Seeing the Western Liang Female Emperor’s expression turn murderous, Bai Qingqi pressed her lips together and continued, “If that is the case, then the people of Western Liang would be the people of Great Zhou. Great Zhou could, for the sake of its people… endure what Yun Poxing did to the sons of my Bai family and my seventeenth brother all those years ago.”

Li Tianjiao gripped the armrests of her chair tightly, slowly rising to her feet, glaring coldly at Bai Qingqi: “Foolish dreams…”

“If Your Majesty says so, then… this external minister must pack up and return to Great Zhou.” Bai Qingqi also stood up.

“You think… You can leave?” Li Tianjiao’s eyes were dark and menacing.

Hearing these words, Bai Qingqi’s indifferent face curved into an extremely faint smile: “If this external minister cannot leave, then I’m afraid Prince Yan of Western Liang cannot return from Great Zhou either. Oh… Your Majesty could also send someone to explore Copper Ancient Mountain to investigate Great Zhou’s military movements, to see if they have already approached the border.”

Li Tianjiao immediately emanated killing intent, turning to stare at Bai Qingqi.

“When the Rong Di see Great Zhou making a move, will they also act?” Bai Qingqi analyzed the situation truthfully with Li Tianjiao. “Your Majesty, this external minister believes… Western Liang currently has no choice, truly surrounded! After losing over a hundred thousand elite troops entirely on the Southern Border battlefield, how can Western Liang, with its already small population, conscript another army that can attack successfully and defend firmly? Although the Fire Cloud Army is brave, they were ultimately trained in imitation of the Bai family army’s Huying Battalion. When truly facing soldiers of the Huying Battalion, they would be utterly defeated!”

Bai Qingqi moved her steps, walking before the Western Liang Female Emperor: “And the eight great families also suffered heavy losses in the previous Southern Border battlefield. If there is war, they will certainly focus on preserving their strength while discussing battle participation. Can your Western Liang troops unite wholeheartedly to fight with all their might? After the Great Zhou swallowed the Great Liang, their military strength was robust, and they encountered a Great Zhou Female Emperor who came from a military family and served as a general. The new laws being implemented are naturally beneficial to the soldiers. Now the people are joining the army in droves, and the soldiers are eager for battle, all to earn military merit and gain noble titles. Your Majesty… does Western Liang dare to fight?”

Li Tianjiao gritted her back teeth.

Bai Qingqi struck at the vital points with every sentence. Li Tianjiao had previously received the Great Zhou’s new laws delivered by a fast horse from secret agents. At that time, Li Tianjiao had sighed… Bai Qingyan truly deserved to be born to a military family and was skilled in leading troops and fighting battles. The new laws she implemented could indeed inspire soldiers to fight bravely for achievements.

Bai Qingqi bowed deeply to Li Tianjiao: “It is not that this external minister wishes to disparage Western Liang here, but if Your Majesty considers carefully, Western Liang is now the juicy meat in the eyes of Great Yan, the Rong Di, and Great Zhou. Even if Your Majesty has heavenly abilities, the eight great families are like parasites clinging to Western Liang’s bones. Western Liang is already terminally ill – how easy would it be for Your Majesty to save it?”

Li Tianjiao’s pupils trembled slightly. How could she not know this? This pressure had already made it impossible for her to sleep day or night.

Western Liang absolutely could not submit and pay tribute, and now Great Zhou’s envoy and Cui Fengnian… could not be detained.

“If Western Liang does not submit and pay tribute, will Great Zhou attack Western Liang?” Li Tianjiao asked.

“Not to deceive Your Majesty, if you do not submit and pay tribute, even if Great Zhou captures cities and signs alliances, when the Rong Di scatter Western Liang’s military forces and Yan State attacks Western Liang, Great Zhou will certainly not stand by and watch. At that time… even if Western Liang wanted to submit, it would be too late.” Bai Qingqi said.

“The Rong Di… and Great Zhou, aren’t they one family? That Ghost-Faced Prince, isn’t he a member of the Bai family?” Li Tianjiao laughed coldly.

