Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 869

869 /895

Chapter 869: Chapter 866: Dignity

Li Mao had calculated the time; unless Bai Qingyan could sprout wings, there was no way she could lead her troops back within May.

Seeing everyone stunned by the news of the Princess of Zhen’s return, Shen Jingzhong abruptly turned around, raised his arrow, and aimed at King Liang. Fu Ruoxi and Xie Yuchang suddenly leaped up, knocking down the guards watching over them, and shouted, "Prime Minister Lu! Lord Dong, Minister Lu, run!"

"Protect His Majesty!" Fan Yuhuai shouted as he drew his sword to guard King Liang. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

King Liang, wearing a heavy ceremonial robe, was pulled back by Fan Yuhuai and fell to the ground. He was then assisted by the imperial guards to retreat into the hall.

King Liang, in a fury, yelled, "Kill them! Leave no one alive! Kill them all!"

Seeing the scene, the Crown Prince stumbled to his feet and rushed to a nearby marble railing, hiding his head behind it.

The court officials kneeling before the hall, taking advantage of the chaos, got up and knocked over the imperial guards beside them, fleeing in all directions. Some were killed by the guards’ swords, while others managed to escape in a panic.

Outside the hall, chaos erupted instantly.

"Report..." Another scout rushed in, crying, "Reporting to His Majesty! The Princess of Zhen is personally leading her troops in fierce battle against the Pingyang Army. The rebel armies of Yuanping and Shuoyang, seeing this, have opened the gates of Dadu City, and the Pingyang Army is now under attack from both front and back!"

Fan Yuhuai, Li Mao, and the others were wide-eyed, incredulous that Bai Qingyan could return so quickly. How many days had it been... Did Bai Qingyan sprout wings? How did she encounter no resistance from the commanders defending the cities along the way?

"Lord Fan!" Li Mao quickly squeezed to Fan Yuhuai’s side, clutching his arm. "The Princess of Zhen has returned; our hope now lies with the Pingyang Army. We can no longer hold the Imperial Palace; we must send the imperial guards out of the Imperial City to distract the Yuanping and Shuoyang rebel forces from behind. Otherwise... if the Pingyang Army is lost... our hope is lost!"

King Liang shoved away Fan Yuhuai, who was protecting him. "What do you mean our hope is lost? Have you forgotten we still have leverage? Bai Qingyan has brought troops to protect the throne for my father and the Crown Prince. We have my father... and the Crown Prince. Why fear? Go... bring the Crown Prince!"

King Liang publicly claimed that the deposed Crown Prince had attempted to assassinate the Emperor and that the Imperial Physician couldn’t save him, so the Emperor passed away. But in fact... King Liang hadn’t touched his father.

He had the Emperor of Jin confined, wanting to keep him alive to witness how he, even without the Emperor’s support, could legitimately solidify his reign.

He also wanted the Emperor of Jin, who refused to vindicate Consort Tong and the Second Prince, to watch how he would overturn their cases.

Although Li Mao and Fan Yuhuai had opposed it at the time, unexpectedly, keeping the Emperor had given them an additional bargaining chip.

Soon, the Crown Prince, trembling uncontrollably and unable to stand, was dragged in by the guards.

Li Mao then said to King Liang, "Even so, we must save the Pingyang Army!"

"Fan Yuhuai, you dispatch twenty thousand imperial guards out of the city to assist the Pingyang Army. Send five thousand men to push the deposed Crown Prince onto the city wall. If Bai Qingyan dares to attack the city, throw the deposed Crown Prince down immediately! Order these five thousand men to delay and hold the Imperial City as long as possible."