Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 454

Chapter 454: Chapter 451: Gentleman’s Agreement_1

Xiao Rongyan drank the osmanthus dew in his cup: "I am fortunate to taste the osmanthus dew made by the Crown Princess Consort herself. It is an honor."

Bai Qingyan also nodded slightly towards the Crown Prince with a faint smile: "Your Highness is considerate. I am deeply grateful."

"There’s no need for such formalities. We are cousins by marriage. We are family!" The Crown Prince said with a laugh.

Without any songs or dances for entertainment, and without wine, the simple banquet ended quickly.

"I fear the Emperor might send someone to deliver an edict at the Princess of Zhen’s residence. Thus, I won’t keep her here. Rongyan... you will escort the Princess of Zhen back." The Crown Prince said with a smile.

The reason for keeping Bai Qingyan at the Crown Prince’s residence for a meal was to give Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan a chance to interact.

Qin Shangzhi raised his eyes to look at Bai Qingyan, then at Xiao Rongyan, and he understood why the Crown Prince would do this.

However, Qin Shangzhi felt that the Crown Prince’s use of Bai Qingyan’s lifelong matter, as a means to seek Xiao Rongyan’s silver coin, was somewhat cold-hearted.

With Bai Qingyan’s intelligence, Qin Shangzhi believed she had long understood the Crown Prince’s intentions. The Crown Prince’s actions might make Bai Qingyan feel disheartened.

"I take my leave!" Bai Qingyan bowed to the Crown Prince.

Xiao Rongyan had come on horseback, without a carriage.

The Crown Prince also pretended not to notice and didn’t have the Prince’s residence prepare a carriage for Bai Qingyan, making his intentions obvious.

Xiao Rongyan said to Bai Qingyan, "Fortunately, the path from the Crown Prince’s residence to the Princess of Zhen’s residence is shaded by green trees. Walking is not a problem. I... can also have a word with Miss Bai."

Bai Qingyan’s hand hidden in her sleeve tightened, and she nodded: "Mr. Xiao, please."

"Miss Bai, after you."

Yue Shi, holding a sword with the guards, stood not far away, secretly smiling, and praised the Crown Prince of Jin Kingdom in his heart.

"I know what Mr. Xiao wants to say." Bai Qingyan walked alongside Xiao Rongyan with her hands behind her back, slowly moving along the tree-lined path.

"I also know what Miss Bai wants to say." Xiao Rongyan said methodically, "For Miss Bai, I am a person from another country, and our ambitions are largely the same. If we were to form an attachment now, it would inevitably become a burden when decisions need to be made."

Xiao Rongyan understood everything clearly in his heart.

She lowered her eyes and said, "Without attachment, it’s each for their own benefit, as it should be. With emotional ties, there will be excessive expectations! Back then, Princess An Le, the full sister of the Jin Kingdom Emperor... married into the Shu Kingdom to be a consort for the sake of stabilizing the Emperor’s position when he was still the Crown Prince. In the war to destroy Shu... I personally led troops to control the Shu harem. Princess An Le was confident in their sibling bond, so she did not flee with her children but returned to Dadu with the triumphant army. She thought the Emperor would spare her children, considering their bond since childhood, and she could return to her homeland. But the Emperor chose to cut the grass and root! Princess An Le also resented the Emperor. She was shot to death by arrows while plotting to assassinate the Jin Kingdom Emperor."

"Was the Emperor wrong in this matter? As the ruler of the Jin Kingdom, he was not wrong to be thorough! Was Princess An Le wrong to try to assassinate the Emperor? She wasn’t either! The fault lies in the emotions! The Emperor could ruthlessly eliminate Princess An Le’s children, but he could not kill the sister who grew up with him and married into the Shu Kingdom to stabilize his position as Crown Prince. Princess An Le’s confidence in their sibling bond led her to return to the Jin Kingdom with the army, leading to her children’s tragic end. Her choice to assassinate the Emperor was understandable."

"Mr. Xiao!" Bai Qingyan glanced around. This area was home to noble families. Ordinary people would not come here unless necessary. At this noon hour, the streets were empty due to the heat. _{ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom}