Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Lu Ping cupped his fists and said to Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty, let me accompany you. If we can persuade him, that would be best. But if Sun Wenyao cannot be persuaded, take him down directly to prevent future troubles."

Lu Ping meant to give them time to meet but not the opportunity to escape. This matter must be dealt with swiftly, or else the consequences would be endless.

After all, those Imperial Family Hidden Guards never foster emotional bonds among comrades; perhaps Sun Wenyao might be killed instead when attempting to persuade a surrender.

However, Lu Ping still admired Sun Wenyao for trying to find a path for survival for comrades who hadn't exchanged many words before.

Wei Zhong saw Sun Wenyao seemed to be pondering and smiled as he spoke to Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty, this old servant dares to ask a question of this person; may I?"

"Go ahead…"

After Wei Zhong thanked Bai Qingyan and saluted, he turned to Sun Wenyao and asked, "Do you remember the three weapons you chose in the Hidden Guard training?"

"Sword… black jade sword, and… heavenly silk." Sun Wenyao bowed his head even lower.

Wei Zhong looked at Lu Ping, who understood and stepped forward to indeed find heavenly silk at Sun Wenyao's waist, quickly handing it over to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan was about to reach out to take it when Wei Zhong hurriedly stopped her.

Wei Zhong used a cloth to pad his palm, cautiously received it and held it out for Bai Qingyan to see, "Your Majesty, this item is quite formidable, extremely sharp and often poisoned."

Bai Qingyan was now pregnant, so Wei Zhong was exceedingly careful with things Bai Qingyan wished to touch.

The black jade sword, though a hidden weapon, could still be found more easily than heavenly silk, which was effortless to conceal.

She glanced at the heavenly silk in Wei Zhong's hand, indeed emitting a faint green glow.

"So, you approached Xiao Si to kill me?" Bai Qingyan asked with a smile, seemingly unafraid.

Sun Wenyao pressed his lips tightly together, neither admitting nor denying.

Lu Ping clenched his fist and said, "Whether he is or isn't, it doesn't matter. With me and Eunuch Wei here, he won't touch a single hair on the eldest lady!"

Right then, Lu Ping disliked this Sun Wenyao. Originally, due to Liu Pinggao's words, Lu Ping had some admiration for him, but using a woman's feelings, and even using them against their fourth lady, was intolerable!

Bai Qingyan nodded, "Then it's up to Uncle Ping to take Sun Wenyao on a trip."

After Lu Ping escorted Sun Wenyao away, Wei Zhong stored the heavenly silk and asked Bai Qingyan, "Your Majesty, should anything be done about the second daughter of the Qin family?"

"Let's keep her around for now. She's from the Qin family. If Sun Wenyao's people are dealt with properly, and she stays in line, this will pass. But if… she continues to make trouble, it'll save face for Qin Lang," Bai Qingyan said, unrolling the bamboo slip at her side, not wanting to discuss the matter further.

Wei Zhong bowed to Bai Qingyan and left the main hall. He was about to have the heavenly silk disposed of when he saw the young eunuch assigned to attend Quan Yu running toward the main hall, out of breath.

Wei Zhong quickly wrapped the heavenly silk in the cloth and tucked it into his sleeve, walking a few steps toward the young eunuch. Bai Qingyan valued this young eunuch named Quan Yu highly, Wei Zhong knew.

"Eunuch Wei!" The young eunuch hurried over and bowed to Wei Zhong.

"Don't bother with formalities. Has something happened with Quan Yu again?" Wei Zhong asked.

The young eunuch smiled, raised his head to wipe his sweat with his sleeve and said, "Eunuch Quan Yu is fine. These days, he's been eating more and appears to have come around. He asked me to tell Eunuch Wei he wishes to see the Empress to thank her personally for saving his life."

Wei Zhong was slightly surprised as Quan Yu, since he lost his leg and recovered from his injury, had been quite despondent.

Even though Bai Qingyan, busy as she was after ascending the throne, managed to sneak a peek at Quan Yu twice outside his window, she never went in.

Wei Zhong originally thought Quan Yu might resent Bai Qingyan for having people break his leg, but then Quan Yu left notes attempting suicide twice, expressing gratitude toward Bai Qingyan, simply unwilling to become a cripple.

Now that Quan Yu wanted to see Bai Qingyan, it seemed he had come to terms with it.

"Alright… I'll go inform Her Majesty," Wei Zhong replied.

Bai Qingyan heard of Quan Yu's request to see her, and finally let out a sigh of relief as she instructed Wei Zhong, "Go yourself to bring Quan Yu over."

"Yes!" Wei Zhong accepted the order.

When Quan Yu appeared before Bai Qingyan again, he was so thin his cheekbones protruded, his eye sockets sunk, his once plump face was now hollow.

These days, Quan Yu had planned to see Bai Qingyan, ate well, and practiced walking with a cane. All this was to appear in better shape when he saw Bai Qingyan, not wasting her effort in saving his life.

Inside the main hall, candlelight flickered.

Quan Yu insisted on kneeling in the center of the hall, placing the attire Wei Zhong had brought to the senior eunuchs at the forefront, and bowed thrice in gratitude for Bai Qingyan's life-saving grace.

"Enough…" Bai Qingyan's eyes were slightly red, and she motioned for Wei Zhong to help Quan Yu up.

Quan Yu quickly gestured to Wei Zhong, "I still have words to speak with Her Majesty!"

"Stand and speak…" she said.

"I'd rather speak while kneeling!" Quan Yu said with a smile, "Honored Empress… actually, Quan Yu really wishes to serve by your side, but now… having lost a leg, truly… lacks the ability to serve you any longer! Therefore… the senior eunuch's position, Quan Yu truly doesn't dare accept."

He ultimately called Bai Qingyan by her former title, finding this more intimate.

Quan Yu spoke, his eyes reddened and moistened with tears as he choked, "Honored Empress, now exalted as Empress, should be accompanied by someone more capable like Eunuch Wei for better service!"

Bai Qingyan quietly watched Quan Yu, not uttering a word, while Quan Yu's tears fell again, he bowed once more, "Quan Yu wishes to ask for a favor from the Empress, to leave the palace and return to his hometown, procure a small courtyard, tend to flowers and plants, for the Empress… for Zhou to pray for, spending his life there. I humbly ask for the Empress's permission."

After a long while, Bai Qingyan nodded, "If you're resolute, then I'll have arrangements made."

"Thank you, Honored Empress!" Quan Yu bowed again, "I hope the Empress takes care; Quan Yu shall never forget the grace bestowed upon him in this life."

Quan Yu was unsure if the Crown Prince was still alive, which was why he couldn't serve Bai Qingyan.

Logically, with Bai Qingyan's ascension and establishment of the new dynasty, the dethroned Crown Prince of the old regime... certainly couldn't remain.

The former Crown Prince of Jin had bestowed kindness upon Quan Yu; Bai Qingyan had also shown him kindness, which was why he didn't dare ask.

Bai Qingyan's silence came from not wanting Quan Yu's current physical state to follow the dethroned Crown Prince lest he wouldn't receive proper care. Previously, Quan Yu had shown goodwill to the Bai family; thus she held gratitude toward him in her heart.

"Quan Yu takes his leave…" Quan Yu bowed and struggled to stand with the help of his cane.

He looked deeply at Bai Qingyan, now seated on the throne, leaning against his cane, eyes full of warmth...