Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 866 - 863: The Heart of Proclaiming Oneself Emperor

In just a moment, Li Mao had already thought of an excuse. He made a deep bow to King Liang with increasing respect: "Your Highness, King Liang, now not only I, but also the Minister of Revenue and other officials, are all on the same boat as you. We share the same fate in both honor and disgrace. Naturally, I am afraid of failure!"

He looked up at King Liang, his gaze pretending to be sincere: "Just as Bai Jinxiu said, it was I who proposed the idea when the second Prince seized the throne because the second Prince was both talented and virtuous. If we hadn’t rebelled back then, we would have certainly lost the opportunity due to Consort Tong’s family, and that I could not bear!"

Hearing Li Mao speak thus, King Liang’s expression indeed improved quite a bit. He gave Li Mao a deep look, then withdrew his gaze and walked towards the Wude Gate, seriously contemplating Li Mao’s words deep in his heart.

Seeing the Emperor and King Liang’s group had already left from the city wall, with the Crown Prince still crying miserably suspended on the wall, Bai Jinxiu turned around and asked Ji Tingyu: "Where is Eldest Young Lady now?"

Ji Tingyu calculated based on the last message delivered back and said: "She should arrive by the eighteenth at the latest."

Bai Jinxiu nodded, turned to glance at the Crown Prince crying on the city wall, and listened to Ji Tingyu ask her: "Second Young Lady, what if King Liang does not kill the Emperor and the Crown Prince before Eldest Young Lady arrives?"

"The sword is in our hands..." Bai Jinxiu’s eyes turned cold and grim, with a decisively ruthless air, "The victors write the history! If King Liang does not act, we will act for him and pin it on him."

Li Mingrui was too far away to hear these words clearly, but seeing Bai Jinxiu, a bold idea suddenly sprang into his mind. He glanced at the Crown Prince, who had urinated in fright and was still crying out, then at Bai Jinxiu.

Li Mingrui felt that people with such intimidating spirits like the Bai family, shouldn’t be willing to serve under a useless fool like the Crown Prince!

He knew King Liang was holding out in the Imperial City waiting for the Pingyang Army, but why was Bai Jinxiu besieging the city without attacking?

Though Li Mingrui lacked practical experience, he had read military books. Those who besiege cities seek swift decisive battles, avoiding delays. Bai Jinxiu was born into a family of generals, studied military books from a young age, and had fought on the battlefield. How could she besiege without attacking and let King Liang drag out the time?

There could be only one reason: Bai Jinxiu wanted to drag it out until King Liang couldn’t withstand it any longer and acted against the Emperor and Crown Prince, and even wanted to drag it out until Bai Qingyan came back...

Wait for King Liang to act against the Emperor and Crown Prince, and wait for Bai Qingyan’s return, for what purpose?

To justifiably replace them!

Li Mingrui’s finger trembled. Bai family’s loyalty was renowned throughout the land, so he had never thought of their ambition, thinking the Bai family was supporting the legitimate succession.

But observing coldly from the side, he saw Bai Jinxiu showing no concern for the Crown Prince hanging on the city wall, confirming his previous thoughts were wrong.

The Bai family wasn’t seeking the credit of assisting the throne but was aiming for the supreme position!

But... all the Bai family men had died! How could they dare to harbor such ambition?

Li Mingrui’s mind turned to the Empress of Xiliang. She was also a woman but had ascended the throne...

So it was Bai Qingyan emulating the Empress of Xiliang, with aspirations to become Empress.

Indeed, it must be so!

Previously unclear matters gradually became lucid in Li Mingrui’s mind.

In the past, what Bai Qingyan did was usually seen as planning for the Crown Prince. But now, whether it was military training in Shuoyang, placing her people in the imperial guard, or other deployments... it was all paving the way for Bai Qingyan to ascend the throne herself.

What great ambition the Bai family has! What great ambition Bai Qingyan has!

Li Mingrui had never imagined the Bai family held such ambitions, but now that he had, for the sake of the Li family’s future, he must join Bai Qingyan’s side!

The Bai family’s military power was too strong now, and they had been planning and acting early. Their chances of success were far greater than the almost rotten Imperial Family, close to certain victory.

Moreover, if the Bai family really replaces the Lin dynasty, then... it would be a new era. At that time, Bai Qingyan wouldn’t be clinging to past grievances about his father’s instigation of the second Prince’s rebellion.

Li Mingrui made a firm decision and walked towards Bai Jinxiu, bowing deeply: "Mrs. Qin..."

"Minister Li, what’s the matter?"

Bai Jinxiu, clad in armor, displayed a heroic spirit and fierce aura not seen on ordinary days.

Li Mingrui then said: "If Mrs. Qin wishes to force King Liang to act against the Emperor and Crown Prince before Princess of Zhen returns, mere siege isn’t enough. Some additional provocation is needed, such as spreading the rumor... letting King Liang know that Mrs. Qin has already sent people to meet the Pingyang Army, planning to inform them... that the order to have Pingyang Army come to Dadu City to save the Emperor and capture the Crown Prince was coerced by King Liang into writing!"

Bai Jinxiu looked at Li Mingrui with a smirk: "So, King Liang has already sent someone to mobilize the Pingyang Army?"

"Indeed. On April 23, after summoning General Xie Yuchang and General Fu Ruoxi into the palace, the Emperor sent someone with the gold medal and command arrow to Pingyang City, mobilizing the Pingyang garrison back to Dadu City to save the Emperor and capture the treacherous Crown Prince! In addition, an imperial decree was dispatched across the regions, summoning boys and girls aged five to ten, along with a secret order forbidding anyone from leading troops towards Dadu unless carrying an imperial decree or gold medal command arrow."

Li Mingrui looked up at Bai Jinxiu and confessed: "Thus, Princess of Zhen’s return journey might face significant obstacles and won’t be swift. Mrs. Qin needs to prepare early."

Ji Tingyu glanced at Li Mingrui, showing skepticism about his words.

"I see. But Minister Li mentioned forcing King Liang to act against the Emperor and Crown Prince..." Bai Jinxiu stood with her hands behind her back, feigning ignorance, "I do not understand..."

Li Mingrui suddenly showing loyalty was naturally suspicious to Bai Jinxiu. He smiled and bowed deeply: "Though Li Mingrui isn’t exceedingly smart, he understands the times."

Knowing who the ultimate victor would be and having the opportunity to add to the triumph, though it was somewhat a behavior of opportunists, it could protect the Li family amid the changes in imperial power.

The lives of the entire Li family weighed far heavier for Li Mingrui than his own life and honor, so he chose the Li family without hesitation.

Moreover, Li Mingrui had initially allied with King Liang out of mutual interest, and now chose Bai Qingyan for the same reason.

Bai Jinxiu chuckled softly, recalling Bai Qingyan’s assessment of Li Mingrui: No grand loyalty... but meticulous integrity.

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