Only once Jun Beiyue spoke did the Empress of East Qin settle down. She slowly drew out from within her robes a silk handkerchief folded over many times, revealing just a corner of it for Jun Beiyue to see!

Though only a corner was visible, it was unmistakably part of a totem.

Jun Beiyue’s eyes lit up, fixed intently on it — this item held real allure for him. Seeing this, the Empress of East Qin’s lips curved into a cold smile, and she revealed another portion of the handkerchief.

This section was something Jun Beiyue didn’t recognize — dense rows of unfamiliar symbols, remarkably similar in shape to the twelve notes found beneath the Qinse Valley on Liuxian Island.

These were likely from the same era’s musical notation — if Ziqing were here, she would surely understand it at a glance.

Though Jun Beiyue couldn’t make sense of it, he was certain that this item of Nanny Qin’s was genuine.

The Empress of East Qin looked rather pleased with herself, tilting her head up at Jun Beiyue, saying nothing.

Jun Beiyue understood. Without hesitation, he issued the order loudly, “Someone, send word to the White Tiger Army of the northern frontier — withdraw from the northern highlands. Proclaim to all nations, in this prince’s name, that the northern highlands belong to East Qin. East Qin’s nation is restored. Invite the Empress of East Qin, Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, to attend the peace conference!”

Hearing this, the Empress of East Qin’s delight was impossible to hide, and she cupped her hands and bowed to Jun Beiyue. “Prince Yao, I admire you!”

Such admiration was hardly something Jun Beiyue had any need for.

He extended his hand toward the Empress of East Qin. “The item.”

At the same moment, Jun Beichen took hold of Bai Mengmeng, tilting her forward off the edge of the wall.

The Empress of East Qin fixed Bai Mengmeng with a cold stare, then flung the handkerchief violently at Jun Beiyue. At the very same instant, Jun Beichen struck Bai Mengmeng with a palm strike, sending her tumbling down.

As Bai Mengmeng fell forward, she finally couldn’t help but turn her head back — only to see Jun Beiyue catching the handkerchief, unfolding it carefully, as though it were the most precious treasure!

This man — from beginning to end, he hadn’t so much as glanced at her once!

Was she truly worth even less than a handkerchief to him?

He was so intently focused, so absorbed, as if nothing else in the entire world mattered as much as that one piece of cloth!

Bai Mengmeng had thought she wouldn’t cry — and yet the tears couldn’t help but slip slowly from the corners of her eyes.

She hated him!

She hated herself, utterly — and she hated this heartless, unfeeling man with everything in her!

Jun Beiyue, if I survive at the Empress of East Qin’s hands, even if it’s by nothing more than a single breath, I will absolutely make sure you never know peace again!

Absolutely never!

“Thud!”

She finally hit the ground, her hands bound behind her back, landing in a graceless heap, unable even to stand — falling right at the feet of the Empress of East Qin.

The Empress of East Qin viciously kicked her, striking her square in the head — before Bai Mengmeng could even lift her head, another kick came, driving her down so hard she couldn’t raise it at all.

“Vile woman, I will make sure you understand exactly how heavy the price of betrayal is!”

The Empress of East Qin spoke as she kicked Bai Mengmeng hard, sending her rolling toward Nanny Qin, then ordered coldly, “Take this traitor. Into the city!”

Nanny Qin hauled Bai Mengmeng up. Only then did Bai Mengmeng manage to lift her head triumphantly, turning her cold gaze up toward the city gate, staring fixedly at that man!

She saw that man smiling — a warm, heartfelt smile, so, so handsome.

But he wasn’t smiling at her. He wouldn’t even spare her a single glance — even a look of scorn or contempt would have been something.

But he gave her nothing. Nothing at all!

So, so cold and indifferent!

“Jun Beiyue! Jun Beiyue! Jun Beiyue!!”

Bai Mengmeng’s silent scream echoed within her, growing fainter as Nanny Qin dragged her further and further away. What awaited her, whether she could survive under the Empress of East Qin’s hand — no one knew.

All anyone could tell was that this woman’s hatred ran deep, deep enough to fill the sky with resentment!

