Rebirth: Marry a General instead of a Prince

As night falls, the spring rain stops and the dark clouds quietly disperse. In the inky black sky, tiny stars flicker faintly. The rain-stained roof seems to be covered with a layer of snow, sparkling with silver-gray light.

After everything was ready, Bai Zhiyuan and his mother, Princess Duanhui, boarded the carriage to the palace.

Bai Tingxuan and Bai Qiuze took a carriage from the martial arts training ground into the palace.

The carriage rumbled from the gate of Bai Mansion and headed straight towards the palace gate.

After walking for nearly half an hour, the carriage finally entered the palace gate. Today was a farewell banquet, and carriages of various dignitaries and officials could be seen along the way. When they arrived in front of the palace gate, the carriages filled the square outside the city wall.

Bai Zhiyuan got off the carriage first and then helped Princess Duanhui out.

The people in front entered the palace gate one after another. Bai Zhiyuan and Princess Duanhui also walked towards the palace gate and entered.

Today's banquet was held in Guanghua Palace. The palace servants led the way towards Guanghua Palace and soon arrived at the palace. Bai Tingxuan and Bai Qiuze had already sat in the male seats, and Bai Zhiyuan and Princess Duanhui also sat in the female seats.

Soon, the music started. The emperor was wearing a crown and robes, and the empress beside him was wearing a red palace skirt with a colorful phoenix flying above it, which looked lifelike. She came with a group of palace maids in her best attire, and she looked like the mother of the country. However, Bai Zhiyuan keenly noticed that the empress's eyes were blue, covered with thick powder. Behind her were the concubines and princes.

Before Bai Zhiyuan entered the palace, he received information from Prince Jin that Princess Changle was missing.

After the emperor and empress took their seats, they heard the palace maids shouting, "The Empress Dowager has arrived—Prince Chen has arrived—Prince Yan has arrived—"

The Queen Mother was supported by Prince Chen and Prince Yan as she walked into the palace. She was wearing a blue peony lace gown, a dragon and phoenix crown on her head, and a flower-shaped pearl hairpin at the back. She looked plump and had a well-maintained face without any signs of aging. She looked very elegant and noble.

Everyone in the hall saluted in unison to Prince Chen, Prince Yan and the Queen Mother.

After the Queen Mother took her seat, there was singing and dancing.

After a moment, the Queen Mother glanced at the guests and whispered to the Queen, "Why is Changle not here?"

A trace of panic flashed across the queen's eyes, which she quickly concealed, but was caught by Bai Zhiyuan.

The Queen replied: "Her Majesty, Changle is not feeling well today, I will let her rest in the bedroom."

The Queen Mother looked at the Queen suspiciously, but ultimately said nothing.

Bai Zhiyuan knew that the Queen Mother had become suspicious. Princess Changle loved Xie Yunsong, and today was indeed Xie Yunsong's farewell banquet. In any case, Princess Changle would definitely come. But now she was nowhere to be seen, so where did Princess Changle go?

Thinking of this, Bai Zhiyuan looked at Xie Yunsong, who also happened to look at her and shook his head gently at her.

This scene happened to be seen by King Qi Zeyi of Yan, and his eyes were full of gloom.

After three rounds of drinking, Emperor Renxiao said: "Early tomorrow morning, General Weiyuan and General Yunhui will set off separately, one in the south and one in the north, to the camp. My lords, let us raise our glasses together and wish the two generals a successful start and a speedy return to the capital!"

All the ministers raised their glasses, clinked their cups, and talked and laughed.

After a while, Bai Zhiyuan saw Tianlin quickly walk to Xie Yunsong's side and whispered something. Xie Yunsong glanced at Bai Zhiyuan, and their eyes met in the air and exchanged glances.

After a while, Xie Yunsong took advantage of the singing and dancing and walked out of the hall on the pretext of sobering up.

After a while, Bai Zhiyuan whispered to his mother that he was going out for some fresh air, and then he sneaked out.

As soon as he walked out of the hall, Bai Zhiyuan was pulled by someone and taken to a deserted place.

It is today’s protagonist, Xie Yunsong.

Bai Zhiyuan asked hurriedly, "Is there any news about Princess Changle?"

Xie Yunsong replied, "His Highness the Prince of Jin sent someone to inquire and heard that Princess Changle had an argument with the Queen in the Queen's bedroom the day before yesterday. Afterwards, Princess Changle stood for a long time on the way out of the palace and finally disappeared."

