Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Originally, Yue Shi was ordered to deliver a letter from Empress Ji to Bai Qingyan. However, before entering Dadu City, she heard that... on Gaoyi Commandery Princess's birthday, a kite festival was being held at Jinhui Mountain to celebrate with the people, and even Bai Qingyan and the Bai family ladies would attend.

Yue Shi also had a handwritten letter from his master for the eldest lady, so instead of going directly into the city to the Imperial Palace, he came to Jinhui Mountain.

On his way, Yue Shi thought of the Bai Clan Hidden Guards, hoping for a chance to meet some of them. He bought some jerky and honey to share with them.

Though it was supposed to be a people's celebration, social distinctions were still present. The commoners were blocked outside by layers of imperial guards. However... even from outside, they could see the kites flying in the sky, and hoping for a glimpse of the Empress, gathered there.

Fortunately, Xie Yuchang and Fu Ruoxi, knowing Yue Shi was a guard by Xiao Rongyan's side, noticed him when they arrived early to arrange security and immediately brought him over to ask where he had been.

After bowing to the two adults, Yue Shi smiled and said, "I went back to Wei Kingdom for a while. Before leaving, His Majesty instructed me to organize the master's books and deliver them. Hearing that His Majesty would come here today, I followed along instead of entering the palace!"

"I'll have someone take you to rest under a cool tent for a while. When His Majesty arrives, I'll let him know!" Fu Ruoxi patted Yue Shi's arm, thinking he would mention to Bai Qingyan later that Yue Shi had good skills, and perhaps, when the Xiao family matter was settled, Yue Shi could stay in the military with a modest position.

Being Xiao Rongyan's closest guard and given their ruler's marriage to Xiao Rongyan, Yue Shi could be considered one of their ruler's subordinates. As long as His Majesty cherished past ties with Xiao Rongyan, Yue Shi would have a promising future in Zhou and might even become the guard for the heir that Bai Qingyan was carrying.

Indeed, Xiao Rongyan had the idea of placing Yue Shi by Bai Qingyan's side to protect her and the child. However, since Bai Qingyan was already surrounded by experts and he feared the Empress Dowager, Mrs. Dong, might suspect ulterior motives if he left Yue Shi with Bai Qingyan, he refrained from doing so.

Not long after, the Empress of Zhou, with the Empress Dowager, arrived in a grand procession, while the imperial guards held back the commoners on both sides of the road.

A black sail with a golden border and a white python emblem flew at the front, billowing in the wind. Behind, a thousand black-armored cavalrymen marched slowly and orderly, their synchronized steps impressing the crowd. Armed guards followed, along with feather fans and layers of lavish banners and canopies. Then came the eunuchs dressed in grand robes and palace maids carrying fragrant lotus-laden incense burners...

One opulent carriage after another emerged, flanked by neatly armored imperial guards, with the sound of their boots striking awe among the crowd.

Among the kneeling commoners, the bold dared to sneak a glance, hoping to glimpse the Empress or the Bai family ladies inside the carriage, but could only see the delicate curtains swaying around the exquisite carriages.

Inside, relatives of the officials, arranged according to their rank and closeness to the Empress, came out from under the shade to greet her.

Bai Qihe, leading the Bai Clan elders, emerged from the shade first and bowed politely upon seeing the Empress's carriages.

That day, after Bai Qihe returned to his residence from the palace, he gathered all the Bai Clan members who had settled in Dadu City. Those who had thoughts about some Bai family ladies were not only beaten with broken legs by Bai Qihe but also expelled from the clan as a warning to others.

This time, Bai Qihe's harsh measures indeed intimidated these Bai Clan members. Though they abandoned their sordid thoughts, Bai Qihe's wife, Mrs. Fang, still had her heart set on having her brother marry into a prestigious Bai family lady.

Mrs. Fang's brother came upon hearing the news, bringing with him some unmarried young men from his family and a few pretty young maidens from the clan who were not yet betrothed, hoping to take advantage of this opportunity for them to see each other...

His ambitions were modest; he dared not imagine marrying into a Bai family lady, but merely wished to use a marital connection to give the Fang family's descendants a foothold in Dadu City.

As long as they could leverage the Bai family's influence to climb the social ladder of Dadu City's nobility, business would surely flourish.

Furthermore, from Bai Qingyan's ascension until now, no titles had been conferred on the Bai Clan members, indicating some dissatisfaction with them. As long as Mrs. Fang didn't step out of line, during the New Year or major festival, Bai Qingyan would surely bestow titles. As Clan Leader, Bai Qihe's title would not be low, and at that time, Mrs. Fang would be a title-bearing lady, a matter she should consider carefully.

He told this to Mrs. Fang, but she resented her brother's timidity and planned to take matters into her own hands, acting behind his back.

She considered that these royal ladies would need to use the restroom eventually, or she would find a way to force them to go!

She nearly emptied her private funds, spending a large amount of silver, convinced that she could succeed. As soon as there was some activity with any of the Bai family ladies, she planned to lead her brother away for a private conversation, ultimately bringing the two together.

The one Mrs. Fang most desired for her brother to capture was the fourth lady of the Bai family, Mrs. Wang, known for her timid and weak nature, unlike the other, more assertive Bai family ladies. If she indeed married her brother, she would be easier to control.

Moreover, Mrs. Fang discovered that compared to the dowries of other ladies, Mrs. Wang's was no less valuable and easier to manage... with a rich dowry, the Fang family's business would undoubtedly grow.

Choosing Mrs. Wang had more advantages for Mrs. Fang...

There had been rumors that Bai Qingyan could not conceive. Mrs. Fang had considered that her son, Bai Qingping, might have a chance, but what do you know, a few Bai family members returned later.

Later, the supposedly barren Bai Qingyan became pregnant, much to Mrs. Fang's surprise.

Mrs. Fang also observed that among the sons who returned to the Bai family, Mrs. Wang's son, Bai Qingjue, was the only complete one. If any mishap befell Bai Qingyan's unborn child, or if it was a girl, she doubted Bai Qingyan, who could not conceive, would be so fortunate to have another!

In that event, the throne would most likely go to Mrs. Wang's son...

Thus, her brother would be like a retired emperor, and as the orchestrator of this scheme, how could her brother possibly neglect her?

Mrs. Fang resolved to carry out her plan, keeping it secret even from Puliu, using only the loyal servants she brought from her maiden home.

Although Bai Qingyan was naturally slender and not yet visibly showing, she moved with agility and wore loose garments, making it difficult to discern her pregnancy.

Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan, along with the Bai family ladies, were seated, allowing the court officials to return to their own tents.