Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 220 - 218 Alive_1

Chapter 220: Chapter 218: Alive_1

Chapter 220: Chapter 218: Alive_1

Li Zhijie had long heard that in the Duke of Zhen’s Bai family of Jin, regardless of gender, all children must be sent to the battlefield for training once they turned ten.

Although there might be some exaggeration in Liu Rushi’s words, they were mostly true.

He had heard that the second daughter of the Bai family was already married and thus did not go to war this time. If he killed Bai Qingyan and angered the Jin Kingdom and the Bai family, what if the Bai family produced several more figures like Bai Qingyan who would fight Xiliang to the death? Xiliang could not afford another war right now!

His gaze fell on Bai Qingyan, whose eyes were as cold as frost and snow. “General Yun is our Xiliang’s Assistant General. Handing over twenty-three men selected from the three clans to General Bai is something Xiliang absolutely cannot agree to. I hope General Bai can understand. However, General Bai mentioned that General Yun’s treatment of the Bai family’s seventeenth son was improper. Our Xiliang is willing to compensate with silver taels to build a mausoleum for the young general. Would General Bai find this acceptable?”

Liu Rushi looked at Bai Qingyan, seemingly asking for her opinion. Since it involved the Bai family, Bai Qingyan, as the eldest legitimate daughter, should have the final say.

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Only then did Liu Rushi say, “Very well, I will have someone calculate the cost of building the mausoleum. Xiliang will compensate the Bai family in one lump sum!”

“That is only natural!” Li Zhijie nodded.

Li Tianfu was inwardly furious but managed to hold her temper without making a fuss. She glanced coldly in Liu Rushi’s direction, then lowered her gaze to her embroidered handkerchief, focusing on the bamboo leaves.

Li Zhijie was right. Xiliang could not afford another war. She had already frustrated Li Zhijie’s plan to send her to the Jin Crown Prince’s palace. Since she had achieved her goal, she had to know when to stop. Otherwise, if the negotiations between the two countries broke down because of her, even if she did not have to marry for peace and returned to Xiliang, her mother would not be able to tolerate her.

Li Tianfu’s desires in life were simple. She did not want to be involved in the backhouse or harem intrigues of royalty and nobles. She just wanted to live a leisurely and wealthy life with Lu Tianzhuo by her side.

What did the princess’s duty to give birth to an emperor with Xiliang blood have to do with her, Li Tianfu!

As they were speaking, a Xiliang soldier suddenly ran in from outside the tent, covering his mouth as he whispered in Li Zhijie’s ear. Li Zhijie squinted his eyes and gestured for the soldier to stand aside. He then opened his iron-bone fan and chuckled lightly. “Crown Prince, while we are here negotiating peace, why did your country arrange for a maid to infiltrate our negotiation tent and kill a Xiliang soldier before running towards the Jin Army’s camp? What is this about?”

That Xiliang soldier was sent by Lu Tianzhuo. He had not appeared in the tent because he was just now overseeing the Jin Army’s movements from a high point, thinking about how to set an ambush to kill Bai Qingyan.

However, he had seen Shen Qingzhu leave the tent a stick of incense ago, change out of a Xiliang maid’s clothes, and don black attire with agile movements. He had sent someone to question Shen Qingzhu, but Shen Qingzhu had unexpectedly killed someone and fled towards the Jin Army’s camp.

Lu Tianzhuo was instantly alarmed from his hidden position. He did not know when the Jin people had infiltrated Xiliang’s peace negotiation team.

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Although it was just an unremarkable maid, her exceptional skills and her ruthless efficiency in killing people at the critical moment made her a significant threat.

Lu Tianzhuo then sent someone to inform King Yan, so he could adapt to the situation. He himself went alone to follow her to see what Jin was up to.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes without showing any emotion. “A maid? Towards the Jin Army? It must be that Shen Qingzhu’s whereabouts had been discovered.”

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and slowly spoke, “King Yan, your words are amusing. Our Crown Prince brought us here, and besides myself, Bai Qingyan, there are no other women. But now you’re blaming us for your runaway maid? If I said your maid ran towards our Jin camp to spy on us, what would King Yan say? Are you deliberately trying to delay the negotiations?”

The Crown Prince was confused by Li Zhijie’s questions. Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, he really thought Li Zhijie was deliberately stalling. He then said, “King Yan, what do you mean? If you want to catch a thief, you need evidence. Making such baseless accusations, do you not want to negotiate peace?”

“If King Yan sent a maid to spy on you, why would he bring it up?” Li Tianfu couldn’t help but speak up.

“That’s hard to say. Xiliang has invaded Jin and killed our people, but the Princess of Xiliang claims that General Bai killed their surrendered prisoners. Falsely accusing the victim is something your Xiliang does, even with a princess, let alone others!” Liu Rushi sneered coldly.

“Minister Liu, negotiations are men’s business. Please don’t drag our Xiliang Princess into this!” Li Zhijie’s face darkened slightly.

“Then please, King Yan, restrain your princess so she does not stir trouble and speak nonsense during the negotiations!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was cold.

Li Zhijie could argue with Liu Rushi, a man, about gender differences, but with Bai Qingyan, a woman, he could only nod in agreement.

“Crown Prince…” Li Zhijie bowed towards the Crown Prince, “Since Xiliang believes Jin sent a maid to infiltrate our team, and Jin thinks a Xiliang maid went to spy on them, why don’t we end today’s negotiations here and talk again tomorrow?”

“So this was King Yan’s plan all along! Creating a baseless maid issue just to delay and make preparations. What… tomorrow, King Yan, are you planning to invade with your army?” Bai Qingyan had to keep Li Zhijie here.

Li Zhijie’s face changed slightly. He indeed had no evidence. Seeing how Jin was pressing, it seemed they wanted to finalize the peace agreement before letting him go today.

“It’s already late; negotiating tomorrow is the same!” Li Zhijie smiled at the Crown Prince, “Do you agree, Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince picked up his teacup and blew gently, “King Yan, you set the time for today’s banquet. Now you’re saying it’s late. King Yan… do you think I am idle?”

Li Zhijie: “…”

Forget it. With Lu Tianzhuo keeping watch, if anything happened, he would report back.

Given that Jin was the victorious country, could they really dare to kill a lowly King Yan and Xiliang’s legitimate princess here without fear of other nations’ scrutiny?

Jin would not do something so foolish. Moreover, the people of Jin who came to negotiate peace did not seem like fools.

Inside the tent, the peace talks continued.

Xiliang and Jin Kingdom’s peace envoys argued back and forth, endlessly bargaining and debating.

Half a mile away from the tent, at the Jin Army’s camp, the bonfire flickered.

Lu Tianzhuo had followed Shen Qingzhu for some distance and saw Jin army sentries, so he dared not go further. He was very puzzled.

Shen Qingzhu successfully contacted Xiao Ruojiang and met Bai Jinzhi. When Bai Jinzhi learned that Bai Qingyun was still alive, she cried out in excitement, “Really?! My ninth brother is still alive!”

Shen Qingzhu nodded.