"The Queen sent people to search for the whole day yesterday, but they couldn't find the person. A healthy person actually disappeared in the palace."

Bai Zhiyuan said thoughtfully, "The day before yesterday, Princess Changle returned to the palace from my birthday party. She must have been unwilling to give up, so she went to find the Queen. But the Queen was noticed by the Emperor because of the previous spring hunt, and this time she may not agree with Princess Changle. So if Princess Changle can't find the Queen's help, who else will she go to? And who is waiting at the palace gate?"

Bai Zhiyuan raised his eyes and asked, "Who entered the palace the day before yesterday?"

"I'll send someone to check it out."

"Wait a minute!" Bai Zhiyuan pondered, "Perhaps the person Princess Changle was waiting for that day was Prince Kangding. During the spring hunt, it was the Queen and Prince Kangding who conspired to kill me. Since the Queen's request didn't work, Princess Changle would go find Prince Kangding on her own."

Xie Yunsong frowned, "I'll go check whether Prince Kangding entered the palace the day before yesterday, and where he went."

Bai Zhiyuan nodded and said, "General, there is something I was planning to use against King Kangding, but I haven't found the opportunity yet. I just thought that maybe Princess Changle discovered something and was silenced by King Kangding."

Xie Yunsong asked in confusion: "What's the matter?"

Bai Zhiyuan looked around and saw that there was no one around. Tianlin was guarding not far away. Then he said, "Xie General, do you remember Liu Chuhua, the concubine daughter of Zhongshu Ling Liu Yian, who was personally appointed as the Noble Lady Liu by the current emperor?"

"Of course I remember, but what does this have to do with Changle?" Xie Yunsong's eyes were full of doubt.

Bai Zhiyuan said, "General, you don't know that this Concubine Liu has been with the emperor for many years. She is beautiful, but she has never had any children. In the harem, women without children are always out of favor, let alone a concubine who is not valued by the family. This Concubine Liu couldn't stand the loneliness in the deep palace, and had a romantic affair with Prince Kangding a long time ago."

Xie Yunsong's pupils trembled slightly, and he asked, "How did Miss Bai know this?"

Bai Zhiyuan replied: "General Xie, you don't need to ask how he knew that. Anyway, Prince Kangding and Concubine Liu have had an affair for a long time. If this matter is exposed to the emperor, both of them will be killed for being a concubine who has been touched by her own brother."

"I suspect that Princess Changle accidentally discovered their affair that day and was shocked, and was discovered by Prince Kangding. If my guess is correct, with Prince Kangding's methods, I don't know how he would torture Princess Changle."

In his previous life, Qi Zeyi accidentally discovered the affair between Prince Kangding and Concubine Liu, and used this to threaten the two to work for him. One passed the message in the palace, and the other repeatedly recommended Qi Zeyi to the emperor. Qi Zeyi quickly defeated his powerful opponent, Prince Chen.

In this life, Bai Zhiyuan had intended to use this matter to deal with King Kangding, but she didn't expect Princess Changle to interfere. Well, it was just right for her to watch them fight each other, saving her from having to take action.

Xie Yunsong thought, "It is true. I will send someone to check it out right away."

Bai Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment, raised his eyes and said, "General Xie, did you know that the late emperor had a very favored concubine, Concubine Lan, who was later banished to the cold palace for unknown reasons and committed suicide there? After that, the Lan Garden where she lived became an abandoned palace."

Xie Yunsong didn't understand what was going on, so Bai Zhiyuan continued, "Prince Kangding and Concubine Liu often have affairs in that abandoned bedroom. Why don't you go there and search for it, I think you'll find something."

Xie Yunsong's eyes were full of surprise, but in the end he didn't ask anything and just nodded.

Seeing this, Bai Zhiyuan said, "The farewell banquet is still going on. General, please go back to Guanghua Palace first. I will be back later. If you have any news about Princess Changle, please let me know."

Xie Yunsong nodded, then turned around and returned to Guanghua Hall.

The sound of clinking glasses could be vaguely heard in the palace. Bai Zhiyuan stood there and thought carefully. She didn't have much clue about Princess Changle in her previous life. Well, perhaps her rebirth caused many changes. If her guess was correct, Princess Changle would be doomed this time.