And yet Jun Beiyue truly, genuinely noticed none of it at all. When a person is completely and utterly disregarded, it makes no difference what happens to them — even if they died right beside him, he would remain entirely unmoved.

At this very moment, he was completely absorbed in studying the symbols imprinted on the handkerchief, which seemed to be some kind of musical score, interspersed with several totems — identical to the mark on Ziqing’s face.

If he could understand this score, would he be able to deduce the meaning of the totem?

Jun Beiyue looked it over again and again, but since he wasn’t particularly well-versed in music theory, he couldn’t quite make sense of it, and simply put it away carefully.

By the time all this commotion had settled, the sky had grown fully bright — Ziqing ought to be arriving soon, surely.

Everyone had dispersed, and calm had returned. Jun Beiyue held the handkerchief in his hand and sat down in silence.

As though nothing at all had happened, he remained just as quietly waiting as before — yet the corners of that handsome mouth of his still carried a deep, unmistakable smile, a smile of pure contentment. Anyone who saw it would forget entirely who this man was, and know only that he was, in this moment, happy.

Time slipped away, little by little. Today’s northwest wind was even fiercer than yesterday’s, and showed every sign of growing stronger still.

And yet, as time slipped away bit by bit, the western horizon remained utterly still, showing no sign of movement at all.

Why was this happening?

From the western frontier to Akbachu, at a brisk pace, it shouldn’t take more than a few days at most!

He had already waited so long. Yingzi’s reports had never once been wrong before!

Over such a short distance, in such a short amount of time, surely nothing could have gone wrong!

Situ Haonan and Yelu Qianqian hadn’t returned either, but that shouldn’t mean anything had happened — nothing should have happened at all.

And besides, with Situ Haonan there, with Yingzi there, who could possibly harm Ziqing? Even if neither of them were present, Ziqing was more than capable of protecting herself out there.

Without anyone quite noticing when, Jun Beiyue had already risen to his feet, his tall, imposing figure standing high atop the city gate, while overhead, the dazzling red sun climbed steadily toward its zenith!

It was almost noon!

And still, Han Ziqing had not returned — still, not the slightest sign of movement from the west.

Whether or not some realization had struck Jun Beiyue, one could see the hand gripping the handkerchief slowly tightening, the veins rising along the back of his hand, one after another, ghastly and terrifying.

And his face had already turned cold as ancient ice that could never, ever melt again — the smile at the corners of his mouth had vanished entirely, scattered to nothing, replaced instead by a wrath that struck fear into anyone who saw it!

This man, from head to toe, had begun radiating pure murderous intent!

His deep eyes bore down fixedly on the west, staring and staring, until flames seemed to kindle within his very pupils.

What had he realized?

What had he understood?

Would he still get to see Han Ziqing?

Would he keep waiting?

The city wall had fallen into utter silence — no longer the peaceful quiet of before, but the stillness that comes just before a storm breaks!

In stark contrast, Akbachu itself was in an uproar!

They had all agreed — today was the day of the peace conference. Since early morning, the rulers and ministers of every nation had gathered, all present and accounted for. And yet, wait as they might, wait and wait, as noon drew ever nearer, there was still not a single soul from Da Zhou to be seen!

Once noon arrived, the peace conference would have to be suspended, its time yielded to the Emperor of West Jing for two full hours!

Because West Jing’s Sand Sacrifice Ceremony was scheduled to formally begin at noon — and the sovereign had to be present!

At this moment, beneath Mingsha Mountain, the Sand Sacrifice platform was noisier than any marketplace.

Below the platform, priests and worshippers chanted their scriptures; above it, the rulers and ministers of every nation argued, grumbled, and voiced their complaints!

The noise drowned out even the sound of the wind, making everyone overlook just how strange this northwest wind truly was today.

“Is Jun Beiyue coming or not!”

“Has he even arrived yet?”

“Why should we wait for him! So what if he won the war — he’s just some prince, why put on such airs?”

“If Da Zhou doesn’t show, then we’re all leaving!”

“Ha, talk about putting on airs — reaching straight for the heavens. Prince Yao’s got quite the ego on him — does he expect us to go summon him with three cheers and five shouts? He’s not some blushing bride!”

…