Bai Jintong looked completely stunned, and Bai Qingqi was also caught off guard, quite surprised…

Li Tianjiao, seeing that Bai Qingqi’s expression didn’t seem like she knew about this, began to doubt the message Li Zhijie had sent back. In the letter… Li Zhijie said that Great Yan’s Ninth Prince had told him that Rong Di’s Ghost-Faced Prince was a member of the Bai family. But this Zhou envoy, Bai Qingqi, was also a Bai family member, and she looked like she was hearing this for the first time.

When a person first hears a piece of news, that instantaneous expression and look in their eyes cannot be faked.

Bai Qingqi thought of the day her eldest sister ascended the throne, when she had expressed to her sister her guilt for not protecting A’Yu, but her sister had said that A’Yu was still alive, just that he couldn’t return for now.

Bai Qingqi had not paid careful attention to that Ghost-Faced Prince initially, but thinking back now, there seemed to be… some resemblance.

But since her eldest sister said… A’Yu couldn’t return yet, regardless of whether this Ghost-Faced Prince was him or not, Bai Qingqi could not acknowledge it.

“This external minister also hopes this Ghost-Faced Prince is a Bai family member! Even more than Your Majesty hopes so!” Bai Qingqi raised her eyes, staring steadily at Li Tianjiao.

“But this is pure nonsense. The current Ghost-Faced Prince controls all of the Rong Di! The Rong Di’s customs… have always been that the strong are respected. By logic, even if this Ghost-Faced Prince wanted to replace the Rong Di King, it would be an easy matter! If this Ghost-Faced Prince were a Bai family member, he should proclaim himself king and then lead the Rong Di to submit to the Great Zhou. Even if he didn’t submit to Great Zhou… wouldn’t it be good to proclaim himself king to lay the foundation for future return to Great Zhou?” Bai Qingqi frowned tightly. “No one hopes more than the Bai family members for more Bai family children to return. After seeing the edict that the Great Zhou Female Emperor proclaimed to the world when she ascended the throne, which Bai family member could resist returning to the Capital City…”

After finishing these words, Bai Qingqi continued: “This external minister will stay in Yun Jing for one more day. If the Female Emperor is willing to submit and pay tribute, then everyone will be happy. If unwilling… this external minister can only return to Great Zhou and convey the Female Emperor’s intentions to our Majesty.”

Li Tianjiao looked deeply at Bai Qingqi, then turned and walked toward the outside of the great hall, her voice firm: “The honorable envoy need not wait any longer. Western Liang will never pay tribute and submit.”

The blazing sun was dazzling, yet Li Tianjiao’s complexion was very poor.

Great Yan’s conditions were also to pay tribute and submit; Great Zhou’s conditions were also to pay tribute and submit. Western Liang could choose to submit to Great Zhou, or submit to Western Liang. It seemed that aside from the path of submission, Western Liang had no other road to walk?

Watching Li Tianjiao leave, Bai Jintong grabbed Bai Qingqi’s sleeve: “Third Sister, is it true?! The Rong Di’s Ghost-Faced Prince… is a member of the Bai family? Who is it?!”

Bai Qingqi couldn’t be certain at the moment, so she said: “Perhaps… It’s A’Yu. Eldest Sister said A’Yu is still alive, just that he can’t return now. The Western Liang Female Emperor must have received some news – she would never speak without foundation.”

She turned to look at Bai Jintong, inevitably gripping the clothes at her side: “If the Ghost-Faced Prince truly is a Bai family child, it should be A’Yu!”

Bai Jintong bit her teeth tightly, wanting to smile but her expression looked even worse than crying. Fifth brother is still alive… that’s wonderful!

This kind of surprise, Bai Jintong didn’t mind having at all. She even hoped all the Bai family members could return!

“Pack up!!” Bai Qingqi looked at Bai Jintong, whose emotions were hard to contain, reached out to pat her head, and said with a smile, “We’re going home…”

·

Bai Qingyan wanted to establish schools, and the Capital City, as the national capital, was the first to open schools for women.