Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 1231

Chapter 1231 -1225: Endless Surprises

At nightfall, Xiao Rongyan was kneeling behind the military desk in the tent, having just finished reading the strategy sent by the Zhou army on how to advance towards Yunjing… and how the Yan army needed to coordinate.

The strategy was devised by Bai Qingyu, who intended for the Yan and Zhou armies to cooperate. Bai Qingyu would feign defeat to lure Xiliang into capturing him, allowing the Yan army to set an ambush early on. Once Xiliang’s main forces were almost exhausted, Zhou and Yan would each rely on their own efforts to attack the city gates. Whoever first entered the Imperial Palace of Yunjing would claim the city.

Xiao Rongyan hadn’t expected his brother-in-law’s strategy to align so closely with his own thoughts.

However, Xiao Rongyan originally intended to feign defeat himself to lure the enemy, since he was the Regent Prince of Yan.

He placed Bai Qingyu’s letter aside and was pondering how to reply when a secret report from the Capital of Yan arrived.

Xiao Rongyan carefully read the secret report from the Capital of Yan, letting the medicine beside him grow cold without drinking it.

The secret letter stated that before he abandoned Yunjing and led troops to Jiangzi City to rescue Bai Qingyan, the Empress Dowager Yan had frequently summoned Minister Meng’s daughter, Meng Zhaorong, with rumors from the palace that the Empress intended to bestow a marriage between him and Meng Zhaorong. Subsequently, Meng Zhaorong went missing, yet the Empress Dowager suppressed the news.

Gossip in the Empress Dowager’s ear suggested that the Ninth Prince had blatantly disregarded her, and when she proposed a marriage for him, he was displeased and daringly enacted a scheme to have Meng Zhaorong disappear, openly defying the Empress Dowager.

There were even claims that the Ninth Prince had hidden Meng Zhaorong and intended to return victoriously from Xiliang to demand her from the Empress Dowager, further challenging her authority.

The bronze crane lamp behind Xiao Rongyan carved lifelike, its flickering light cast shifting shadows on Xiao Rongyan’s well-defined features.

“Master! Master!” Yue Shi hurried into the tent, holding a letter and medicine sent by Bai Qingyan, smiling as he spoke, “A letter from Miss Bai, along with the medicine for your injuries.”

Xiao Rongyan looked up, glancing towards Yue Shi.

Yue Shi eagerly knelt in front of Xiao Rongyan’s desk, pushing the letter and medicine before him, “Master, the letter and medicine sent by Miss Bai.”

After speaking, Yue Shi noticed the untouched medicine beside his master, “Master, you haven’t taken your medicine yet?”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t reply, instead picking up Bai Qingyan’s letter… opening it, revealing her handwritten note.

Yue Shi tactfully moved the lamp closer to Xiao Rongyan, lingering around to ensure his master finished reading Miss Bai’s letter, planning to then remind him to take the medicine — neglecting it was simply not an option.

As Xiao Rongyan read Bai Qingyan’s letter repeatedly, the persistent gloom between his brows gradually seemed to lift.

Although Bai Qingyan in her letter offered a playful defense, she had genuine confidence in the situation, daring to take risks without disregarding her safety, assuring him that a tunnel dug by Du Sanbao provided an escape route if necessary.

Xiao Rongyan knew the talk of escaping through a tunnel was Bai Qingyan teasing him, yet thinking it over, each of her actions held purpose and significance. Much like when she led the Bai family to survival in Dadu City with ever-evolving tactics — clearly, she wasn’t reckless.

Bai Qingyan was confident without being arrogant, strong yet not stubborn. It was only Xiao Rongyan’s concern that muddled his judgement.

He realized this clearly during his journey.

Despite his doubts, the military doctor knew he had to complete Miss Bai’s task and hurriedly followed Yue Shi to Xiao Rongyan’s tent to change the dressing.

After finishing the treatment, the military doctor found the ease of it all astonishing, shouldering his medicine box and departing.

Yue Shi, waiting beside Xiao Rongyan, after some time without seeing his master request a return letter for Miss Bai, finally asked, “Master, will you write a reply to Miss Bai?”

“No need…”

From the letter, Xiao Rongyan discerned Bai Qingyan’s softened tone in apologizing and comforting him, which seemed to affirm that he was significant to her, and he relished being at the forefront of her heart, savoring the sentiment for a few more days.

As Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, another report came of a Bai family guard requesting an audience.

Xiao Rongyan’s expression shifted sharply, thinking Bai Qingyan’s letter had just arrived, only to be followed by a guard; could it mean Bai Qingyan was in trouble?

“Let him in!” Xiao Rongyan’s palms tightened, his lips drawn taut.

Soon, the Bai family guard entered the tent, bowing to Xiao Rongyan, “Greetings, Ninth Prince of the Yan Kingdom.”

Yue Shi, recognizing a familiar face, was also anxious over the implication for Bai Qingyan, quickly asking, “Miss Bai’s letter just arrived, why are you delivering another message now?”