour into the deep night. Even though they were on the official road, the roadsides were flanked with dense tall trees, casting deep shadows and making the wind howls.

Mr. Fang was jolted so much that his face went numb. Soon, the guard he had sent to gather news rode back, turning his horse to follow Mr. Fang’s swiftly moving carriage. He called to Mr. Fang inside the carriage, "Sir, I have returned!"

Mr. Fang, with his eyes closed, heard the call and quickly held onto the carriage window to lift the curtain and asked, "What did you find?"

"Just now, I inquired at the posthouse on the official road and an old man resting at a teahouse said that these days, all travelers coming from the direction of Dadu City are talking about King Liang conspiring with Left Prime Minister Li Mao and the head of the Imperial Guards, Fan Yuhuai, in rebellion!" the guard reported.

Mr. Fang’s heart sank lower and lower, and his brain throbbed with the carriage’s jolts.

"Sir, I also asked merchants coming from the Dadu City direction. They said that Dadu City is only allowing people to enter, not exit, so many have turned back out of fear. What should we do now?" the guard asked.

Such commotion surely means trouble...

Returning to Dadu City might be a path to death.

What to do?

What can be done?!

He was a counselor in the Crown Prince’s residence; the Crown Prince was his master!

The trust the Crown Prince had in him over the years exceeded that anyone else, especially before the emergence of the Princess of Zhen. As a counselor, having recognized the Crown Prince as his master, he must plan for the Crown Prince for life!

Mr. Fang was terrified but still resolved to go back.

The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, the true heir of the state. As a man of Jin, he must uphold the rightful heir of the Jin Kingdom.

So, even if Mr. Fang was scared... he had to return to save his master. It was his duty as a Jin man, more so the moral responsibility of a counselor. Even if he died saving the Crown Prince, it would be an honorable death.

Without any hesitation, with a trembling voice, Mr. Fang said, "You... have the Crown Prince’s insignia. Try to seek aid from all quarters..."

Mr. Fang thought of Shuoyang. Considering the stance of Shuoyang, he felt the Bai family might rebel, so he hastily instructed the guard, "But do not seek help from Shuoyang!"

Otherwise, if Shuoyang took this opportunity to send troops to Dadu and annihilate the Imperial Clan, claiming on the outside that King Liang did it and that they were only quelling the rebellion, then the entire Imperial Clan would be in great danger.

"Go somewhere else, go to Daliang... find General Liu Hong, or seek out commanders with troops along the way. We have no decree from the Crown Prince or the Emperor’s edict; we can only spread this news and hope that before General Liu Hong gets the news, other loyal and brave soldiers would come to rescue His Majesty and the Crown Prince!"

"And what about you, Sir?!" the guard asked.

"I..." Mr. Fang swallowed his saliva, his fear obvious, "I must return to the Crown Prince’s side, figure out how to support the Crown Prince until reinforcements arrive!"

The guard, seeing Mr. Fang’s pale, fearful face, bit his lip and said, "Sir, as a counselor to the Crown Prince, wouldn’t it be better for you to seek aid? Besides, you have no strength to bind a chicken; going back will be of no help!"

Mr. Fang shook his head, unsure if he was convincing himself or the guard, "Even if these hands can’t hold a sword, I must protect the Crown Prince! I have to provide strategies and sustain until reinforcements come!"

Seeing Mr. Fang’s resolve, the guard did not persuade further. He clasped his hands at Mr. Fang, "Sir, take care!" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

With that, the guard spurred his horse and rode toward Daliang to seek General Liu Hong to turn back and save the Emperor.

·

Shuoyang, Bai Mansion.

At this time, Bai Qihe of the Bai Clan in Shuoyang, leading several elders who were newly recommended and loyal to the Bai family, were all seated in the main hall of Bai Mansion. Several of the Bai family’s madams and young ladies were also present.

Mrs. Dong sat in the main seat, holding a teacup, her face somber as she looked at the guard kneeling on one knee in the central hall, reporting the chaos in Dadu City.

The Bai Clan members were shocked by the news.

"The Eldest Princess commanded us to deliver Seventh Lady and the news of Dadu City back to Shuoyang. However, Seventh Lady was worried about the safety of the Eldest Princess and Second Lady and refused to leave, so the Eldest Princess sent me back to deliver the message first," the guard said.

Bai Jinse remained by the Eldest Princess’s side because she worried that if King Liang successfully usurped the throne, her grandmother would try to suppress the matter to preserve the Lin family’s royal power. Only by staying with her grandmother could she report to her elder sister timely, leaving some room for maneuvering.

But if she returned to Shuoyang and King Liang indeed ascended the throne, not knowing her grandmother’s thoughts would truly make Bai Jinse uneasy.

"The Eldest Princess has already sent word, so I have called you all together to listen and discuss how we should respond," Mrs. Dong lightly sipped her tea, her demeanor showing no sign of lacking a plan and seeking the clan’s advice.

Seeing the chaos in Dadu City, if King Liang indeed ascended the throne, he would definitely come to Shuoyang first to capture the Bai family members and control her daughter!

After all, with Bai Qingyan holding significant military power, how could King Liang not be fearful?

Calling the elders of the Bai Clan together, Mrs. Dong intended... to have them contribute funds.

With turmoil in Dadu City, Shuoyang must quickly stockpile grain to be prepared in case King Liang came to Shuoyang to capture people. Shuoyang must hold out until her daughter returned from Daliang.

With many citizens and soldiers in Shuoyang City, if besieged, grain would be essential.

Though Shuoyang had enough grain to support the entire city for three months, Mrs. Dong had to think long-term. What if Bai Qingyan couldn’t return within three months?

Only with a six-month grain supply could they be secure.

With sharp insight, Bai Qihe naturally understood that Mrs. Dong had a plan and needed the clan’s help, so he immediately bowed and said to Mrs. Dong, "Madam, please give your orders. The Bai Clan prospers and suffers together; in such critical times, we follow Madam’s direction."

Seeing the Clan Leader speak thus, the elders echoed his sentiments.

Mrs. Dong set down her teacup, her stern gaze sweeping through the room, then said, "Since that is the case, I won’t be polite with you all!"

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