Prince Han Cheng was terrified in his heart, but thinking of how he had been living in constant fear and trepidation since surrendering, he thought it would be better to die than continue like this. He closed his eyes: “If the sovereign wishes his subject to die, the subject cannot but die!”

“Rise!” Bai Qingyan looked at Prince Han Cheng, who slowly straightened his body with the resolve to face death, and spoke softly, “I do not kill readily.”

“That you came to tell me about this matter shows that you care about the lives of the coastal people!” Bai Qingyan gazed at Prince Han Cheng and spoke deliberately, “Since surrendering to the Great Zhou, many people have repeatedly incited you to restore your country, but you have never agreed. All of this… I know! I also know that the reason you and your princess consort have not had children to this day is because you fear that if children were born and you and the princess consort were no longer here in the future, the children would inevitably be used by others, causing the people of the former Liang territory, who had finally gained peace, to be plunged into the flames of war once again!”

Prince Han Cheng’s eyes reddened. Just as Bai Qingyan said, before coming to the capital, he had thought he would surely die in the capital and had wanted to divorce his princess consort, but she remained loyal to him without abandoning him.

“You have a heart that loves the people and loves your subordinates. Regardless of whether you truly wish to be loyal to me in your heart, you are a benevolent gentleman!” Bai Qingyan’s voice was clear and calm. With the gentlest words, she gave Prince Han Cheng the two words of trust. “Therefore, starting from today, you will be responsible for contacting these spies in the Dongyi Kingdom. Whatever news there is from the Dongyi Kingdom, you will personally bring it to me. Not for loyalty to me, but for the peace of the coastal people.”

Prince Han Cheng looked up at Bai Qingyan in disbelief upon hearing these words: “Your… Your Majesty?”

“I… trust you!”

Prince Han Cheng choked up and could hardly speak, kowtowing heavily to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty…”

“I know that since coming to the capital, what you’ve been most concerned about are the people of former Great Liang. Then… I’ll give you this opportunity to let you protect the coastal people using these spies that the former Prince of Liang arranged in the Dongyi Kingdom.” Bai Qingyan rose and slowly walked toward Prince Han Cheng, personally bending down to help him up. “But if this is the case, for the safety of those spies in Dongyi, the coastal people will not know that Prince Han Cheng is silently guarding them from behind. And if something goes wrong on the Dongyi side, I will still hold you accountable. Are you willing?”

“Your subject is willing!” Prince Han Cheng was about to kneel again but was stopped by Bai Qingyan holding his wrist.

She looked at Prince Han Cheng with a smile at the corner of her lips, placed the list in Prince Han Cheng’s palm, and her voice became gentle, as if she were speaking heartfelt words to someone close: “You are more familiar with the situation of the coastal cities and the Dongyi Kingdom than I am. I believe you can do this well! I entrust the safety of the coastal people to your hands, and I also thank you on behalf of the coastal people for being willing to join me in protecting the people!”

Prince Han Cheng might not have had a heart loyal to this Empress before, but after today’s conversation, he was willing to be loyal to this Empress who dared to employ people.

He was the Third Prince of Great Liang. If it were any other emperor, they would have killed him long ago to eliminate future troubles. But not only did Bai Qingyan spare his life, she actually dared to employ him.

In comparison, this Emperor… was so much better than his father, the former Prince of Liang!

“Your subject will repay with utmost devotion and will not fail Your Majesty!” Prince Han Cheng stepped back two paces and knelt to kowtow again. “And thank Your Majesty for giving your subject this opportunity, not letting your subject be just a worthless person waiting to die!”

“Alright, rise…” Bai Qingyan helped Prince Han Cheng up again with a smile. “Stop bowing. I don’t have so many formalities with Grand Commandant Lu and the others. After you return, I will naturally send people to your mansion who will henceforth follow your orders. Whatever you need, just speak up!”

“Yes!” Prince Han Cheng bowed respectfully.

“Go then…” Bai Qingyan patted Prince Han Cheng’s shoulder.

Prince Han Cheng respectfully withdrew from the great hall. Looking up at the sky with only evening clouds remaining, his heart was full of Bai Qingyan’s words… not for loyalty to me, but for the peace of the coastal people.

He hadn’t expected that this Empress truly had the people in her heart, and her magnanimity… was truly vast.

Prince Han Cheng turned to look at the great hall and bowed respectfully once more before following the eunuch out of the palace.

After sending Prince Han Cheng away, Bai Qingyan had just taken a sip of hot tea when Wei Zhong invited Grand Commandant Lu, Minister Shen, and Minister Dong into the room.

Seeing Grand Commandant Lu, Bai Qingyan smiled and said: “Grand Commandant Lu has worked hard, traveling back and forth. I’ve read all the records sent from Honglu Si. No wonder Minister Liu asked me for Lu Fenglang. Speaking neither hastily nor slowly, she left the Yan Kingdom speechless, making people look at her with new respect—her eloquence is unmatched.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan praise Lu Fenglang, how could Grand Commandant Lu not be pleased? He quickly spoke modestly: “Your Majesty flatters! How could Fenglang have such eloquence? It’s just that our Great Zhou holds the moral high ground and is strong in power! She’s still young and needs to learn properly from Minister Liu!”

“Grand Commandant Lu need not speak such modest words before me. Lu Fenglang and Lu Yuanqing are both talents with limitless futures for our Great Zhou, and Lu Yuanpeng is also very brave on the battlefield!” Bai Qingyan smiled and said to Minister Shen and Minister Dong, “Grand Commandant Lu has cultivated both civil and military talents for our Great Zhou!”

“Your Majesty flatters!” Grand Commandant Lu smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened.

If these words had come from another emperor’s mouth, this old fox Grand Commandant Lu would probably be frightened out of his wits right now and would have to be trembling with fear. But coming from Bai Qingyan’s mouth, Grand Commandant Lu knew that Bai Qingyan was pleased, so he wasn’t so nervous.

Minister Shen also smiled and spoke: “Your subject truly didn’t expect that Grand Commandant Lu’s unreliable Little Sixth Lu could make a name for himself on the battlefield. This makes the several in my family seem incompetent by comparison!”

Minister Dong also laughed: “At this comparison, aren’t those in our family even more incompetent!”

Wei Zhong had people serve tea to the four laughing and chatting sovereign and subjects, then withdrew with his people.

Only then did Bai Qingyan discuss serious matters with Grand Commandant Lu and the others.

“The Tianfeng Kingdom wants to come for peace negotiations?” Minister Shen seemed somewhat surprised. “Our Great Zhou currently has no intention of attacking the Tianfeng Kingdom. The Tianfeng Kingdom should be able to see this, too. Why do they want to come for peace negotiations at this time?”

“After all, the Tianfeng Kingdom lost those battles fought in Xiliang. They’re probably scared!” After pondering for a long while, Minister Dong spoke deliberately.

“Is Your Majesty hesitating about whether to let them come?” Grand Commandant Lu looked up at Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan lightly caressed the jade cicada in the pouch at her waist and smiled: “Not exactly. I can guess the purpose behind the Tianfeng Kingdom’s visit to Great Zhou this time.”

The three ministers assumed the posture of listening attentively.

Bai Qingyan told the three ministers about the legend of the jade cicada: “The ruler of the Tianfeng Kingdom has in his possession a jade cicada… that is identical to the jade cicada that the Imperial Consort once carried with him everywhere. This time, the Tianfeng Kingdom claims to come for peace negotiations, but in reality, they’re probably here to find this jade cicada.”