Li Zhijie’s palms tightened, his hands covered in fine sweat. Only now did he guess that… from the moment Bai Qingyan conquered the capital and announced the dynastic change, yet didn’t deal with the Jin Dynasty’s imperial relatives, she had already begun paving the way for today’s reduction of feudal domains.

Not moving against those Jin Dynasty imperial relatives was to make the feudal princes think she feared the Grand Princess, and thus feel safe entering the capital…

What Bai Qingyan had calculated was human nature.

Even Prince Baishui’s intended rebellion was known to Bai Qingyan, and she had deliberately allowed it, all to reduce the feudal domains legitimately at the smallest cost!

After this incident, who in the world wouldn’t praise Bai Qingyan’s benevolence? She had even spared the former dynasty’s imperial relatives. Who knew… the former dynasty’s imperial relatives would be so ungrateful as to put on airs before Bai Qingyan and attempt rebellion. Only then, in helpless desperation, did Bai Qingyan deal with the former dynasty’s imperial family.

Yun Tianao was still being held down in the great hall by Wei Zhong. Bai Qingyan looked at Yun Tianao, whose eyes were red with humiliation, and said: “Wei Zhong… release him. Please ask the Flame Prince to keep your Western Liang people in check. This is my Great Zhou’s Xuanming Hall—sacred and not to be defiled by blood.”

“Yes!” Li Zhijie pulled Yun Tianao back, gave him a warning look, pressed him down to sit, then pretended to look bewildered as he continued speaking to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, Prince Baishui’s rebellion is Great Zhou’s domestic affair… we Western Liang have no reason to interfere. Regarding Your Majesty’s accusation of lending assassins to Prince Baishui, this foreign minister is truly wronged! Please, Your Majesty, discern clearly!”

“Is that so?” Bai Qingyan’s fingers tapped intermittently on the low table. “Western Liang Princess Li Tianfu once sent assassins to Shuoyang, intending to assassinate me. I arranged for her to go teach recruits at the training camp. Coincidentally, the assassins who ambushed with Prince Baishui in Qiankun Hall today used the same desperate killing techniques in their panic.”

Li Zhijie’s heart jumped, and he quickly said: “This foreign minister is terrified, but truly does not know of this! All the personnel the foreign minister brought are registered. Your Majesty may send people to investigate thoroughly—this foreign minister has absolutely no complaints!”

“There are no living assassins, and you don’t admit it… then let’s set this matter aside for now. Let me ask you something else…” Bai Qingyan maintained her unhurried manner, looking at Li Zhijie. “In April, the Flame Prince secretly came to Great Zhou, and on May 16th met with Prince Baishui at a temple. I wonder what you discussed?”

Li Zhijie’s hand gripping the iron-ribbed fan tightened forcefully. A flash of lightning seemed to strike through his mind, and his spine immediately turned cold. His movements… Great Zhou had tracked them with such precision!

Could it be… There was a traitor among his people?!

“Replying to Your Majesty, on May 16th, that was still the old Jin Dynasty. At that time, Prince Baishui had already developed rebellious thoughts due to the emperor’s alchemy obsession. Western Liang was willing to assist Prince Baishui because we knew Jin’s destiny was exhausted. We thought that if we helped Prince Baishui ascend the throne, we could reclaim the territories previously ceded to Jin—Youhua Pass, Qiushan Pass, Tonggu Mountain, and other cities!”

“Later, when the Jin Dynasty changed to become Great Zhou, Western Liang knew we couldn’t contend with Your Majesty, so we abandoned the idea of cooperating with Prince Baishui. That’s why we decided to cede eighteen cities and sent Yun Poxing’s eldest grandson, hoping to seek peace with the Great Zhou!” Li Zhijie raised his head, assuming a frank expression as he looked at Bai Qingyan. “If Your Majesty doesn’t believe this, you may summon Prince Baishui back to confront this foreign minister.”

Li Zhijie’s words were reasonable and well-founded, leaving little room for criticism.

Bai Qingyan’s lips curved slightly in a smile as she looked at Li Zhijie with seeming amusement.

