Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 703

Chapter 703: Chapter 700: Questioning_1

Nanny Tong bowed and paid her respects, then led the maids and servants out of the main hall, standing guard at the door.

"Governor Shen, you may rise and speak," Bai Qingyan said, resting one hand on the small table as she leaned against the pillow.

Governor Shen responded and stood up, taking a seat below Bai Qingyan, facing her, and began slowly, "I expected the Princess of Zhen might send Bai Qingping to investigate me, but I didn’t expect it so quickly. I admire your extraordinary insight, Princess of Zhen."

"My health hasn’t fully recovered. Governor Shen, please get to the important points, so I can rest and recuperate after hearing," Bai Qingyan impatiently dismissed the flattery.

Governor Shen smiled, looking at Bai Qingyan, and said, "I was once the Princely Heir of the Duke of Zhen’s household, who is your father, Bai Qishan. He left me in Shuoyang to prepare a backup plan for the Bai family."

Bai Qingyan’s palms tightened, clutching the tassels of the pillow, but her face remained calm and expressionless. "I don’t understand what you’re saying. My Bai family has always been loyal to the Jin, leaving no backup plan. My grandfather led all the men of the Bai family to the southern frontier battlefield to train future warriors for the Jin Kingdom. How could my father, opposing my grandfather, leave a governor in Shuoyang as a backup plan? Isn’t that laughable?"

"Besides," Bai Qingyan smiled leisurely, "even if my father wanted to leave a backup plan, he should have sought help from the Bai Clan, blood relatives of the same lineage. My grandfather and father always trusted the clan greatly. How could they not seek assistance from the clan and instead seek you, an outsider?"

"Princess of Zhen, as you should be more aware than I am, the Bai Clan’s character is well-known," Governor Shen said, his expression filled with disdain for the Bai Clan. "Back then, the Duke of Zhen trusted the Bai Clan, but the Crown Prince did not necessarily think the same. As the Crown Prince’s biological daughter, you should understand this better than anyone."

Bai Qingyan curled her lips into a smile, "Unfortunately, I don’t understand. What I see and know is my grandfather and the Crown Prince’s trust in the clanspeople."

Governor Shen was not surprised by Bai Qingyan’s words. He already knew that Bai Qingyan had walked this path on thin ice; without extreme caution, she would not have survived with the Bai family until today. He did not expect to gain Bai Qingyan’s trust this time.

However, over time, one reveals their true character. Governor Shen was confident that one day Bai Qingyan would believe him.

"Back then, the Crown Prince left me no tokens or evidence, so my words are without proof. It is only natural that the Princess of Zhen does not believe me," Governor Shen said slowly, lowering his gaze. "I lost an archery bet to the Crown Prince, so I promised him to stay in Shuoyang as a backup plan for the Bai family. The Crown Prince also left me two Hidden Guards. Unfortunately, one later died of illness and the other died protecting my son, Yancong. This is why I let my youngest son, Yancong, join the army to serve the Princess of Zhen."

Governor Shen’s words were not a fabrication. He remained in Shuoyang all these years because of a bet with Bai Qishan. This was why the Shuoyang bureaucracy had a saying: ’An iron-clad governor with flowing county magistrates.’

Shuoyang had many county magistrates who were eventually transferred elsewhere, either promoted or serving as governors in other parts of the Jin Kingdom. Only he remained in Shuoyang for so many years.

He did it for a promise.