By bringing up this matter now, Bai Qingyan wasn’t planning to use it to make things difficult for Li Zhijie, but rather to plant a seed of suspicion in his heart. Since his meeting with Prince Baishui had been tracked so precisely by Great Zhou, Li Zhijie would surely suspect that Western Liang had spies, or even that there were spies among his entourage.

If Jintong had been imprisoned because she was suspected of being a Great Zhou spy due to delivering Li Zhijie’s messages, then if Western Liang truly wanted to investigate, they should reconsider starting their search from Li Zhijie’s inner circle.

This could at least buy some time for Bai Jintong.

After listening to Li Zhijie’s explanation, Bai Qingyan remained silent for a while before smiling: “The Flame Prince needn’t be too nervous. It’s just that on May 16th, my second brother-in-law accompanied my second aunt to the temple to burn incense and happened to encounter Prince Baishui secretly meeting with the Flame Prince. Today… I merely asked about it.”

Bai Qingyan’s expression was kind, as if her earlier stern questioning had never happened.

Qin Lang also straightened his spine slightly and cupped his hands toward Li Zhijie.

Li Zhijie hastily returned the courtesy.

“Regarding the alliance matter, as Minister Liu said… The Great Zhou will temporarily accept the eighteen cities. As for how to ally, Minister Liu will discuss the details with the Flame Prince later,” Bai Qingyan’s voice was calm.

“This subject receives the command!” Liu Rushi bowed to Bai Qingyan, then politely bowed to Li Zhijie, his etiquette impeccable.

Before Li Zhijie could return Liu Rushi’s courtesy, that hoarse, weathered voice rang out in Xuanming Hall: “Western Liang wishes to ally with Great Zhou. We Rongdi people have also come… to ally with the Great Zhou female emperor.”

Dong Shi’s palms tightened, gripping her clothes firmly…

How could her A’Yu’s voice have become like this?!

Before entering the hall, Dong Shi had secretly glanced at A’Yu wearing the mask. She knew… the Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rongdi was A’Yu, but the current A’Yu couldn’t return home yet!

So from the moment she stepped into the great hall until now… Dong Shi hadn’t dared to glance even once in A’Yu’s direction, fearing she might not be able to control herself and reveal something, which would instead harm A’Yu.

But suddenly hearing her son’s voice like this, not knowing how much suffering her son had endured, how could she as a mother not feel her heart wrench?

Bai Qingyan lightly tapped the edge of the low table, restraining her worried emotions about Bai Jinxiu, adjusted her sitting posture, and asked with a smile: “How does the Rongdi plan to form an alliance with Great Zhou?”

The Rongdi envoy stood up and bowed toward Bai Qingyan: “The Rongdi are willing to present Great Zhou with one hundred thousand precious horses as a gift. We wish to befriend the Great Zhou in a mutual alliance. Our king knows that the Great Zhou female emperor once had a three-year agreement with Western Liang’s Assistant General Yun Poxing. We are willing to join forces with Great Zhou to destroy Western Liang and divide it equally. If Great Zhou is willing to send troops to join the Rongdi in extinguishing Western Liang, the Rongdi are willing to gift Great Zhou another one hundred thousand precious steeds.”

As soon as the Rongdi envoy spoke these words, Li Zhijie’s expression grew increasingly grim: “What arrogance from the Rongdi!”

A’Yu knew that Great Zhou lacked horses, so he was openly giving horses to Great Zhou in this manner.

“Additionally, this foreign minister has another gift for the Great Zhou female emperor to celebrate Her Majesty’s enthronement!” Bai Qingyu spoke, passing the brocade box on his low table to the young eunuch behind him.

The young eunuch respectfully received the brocade box, bowing as he held it above his head with both hands, taking small steps to the base of the high platform where the imperial throne stood.

Wei Zhong took the brocade box and brought it before Bai Qingyan, whose mind was full of thoughts about Jintong’s capture, and opened it for her…

The moment she saw the pigeon-blood ruby in the brocade box, a bittersweet ache struck Bai Qingyan’s heart and lungs.